The unfolding day...

The week passed quickly, and it was time for her to return home. For the first time, she was actually happy to leave her holidays early, even though they weren’t over yet. This time, it felt different. She wasn’t just returning to her quiet home—she was coming back with the hope of having a new friend, her soon-to-be aunt.

As they arrived back home, the house was buzzing with excitement. The entire family was busy making preparations, discussing gifts, sweets, and the girl's photo for the upcoming meeting. Amidst the lively chaos, her mother and aunts gathered to share stories about when her father and uncles had tried to win them over. She learned, to her surprise, that her eldest uncle once had a lover who questioned her grandmother, asking what qualities her aunt had that she didn’t. She also discovered that her father visited her mother three times in one day before deciding to marry her.

Though the house was full of noise and activity, she loved every bit of it. The once-empty house that haunted her was now filled with laughter, stories, and the warmth of family. Everything she had ever wanted was there, and she felt overjoyed. But little did she know, things weren’t as simple as they seemed.

The whole family was excited and ready to visit her soon-to-be aunt. Her uncle, too, was preparing to meet the woman who might soon be his bride. When they arrived at her house, it appeared a little old from the outside, but the beautiful wooden gate with ancient carvings gave it a special charm. As they stepped inside, the home felt rich with tradition, decorated in an old-fashioned yet elegant style.

Once seated in the hall, a woman entered the room, draped in a stunning blue saree with golden embroidery. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with a fair complexion that seemed to glow. The girl couldn't contain her excitement—she was thrilled at the thought of having such a beautiful aunt. While the adults were busy discussing whether the couple was a good match, her mind wandered elsewhere. She was already imagining how she would boast to her friends about her gorgeous aunt and how much fun they would have together. In her heart, she was certain that this new aunt would become her favorite, someone she would treasure and admire.

Although she was mature for her age, the child inside her didn’t grasp the complexities of marriage. She hadn’t yet understood that marriage wasn’t a game to be decided quickly—it was a lifelong commitment that needed careful thought. The woman she had hoped would become her new friend, her lunch companion, was no longer going to even be her aunt-to-be. The day was unfolding and she was screaming inside.

She was filled with curiosity, but being so young, she didn’t have the courage to ask the adults the one question that lingered in her mind: "Why? Why isn’t the marriage happening? Why isn’t she coming with us?"

The thought of returning to her lonely house and eating her meals alone again haunted her. The realization that her solitude would continue terrified her, filling her with an overwhelming sense of disappointment. In that moment, all she wanted was someone to be there with her when she came home from school—just someone to share her days with. If she could have one wish granted from God, that’s all she would ask for—a companion to chase away the loneliness that weighed so heavily on her small heart.

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