Chapter 3 A Proposal She Never Asked For

Monday mornings were Aanya's least favorite part of adulthood.

Not because of work.

She actually loved her work.

What she disliked was the fact that weekends seemed to disappear in the blink of an eye.

By nine-thirty, she was already sitting through her second meeting of the day, armed with a notebook, a coffee that was rapidly getting cold, and a level of patience that was running dangerously low.

Fortunately, the meeting ended before she completely lost interest in humanity.

---

Lunch break was her favorite part of the workday.

Not because of the food.

Because it was usually when she got to catch up with her best friend and colleague, Rhea.

Unlike Aanya, who preferred observing before speaking, Rhea believed silence was a disease that needed immediate treatment.

"You know what happened this weekend?" Rhea asked dramatically as they settled at their usual table.

Aanya smiled.

"Knowing you, I'll find out even if I don't ask."

"Correct."

Aanya laughed.

One thing she genuinely enjoyed was listening to people talk about the things they cared about.

Everyone had stories.

Dreams.

Little details they thought nobody noticed.

And Aanya noticed everything.

It was one of the reasons people often opened up to her so easily.

Even strangers.

"Tell me."

Rhea immediately launched into a detailed story about her cousin's engagement, a family argument over wedding colors, and an uncle who somehow managed to get locked inside a banquet hall washroom.

Aanya listened with amusement.

Occasionally asking questions.

Occasionally laughing.

Mostly enjoying the fact that Rhea could turn the simplest event into a full-length drama series.

"You know," Rhea said suddenly, narrowing her eyes, "you'd make an excellent therapist."

"Because I listen?"

"Because you remember things."

Aanya frowned.

"What things?"

"Everything."

Rhea pointed her fork at her.

"Last month I casually mentioned my sister had an interview. Yesterday you asked if she got the job."

Aanya shrugged.

"Because you were worried about it."

"Exactly."

People mattered.

Their stories mattered.

And somehow Aanya always found herself curious about them.

Not in a nosy way.

In a genuine way.

She liked understanding what made people who they were.

Maybe that was why she enjoyed traveling alone so much.

Every place came with new stories.

New people.

New perspectives.

Life felt bigger when you paid attention.

---

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly.

By the time she reached her apartment, she was looking forward to nothing more than a quiet evening with a book and complete silence.

Unfortunately, life had other plans.

Her mother's name flashed on her phone screen.

Aanya immediately became suspicious.

Mothers never called at this hour without a reason.

"Hello?"

"Are you home?"

"Yes."

"We're coming over."

There it was.

The reason.

---

An hour later, her parents arrived carrying homemade food and expressions that suggested they were planning something.

Her father settled comfortably on the sofa.

Her mother wandered around inspecting the apartment as if conducting an official investigation.

"This corner would look nice with a plant."

"Maa."

"I'm just saying."

"It already has a plant."

"That plant looks lonely."

Aanya sighed.

Her mother ignored her.

Dinner began peacefully enough.

Work.

Family updates.

Karan's latest gym obsession.

Normal conversation.

Then her father cleared his throat.

Aanya instantly knew.

The marriage discussion had arrived.

"What?" she asked.

Her parents exchanged a glance.

Never a good sign.

"We met a family recently," her mother began carefully.

Aanya leaned back in her chair.

Of course they had.

"And?"

"There's someone we'd like you to meet."

There it was.

The sentence she'd heard countless times before.

Her mother slid a photograph across the table.

Aanya glanced at it briefly.

A well-dressed man.

Probably around thirty.

Serious expression.

Professional appearance.

She placed it back down.

Not interested.

Not curious.

Not even a little.

Which was unusual for her.

Because Aanya was naturally curious about almost everything.

Except this.

"Please meet him once," her mother said softly.

"Why?"

Her father smiled gently.

"Because sometimes the people we least expect become important."

Aanya shook her head.

She wasn't looking for anyone important.

She already had a life she loved.

And she intended to keep it that way.

Little did she know, somewhere across the city, a man named Aarav Malhotra was having a very similar conversation.

And neither of them realized that their carefully planned lives were already moving toward the same destination.

To be continued...

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