Part: Five

Since the day Rashika and Rashikan came to propose, my mind has been in a state of chaos. I couldn't focus on anything, not even my studies. My parents were happy with the proposal, but I wasn't sure if I was ready for marriage. I had dreams and aspirations that I wanted to achieve before settling down.

One day, while I was lost in thought, my phone rang. It was an unknown number. I hesitated for a moment before answering, but something inside me told me to pick up.

"Hello?" I said, cautiously.

"Hi, is this Zara?" A familiar voice spoke from the other end of the line.

"Yes, who is this?" I asked, my heart racing.

"It's me, Aryan," he said.

Aryan? The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it.

"I'm sorry, I don't know any Aryan," I said, confused.

"We met at the bookstore a few weeks ago," he reminded me.

"Oh, right. I remember now," I said, relieved.

"I was wondering if you'd like to grab a coffee sometime?" Aryan asked, hesitantly.

I was taken aback by his request. I had just been proposed to, and here was another guy asking me out. I didn't know what to say.

"I don't think that's a good idea," I said, trying to let him down gently.

"Okay, no problem," he said, sounding disappointed.

We said our goodbyes, and I hung up the phone. My mind was in turmoil. Why was I even considering going out with someone else when I had just been proposed to? But then again, I wasn't sure if I was ready for marriage.

The next few days were a blur. I couldn't concentrate on anything, not even my studies. I was torn between my dreams and my family's expectations. I didn't know what to do.

One evening, as I was going through my diary, I came across a quote that spoke to me. "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." It was as if a light bulb had gone off in my head. I realized that I didn't have to choose between my dreams and my family's expectations. I could have both.

The next day, I sat down with my parents and told them about my aspirations. They were hesitant at first, but when they saw the determination in my eyes, they agreed to support me.

I started working towards my goals with renewed vigor. I studied hard, worked part-time, and even started writing a novel in my free time. And through it all, I never forgot about Rashika and Rashikan's proposal.

In the end, I realized that marriage wasn't something that I wanted to rush into. I wanted to achieve my dreams and live a fulfilling life before settling down. And who knows, maybe one day, when the time is right, Rashika and Rashikan will still be waiting for me.

To be continued...

✍🏻mihras koduvally