"This is a list of dishes I need you to prepare on Friday morning before you leave for work. We are having some very important guests coming over. Make sure everything is ready and presentable. And I need you to stay at the office until evening. Do not come home early. I do not want you around while the guests are here."
Uncle looked like he was about to explode.
"Sangeetha, this is too much. She just got a new job. You cannot expect her to cook an entire feast before her first week of work."
But I reached out and took the list from Aunty's hand before Uncle could say anything more.
"It is okay, Uncle," I said quietly. "I will manage."
I did not wait for a response. I turned and walked out of the room, clutching the list in my hand.
As I walked down the hallway toward my own small room, I glanced at the list. There were at least ten dishes written in Aunty's neat handwriting. It would take hours to prepare everything.
I did not know who these secret guests were. Honestly, I did not care.
All that mattered was that I had a job. I had something of my own. And come Monday morning, I would walk into New Gen Corp as an employee, not as someone's burden.
That thought alone was enough to make me smile as I closed my bedroom door behind me.
Chapter 3
Armaan
I fastened the last button of my shirt and stepped back to look at myself in the full length mirror. Blue pants. Sky blue shirt. The fabric was crisp and perfectly tailored. I looked exactly like what I was supposed to be today. A prospective groom.
The thought felt strange. Surreal, even.
I reached for my comb and ran it through my hair, fixing the strands into place. As I set the comb down, I heard the door to my room open behind me.
Dadi walked in, her face lighting up the moment she saw me. She stood there for a long moment, just looking at me, and I saw her eyes grow misty.
"I cannot believe you are about to get married," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "It still feels surreal to me. I cannot believe you are thirty two now. I still remember the day I held you for the first time. You were so tiny. So fragile."
I turned to face her properly, giving her a small smile.
"Dadi, do not get so emotional. I am not leaving this house and going away. I will still be here. Nothing is going to change."
She smiled back, but I could see the tears threatening to spill over. She had been waiting for this day for years. Hoping for it. Praying for it.
Before either of us could say anything more, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," I called out.
Mamta, our housekeeper, stepped inside and gave a respectful nod.
"Dadi, Girish ji has arrived. The car is ready whenever you are."
Dadi straightened her shoulders, composing herself.
"Thank you, Mamta. Tell him we will be down in a moment."
Mamta nodded and left, closing the door quietly behind her.
I grabbed my watch from the dresser and fastened it around my wrist. Dadi walked over and adjusted my collar slightly, even though it was already perfect. It was just something she did. A habit from when I was younger.
"Let us go," she said softly.
We walked downstairs together. Girish ji, Dadi's astrologer, was waiting in the foyer. He was an older man with a long white beard and traditional clothes. He greeted Dadi with folded hands.