𝓢𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓣𝓸 𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 ♾️

💌PROPOSAL IN PROGRESS-CHAPTER-3

Karthik's POV

The sun had dipped halfway down the sky, but Chennai traffic was in full swing like it was some festival. Horns blaring, autos squeezing into every inch of road, and buses moving like they owned the city. After dodging half a dozen potholes and squeezing past an impatient lorry, I finally reached home.

I parked my bike in our tiny front space and stretched my back. "Pchhh...the chennai traffic is hell," I muttered under my breath, wiping the sweat off my forehead.

As I stepped inside, the TV was blaring some serial and Appa sat cross-legged, fully invested in the drama like it was breaking news. Amma was in the corner, taking blouse measurements for one of the local aunty customers. The smell of boiled rice and sambar lingered in the air, and somehow, that made me feel at peace.

"Dei, you're home?" Amma asked, standing up and handing me a glass of water.

"Hmm," I nodded, gulping it down in one shot. "I'll go freshen up."

I went to my room, peeled off my work shirt like it was glued to me, and stepped into the bathroom. After a quick wash, I came out in my comfy t-shirt and lungi, towel around my neck. Nothing beats lungi life after a long day, I swear.

Back in the hall, Amma was folding the customer's blouse neatly, and Appa had lowered the volume a bit.

"How was the class?" Amma asked.

"Same usual, ma." I replied, tying my lungi tighter and sitting cross-legged on the floor.

That's when Appa turned to me, adjusting his glasses. "One of my friends... his distant relative mentioned a girl's family. They're from Vadapalani."

I didn't react much. I'd heard this line too many times. "Hmm?"

"Her father owns a small provision shop. Girl's name is Nithya. She works at a bank."

"Oh," I said, trying not to show any hope. I've been through enough of these that I don't jump anymore. It's like watching a trailer, never knowing if the full movie will even release.

Amma looked at me with that cautious optimism in her eyes. The kind that said "Please da... maybe this time?"

I just nodded, "Let's see, ma."

Truth is, I wasn't expecting anything.

Nithya pov :

By the time the clock hit 7:30, the shop was slowly winding down. Appa had just shut the shutter halfway and was counting the day's collection, while Amma was folding the washed clothes from the terrace.

I sat in the hall with Thara, helping her arrange her notes while sipping my evening tea. The slight breeze from the old ceiling fan made that thak-thak noise every few minutes, but it was oddly comforting.

"Nithu ma," Appa called, walking into the hall with his glasses hanging at the tip of his nose. "One of the customers today—he's from Vadapalani too—he mentioned a boy's family looking for a bride."

I blinked. Not again.

"He's a good boy, it seems," Appa continued. "Name is... Karthik. Teaches in a coaching centre. Father was running a shop before, now retired. Middle-class family. Polite people."

I just nodded, folding a page in Thara's notebook. "Hmm... okay, pa."

Truth is, I've heard this before. Families who show interest and then back off—some for my complexion, some because I work, some who expect us to pour dowry like water. So now, I don't get my hopes up anymore.