Priya POV:
Another Friday afternoon had passed, and I was missing my family. They have been truly a part of my life since I was a child, especially Anand, Vinod, and Vivek Uncle. It truly helped to experience a father's love to know that they look out for me and love me as a father would. They have told me numerous stories about my father and how he cherished me as a baby. I had a photo book of him that I adored, and it was the only thing I remembered about him. Since my mother hasn't visited my grandparents in a while, I made the decision to go see them. A woman in her mid-seventies opened the door to the home where my mom and aunt lived I knocked on it. "Priya Beti. Tum(You)" I recognized the voice of my Nani the moment I heard it. "Aap kaisi hai Nani? Nana kahaa hai(How are you doing, Nani? Where is Nana?)" She embraced me as she wept happily. When he spotted me, my Nana immediately dashed down. "Aap ek tejasvi yuva mahila ke roop mein vikasit ho gai hai. Mujhe is samay bhi tumhaari maa ki yaad aati hai. Vah ek yuva mahila hua karati thi jo jiddi thi. Tumhaare Papa ji bhi aise hi the. Lekin pahale, vah usake aasapaas chup rahata tha. Mujhe vaastav mein usaka yaad aati hai(You have developed into a stunning young lady. I still recall your mum at this point. She used to be a young woman who was headstrong. Your dad was also like that. But before, he remained silent around her. I really miss him.)" As I consoled him, he cast a melancholy look to the ground. "Aap yahaan aane ke liye bahut lambe samay se intajaar kar rahe hain. Kya aapako lassi, coffee ya chai pasand hai? Jaisa ki mujhe yaad hai, lassi aapaki maa ki pasandeeda thi.(You've been waiting so long to come here. Do you prefer lassi, coffee, or tea? Lassi was, as I recall, your mother's favorite.)" As she smiled, I wished for lassi.
Sita:
"Mujhe haal hi mein aapake vishvavidyaalay ke kaaranaamon ke baare mein pata chala. Main romaanchit hoon ki aapake paas itane adbhut dost hain. Ve ek baar hamase milane aae aur hamaari lambi baatacheet hui. Zoya aur vah aadami jisase vah pyaar karati hai, shaadi kar rahe hain. Aap ki maa aur usaki maa sabase achchhi dost theen. Alia Khan usaka naam tha.(I recently learned about the adventures of your university. I'm thrilled that you have such wonderful friends. They once came to see us, and we had a lengthy conversation. Zoya and the man she loves are getting married. You Mom and her mother were besties. Alia Khan was her name.)" I was shocked because she had no idea. "Mama ab shaayad hi kabhi kisi se baat karati hai. Vah haal hi mein bahut shaant hai. Mujhe usaki asaliyat jaanane mein khushi hogi. Use bas achchhe ank laane ki chinta hai.(Mom hardly ever talks to anyone anymore. She is so quiet lately. I'd love to get to know the real her. She just worries about getting good scores.)" Nani lightly smiled while holding my cheeks. "Mere pyaari, vah tumase bahut pyaar karati hai. Bas use aur adhik sakriy hone ke liye protsaahit kare. Kya usane koi ruchi vyakt ki hai(My dear, she adores you so much. Simply encourage her to be more active. Has she expressed any interest?)" I came up with the perfect plan a few days later. When I got to the village for my summer vacation, I rapped on her door. "Mama, can I come in?" She smiled cheerfully as she nodded. I started by taking a long breath. "Main aapase kisi important vishay par baatacheet karana chaahata tha. Kaash tum mere bahut kareeb hote, jaise tum Radha didi ya Anjana di ki paravaah karate ho, usase kaheen jyaada jo tum abhi ho. Aisa lagata hai ki aapako keval meri shiksha mein ruchi hai, isalie mujhe aisa lagata hai jaise mujhe aapake saath jyaada samay bitaane ka avasar nahi milata hai. Jaisa ki Sadhana Mami ya Sapna Mami karati hain, aapane kabhi bhi mujhase baatacheet nahi ki ya mere saath kisi manoranjan gatividhiyon mein shaamil nahi hue. Haalaanki main samajhata hoo ki aap mere Papa ko khone ka duhkh mana rahe hain, aapako apane 23 saal puraane sanskaran ko punah praapt karane kee aavashyakata hai. Kya Papa is Preeti ko dekhana chaahenge(I wanted to have a conversation with you about something important. I wish you were much closer to me like how you care for Radha didi or Anjana di than you are right now. You seem to only be interested in my education, so I feel as if I don't get the opportunity to spend much time with you. As Sadhana Aunty or Sapna Aunty do, you have never communicated with me or engaged in any pastime activities with me. Although I understand that you are grieving over the loss of my Papa, you need to reclaim the 23-year-old version of yourself. Would Papa like to see this Preeti?)"She gave my forehead an affectionate kiss.
Preeti:
"Main kshama chaahata hoon, sweetie; mujhe nahi pata tha ki aapako aisa mahasoos hua hoga. Main tumase door raha kyonki mujhe laga ki tum mujhase baat karane mein bahut vyast ho. Main galat tha. Main aage chalakar aur adhik milanasaar hone kee pratibaddhata jataata hoon(I apologize, Sweetie; I had no idea you felt that manner. I stayed away from you because I assumed you were too busy to talk to me. I was mistaken. I make a commitment to be more outgoing going forward.)" I choose to explain my strategy. "Mainne hamesha socha tha ki aap ek teacher shikshak banenge. Jab mainne Dharavi mein paanchaveen kaksha ke shikshak ke pad ke liye ek vigyaapan dekha, to mujhe turant aapaka khyaal aaya. Kya aapaki interest hai(I've always thought you'd make an excellent teacher. When I spotted an advertisement in Dharavi seeking a position as a fifth-grade teacher, I immediately thought of you. Are you interested?)" She nodded and gave me a joyful embrace. She kept her word, and the vacation solidified the bond between us. Arjun was still in his third year while I was in my second. I pulled myself out of his arm, and he firmly gripped it. "I need to speak with you, even though I know you hate seeing my face just as much as I do." I rolled my eyes but eventually composed myself. "What is it?" He turned around and fixed his eyes on mine. "Mujhe pata tha ki Zoya aur Advik shaadi karana chaahate hain, lekin ek badi baadha hai. Kyonki vah Sikh hai aur vah Muslim hai, isalie usake aur usake Dad unaki yojana ka virodh kar rahe hain. Please, unhen avashy milana chaahiye. Aap mere saath sahamat nahi hai(I was aware that Zoya and Advik desire to wed, but there is a huge obstacle. Because he is Sikh and she is Muslim, his and her fathers are opposing their plan. They must meet, please. Do you agree with me?)" Given that they are our friends and form a great couple, I nodded. "Okay, I'm in." He explained the strategy to Kiara, Raja, and me in our group.
Arjun POV:
I was overjoyed that she approved of my plan of action. Although it was primarily for our friends, this could be an opportunity for us to become closer. Advik and I sneaked into Zoya's room at night. She was surprised to see us there but quickly gave Advik a hug. "Isase pahale ki Abba aur Ammi seekhe, tum logon ko jaana hoga. Please(Before Abba and Ammi learn, you guys need to go. Please!)" I grin as Advik gives her a gentle kiss. Having made the decision to speak face-to-face, we both leave. When Priya and I were speaking the following morning, a few goons approached me. Suddenly, I heard the goons and saw Advik being beaten. "Zoya ke liye aapaki yojanaon ke baare mein sunakar Abdul Khan ne hame bheja. Main kasam khaata hoon ki tum usase kabhi shaadi nahi karoge(Abdul Khan sent us after hearing about your plans for Zoya. I swear you won't ever get married to her.)" As I got to my feet, Raja and Kiara were attempting to defend him. "Aapako us par hamala nahi karana chaahiye. Vah doshi nahi tha. Ve ek-doosare se pyaar karate hain, isalie main hi vah vyakti tha jo yojana lekar aaya tha(You shouldn't attack him. He wasn't to blame. They love one another, so I was the one who came up with the plan.)" A girl stood in front of me, protecting me as one of the men reached for a knife and prepared to stab me. I was speechless when I realized who she was. "Don't you dare touch him!" As Priya collapsed, her hands were gushing with blood. "Arjun!" I kicked him to start the conflict.
In the end, we won, but Priya was rendered comatose by the volume of blood she lost. She stumbled to my arms as Kiara sobs. After several hours of waiting, I admitted her to the hospital. We all hurried to see the doctor as soon as she arrived. As I gave her a hug, she was sitting up. "Arjun." In rage, I seized her. "How come you saved me? Tumhe pata hai, tumhari jaan ja sakti thi(You know, you could have lost your life.)" She smiled and then spoke. "Arjun, mujhe yakeen nahi hai ki aisa kyon hai, lekin main bas itna jaanta hoon ki main tumase ek majaboot judaav mahasoos karata hoon. Isake baavajood ki aap kitane bhayaanak hain, main kisi bhi kaaran se aapako jaane nahi dena chaahata(Arjun, I'm not sure why exactly, but all I know is that I feel a strong connection to you. Despite how awful you are, I don't want to let go of you for whatever reason.)" As I brushed my hair, she flushed.
Zain bhaiya abruptly entered the room. "Kya hua Chota? Jaise hi hame aapake dosto se khabar mili, main turant hospital pahunch gaya. Yah yuvati kaun hai jisne aapaki madad ki(What took place chota? As soon as we learned the news from your pals, I hurried to the hospital. Who is this young woman who helped you?)" Instead of saying my love, I responded, "She is a friend. Yadi vah na hota to aap apane chhote se dobaara kabhi nahi mil paate. Aapane Mumbai ki yaatra kyon ki(You wouldn't have ever again met your chota if it weren't for her. Why did you travel to Mumbai?)" While speaking to Priya, he abruptly changes the topic. When he finally left Priya responded. "Aap apane bhai ki tarah vinamr aur sweet kyon nahi hain? Main chaahoonga ki aap usake jaisa banen(Why are you not as polite and sweet as your brother? I'd prefer you to be more like him.)" I admired how she laughed as we both shared our first giggles. "Kya tumhaara koi siblings hai, Priya(Do you have any siblings, Priya?)" "Mere paas Anjana didi, Raj bhaiya, Radhika didi aur Anurag bhaiya hain jinaka abhi-abhi shaadi hui hai aur ve London chale gae hai(I have Anjana didi, Raj Bhaiya, Radhika didi, and Anurag bhaiya who just got married and moved to London), she said while nodding. "Meri Mama ke saath-saath meri mami aur mama bhi hain( Along with my mom, I also have my aunts and uncles)," I answered while I pondered who she left behind. "How is your Dad doing?" She cast a forlorn glance. "When I was five years old, my Papa died." Aww, that poor girl! Because I know how much I adore my Dad, I feel terrible for her. "What about you, Mr. Monkey?" I laughed at my new nickname. "Mera bhi ek bada parivaar hai. Mere Mom aur Dad , Zain bhaiya, Ayesha didi, dadi aur mera bhateeja Akaash sabhi mere parivaar ki havelee mein rahate hain. Mera parivaar bahut ameer hai. Aap kaise hain?(I also have a large family. My dad and mom, Zain Bhaiya, Ayesha Didi, Dadi, and my nephew Akash all live in the mansion owned by my family. My family is very wealthy. How are you doing?)" She answered cautiously. "Main aur mera parivaar Dharaavi mein rahate hain. Haalaanki hamaare paas dhan ya vilaasita nahi hai, hamaare paas pyaar hai(My family and I reside in Dharavi. While we don't have wealth or luxury, we do have love.)" Her perspective on life made me smile. "Theek hai, chalie apani mool rananeeti par vaapas aate hain. Is mudde ka pata lagaane ke liye, hame unake pitaon se milana chaahiye (Okay, let's return to our original strategy. To explore the issue, we must meet with their fathers." We decided to collaborate, and she agreed to the plan.)