As a teen, Aashiya always use to hear the stories of fairy-tale love from her friends and cousins. The vague idea of being in love used to send jitters in her nerves. But, silently even she used to fancy the world of true love and submission. At the same time she was scared as hell, into being a prey to this emotion. It was clear in her thoughts that emotions like love had no place in my life till she establishes herself. And she had her own reason behind this strange decision.

Right from her childhood, the thought of becoming an independent girl and helping her parents was in-built in Aashiya. It was to such an extent that, she could not even realize when her innocent dreams converted into practical ambitions. No, it’s not something for which anyone has to be blamed. It’s the social stigma any middle class girl faces. It’s because…. this is how our so-called social values have been established. She had seen her parents being ridiculed at several occasions for having no son. Since then she had started making several promises to herself in the ambush of those rejections. Yes, I would call those subtle sympathies of the well wishers as rejections. Deep inside her, something was completely broken down and something was gathering up. Perhaps, this marked the end of Aashiya’s world of dreams and ignited the fire of ambition inside her.

Being a small town girl, Aashiya had to leave her parents at a tender age of 16 years. Her parents were more than supportive in every aspect of her lives. They had the courage to allow Aashiya fight her battle of identity. By then Aashiya was well aware that it was only she, who would be responsible henceforth…. for anything that would happen in her life. So, she had put several limits in her lifestyle and on her emotions. Being in a new place, completely out of your comfort zone helps you see that actual World more closely. This helped Aashiya to know new people, handle sensitive matters, and understand different relationships. Within these intricacies, there were also new bonds of friendship. When you are with friends, you are just yourselves. No one judges you and you have the chance to open up to this new shade in life. There are more than a hundred tales of friendship which still tickle me and brings happiness to me. Aashiya also made some really very good friends for life. Gradually, she became free from the self cultivated bindings inside. She began to discover her true self! Those long-buried fantasies about love had begun to bloom again in her heart. She kept on reminding herself of her priorities by constantly shoving aside those emotions. But somewhere inside, even she was craving for a true companion.

Unlike others, Aashiya never dreamt of getting a charming prince riding a white horse. She was very practical and had simple wishes in life. She always wanted her soul mate to be her best friend. A person with whom she could have been completely herself! She wished for someone who would understand both her aspirations as well accept her responsibilities. She dreamt of her man to treat her parents as his own. She wished her life partner not only to be a part of her love-story, but also to be a part of her family….

And the day had come. The day when Aashiya was ready to live her dream. The same dream that was buried under the burdens of her priorities. Aashiya had returned to her small hometown after completing her studies and getting a job. She just stood in front of the mirror and admired herself. She was always a simple girl. A girl who had never used makeup other than Kohl in her eyes and gloss on her lips. Aashiya had requested her mother to deck her up with minimal jewellery. And so here she was, just as she wanted. Dressed up in a bright red wedding attire and with her eyes shining with happiness, Aashiya looked just like a Rose Bud ready to bloom. Everything was just as she had imagined in her early teens. She could feel the butterflies in her stomach. The warmth of love in the heart made her cheeks flush red. She looked around and saw the pride in her Dad’s eyes. The happiest person amongst all was Aashiya’s mother who saw her own dream come true. After all, they had chosen their son-in-law and Aashiya also had consented. Aashiya was amused to look at the beautiful wedding decor and arrangements made by her family.

She sat on a chair in her room quietly….when the sound of shehnai added wings to her anxiety. This was the most romantic tune she had ever heard. She felt herself to be so beautiful that day! She asked herself,” Is this the feeling from which I was evading for so long?” This took her back to the time when she did not want to marry and still how he had stepped quietly into her life. Today Aashiya felt grateful for the day, when she had called him for saying NO to the marriage!