The night was still, the kind of silence that only exists when the rest of the world is asleep. Arjun stood on his terrace, the cool air doing little to calm the restless energy thrumming in his veins. He kept his eyes fixed on the balcony next door.

This was their spot—the narrow, shadowed gap between the two terraces where their lives had been intertwined since childhood.

A soft sound, the scrape of wood against stone, broke the silence. Divya appeared. She looked small and fragile in the moonlight, her face tear-stained. Slowly, she stepped onto a small wooden stool, her hands trembling as she reached for the top of the wall.

Arjun immediately leaned over the edge, his strong hands catching hers. He guided her, his grip firm and reassuring, as she made the short jump onto his side of the terrace. The moment her feet hit the ground, all her strength seemed to vanish. She collapsed into his arms, burying her face in his chest, her body racking with heavy, silent sobs.

Arjun held her tight, his heart aching at the sound of her grief. He led her toward the back of the massive water tank, a place where even the moonlight couldn't reach them. He sat down and gently pulled her into his lap, cradling her as if she might break.

"Hey Divya... what happened? Why are you crying?" He whispered, his voice thick with concern. "Please... ila choodu."

(Please... look at me.)

He lifted her face, wiping away the salt of her tears with his thumb. "Ila choodu," he repeated softly. "What happened?"

("Look at me.")

Divya struggled to find her voice through the hiccups. "My parents..." she started, her voice breaking. "They’ve started looking for matches, Arjun. They found someone they want me to meet."

Arjun felt a pang of fear, but he forced himself to remain steady for her. "Don’t overthink this. I will talk to my parents tomorrow," he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

But Divya was not that daring. She lived in the shadow of her parents' expectations, and the thought of defying them felt like a mountain she couldn't climb.

She pulled back slightly, her eyes wide with terror. "I can't say this to them," she whispered, another hiccup escaping her lips.

Arjun looked at her, his brow furrowed. "Then whom will you say?"

"Nenu!". (I will!)

The sudden voice made them both jump. They turned to see Nidhi standing on the edge of the terrace, having just leaped over from her own side with the grace of a cat.

She stood there with her arms crossed over her chest, a triumphant smirk on her face as she looked at the two of them huddled together.

Divya stood up abruptly from Arjun’s lap, smoothing her clothes in a panic. Arjun stood up as well, clearing his throat. Nidhi didn't move she just stood there, locking her arms and enjoying their shock.

"Nenu chepthanu intlo," Nidhi said, her voice full of mischief and steel.

("I will tell them at home.")

Arjun and Divya looked at each other, a mix of hope and worry. "Nidhi, listen... we don't know how Amma and Nanna will react..." Divya began, her voice trailing off.

Nidhi cut her off with a confident toss of her head. "I will convince them at any cost and I will make your wedding happen," she declared.

Arjun and Divya finally allowed themselves to smile.

They trusted her. In both households, Nidhi was the light—the girl both families loved the most. If anyone could change their parents' minds, it was her.

Nidhi’s smirk widened as she saw their relief. "Ok mari... what will you guys give me?"

They both looked at her, knowing exactly what she was doing. "I will give you anything you ask," Arjun promised with a laugh.

Nidhi tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Then we will go for ice cream tomorrow!"

In the middle of the dark night, the three of them smiled together, the weight of the secret finally shared.

The next morning, the house was filled with the usual domestic sounds—the clinking of spoons and the morning news on the TV. Arjun took a deep breath and sat down at the dining table. His parents, Ramakrishna and Syamala, were finishing their breakfast. His brother, Devarsh, sat on the other side, scrolling through his phone.

"Mom and Dad," Arjun called out.

They both looked up at him, sensing the change in his tone. "I want to say an important matter," he said.

They nodded, giving him their full attention. Arjun didn't hesitate. "I and Divya love each other since childhood. We want to get married."

Syamala’s eyes widened in surprise, and she looked quickly at her husband. Arjun pressed on. "Divya’s parents are looking for matches for her, so please... ask them."

Ramakrishna and Syamala looked at each other for a long moment. Then, slowly, they both smiled. They had always loved Divya.

"Ok Arjun," Ramakrishna said warmly. "We will talk to Lokesh and Lakshmi in the evening."

Arjun’s face lit up. He stood up and hugged his parents tightly, then turned to Devarsh, who gave him a supportive pat on the back as they hugged.

Over at Divya’s house, the atmosphere was far more tense. Nidhi was sitting at the table, casually munching on a dosa as if she didn't have a care in the world.

Opposite her, Divya was a nervous wreck, her hands trembling so much she couldn't even pick up her food. She kept looking at her sister, then nudging Nidhi’s hand under the table, silently begging her to speak up.

Nidhi ignored her for a moment, savoring her food, before finally nodding.

"Amma and Nanna," Nidhi called out.

Lakshmi came over and placed another dosa on Nidhi’s plate. She looked at her younger daughter. "Ente?" (What is it?)

"Nenu meeku oka vishayam cheppali," Nidhi said calmly.(I have to tell you something.)

Lakshmi’s eyes narrowed immediately. She turned to Lokesh, who was sitting nearby. "Nenu cheppanu kadha andi... idhi evadno okadini preminchi vadini ae chesukunta ani chepthundhi ani choodandi! Ippudu aa vishyam ae cheppali antundhi!"

(Didn't I tell you? This girl will fall in love with someone and say she’ll only marry him! See, now she’s about to say that very thing!)

Nidhi’s eyes widened at the accusation. "Amma, adhi em kadhu!"

(Mom, it's nothing like that!)

"Then what?" Lakshmi asked, waiting.

Nidhi took a breath and let it out in one go.

"Amma, Akka and Arjun want to marry."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Lakshmi and Lokesh turned their gaze toward Divya. Divya couldn't meet their eyes her head hung low, her heart thumping against her ribs.

"They love each other, Amma," Nidhi spoke up, her voice earnest.

"He is a very good boy. Decent. He’s never looked at any other girl. He’s educated and he respects elders. And the best part? Akka will be with us in the next door! We can see her every day."

Lokesh and Lakshmi exchanged a look. They had known Arjun since he was a toddler. They had seen his character, his success, and his respect for them. Slowly, a smile touched Lokesh’s lips.

"If it’s ok for them, then it’s ok for us," Lokesh said.

Divya’s head snapped up, her eyes filling with tears of pure joy. She stood up and threw her arms around her mother. Nidhi stood up too, grinning.

"Thank you, Nidhi," Divya whispered into her sister's ear during the hug.

"Then let’s ask Annaya and Vadhina," Lakshmi said happily. "In the evening, we’ll go to their house for the match-making."

That evening, the two families gathered in Ramakrishna’s large living room. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine and the warmth of years of friendship.

Arjun and Divya sat near each other, though not too close, stealing glances and smiling shyly. Nidhi sat nearby, feeling like the architect of a masterpiece. Devarsh was the only one missing, still stuck at the office.

"We love Divya to be our daughter-in-law, Vadhina," Syamala said, reaching out to take Lakshmi’s hand. "I will love her like my own daughter."

Lakshmi nodded, her eyes bright. "We have been seeing Arjun from childhood. He is the best choice for our daughter."

"Then let’s arrange their marriage," Lakshmi concluded.

Arjun and Divya’s smiles were radiant. It was happening. Everything was perfect.

"I have a condition," Ramakrishna’s voice cut through the joy like a knife.

The room went still. Lakshmi, Lokesh, and even Syamala looked at him in total confusion. Syamala raised her eyebrow, silently asking him what he was doing.

Lokesh cleared his throat, sounding worried. "If you want any dowry, we can arrange..."

Ramakrishna shook his head firmly, cutting him off. "We don't want any kind of dowry. Just give us Divya, that’s it."

"But what was the condition?" Lokesh asked.

Ramakrishna leaned forward, his eyes falling on Nidhi, who was suddenly very still.

"I want Nidhi to get married with Devarsh."

The words felt like a bomb had been detonated in the center of the room. The celebratory atmosphere vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by a shock so profound that no one could even breathe.

____________

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