I turn to look at him, my heart aching. He’s always been the one to fight for us, and this time, I promise him I’ll fight too. I swear I won’t back down, no matter how many doors slam in our faces.
But no matter how brave I try to be, fear coils around my chest, tightening with every passing mile. What if his parents don’t understand? What if we’re blindly walking into heartbreak, full of hope, only to be torn apart?
As if sensing my uncertainty, he glances at me. “Sana, we’ll be okay.”
I swallow hard, forcing down the lump in my throat, and lace my fingers together in my lap to stop them from shaking. “You don’t know that,” I whisper.
He reaches out, his hand finding mine. “No, I don’t,” he admits. “But I know I’m not letting go,” he says, his voice low but unwavering. “Even if it’s just you and me against the world.”
Tears prick my eyes, but I blink them away and nod in agreement. Because that’s what I promised, and that’s what I’m standing by. No matter how terrifying it might be, I mean what I said. I choose him. I choose us.
The car slows as we approach my house, and my stomach clenches.
Aditya exhales as he pulls up in front of my house.
“Here comes our first step,” he says quietly.
I turn to him, my heart pounding against my ribs as panic starts to take hold. “We’re… we’re doing it now?”
He meets my gaze. “Yes. We’re going in and talking to your mom. Now.”
A lump lodges in my throat. My fingers dig into my lap, clutching at the hem of my dress. “Can’t it wait?” I ask, feeling all my strength vanishing. “Just a little longer? A few more days?”
His eyes darken. “Sana, we can’t keep stalling. We made a promise to build a life together, and for that to happen, this is the first step.”
“I know, but what if she thinks this is a bad idea?” My voice cracks, and I hate how small I sound.
Aditya reaches over, his hand warm as it closes over mine. “Then we’ll convince her otherwise until she’s on board with us.” His voice is steady, his eyes earnest. “But we won’t give up.”
Tears sting the back of my eyes. I nod, even though every part of me is trembling inside.
He squeezes my hand. “We go in. We face her. And no matter what, we will still choose each other. Agreed?”
I swallow hard, forcing down my fear. “Agreed.”
With a final deep breath, he opens the car door, and I do the same. Aditya comes to my side, placing his hand on my back as he guides me toward my house.
My fingers shake as I press the doorbell. I swear I can hear my own heartbeat pounding loudly as I wait. Aditya stands beside me, his presence solid, grounding. But it doesn’t stop the fear clawing at my chest.
Then, after what feels like an eternity, though it’s only a few minutes, the door swings open. My mother stands there, her eyes widening slightly as she takes us in. Surprise flickers across her face, but she quickly masks it with a neutral expression.
“Aditya, Sana,” she says.
With a smile, Aditya bends down and touches her feet. My mother’s hand grazes the top of his head as she gives him her blessing.
He straightens up and looks her in the eye. “Aunty, we need to talk. It’s important.”
She holds his gaze for a long moment before nodding. “Come in.”
We step inside as Mom closes the door behind us, and we settle on the couch side by side. She takes a seat across from us, her eyes flicking between me and Aditya.
“Go on,” she says, folding her hands in her lap, as if she already suspects what’s coming. “Say what you’ve come to say.”
I glance at Aditya. He nods at me before turning back to Mom.
“Aunty,” he begins, “Sana and I love each other, and we’d like your blessing to get married.”
My mom’s expression doesn’t change, but her fingers tighten slightly over the fabric of her saree. Her gaze shifts to me, searching, questioning.
