90s Café, Indore.

Th cafe with mostly tables empty, carried the warm smell of coffee beans and old Bollywood songs humming softly in the background.

At a corner table near the window, Shobhit was already seated, straight-backed and formal, occasionally checking his phone for work messages while his untouched glass of water rested beside him.

No flowers, no gifts, he genuinely did not know what people were supposed to do on arranged marriage meetings. On blind dates..

A few minutes later, the door of cafe opened and Preeti stepped inside, slightly hurried, her phone pressed to her ear.

“Pahunch toh gayi Mummy, par pehchaanu kaise?”
(I reached Mummy but how do I identify him?)

She whispered while scanning the café with uncertain eyes before taking a seat at another table.

Shobhit glanced at her once and then away; Preeti too looked at him briefly.

Both recognised each other vaguely from the school function they just came from. But didn't say a word to each other not even a smile passed. They just turned eyes other side, refusing to even consider each other's presence. Yet once in a while, thought crossing.

This IPS must be here for Blind date too..
This teacher must be here to meet someone..
Arrange Marriage issues!

The cafe remained silent.  A few minutes later, Shobhit received a call from his mother. He picked it up,
“Haan Ma, mai yahin hoon…Ji..”
(Yes Ma, I have reached.)

And placed the phone back on the table, looking outside the window. The cafe turned silent once again. The people of other tables left, only Preeti and Shobhit remained.

The waiter came to Preeti.

"Good Afternoon ma'am..Your order.."

Preeti smiled at him and said, "Just a cup of tea.."

The waiter nodded and turned to Shobhit.
"Sir.. would you like to have something now.."

"No.. I'm just, waiting for someone.." he replied. Waiter nodded and left. Preeti looked at him once, and just then a notification popped on her mobile screen.
A number.
And message, from her mother.
Call him.

Preeti let out a sigh and dialed it casually.

After 3 rings from Preeti's side, Shobhit’s phone rang, he answered and placed it on his ear,
“Hello”

They said in a sync.
And eyes lifted toward each other at the same time.

Is he?
Is She??

For a second, silence stretched between them before Preeti stood up with an awkward smile and walked to his table.

“Are you Mister Agrawal?” she asked softly.

Shobhit immediately rose to his feet and nodded.
“Miss Parmar?”

She smiled, disconnecting the call and nodded, she pulled a chair for herself to sit and spoke.
“Hum yahin baithe the aur pata hi nahi chala…”
(We were sitting across and couldn't recognise..)

She gave an awkward smile. Shobhit just nodded.
They both didn't know,
That the teacher he looked at for just a moment and the chief guest who arrived at her school. Will now be sitting across each other. On a blind date..

The awkwardness lingered between them, until the waiter came and placed the cup of tea before Preeti. Preeti looked at him and said,
"One more cup.."

And pushed her cup towards Shobhit. Shobhit looked up and said,
"No. I don't consume any beverages.."

Preeti and the waiter both looked at him as if they just encountered an alien. But then Preeti immediately turned her eyes back on waiter and with a big smile she spoke,
"Thankyou Bhaiya.."

He nodded and left. Preeti pulled the cup back to herself. They remained quiet for a while, studying each other in that silence, until Shobhit finally asked,

"Aap us school mein teacher hain?"
(You teach at that school?)

Preeti nodded and extended her hand politely.
"Preeti Parmar."

He shook it carefully, introducing himself in the same formal tone,
"IPS Shobhit Agrawal. 2017 batch. Eight years of service… abhi Indore mein posting hui hai."
(IPS Shobhit Agrawal. 2017 batch. Eight years of service… just got posted in Indore.)

Preeti nodded, "Meri bhi teaching mein chaar saal ka experience hai," she replied, wrapping her fingers around the steaming cup of tea placed before her. "Social Science padhati hoon… and.. I'm a trained classical dancer as well.."
(I also have four years of experience in teaching.)

Shobhit simply nodded. Silence settled once again between them until suddenly, in his usual straightforward manner, he asked,

"Toh… kya khayal hain aapke shaadi ke baare mein?"
(So… what are your thoughts about marriage?)

Preeti had just took a sip of her tea that she almost coughed on her tea and quickly placed the cup down.

"Sorry…" she murmured, startled. Wiping her mouth with the tissue.

Shobhit looked at her for moment longer and spoke in the same serious tone,
"Hum shaadi ke liye hi milne aaye hain toh… seedha pooch liya,"
(We've met for the purpose of marriage, so I asked directly.)

After a brief pause, he added, honestly.
"Sach kahun toh mera koi khaas interest nahi hai in sab mein. Bas thirties cross ho gayi hai… family pressure hai, isliye milne aa gaya."
(Honestly, I have no particular interest in all this. It's just that I've crossed my thirties… there's family pressure, so I came to meet.)

Preeti stayed quiet for a moment before smiling faintly.
"Aapke upar pressure thirties ke baad aaya hai… hum ladkiyon par toh pachees hote hi shuru ho jaata hai."
(The pressure came on you after your thirties… for us girls it starts the moment we turn twenty-five.)

For the first time, Shobhit looked at this girl sitting across him to study something she holds beneath that smile.
The words she said were evident.
She was forced to be here.
But he didn't say anything.
Because he was forced to be here as well.

His Grandmother. It's her last wish to witness him getting married and settle down. And he couldn't after her condition is getting serious.

And about Preeti, her Dad is retiring this year. And like every father who spent his entire life earning and spending on his childrens. Like every father who saved money every month just to meet his only daughters wedding expenses.

And watching him from last year being stressed over the same topic, Preeti had convienced herself.
She took a sigh she spoke,

"Waise interest mujhe bhi nahi hai shaadi mein. Mai apni job se enough earn kar leti hoon. Akele reh sakti hoon… khud ko sambhaal sakti hoon. Par family se bahut pyaar hai mujhe. Bas isliye… Papa jisse kahenge, mai usse shaadi kar lungi."
(Frankly, I have no interest in marriage either. I earn enough from my job. I can live alone… I can take care of myself. But I love my family deeply. It's only for that reason… whoever Papa says, I will marry him.)

Shobhit looked at her quietly for a moment before speaking in the same calm, straightforward tone,

"Mere paas bhi itna time nahi hai ki mai pachaas pachpan ladkiyan dekhkar reject karta rahun. Mujhe aapka jo bhi decision hoga, manzoor hoga. Aap haan kahe ya na…"
(I don't have so much time either that I keep meeting fifty-five girls and rejecting them. Whatever decision you make, I will accept it. Whether you say yes or no.)

There was no bitterness in his voice. No desperation either. Just simple honesty.

He picked up his cap and stood up. Seeing him rise, Preeti too hurriedly stood from her chair.

"Par meri kuch conditions hai…"
(But I have a few conditions.)

Shobhit paused and turned toward her, nodding once for her to continue.

"First thing..Jo mujhe bolne ki jarurat bhi nahi honi chahiye since, Aap ek reputed exam qualify karke ek reputed post par hain...
Phir bhi. Agar baat aaghe badhi, to I'll never allow my parents to give dowry.. It's illegal.."
(First thing… which I shouldn't even need to say, since you've qualified a reputed exam and hold a reputed post… Even so. If things move forward, I will never allow my parents to give dowry. It's illegal.)

Shobhit just nodded. He was an honest officer and well known of such evils existing in society and was strictly against it.

Preeti looked at his expression for a second before she said,
"Second..Kisi bhi situation mein mai apni job nahi chhodungi." She lowered her head just slightly and continued, "Mai teacher isliye nahi hoon taaki time pass ho ya paise mile. I'm in this field because I genuinely enjoy teaching. Ye mujhe independence deta hai.."
(Second… in any situation, I will not leave my job. I am not a teacher just to pass time or earn money. I'm in this field because I genuinely enjoy teaching. It gives me independence.)

She paused briefly before continuing, lifting her head proudly, meeting his gaze without hesitation.

"Aur jis school mein mai abhi hoon… paanch saal diye hain maine us jagah ko. I don't wanna ruin my hard work."
(And the school I am in right now… I have given five years to that place. I don't wanna ruin my hard work.)

Shobhit listened without interrupting. Then, very simply, he replied,
"I assure you… aisi koi situation nahi aayegi."
(I assure you… no such situation will arise.)

He breath in before he added,
"Aur agar meri posting bhi hoti hai, toh ye poori tarah aapka decision hoga ki aap school aur sheher chhodna chahti hain ya nahi."
(And even if I get a transfer posting, it will be entirely your decision whether you want to leave the school and the city or not.)

Preeti looked at him, and with a small smile she nodded.
A relief in her chest that the man she met just now, for marriage… won't take dowry, won't make her leave her job.

He extended his hand gesturing her to walk forward so that they can leave the place. But Preeti stopped at cash counter.

Shobhit remembered and he had just taken out his wallet to pay when the cashier informed him softly, "Paid already, sir."

He turned. Preeti was slipping her purse back into her bag.

"I was paying, Miss Parmar." he spoke.

Preeti turned to him and smiled,
"Chai maine pee thi," she replied with a tiny smile, "pay bhi mai hi karungi."
(I was the one who had the tea, so I will pay for it too.)

For a second, Shobhit simply looked at her. Then he quietly put his wallet back without arguing further.

Outside the café, the evening air carried the faint smell of rain and traffic smoke. They walked toward the parking side together.

"Aap chahein toh mai aapko drop kar sakta hoon," Shobhit offered politely.
(If you'd like, I can drop you.)

But Preeti was already wearing her helmet.
She smiled lightly.

"Thank you but… meri gaadi hai."
(Thank you but… I have my own vehicle.)

Shobhit's eyes shifted toward the scooty standing beside her and then back at her face. He simply nodded.

Preeti tucked the saree pallu on her waist, and locked the helmet strap before speaking again, slightly hesitant this time.

"Waise…" she paused for a second, "I would be glad agar aap mujhe thoda time de paaye."
(Actually… I would be glad if you could give me a little time.)

"Hm?" he lifted his gaze, slightly confused.

"Actually… mai is baare mein thoda sochna chahti hoon. I'll inform you… do din mein."
(Actually… I want to think about this a little. I'll inform you… within two days.)

"Sure," he answered immediately. No pressure. No insistence.

Then he got inside his car while Preeti started her scooty. For one brief second, both glanced at each other through the café lights that read, 90s cafe and then before drove away in opposite directions.

The next morning, 11:55 AM. Sharda Vidyalaya.

"THE IPS SHOBHIT AGRAWAL?" Ritika practically screamed inside the staff room.
Preeti instantly covered her mouth. Looking once at the remaining staff and muttering a soft sorry.
Then looking back at Ritika,

"Chup hoja meri ma.." she whispered sharply.
(Please be quiet, for heaven's sake.)

But Ritika slipped her hand from her mouth and this time she whispered back dramatically. Her eyes went wider.
"Teri shaadi usse hone waali hai!"
(You're going to get married to him!)

"Maine haan nahi kahi ab tak…" Preeti replied turning towards her table.
(I haven't said yes yet.)

But Ritika stood up and walked the other side looking at her face,
"Tu usi se milne gayi thi? Function ke baad kaun keh raha tha 'manners nahi hai unme'?"
(You went to meet him? Who was it after the function saying 'he has no manners'?)

"Toh mujhe kya pata tha Mummy usi se milne bhej rahi hai!" Preeti said pouting innocently.
(How was I supposed to know Mummy was sending me to meet him!)

Ritika dropped on chair and dragged Preeti's chair closer instantly, curiosity glowing in her eyes.

"Bata na phir kya baat hui tumhari?"
(Tell me then, what did you two talk about?)

"Career… shaadi… job…" Preeti whispered softly, trying to remember what to name their conversation.
(Career… marriage… job…)

But Ritika had her mind somewhere else, with her eyes glowing she asked,

"Kitni girlfriends rahi hongi unki? Mere hisaab se baarah pandrah toh pakka."
(How many girlfriends must he have had? In my estimation, twelve to fifteen at least.)

"Pagal hai kya?" Preeti almost gasped. "Ye sab kaise poochti mai?"
(Are you crazy? How would I ask all that?)

"Toh poocha kya tune?"
(So what did you ask then?)

"Kuch nahi…"
(Nothing…)

"Haaye Ram!" Ritika held her head dramatically. "Ye toh pooch leti honeymoon par kaha jayenge, bacche kitne chahiye.."
(Oh God! You could have at least asked where they'll go for the honeymoon, how many children he wants…)

She continued, But Preeti was no longer listening.

Her attention had shifted outside the staff room window.
Her expression changed instantly.
Without another word, she abruptly stood up.

"Tu ruk… mai aati hoon."
(You wait… I'll be back.)

Before Ritika could ask anything further, Preeti hurried out of the room. Students were leaving their classes, wishing her politely, "Good day, ma'am!" but she barely responded, almost running through the corridor with her eyes fixed on only one thing.

A black government vehicle entering the school premises.
And Shobhit stepping out of it.

Dressed in uniform, he adjusted his sunglasses casually before walking toward the corridor with his usual composed stride. Teachers passing by looked at him for a moment while students whispered among themselves about yesterday's function.

But before he could enter any classroom, someone suddenly grabbed his arm, pulled him sharply to the side corridor and pushed him lightly against the wall.
A hand immediately covered his mouth before he could react.

His reflexes tensed for a second, until his eyes lifted.

And found her.
Miss Preeti Parmar...