After everyone leaves, Anirudh turned to Vasudha with a warm smile.

Anirudh: "Vasudha, aap change kar lijiye. Main wait kar raha hoon."

Vasudha nodded with a grateful smile, appreciating Anirudh's considerate gesture. She headed to her room to change into more comfortable clothes. Meanwhile, Anirudh made his way to the kitchen, determined to help with the chores.

Anirudh rolled up his sleeves and began washing utensils and tidying up the kitchen. The sound of running water and clinking utensils echoed in the otherwise quiet space. Anirudh, focused on his task, was engrossed in cleaning, when Vasudha entered the kitchen, curious about what's Anirudh doing.

Vasudha: "Yeh aap kya kar rahe hain?"

Anirudh looked up with a soapy sponge in hand, a playful glint in his eyes.

Anirudh: "Safai."

Vasudha, pleasantly surprised, couldn't help but smile at the sight of Anirudh diligently washing dishes.

Vasudha: "Arrey Aap kyu kar rahe hai. mai sab kar leti."

Anirudh: "Aap bhul gayi aap meri ardhangini hai. Sara kaam aadha aadha!"

Vasudha: "Raichand Ji mai jaanti hu par aap kyu pareshaan ho rahe hai."

Anirudh: "Toh aap aap sabke liye itna acha khaana bana kar pareshaan hui?"

Vasudha: "Nahi, nahi, bilkul nahi. Apni family ke liye sab kar ke Bahut accha lagta hai!"

Anirudh: "Exactly! You are my family!"

Vasudha: "But you are a man!"

Anirudh: "What? So I can't do basic things like these? Vasudha aap bahut galat soch rahi hai! everyone should know basic living skills and do them. There's no man/woman in this! Aur mai toh hamare saare bacchon ko bhi yahi sikhaunga!"

Vasudha: "But Raichand ji! aap yeh sab..."

Anirudh: "Kya Vasudha? I must tell you that I am truly disappointed to know that you thing household chores should only be done by women. Please change this thought process of yours otherwise what will we teach our kids!"

Vasudha: " Aapne kids ke baare me socha hai?"

Anirudh: " Umm I am sorry, mai aapko uncomfortable feel nahi karaana chahta hai par yes I did. Kal raat I was thinking about our kids. Honestly pehli Baar maine kids ke bare me socha but I am sorry agar aapko kids nahi chahiye then we won't."

Vasudha: "Nahi nahi I love kids but kabhi socha nahi. By the way how many kids do you want?"

Anirudh decides not to break that thought and make her nervous: " Woh mai aapko baad me bataunga, abhi yahan ka sab kaam ho gaya hai toh aaiye baat karte hai?"

Vasudha: "Ji aap baithiye mai paani le kar aati hu."

Anirudh nods, smiles and leaves to settle on the couch. A while later, Vasudha comes with 2 glasses and jug of water, keeps them on the table and settles on the couch.

Anirudh breaks the ice: " I loved the snacks!"

Vasudha: " Thank you. Aapko aur kya pasand hai khane me. Mai bana dungi dinner ke liye."

Anirudh: "Par aapne dinner bana toh liya. "

Vasudha: " Ji par mujhe pata nahi tha ki aapko kya pasand hai. Isle maine thoda bahut bana diya tha."

Anirudh: " Haan toh abhi Thodi der mahi kha lenge. Itni jaldi mat kariye meri pasand ka khaana banane ki. Puri life padi hai, aapke haath ka aur aapke hi haath se khaana khaane ke liye."

Vasudha blushes at his statement and looks up to find him already looking at her.

Anirudh: "Acha mai aapse kuch puchun?"

Vasudha: "Ji puchiye"

Anirudh: "Aap apne aap ko aur Aangan ko financially support kaise karti hain?"

Vasudha, without a hint of hesitation, shared her professional journey.

Vasudha: "Main ek Chartered Accountant hoon aur McKinsey mein kaam karti hoon."

Anirudh's eyes widened in surprise.

Anirudh: "McKinsey? What! How old are you?!"

Vasudha, with a calm demeanor, replied, "I am 22"

Anirudh, taken aback by her achievements at such a young age, couldn't help but express his shock.

Anirudh: "You are a Chartered Accountant at 22! And that too at McKinsey? How?!"

Vasudha, with a modest smile, explained, "Pata nahi. Maine kuch galat kiya kya?"

Anirudh: "No no! I am just impressed and immensely proud of you! This is totally unexpected. Acha aapko hammer age difference se koi problem toh nahi hai, I mean I am 28 that's 6 years older than you.."

Vasudha, understanding his concern, reassured him with a gentle smile.

Vasudha: "Nahi aisa kuch nahi hai, aap mujhe pasand hai."

Anirudh, still slightly blushing from the depth of his feelings, decided to express his admiration more openly: "Aap bhi mujhe bahut pasand hain, Vasudha."

Vasudha, touched by his words, couldn't hide her own blush. Anirudh, encouraged by the warm atmosphere, continued, "Aapko bura na lage, toh main aapka haath pakad sakta hoon?"

Vasudha, smiling, extended her hand to him and blushed. Anirudh gently held her hand, and the warmth of the touch seemed to create an invisible bond between them. Emboldened, Anirudh, with a curious glint in his eyes, asked, "Aur aap office kab jaati hain?"

Vasudha, still enjoying the newfound closeness, replied, "Main actually ghar se kaam karti hoon."

Anirudh, genuinely intrigued, questioned further, "Oh, that's interesting. Aur aapki salary kya hai?"

Vasudha, with a slight smile, revealed, "2 Lacs per month."

Anirudh's eyes widened in genuine surprise and admiration. "Wow! My starting salary at our family business was 50,000 rupees a month! Abhi yeh haal hai aapka toh aage kya hoga!"

Vasudha couldn't help but laugh at his admiration of her!

Anirudh, struck with an idea, spoke up, "Vasudha, kya aap Raichand Group ke Accounting Department ko head karengi, please? "

Vasudha, taken aback, hesitated, "Raichand Ji, I don't think I am capable enough, aur pata nahi ghar par sabko Kaisa lage."

Anirudh, earnestly looking into her eyes, said, "Vasudha, you are 22! You are a Chartered Accountant that too at McKinsey. If you are not capable, then who is! Aur family? Everyone at home is crazy about you! Each one of them loves you!"

Vasudha, touched by his confidence in her, smiled gratefully and said: "But phir bhi aapko ek Baar bado se puchna chahiye."

Anirudh nods in agreement to her suggestion and decides to bring it up at the breakfast table tomorrow.

This is what marriage is like, right? You communicate, understand each other, discuss opinions, share suggestions, appreciate each other's hard work and see them for they really are, respect them for their true self!

Anirudh: "Vasudha, main chahta hoon ki aap ab se bilkul bhi akeli na rahein. Kya aapko acha lagega ki aap meri ghar shift ho jaayein, shaadi se pehle? Ya phir Nakul Chachu aur Pallavi Chachi yahan aayein aapke saath rahne ke liye? Jo bhi aap kahenge, kal hi woh hoga."

Vasudha, taking a moment to process the proposal, replied, "Umm par yahan par bahut kuch manage karna hai. Aur aap Chachu-Chachi ko please mat pareshaan kariyega. Wedding is in less than a week."

Anirudh, understanding her situation, reassured her, "Vasudha, family ke liye kabhi koi pareshaan nahi hota. Kal hi Chachu aur Chachi yahan aayenge, aur officially aapki side se honge!"

With the logistical details settled, Anirudh shifted the conversation to another important aspect.

Anirudh: "Acha Vasudha. Aapki dream wedding kya hai?"

Like every girl, Vasudha too has her entire wedding planned in her head but she just says: "Aisa kuch bhi nahi hai. Jaisa sabko sahi lage."

Anirudh argues, "Bilkul nahi! Google ne bola that ki every girl knows what she wants for her wedding, decoration, dance, food, outfits everything! I want you to tell me everything in detail varna mai aapse bilkul baat nahi karunga!"

Vasudha: "aap please naraaz mat hoiye! Sach me aisa kuch nahi hai."

Anirudh: " Please Vasudha, I am going to be your husband, if not me who is supposed to fulfil your wishes, ensure your happiness and on top of everything, please be truthful with me!"

Vasudha goes to her bedroom, gets a folder and hands it to Anirudh. He opens it to find every little thing related to wedding: decor, flowers, jai-maala, her Lehenga, the grooms outfit everything, rings!

Anirudh smiles as he flips through the pages and tells Vasudha that he'll pick her up at 11 AM tomorrow. They exchange smiles and wish each other good night.