Author's POV
The late afternoon sun slanted through the wide windows of the Amin residence, scattering golden light across the patterned floor tiles. The house carried that comforting hum of quiet domestic life — the distant clatter of dishes from the kitchen, the faint rustle of leaves outside, the rhythm of another calm day.
Aleena sat at the dining table, her phone in hand, absently scrolling through a page she wasn't really reading. She had that habit — to scroll when her mind wandered. The scent of freshly brewed tea floated through the air, and from across the room, she could hear her Dadu's familiar chuckle.
He was on a call, phone pressed against his ear, eyes crinkled in amusement. His laughter — full, hearty, unguarded — filled the room in a way that always brought warmth to Aleena's heart. He had a way of making joy sound effortless. Dadi, sitting nearby, smiled quietly to herself, used to his spirited conversations.
For a moment, Aleena couldn't help but smile too. She loved seeing her grandfather like this — vibrant, alive, a reflection of the man who'd carried laughter and kindness through every hardship life had thrown his way.
But then, suddenly, something shifted.
The laughter trailed off. The cheer in Dadu's tone softened into something quieter, weightier. His hand that had been gesturing animatedly a moment ago now rested still on the armrest. His brow furrowed slightly, and his eyes — once bright with humor — took on a thoughtful gleam.
Aleena tilted her head slightly, curious. She couldn't hear what he was saying, not clearly at least. From her seat, only the low murmur of his voice reached her — calm, deliberate, serious. He nodded a few times, said something softly, and then looked toward Dadi.
With a brief motion of his hand, he gestured for her to come closer. Dadi set down her cup and moved beside him, leaning in to listen. They exchanged a few quiet words — so quiet Aleena could barely catch them — and then, together, they stood up. Dadu's expression remained steady, unreadable now. Dadi gave a small, almost knowing glance in Aleena's direction before the two of them quietly left the room.
Aleena blinked, her curiosity stirring, but she didn't ask. They often discussed family matters, sometimes old friends, sometimes neighbors. It wasn't unusual for Dadu to switch from laughter to reflection in the same conversation. She shrugged it off, turned back to her cup of tea, and let her thoughts drift elsewhere.
An hour later, Aleena was in her room, curled up on the window seat that overlooked the garden. A soft breeze drifted through the half-open window, playing with the edges of the curtain. She was pretending to read, but the words on the page barely registered. Her mind kept circling back to Dadu's call. Something about his sudden change in tone had unsettled her in ways she couldn't name.
Just then, she heard his voice calling down the hall.
"Rose!"
Her heart gave a small, involuntary jolt. He rarely called her that unless he wanted to talk — really talk.
She set her book aside and went quickly toward his room.
Inside, Dadu sat on the sofa near the window, the soft afternoon light brushing against his silver hair. His glasses rested beside him on the side table, and beside him sat Dadi, hands folded neatly in her lap. The air in the room felt heavier than usual — calm, but expectant.
"Come here, Rose," Dadu said, his tone gentle yet deliberate. He gestured to the seat across from him.
Aleena obeyed, though she felt a nervous flutter somewhere deep inside her chest.
He smiled faintly, studying her for a moment. "You know," he began, his eyes kind but steady, "I love you the most, don't you? Everything I say — everything I want for you — is only ever for your good."
She smiled in spite of her unease. "Of course, Dadu. I know."
He nodded. "And you also know that I only ever want what's best for you."
Her smile faded slightly. "You're making me nervous. What is this about?"
Dadu chuckled under his breath, though his eyes still held that calm gravity. "No need to be nervous. It's nothing bad." He paused, then said quietly, "Rayyan called me today."
" Rayyan dadu?" Aleena asked, tilting her head. "It's been a while since you spoke to him."
"Yes," Dadu said, leaning back. "We were laughing at first — you know how he is. But then he asked me for something."
Aleena blinked, uncertain. "Something?"
He met her eyes, his voice turning careful, measured. "He said he likes you for his grandson. Azlaan."
For a heartbeat, Aleena simply stared at him.
The name — Azlaan — seemed to hang suspended in the air, soft and deliberate, carrying far more weight than its two simple syllables should.
Her mind blanked. The room suddenly felt too still, too quiet. She could hear her own heartbeat echo faintly in her ears.
I shook my head, trying to find the right words. "How can you — how can they — think that? He's so... mature, responsible, calm. And me?" I gave a small, unsteady laugh. "I'm nothing like that. I have flaws, Dadu. So many. I can't just ruin someone's life by being—"
"Stop right there, Rose," Dadu interrupted softly but firmly. "What are you saying, child? Everyone has flaws. That doesn't make you any less worthy." He leaned forward, his eyes glistening with affection. "You are strong, kind, beautiful — everything a man would be lucky to have. Never let anyone, not even yourself, convince you otherwise."
"But it's true, Dadu," I murmured. "I can't change who I am."
He sighed, rubbing his temple gently. "This is your mother's doing," he said quietly. "She has filled your mind with self-doubt, with things that were never true. You are capable of anything, Rose. I can promise you that."
He watched her quietly, giving her time.
Aleena's fingers tightened slightly around the hem of her dupatta. "But... how? Why me?"
"Because he thinks highly of you," Dadu replied simply. "And so do I."
Her throat tightened She shook her head. "I'm nothing like that, Dadu. I'm flawed, uncertain, impulsive. I can't... I can't be someone's responsibility like that."
"Stop right there," Dadu said softly but firmly, leaning forward. His eyes — clear, wise, loving — held hers with quiet strength. "You are not a burden, Aleena. You never were."
She lowered her gaze, her voice trembling. "But I'm not—"
"You are everything," he said, his tone gentle but unyielding. "Kind, strong, compassionate. You see the good in people, even when they don't see it in themselves. That's worth more than any perfection you think you lack."
Dadi, who had been silent till now, reached over and placed a hand on Aleena's. "Your Dadu is right, beta. You underestimate yourself far too often."
Aleena's eyes stung, though she blinked the feeling away. "But what if they expect someone else? Someone more like them — composed, polished?"
Her Dadu smiled faintly. "You'd be surprised what people truly value once they look beyond the surface." He sighed, his tone softening further. "I know your mother's harsh words have made you doubt yourself, but you are capable of more than you think."
The room was quiet for a moment — the kind of quiet that hums softly with unspoken emotion. Dadu reached forward and took her hand in both of his, his touch warm and steady.
"Azlaan is a good boy," he said gently. "I've known him since he was a child. Honest, humble, grounded. His family is as noble as they come. If you agree to this, Rose, it might be the best decision of your life. You deserve to be loved, truly loved — and I believe he could do that."
Aleena swallowed hard. The sincerity in his voice settled deep in her chest, heavier than she expected.
"Dadu," she whispered, "you make it sound so easy."
He smiled, a touch of nostalgia in his eyes. "It isn't easy, my child. But life never is. The right person doesn't erase the challenges — they just make the journey less lonely."
Aleena sat quietly, her gaze drifting toward the window where the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in soft shades of amber and rose. His words lingered in her mind, echoing between her doubts and her hopes.
Finally, she looked back at him, her voice low. "I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything now," Dadu replied, patting her hand gently. "Take your time. Think about it. We've invited them for dinner in two days. You can decide by then."
Aleena nodded faintly, the weight of the moment pressing gently but firmly against her heart.
When she stood to leave, Dadi smiled, her eyes full of tenderness. "Whatever you decide, beta, just remember — you are enough."
Back in her room, the evening light had softened into dusk. The hum of the ceiling fan filled the silence. Aleena lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, her mind whirling with thoughts she couldn't quite untangle.
Azlaan.
His name kept replaying in her mind, quiet but insistent. She tried to picture him — his calm demeanor, his quiet strength, the faint smile he always wore in family gatherings. There was something distant yet steady about him, as if he belonged to a world of order while hers was built of scattered pieces.
Would he even agree to this? Would he want it?
She couldn't imagine why he would. He seemed so certain of everything — so unlike her, who still hesitated even when choosing a dress in the morning.
And yet, beneath the flood of self-doubt, something fragile and new stirred inside her — a flicker of warmth she hadn't expected.
Hope.
It scared her as much as it comforted her.
Dadu's words echoed in her ears: "Let yourself be loved, Rose. Life's journey is easier with the right companion."
She turned onto her side, clutching her pillow, and stared at wall
Maybe her Dadu was right. Maybe fate was already at work — quietly, patiently, weaving threads she couldn't yet see.
And for the first time in a long while, as the night settled softly around her, Aleena allowed herself to wonder — not with fear, but with the smallest, most delicate trace of hope — what it might feel like to be chosen.
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@authorlia._8
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