Ella's mind was still reeling from the conversation with her mother the day before. She couldn't believe her parents were serious about arranging her marriage to someone she had never met. As she walked through the university campus, she felt like she was living in a dream, a dream that was quickly turning into a nightmare.
She spotted her best friend, Rachel, sitting on a bench, studying for an upcoming exam. Ella plopped down beside her, trying to shake off the feeling of unease that had been building up inside her. "Hey, Rach, I need to talk to you about something," Ella said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rachel looked up from her notes, concern etched on her face. "What's wrong, Ella? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Ella took a deep breath and told Rachel everything - about her mother's proposal, about Alexander, about the wedding set for next month. Rachel listened attentively, her expression changing from surprise to shock to empathy.
"Whoa, that's a lot to take in," Rachel said, her voice filled with understanding. "But why are your parents so keen on this arranged marriage thing?"
Ella shrugged. "I guess it's tradition or something. My parents come from old families, and I think they want to keep the family ties strong. But honestly, I don't know. I've never been into all that traditional stuff."
Rachel nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Well, you know I'm here for you, no matter what. But have you thought about meeting this Alexander guy? Maybe he's not as bad as you think."
Ella sighed. "I don't know, Rach. A part of me wants to meet him, to see if we can make this work. But another part of me is terrified. What if we don't get along? What if we want different things in life?"
Rachel smiled reassuringly. "One step at a time, Ella. Meet him, talk to him, and see how it goes. You never know, you might just hit it off."
Ella smiled weakly, feeling a glimmer of hope. Maybe Rachel was right. Maybe this arranged marriage thing wouldn't be so bad after all.
As they parted ways, Ella couldn't shake off the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even imagine. She wondered what Alexander was like, what he thought about this arranged marriage, and whether they would be able to find common ground.
The thought of meeting Alexander sent a mix of emotions through her - excitement, nervousness, and a hint of fear. What would he be like? Would they get along? Only time would tell