Aaron had decided—today was to prepare. But he didn't want it to be ordinary; he wanted it to be special, something Apoorva would remember forever. And for that, he needed Meera, his younger sister, who had a magic touch with sketches. He found her in her room, sprawled across the floor, surrounded by scattered pencils and sketchbooks, lost in her art. Aaron hesitated at the door, the familiar teasing pangs he always threw at her feeling meaningless now.
"Meera," he said, voice catching slightly, "I need a huge favor." Meera looked up, one eyebrow shooting into the sky. "A huge favor? From you? Let me guess—you broke something again, or are you about to embarrass yourself in front of the whole world?" Aaron forced a sheepish grin. "Okay, nothing's broken this time… I promise. I just… I need you to draw something for me. And it's gotta be really, really special—so don't mess it up." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Special, huh? Wait… hold on. You've never asked me to draw anything for you before. Now suddenly it's 'special'? What changed? And what made you suddenly believe in my art? Spill it—I'm dying of curiosity!"
Aaron swallowed hard, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's… nothing, really. I just… I need you to draw someone for me. That's all." Meera leaned forward, eyes twinkling with mischief, and teased, "What? Someone special? Come on, Aaron! Tell me who the lucky lady is—the one who's about to get the full Aaron treatment and become the newest member of our chaotic little world!"
Aaron's cheeks tinged pink as he replied shyly, "I… I've told you about one of the managers at our company… Appu...Apoorva. That's her." Meera chuckled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Ahaa! Appu, huh? Just saying her name makes you all shy—imagine how you must act at the office around her! Ha ha… wait, did you even tell Mom and Dad about this?"
Aaron nodded, his expression serious yet hesitant. "This is just from my side, Meera. I haven't told Mom and Dad… I don't know how she feels or what her answer would be. I want to be sure about her feelings first before letting them know." Meera shook her head with a teasing smile, yet her voice softened slightly. "Which girl in this world would ever reject you, my dear brother? Seriously… what's there to reject? Any girl who looks at you would think she's the luckiest person alive."
Aaron waved his hands, "Okay, okay, enough with the praises! I'm not paying you for your art here, Meera—so focus, will you?", Meera gasped dramatically, hand on her chest. "What? No payment? Hmph… fine, I guess I can let it slide. After all, it's going to be the first gift to my dear sister-in-law. For that… I'll do it free of cost—just this once!"
Meera leaned back, eyes narrowing in playful suspicion. "Wait… hold on. How am I even supposed to draw her? I know what you look like, Aaron, but not her! And I'm just as eager as I am curious to see the one who stole your heart."
Aaron froze, a little panic creeping in. That was the problem—Apoorva didn't post pictures anywhere. She led a quiet, private life, staying far away from social media. No Instagram selfies, no Facebook photos, nothing at all. The only image Aaron had was a tiny, official headshot from the office employee list, one that barely captured her personality.
"I… I don't really have a proper picture," he admitted, fumbling with his phone. "She doesn't… post online. She prefers to keep her life private." Aaron hesitated for a moment, showed Meera the only picture he had—Apoorva's tiny, official office headshot.
Meera stared at the phone, her initial excitement fading into a quiet unease. She could sense that Apoorva might have been pretty once, but the scar on her cheek made her face look pained and somewhat uncomfortable to see. Meera frowned, torn between teasing Aaron and feeling a pang of concern. She couldn't understand how her brother had fallen for someone who, at least in this picture, seemed so different from the vibrant person he described.
Meera's voice softened, a hint of concern threading through her teasing tone. "Aaron… are you sure you are talking about her till now, is the same person you are showing me?", Aaron met her gaze calmly, though his mind had already anticipated this very question from their family. He knew she was testing his resolve, and he didn't flinch. Deep down, he had known this answer for anyone who might doubt his feelings—now was no different.
Aaron tilted his head, a small, teasing frown forming on his face. "What's the matter, Meera? Isn't she beautiful… or do you think I'm not worthy of her?"
Meera's voice turned serious, edged with concern. "Aaron… could you please stop? You're my perfect brother, and I just don't think she's the right one for you. Don't even joke about worthiness—this isn't about who's worthy or not. I just… I don't feel she's right for you."
Aaron looked at Meera, curiosity mixed with a hint of defensiveness in his voice. "Why… why do you feel she's not right for me?", Meera leaned closer, her tone serious but still edged with teasing. "Look at her, Aaron… really look. You were handsome, fair, smart and someone who matches you should match your charm. She isn't perfect. I mean, not for you."
Aaron furrowed his brow, a mix of curiosity and mild defensiveness in his voice. "Perfect? Perfect in what aspects, Meera?" Meera waved her hand dramatically, her eyes wide with mock exasperation. "Beauty, Aaron! That's the first thing anyone notices. She… she just isn't that pretty instead she is awful!"
Aaron's voice trembled, soft yet unwavering, carrying the weight of his heart. He took a slow breath, his eyes glistening as he faced Meera. "Meera… beauty… what does it even mean? Do you know how beautiful she is to me? Not the way the world defines beauty—not her face, not her height, not her eyes, her smile, or anything people obsess over in magazines or social media. None of that can ever capture what she truly is."
He paused, as if the words themselves were too fragile to speak. "Her beauty… it's in her heart. It's in the kindness she gives without expecting anything in return, the courage she carries quietly, the honesty that makes everyone around her feel safe and valued. She sees people… truly sees them… and that's the kind of beauty that changes lives, Meera. That's the beauty that touches souls."
Aaron's voice softened, breaking slightly with vulnerability. "I know the world has become narrow-minded, judging beauty by shallow standards, by appearances alone. But Apoorva… she would outshine anyone, in any crowd, without even trying. And yet… sometimes I feel… I am not worthy to hold her hand. She deserves everything—joy, love, a lifetime of stars—and I… I can only hope to give her even a fraction of what she deserves, just by being herself."
He stepped closer, eyes searching Meera's, his voice almost a whisper now, trembling with raw honesty. "You asked if she's right for me… Meera, she is. She's everything I didn't know I was missing. She has touched my life in ways I can't even describe. And I… I love her… more than words could ever hold. More than my heart ever thought it could give. And I don't know why this heart becomes smooth around her."
Aaron's gaze fell, and he added softly, almost as if confessing to himself as much as to Meera: "If love were measured in moments, smiles, courage, and quiet strength… then Apoorva is the most infinite thing I've ever known. And I can't imagine my life without her."
Aaron's voice softened, carrying a reverence that made Meera pause. "And you… you were talking about that scar on her face? Yes, I admit, to someone who doesn't know her, it might seem like an ugly mark. But to me… it's not a flaw. It's a symbol of her real beauty. A mark that tells a story of strength, courage, and resilience. It's as if God Himself left it there to honor her spirit, to show the world that true beauty isn't flawless—it's lived, it's endured, and it shines even through the scars."
He looked at Meera, eyes glistening, voice trembling slightly with emotion. "That mark… that little imperfection… it makes her even more real, more alive, more beautiful in my eyes than anyone I've ever known. It's part of my story, part of who she is… and I wouldn't want it any other way."
Aaron's voice grew softer, almost reverent, as he continued, "The story behind that mark… Meera, that's the ultimate thing. That's what made me fall for her. It's not just a scar… it's proof of , everything she has endured, and yet… she remains the kind, strong, and beautiful person I've come to love with all my heart."
Aaron continued, "I know you wouldn't understand what I told till now, but one day you would finally know how beautiful her soul was and I promise you wouldn't feel regret about choosing her!"
With this Meera understood the heaviness of the words her brother spoke and the weight he was carrying about Apoorva, she unknowingly accepted Apoorva into their family from a corner of her heart, even though majorly she couldn't figure out the reason, but convinced with the words of her brother she accepted her.
Meera with soft smile, "Aaron, when are you going to reveal the things to her that your heart is desperately holding from a long time?"
Aaron with light smile replied, "As soon as you finish the assigned work." Both of them chuckled with whole-heartedly reducing the weight of possibility with positive hope they are waiting for.