Return ke baad sab normal lag raha tha.
Par "normal" kabhi permanent nahi hota.
Ek Sunday brunch par family ne casually pucha —
"Ab next step kya hai?"
Aarav ne smile ki.
Anaya ne water sip kiya.
Woh "next step" sab ke liye obvious tha.
Unke liye… optional.
Ghar laut kar balcony me khade the.
Aarav:
"Pressure feel hua?"
Anaya:
"Thoda.
Par mujhe pressure se zyada pattern se darr lagta hai."
Aarav:
"Kaunsa pattern?"
Anaya:
"Log decide kar dete hain ki tumhari happiness ka timeline kya hona chahiye."
Silence.
Is baar uncomfortable nahi.
Thinking wala.
Anaya ne seedha bola —
"Mujhe shaadi se problem nahi.
Mujhe autopilot se problem hai."
Aarav ne deep breath liya —
"Then let's not react.
Let's choose."
Unhone ek aur pact likha:
Decision excitement se hoga.
Fear ya comparison se nahi.
External noise mute.
Internal voice full volume.
✨ To be continued…