Chapter One

What is beauty? Is it the way you look on the outside? The inside? Or is it just something else? Many people might think of it as how they look, but to me? It never really mattered. All I think that matters is how a person acts, and nothing more. A person will only really attract to another, if they like their personality. That's what I believe.

Bapu always had high hopes for me. He would always dream of me being big one day and happy. My Bapu has always been loving. Not once has he ever scolded me in my life. Amma would tell him how he was spoiling me, but I never took advantage of his love.

As years of my life passed on, I graduated high school, went to college, graduated college, and now I help Bapu manage his small business.

"Khushi!"

Bapu was calling me. I was upstairs in my room, putting some stuff away. I headed downstairs and went into the living room.

"Gaurav Kaka!" I couldn't believe it. Gaurav Kaka is one of Bapu's old friends. He moves around from our town to the city for work.

"Arre Khushi," he said, "you're grown up so much!"

"Of course I've grown Kaka. If I don't grow up, whose gonna take care of Bapu?"

"Oh ho," Amma exclaimed, as she came into the room, "you're saying it in such a way like I don't exist."

"Bhabi, how are you," Kaka asked.

"I'm good, and you?"

"Awesome as ever!"

Amma and I headed to the kitchen while Bapu and Gaurav Kaka talked. We came back, Amma with a tray full of bowls with kheer, and I had a tray with cups of chai. They continued to talk and I stood by. After a while, Bapu and Kaka were heading outside. I handed Bapu his jacket and he smiled at me and left.

I was always there for Bapu - what would he do without me?

*~*

Once they were out, Gaurav had a question running through his mind.

"If you don''t mind me asking, Nayan," Gaurav began, "how come you haven't gotten Khushi married yet?"

"What can I say," Nayan replied. "I've always cared a lot for my daughter. It's always been that smile of hers that made me happy. It's hard to find a decent guy these days. Most of them are all messed up, and finding a decent guy isn't so easy."

"What if I said I know someone?"

Nayan widened his eyes. "You're joking right?"

"Nope. And Khushi is exactly the kind of bahu they're looking for. If you say so, then I will go to them with an alliance."

"Sure!"

'I'll just need a picture to show them."

"Sure, hold on a second."

Nayan went back to the house and got a picture of his daughter and headed right back out to give Gaurav the picture.

"I'm leaving for the city today," Gaurav said. "And don't you worry, I'm going over to the boys place tomorrow and I will definitely tell his family about Khushi."