“Hi”, Atul said smiling towards elegant girl sitting in front of him. Her elegance indeed, set her apart from his other prospective brides, he thought as Amaya's scrutinizing eyes sensed his tired appearance. She realized that her prospective groom indeed, was coming directly from work just like her.

Amaya got up and shook hands with Atul as she greeted him politely. Clad in a sky blue formal shirt, Atul looked like a pure gentleman but Amaya waited for him to open his mouth before making any judgement.

As Amaya and Atul took their seats, Atul explained, “I am sorry to keep you waiting.”

Amaya smiled politely and reverted a small ‘okay’ in response.

“So, how was your day?” Atul chimed in as he glanced at the laptop bag of Amaya. She was coming straight from work, he thought and immediately felt guilty to have kept her waiting.

He could not help but admire the long, curled eyelashes of the woman sitting in front of him who, no doubts, had captivating eyes.

“I had a wonderful day till I realized I had to meet His Highness who has finally arrived”, Amaya muttered in a low voice.

Though, she was barely audible, Atul heard the remark and took a deep breath. He guffawed, “I am extremely sorry, Your Highness but the delay was not intentional.”

Amaya instantly felt bad for voicing out insane thoughts so she covered up, “Atul, actually the thing is, I have met so many boys and I hate this exercise truly. Meeting and getting rejected is the new routine and I despise it.”

Atul closed his eyes for once as he agreed with her. Completing her words, he admitted, “I too loathe this exercise. Rejection hurts.”

They both gave a tight lipped smile to each other sympathizing with themselves with unsaid words when the waiter came to take their order.

While Atul ordered a latté for himself, Amaya politely denied and he was indeed, taken aback.

“Why?” he politely questioned her signalling the waiter to wait for a while.

“Umm... I just finished my cappuccino”, Amaya chortled sheepishly to which he playfully commented, “I would be pleased if you have one more with me”.

With a small smile on her adorable heart-shaped lips which did not go unnoticed by Atul, Amaya rattled off her order.

“So, how is work at your end?” Atul asked to initiate a small conversation.

“To tell you frankly, it is amazing. I am currently working as the Senior Marketing Consultant at Novartis leading a team of twenty people and I am looking forward for a promotion soon.” Amaya chimed in excitedly as she went on explaining her career plans.

Atul silently smiled admiring her enticing antics. He revered her passion towards her job. He always wanted a girl who was passionate towards her career in his life and somewhere, he wished that she must not reject him.

Amaya, on the other hand, wondered how the chauvinistic male sitting before her would react. Giggling, she waited for his response.

Atul, who was mesmerized by Amaya, could not help but compliment her, “I admire your dedication towards your career. This is really good.”

Amaya mumbled a small ‘thanks’ as she complimented him, “I am glad that you wholeheartedly appreciate my passion.”

“Well! I am actually the supporter of women working in the corporates”, Atul chimed in with a smile plastered on his face.

“This is appreciable. You know once I met a guy who was pissed off because I am looking forward to work after marriage”, Amaya confessed partially to read his mind.

Atul, who genuinely wanted to support those women who preferred to carve out their own future themselves, responded, “Amaya, I am glad you didn’t compromise because no one has right to chop off your wings and create hurdles in your journey.”

Amaya chortled, “Are you sure you are a CA?” giving him an amused look.

Baffled at the weird question, Atul countered, “Well! Yes. You can enquire about my profile at the Kothari Mehta & Company but why?”

“I thought you are some doppelganger of Atul and you are a poet by profession”, Amaya guffawed.

Understanding the meaning of her words, Atul chuckled and they both shared a good laughter.

“Can His Highness cook?” Amaya asked playfully. Born and brought up like a princess, Amaya was anything but a brat. She considered cooking as a basic life saving skill despite, she cooked really well. She just wanted to know more about Atul, her prospective groom and his views about men working in the kitchen.

“Amaya, I am a big foodie but unfortunately, I can’t cook much. I stay alone in Delhi and I have appointed a cook for myself. On the days she is absent, I survive on porridge or khicdi.” Atul admitted the truth while Amaya listened to him attentively.

“If your wife is ill and it’s raining heavily. There are no signals in your phone and the maid is also not available. What will you do?” Amaya asked just like a curious child.

Narrowing his eyes, Atul chuckled at the innocent girl as he guffawed, “I guess, khicdi is good for health so, I will add lots of veggies with the lentils and rice to prepare the khicdi.”

“I don’t like khicdi”, Amaya whined pouting and instantly bit her lips realizing her stupidity.

Atul cackled, “I will make soup for you then", and an awkward silence prevailed for a while.

“Umm... Can you cook?” Atul fumbled with his words as he tried to ease out the discomfort between them.

Amaya nodded her head as she tried to make a small talk, “Apparently I cook well", praising herself.

“I would love to try the meals cooked by you", Atul chortled at which Amaya jibed, “only at breakfast, lunch or dinner time”.

“Of course, why would I demand to eat at any other absurd time interval?” Atul asked raising his brows in amusement.

“Because you are not umm... Parrot”, Amaya muttered leaving Atul baffled.

“Who is Parrot?” Atul questioned cracking up at once. He could not withhold his laughter at the interesting conversation with his prospective bride.

“Once I met a guy clad in a parrot green shirt”, Amaya chuckled remembering an absurd meet with a businessman years ago who wore a green shirt. She tried to recall his name but could not succeed so she told, “I don’t remember his name so let’s call him parrot.”

“Don’t call me Sky!” Atul croaked bewildered at an interesting nickname.

Amaya chortled, “Nah! I will remember your name, Atul”.

“I am honoured, Amaya”, Atul retorted trying to imitate British accent but miserably failed earning a chuckle from Amaya.

“So, what did parrot do?” asked Atul giving a tight lipped smile.

“He said or more like ordered me that he needs freshly prepared meal whenever he comes home be it even one at night”, Amaya answered remembering the weird conversation with her parrot.

“Weirdo”, Atul commented realizing that it was indeed, an unreasonable demand.

“I clearly told him that even a full-time maid would cook meals only on the designated meal time”, Amaya admitted fiercely.

“Exactly”, Atul agreed and nodded in affirmation.

“Apparently, he found me too sly to stay with him”, Amaya muttered leaving him aghast. It took a minute for Atul to realize that parrot rejected Amaya because she did not agree with his unrealistic demand.

“Its good that you and Parrot didn’t end up together”, Atul guffawed as he glanced at the pretty eyelashes of Amaya. He was surely smitten with her eyes.