when destiny plays

The morning in the Singh household was anything but peaceful. The melodious chime of the mandir ghanti echoed through the grand mansion, signaling the beginning of yet another chaotic day.

"Bhagwan ji, iske liye ek achi si ladki bhej do!" Aditya's mother, Sunita Singh, stood over his bed, ringing the bell with all the force she could muster. "Chhoti umar mein buddha ho raha hai! Chhoti chhoti umar ke ladke shaadi kar rahe hain, yeh bas logo ko darane mein laga hai! 34 saal ka ho gaya!"

Aditya groaned, pulling his blanket over his head. "Maa, aap phir shuru ho gayi? Subah subah shanti rakho!" His voice was gruff from sleep, but the irritation was clear.

"Shanti? Jab tak tu shaadi nahi karega, tab tak ghar mein shanti nahi hogi!" His mother declared, still ringing the bell dramatically over his head.

His elder brother, Kabir, entered with a smirk. "Maa sahi keh rahi hain, Adi. Itna discipline aur sincerity sirf business ke liye thodi na bacha ke rakhna hai. Biwi ke liye bhi rakho!"

His sister-in-law, Ananya, joined in, holding her five-year-old son in one arm. "Ma, iska jhada lagwao! Shayad tab isko akal aaye!"

Aditya sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "Aap log milke mujhe torture kyun kar rahe ho? Mera koi interest nahi hai abhi shaadi mein!"

His ten-year-old niece, Riya, hopped onto his bed. "Chachu, mujhe ek chachi chahiye! Please?" she pouted, blinking her big innocent eyes.

His nephew, Aryan, added, "Haan chachu, aapko bhi mummy-papa ki tarah fight karne ke liye koi chahiye!" The whole family burst into laughter.

Aditya groaned dramatically. "Bas! Mujhe tum logon ki shaadi conspiracy se bachne ke liye kaam pe jaana padega!" He got up, only to be ambushed by his mother, who forcefully applied a tikka on his forehead before he could escape.

"Maa! Yeh kya kar rahi ho?!"

"Teri negativity door kar rahi hoon, beta!" she grinned. "Ab ja, par dhyan rakh! Aaj tujhe koi acchi ladki mil sakti hai!"

Rolling his eyes, Aditya grabbed his coat and walked out of the house, shaking his head as the entire family laughed behind him.