different expectations

Start your story with one character setting up a romantic dinner, and end it with them looking at a framed wedding photo.

Their culture it was dinner, marriage and forever. There wasnt any room for negotiation, other then the alternative shame. Shame for them, their family and her future husband as well as his family. Most woman in her village waited for this moment rejoiced in it, she didnt. Infact she spent the last three months trying to think of a way out of it without destroying her family.

Ananya wasnt sure why she wasnt like other girls in her village, but she couldnt help who she was. She dreamed of being more then a wife and a mother, sure she wanted those things but she wanted more. The main reason why she was going along with this dinner was because her intended was in America and thats where she wanted to go. 

Naveen had no interest in a wedding, a wife or any other plans his family had for him, and he intended to inform them of his decision at dinner. From the time he was little he always just assumed he would marry a nice Indian woman and live in India, but after 4 years in America everything had changed. 

The whole four years Naveen didnt give into the pleasures of the flesh, but worse he let his mind. Still in his country woman had a certain amount of serbiant additude, sure they were great mothers and wifes but why did that have to be all they were? He wasnt so much worried about a physical attraction that had never been a problem with woman in his village they were attractive enough but he wanted more. He wanted a woman he could talk to, listen to, and dare he wish for someone to laugh with.  

Ananya and her family flew out to New York where her intended would be, her mom talking the whole time about a life with her new husband. To her relief Naveens family had gone the day before, to prepare for her and her families arrival. 

Naveens mom had spent all day in the kitchen cooking while Naveen sat the table, because he insisted on helping though that wasnt a mans place. His dad had sat on the couch trying to figure out his smart tv for the entire day, they had yet to upgrade at home. The time was approaching and he was nervous for the knock on the door that envitably came. He opened the door and was blown away with the sight of Ananyas beauty, He hadnt expected her to be so beautiful and he was taken off guard as his mother, and her mother did the introductions. He was staring even as they were seated, she didnt seem to notice because her eyes were anywhere but his. 

Despite being attracted to her, he still didnt want to marry her. He could barely hold the news in as his mother served everyone and they started to eat. Well everyone but Ananya was eating her eyes were looking out the window at the New York skyline she clumsily dropped a piece of brocoli as she was eating. "Ananya a lady focuses on her food not anything trivial outside" Ananyas mother said. 

"Its beautiful" Ananya said softly but did turn her attention to her food, she was thinking she would run away now that she was here. She hoped her parents would think something bad happened to her versus running away, though for her the outcome was the same shed be free. Her mother and Naveens mother were talking about the two moving back to india after the wedding, they were just happily chattering away. The happy chattering stopped when Naveen dropped his fork to his plate with a clatter everyone stopped talking and Ananya even looked to him.

"Im sorry but I m not marrying you" Naveen said to Ananya then added over his parents and her parents objections "or anyone yet. " He looked to Ananya not sure what he expected but when he seen a smile he was very shocked. Naveens eyes stayed on hers even as their parents started arguing till Ananya got up and walked to the windows to look out. Her mother then tried to get her to leave but she wouldnt she stayed put and her parents continued to argue. Basically her parents were upset they came all the way here for nothing and his parents were insisting that he would marry her. His curiosity got the best of him so he joined Ananya by the windows she looked at him with a smile. 

"Thank you, this way i dont have to be the one to ruin my family" she said clearly a joke, he laughed softly. 

"you didnt want to" he asked wondering if she had wanted to get married.

"No I wanted to be here in America Im not going back" she said even softer. 

"Want to get out of here" he motioned to a side doorway, she nodded eagerly and they quickly made their way out. She followed him down a fire escape to the busy street, this time of evening the sidewalks were sparse with people though. "They are going to be very upset we left" he said looking up the fire escape. 

"I been upsetting my mom since I was born, she wanted a boy" Ananya said but her eyes were focusing on the world around her.

"Didnt your mother teach you its rude not to look at someone while talking to them" he asked though he wasnt upset about her lack of attention. 

"Im sorry its just to beautiful, I always wanted to see New York, California, florida, Austrailia, Spain" she said then continued to ramble. From the places she wanted to see to random facts about the places she wanted to visit. Even woman he had met in America didnt ramble like that not ot mention the twinkle she seemed to have in her eye when she spoke, such exuberance she seemed to have. After rambling for several minutes she stopped and seemed to redden embarrased then said, "sorry." 

"What do you think about technology" he asked and she looked at him with a confused look. 

"Overused but a great addition to life" she said the thought that came to mind. 

"What about cleaning" he asked.

"I have to have a clean place I like everything in order" she said, he had her full attention.

"and cooking" he asked.

"If you're interviewing me dont bother I couldnt cook to save my life, i have no desire to become a live in maid for you and your children" she said despite herself. At first she didnt mind the questions, she even appreciated them it made it seem like he was interested in what she had to say. Then it felt like he wanted to know what she could offer him, still she hadnt meant to burst out with her anger all at once. She always said what she thought or felt but she prefered to keep her calm composure, and now she briefly lost it. He started laughing immediately after the words came out of her mouth, he liked the fiestyness. She put her hands on her hips because now his laughing had angered her, she was totally taken off guard when he leaned down to kiss her. 

Naveen hadnt known why he kissed her, he had thought about it while she was rambling, while she was giving her opinion and even while he was yelling at her. To act on it however was impulsive, and he was rarely impulsive. The explosion of passion was intense for both so when he pulled away all she could do was stare at him. "We could go tell our parents we are getting married" he said after a few minutes of silence. 

"Im going to be more then your wife and the mother of your children" she said poking him in the chest.

"Good" he responded, they walked together around the building to go in the front enterance to tell their parents. The downside was their parents were extremely happy for the change but the upside was that was the day they started a life together. 

They were married days later though they still had alot to learn about each other. It had its challenges she was very stubborn and headstrong while he was infuratingly calm. They struggled with where to live, what careers they would take and many other things but they struggled together. The one thing they didnt struggle with was the honeymoon that turned into a year long trip around the world. They finally settled on living home in India at least till there first child was born. 

Naveen had been at work all day while Ananya unpacked their belongings and decorated, she wasnt very far along in her pregnancy so she got around with ease. She was hanging pictures as Naveen got off work and had just put up thier wedding photo when he opened the door. She stepped off the stool she had been on and looked back at her, he walked to her side putting his arm around her waist and both looked at the framed picture. "Next year our childs will have a photo next to ours" he said and she smiled looking at him then back at their wedding photo. 

"Still not going to be just your wife and his mother" she said the stubborn side of her coming out, that he loved.