Prologue: Zoya and Ariel
Zoya watched as Asad and Najma danced while she spun Dilshad around as they danced also to her Phuphi's favorite song.
She was in love with this family, the love they all shared reminded her of her aunt and uncle back in New York. She missed them including her cousin: Ariel.
Her Aunt or Masi Priya was born in Ahmedabad but as a six year old, moved to Bhopal with her widower of a father Dr. Benjamin Mathew since he got married to Zaida Farooqui and they had a daughter: Zainab. Priya and her father were christians but Zainab and Zaida Farooqui were muslims.
And later as a twenty-one year old Priya met Nikhil in a village when he was twenty-seven and was visiting with his sister(Katherine) and brothers(Jameson and Rohan). Nikhil Kingston, the son of two well-known Christian missionaries.
They got married in the following year in Ahmedabad with his family including his parents, Benjamin, Zaida and Zainab.
Next year, they had a son: Jesse Nathaniel and in the US, six years later a daughter: Ariel Rebecca.
But at the same time around Priya's wedding, her fifteen year old Ammi got secretly married to a guy who was twelve years older than her and gave birth to Zeenat and then six years later gave birth to Zoya. Then her dad left them for the streets but they were taken care of by Benjamin and Zaida before Benjamin died from cancer and Zaida became a widow.
Zaida with Zoya, Zeenat, and Zainab went to Napa Valley the home of Dr. Priya and Rev. Nikhil Kingston in California. Priya, Zaida, and Zainab became a citizen of the US while Zoya, Jesse and Zeenat became a citizen through their parents as they were under aged.
Three-five years later,
Zainab and took her two daughters to Bhopal but in circumstances died while Zoya and Zeenat went missing then later in few weeks found by their aunt and uncle.
As a twenty-two year old Zoya, a pre-law student went to India and that's partially how she ended up with this amazing family.
Zoya thought about this as Dilshad pulled her into a hug. She smiled enjoying her Phuphi's hug as they reminded her of her aunt and ammi.
Asad and Najma had already left when Dilshad had her sit down.
Dilshad clutching Zoya's hand asked her, " Beta, I love you and so does Najma but will you marry Asad?"
Zoya stared at her with a shocked gaze before Dilshad continued.
"I know you're a bit shocked but I see the way Asad looks at you and he needs you in his life." Dilshad begged.
"Why does he need me?" Zoya asked softly.
"He was a playboy in his young adult days but he was one of those shy ones that the shy girls looked at. They would have a conversation about poetry then go out and stop after that because the girls were done. Every week was like that and he had this one girl: she was perfect for him as she had her head covered and spoke softly. But he gave her a job at the company to discover that she was using him for the job and money. So he lost trust in love years before that but this caused him to hate women especially ones like you: loud, outgoing and wear jeans. Despite that I know you're perfect for him" Dilshad told her as Zoya thought over it. She knew she needed to stay in India so that was okay for her.
"I will do it." Zoya grimaced as Dilshad hugged her.
"Asad beta, come here." Dilshad called out as Asad strode in.
"Yes Ammi," Asad asked totally ignoring Zoya.
"Beta, for my sake will you marry Zoya?" Dilshad asked with tear-filled eyes.
Asad again ignoring Zoya, silently furious at his life, replied, "Jee Ammi," in a calm voice.
Meanwhile in New York.
A girl with long wavy black hair and tan skinned clothed in a black Vera Wang turtle-neck dress and Marc Ekco boots with her red Louis Vuitton hand bag strode through Central Park for the subway on the phone with her older half-cousin.
"Zeenat Di, for the last time I am not going on Shaadi.com, Gujarati Matrimony or Christian Mingle. " She paused.
And in the phone a voice replied, "Why not?"
"Because my career just started and dating websites are stupid. I'll find someone when I'm ready." Ariel snarled.
Zeenat called out, "why." before Ariel hung up angrily, trust Zee Di to piss her off as usual.
Ariel angrily walked to a coffee shop near the subway but she was walking, a large muscular frame knocked her off her feet as the scalding hot coffee got on her.
"Ow!" Ariel groaned before she heard a chuckle.
"Look what you did, my coffee cup is empty now, this was ten bucks." the person exclaimed in his masculine voice.
Ariel glared up to see a really attractive man around his late twenties and in a designer three piece suit with a brief case. He had grey-blue eyes and a buzz cut.
She stood up glaring, " It was your fault not mine, wow you are blind."
He smirked as he grabbed her arm, "actually you weren't paying attention so it's your fault."
Ariel scoffed, "You're At fault, dipthong." as she angrily freed her arm and walked away as he smirked at her backside.
Two hours later,
Ariel walked in her apartment to see her parents and a elderly woman.
"Hey mom and dad," Ariel greeted them with a kiss on their cheek.
"Beta, sit down." Priya replied as Ariel sat down on the stool, waiting for her parents to speak.
"Well, this is Gita Knight, when Nikhil was at Oxford with Gita's son Robert, they both made a deal that each of their children will marry each other: a son and daughter." Priya explained.
Ariel listened carefully as she heard the door bell ring, and Nikhil opened the door.
"I understand but who am I going to marry?" Ariel carefully asked.
"Him." Priya pointed to the door as Ariel looked at it.
"You." Ariel snarled seeing the Coffee spilling creep.
"Me." he smirked.
"Beta, this is Ryan Aharon Knight, your future husband." Priya explained.
"What!" Ariel and Ryan at the same time screamed.
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