Match Not Made in Heaven

Episode 2: Rejection Rejected

Scene 1: Zoya’s House – The Breakfast Bomb

Morning sunlight streams into the dining room. The table is set with chai, parathas, anda, and achaar. Zoya sits silently, poking her omelette with a spoon. Her Ammi hums happily while spreading butter on toast. Abbu is reading the newspaper peacefully.

Zoya (calmly, but firmly):
“Ammi… Abbu… I don’t want to marry Daniyal.”

Ammi (stops mid-hum):
“Kya kaha?!”

Abbu (still reading paper):
“Hmmm? Daniyal? Good boy. MashAllah. What’s the issue?”

Zoya:
“The issue is—I don’t like him. I don’t want this rishta. Cancel it.”

Her Ammi clutches her chest dramatically like she’s in a TV drama.

Ammi:
“YA ALLAH! Rishta cancel? Are you out of your mind? The boy is tall, soft-spoken, respectful! Do you want a cricketer or a TikToker?”

Zoya:
“I just don’t like him. His face annoys me.”

Abbu (finally puts down newspaper):
“Beta, in marriage you don’t stare at each other’s face all day. You build a life. Also, his face isn’t that annoying.”

Zoya (frustrated):
“Toh aap dono karlo na shaadi usse! Mujhe nahi karni!”

Ammi (shocked):
“Zoya! Zubaan sambhal ke! This isn’t a joke. I’ve stood by you for every rishta you rejected—Rizwan the MBA, Fahad the pilot, even Asim the dentist who smiled like toothpaste ad!”

Zoya (rolling her eyes):
“Exactly! So why now? What’s so special about this Daniyal?”

Ammi:
“His mother doesn’t act like she owns the world. His dadi likes our achar. And most importantly, he didn’t ask about your cooking skills like it’s MasterChef.”

Abbu:
“And his family didn’t ask for a dowry list that sounds like a shopping mall catalog.”

Zoya (sarcastically):
“Wah. Rishta based on achar and low-maintenance daadi. Solid foundation.”

Ammi (snaps):
“Enough! You are marrying Daniyal. FINAL. And we are calling their family for dinner this Saturday!”

Zoya’s mouth drops open.

Zoya:
“Saturday?! Are you people planning a wedding or ordering biryani?”

Ammi (pointing her finger):
“Shut up, Zoya. I’ve had enough. You are going to marry Daniyal, wear red jora, smile in mehndi photos, and say ‘Qubool hai’ nicely. Samjhi?”

Scene 2: Daniyal’s House – Operation Cancel Fails Again

Meanwhile, Daniyal is in the lounge, sipping chai with his parents. His mother knits peacefully. His father scrolls on his phone.

Daniyal (clears throat):
“Ammi, Abbu… I’ve been thinking. Maybe Zoya isn’t the right one for me.”

Abbu (without looking up):
“Oh, look. He thinks his opinion matters now.”

Daniyal:
“Abbu, I’m saying this won’t work. It’s just… we’re different. She’s talkative, a little fiery. I’m quiet. Calm. I don’t think we’ll match.”

Abbu (finally puts phone down):
“Beta, opposites attract. That’s physics. And shaadi is basically one long science experiment.”

Daniyal:
“She’s loud. And we don’t get along. We argued… twice.”

Abbu:
“Good. That means you’ve met properly. Shaadi ke baad bhi argue karoge. It’s healthy.”

Ammi (smiling):
“That means you’re both comfortable. Only close people argue so quickly. It’s a good sign!”

Daniyal (hiding a smile):
“Abbu, I’m being serious.”

Ammi:
“And so are we, beta. Zoya is a nice girl. Her family is good, and more importantly—they didn’t ask if your salary is in lakhs or millions. Very peaceful people.”

Daniyal:
“No, I mean we’re very different. She’s chaos. I’m peace.”

Ammi (smiling):
“Toh tum dono yin and yang ho. Balance!”

Daniyal (groaning):
“Ugh! I’m telling you, this rishta isn’t going to work.”

Ammi (finally looking up):
“Then tell me one reason—one solid reason—why we should reject this girl.”

Daniyal (opens mouth, thinks, then stares at his chai):
“…She eats loudly?”

Ammi (with a serious expression):
“Daniyal, this is not a Netflix audition. This is marriage. You think you’re perfect? You snore like a truck and have one eyebrow thicker than the other!”

Abbu (chuckling):
“True. And she didn’t even comment on your lips. Very polite girl.”

Daniyal (muttering):
“So that’s it? My lips and snoring mean I have to marry her?”

Abbu:
“Exactly. No dramatic rishta aunty vibes. No hidden list of demands. And the girl, mashAllah, has her own opinion. That’s rare.”

Daniyal:
“So… you guys aren’t going to cancel this rishta?”

Abbu:
“Hmm. Let’s think. Beautiful girl. Smart. Independent. Family with sense. Hmm… Nope. No reason to cancel. We like the girl. Done deal.”

Ammi (with a loving smile):
“We really like her, Daniyal. Give it a chance. Sometimes, love comes after the laughter… or even after a good argument.”

Scene 3: The Phone Call

Later that night, Zoya calls Daniyal.

Zoya (whispering):
“They’re planning dinner. Help me!”

Daniyal (whispering too):
“They want me to say ‘Qubool hai’ before I even finish my tea!”

Zoya:
“We need a new plan.”

Daniyal:
“A big one. Something so bad that both families cancel the rishta themselves.”

They pause.

Zoya:
“You thinking what I’m thinking?”

Daniyal:
“Yup. Fake fight. In front of the families. Full drama mode.”

Zoya (grinning):
“Let’s ruin this shaadi before they start booking the wedding hall.”

To be continued…