The Proposal File

Bright afternoon light floods a cluttered home dining table. Wedding lists, sample invitations, pens, a calculator, a tea tray, and a wedding file are spread everywhere. A ceiling fan keeps blowing papers off the table.

TINA (27), in office casuals, clutches a planner, lip gloss, and a face full of panic. NEELAM (49), in a printed kurta and reading glasses, sits opposite her with a thick folder of wedding paperwork.

Yeh invitation ka color final?

Blush peach.

Shaadi ka card hai, cake nahi.

Tina exhales. A paper flies off the table. Neelam catches it without looking.

Bas soft sa chahiye tha, Maa.

Soft? Shaadi mein soft sirf laddoo hote hain.

Tina flips through her planner nervously.

Caterer ka budget thoda—

Thoda kya?

Thoda... less.

Less? Tina, tum shaadi kar rahi ho, picnic nahi.

Neelam opens her folder and starts reading.

Venue, pandit, mehendi, return gifts, stage, photographer, DJ—

DJ zaroori hai kya?

Rishtedaaron ko khane ke baad uthne ke liye reason chahiye hota hai.

Tina forces a smile. She pulls a calculator closer.

Main bas chahti hoon sab simple ho.

Simple? Shaadi mein simple sirf “haan” hota hai.

Main serious hoon.

Main bhi serious hoon. Isliye file bana ke baithi hoon.

Neelam taps the wedding file. Tina notices a smaller envelope tucked inside her planner. She quickly covers it.

Aur yeh planner mein kya chhupa rahi ho?

Kuchh nahi.

“Kuchh nahi” ka face “bahut kuchh” wala hai.

Tina gulps. The fan blows a stack of invitation samples across the table.

Maa, ek aur cheez thi...

Haan?

Woh... paperwork.

Kaunsa paperwork?

Tina looks away, embarrassed.

Bas... ek agreement type.

Neelam adjusts her glasses, suddenly alert.

Agreement?

Haan. Matlab... clear terms. Boundaries. Sab kuchh—

Tina, shaadi ho rahi hai ya office ka contract?

Maa, please. Main bas chahti hoon future mein koi confusion na ho.

Neelam stares at her, then slowly reaches into her own folder.

Achha.

She pulls out a stapled document and places it on the table.

Toh yeh le.

Tina freezes.

Yeh kya hai?

Prenup.

Aapne...?

Haan. Kal raat banaya.

Tina opens it. Her eyes widen as she flips pages.

Assets, gifts, future savings... yeh toh proper legal draft hai!

Of course. Main emotional ho sakti hoon, par careless nahi.

Aur yeh clause?

She reads.

“No family member shall raise voice during financial discussion.”

Meri taraf se gift.

Tina looks up, stunned.

Maa, aapko kaise pata tha?

Tum planner ko dekh ke hi samajh gayi thi. Itni ghabrahat sirf invitation ke liye nahi hoti.

Tina laughs despite herself.

Main soch rahi thi aap naraz ho jaogi.

Main naraz tab hoti jab tum bina soch ke sign kar deti.

Beat.

Toh... aapko problem nahi hai?

Problem? Tina, main toh chahti thi tum pehle din se apna safety net rakho.

Tina smiles, relieved.

Main itni badmash nahi hoon, Maa.

Badmash nahi. Smart.

Neelam slides the prenup draft closer.

Bas ek correction karni hai.

Kya?

Tea time daily fixed.

Tina bursts out laughing.

Deal.

Neelam picks up the calculator and taps it like a judge delivering verdict.

Ab invitation ka color?

Tina grins.

Blush peach?

Acceptable.

The fan blows another invitation sample off the table. Neither of them bothers to chase it.