The whole of that day when Aria’s mother told her the bitter truth that she was not going to remain young forever and had to take some necessary steps to settle down in life. It was very different of her parents to think of getting married as settling down when their daughter had already settled down in her life professionally.

She was staying with her parents only because they insisted after she fell sick when she was staying alone and doing extra long working hours. Her mother pitched the idea of coming back home to stay with them, and that could help her in continuing with her job without having to worry about her laundry and food. She liked her job very much and was such a workaholic that this offer seemed irresistible.

As Aria had the thought that her mother put in her head, and she talked to her best friend James on the messages which they shared, an idea seemed to have crossed her mind. It was unlike the way that she would think and definitely had no clue on the end result of it. But she was willing to experiment with the only male friend she had in her life.

She would talk to many of the boys, but no one was as close to her as James. He knew her every secret, her embarrassing situations, her aim in life, and every other thing which nobody else knew. Before Aria could consider whether it was right, she thought of calling her friend, Abigail, for a sleepover so that she could run the idea past her to see her reaction and her take on it.

“Hello, Abigail,” Aria replied on the call which she made to her best friend.

“What’s up, bitch?” Abigail teased her as she always did.

“Come over tonight, please. There is something I need to discuss with you.”

“Don’t say ‘please’. Tell me the time, and I will be there.”

“Any time you can. Actually, as soon as you can. The idea is eating me up.”

“I will be there in an hour and twenty minutes.”

Abigail and Aria shared a beautiful friendship. They had been friends even before they were in high-school. Now that it was evening already, and Abigail said that she would be reaching in about an hour and a half, Aria ordered beer bottles and chicken starters for both of them. Her parents were pretty chilled out in that regard and let Aria have all the fun she wanted.

The only thing that was worrying them was her choice of not settling down with someone because, according to the old-school of thought, marriage has been an important institution, and every person must experience it. But now Aria had an idea in her head which was about marriage for sure since her mother had pushed her for it all day. She waited for Abigail to come soon as she started getting restless.

Right when Abigail parked her car outside, Aria opened the door even though her friend was still in the car taking the last puff of her cigarette. Without letting Abigail meet and greet her parents, Aria literally dragged Abigail inside her bedroom.

“What are you so impatient about?” Abigail asked her.

“Babe, I thought of something.”

“What are you waiting for to tell me that?!”

“Ma has been pushing me for marriage and showing me pictures of boys who I don’t even know. I am not interested in doing an arranged marriage.”

“Are they hot?” Abigail joked with her once again.

“I don’t care. Aren’t you listening?!” Aria got a little upset at that, but then her eyes sparkled before she said, “I have a plan to listen to my parents and get married.”

It was definitely big news for Abigail as she had never imagined Aria getting married any time soon. All she knew was that Aria did not believe in love and had no hope left for it either. So, marriage was going to be the last thing on her mind. But now without a warning that time had come, and Aria was talking about getting married.

“What is the plan, Aria?” Abigail was unable to believe that it would be a serious plan. She still thought maybe her friend would mention running away or come up with some other way to get out of this situation.

Hearing Abigail’s question, Aria replied, “You know I don’t believe in marriage. In fact, I do not even think I can love anyone again in my life.”

“I know that. What is your plan to get married?”

After letting out a shameless smile, Aria said, “What if I do a contract marriage which has nothing to do with the norms but is done only to keep my parents off my back?”

“Do a what?!?” Abigail did not know how she should react, so she asked Aria one more time to confirm what she just said.

“Do a contract marriage,” Aria responded.

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Why?” Aria asked her friend.

“Will your parents allow you to do that?”

“That’s the tricky part. They will not know about it,” Aria answered.

“How will they not know? And more importantly, who will be ready for such a deal with you?” Abigail threw one question after the other as she was finding this insane.

“I have someone in mind for this, but I want to get your opinion on it first.”

“Who do you have in mind? What are you hiding from me, Aria? Why didn’t you tell me you were dating someone?”

“Chill, Abigail. I am dating no one.”

“Then who is this guy you have in mind and you want to marry?”

"You know my friend James, right?”

“What the fuck?!? I knew there was something up with him, you bitch.”

“Abigail, Abigail, listen to me, babe. There is nothing up with him. He doesn’t even know anything as of now,” Aria cleared out and mentioned, “Only if you think this deal is doable, I will talk to James.”

She looked at Abigail and waited for her reply with hope sparkling in her eyes.