There are moments when a man realises civilisation was a mistake.
For Aarav, that moment was opening the family WhatsApp group and seeing this message:
🗳️ FAMILY POLL: WHO SHOULD BE AARAV'S FUTURE WIFE?
Below it—
Four names.
Four.
Actual.
Names.
Aelina.
Mira.
Selene.
Nysera.
And somehow—
Rohan.
Rohan sat proudly on the sofa like a criminal who had discovered religion.
"I believe in equal opportunity."
Aarav stared at the screen.
"I want legal revenge."
His sister was laughing so hard she had left the room twice.
His younger cousin had apparently made the poll.
His uncle had added emojis.
His grandmother had already voted.
Democracy had failed.
Completely.
His mother stood in the kitchen, pretending she had nothing to do with this.
The most suspicious behaviour of all.
His father had wisely gone to the office early.
Coward.
Ancient, experienced coward.
Across the living room, the girls were reading the poll.
Aelina looked like she was trying to understand emotional terrorism scientifically.
Mira looked personally offended by the concept of public voting.
Selene treated it like strategic war mapping.
And Nysera—
Nysera had somehow received the most votes already.
Because of course she had.
She looked mildly apologetic.
"I believe your grandmother has influence."
Traitor.
Divine traitor.
Rohan proudly checked his own vote count.
"Three votes. Respectable."
Aarav narrowed his eyes.
"Who voted for you?"
Rohan smiled.
"Your cousin. Your uncle. And myself."
Fair.
Disgusting.
But fair.
Then—
His mother entered.
Tea in hand.
Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
She sat down and looked at the group chat.
Then nodded.
"Reasonable."
Aarav stood up.
"No. Nothing about this is reasonable."
She sipped tea.
"People are invested."
"This is not an election!"
His mother tilted her head.
"Feels like one."
Pain.
Immediate pain.
His sister, still evil by design, leaned forward.
"Actually, current standings are interesting."
She read dramatically from the screen.
"Aelina: 23 votes."
Aelina nearly dropped her tea.
"Mira: 19 votes."
Mira looked offended that she wasn't first.
Reasonable.
"Selene: 17 votes."
Selene nodded like this was a military ranking.
"Nysera: 41 votes."
Silence.
Everyone looked at Nysera.
She sighed softly.
"I am concerned."
No, she wasn't.
She was thriving.
Absolutely thriving.
"And Rohan…"
A dramatic pause.
"…three votes."
Rohan stood and bowed.
"To my loyal supporters."
Hopeless.
Completely hopeless.
Then—
the next disaster.
His sister looked up.
Bright smile.
Weaponised happiness.
"Public comments section."
Aarav whispered,
"No…"
Too late.
She began reading.
"Comment from Bua: 'Silver-haired one has queen energy.'"
Nysera accepted this like a diplomatic title.
"Comment from Chachi: 'The calm one is dangerous. Good choice.'"
Still Nysera.
Unstoppable.
"Comment from Dadi: 'Keep the scary sword girl. Safety first.'"
Selene looked genuinely honoured.
His grandmother had excellent instincts.
"Comment from Tau ji: 'The angry one will manage finances.'"
Mira crossed her arms.
"…I respect him."
Correct.
"Comment from random cousin: 'Engineer wali bhabhi seems sweet.'"
Aelina looked like she might cry from social affection.
This was becoming emotionally unsafe.
Then—
the final attack.
His mother calmly asked,
"So."
The room froze.
"Who would you vote for?"
Silence.
Universal.
Even the Wi-Fi became nervous.
Aarav looked around.
At the girls.
At Rohan, who was somehow eating during his funeral.
At his sister, recording for future blackmail.
At his mother, the architect of suffering.
There was no correct answer.
Only consequences.
Rohan whispered,
"Choose me. I need momentum."
Denied.
Aarav took a deep breath.
Then—
"I refuse democracy."
His mother blinked.
His sister gasped dramatically.
Rohan looked betrayed.
Aarav folded his arms.
"This is not a public referendum."
He pointed at the phone.
"My love life is not parliament."
Actually, given Indian families, it absolutely was.
But still.
Principle mattered.
He continued.
"When I choose someone…"
His eyes moved to the girls.
"…it will be because I know."
A softer silence followed.
No jokes.
No chaos.
Just honesty.
Aelina smiled faintly.
Mira looked away too quickly.
Selene's golden eyes held his.
Nysera looked like she was watching a future align.
Even his mother nodded.
Approval.
Rare.
Powerful.
Then—
She ruined it.
"Good."
A pause.
"Still, I think Mira should eat more."
Mira blinked.
"…What?"
His mother pointed.
"You look like you survive on stress and arguments."
Rohan fell off the sofa.
His sister screamed.
Even Aelina laughed.
Selene, traitor by adaptation, nodded.
"Accurate."
Mira looked at everyone like betrayal should be illegal.
It probably should.
His mother stood.
Decision made.
"Enough."
She pointed toward the dining table.
"Lunch."
No one argued.
Because Indian mothers outranked destiny.
As everyone moved, Aarav felt someone stop beside him.
Nysera.
Of course.
She stood there, elegant and suspiciously amused.
Then she said quietly—
"For the record…"
He frowned.
"What?"
She smiled.
Soft.
Dangerous.
"In most future probability lines…"
"Your mother likes Mira first."
Silence.
Aarav turned slowly toward the dining room—
where Mira was currently arguing with his mother about whether five parathas counted as excessive.
His mother looked delighted.
Mira looked offended.
Rohan whispered from across the room,
"Political alliance confirmed."
Aarav closed his eyes.
Because of course.
Of course, that was happening.
And somewhere—
The future was absolutely laughing.