Chapter 24

CHAPTER 21: Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Yeh!!

Jithe the kabhi Hum bhi Shaan se

Mehak Uti yehi Fiza kisi ke naam se

Par guzar gaye kuch aise mukaan se

Ke Nafrat si ho gayi hai Mohabbat ke naam se...

Saying Khushi rushed down the steps of the stage and joined her parents. The audience who took the performance as a play of the youngsters clapped their hands at the effort put by them. But those who understood the play looked at Arnav and Khushi with a face of confusion. Mainly Akash and Lavanya who were now near SAsi and Garima.

Lavanya: Aunty.. Uncle? Did I really see this happening?

Akash: Did bhai really dance? and What was that at the end?

Sasi: I am also wondering about the same bitwa. Wait. Arey Khushi...

He called Khushi, who was rushing towards them with Arnav on tow.

Khushi: Bauji... What was all that? Arnav ji? Arman ji..

Sasi: Relax!

Khushi: What relax? You knew all these beforehand bauji? how could you?

Sasi: Khushi this was a surprise party planned by you people. So how would I know? Haan if you are asking about Arnav bitwa's proposal.. We knew it long before.

Khushi: WHAT?

Arnav: What do you think? I will propose you without your parents' knowledge?

Khushi: When did this all happen?

Arman: Don't know exactly.. but came out to our view 3 months back.

Khushi: You too knew Arman ji?

Riddhima: O' course we know. After all we were the one to make ASR speak this out! Uff.. He had our foot on wheels worrying about you when you were shot. It was so obvious.

Arnav: Well... What if you pull another such stunt? So I planned to ask your father. That's when I came to know from where you got all this sankipan from!

Sasi: You are calling me sanki bitwa?

Sasi asked raising his brow mischievously.

Arnav: I don't lie uncle! How did you increase my BP in just few minutes!

Khushi: What did he do?

Arnav: When I asked about your marriage, Uncle said that they have already searched a prospective groom for you. A government Engineer!

Sasi: Come on! I had to check if you were really serious about my Titliya.

Arman: And the great ASR was already making plans to get him investigated through Aman!

Khushi: Seriously?

Arnav: How else will I prove that I am better than your parent's selection.

Riddhima: But poor him. He was not able to catch uncle's game. But we understood it. So we prepared him and sent him to uncle with all training to ask your hands.

Ashwin: But as usual, ASR turned out to be businessman and started discussing the pro's of getting you married to someone well known to us and con's of getting you married to a complete stranger like the engineer!

Garima: At last we had to ask him who was the well known and nearly after beating around the bush for more than half an hour, he said someone like him!

Ashwin: Never once I thought that someone like ASR can be so hesitant and shy!

Arnav: After torturing me to hell all of them started laughing at my face!

He said with a fake glare making others giggle again. But Khushi was gaping at them.

Arman: What to do? Not everyday we get to see ASR all stammering, shy and hesitating. Little game is always allowed.

Sasi: Yeah.. We had to make you tell the truth. So.. But then you did well.

Arnav: Fine fine.

Ashwin: And how can we reject someone cool like ASR jiji. Moreover, he was the one who could survive all your nautankis.

Sasi: So we accepted. Even if I search I will not get such a groom for my titliya.

Garima: Haan. And we know that he will keep you happy all his life. So..

Arman: After 3 months of training on this day, we planned to make him propose.

All recited the story all happy and excited. But Arnav was still tensed. Because he was thinking about her reply to his proposal on stage.

Akash: Bhai! You are in love. You danced? Proposed a girl. That too Khushi.. That too in poetic andaaz and we did know anything!! Not fair. Maa and Papa have been eagerly waiting to see you married and you...

Lavanya: Yeah Bhai. And you Khushi! you always said that one day a prince will come and take you with him... Looks like your prince came all the way from London for you and learned to dance for bollywood song to propose you. What have you done to ASR khushi!

Akash: Where is my Khadoos Bhai?

Everyone laughed at this.

Arnav: Shut up Akash! I just wanted Khushi's answer before I can tell about this to Mama Mami.

But until then Khushi who was listening to everything silently gave a blank look to a tensed Arnav. Arnav who caught her eyes, got even more tensed. The party ended and everyone happily left the place. The family congratulated the young couple and also the elder couple. Soon everyone left the place. And when it was time for the Gupta's to leave Arnav came forward.

Arnav: Uncle, Aunty. You go back in the car you came. Mohan will drop you. I will drop Khushi a little later. Will that be ok?

Sasi understood that he wanted to talk with Khushi. So he with Garima and Ashwin left with Mohan leaving behind Khushi with Arnav. They were still in his garden. Arnav took her to his terrace. Khushi silently followed him. Once they were in terrace, Arnav stood facing Khushi.

Arnav: Khushi! what did you say there downstairs?

Khushi: I did not say anything. You people only did and said so much that I never knew off.

she said crossing her arms and raising her chin in air.

Arnav: What? Uncle and Aunty's permission is important for you right?

Khushi: Are they going to live with you?

Arnav: Khushi?

Khushi: Seriously Arnav ji.. Even if they give permission, I must approve you as I should live with you. You never thought of talking to me once before giving hopes to my family?

Arnav: Are you trying to say that you don't want to marry me?

Khushi: What do you expect? I will immediately run into your arms and ask "DARLING, YOUR PLACE OR MY PLACE?"

Arnav was taken aback to see that Khushi was still thinking of their first meet. How many times he must have said her that it was action in heat of the moment. He also tried to say about what he felt then. Now he actually proposed her and Khushi was stuck there!

Arnav: What the Khushi! You are still stuck there. Khushi I said how I felt that day. Can't you just ignore that. It was..

Khushi: Ignore? How am I suppose to ignore you asking a girl for night that too on very first meet?

Arnav: It was you Khushi.

Khushi: Still..

Arnav: I have said this a 1000 times I am saying this again. If not for you, that night I would have neither danced nor would have made that stupid deal!

Khushi: Ahaha.. Very good! now you are putting everything on my head.

Arnav: Khushi I love you!

Khushi: Arnav ji! talk sense.

Arnav: You are only talking non sense. You know how long it took for me to realize this and how much guts to tell this! And all you say is I am talking non sense! Everyone are right. You are mad. Tum Bilkul pagal ho!

Khushi: And what are you? Marrying this mad?

Arnav: Khushi understand please.

Khushi: Make me..

Arnav: What?

Khushi: Make me understand. You say that you felt something between us that night which made you spell wrong words. Then you say that you find my eyes familiar. Now you say that you love me and want to marry me. First make me understand what you felt that night for me, why you feel me so familiar.. Then I will think about accepting your proposal.

For second time in an hour Arnav stood speechless. Here, the most eligible bachelor, best businessman is proposing her and all she does is challenging him to explore and speak out his feelings. What is this girl made of.

Arnav: Was that a Challenge?

Khushi: Tha toh?

So?

Arnav: Don't challenge me Khushi! You will regret losing it.

Khushi; You never know! may be I actually want that!

Arnav: What the!

Khushi: Stop your what the's and drop me home. You have all your time to think about how to make me accept.

saying Khushi went down, while Arnav shook his head in disbelief.

Arnav: You are the limit woman!

Arnav too followed her to drop her back home. They bid good night and went to their respective places. As they both fell on their bed, all they could think was about the proposal.

Khushi: Sorry Arnav ji. I know that you love me. But I want you to recognize me. I want assurance that I have not been building a baseless building of hopes. Please prove me right by recognizing me soon Arnav ji.

Saying Khushi dozed off while Arnav lay wide awake.

Arnav: What the hell! How am I supposed to know why I felt her so familiar to me? How am I supposed to explain why I felt that way around her that night! Urhhh Khushi! What Kinda stupid challenge. But I am also not ASR for nothing. I will make you accept that you love me too! I have seen it and felt it. I will woo you my lady!

Arnav dozed off with a devilish smirk.

Meenu: Haye haye Kya karun ram in dono ka!

Ajeeb daastan hai yeh.. Kahan shuru kahan khatam.. 😆