" Sumo, you said there's nothing brewing between you and Shravan bhaiya, didn't you? I always thought there is something more between you two..., Bade Papa inquired me about Shravan Bhaiya's love interests if any., Since there was none I know of, I replied in denial. And now, Bade Papa is looking for alliances for Shravan bhaiya!" He informed while they were on a casual outing.
Suman's eyes bulged out of her sockets in shock. She coughed herself to normalcy and asked, "What...? Has Shravan consented ?" She enquired in a disturbed voice. Pushkar beamed with a knowingness,"Yes, he has. It's after all Bade papa's wish, Shravan bhaiya is more than willing to marry someone of his father's choice." Pushkar said turning away to suppress his smile.
Ramnath had been determined in finding a suitor for Shravan. The revelation of his Sister in law Kamini had distressed his mental peace. He wanted to make sure Shravan had a true loyal companion through the matrimonial bond unlike him. He left no stone unturned to find a perfect girl who would be able to see beyond their wealth, and love Shravan wholeheartedly. As a father he wanted a girl who would walk with Shravan hand in hand even in his darkest hours, and not someone who might run away at the slightest indication of misery. His search led him to the Kapoor's. They were one among the richest families of their strata. Unlikely Ramnath found Aaradhya a genuine girl with great values. Her parents were doctors., thus she practiced medicine as well. Her interests towards serving the community rather being a typical well bred high class girl impressed Ramnath. Gradually she was introduced to Shravan as well.
Shravan who was totally unawares of his father's intentions developed a casual friendship with her. It came as a shock for Suman to know about the talks which were held for Shravan's marriage plans, through Pushkar. Shravan who used to hang out with Suman most of the time, induced to stroll around with Aaradhya dawn to dusk which gradually turned out to be perpetual. And whenever they met, he was full of praises of Aaradhya. Certain vacillation plunged Suman's conscious literally robbing off her gaiety and laughter, as he spent a couple of such days oblivious to her presence. Indignation and insecurities fogging her mind, She began to fend off herself from meeting him for a few days as his current demeanour had hurt her sensitivity badly. His calls and messages were left unattended and unanswered afraid of facing the truth. The reality which she couldn't turn away from anymore, but it was obvious that she can't see him move on with someone else when she loved him deeply. Pushkar who always had an inkling regarding ShraMan's special feelings towards each other, tried his best to bridge the gap between their hearts in his own way.
"Sumo, why don't you meet up with Aaradhya once? Ain't you interested to know how is your best friends fiance is?" He suggested adding fuel to already burning flames. Suman shrugged off his suggestion, concealing her dejection with great efforts.
A few weeks passed, the auspicious day of Diwali was around the corner. Malhotra's had organised a huge get together party to celebrate the occasion, Kapoor's were invited by Ramnath, thus creating an opportunity for both their families to bond. Tiwari's and a few other family friends were also summoned, they were all assembled in the Malhotra's embellished lawn, the entire house and garden was shining with beautiful series of lights and Diyas. Suman who was quite hesitant in meeting Shravan and was intending to maintain a formal distance with him. On the other hand, Shravan was jubilant about spending his favourite festival with Sumo after a decade. His eyes scanned for Suman from the entire lot, his heart skipped a beat when they spotted her adorning a dark blue saree, with matching accessories.
"Hi Sumo, Happy Diwali to you!" He wished with a broad smile.
"Happy Diwali...!" She said not meeting his eyes.
"Kaise Ho?" He asked
"I'm fine." She said trying to move away. Shravan held her hand, "Kya baat hai? You're too busy to reach nowadays?" He said with an intent stare.
Suman shrugged at his scrutinising look, "Nothing important...! Work is keeping me busy!" She said struggling to recover her hand off his grasp.
"Sumo, wanna burst some crackers?" He asked in excitement.
"Not now, Shravan! Maami was calling me..! Gotta go" she uttered in a hurry and whisked away, before she could notice Shravan's fallen spirits.
"Shravan, will you help me in bursting these flower pots?" Suman heard Aaradhya calling Shravan.
"With pleasure, Aaru!" Shravan replied and drifted off holding her hand to assist in bursting, making Suman's inner struggles reach new heights. She noticed their growing closeness, their transformation of closer friends from being casual acquaintances., This bummer hurting her psyche, she decided to leave.
"Nanu, I am leaving... Inform Mausi and others!" She informed and hurried out.
By some means Shravan spotted Suman exiting among the entire crowd, he ran forward to meet her as she was striding past their parking lot., "sumo, where do you think you're going?" He asked blocking her way with his hand. "Party abhi shuru hua hai... Thodi Dher aur ruk jaa!" He requested with a sweet plea.
"Nahi Shravan, I've to go! Got some work..!" She said trying to walk away.
"Plz sumo, aaj toh Diwali hai na? What work have you got today, woh bhi raat ki aatt Baje?" He asked with a suspicious pout, grabbing her hand.
"Shravan, woh...!" She stammered searching for words.
"Come on Sumo, plz don't go! There's no fun without you...!" He pleaded
"Shravan, don't make me sound rude, yaar! I need to go..Waise bhi, you have others for fun, don't you?" She asked with a hint of sarcasm.
"Others... ? Who are you talking about?" Shravan enquired looking clueless.
"Never mind.!" She said as she reached her car, before she could open it, Shravan blocked her path., he held her shoulders and twirled her around to face him.
"Sumo, what's wrong with you? Kyun itna attitude dikha rahi Ho aaj?" He asked impatiently
"Attitude nahi yaar, Shravan samjo nah? Main idhar aur rukjaati toh badi gadbad hogi, plz jaane do!" She pleaded as she unlocked her car.
"Gadbad?? What the hell are you talking about?" He queried with a startled expression.
"Shravan, plz...!"
"Are you going tell me or not? He retorted impatiently
"Main tumhe Aaradhya ke saath dekh nahi Sakti... I can't bear watching you get closer to someone else... It breaks me...!" She said stunning Shravan.
"With Aaradhya? What has she got anything to do with this?" He asked
"Shravan, I heard wedding talks are going between your families..." She said slowly looking uneasy. Shravan's heart bloomed with happiness hearing her possessiveness towards him, he continued looking unruffled.
"Wedding talks... Yeah it's true. But I refused to enter into a matrimonial bond with her...!" Shravan clarified with a smile.
"Really, is that true ?" Suman asked with an abrupt glee.
"Yes, why would I lie to you? Aaru is a very nice girl. We like each other as friends, but Papa misunderstood our fondness into something else. When he brought the marriage proposal we refused to comply." He explained.
"But Pushkar ne bataya tha, that you were willing to accept this proposal as it was uncle's wish.." Suman said looking awkward
"Pushkar maybe he thought I'm like him, he is afraid of papa, isn't he?" He said with a chuckle.
"Oh..."
"Sumo...come inside, Thodi dher rukjaa. Uske baad chale jaana!" He suggested.
"Ok, sure!" She said with enthusiasm and joined the party crowd once again.
"Sumo, ek minute.." He called as she walked past, when he caught her hand once again.
"Hmmm ..." She turned around looking puzzled.
Shravan Inched closer and leaned onto her ear and whispered with a mischievous smirk, "Why were you unhappy with my wedding rumours with Aaru? Why did that disturb you? ?" He asked with a sly smirk playing in his lips.
"No, It didn't disturb ...me.," Suman said awkwardly.
"Jhoot bol rahi Ho! I could see your restlessness clearly. Tell me the truth, Sumo!" He demanded his voice booming around, disrupting the calmness of the night. Suman pulled her hands off his grip, and moved back but he wasn't ready to let her go until he got his answer.
"I won't let you, I want to know why were you uncomfortable about me hanging out with her?" He repeated intently hoping for a positive response. He hit her emotional never right with his well chosen words, which led her into an emotional outburst.
"You want to know why I was furious with you, coz you forgot all about me. And yes I was uncomfortable, that's coz I can't bear to see you flirt around with other gals, it kills me to have you look at others" She burst out tears drenching her eyes.
"Par kyun, Sumo?" He prompted with an impatient air.
"Kyunki main tumse Pyar karti hoon, Shravan! Maybe I was your childhood crush, but you're not.. You're my first True Love! Tumhare bina meri zindagi adhoori hojayegi, Shravan! And after knowing well how important you're to me, how can I watch you move on with some other girl? Maine tumhe bachpan meh bahut dukh di thi. Aur ab tumhe kis haq se apni dil ki baat kahoongi?" Suman said tears welling up her eyes.
"Sumo...!" Shravan stuttered searching for words.
"Tum kuch mat Bol...! Yeh Sab meri problem hai... If I have developed feelings for you that's my problem. Tumhe chinta karne ki zaroorat nahi hai! Main chalti hoon!" She said walking away towards her family. In an hour, all the guests were departed. Shravan ascended the steps to reach his room.
Sumo's words kept buzzing in his ears.., "Main tumse pyaar karti hoon!"... "How can I watch you move on with someone?" ..."Maine tumhe bachpan meh bahut dukh di thi. Aur ab tumhe kis haq se apni dil ki baat kahoongi?..!"
His face split up with an overwhelming smile. "Sumo, you love me...? Mujhe yakeen abhi bhi nahi horaha hai. Bachpan se aajtak Maine Sirf tumse pyaar kiya hai! Aur aaj bhi... Main tumhe apni dil ki baat kehne se Dar raha tha... Tumhare bina mere zindagi bhi adhoori hai, Sumo! Par tumhare pyaar ko apnane se pehle mujhe kuch Kaam hai! Usse poora karne ke baad main tumhe miloonga!" He said in a determined tone...
A week later, Shravan, Ramnath, Pushkar and their entire family was huddled together around the Malhotra associates office room.
"Papa, aap jo bhi faisla liya hai, uske baare meh sabko batayiye!" Shravan prompted Ramnath.
He cleared his throat once, and said in an indifferent tone, "Kamini, Maine ek baat pehle batana chahta hoon. Mere aur Shravan ke baare meh tumne jo bhi socha woh Sab bohot galat hai. Tumse yeh Umeedh nahi thi. Maine hamesha Shravan me ya Varun Pushkar meh koi farak kabhi nahi dekhta. Phir main inhe kaise nainsaafi karoonga, bolo?" He asked in a bitter voice looking directly in the eyes.
"Bhaisaa... Aaap... apko shayad... koi galatfehmi...!" Kamini stammered uncomfortably. Ramnath raised his hand, which made Kamini halt in her track.
"Meri baat abhi katham nahi hua hai, Kamini!" He said as she shifted looking awkward.
"Maine apne saare properties Pushkar aur Varun Ka naam kardiya hai! Humare ghar meh mera ya Shravan Ka koi haq nahi hai.." He announced.
Lalaji was shocked, "Bhaisa, aap yeh sab kyun kiya? Humse koi galti hua Kya?" He queried in a disturbed tone.
"Nahi Lala, aisa nahi, tumhare koi galti nahi...! Main bas yeh sab mere bhai aur uske bachche ke liye karraha hoon..." Ramnath said staring at Kamini accusingly.
"Bhaisa... Achanak yeh sab aapne kyun kiya, Gal kya hai? " Lalaji asked.
"Lalaji, papa jo kuch kiya bilkul sahi hai... Isme mujhe koi problem nahi. Par aap know kyun pareshaan horahe hain? Joh faisla papa ne bola woh bilkul theek hai!" Shravan intervened convince his dear ones.
"Par Shravan beta, tumhare liye toh kuch bhi nahi hai... Yeh galat haina beta...?" He said defiantly. "Lalaji, Maine ek apartment karidha hai., Aaj see main aur Papa vaha rahenge..! Hum chalte hain!" He said holding his papa's hands and walked out, not listening any of their words to stop...
The next day, Shravan entered Tiwari killa, his eyes sought after his Sumo as it always did. "Nanaji, Sumo kidhar hai?" He asked in an hasty voice.
"Woh tiffin centre gayi hai, Shravan beta...!" Nanaji replied, thus Shravan strode off in a rush to meet Suman even before Nanaji could utter another word.
Shravan drove as faster as he could, stepped into the tiffin center, "Sumo... Sumo...!" He entered calling her name in a haste.
Suman realised who was making an entrance into her office. She was pleasantly surprised, "Shravan tum yaha...aaj Achanak... What's the matter.?" She muttered with a frown
"Why do I have to come only if I have any issue, kya?" He asked with a smirk.
"Aisa nahi, you have almost forgotten me, didn't you? She murmured with annoyance.
"I haven't... Main bas tumhe sahi samay pe Milna chahta tha...!"
"So aaj woh sahi samay aagaya Kya?" She asked with an hint of sarcasm.
"Nahi, par Maine tumse kuch baat share karne ke liye aaya hoon!" Saying he shares the information about his family properties. Suman listened him with rapt attention.
"Shravan, tum and Ramnath uncle sab kuch unhe de Diya, ab Kya karoge aap?" She asked looking concerned,
"Sumo, hum sambhal lenge.. After your case, I have earned quite a few cases on my own other than Malhotra Associates, so chinta mat Kar!" He assured,
"Aise kaise? Mujhe tumhare chinta humesha hoti rehti hai! Pyaar joh karti hoon tumse...!" She repeated her confession once again making Shravan gloat in delight.
"Sach main?" He asked as if asking for reassurance
"Haan, sach mein... I don't care even know if you don't. I can never stop caring you...!" She said in an emotional voice,
"Then come with me..." He said dragging her out.
"Kaha...?" She said struggling to keep up with his pace.
" Hop in,...!" He said shoving her into his car. The journey was offbeat altogether today, as their accidental brush ups and stumbles raised the intensity of the moment.
"Where are we heading to..?" She shot at him wondering what he was up to as he drove towards a hill with several U-turns and twirls.
"You'll get to know as soon as we reach!" He simply said.
"Shravan...Can't you tell me...?" She started but was cut short due to his retort.
"Can't you listen to me once for a change?" He quipped, which left her baffled in indignation, but nevertheless she stayed quiet. The car reached atop of a mountain hill, and came to a halt atlast, he took a cloth and blindfolded her.
"Get down!" He said reaching Suman and held her hand to help in descending off the car. He cautiously tread her a few feet away, and whispered in her ears, "open your eyes!" untying the blindfold. The ambience which was waiting there took Suman's breath away, a highly embellished marquee with rose flowers and balloons was located, along with it was a dinner table for two.
"Wow...!" Suman gasped in awe, her eyes spotted him right behind her curtseying in a knee which blithely amazed her.
"Mujhse shaadi karogi?" Shravan asked beaming,
"Mazaak mat karo, Shravan!" Suman replied in a casual voice.
"I'm not kidding, Sumo! Maine humesha tumse pyaar kiya hai.., aur aaj bhi karta hoon. Jab tumne mujhe poocha uss din mere love letter ke bare meh, tab maine himmat hi juta nahi paya... And when you confessed your love, I felt like shouting my happiness out on the rooftops...! I have always loved you, and will continue to do so till my last breath...!" Shravan said a teardrop sticking around his eyelashes. His teardrop reflected how much sincere his words were, which made Suman's heart melt in ecstasy.
"Really...?" She asked reliving his words
"Yeah... And tell me now, will you marry me?" He asked in a single breath
"Yes , yes I will..." Suman shouted out emotionally tear filling her eyes now.
"And Don't leave me ever alone...!" He said in a cuddling tone.
"Never ever...!" Suman assured with a teary chuckle. In a dime Shravan inched closer, making her heart cease in an enchanting jolt. As if he had been waiting for this one moment all his lifetime, his lips wrapped hers in an instant for a ravishing smooch, Suman stunned at first, grew out of it instantly, threw her arms around him eradicating the rift between them making themselves one forever.
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