Part-3
Singhania's and Mehra's were completely drowned in engagement preparations. Both the houses had mixed feelings. While Mehra's strived to do everything up to the status of their would be relatives Singhania's, Singhanias tried to keep the things at a level where Mehra's don't feel uncomfortable. After engagement and post lunch Mehras were going to visit their home together with Kalpana and then and there wedding date will be fixed. Dinner was going to be a grand affair and Singhanias were preparing themselves to be a graceful host.
Raghav kept on looking at his phone. He was expecting call from her but with each passing minute he was getting pissed off. Every call that came was from his office or from client. His patience was giving up. His curiosity was increasing on not receiving call from her. "What was taking her so long to call him. Is she re-thinking about her decision...no...no...no...she surely liked him...then why isn't she calling???" He huffed and stood up to leave for office. He wanted to divert his mind...he has rejected many but this time he was afraid of being rejected since he truly liked her...well in the first meet the word 'like' suits properly.
Kalpana looked at the chit again. That one line made a deep impact in her heart with every single time she read it. She was curious to know more about her would be husband. She switched on her laptop. Soon there were many articles on him. She chose few and started reading one by one. Each article gave her an insight of his personality though on professional level yet it helped her to know a lil about him.
One article said he is an ethical businessman just like other Singhanias. The other said he is sharp and has that business instinct and guts to gamble and take risk. One of the articles mentioned he has learnt the ropes of business from his brother Keshav Singhania. Every article she read told a certain portion of his nature. He never had any linkups nor he mingled with any girl. With each article she started getting more fond of him.
She looked at the chit once again. She tried many times to call him or text him but every time withdrew herself from doing so..."What if he thinks I am desperate. It has just been few hours...how can I call or text him."
She was dying to talk to him but a certain part of her was holding her back. She listened to it and stopped herself or rather controlled herself. She thought of asking her jiju who is going to come soon. She will ask him. He is the best person to guide her in this matter after all her sister too went for an arranged marriage and who can tell her better what a guy thinks about his would be wife during the initial meetings which are making a base for a strong, concrete and a beautiful relation. "Yes that would be right" she thought.
Raghav went towards his brother and announced his decision of leaving for office in the pretext of many meetings that are lined up for today. "Bhai...I m leaving...I am already late." Saying so he made his way for his room to get ready. He was disappointed. Before he could start Keshav came in. "What happened?" "Nothing" "You don't seem to be in not right mood. Is everything okay." "Yes Bhai everything is fine." "No it isn't and now spill the beans. You know you cannot hide it from me." He sighed looking at his brother. His face adorning the frown out of disappointment.
"Bhai I gave her my no but she didn't call me yet. I don't know why I mean she has my no then what's stopping her." The confusion written on his face. "Raghav...are you a girl!!!" "What!!!" "Raghav wat ever you have said about her h must be feeling shy and more over she might expect you to call." "But I have given her my number...what's the problem" "Raghav brother if she is hesitant in calling you then you call her na" "But I don't have her number" "C'mon Raghav now I don't need to tell you how to get your girl's number. By the way hint for you...Dadu and Kalpana both are connected to same NGO." He winked looking at him and went out of his room.
Raghav's eyes lit up in joy. He understood her reservation and now dropping all the ideas of going to office he jumped on his bed and called her secretary and asked her to fetch the number of manager of that NGO. Soon she texted him the number and now Kalpana's number was just a call away. He immediately called up and inquired about her. Since the manager knew Raghav's grandpa and the purpose behind him asking for her number, he gave it without much resistance.
With this message Raghav was on cloud nine. His would be wife's number was before her and he was all excited to talk to her.
Kalpana was getting all the more anxious. "What if he feels bad that I didn't call him. Will he reject me on that basis...no...no...he doesn't seem to be that sorry of guy. What should I do...I am so confused. Jiju where are you!" "Hellooo cute lil" and with this familiar voice her eyes widened in surprise to find her adviser right before her." "Jiju!!!!" She exclaimed. "Waiting for me" she nodded her head in affirmative. "Jiju...ammm...should I call him. I mean what will he think of me...will he think that I am desperate...that I am dying to talk to him...what should I do...I m so confused...you know..." "Relax... Relax...relax." He hushed her shoulder and asked her to take deep breaths. "Don't fret out...just chill." "But" "shhh" "Kalpana girl relax you are so worried in just talking to him...and why are you making any opinion about him without knowing him."
Understanding dawned her and finally she managed to smile as the tug of war going inside her came to an end. Her phone rang and the caller was Raghav. She smiled with a spark in her eyes. Its not that she has not talked with guys before but Raghav...with him the chemistry is different. The excitement within her was just sinking when Vishesh took the phone. "Ooo Raghav...lemme take the call coz you are feeling hesitant then how will you talk with him. Wait shall I tell him to call you later...you know...after you feel comfortable...and all" She frowned on listening to his words...her mouth lil open at his respons..."Jiju...give me my phone back...please... Who kya sochenge..please give na" He looked at her cute face amusingly and gave her phone back and left the room. She took a deep breath and finally picked up his call.
"Hi...I mean Hello." His voice carried the excitement while she shyly replied "H...hi" on listening the stammered Hi he understood her position and basically the reason behind her not calling him. Teasingly he asked "You didn't call me...why nervous" Kalpana fell short of words... He touched that point which she tried but failed to hide. "Ammm...amm" He giggled and continued "I can understand and its good that you didn't call me. Finally for the first time I did what usually guys do when they are interested in a girl" confused Kalpana asked him "What do guys do when they are interested in a girl." She asked out of pure innocense. He chuckled listening to her. "They trace their girl's number. And thats why I traced yours."
She blushed on listening him and smiled shyly. "Thank God you smiled." "How come you know that I smiled!" "Tum sawaal bahut puchti ho" She giggled and said teasingly "aap baat hi aisi karte hai ki mei sawaal karu." "Hmmm teasing me haan." She laughed and was surprised at her own attempt of teasing him. "Its good to see that finally your hesitance is leaving you. Kalpana tomorrow we will get engaged and after that the date will be fixed. I just want that whatever time we get before getting married i.e. our courtship period I want both of us to understand each other well." Hmmm I agree...understanding each other will become the base of out trust." "True."
"Raghav will you now please tell me why did you write or to be accurate in such a short span what made you think about me like this." She questioned him. This one question which has been on her mind and in heart since the time she has read the chit. "Aise hi...no particular reason." She frowned on his reply. This was not what she was expecting but at the same time after researching so much on him and the lil meet together with this lil talk she knew he is not the kinda person to pass such a loose statement. "Don't lie to me..." "Achha baba sorry...I know you want to know this since the time you had read about it." He was met with silence for a moment or two and then Kalpana broke it with her Yes.
Raghav walked towards his bed and slept on it taking the pillow beneath him and started "Honestly Kalpana I have rejected many girls approx 3 years back coz they lacked something. And when I was coming to meet you I was already convincing my mind to come up with an excuse to reject you." Kalpana frowned on knowing his intention. Her persistent silence made him understand her sadness. "But... Today when I met you I felt dil ko dil ki shakal ka koi mila. The things that lacked in those girls I found it in you. Simplicity and honesty. You were shy all through the while when I met you but when I was leaving, you honestly told me to give the reason if I reject you, the shyness all gone and your voice carried the sincerity and concern for your mother which i really liked."
Matlab if i had not countered you, you would have rejected me" She asked anxiously. "Na...i would have met you again to have more clarity on my views for you. But definitely I would have not outrightly rejected you. You are different and I figured it out when you gave me that cup of tea with trembling hands." She felt comfortable and lowered her eyes. A small smile tugged on her lips.
Raghav turned and looked at her photo again"This is the reason why I said you are beautiful. " She blushed on listening his views and felt her heart jumping out of joy.She went towards the balcony and sat on the chair. She kept her legs crossed and pressed towards her torso. The feeling of being liked by someone brought a kinda different sensation in her and she liked it. Never she felt so happy before.
"Kalpana why did you say yes." He asked inquisitively. Momentarily rendering her speechless. She never thought she would be confronted by such question. "Kalpana I hope you didn't say yes out of parental pressure if anything is there tell me I..." "No" Kalpana cut short his sentence in mid to clear this sudden confusion which developed due to her silence. "I mean its not...its definitely not out of parental pressure. I liked you when I saw your photograph. You weren't dressed up to make an impression... You were just yourself and when we were alone you somewhere understood my reservations and tried to start the conversation. No body has ever done that for me...to understand someone's position requires maturity and you exhibited the the same carefully. I am not a girl who will give in to parental pressure since I know decision taken in haste will not only affect my but its impact in long term will reach to my parents and family as well. "
There was silence on the other side. Kalapna grew cautious and said "Hello...hello.." He smiled "I m here...just thinking where were you. Why did we meet so late. I like you Kalpana...I truly like you." "I like you too." "I can imagine you blushing right now" he said teasingly and she lowered her eyes.
A voice broke their comforting silence. "Bhai dinner is ready chaliye." "I am coming." "Kalpana...kal milte hai." "Ok". "Bye..." "Bbye" He hung up and she too disconnected the call. She kept her hand on her chest to notice her irregular beatings and feel her racing heart. She smiled and kept on smiling remembering how well it had gone. Tears formed in her eyes and started rolling down on her cheeks.
Raghav tapped his phone on his hand and thought of their conversation. There was no pretence. A simple heart to heart talk. He looked himself in the mirror and noticed that for some reason his smile is not leaving his face. He shook his head thinking about the changed circumstances in few hours and went ahead for dinner with his family. Tomorrow its going to be the first step of their relation.
Dinner too at both the sides was filled up with engagement preparations. Gifts, shagun and what to wear. Every where they saw was hustle bustle going around. Time was less and n no if things were pending. The only two people who were sitting quitely were Kalpana and Raghav. They were not allowed to do anything and hence were left with nothing but to think about each other. To imagine/dream their future with each other. Their up coming life and journey in each others company. Life has taken a turn and now their roads have conjoined till eternity.
"Courtship period is very important phase of anybody's life. The more the better. Its critical and sensitive as well. Building understanding and trust over each other in a short span is very difficult and this phase helps in building the concrete base. Maturity needs to be shown and patience is the key. Both goes hand in hand. Raghav and Kalpana were looking for these two aspects in their life partners and they found that in each other. While Raghav knows he has to take initiative Kalpana knows he is sensible enough to not hurt her. The journey has begun."
Precap: Engagement
I hope you guys like it. Have managed to write this much in past weeks.
By the way if you have not seen then I have kept a poll. The link for same is given below:
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4395291
Which two stories you want to me to complete first. I will only concentrate on those two. Please do vote and share your opinion.
Thanks & Enjoy Reading.😊
Edited by b.baheti - 10 years ago
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Mangal Lakshmi
