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Chapter 41: Proposal Over Coffee
~Past~
~Past~
"Maine tumhara kya bigaada?" Maan exclaimed, throwing his hands up in frustration.
"I'm sorry?" he heard her eye him with confusion.
"I mean, what have I done to not deserve a chance at coffee?" he continued to interrogate.
"I told you," she began only to be interrupted by him.
"Come on Radhika, don't you think I deserve a chance. An explanation at least," he said, disappointment evident in his tone.
"Yes Mr. Khurana I am trying here," she began again only to be cut again by him.
"Trying? You are trying?" he cut in. "Have you any clue what went through me when I didn't find you?" he asked worry written all over his face.
"But Mr. Khurana," she tried once again.
"That's it no more excuses," he admonished before grabbing her hand and heading out of the office. He forcefully pulled Radhika out of the site and shoved her into his car. Having no other option she sat down in the passenger seat mumbling curses under her breath. He walked over to the other side and sat in the driver seat and revved the engine up before zooming out.
Maan raced through the street of Thanjavur like a pro while Radhika sat bewildered wondering where he was heading. She remembered him saying he was quite new to the city but he seemed to be quite familiar with roads. Before she could rake her brain to find an answer, she found herself in front of Modern Caf. It was one of the oldest cafes established in town and it was famously known for its traditional filter coffees along with various other snacks. People flocked to the caf all times of the day to get a taste of its filter coffee, in spite of it being very tiny and old. It had a few tables placed outside the caf where people could sit to enjoy the view of busy street traffic.
Maan got out of the car and once again pulled her out of the car and walked towards the tables.
"Please," he smiled pointing for her to take a seat. She sat still dazed at the things happening in front of her while he went to sit opposite to her. The table seemed to be crudely decorated with a tablecloth along with a flower vase containing a single rose in the center.
"Anna two filter coffee," he shouted loudly gesturing two with his hands. She looked around to find the caf surprisingly empty and frowned at the possibility of having no people at this time of the day. "So tell me, why did you ditch me yesterday?" she heard him ask with seriousness.
"Are you sure you'll let me answer this time," she joked at his habit of interrupting every single time she came up to answer him.
"I'm waiting," he said shrugging his shoulder.
"I had meet someone urgently," she replied casually.
"Yeh mujhse bhi zyaada kaun important ho gaya," he mumbled looking away, loud enough for her to hear.
"Come again."
"I mean, you could have at least informed me," he said with concern.
"But how could I Mr. Khurana I didn't have any numbers to inform you ahead," she pointed.
"Not Mr. Khurana again," he whined. "Please call me Maan."
"But why?" she asked surprised at his sudden request.
"Number one, we are not in office. And number two between friends it is really weird to address each other so formally," he said plainly.
Radhika looked at him like he had grown two heads. "Friends?" she asked incredulously, "from when are we friends?"
"Oh come on Radhika, don't be silly. Of course we are friends. How else would two people go on a coffee date without at least being friends?" he shrugged casually.
Her eyes grew wider at his sudden mention of 'date'. "Ddd date?" she stammered. But before he could answer they were served with piping hot coffee.
Maan moved back to let the boy keep the coffee and ask if they would eat anything.
"Anything the lady asks," he said pointing to Radhika. "What would you like to eat?"
"Mr. Khurana, I asked you something," she said completely ignoring his question.
"Phir se Khurana, its Maan," he corrected, "Maan, I asked you something. Khair chodo, won't you eat anything? I have heard bajjis are quite famous here."
Seeing he wouldn't let her until she answered his question, "No thank you, I am fine," she said gritting her teeth. "Now if you are done asking would you kindly tell me how did this meeting turn into a date?"
"Very simple, I am here with a proposal. And when a guy and girl go for coffee with a proposal at hand they call it a date," he explained looking seriously. At the mention of proposal she spit her drink in shock. "Are you alright?" she heard him ask the next second as he came forward to hold her hand.
"What proposal?" she cried in midst of her coughs.
"Apology proposal. Remember I bumped into you two days ago," he reminded, suppressing a smile at the fact that she was reacting exactly like Geet had mentioned. "What did you think?"
"Nn-nothing," she muttered looking away to hide her embarrassment.
"So where was I," he pretended to think, "haan, we were talking about you. So tell me are you by any chance committed, as in you know boyfriends, fiances, etc?" he asked looking tensed.
"No," she seemed to answer reluctantly wondering why he was asking such a question.
"Thank God," he sighed in relief. "Now that we have that cleared let me tell you something about myself. Name, you should have already known, Maan Singh Khurana. Unfortunately I lost my parents to a fateful plane crash when I was eight," he said woefully. "But I have my very lovely Daadima, and my little brother Vicky, Vikrant Singh Khurana. My family owns Khurana Constructions started by my dadaaji. I think I earn well enough to support a family. You are of course free to work if you want," he listed continuously only to her shock.
"But why are you telling me all this? And what do you have to do with my work?" she asked perplexed.
"How will you say yes to marry me if you don't even no me," he said dropping a bomb.
"What! Marriage? I never said I would marry you," she said denied, shaking her head vehemently.
"But you just said you are not committed," he complained, looking like a kid who had been denied his promised toy.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I would marry you," she continued stubbornly.
"But, but I don't see the problem. I have a great job, family name, and I promise to keep you happy," he said solemnly.
"Look Maan, I agreed for coffee doesn't mean I'll say yes for anything you say," she declared furiously.
"Maan?" he bemused. "Well, that's a good start."
"I, I mean Mr. Khurana," she corrected looking flustered at her sudden slip of tongue.
"Obviously you cannot say yes to anything I say. I mean what will people think, future Mrs. Khurana says yes to everything? What would happen to my business," he said dramatically.
"Argh!" she stamped her feet in anger. "I am leaving Mr. Khurana. Goodbye!"
"Alright, I'll be fair. I'll give you a day to think over. Let me know your decision over a coffee tomorrow," he said walking behind her as she made her way into the road. "But wait, where are you going? Let me drop you home," he said urgently seeing her trying to cross the busy street.
"I think I know my way back. Thanks for the coffee," she stated sternly, calling for an auto rickshaw. Just as he was about to stop her, a rickshaw came to stop near them. She quickly climbed into it, ordering the driver to take her to her address.
"Arre Radhika, listen, I'll pick you tomorrow alright?" she heard him shout over the noise of the rickshaw. Ignoring his shouts she sat back in her seat trying to soothe her frayed nerves.
***
~PRESENT~
Filter coffee with an extra spoon of sugar always made her feel warm and gooey causing her toes to curl. "Hmm," she moaned in sheer pleasure as the warm fluid made its way through her food pipe.
"See I know I am always right," she heard him say victoriously.
"Kya?" she asked perplexed at his sudden declaration.
"I just asked you something and you said yes," he beamed mischievously.
"Bb-but I, that was, wait a minute," she replied catching on to his game, "you tricked me into drinking coffee so I would say yes?"
"Of course not," he replied shaking his head innocently. "I would trick you into drinking filter coffee with an extra spoon of sugar to make you say yes for anything," he corrected smiling wickedly.
"Maan!" she cried.
"Haan mujhe pata hai ab main tumhara pati nahi hoon. But you know as your first husband I think mujhe haq banta hai to protect you," he sounded like he was teasing.
"Maan," Geet admonished that he was just joking but seeing him look dead serious, she too became serious. "Maan aap serious toh nahi haina?" she asked laughing nervously.
"Do I look like I am kidding?" he asked plainly.
"Maan that is simply ridiculous," she said shaking her head at his proposal. "I shall handle Raji mami."
"Geet, the decision has been made. Stop acting like a child," he chided.
"A child? Me!" she said, her pitch reaching the high octaves. "Its you who has been trying to convince Raji mami that you are my husband and Kritika's daddy who went away on long business trips. And on top of that you even agreed for a dinner invitation from her!"
"Well isn't it true?" he asked with a straight face. "I was your husband."
"But Maan you and I know it was a mere compromise for Daadima, nothing more or nothing less," she tried to reason.
"Whatever Geet, no arguments alright?" he said without budging. "I cannot see someone point a finger at you or Kritika for that matter."
"Maan aap ek choti si baat ko lekar itna shor kyun mach rahe ho?" she said without realizing what she was saying.
"Geet, voh baat na hi chota tha ya ek joke tha to let it go. But if you think I am creating a scene for nothing, teekhai then let it be so. Sorry for poking my nose into your business," he snapped, hurt at her indifference.
"Maan mera matlab voh nahi tha," she tried to salvage only to have him walk out of her apartment, banging the door shut. "Maan!" she cried running behind him but it was too late. She slapped her forehead in regret, letting her tears flow freely. Why did she even go to Bridgewater temple for that silly fast of hers, she thought ruefully as those events that led to the predicament came back to her.
~~~
FLASHBACK:
"Kriti, sheekiram vaadi, pooja will start," (Kriti come fast, pooja will start soon) Geet urged, dropping her shoes by the stand and washing her feet while juggling to hold the flower garland along with pooja thali.
"Oh Lord please have mercy, I think my mother is going crazy!" Kritika prayed with her eyes closed making Maan laugh loudly at her antics.
"Oi vaalu, let's go before your mother gets crazier," (Oh naughty girl) he joked picking her up and throwing her a little causing her to squeal.
"Of course we do not want to meet locos pocos (crazy) Geet Handa," Kritika giggled.
All three made their way upstairs to the main teple housing Lord Balaji along with many other deities. A lot of people especially ladies dressed in silk sarees hurried here and there while a few others who looked like volunteers were helping the priests setting up plates and other things needed for the pooja. Three rows of plates were neatly lined for people to sit and do their own pooja while a main deity of Mahalakshmi was set up in front.
Maan walked in with Kritika in his hands while Geet rushed forward with her things to the head priest instructing others to quickly set up everything. She greeted him while he returned her greeting warmly. After the initial pleasantries she gave him the flower garland she had in hand so that he could put it on the deity while she went to settle down in front of a plate. Seeing neither Maan nor Kritika follow her she looked around to find them bow down in prayer in front of the main deity while a priest came to give them his blessings along with some prasadam. She chuckled at Kritika's instant frown seeing dried grapes in her hand before handling it back to Maan. It was a never fail reaction for Kritika hated them and would instantly put it in her hand whenever she brought her here. She found them look for her and she waved her hands letting them know where she was.
Maan recognized her sitting among a throng of people and walked over to her. "Geet you carry on with your function and poojas Kritika and me are going to catch some fresh air outside," he whispered.
"But Maan aap log yahaan hi reh sakte hain, why do you want to go out?" she asked doubtfully.
"Jaanu agar main aur kuch der yahaan raha toh seriously people will trample on me. Gosh I never knew there were many crazy people like you, running behind all these silly poojas and vrats," he said shaking his head.
"Maan!" she admonished. "Anaap shanaap baatein mat keejiye."
"Whatever Geet," he brushed away, "good luck with all your silly vrats, I'm outta here."
"Kriti behave yourself okay. This is going to take a while and I don't want to hear all other moms complain you were terrorizing their kids," she warned looking at Kritika.
"But Amma I don't do anything," Kritika replied giving an innocent look.
"I know what don't you do, so I am telling you Kriti," Geet stressed sternly.
"Jaanu you now stop terrorizing my kid, chalo JJ let's get out before this lady goes into one of her crazier moods," he said picking up Kritika and heading out of the main door into the open grounds around the temple. Kritika stuck her tongue out to Geet as she was being carried on Maan's shoulder. Geet returned her favor and stuck out her tongue before chuckling at her antics.
Chilly air hit Maan as he walked out of the main door with Kritika. Not wanting Kritika to catch a cold due to the weather he asked her to stay inside the huge double doors so that he could run down and get her jacket. Kritika stood with her hands folded, humming her favorite song to herself when she felt someone pinch her hard on her cheeks. She was about to scream and create a scene when she looked up to find the lady who gave her creeps bend over to her with her nasty smile.
"Ennadi Kritika, nanna irrukiya?" (What Kritika, how are you?) she asked. "Eppadi iruppe, unnoda thopannara parkame santhosama irukkamudiyuma?" (How can you be fine without your father) she sighed feigning sorrow.
"Enakke illathe kavale, ungalukku ethukku Raji maami?" (Why are you bothered about something that even I am not bothered about?) Kritika replied, gnashing her teeth in anger.
"Ayyo paavam kozhanthe. Paarungo-na kozhanthe eppadi elachi poirukku," (Oh so sad child. See she has grown so thin) Raji continued holding and shaking Kritika's chin while totally ignoring Kritika's reply. "Enna intha Varalakshmi nombukkum un thopannar bus-ness trip poyacha?" (So even for this Varalakshmi pooja like usual has your father gone for a bus-i-ness trip) she asked.
"Athu business trip maami bus illa," (It's not bus-ness aunty, its business) Kritika corrected teasingly.
"BUS-nna spell pannirthan pinna bus-i-ness thane, avan varattum gavanichikkaren. Chinna kozhanthe munnadiyellam en manatha vangaran." (He had it spelled 'BUS' so it shouldn't it be pronounced so? Let him come I'll punish him properly. Because of him my pride is being hurt even in front of little kids) Raji mumbled under her breath. "Cheri, cheri di, ippo naan ketta kelvikku badil chollu," Raji said trying to cover her folly. "Vazhakam pola poyachonno illa intha vaati puthu kathai katta porala ungamma?" (Okay, okay, answer me. He as left right or is your mother going to concoct another story this time?) she added with a taunt.
Tears pricked Kritika's eyes yet her pride and self-respect prevented her from breaking down in front of such a cheap woman who had the guts to deride a little kid. She was about to answer her when she heard Maan pitch in.
"Achacho enna maami, kutthu kallatom inga nikkaren bus-i-ness trip poyachunnu chollarel," (Oh no Aunty, I am standing right in front of you and you say I have gone on a bus-i-ness trip) Maan offered with an innocent look while coming to stand in front of her.
Raji turned to see a handsome young man walk in front of her before coming to pick up Kritika and look at her. Surprise and shock was an understatement, as she stood speechless staring open-mouthed at Maan standing quite confidently in front of her. Every year she had seen Geet along with Arjun who claimed to be her close friend come along with Kritika to take part in the pooja and celebration of Varalakshmi pooja, an auspicious day where married women kept fast for their husbands health and prosperity. Rajalakshmi or Raji for short was always curious for gossip even at an age when wisdom overpowered imprudent thoughts. Seeing that Geet's husband never accompanied her, Raji began to circulate unnecessary rumors. But Geet had put everything to rest saying her husband was busy travelling on business trips and couldn't find the time accompany her to these public functions. Yet Raji had continued talked behind her back while acting to pity her. Geet had completely ignored all those questioning eyes. For her performing the pooja was important and she didn't care what Raji or for that matter anybody else thought.
"Ee pogaporathu maami, vaaye moodungo," (Fly will fly into your mouth, close it) Maan teased, lifting her jaw with his finger to close her mouth.
"Yaar nee?" (Who are you?) Raji managed to splutter in spite of her shock.
"Ennadi Kriti, didn't you tell Raji maami that your daddy will be attending the pooja today along with your mom," (What Kriti, didn't you tell Raji maami that your daddy will be attending the pooja today along with your mom?) Maan asked turning to Kritika before winking at her. Kritika soon caught on to the plan and decided to play along.
"Nahi pappa, I didn't. I forgot," Kritika said shaking her head ruefully.
"Bhoolna buri baat hai beta," Maan chided, shaking his head.
"I'm sowie pappa," Kritika replied with her puppy dog eyes.
Raji who was witnessing the drama unfold in front of her was baffled. She looked back and forth trying to digest that Geet had been right all along. Yet her mind refused to believe that this man standing in front of her could be Geet's husband. But before she could think over she heard him address her.
"I am very sorry Raji mami. Enakkaga ivale forgive pannungo," (Please forgive her for me) he said giving a charming smile. Every girl be it oung or old could never resist Maan Singh Khurana's charm so Raji mami was no exception.
"Che che, ithuku poi sorry kettundu, I understands very well," (No, no, you shouldn't ask sorry for such silly things) she said shaking her head. "By the way, un pere chollaliye handful (handsome) boy," she said with a serious face.
"Oh parungo, I too forgot. This is what happens when a beautiful woman stands in front of me," he said once again making Raji mami swoon. "I'm Maan," he said folding his hands and slightly bowing down to her in spite of carrying Kritika in his hands.
Kritika who was witnessing the scene in front of her couldn't stop giggling but Maan gestured her to quieten down while he himself had a hard time suppresseing his laughter.
"Ayyo enna lakshanam, enna mariyathai, pathela-na?" (Oh God see he carries so much respect) she asked nudging her husband who was all the while standing muching on a packet of mixture (Indian savory snacks). He meekly nodded his head before continuing to eat.
"Appo naan varatuma mami, Geet nekku wait pannindu iruppa," he said turning to leave.
"Oh wait pa, definitely this Sunday my home lunch varanum," (Wait, you should definitely come home for lunch this Sunday) she declared.
"Ayyo kandipa mami, mami calling and Maan no coming, che che," (Of course I'll come. How can I not come when Raji mami calls) he said shaking his head in denial.
"Okay my dear handful boy, meet you Sunday," she said waving him goodbye before turning around to walk into the temple.
As soon as Raji mami left, both Maan and Kritika burst out laughing while hi-fiving each other. "Wow Maanji, you are amazing," Kritika remarked once Raji mami was out of their earshot. "Thank you so much!" she exclaimed noisily kissing his cheeks.
"Anything for my cute little JJ," he said pinching her nose slightly.
"Maanji! You can call me anything but cute," Kritika glared, "I have an image to maintain."
"Acchaji?" Maan asked looking amused at his little bombshell only to shake her head vigorously. "Accha then come closer," he said in hushed tones. Kritika came forward with her ears near his face. "My cute little JJ. Ab teekh hai?" he whispered in her ear.
"Yup, now its fine," Kritika nodded satisfied. Maan laughed heartily at her sweet antics and threw her up making her giggle. He safely caught her and lightly kissed her forehead before they headed out.
so what do u think 😉 hit that like button people aur comment karo 😡 dont forget to read the post above with very important info!!!
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