IPKKND FF: Masquerade [Chapter 18] Updated 10 Sept - Page 21

Akash Raizada was a quiet young man. He was the ideal son and perfect student. He never misbehaved and he always did well in whatever he put his hands to. So it was a little surprising that he was feeling nervous while thinking of exactly how to tell her what he wanted to. He cleared his throat deliberately and was rewarded with her looking up from her coffee and giving him a questioning look.

"Umm... Friday is our last day of college."

Payal Gupta was basically a shy and reserved person. After moving to Delhi to pursue her education, she had initially found it very difficult adjusting to the different lifestyle and attitude of people in the city. But she was from a middle class family and one of her admirable traits was her adjusting power and groundedness. She had settled in soon and after almost three years of college she was sitting in front of Akash and wondering why he was suddenly stating the obvious.

"I know Akash. Why are you suddenly telling me this?"

"Well... Actually... I wanted you to come over to my house and have dinner with me and my family on Friday."

Payal's eyes grew wider and she looked at Akash who had a nervous and uncertain look in his eyes. She had got to know him very well over the past few years and he was her close friend, her guide in Delhi, her confidant and something more. She felt butterflies start to erupt in her stomach and after a huge effort she managed to find her voice.

"W-Why?"

"Well... I wanted to introduce you to them."

Introduce? Did that mean he-? She wasn't sure of what his words meant but she desperately wanted to find out more.

"You want to introduce them to me? Or me to them?"

Akash looked at her in confusion before he caught on to what she was trying to say.

"I want to introduce you to them."

He knew that she wasn't satisfied with that much and he took a deep breath before continuing.

"Payal... I-I want to introduce you to them because... Well... Because I love you and I want to marry you."

Payal's eyes lit up in delight and a shy smile formed on her face. She fidgeted with the dupatta and darted her eyes here and there, occasionally sneaking a glance at him. After a few minutes, she gathered up the courage to look at him directly and was stunned to see him holding a rose in front of her.

"Payal Gupta, will you marry me?"

She took the rose hesitantly before nodding her head shyly. Akash grinned at her and they walked out of the coffee shop hand in hand.

...

"Hari Prakashji! Please hurry up! Akash will be home any minute now and the table isn't even ready yet!"

"Hello hi bye bye Anjali! Why all the hurry? Akash comes home every day doesn't he? Then why the fuss?"

Anjali stared at her Mami for a few seconds before hastily making up some excuse. She couldn't let her catch on to the fact that Akash was inviting a girl over for dinner and definitely not when that girl was her potential daughter-in-law. Mami had a fascination for modern girls who wreaked superficiality and shallowness. Coming from a not very well off background made her a little insecure and often clouded her judgment. So it was imperative that she found out about Payal only when it was too late for her to protest.

...

Dinner went off quite well. Anjali was delighted with Akash's choice and Mama had taken an instant liking towards her. Mami however hadn't been too friendly initially but as the time passed, she slowly realized that Payal was definitely no ordinary middle class girl. She had a silent determination about her and was very mindful of manners and decorum while maintaining a pleasant streak of modernity.

The biggest hurdle was yet to be crossed. Payal still hadn't met Akash's Dadi.

Devyani Raizada was the matriarch of the family and was well renowned for her strong personality and strict management of her family. She was very much traditional and liked to have things done her way. Seldom did things happen without her knowledge and when they did, she was none too pleased. So it was natural that both Akash and Anjali were nervous about the latter half of the evening. Their grandmother went to the Devi Maiya temple at the outskirts of the town every Friday evening and it would be quite late by the time she returned. Anjali had told her Nani that they had something important to discuss with once she returned but had not revealed anything else in case Nani refused then and there.

The door bell rang and the cousins exchanged a nervous look. It was time

...

Arnav was not a man with a pleasant temper but during the past few days he had been uncharacteristically foul tempered. Encounters with a certain young girl had left him high strung and on the edge. Everyone had been steering clear of him these days so he was a little surprised to see Akash, Mama and Mami sitting in the living room along with a young woman he didn't recognise.

As soon as they caught sight of him their body language stiffened. However Arnav gave them a curt nod to assure them that he wasn't going to bite their heads off. He was about to walk up the stairs when he heard a voice behind him.

"Bhai?"

He turned around to see Akash looking at him, his eyes betraying nervousness and his hands fidgeting with his shirt sleeves. He raised his eyebrows and Akash ushered him into the study.

"Bhai... Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Go ahead Akash."

"Well, you see, the girl sitting outside..."

Akash hesitated and Arnav could feel his irritation mounting. He glared at his cousin to make it clear that he did not have time to waste. Akash got the not-so-subtle hint and continued in a rush.

"Uh Bhai... You remember Payal? I went with her for college prom a last year? Well... The thing is... I love her and want to marry her. Could you please convince Dadi to approve of her?"

Whatever Arnav had been expecting, it hadn't been this. He himself never talked about romance and it was quite strange that his cousin was asking him for help regarding such a matter. His quick brain went through everything Akash had said. Payal? Ah yes! Now he understood why that girl downstairs looked familiar. She was decent - quite pleasant in fact. He had met her twice before. The first time had been a fleeting glance while the second had been in the car when he had picked them up after prom and Akash gotten out to buy a bottle of water. They hadn't had a particularly long conversation but he got a good vibe from her. Plus Akash seemed to like her a lot. There was no other way he could have gathered up the courage to ask him otherwise.

...

"Jiji! Your marriage will be fixed today! I'm so excited! Aren't you?"

"Khushi, you seem to be more excited than me."

"What can I do Jiji? It just sounds so romantic! You two met in college and fell in love and now he's coming with his family to propose marriage! You're so lucky Jiji!"

Payal looked up at Khushi's slightly wistful tone. She immediately felt bad for her little sister. She should have been in college herself right now, enjoying her life and probably having a romance of her own. But here she was, working so that she, her elder sister, could complete her education. Payal stroked Khushi's head lightly as her eyes misted slightly. She was indeed lucky. Lucky to have such a wonderful sister.

"So aren't you going to help me get ready?"

Khushi's eyes lit up and she began rushing around the room, gathering clothes and jewellery for her sister.

...

The Raizadas walked into the small but comfortable home of Madhumati Sharma, Payal's only relative in Delhi. Akash was a little nervous, especially since his mother had already passed a couple of snide remarks regarding the house and the lack of luxury. Thankfully his father had taken control of the situation and they were currently waiting in the living room for Payal to make an appearance. Anjali had been teasing him all the way there but Akash enjoyed it. But what had pleased him the most was that his Bhai had agreed to come along as well. It gave him a lot more confidence when he was around and he shot him a grateful look.

...

Arnav approved of what he saw. He had already accepted Payal and now, after meeting her bua, he was quite sure that they had made the right decision. Payal was perfect for Akash and for his family. Nani already liked her and it was guaranteed to be a perfect arrangement.

"Payal, Akash told me you have a sister. Where is she?"

"Dear God! That girl of ours is quite mad! Always up to mischief. But she has a golden heart. Isn't that right Payaliya?"

"Yes Buaji. I'll just go and get her."

...

Arnav's phone rang and he went outside to answer it after excusing himself. He was speaking to his assistant Aman about the new deal that they had to finalize when he felt something soft land on his head and cover his eyes. After struggling with it a bit, he barked at Aman to call him back in five minutes. The more he struggled, the more he seemed to get entangled in it. Just then he felt a pair of hands on his face and a voice that triggered a wide range of emotions within him.

"Oh! I'm so sorry. I was taking in the washing and my dupatta flew away in the wind. Let me help you with it. There it's don-"

Khushi couldn't believe her eyes. There he was, Arnav Singh Raizada, standing in her backyard with her dupatta wrapped around him and her hands holding onto his face. This couldn't really be happening. How could he have stumbled across her house out of all the places in Delhi? And why was it that her dupatta had decided to latch itself onto him of all people? She really would never understand why the universe worked in this way.

Arnav stared into the same eyes that had been visiting his dreams almost every night. He had no idea what to do every time he met her. He usually felt inexplicable rage but a tiny part of him was always glad that he had gotten another chance to see her.

They stood like that till Payal's voice jolted them back to reality.

"Oh Khushi, there you are! I've been looking all over for you!"

Payal saw Khushi standing next to Arnav and immediately began the introductions.

"Umm, this is my younger sister Khushi. And Khushi, that's Arnav Singh Raizada, Akash's cousin."

Confused and angry hazel eyes met puzzled and livid molten brown ones as sparks flew because of the tension that was growing between two people who not only hated each other but were now being forced into unwilling relatives.

...

How was it? Barely any Arnav Khushi scenes but I promise more later on! 😃

Do like and comment people!

Chapter Eight