-Agar Tum Mil Jao- last part pg 72- 6/5 - Page 16

Rj—baad mein nahi…abhi…Pallavi, you have been my best friend and my confident for the past two years😃😃 …tumne humesha mera saath diya hai…jab bhi mujhe koi problem hui…u have been the first person I wud run upto…dats why I always call u my Problem solver 😃😃… (smilingly added)…Pallavi You are one of the reasons… I have changed…& only for the better I hope…😃😃 . Aaj tumhari wajah se I have been more responsible…more confident…😃😃 & ofcourse closer to my family …and have been a better son… brother and so on…😃😃 Jab do saal pehle tum humare ghar mein aayi thi…I never thot I wud be saying this to u…but really …Pallavi, You have been an angel to me and my family…😃😃(sighed deeply) par maine apni is angel, apni best friend se ek baat chupai hai… (looked up a little scared) I am sorry to say I have been keeping a secret for a while….😕

But today I have to confess something…ek aisi baat jo tumse aur chupaunga toh shayad maa, bhai & bhabhi all will kill me…(gave a nervous laugh) so I guess its high time I step up and like a responsible man…aaj sabke saamne tumse who keh du…jo main kehna chahta hoon… (paused)

Pallavi (silence was killing pallavi so she interrupted)—aisa kya kehna chahte ho…(apprehensive) what are u upto Ranvijay?

Rj(with a deep breath)—ermm …actually… main…I mean…I… who…(sighed)I want to take our relationship to the next level….ab tak hum sirf dost the…& ab waqt hai ki yeh dosti rishte mein badal jaye (after silence which seemed to be for ages to Pallavi)… Pallavi will you ?...( rest he said in one breath) Will do me the honour of becoming my sister-in-law?... (seeing Pallavi's shocked face he repeated again) Will you give your Choti , Khushi's hand to me?... I love her…Main usse shadi karna chahta hoon….infact who bhi mujhse karti hai…😳😊 & jab maine usse shadi ke liye poocha …usne kaha pehle mujhe tumhari permission leni padegi… 😃😃

For a moment Pallavi thought she forgot to breathe… For a while she could not think clearly…😕😕 it took her long enough to realize what actually has Rj has said…😆😆 she could not register what happened…seeing her lost in her thots Rj called her name once again ,

Rj—pallavi… (as she look at him…RJ got scared that she might refuse…& he kept looking at her waiting for her to respond)

Pallavi looked at Massi, kabir & Prachi…all looking at her expecting an answer… she had to make sure they agreed to this alliance… 😊😊 after all they were the would-be groom's family and judging by their smiles Pallavi cud make out they had no objections.😃 she cud see that they are already happy with Rj's choice…& just want her consent…Finally she gave Rj a reassuring smile…😃😃

At last she saw a familiar face hiding behind Kabir and peeping at her…😆😆 It was a rather nervous looking Khushi …both nervous & blushing…. Pallavi looked down at a disheartened Rj who was still on one knees 😆😆 …who seemed dejected as he didn't receive response from Pallavi for long…he feared Pallavi might refuse 😆

Pallavi( took his hand and said) –aisa chehra kyun bana rakha hai…It's a YES Rj…😃😃 ab toh smile karo…😆😆 (Rj gave a big smile & breathe a sigh of relief)…& believe me I would be the happiest to have you as my brother-in-law and you as Khushi's husband…😃😃 (she made him stand on his feet & led him towards khushi… who was still hiding behind Kabir & Prachi)…

Massi—tune haan kehkar bahut acha kiya Pallo…aur mujhe pata tha tu kabhi nahi mana karegi…akhir khushi ki khushi ka sawal hai…

Pallavi( seriously)—who toh hai…but aap logon ko sach much yeh rishta manzoor hai… I mean…

Kabir—ofcourse Pallavi yeh kaisa sawal hai… khushi se behtar kaun ho sakta hai Rj ke liye…😃😃 & thankfully unlike daily soaps yaha prachi ko bhi apni devrani pasand hai…(laughed) so I am saved from any melodrama…😆😆😆

Pallavi (smiled)—dats gud bhaiyaa already hum log aapko kafi dramas dhikhate hai…(she turned towards RJ & khushi) waise I am angry with both of u…humesha mujhe har baat batate ho…itni badi baat chupayi mujhse (Rj & khushi both looked guilty)

Khushi—I am sorry di…but hum batane wale the…maine Rj ko kaha bhi tha…

Rj(shocked she had never said that)—what ? tumne kab kaha tha…it was me who wanted to confess first

Khushi—bilkul jooth di…it was not him….

Pallavi (smacked her head)—abhi bhi bacho ki tarah lad rahe ho…atleast ab toh band kardo ladna…

Kabir –Pallavi …both of them are wrong (smacked on Rj's head)yeh pagal toh tumhe aaj bhi nahi batane wala tha 😆😆 who toh maine in dono ki romantic baatein sun li thi…u shud have heard them…dono bahut romantic baatein karte hai…😆😆 is pagal ko khushi hi sambhal sakti hai…

Rj(surprised)—bhaiii...dat was mean… how cud u…

Dev who was standing at bar, observed everything… by the end of it Dev had a huge grin on his face 😃😃 …For a strange reason Dev felt as If he was relieved 😆😆…as if a huge burden have been removed 😆😆 …the uncomfortable feeling he had since the moment Rj was down on his knees…has vanished somewhere…😆😆 he joined them to congratulate Rj…

Dev—infact it was mean of u Rj 😆😆 …tumne mujhe bhi nahi bataya…I thot u never hid anything from me….

Rj(looked guilty)—main wapis aakar batane hi wala tha…but kabir bhaiyya ne hume pehle hi pakad liya…I am sorry

Dev(smiled & hugged him)—sorry ki zarut nahi hai… I was just kidding… I am so happy for u… Congratulations…(to khushi) & u too…

Both of them smiled

Pallavi excused herself saying she will be back… she returned back after few minutes with his father's ring for Rj & her mothers kangan for khushi…😊😊 & made their relation more official…Pallavi even promised a new engagement ring …But Rj refused this is fine as this will make khushi feel her parent's presence …😃😃.

She hugged them both…she was really happy for both of them…😃😃 she felt as if she cud fulfill her promise to mother …😃 to settle khushi…Pallavi was sure that Rj & his family wud take care of Khushi…since every1 adored her already… 😃😃

***

A few days had passed since the engagement…Rj went back to Switzerland …the very next day as he had only come to talk to Pallavi and to celebrate his birthday with his family…😊😊 He left it for his family to decide abt wedding date & other formalities.

In the meanwhile the priest came with date of wedding after 1 month…😊😊 & no one in family cud wait for the wedding as it was the wedding of youngest member of their family…they planned for a lavish wedding …😃😃

They did not want Pallavi to pay for anything…much to her displeasure…finally she agreed but still she convinced them that they will let her contribute something for the wedding… 😃😊 after all her only sister is getting married 😃😃. She also decided to give the money from her parent's life insurance as a wedding present to khushi…Since she has been working for long she had saved quite some money…She bought all the presents for every1… She knew they would be really mad at her…😆😆😆 but she had to fulfill some duties as the bride's sister and only relative…

Even Kabir offered to help Pallavi with expenses but she refused...assuring she has enough to indulge…she will manage… later Dev had also offered to help …but Pallavi refused to him also…

Pallavi(smiled) —Thank u Mr.Khanna 😃😃 …but don't worry I will manage…after all mumma-papa ki insurance thi, usse ho jayega…aur help ki zarut padi toh I will ask u…afterall aap legally Khushi ke guardian jo the…

Dev agreed still assured her she can ask for help whenever she wants…

***

After the engagement…life was back routine for Pallavi …she was still working as Dev's PA… Dev was feeling much better and as expected he had started working from Monday, although he cudn't help himself but to act rather strange when Pallavi was around…

Pallavi spent initial days atching up on work she had to do when she was taking care of Dev…as their trip had got extended than it was scheduled…

Sid also had joined back from Goa & was thankful to Pallavi for managing everything well including Dev's health…When Sid went to meet Dev…he had expected a good blasting from him…but he was surprised Dev just forgiving him when he had asked sorry…

***

Sid had entered Dev's cabin silently praying for his life 😆😆

Sid—I am sorry Dev, I cudn't join u Delhi…last moment I had sent Pallavi…

Dev(didn't look up from his work)—Its OK Sid…ho jata hai…u were busy urself…hope Goa project is in control now…

Sid--haan its under control...(he cudn't help but ask) tune mujhe itni jaldi maaf kardiya😲 ...i mean

Dev(irritated)-- hadh hai...tujhe maaf kardo toh problem na maaf karo toh pure office sir pe utha leta hai...

Sid--haan but still...tu naraaz nahi hai

Dev--ab tu jata hai ya nahi...😡...

Sid--fine...naraaz hone ki zarut nahi actually tere gusse ki adat pad gayi hai...isliye...so tere na dantna hazam nahi ho raha ...but seriously kuch toh hua hai tujhe... ..

Dev (just shook his head)--now will u leave ...mujhe kaam hai...please...

Sid was shocked he was forgiven so easily 😆😆😆 …In the coming days Sid was more & more surprised by Dev's behavior as Dev appeared to be more lost than usual …he appeared as if in some deep thoughts most of the time…He cudn't help but wondering if something is wrong with Dev… he cud specifically notice Dev's strange behaviour whenever Pallavi was around ...he had caught Dev many times gazing at her...or behave strangely with Pallavi...Something was surely wrong with Dev 😕

***

Even after back from Delhi Pallavi made sure Dev had his medicines and meals in time..😊😃 .while preparing for the coming wedding & working as Dev's PA…Pallavi spent rest of her time at advertisements in newspapers and making phone calls for herself…😊😃 Pallavi has made a decision & she needs to convey it to family as soon as possible…😊 infact before this weekend…coz later she will get busy with the wedding 😊

Pallavi was expecting a huge scene after she would tell everybody what she had in her mind, 😉😛😆 and it was not going to be pretty sight…😆😆. She is sure its not gonna be a easy task…

***

So it was finally the day when she decided to convey her decision 😛😃…she was lost in thots when she entered the house …Massi greeted her…😊😊

Massi—Pallo aagayi… 😃😃 acha kiya aaj office se jaldi aagayi…thodi der mein prachi ne jewelers ko bulaya hai…shadi mein thode din hi bache hai na …

Pallavi nodded—main abhi fresh hokar aati hoon then will join u…(she was abt to go to her room…when from nowhere Rj came in front of her & hugged her…she was surprised) OH!! Rj tum kab aaye?

Rj—bas thodi der pehle…😊😊 kaam jaldi khatam hogaya tha…isliye…(noticing) But why are you tensed? Anything wrong?

Pallavi didn't knew how he did that…but like always Rj cud guess it … something was on her mind…

Pallavi just nodded –nothing…main aati hoon…😊😊 catch u later..( she rushed off)

Pallavi did not want to break the news before dinner otherwise it would spoil the entire evening... And to Rj's arrival had made it more difficult for her…Now she feared his reaction the most.

***

As the jeweler left … every1 decided for early dinner…so that they cud catch up with each other since Rj is back after long time…😊😊 After everybody had their dinner…Pallavi made coffee & tea for everybody in the living area as all have gathered there… after giving them their cups...she settled with her cup…she took a deep breath….cleared her throat…

Pallavi—ermm … Mujhe aap logon se kuch kehna hai… (nervously) wohh…

At once she had all the eyes looking at her….& By the expression on Pallavi's face they knew it was something serious….

Kabir –kya baat hai Pallavi….is everything alright, tell na… kya huwa?koi problem hai?

Pallavi(to herself) --O boy, this was not going to be easy (she licked her lips… her mouth suddenly seemed dry) uhmmm…woh...uhm...😕

Massi—kya baat hai Pallo?😕😕

The only thing that came out of her mouth was –uhmmm who… Main keh rahi thi ki…

By the time she finished… she waited for their reaction...but all were staring at her as if she has spoken something in some alien language... …making her feel guilty…

She was waiting for every1's reaction but she saw Rj fishing out his cell & dialing a number…she cud hear him speak…

***

Dev was in some meeting when he received call from Rj almost scaring Dev…he had not known Rj had arrived back in India…

Rj—Bhai where are you? 😕 Jahan bhi hai isi waqt ghar aaiye jaldi…Main yeh shadi nahi kar raha

Dev(feared thinking something is wrong)—abhi? Kyun kya hua…is something wrong?

Rj(melodramatically)—Something nahi…everything is wrong bhai…yaha Pallavi ka dimaag kharab hogaya 😡😡 (glared at Pallavi) she has gone crazy…Main shadi nahi kar raha

Dev—what?matlab? 😕

Rj—aap pehle ghar aaiye u will now it…

Dev—theek hai 😊…abhi main ek dinner appointment mein hoon ...khatam hote hi aata hoon…Ok

Rj—bhai meeting baad mein karna pehle humse meet karlo...(melodramatically) …plzzz its urgent…pweese… else I am not talking to u…

Dev(sighed)—fine …I am coming…

…….to be continued…..😛