Chapter Twenty Seven: Propose
"Bhai, two rooms please." Viraat said to the receptionist of a small hotel.
"I'm sorry sir, there's only one room left. Actually, there's a big attraction showing tomorrow and so people have booked out every room except one." The man dressed in a white shirt and black tie gave an uneasy smile.
Viraat groaned. "Are you sure?" The man nodded.
"Check again!" Maanvi protested.
The man looked on the database of his computer and sighed, "Sorry Mam, sorry sir. There is only one. Shall I book it for you?"
Viraat looked down at Maanvi who nodded slightly. He turned back at the receptionist, "Okay. Fine."
After signing in, the receptionist gave Viraat the keys to their room. Walking uneasily across the platform, Viraat struggled to think of anything to say.
"Actually…" He stuttered. Maanvi opened the door of the room and walked in, Viraat entered stuttering again.
"Viraat, are you scared of me?"
"What?" He retorted.
"From the second you found out you're sharing a room with me, you've been acting weird." She looked down at him whilst he was sitting on the bed. "Don't worry, I won't rape you." She laughed.
Gulping Viraat replied, "Shouldn't you be the one scared?"
"Why? Are you secretly a ghost? Don't worry, Maanvi Chaudary isn't scared of anything."
"Hm. Really?" He pulled her towards him making her lose balance. She fell onto the bed, her body on top of his. Instant eye lock.
Maanvi looked into his eyes and smiled. He smirked and Maanvi pushed herself off him. "Don't you have anything else to do than annoy me?" She brushed the dust from her clothes.
Viraat sat up, "Nope." He replied emphasising the 'p'.
"Anyways," Maanvi walked towards the bed and took out the pillows and extra blanket.
"What are you doing?" Viraat asked.
"Fixing the bed. Why? Want to sleep on the same bed as well?"
"Why not?" Maanvi gave him a look, "Okay fine. Where am I sleeping?"
"Hm. There." She pointed towards the sofa.
"Yaar, this is where you persist on sleeping on the sofa, and me being the gentleman that I am will argue with you and make you sleep on the bed. Yaar, give me a chance."
Maanvi laughed lightly. "Oh ho, you've been watching a lot of filmy scenes lately."
"Why not? These days I have to. After all, your middle name is drama queen." He teased picking up the pillows and making his make-do bed on the sofa.
"Oh really? I thought it was Virat. You know Maanvi Viraat Vadhera." She smirked and fixed the bed.
"I like that too. My name suits you. Just imagine, Viraat Vadhera's partner in crime is Maanvi Chaudary. Wow, wow. What a Jodi!"
"The GREAT Maanvi Chaudary." She corrected. "And I like that."
"Like what? What a great Jodi we are?"
"No, no. Partner."
"Life Partner? Ya…" He smirked.
"Shut up Viraat. Partner in the platonic relationship sense, okay?"
The room darkened as the light was switched off, Viraat and Maanvi carried their conversation whilst feeling a bit sleepy.
"Okay, okay. But imagine this. What if I proposed to you? Would you accept? Or would you accept if my parents asked your," Viraat stopped and bit his tongue before saying 'parents', he quickly corrected himself, "family for your hand in marriage?"
Maanvi noticed the change in his voice, but decided to take no notice. "Hm. I would accept you if you proposed but then again I will hundred per cent accept you if your parents asked my family for my hand. I'm a family girl, man!"
Viraat laughed. "I might have to take you up on that offer. The day I propose to you, you will have to accept okay?"
"Depends on what day."
"Hm. The day that seems right. Who knows? Might be now, or tomorrow. Or in a few years?"
"Gee Romeo, I shall wait for you forever." She dramatized.
"Hai, Juliet. You are killing me." He chuckled but then fell silent. "Maanvi?" He whispered.
"Hm?"
"Tell me about your family." He said as an almost question.
Maanvi sat up and bit her lip. Viraat walked towards her and sat on the edge of the bed. "I want to know." He said softly.
Maanvi sighed and decided to tell him everything that he wanted as she felt really comfortable with him. She smiled and held Viraat's hand: she felt as if this was perfect. A picture perfect memory.
"I was brought up in Hrishikesh as you know. You know from an early age, my parents always taught me that life should be lived openly, with no regrets. For me, they were the best parents in the whole world. And then one day, when I was four they just disappeared. I was scared and I called them home but they never came. Beeji came and went, and no one, Bari Beeji, Madan Uncle nor Pinky Chachi would tell me what happened. And then one night Beeji came into my room and said that my parents had to go somewhere and they'll be back soon. I remember thinking of that cold rainy night, and I was so scared that I accepted that as the truth. And till now, I haven't heard from them."
"Maanvi do you ever think that…" He couldn't finish his sentence but Maanvi knew what he was going to say.
"I did once. I thought they were dead and everyone was lying to me. But I couldn't accept it. Why should I think of something that wasn't told to me? Beeji said they were gone and that's what I believed in. And then I find those letters remember? And came here."
Viraat wiped tears off her eyes, "And tomorrow we'll be nearing our mission, okay?"
Maanvi nodded. She hugged him and closed her eyes, drifting off.
The night became darker and then gradually transitioned in the morning. Viraat and Maanvi slept in each other's arm, in a deep slumber, smiling.
Financial markets and global economy
Ishaani
37