heyy guyz...thanks so much for all the appreciation..it jes motivates me 2 write more...well, i'm kinda in the mood for writing coz i've thought out the next part so i thought that i mite as well post it...so here it is guyz...the 4th part...plzz leave ur comments.. 😊
PART 4
'So Armaan, how was it?' Vinay Mallik asked his son as he entered his room.
'It was OK,' Armaan said slowly. He knew that at this point even the slightest of positive replies would be misintepreted by his dad as a 'yes' from his side.
'OK?' Vinay probed, 'What's that supposed to mean?'
'It means that it's the first time I'm meeting her dad..what do you want me to say? How can I judge a person from one meeting?' Armaan said exasperated...how hard was it to understand??
'Well..fine..but did you like her? I mean..did she seem nice?' Vinay asked, looking a little disappointed that Armaan hadn't been more specefic in his answer.
Armaan was all about to say no..that would be the easiest way out..just say no dude..say you didn't really like her..say that you found her wierd..or fake..or whatever..anything!! But even as he was about to say it, something stopped him..he didn't really know what..but he just couldn't say all these things about her because they weren't true!! atleast he didn't think they were...
'Shez fine if that's what you want to know..I can't really say anything more about her,' Armaan said firmly.
Vinay frowned at him. He could see that in this game his son was playing his cards extremely carefully..well, he had to leave it there..he couldn't force him to divulge each and every detail of his date with Riddhima even though he was craving to know.
'Well..that's good, I guess but atleast tell me this much...are you interested or no? I have to answer her father Armaan..you have to give me a specefic answer..yes or no..the choice is up to you,' Vinay told him. He couldn't have Armaan playing games around here...a lot was at stake..besides being business partners Shashank and him were old friends and any misunderstanding between their kids could strain the relationship between the two families.
'I think I would want to meet her again before giving my final answer,' Armaan said after thinking over Vinay's words.
Vinay looked at him, surprised..he certainly hadn't expected this sort of initiative from Armaan. He had thought that either Armaan would flat out refuse(after all he had been reluctant about the proposal from the beginning) or he would give a vague answer. He certainly hadn't expected the promptness with which Armaan had answered..maybe the meeting had gone well..maybe Armaan did like the girl..otherwise why would he ask to see her again? He would have flat out refused..
'I'm sure that can be arranged,' Vinay said cheerfully...things were definitely looking up for him..'but after that I need your answer Armaan,'
Armaan nodded quietly.
'Well, that's all I came to ask..I'll leave you to yourself now,' Vinay said, looking much happier while leaving the room than he had been while entering it.
Armaan sighed deeply and lay down on the bed, closing his eyes. He knew that he had taken up a drastic step..the very fact that he asked to see her again was a step taken towards agreeing to the proposal..however, he had thought over it carefully for the past two hours..and if his judgement of her was accurate(which he hoped it was as it had never failed him before when it came to women) then he'd done the right thing.
The events of the meeting flashed through his mind. One glance at her outfit and the way she presented herself throughout dinner told him that she was the simple types..the 'all-the-time-sarees-and-salwar' types..which he didn't really mind because she looked pretty in it..yes, she was pretty but that was besides the point...he had seen and been with loadz of pretty girls before but it was her manner as he spoke to her which suddenly made him change his mind..he had started off by explaining to her that he wasn't really 'for' the marriage and he had seen her face alter slightly..he had seen the disappointment in her face and something else..he couldn't really put his finger on what that expression meant..it was as if she had expected him to say no..yes, she had looked disappointed but there was also acceptance as if she knew he would reject her..which totally didn't make sense to him. He had explained things to her as best as he could..and he noticed that all throughout she had been extremely quiet..she hadn't said a word except in the beginning when she urged him to say what was really on his mind..she never questioned him..never even shouted at him..he'd expected all of that and more..what he hadn't expected was silent acceptance which was written all over her face. She's just nodded to whatever he said..never once saying what SHE felt..what was HER opinion on the whole matter..yes, she had said that she believed in her dad's choice but to Armaan that didn't seem right..he knew she felt more deeply about this matter than she had spoken..the 'daddy-excuse' was one she had given because it had sounded 'right'..it was not what she truly felt..that was what forced Armaan to re-think the whole situation..he told her that they needed time to think about it..that he wasn't sure he was ready for a commitment like marriage but he didn't reject her..he just said he needed time..he had intended to break off the proposal gently but he didn't..she had forced him to re-think the situation.
Armaan got up from the bed and started pacing his room again..he had been doing that ever since he had returned from dinner..the first thing that struck him about her was that she was always quiet..never voicing her opinion..never standing up for herself..never questioning. When he'd asked her about the reason she was saying 'yes' to him, her answer confirmed his judgement...she'd agreed to marrying him because her dad wanted her to..not because she was interested in him or anything of the sort..her dad had asked her and she had said yes..end of story. She was a girl who never refused...never questioned or stood up for herself..she just accepted with the belief that it was all for the best. Her opinions were not needed and so she never voiced them..it wasn't as if she didn't feel strongly about this whole proposal but he guessed that she had learnt to bury her feelings and always give answers that were 'expected' from her and not answers that were honest. Didn't that work out perfectly for him? He had to get married some day.. his dad so wouldn't let this topic go..he wouldn't rest until he'd gotten Armaan married though why his dad was so insistent on it was beyond him.
I have to get married some day, Armaan thought, and he knew it would be an arranged marriage because he had never fallen nor believed in love for a love marriage to be possible..so then what's wrong with Riddhima? She was perfect for his parents..the docile and simple daughter-in-law who even though studied and lived in US didn't seem to picked up a damn thing from their culture..and yea, she also couldn't get enough of those wierd salwar things too, he thought..which was great because that was EXACTLY the kind of daughter-in-law his parents were looking for..and he had observed her enough to know that she was genuinely simple and it was not an act..unless she was a damn good actress..Moreover, she was perfect for him..she was like a dream come true for him..the simple wife who stayed at home and kept his parents happy while he partied out and enjoyed the lifestyle he had been living till now..he knew she wouldn't question or demand any explanation..if she can agree to a thing like marriage without even seeing and knowing the guy just because her dad said so then she definitely wouldn't raise questions to her husband..she just didn't have the guts..she was not the kind of person to fight, question, argue or stand up for herself..and those qualities of her made her appealing to Armaan as nothing else had. It wasn't as if he would ruin her life or something..he would fulfill all her wants and needs...buy her anything she asked for or wanted..he had enough money for that and yet, he didn't think she was the type to crave for a lot of materialistic things..all she had to do was stay out of his life..give him his space..enjoy her life while he enjoyed his..it was as simple as that!
Yes, thought Armaan, it was simple..he just had to talk this out with her...he didn't think she would mind and even if she did he knew she would never say anything..they would get married..both the families would be happy and most importantly HE would be happy..no more pestering from dad and mom to get married..they would leave him alone..life would go on just the same..only difference was that he would have to share his room with someone else..well, that wasn't too bad..they could be like room mates..but what if the whole master plan back fired? what if he hadn't judged her correctly..what if she didn't agree to his terms and condition...or worse..what if she agreed and then later on created problems for him?
NO! think positive dude, Armaan thought, he had never failed to judge a person's character..and she had been so obvious..anyone could have guessed just how vulnerable she was..she wouldn't ever intefere in his life..that trait just wasn't in her..she would just keep everything to herself and that was good enough for him..why did he care if she thought he was a horrible guy? as long as she didn't say anything to anyone which he was pretty sure she wouldn't, he didn't care what she thought of him..he never cared what any girl thought of him..
Now, all he had to do was explain things to her over the next meeting and if it all went according to his plan then..
'Dude, you're going to get married,' he said out aloud, chuckling.
Anupamaa
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