Prompt: One finally decides to propose. But the other disappears.
(Words:1704)Shivaay Singh Oberoi was a nervous wreck. He couldn't believe that pagal ladkee had managed to trap him in this situation that he, until only about a year ago, would have worked overtime to avoid. He felt uncomfortable, boxed up, restless and utterly, absolutely absurd. Dressed in his somber black and white suit, he anxiously fingered his ridiculously red tie and wondered if he should have worn something that went with his... surroundings, so to speak.
He sighed and decided to run a final eye over the decorations. Bright, canary yellow and brilliantly vivid red daisies lined the altar at the entrance. Once you walked through and entered the colossal hallway he'd booked for the occasion, any normal person was sure to be overwhelmed by the dazzling explosion of colors all around. The walls and windows were decorated with curtains in every shade imaginable - green, pink, blue, orange, red, yellow - and covered with a waterfall of flowers in contrast. He looked to his left towards the small, round dinner table he'd arranged for afterwards. Covered by a white cloth, it was sprinkled with some of her favourite roses and topped by a gigantic centerpiece made of potted purple orchids.
Shivaay was sure if he looked at the decorations for a minute more, he would be hit by a wave of dizziness and he'd faint. So, he closed his eyes and breathed in heavily, managing to keep the panic at bay.
But regardless of everything, he had to smile reluctantly. Even though it looked flashy, even slightly garish, he'd taken meticulous care to make sure it matched up to the woman he'd be going down on a knee for tonight. So he knew; the place he'd decorated for his proposal appeared all topsy-turvy and haphazard but was - just like his crazy Annika - ravishing enough to take anyone's breath away. He sighed again and shook his head, a small smirk tugging at the edges of his lips... the things he had to - loved to - do for her.
And so, Shivaay Singh Oberoi waited, checking his wristwatch over and over again and continuously shuffling his feet, thinking about how he'd landed up in this situation in the first place.
***
"What do you mean it was ridiculous?! You DO NOT get to talk about Runaway Bride like that!", an enraged Annika shouted at her soon-to-be husband.
"Well, what else do you want me to say? Who has ever heard of the woman proposing? That, too, going down on one knee in front of the man? I'm a 21st century guy, too, Annika but a woman proposing is just ludicrous to the power of infinity!" Shivaay gave back.
"21st century man?! Please! Don't insult the 21st century, Mr. Baagadh Billa! Ever since I agreed to watch some angrezi movies with you, I've been tortured beyond measure with your Amreekan Psychos and Jhagda Clubs! And today, when I FINALLY get to pick a movie for myself, you sit through the entire 2 hours like you've been punished and have the AUDACITY to laugh at that divine scene when Maggie goes down on one knee and proposes to Ike?", Annika completed, her eyes shining with ire.
"Excuse me... I wasn't-
"What's going on? Are you two fighting again?" Om walked in, with Rudra in tow.
"Not me! Your great bhaiya! He was laughing at Maggie proposing to Ike in Runaway Bride." Annika huffed, throwing her hands towards him.
Shivaay vehemently shook his head, "But I wasn't-"
But Rudra gasped, "BHAIYA! How could you be so blasphemous? That's the sweetest proposal ever! And you were laughing at it?"
"But, I-"
"Shivaay, isn't this what you wanted when you challenged her about a week ago that you could find a Hollywood film she liked? And I have to say that proposal scene is pretty sweet, nothing to laugh about." Om finished, thoughtfully.
"But-"
Annika nodded her agreement vigorously, stomping her foot, "and this man practically guffawed when Maggie-"
Shivaay exploded before Annika could finish, "BUT I WASN'T LAUGHING AT THE PROPOSAL I WAS LAUGHING AT ANNIKA!"
Silence - so deafening that Shivaay could hear his wall clock go tick-tock - followed. Then, Om gasped and covered his mouth in shock. Rudra's mouth fell open and he roofed his ears immediately and muttered a quick "Uh Oh." Annika, on the other hand, looked like someone had hit her. She sharply drew in her breath in shock, with one hand on her chest in a melodramatic imitation of an offended desi aunty and took a step back.
"WHAT did you just say?" she asked, slowly.
Shivaay, realizing his mistake a little too late, gulped and tried to explain, "I... I... meant I... was just laughing at the visual... Your hair... it was a complete mess, sticking out everywhere... I mean you had tears... all over your face and well... your nose... it.. it was running all over your upper lip."
All three gasped together, with synchronized hands-on-chest theatrics.
Too far gone to care about the outcome of what he was saying, Shivaay continued despite their offended expressions, his face taking on an air of child-like determination, "Well, it's true, okay?! She looked funny. Hilarious, actually. Just as hilarious as her precious Maggie proposing to a man. Imagine! A WOMAN proposing to a MAN. That's not sweet, that's absolutely outlandish!"
Om and Rudra gasped again, with Rudra clinging on to Om and adding, "Om, hold me. I might faint after the next one."
Annika had had enough, "How would you know what a proposal feels like? You never gave me one, did you?", she spat at him, chest flaring.
It was Shivaay's turn to act like the melodramatic, gasping, offended desi aunty. To his right, Rudra let out an "O My Mata!" and mock-fainted in Om's arms in the patent RK pose.
"But that's not all. You think it's too absurd for a woman to propose to a man, right?" Annika continued, hands on hips and a resolute look on her face, "Now wait as this woman proposes to you in front of your entire family, friends and the high society you're so touchy about. Watch as this woman" she pointed to herself "goes down on one knee before all those people and asks you to marry her and makes you like it! And that, Mr. Stone Singh Oberoi, is a challenge."
And with that, Annika stomped out of Shivaay's room.
***
That was the last time Shivaay had seen Annika, over a week ago. He had missed her terribly during that period, his eyes burning with the need to see her glorious, smiling face but he also knew Annika never issued one of her challenges lightly.
Rudra had let slip that Annika was planning to trap him during the annual Oberoi family dinner that was to take place a day after they'd fought. So, he'd avoided the dinner completely, made an excuse about some foreign delegates and booked a flight to Delhi.
When he'd stepped back into Oberoi Mansion a day later, he was surprised by a big pooja going on and his "precious high society" (as Annika liked to call them) were all present. Dadee welcomed him home, kissing him on the cheek and telling him Annika had planned the pooja at the last minute. The moment he heard that, he fled upstairs, resolutely ignoring his mom and badee ma's calls, promptly locked his room's doors and refused to open up for anyone.
The next morning, the moment he entered his office, a loud explosion made him drop his briefcase as several party poppers went off at the same time. His secretary walked up to him, taking his blazer and picking up his briefcase, she thanked him for the surprise Employee Appreciation Party. He knew this was one party he couldn't just disappear from so he plastered a smile on his face and mingled with everyone. Thanking the Lord for Annika's habitual lateness, he managed to escape just as she was entering.
Exhausted and done with running from his fiance continuously, he knew something had to be done. He'd been stress-walking up in his cabin when Khanna whispered the perfect plan in his ear.
"O sir jee! Why wait for madam jee to propose? Do it yourself first in your own way and get it over with."
Brilliant!
So continuing to avoid his to-be wife for the next few days, he made all the arrangements and planned the perfect proposal. As time drew nearer, he actually began to enjoy the process and looked forward to Annika's stunned but pleased expression when she discovered that it wasn't Chanda's birthday party she was heading to.
The clock struck 9:30p.m., pulling Shivaay out of his reverie and he frowned. She should've been there by now.
"Khanna! Khanna!"
His giant bodyguard, dressed in his customary grey, came running through the altar. "Jee, sir jee!"
"Call the driver. Annika should've been here an hour ago. Where is she?" he demanded.
Khanna looked scared and avoided his eyes, "Woh... sir jee.."
"Khanna, is there something you need to tell me?"
"Rudra baba came. He said madam jee isn't coming. And he gave this.", Khanna extended his arm and there was a piece of paper in the middle of his palm.
"What the hell! I've been standing over here like a lunatic for 2 hours! Why didn't you say so before?" Shivaay asked, angrily.
"I was scared you'd be mad, sir jee." Khanna replied.
"Of what?"
Shivaay raised an eyebrow, suddenly curious and opened the paper.
It was a note from his fiance.
"You think this is going to be so easy, Mr. Bagadh Billu jee? I was looking for you everywhere this past week and you kept disappearing. And now you plan such a thanda proposal just to get out of having your manhood put at stake? Well, you're not the only one who can pull the disappearing act, sweetheart. Your turn to look for me now. P.S. What a gaudy setting Shivaay! It's the feeling that counts, not the scale *rolls eyes*
P.P.S. The flowers look great though.
P.P.P.S. I know it's a competition but I love you so telling you; Khanna's loyal to you but he's a double agent.
Bye, love."
***
ETA: For people who want to see a truly AWW-worthy proposal 😆
[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd2qHg1xSQg[/YOUTUBE]
Edited by --Risha-- - 7 years ago
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