O n e S h o t ∙ S u b m i s i o n T w o
Our Fairy Tale
“Nannav, mere bhai. Why are you silently brooding into your laptop when we are having a lively discussion? Come on, share your thoughts too.”
NK was eating their heads with annoying ideas for Valentines celebrations to Akash, which he had tried hard to tune out. He had no idea why people encouraged him. And if Akash had indeed asked for advice, then Arnav wasn’t sure what was wrong with his usually level-headed brother.
“I would but unlike you, I have work,” Arnav snapped.
“What are you busy with? You must be staring at models. Poor Khushi— NK said and even as Arnav retorted with an impatient, “That’s not all I do, you dumbhead,” without a warning, NK peeped into Arnav’s laptop. Arnav hadn’t expected that. He could only close his eyes in exasperation as a loud shriek erupted from NK, “A ring!”
To the clueless people gathered around, NK explained, “Arnav is shopping for rings!”
“Oh my God!” He heard another piercing shriek and shrank back just a little as he saw his sister jump from the couch. Akash broke into a broad smile and shook Arnav’s hand. “Congratulations, bhai.”
“But I was just browsing.”
Arnav clearly was clueless about the reason for the stir. He would never do something as cliche as proposing on Valentines Day.
“Kuch bhi, chote! Nobody just browses for rings.”
She was right. He had been toying with the idea of marriage for a while now. And a Valentine’s day proposal was something that would please Khushi, filmy as she was. While, it was no secret to the families that they were together, he hadn’t meant for them to find out about the marriage plan before he had a chance to ask Khushi. It was supposed to have been their thing before the families were involved and the traditional circus would begin. He was going to go through with it because it would please Khushi but that didn’t mean he was enthusiastic about it.
“You are planning to propose, aren’t you? Oh, I can’t wait to plan—
“Well, isn’t this celebration a little premature?” NK interrupted Anjali’s overexcited monologue. When Arnav narrowed his eyes at him, NK said, “Khushi hasn’t accepted.”
Arnav frowned. The thought hadn’t even crossed his mind. Why would it? Their relationship was as serious as serious got. “She is Khushi bhabhi to you. Do you understand?” Arnav replied tartly.
“I wouldn’t accept if I were her,” NK murmured. “Imagine being stuck with you for life.
“NK bhai, aap bhi na. Stop troubling my Chote!” She then turned to Arnav, “Chote, have you found a ring? What have you planned?” Anjali’s eyes glinted with unfettered enthusiasm.
Arnav shrugged. “I was just browsing—
“You can’t buy your engagement ring online. It would be a shame!”
Arnav shrugged again. “What difference does it make?”
“A whole lot. Do you know what kind of jewelry she likes? What would you like to go for? A nice round cut or square diamond or—
“Di, stop! It’s just a ring.”
Anjali closed her eyes and sighed. “It is not just a ring. You need to do it right. It has to be special and perfect— she stopped, looking at Arnav’s blank look.
“I haven’t planned anything. She’s not going to marry me for a damn ring or a perfect proposal. All this is just formality. She will marry me for me,” Arnav said.
“True. But still, a girl likes her fairy tale. And I will make sure Khushi gets hers. Let’s go shopping,” Anjali rubbed her hands in glee as Arnav turned his head heavenward.
Four hours, fourteen shops and forty four gifts later, Anjali exhaled a weary breath. “Chote, I had never thought there would come a day when I would get tired of shopping.”
They had all bought a lot of gifts for Khushi and everybody else in both the families but they had yet to find a ring. Carrying all the bags, NK and Akash followed the duo, their faces mirroring their bodies’ tiredness. Arnav had never imagined that buying jewelry would be so hard. It was no fun, he gathered. Paying for it was easier.
“Arnav, this is the last shop we’re going to look today. If you can’t find something here, let’s go home and get a ring custom made depending on whatever is in your head.”
Few minutes later, “How about this?” She asked pointing to a large square-cut diamond with rows of sapphire surrounding it. It was magnificent but somehow Arnav didn’t think Khushi would prefer that.
But even as they were looking at the ones on display, what caught Arnav’s eyes was a round brilliant cut diamond ring kept in an isolated display box in the centre of the display cabinet. It had a beautiful pink diamond set in a band of gold. Even though, it was tiny, it stood out from everything else that they had seen before and like a majestic queen, owned the box it was displayed in. Arnav had seen designs like this one in all the previous shops but this was somehow exquisite. Watching his line of vision, the salesman was quick to point out that it was the rarest of diamonds.
That must be it, Arnav thought, his mind already working to see how it would look on Khushi’s dainty fingers. She really had beautiful hands. The diamond was the right size with minimalistic design and was something Khushi would prefer. The design was her. - elegant and beautiful. He was also amazed at how it symbolized their relationship. As tiny as she was, she completely owned him. As soon as the thought hit him, he mentally revolted at having such a cheesy thought.
Khushi woke and sat up with a start as she felt something falling on the bed beside her.
“Good morning, Gupta.” Arnav gave her a happy smile as he pressed a kiss to her lips and Khushi smiled sleepily, falling back on to her pillow sideways with a thud. “You startled me, Raizada.”
It was nothing unusual as Arnav sneaked into her room quite often. But Khushi still jumped out of fear every time it happened.
“Early meeting today?” She asked, seeing as he was already dressed for office.
Arnav rubbed his eyes as he stretched fully beside her. “Most of last night and full day today.” Not to mention the impromptu shopping trip with his siblings, Arnav added mentally. He extended a hand to gather Khushi closer and asked, “How does your day look?”
“The usual. Papa would have already opened the shop. We have Valentines day, Maha Shivrathri, Holi and everything following so we have a lot of sweet and food catering orders,” she sighed snuggling more into him.
“When will you finish?”
“I have to get ready in half an hour and won’t get to breathe until dinner.”
“Listen, would you like to go see the new office building with me?”
“Is already done?”
“Not completely. It's close to finish.”
“I’ll see it after its done then.”
“Ajeeb ho tum! Don’t you want to come out with me?”
“You know I want to. But its just so hectic and I’m exhausted.”
“I’m not asking you to run a marathon. How can you not spare a few hours for me from your busy schedule?”
“Arnavji, you don’t have to be sarcastic.”
“If your work is taking such a toll on you, then—
“Stop. You think I should stop and then do what? Let my poor parents handle everything on their own? How can you say that?”
“But I didn’t… say that!”
“You were going to.”
She could see his jaw tick in anger. She removed herself from his embrace and sat up, “Imagine having to do everything Aman ji and ten other people around you do in a day. We don’t have people waiting at our beck and call to snap at. We are those people. It may be small but ours is still a business.”
Arnav frowned. “I was just going to say, you could take lesser orders, maybe slowdown a bit.”
“Look who’s talking,” she retorted. “Anyway, it isn’t always this busy. Once this dies down, it will be normal for a while. We can’t affors to lose orders. So until then, all I want to do is come home, eat and sleep.”
Arnav frowned. How was he supposed to give her a fairy tale? He didn’t do romance and he wanted to strangle his sister. Maybe he should leave the ring where she would find it or better yet - let the families that they can arrange the wedding. Both families had been waiting to do it for a year since they were let known that they were interested in each other during Payal and Aakash’s wedding. But Arnav had wanted to wait citing that he was still new to the whole relationship thing. While the families had hesitated, Khushi had stood by him. Now, his Khushi deserved more and he was prepared to give her everything and some more.
Having run out of his limited patience reserve, he jumped out of the bed and stood. “I want to see you at my new office tomorrow evening at 7, sharp,” he asserted in a tone that offered no room for objection.
A minute later, he was going back the way he came in.
“Amma, I am hungry,” Khushi called thumping onto the sofa as soon as she came in.
“Atleast freshen up. How many times do I tell you to not climb on the sofa directly from outside?” Garima admonished.
Once refreshed, Garima asked Khushi, “Arnav bitwa had called. He said your phone was not reachable. I told him you just reached home. Did you speak to him? He sounded tense—
Khushi turned her head towards the clock at the mention of his name.
“9.00 bhaj gaye! Hey Devimayya!”
Before Garima finished speaking Khushi was up on her feet, turning in circles utterly clueless as to what she was even looking for. A moment later, having found her dupatta and bag, she was flying through the front door. She checked her phone to see multiple calls that stopped about half an hour ago. She couldn’t even imagine the amount of fury he must be in.
How could she have forgotten?
She ran down the street and hopped into an auto while trying to call him. She went straight to his office - even though the chances of him still waiting for her was zero.
Almost an hour later, Khushi stood face to face with the front door of Shantivan. Having not found him at his office, she had called Anjali, whose enthusiasm over the phone only reiterated to Khushi, the enormity of her mistake.
When Hariprakash opened the door, Khushi almost pushed him down as she ran through the corridor and up the stairs to Arnav’s room.
He was on the recliner, working, his frame silhouetted by only the light from his laptop. Khushi took a small step in. She saw a slight pause in his actions, the only indication that he was aware of her presence. Angry Arnav was easier to handle but this one was dreadfully calm and sad. As his gaze met hers, Khushi was hit anew by a strong sense of guilt.
“I went to the office,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
“Good for you.”
“Arnavji, please. Can you take me there, now?”
He returned his attention back to his laptop. “What’s the point? You have already seen it.”
She went closer and bent towards him, brushing her hand against his, entwining her fingers with his, “I want to see it with you. Please.”
A sour expression marred his gorgeous features. “I waited there for two hours. I thought you were late like always. I called you like a madman for an hour and when you didn’t pick up… I was worried sick wondering what not. You don’t know all probabilities I imagined and—
He stopped, struggling to find words to describe what he had felt at the moment.
—you,” he pointed his index finger at her, “were relaxing at home. Is that all the importance I have?”
Khushi could visualize the scenario and him in it perfectly. She knew a sorry would never cut it for what she did. Arnav Singh Raizada was a proud man and she had hurt his pride. She had also broken his heart.
“Lakhon sorry, Arnav ji. I didn’t know—
“Well, it’s called a surprise for a reason.” He gibed.
“What can I do to earn your forgiveness? I will tell everyone what I did. I will not fight with you for one whole month. I will listen to everything you say. I will not even eat jalebi. Please, let’s go back?” she pleaded trying to convince him.
He inhaled a deep breath, shut his laptop and started walking, Khushi in tow.
As they passed the members of his family in the living room, Khushi could only manage a sheepish smile against their encouraging ones while struggling to keep with his pace.
Magnificent, was the word that had struck Khushi when she had laid eyes on the building. She had been blown away by the built which would stand as a testament for verdant architecture for years to come. The transparent glass of the building rampant with greenery had been a sight to behold. As she had walked inside, she was struck anew by the interiors which didn’t need saying that it had been done in her honor. The building, the colours, the dangling fairy lights and even the small mandir.
“It’s beautiful,” Khushi said now, sliding her hands into his as they entered the building together.
“It’s not finished yet.” Always awkward around compliments, Arnav brushed it off.
“I can’t imagine what it would look like once its done then.”
He then turned to Khushi and hit her full force with a smile. “I thought I loved monotone. But colour isn’t so bad.”
Arnav remembered how once she had mentioned to him that he needed more color in his life. When he was building the office, she had been in his mind all along.
“Are you happy with it?” She asked, searching his eyes for disappointment only for him to blow her away with, “I am if you are.”
By then they had reached the food court and Khushi’s heart took a free fall to the ground when she saw the name her father’s business scrolled in beautiful letters.
“This is for you. You don’t have to run behind small orders. You don’t have to worry about people cancelling at last minute. You still have to work hard but you will have a steady income—
“Arnavji— her throat clogged. She stared at his beautiful profile, remorse overtaking her. He had done so much for her and she had stood him up. She hadn’t meant to do it at all. It was just that— it just happened. Who would’ve known he would plan this. He wasn’t someone who celebrated Valentines Day.
“Arnavji I’m really sorry—
Arnav met her gaze. “Let it be, Khushi. I know you didn’t mean to.” The way he had treated her before, if it were someone else, they wouldn’t have given him another chance. In comparison, what she did was negligible.
At that moment, Khushi realized really how far they had come. From him mistaking her over silly things to now understanding her without any explanations offered.
Khushi was contemplating throwing herself at him when, “One minute,” he said walking away.
Few minutes later, when he didn’t return, Khushi went in search of him and found him in his office.
“What are you searching for?” She asked.
“I left something here…”
She rubbed her lips together, “This?”
Arnav looked up and his expression turned incredulous. “Khushi—
She was holding the ring in her palm. “Earlier when I came here I found it. How careless are you, Arnavji?”
“It is my office, Khushi. No one comes here.”
“I had no trouble finding it the minute I walked in. The building is still under construction. I couldn’t take a chance and lose it. My record in that subject is so poor that I had to wear it to keep it safe.” She blurted.
He shook his head in disbelief. “You wore it?”
“It fits perfectly.” She said, not the least bit ashamed for spoiling his surprise. Twice over.
“Pagal ho tum.”
“I might have also asked Di to start preparations for marriage.”
He laughed at that. He wasn’t surprised. This was Khushi after all.
“Who said anything about marriage?” He asked suddenly and her eyes widened with shock and a fiery expression he had grown to love. “You—
Arnav shrugged.
Khushi opened her mouth and shut it multiple times, not knowing what to say.
“But the ring— Khushi stopped seeing the mischievous glint in his eyes. Fuming, she slapped his chest and tried to walk away.
Too bad for her, she was still within reaching distance. He easily caught hold of and tugged her hand making her come crashing back to him.
“Are you sure you want to marry me? We will still be fighting everyday.” He husked.
“But you will also love me more than anyone else,” She replied back, wrapping her hands around his neck.
“You ruined my perfect plan. I was supposed to give you a fairy tale,” He drew a strand of hair off her cheek.
“Whatever happened is perfect to me. This is my… our fairy tale.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very. And again getting down on one knee wouldn’t suit you, Arnavji. But, you still have to make me wear it.”
Without wasting another minute, Arnav quickly slid the ring onto her waiting finger and placed a lingering kiss on it. He raised his eyes back to hers and saw her staring at him with unbridled happiness and unabashed expectation.
“Be mine?” He breathed against her lips.
“Hum toh aap hi ke hai,” he heard her reply, seconds before his mouth closed over hers.
Edited by dramebaaz.af - 2 years ago
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