Hey guys!! As promised, here is the story from Aalu's point of view. Do read through!!
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The sun was setting and its orange rays were visible through my window. What a day it had been. I returned from Australia just over a week ago. It was good to be home after a long time as I really missed Bhai and Daadi. To escape Daadi's clutches regarding marriage, Bhai had pulled me into it. Rockstar Abhi had found a groom for his baby sister! Purab Khanna, our childhood friend. My marriage to him was decided over a year ago, but one year was enough for a person to change.
Purab had come clean today. His confusions and bewildered expressions whenever I came close to him had planted seeds of doubt in my mind. I asked him directly when I paid him a visit at his office. It's true. He had fallen in love with a girl, but it wasn't me. What was I supposed to do? Get mad and throw tantrums like a five year old? Love blossomed in unexpected ways and it was extremely important in a person's life. Without love, you are soulless.
I agreed, surprising myself. But, what could I do? He didn't love me and never saw me that way. Getting married would mean running the lives of three people. I didn't want that. Why get stuck in an unhappy marriage when I could be the happiest person by just being Abhishek Mehra's little sister and Daadi's baby granddaughter? Purab thanked me for being understanding, not before I whacked him for not revealing the truth earlier.
However, how would Bhai take this piece of news? He trusted Purab to marry me, but what would happen if I told him that Purab didn't love me at all? Well, I knew about the magnitude of my brother's temper, so I told Purab to stay out of it. Unless of course, if he wanted to get beaten blue black or even murdered, then he was welcomed. How cruel of me to accuse my Bhai of such atrocities? But, the inevitable fact was that, it was true. How was I going to tell him?
There was a knock my door.
"Come in", I said coming back to my senses.
"Hey meri princess! What are you doing?", Bhai asked walking in with a wide grin.
"Kuch nahi Bhai, just listening to some music.", I replied him pointing to my laptop on the side table.
"Music?? I wonder who is the singer.", he asked mischievously after siting on my bed.
"A R Rahman.", I said without flinching.
"A R who? A R Rahman?!!", he freaked.
"Haan Bhai. He is a really good composer.", I continued with a straight face though my insides were wiggling with laughter.
"Aaliya..Tum Rockstar ki behen hoon..but you are listening to A R Rahman??", he whined with a pout.
I burst out laughing.
"Bhaiya!! You are so funny yaar!!", I filled the room with laughter and hugged him.
"Mujhey tum bahut yaad aaee Aaliya.", he whispered in my ears.
"I missed you too Bhai. I missed you so much. I don't want to leave you anymore.", I replied tightening my hold on him.
"Well, you will have to leave this ghaar when you get married na? Even though, it is Purab, you will have to stay with him at his place. Daadi's rules. Traditions which can't be changed, not even by me.", he chuckled to himself.
Oh god! Why did he remind me? But, the sooner I tell him, the better it will be. I released Bhai and straightened myself.
"Bhai, I need to talk to you", I told him in a small voice.
"Kya hua princess? Something bothering you?", he asked lightly stroking my hair.
"Bhai, woh...Bhai, promise me that you won't get mad.", I stammered.
"Aaliya...what is it? Bholo na.", he said sounding slightly restless.
"Bhai, aap...aap promise me na!!", I wailed.
"Okay okay meri jaan, I promise that whatever my princess tells me, I won't get mad. Happy now?", he dramatized but I could sense the serious note.
"Bhai, Purab and I can't get married.", I dropped the bombshell.
"Kya?!! Why not?!! Did you two have a fight? Did Purab say something to hurt you? What is the problem?!!", Bhai pressed me with questions nearly losing control.
"Bhai bhai bhai!!! Calm down!!!", I said grabbing his hands.
"Purab loves someone else Bhai...he loves another girl, not me.", I struggled the words out but made it clear.
My brother's silence for the next few moments stirred my insides into a knot. He was a time bomb and acted on his emotions. Bhaiya always did what he FELT was right. You could call it a flaw, but no one is perfect.
"How can he do this?!!! How could he?!!! He promised me!! One year ago, when I arranged your marriage to him, he AGREED!!", bhai shouted.
"Bhaiya!! Please calm down. Just please listen to me na.", I pleaded catching his attention.
"I met with Purab today at his office. He had been acting weird around me, so I wanted to ask him what was the problem. Purab came clean, saying that he had fallen in love with someone else.", I explained slowly.
"Bhaiya, are you listening.", I shook his hand.
"Why didn't he tell me? He knew that you were supposed to marry him. How could he betray you?!! How could he betray me?!!",he growled in a deep voice.
That growl didn't give me any positive vibes and realizing that the situation could blow up in our faces, I took a breath to calm my messed up brains.
"Bhai, he has fallen in love. Yes, you arranged our marriage. But that was one year ago. It's a long time for people to change, let alone feelings. Love is unpredictable. It happens in unexpected moments between unexpected people. We cannot control it. Purab cannot be blamed for falling in love. That's absurd Bhai.", I spoke calmly, even surprising myself.
"When did you become so philosophical and an expert in love?", my brother asked me with full blown sarcasm.
"Haan!! I know right? It sounds weird and creeps me out. Let's just say I have witnessed my fair share of dramatic romances among my friends.", I replied him, but he just turned away.
"We cannot get married Bhaiya. If we do, that would mean ruining the lives of three people, mine, Purab and even the girl he loves. I mean, how can I be happy? I know for a fact that he doesn't love me, how will he keep me happy? Moreover, he will be drowning in depression, and maybe I would be driving him to see a psychiatrist every now and then!!", I complained but Bhai didn't look at me.
"You can say time heals everything and helps people forget, but I won't. I will always remember that I was his second choice, even if he learns to accept me. Do you want your baby sister to be a number 2 in someone's life?", I asked him after gently turning his chin to face me.
"Aaliya...", he began.
"Bhaiya, Purab and I were never meant to be more than friends.", I said holding my brother's face.
"Aaliya, but you. What would happen? I mean, you had dreams of having a life with him. I promised you those dreams. What kind of a brother am I? I can't even give my sister her happiness?", he said with a cracking voice.
"Bhai!! You are the world's best brother and my true happiness lies with you and Daadi. You both are my everything. True, I did imagine spending my life with Purab. But, not all dreams come true. Besides, I am sexy and hot na!! More than that, mein Rockstar Abhi ki behen hoon!! I'll have queues of eligible bachelors waiting for me!!", I said with a laughter, though I couldn't hide the tinge of arrogance.
"Aaliya, but..", Bhai began taking my hands in his.
"No buts!! Accha, let me ask you three simple questions.", I said trying to ease the tension which was hanging over my head like an axe.
"Kya three questions?", he asked.
"Would you be happy if I married someone who was in love and had eyes for another person, not me?", I threw him my first question.
"Of course not! I would want him to love you!", he scowled.
"Next question, would you be happy to know that I was the number 2 choice in my "would be" husband?", I asked dramatically holding both my fingers up when I said the word would be.
"No, I won't be happy. I'll be mad.", Bhai replied me looking disgruntled.
"Theek hai, final question! Would you be happy if I was stuck in an unhappy marriage that I wind up back in this house with you and Daadi?", I asked rolling my eyes in the process.
"No Aaliya, I would never ever want my precious princess to be unhappy.", he said in a soothing voice looking at me.
"Seee...so, now aap bholo na...should I marry Purab?", I asked him after inching nearer, closing the gap between us on the bed.
"Aaliya...", yet again he began.
"Offo bhai!! Kya Aaliya?? Bholo na!! Yes or No!!", I grunted rolling my eyes and shaking my head.
"No.", he said in a small voice which I almost missed.
"Arre, I am a little deaf. Can you repeat that?", I asked grinning.
"Alright fine! No! I won't want you to marry Purab!", he blurted out in an extremely frustrated tone.
"But this doesn't mean I won't kill him for doing this!", Bhai hissed at me.
"Oh my god!! Bhai, have you been listening to my so called philosophical talk on love?", I asked realizing that I maybe back to square one.
My overly emotional brother got up to leave in a huff, but I grabbed his hand and pulled him back down. I swung my legs over the bed and linked my arm in his, resting my head on his shoulder.
"Bhai, Purab is your dost right? Or should I say chote bhai?", I asked him in a calm voice.
"He was.", came a cold reply.
"So, you don't care about him? You don't love him anymore", I asked knowing I needed to dig deep.
"No", came another even colder but hesitant reply.
"So, you have forgotten about how he was there for us when Mum and Dad left? He shared our happiness and grief. Purab was there with you in all your hardships. He never gave up on you. Isn't he one of us Bhai? Isn't he family?", I asked trying to stir the emotions my brother buried.
There was no reply and I knew that I had gotten through to him.
"Purab not agreeing to marry me is a blessing Bhai! It's good for ME! He doesn't love me. Who knows, probably I'll get a more handsome, hotter and sexier guy?", I asked cheekily.
"I'll kill him before he even talks to you.", came a stern protective reply.
"Offo, then I'll be a spinster all my life.", I said.
"I will do all background checks, on him and his family, his occupation, his friends, everything.", my brother spoke.
"Hahahaha...theek hai...fine by meee!!! Aur Purab?", I asked gleefully.
There was silence. I gently pressed his arm which made Bhaiya look at me. A small smile appeared on his lips which gave me a glimmer of hope.
"I'll forgive that brainless idiot. But I am going to whack him for not telling me the truth earlier.", Bhai said making me breathe a sigh of relief.
"Your anger is why he didn't want to tell you! He was afraid of hurting you and betraying your trust. That nut case was suffocating himself on how to put this to you in a way that he wouldn't get killed in the process.", I said giggling away.
"That's no excuse.", he replied me.
"Come on Bhaiya!! Forgive the poor fellow already!!", I laughed leaning into him.
"Who is the girl?", he asked me after swinging an arm around my shoulder.
"Actually, I don't know. I think she worked in his office.", I replied wondering myself.
"Then, you should find out.", came another voice startling us.
"Daadi!!", Bhai and I exclaimed in unison.
"Haan tumhara Daadi hoon. And you both were having such an important discussion without me present?", she came to stand in front of us with her arms folded.
"Woh Daadi, actually..", I stammered while Bhai looked like he had seen a ghost.
"Oi, rockstar!! Kuch bhol na!! Do I look like a ghost?!!", she shrieked.
"Daa..di..", bhai began.
"Fine fine. It's okay. I heard your entire conversation while waiting outside.", she said proudly.
"Daadi, you were eavesdropping?!!!", I gapped at her.
"I had no choice. I didn't want to interrupt. But Aaliya, I am so proud of you. Meri bacche is all grown up.", she hugged me as I stood up.
"Haan Daadi. Bhai aur aap are my world. And for you both, my happiness comes first, so my calculation is right na.", I said with a sigh.
"Suno, both of you. Call Purab to the house and talk to him. He must be drenching in worry. Then, find out who the girl is. After that, we can visit her family with a marriage proposal.", Daadi finished shocking us.
"Marriage proposal?", I asked in confusion.
"Us?", Bhai asked looking even more confused.
"Arre, my intelligent children! We are Purab's family na!! It is only right if we go. How can you expect him to go on his own?!! What kind of a grandmother would I be then?", she scolded us.
"Theek hai Daadi, but can that wait? I am hungry.", bhai said as he got up from the bed.
"Yeah, me too Daadi!!", I joined him realizing the time.
"Hahahaha..Accha chalo, but call Purab and ask him to come home for dinner. I don't want my second grandson to look like a skeleton before the marriage proposal.", she said giggling away.
We left my room and walked down the stairs, hand in hand. As Daadi left to call Robin, Bhaiya caught my hand and pulled me into a hug. His embrace was my haven. He was my protector and savior. I wouldn't trade him for anything in this world.
So, all settled. It went better than I expected. How shocking? But my Bhai was the best. He was an emotional time bomb with an impulsive nature, but he was perfect for me. I couldn't ask for more. Why would I? I had the best family in the universe.
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Tum Se Tum Tak
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Vasudha
