CHAPTER 3. PRINCE CHARMING AND DREAM GIRL!
"Are you mad Arnav? Dimaag kharaab hogaya kya tumhaara?", Maan growled as he paced to and fro. Arnav sat in front of him on a tree stump looking glum. It was the day after Arnav's phone call to Maan. In the phone call, Arnav said he would explain everything if Maan called him before reaching the Handas. Once Maan called him early morning after reaching Hoshiarpur, Arnav scrambled to meet him and now Arnav sat while Maan paced as Handa Haveli loomed in front of them. Luckily, they were safe distance away that their voice could not be heard by anyone inside or near the house.
"Main aur kya karta?", Arnav huffed but shut up when Maan gave him a look that said there were better options than this. Maan and Arnav met two years back at a conference. Before that, they had heard about each other as both were referred to as the most eligible bachelors of Dilli by tabloids many times to count. But it was in the conference they met first time as both sought out a corner to stay away from crowds. Both found each other intelligent and good company that did not chatter unnecessarily. Since then, they were good friends and always got together to rant about loving family members who wanted them married or idiotic competitors who decided to challenge MSK or ASR without thinking it through. Recently, their rants were more centered upon how they wished to escape their family's wish to get them married.
"You could have done many better things than what you did!", Maan growled.
"Phir meri dream girl mere haath se nikal jaati!", Arnav whined and Maan rolled his eyes. Ah yes! The Dream Girl'! Maan had heard all about it since the ill fated day when Arnav's car and the Dream Girl's scooty crashed. After that crash, all Arnav could talk about was the girl on the scooty! Maan cannot remember how many times he was tempted to shut Arnav's mouth with tape or glue after hearing him talk about his Dream Girl. For months, Arnav had searched for that girl and had yet to find her. And that is why, when he found her, Arnav decided to take on Maan's identity.
"Par mera naam lene ki kya jaroorat thi? You could have said you are ASR!", Maan huffed as he stopped pacing and stood in front of Arnav.
Arnav stood up, "You don't understand! If they knew I was ASR, I would have to leave the house! Then how will I get to know Khushi?"
"Khushi? Toh uska naam Khushi hai!", Maan mused.
Arnav nodded, "Haan! Aur jis ladki ko tum dekhne aaye ho, woh Geet hai, Khushi's best friend!"
"Forget the best friend! I have no interest in Geet! I am more than happy to see her go gaga over you! The question here is now what?", Maan spoke.
"Now? Its simple!", Arnav shrugged as he spoke nonchalantly, "You stay here with me while I go and woo Miss. Khushi! Once she is mine, I tell her the truth, we escape from here, I tell my Di, she will get me and Khushi married!"
Maan rolled his eyes, "You say that as if it is too easy! And by the way, why do you need me here? What am I supposed to do while you woo Khushi?"
Arnav narrowed his eyes, "Maan! Don't you see! If you go away from here and by any chance your Daadima called toh mera bhaanda toh phoot jaayega! And my love story will end before it starts!"
Maan pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to calm himself down. He knew how idiotic Arnav's plan was! But what was the other option? And then, Arnav was the only friend he had as no one could understand his life the way Arnav did! Both of them had gone through similar problems in life and hence both understood each other better than anyone. I have to help him, Maan realised. With a huff, Maan agreed, "Fine! I will stay here with you! But what will you tell the Handas?"
Arnav smirked, "The truth! That my aka MSK's friend ASR aka you are here to make a deal with some khadi makers! But you took a wrong turn and instead of Chhabewal village you came here! I decided that you needed a break from work and asked you to stay with me! I tell you Maan, these people are so sweet that they would happily allow you to stay here!"
As Arnav and Maan walked towards the house, Maan shook his head, "I still cannot believe you took a wrong turn and managed to get into so much trouble. Only you Arnav, only you!"
Khushi was walking past the stairs when she saw something and her eyes widened. She ran to Geet's room where she was roomed too and burst into it huffing and puffing, "Geet! Uff... Geet! Tumhein vishwaas nahi hoga... humne kya dekha!"
Geet who was mending one of her tops frowned, "Kya? Aisa kya dekhliya?"
"Tumhaara Prince Charming!", Khushi squealed.
The top fell down from her hands as Geet stared at Khushi with wide eyes.
"Chalo!", Khushi shouted and Geet scrambled out the bed in a jiffy.
Both looked down the stairs with wide eyes as Maan Singh Khurana and another guy talked to Geet's parents while Rajji stood by them.
"Wahin haina?", Khushi asked excitedly as both looked at the new guy, "Jisne tumhein uss mall mein bachaaya tha yeh wahi haina! Humne dekha tha uska chehra us waqt! Woh insaan yahi hai haina!"
Geet felt her heart thud in excitement as she stared at the man who stole her heart few months back by saving her life. She could never forget him since then. And that is why she did not want to get married. Because she wanted only that man, her Prince Charming to be her husband.
"Kaun hai yeh?", Geet asked breathily.
Rajji who was passing by informed them as she walked by, "Yeh ASR, Arnav Singh Raizada hai!"
Khushi and Geet looked at each other excitedly and then back at the new man.
"Arnav, the textile prince, mere dil ka prince!", Geet giggled excitedly.
"Par yeh tera prince hai, toh uss MSK, the construction king ka kya karein! Jo tumhein dekhne aaya hai!", Khushi wondered.
Geet made a face, "MSK gaya tel lene! Mujhe toh bas apne Prince Charming se matlab hai!"
Meanwhile, Arnav looked up as Maan talked to Geet's parents and his breath hitched as he noticed Khushi looking at him with Geet. Hi my dear Dream Girl! I am coming! I am coming to woo you! Be ready!
How is this update folks?
Interesting?
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Do tell me!
By the way, from next chapter Handas and Khushi will start calling Maan Arnav and Arnav Maan. To avoid confusion, I am going use inverted commas when Maan is being called Arnav and Arnav is being called Maan. So fake Maan aka Arnav will be called Maan' and fake Arnav aka Maan will be called Arnav'.
Did I explain it right?
Or did I confuse you?
Thank you, take care and have fun,
Kalpana
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