Chapter 8
Enjoy! xo
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"So..." She stretches.
"So?"
"How about we get to know each other all over again?"
"Hmm. Sounds like one of the most amazing suggestions I've heard in a while."
"So shall we start with our happy-ever-after?" She questions.
"Yes. I think it's time we get our happy-ever-after." I confirm.
Not wanting to wait any longer, I cup her face and tilt it up and bring my lips down to her and we kiss and kiss and kiss until we can't anymore and then in the early hours of the morning we lose ourselves to sleep with smiles on our face.
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Two Years later...
"Suman! Suman!"
"Aa rahi hu, Nanu!" I reply loudly as I walk to his room. Upon entering I quickly go up to him and give him is chai albeit a few minutes late than the usual time hence the shouting.
"Itni der kyu lagadi?" He question sulking.
"Arre Nanu, bas 5 minutes late hu aur aapne pura ghar sar par utha liya. Thoda toh patience rakho." I scold him.
"Haan bas-bas, ab saara time mujhe daatne mein lageygi, PCT nahi jaana?"
"Bas aapko chai dedi ab mein jaa rahi hun. Aur haan, please apni medicine time pe le lena."
"Accha ab ja."
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Walking into my room I go up to take my bag when my eyes find a photo frame housing my favourite picture of Shravan and me. It was taken when a while back when the entire Malhotra and Tiwari family were out for a picnic one full day of nothing but fun and laughter and you can see it on our faces as well. Eyes shining bright with laughter, mouths titled in huge smiles, hair a mess but we both never looked our best in any other moment than we did on that day.
Oh, how I miss those days. Everything was easy then.
Pulling myself out of my thoughts I quickly rush out of my room and out of the house to find none other than Shravan Malhotra, standing in my driveway, arms crossed and leaning against his car with a scowl on his face.
Here we go again.
"Kya hai?" I ask him brusquely.
"Gaadi mein betho." He replies in the same manner.
"Mere pass gaadi hai. I can go on my own, thank you very much." I tell him, keeping my face straight but damn if I'm not laughing on the inside.
I love this too much to stop now.
"Haan pata hai, tum ek independent woman ho, apna khyal rakh sakti ho yada yada yada. Ab chup chap gaadi mein betho nahi toh mein apne tarike se tumhe bithunga." He threatnes.
My eyes widen at that threat because I know this man is capable of anything and to not cause further drama, I quickly towards the passenger side and get in the car, buckling myself in.
He comes around to the driver's side, still pouting and scowling, gets in buckles himself and starts the car.
We've been quiet for some time and I know the word vomit starring one Mr. Shravan Malhotra is about to start in 3...2...1
"Sumooo," he calls out drawing my name.
Okay, that is not how this happens. Why is he being so sweet?
"Haan," I ask skeptically.
"Please?" He pleads.
Already knowing what this conversation was about and where exactly this was heading I braced my self.
"Shravan..." I sigh.
"Please na Sumo. It's been two years! How much more time do we need?"
"Ask yourself this question Shravan. Are we there, yet? Do we need more time?"
He swerves the car suddenly, stopping on the side of the road. Turning in his seat, catching hold of my hand tightly; his gaze full of determination meets my eyes. "Suman Tiwari, yes we are there. I know we are fine. Actually, we are more than fine. The past two years, Sumo I can't even begin to tell you how much I've learned about you. I understand you on a level that I didn't even understand when were kids, I understand you now better than I thought I did. So yes, I think it is time." He finishes with a small smile.
Don't smile.
Don't smile.
Do not smile, Sumo! Control!
"Sumo, I think it's time." He presses.
"Haan toh maine kab mana kara?" I say nochantly.
"What?" He asked bewildered.
"Haan toh maine kab mana kara hai?"
"Sumo yaaar, tumhi ne toh mana kara tha na!"
"Maine shaadi ke liye mana kara tha, engagement ke liye toh kabhi nahi mana kara tha."
"Sumo?! Are you serious right now?" He asked baffled.
Control Sumo!
Do not laugh!
I try to school my expressions before I reply "Yes."
He turns in his seat and grips the steering wheel, looking forward he takes a deep breath before speaking. "You are telling me, that in the last two years we could have been engaged and married?"
"Uh-huh. I said engaged; never said anything about getting married."
"You! -- " He turns abruptly facing me, bring both of his palms to my face before stopping and pulling them back in frustration. "Sumo... What will I do with you?"
I can't help it anymore, I burst out into laughter seeing his face. It takes me a minute but I do manage to stop and tell him what I have been thinking about for a while. "Well, there is one thing you can do?"
"What now?" He asks in exasperation.
I lean over the gear console and get close to his face as much as possible and my breath stutters, as always, when I am in close proximity to this man. He turns my inside into mush, my heart beats faster and I can't think of anything but us and our future. "You, Mr. Malhotra, no we, we have an engagement to plan and soon because I want to be with you and I am ready to spend the rest of my life with you," I say because yes, it's time.
His eyes, staring into mine, look like molten chocolate; the love shining in his eyes for me still takes my breath away. The way he looks at me like I'm the only woman; the way his eyes seek me in a crowded room and find me in an instant.
He brings his forehead to mine, a smile lighting up his face, speaking the unspoken words.
"So, are you ready, Mrs. Malhotra?"
"I'm not Mrs. Malhotra, yet."
"Semantics." He rebukes. "You have been Mrs. Malhotra for me since the day I fell in love with you. This is just us making it official."
"Okay, Mr. Malhotra, let's start the preparations for me to become yours officially. Now" I pull myself away from him and settle myself in the car seat again. " do you plan to drop me off at PCT or is there anything else you want to discuss?"
A small laugh escapes his lips as he puts the car in gear "Next stop Priya Central Tiffin, Mrs. Malhotra."
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A few months later...
The engagement preparation is in full swing. Both the families are ecstatic and are having loads of fun in all the ceremonies. The Malhotra's and the Tiwari's are sparing no expense for the union of their two most beloved children.
Shravan and Suman are having the time of their lives. The functions, the ceremonies and their meaning behind each of them, the love that they were being showered with and their love for each other are making them high.
"Sumo?"
"Shravan?"
"Are you ready?"
"Yes! I just can't wait for us to get married in a few days."
I have been smiling so much these past few weeks, it's an experience I'm getting acquainted with slowly.
"Sumo?" He calls out again.
"Hmm"
"Are you happy?" He asks with an unsure tone.
Oh, Shravan.
"No. What I am feeling right now Shravan, happy doesn't even begin to cover it. I feel like I can conquer the world as long as you are beside me." I reassure my man-child.
Things have been good between us. Actually, they have been absolutely fantastic. I mean, we still have our fights and that is something in our relationship that will never change but now we don't let ourselves stew on the fights; by the next day we have patched up and like adults, we actually talk about where either of us went wrong. The misunderstandings were cleared a long time ago but I still wanted to wait before I got married to Shravan. I wanted us to get to know each other, learn about our likes and dislikes, what makes us tick and every other little things that matter the most in our relationships because at the end of the day it's not the big things but the small things, like how Shravan takes his coffee or his favourite shirt or how much PCT means to me and the small things he does for me for no reason other than the fact that he loves me, that matter the most.
We both are quiet on both our ends when a big yawn escapes me.
"Shravan, subah ke 3 baj rahe hai, please ab toh sone do. I'm tired."
"Matlab? Even I'm tired but tumse baat kar raha hu na. Aur vaise bhi kal mera ek important case hai, jiski preparation chod kar main yahan tumhare saath romance kar raha hu."
"Oh hello! Pehli baat tumne ghaanta koi romance kara hai aur maine nahi bola tha na ki 4 ghaante phone pe lage raho mere saath. Maine toh kaam ke silsiley mein phone kara tha ab tumhi ne itni der se phone pe rakha hai yeh kehke ki "Sumo thodi der aur na, please." I huff in mock annoyance.
"Accha ji toh yeh baat hai? Jao nahi karta tumse baat. Humari families ne toh yahan curfew laga diya hai ki hum dono shaadi tak nahi mil sakte, pata nahi kitne papad belne padte hai tumhe dekhne ke liye and please "video call karte hai" mat bolna because it is not the same. Ek phone pe baat kar sakte hai aur yahan tum mujhe suna rahi ho."
"Toh mujhpe kyu bhadak rahe ho? Maine thodi na bola tha ki hume shaadi tak nahi milna chahiye. Bhadakna hai toh apne uss bandar bhai pe bhadko, ussi ne yeh idea diya tha. Kebab main haddi.
"Accha voh sab chodo main sone jaa rahi hun mujhe jaldi bhi uthna hai aur tumhara important case hai and you have to win it so go sleep."
"Gussa bhi karti ho aur khyal bhi rakhti ho. Ajeeb hi combination ho."
"One in a million Mr. Malhotra. Dhundne par bhi meri jaisi nahi milegi." I say with attitude.
"Tumhari jaisi mujhe chahiye bhi nahi. Mujhe tum chahiye aur voh mujhe mil chuki hai." God, that voice of his! Especially when he is unintentionally being romantic.
"Good. Ab so jao. Goodnight, Mr. Malhotra." I say in the cheesiest way possible.
"Goodnight, Mrs. Malhotra." Swoon...
After five minutes he finally hangs up but not before saying the words that still make my heart flutter.
"I love you, Mrs. Malhotra." Be still my heart.
"I love you too, Mr. Malhotra."
Suman was tired and she fell asleep in no time and so was the case with Shravan. They were apart from each other, in their rooms but they had a soft smile on their faces as after a very long time they dreamed about their upcoming wedding and their future that they once thought was out of reach.
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Hey everyone! I hope you've all enjoyed this chapter. I know it is much more of a filler but it is important nonetheless. There is just an epilogue left and it will be different than what you might expect. Since it is our Shraman I will take a little more time to make it as romantic and real and as Shraman as possible.
As always, do let me know your thoughts and favourite scenes and yes VOTE & COMMENT!
Until next chapter...
Chapter 9 - Epilogue
Edited by BloodRune - 7 years ago