Hi everyone.
I've had this piece on my phone for a long time now, and I finally thought of posting it here.
Let me know what you think of it
Enjoy! đ
**EDITED**
Yes I have decided to continue this, but it will only be a couple more parts, I really dont think I can write a proper fanfic, so I'm turning this into a Short Story, let's see for how many parts I can drag it.
Now Enjoy :)
INDEX:
PART 1 - Below
PART 2 - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/71080937
PART 3 - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/71234105
PART 4 - https:////www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3305436&TPN=27�
PART 5 - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/3305436/arhi-ss-the-wedding-proposal-part-5-updated
PART 1
"why don't you get bhai to marry first? As it is, he already has a girlfriend, not to forget, I'm four years younger to him."
khushi stated, ending her argument with a frustrated sigh and a pleading look in her brother's direction, who stood leaning against the door, unaffected.
"acha rishta aata hai toh mana nahi karte khushi. Besides we aren't forcing you into the mandap, all we are asking of you is to meet him."
Her mother stated calmly but decisively, marking the end of the discussion, and khushi knew better than to argue with that tone.
Garima gupta was a single mother to her two children , rohan and khushi. She wasn't conservative, she wasn't old fashioned and she had never differentiated between her children based on gender. She had raised them both to be independent individuals, but she had never compromised on what was right, and right now, what was right was for khushi to meet that boy and his family, for it wasn't everyday a decent young man knocked on your door asking for your daughter's hand in marriage, then it was khushi's decision if she wanted to accept the proposal or not.
Garima walked upto her younger child and held her face gently in her hands,
"you trust me, right khush?"
khushi meekly nodded, staring into her mothers eyes, trying to decipher the emotions in them.
"then just meet him, no pressure, I promise."
khushi nodded again and Garima kissed her daughter's forehead before exiting the room, leaving behind the two siblings to ponder over this news.
...
khushi fell back onto her bed, her legs dangling from the end and stared silently at the ceiling, trying to count the rounds of the ceiling fan. Rohan stood leaning against the door frame for a while before he straightened up and went to sit next to his baby sister, wanting to understand, wanting to help, wanting to support whatever his sister could logically justify.
When khushi was absolutely sure her mother was in her room and was out of hearing distance, still staring at the ceiling she confided in her brother,
"I don't want to get married bhai."
Rohan misunderstood her and gently pulled at her arm to make her sit up, she complied. Stroking her head gently he replied,
"there's no hurry, bacha. It's just the first ..."
"No bhai..." khushi interrupted him, then looking seriously into her brother's eyes, she told him,
"I don't want to marry, ever."
She waited for the information to sink in, bhai had always supported her, he would do the same now, wouldn't he?
"why? give me one good reason and you won't have to."
This was one trait rohan had acquired from their mother, he loved his little bacha, yes he did, but he only supported what he felt was right and logically justified, even if it was khushi he was dealing with.
"I don't know bhai, I just don't want to... besides, I don't want to meet random men and parade around in front of their families, its absurd."
"well a) you don't need to parade around in front of anyone, and b) 'I don't know' isn't good enough."
He lightly patted her cheek , gave her an amused smile and got up to leave, only to turn around at the door, to see his frustrated baby sister muttering to herself. he walked back upto her and placed his hand lightly on her head, urging her to look up and talk to him, and she didn't disappoint him.
"Bhai, I don't know what to do, I just don't like the idea, I think I'm really young, I don't want to be tied to someone as yet. I'm not ready to let go of my freedom yet. I don't know how this person - you and mom want me to meet - is, I mean GOD, how is meeting him suddenly going to help? for all we know he may pretend to be all liberal now and become all annoying and possessive later like other men."
Rohan pulled her up for a hug and with a smile told her
"It's your life kid, I've only met him twice in some conferences, he's a good businessman, the rest I'll leave on you to make your own opinion, your word will be final. It's just the first meeting, don't over-think it."
and with a wink, he was gone, leaving khushi pondering over the idea of marriage, alone in her room, trying to think how she was to meet the man named Arnav Singh Raizada that evening. Such a powerful, intimidating name, she could only imagine how he would actually be, arrogant, rude, snobbish, intimidating creature. Hmph.
...
It was never a good thing to judge someone based on the image they projected to the world, not knowing what the person was actually like and especially before even meeting the person.
Khushi strongly believed in this principle and had never deviated from it, however this once she desperately needed an out and convincing herself beforehand of his negatives seemed the easiest way to get out of this situation.
However, the meeting wasn't going the way she had wanted it to in the least. They had met at a cafe at 5, that was half an hour ago and the man in question had been anything but rude. He had been a true gentleman, and of course the second khushi had laid eyes on this man, she had been mesmerized, he was beautiful, tall, delicious brown eyes, a slight stubble, sporting a black suit with a dreamy white shirt (probably just came from his office, she had thought), anyway, how was khushi supposed to hate him, as it is, Arnav Singh Raizada or Arnav (as he liked to be called by close people - wait, she was already in his close peoples' list?") was literally oozing charm...
He was saying something...
"Khushi? Khushi...?" Arnav waved his hand in front of her face, trying to get her attention back. He had been talking about his encounter with rohan when she had zoned out and had been staring at him with multiple expressions etched across her face and a very frequent appearance of an absolutely adorable pout.
"Khushi?" he called again, this time successfully bringing her out of her trance.
"Huh! yeah?"
"All okay?" arnav sounded concerned yet amused.
"yes yes." (Crap! this is weird. I must have been staring, but he's so hot, damn, why is he nice? he's supposed to be rude, I'm confused...) Khushi was over-thinking things as was her forte and didn't realize when she again zoned out, so to break her reverie, arnav called again.
"Khushi? are you alright?"
"yes, I'm fine, I'm sorry..."
"so I was asking, what are your plans for after your bachelors?" he asked politely as the waiter served their order.
Khushi dove into her brownie and answered simultaneously,
"I want to do my masters in HR but I'm not so sure when and where from, I mean I could apply in the US or just apply at IBA but I'll have to wait for two years for IBA, gain work experience and all..."
"You talk a lot." arnav interrupted her banter, it wasn't supposed to be offensive nor was it a negative remark, it was a mere observation, and thankfully khushi dismissed it as just that, an observation.
"yeah, I do." she smiled a genuine smile at him and continued.
"do you want me to stop?"
"No! I like it. Tell me more?"
he sounded so sincere, khushi didn't doubt it to be sarcastic for even a second. This man was so sorted, so, so clear, it was mesmerizing.
but surprisingly khushi felt silent after that admission from him, busy pondering over every minute detail about arnav and trying desperately to find something negative, anything.
"khushi, I don't like going around in circles so I'll just come to the point. My sister saw you at payal's wedding, I suppose she's your best friend?" Khushi only nodded, she hadn't known this bit of information, on how he had known about her, that thought suddenly made her question him,
".. but I didn't see you there."
"because I wasn't there."
"oh" she sounded like she needed further explanation and arnav didn't disappoint, he didn't believe in holding back.
"Di was there because jeeju is related to payal's husband, akash. anyway, the connections aren't important. She saw you there, liked you instantly and..."
here she cut him, as was her habit, her questions could never wait.
"she, your sister? what's her name? I may have met her at the wedding."
"Anjali."
"Oh my god, you're? you're her brother? anjali's brother?" she sounded surprised but not baffled and then she simply started laughing. Arnav was taken aback, to say the least. A moment later khushi started coughing, what with all the laughing. He passed her a glass of water and urged with his eyes for her to explain.
"Actually , at the night of the sangeet, I had danced to tons of songs with my friends and in the end a woman had come up to me, praising me on my dancing, asking questions about where I had learnt how to dance, where I studied, lived, family, relation to the couple getting married etc... you know, typical shaadi questions. And later payal had told me it was akash jiju's bhabhi, anjali. So, well, its just funny" she explained in between laughs.
arnav felt scandalized, his sister had the audacity to do all that at a wedding, a freaking wedding, khushi must have felt so awkward. little did he know, that's all women with brothers and sons did at weddings.
"Unbelievable!" he muttered under his breath.
"She said she really liked you, and that's why she enquired payal about you and shoved several photos of you from the wedding in my face till I agreed to finally look at them and send a proposal, which she did the second I looked at your pictures. Apparently she was very sure I'd like you instantly. But I had absolutely no idea she had embarrassed you like that at the wedding, I'll talk to her."
For the first time that evening arnav was talking, properly talking and he had already stated twice that he liked her the minute he saw her. Khushi was in awe.
She wasn't so sure if she wanted to look for negatives anymore. She said in a small voice,
"It's okay, relax. I wasn't embarrassed, I'm used to it now."
His head snapped up at this.
"What do you mean used to it now?"
khushi felt his penetrating gaze bore into her and felt disconcerted for a moment, his eyes suddenly held so much possession, like he already considered her his... no khushi stop it.
"I mean that's what women do at every wedding, they look for prospective brides for their sons and brothers. I've dealt with enough interested parties to understand where the conversation is headed by the first question."
arnav listened to her, intently so and after a minutes silence and contemplation of how to approach the next topic, he spoke,
"You don't like it, do you? the random aunties questioning you at weddings I mean."
"of course not, It's annoying as hell, its like you're a walking talking answering machine, repeating the same thing over and over. They just wouldn't stop."
she complained, knowing well that he wouldn't judge her nor take offense or consider it a reaction to his sister's actions.
"It could stop." he simply stated, taking a sip from his cappuccino.
khushi let out a small laugh
"Acha? How? you're going to go up to every aunty and say please larkiyon ka interview na le shaadiyon pe?" she laughed again, this time at her own silly joke.
Arnav chuckled lightly and stated with a smile in his voice.
"No, by meeting me again and again and again and finding it impossible to resist my charm and finally saying yes to my proposal. You'll be taken then, aunties won't bug you, my ring on your finger will be enough to steer them away."
By the time arnav ended his little speech, khushi was watching awestruck, her mouth hanging slightly open, her hands suspended mid air and a very pink blush rising up her cheeks.
As minutes passed, khushi averted her gaze to her lap. At getting no response from her for a while, arnav reached across the table and placing his hand over her soft satiny one, spoke again.
"I'm sorry if I surprised you, I really like you khushi and I would not want you to meet any other aunties or their sons and brothers. I want you all to myself if you would allow me. It's weird for me too but I've never felt like this for anyone before, there's no pressure but please give me a chance? we could see each other for a while before you decide."
She looked up at him then.
"Mum and Bhai said my decision would be final..."
arnav cut her off,
"and it is, it is your decision khushi'
she spoke again, looking into his eyes, the blush on her cheeks intact.
"and well, you are saying the same thing. I'm just overwhelmed I guess. You were supposed to be arrogant and rude and money minded and god you're none of those things. I was supposed to look for reasons to dislike you but all I have been looking at is your eyes. Till this morning, I didn't want to get married at all, and now I'm eager to, rather desperate to." she let out a chuckle in the end. Arnav looked scared, then cautious, then amused then plain confused.
he wasn't sure what she was saying, so he asked
"khushi, does that mean we can see each other? you're giving me a chance?"
"No." came the laughing reply.
Arnav was suddenly hurt and confused at her constant laughing.
Before he could say anything, she spoke again, this time softly but with a hint of laughter still there.
"But, I will say yes to the official proposal your sister sent for me. As it is, suddenly the marriage proposal seems more appealing than your time wasting idea of seeing each other before deciding. As it is, I'd like to be yours already."
Arnav took a minute to absorb her words, and then a full blown dazzling smile stretched across his face before he stood up abruptly and pulled khushi into his arms, gathering her petite form in his arms he murmured a thanks in her hair, to which she responded by wrappimg her arms around him, recovering from her initial surprise at his unanticipated hug.
When they parted, he signalled to the waiter for the bill, paid it and they both left the cafe holding hands with big smiles plastered across both their faces, ready to fall deeply, madly, and irrevocably in love.
You can never be ready to let someone else hold the reigns of your life till that one person walks into your life and all reason to avoid committing flies out the window.
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