The Proposal Surprise

"Life is more valuable if enjoyed with the people who have value in our life."

"Sorry." I jerked up, straightening when I woke up and he just arched his eyebrows at me. "I don"t know when I slept."

"Don't worry. Even I slept and got up just a few minutes ago. You were sleeping peacefully, so I didn't wake you up. Besides, your heavy head was good for my tensed shoulder." He smiled, providing me ease and I smiled.

"Volvo didn't"t stop at tea stall?"

"We didn't"t cross any stall. Driver said he"d stop at the next station."

I made a puppy face, "I am hungry."

He chuckled, taking his backpack from the head bin space and took out one snickers. "Right now, I only have this."

"This would do. Thanks." I grabbed the chocolate bar, tore the foil and bit a lion portion. It felt like rain in the desert region. I finish the bar almost forgetting how messily I was eating, that too before Mrigank but he gave me courtesy and didn"t look up. I rubbed my hands with the tissue and called up mom, informing her that I was still in middle of the journey. We chatted for a few minutes and meanwhile, the Volvo stopped at a Dhaba.

"Okay, mom. I will call you when I will reach there. Bye." I stepped down followed by Aarti and Josh who were cribbing as always.

"I don"t know why but I am really very tired. I am going to rest all day tomorrow." She whined, sprawling on the cot and popped her fingers one by one.

"Sure! Just feed your empty paunch and sleep like a hog." Josh jested, making us laugh and a fuming Aarti smacked on his back.

"Rhea, will you please leave her alone for a moment?" Akshat told off as Rhea was going to sit beside me and we both eyed him, skeptically.

"What? I want to talk to you something private." He said to me.

Rhea pressed on. "Private?"

"Yes, now please will you." He showed her way and Rhea moved to sit on the next cot with Aarti and Mrigank, stomping her foot.

"What?"

"Actually I have planned a surprise for her." Akshat whispered, shyly. "Tomorrow, I am going to propose to her."

"Oh my god! Really?" I shrieked in disbelief, cupping my face and all the pairs of eyes landed on us. Akshat face palmed him before pulling me down.

"Geez! I don"t want her to know." He reminded and I grinned. "Sorry! Okay, so what"s the plan?"

He explained to me everything and that was really romantic, so I couldn't stop but ask. "You really love her so much?"

Akshat drifted his eyes to Rhea who was giggling over a joke. I could see the adoration and love in his orbs. "More than I can explain in words. She is like a magic; I love her to the moon and back. She has become very precious to me, Shree. There"s no way I can imagine a life without her."

I was so glad that I hugged him tightly. "I am really happy but if you tried to hurt her ever, I will kill you in a very painful manner. Remember this!"

"Of course!" He kissed my forehead before hugging me back. "And, I am thankful of God that I met you."

"Why?"

"Otherwise, I wouldn"t have possibly gotten to know Rhea. You are my angel."

"You would"ve met her even after I wasn"t there because you both were meant to be." I denied.

"I don"t believe that." He pulled back, "Now, you"ve to help me but before that tell me, what will you do if she hurts me?"

"Well, a woman has thousands murders forgiven." I giggled.

"Chauvinist!" He snorted and resumed to have dinner. We discussed the details and I told him about Abhimanyu to which he threw tantrums but they were nil before the tantrums of his girlfriend. Nevertheless, we sorted out and he nagged me to have him meet Abhimanyu to which I nodded, contentedly. Turn by turn, we kept Rhea busy and Akshat involved everyone in his plan. When we headed back to Volvo, driver notified us that we would reach Ooty by next morning. Since, we"d already slept, we decided play some more games.

***

I lugged my feet to the room assigned to us in the hotel with my trolley bag and opened the door, swiping the card. Throwing the bag aside, I jumped on the swanky bed, totally worn out.

"Why did you run? Couldn"t you wait for me?" Rhea jeered but I didn"t answer her, I"d this thing called Jet lag"; my whole body, each and every nerve was throbbing, every muscle was spasmodic.

"Rhea, please shut up! I am going to sleep." Aarti plopped beside me and I guess, decreased the temperature as well because the room started getting cooler. It took me less than a minute to fall asleep. When I woke up, I noticed the girls were sleeping, tangled together in a weird position. Ergo, I took the opportunity to get fresh early and threw in a one piece white dress. I grabbed my satchel and cell phone before heading out. Unlike Jaipur, Ooty had nice weather; at least it wasn't"burning in summer. Since the monsoon was about to touch the city, I experienced chill winds occasionally.

"So, when should we start?" I questioned Akshat when we met in the hotel cafeteria with Mrigank. They informed us that Josh was hogging in the room till then.

"In the evening. Right now, everyone would love to roam around and she will also relax." Akshat sipped his coffee. I was really floored by how much he thought of her but then I was evil to make him uneasy. "She"'s really lucky to have you but Akshat, what if she rejects you?"

He stopped slurping and looked at me shocked whereas Mrigank chuckled in reflex. "Sorry."

"Why do you think she"ll reject me?" Akshat chugged his mug down.

"Perhaps, she thinks of you as a friend." I stressed on the friend" and his face paled, I fisted sharply to curb my urge to laugh.

"I find that hard to believe." He mumbled, pondering. "I haven"t held back myself in showing her how much I like her and she also looked different around me but...."

"Idiot, she"'s teasing you." Mrigank revealed, smacking his head and I buzzed in laughter. "I am sorry but stop being ridiculous, Akshat. She loves you and she will not reject you."

"Shree!" He glared at me but heaved a sigh of relief, swigging his coffee. Moments later, the whole group gathered and we had our breakfast, followed by lunch.

***

"Wooww!!! It"'s amazing." Rhea squealed, gripping her seatbelt tightly.

"Woo hoo! I love this." I matched her tone and my hair blew with the gust of wind.

"That was awesome!" I breathed as the rollercoaster ride ended. This was best thing I"d ever experienced.

"Oiii...I"m feeling dizzy." Rhea held her head and swayed. I giggled while my own vision was hazy.

"Why did you go when you can"t handle it?" Akshat rapped out, supporting Rhea and me by shoulder.

"Because we"re strong and courageous not like certain someone." I scoffed, eyeing Mrigank.

"I don"t want to die soon." Mrigank grimaced, pointing to the ride behind us.

"I"m feeling puckish." Rhea pressed her palm on mouth and coughed. I widened my eyes, steeping away in horror. "No no no please Rhea! Don"t puke here. I vomit at the sight of vomit."

"Oh god!!" Rhea ran somewhere and Akshat followed her.

"I"m feeling acidic; I want to drink something." I rubbed my throat and looked at Mrigank. Josh and Aarti were still in the ride. I wondered what would happen to them.

"Come." Mrigank led me to the chillers point" and ordered two Pepsi for us.

"Thank you!" I gulped the soda in a go that momentarily bitterness burned my throat but eased out the acidic feel.

"Have you been here before?" I asked and he nodded, sipping his can, "Once with my family but I was very young back then."

We conversed till Rhea and Akshat came back along with a disoriented Aarti and laughed at Josh and enjoyed the view of sunset together.

Abhimanyu"s Perspective

"Dada, let me tell you I"m going to win this time." I was beginning to regret my decision as Paridhi shrieked for the umpteenth time, pulling the remote control towards her.

"Nah, not a chance Dada!! I bet I will win, you just wait and watch." Vandisha whistled as she struck a hit in her winning account.

I closed my eyes, clenching my fist, trying hard not to smack my sisters. I"d warned them not to disturb me but they didn"t pay any heed.

"Dada..."

"This is the last time I am telling you guys to SHUT UP." I yelled, thumping my files. It was my fault to decide to work in the drawing hall when I found it empty, I should"ve locked them in their room.

"What happened, Abhi?" Mom hurled, coming to the hall and I recapitulated everything.

"Girls, move and let him work." Mom reprimanded them and they groaned, collecting their stuff and moved to their room.

"Abhi..." Mom called when I was reading my file, so I hummed, beckoning her to continue "What have you decided?"

"Regarding?"

"Shree!! We need to give them an answer. It has been two days now."

She insisted and I closed my file and pinched the tip of my nose. "I want some time to think."

"Why? You don"t like her. You want us to deny." She was too quick to make a conclusion.

"Mom!" I sighed, "I never said I didn't"t like her. I just said that I want some time and right now, this project is hammering my head. I will answer after coming."

"Fine!" Her face dropped but she smiled, nevertheless. "When are you leaving?"

"Tonight. I"d booked tickets because I"ve an early morning meeting. I will come back by tomorrow night or Sunday morning."

"I will pack your bags." She patted my head and I smiled feeling relieved.

"So, did you say a yes?" Bharat nudged me as we boarded the flight.

"Shut up, I ran from my home to get rid of this thing and you"re annoying me by asking the same."

"You can"t run away always. But, you can tell me did you like her?" He investigated and I nodded, muttering. "Yes, she is good and she mingled with my family really quick. She"s really nice."

"No, I mean what do you think of her?" He cross questioned me and I blinked at him. "Didn"t I just tell you that? Now what do you want to know?"

"No, what I meant is," He looked like he wouldn"t finish it soon. "Did you talk to her about the marriage?"

"I am still unsure of it. I haven"t told her the truth yet but I"d coated my words with sharpness."

"What?"

"I pondered over what you guys preached and I realized that I can"t reject her or anyone just like that but I can"t also marry them if I have to hide it from them but they can. They can reject me."

He looked at me in disbelief. "You schemed it all. Are you mad?"

"No, I am not." I contradicted. "I have given her time to think and then decide if she wants to marry me or not. I don"t want her to knit false and baseless dreams from my side."

"You are incorrigible." He certified, looking away. "You are going to regret It."

"Thanks for telling." I said plainly, clasping my hands together and rested against the seat. We reached Hotel Charisma at around three in the morning. I gathered keycard and headed to the room with Bharat. He was still mopping around as he didn"t utter a word to me. I bed if he could run away, he"d be in Jaipur by now.

"Will you still be angry like a wife or will you talk to me?" I mocked, taking off the blazer and kept the suitcase aside.

"I am really turned down by you, Abhi. I"d never thought you would crush our feeling under your feet like this." His morose tone cut through the air.

I sighed and faced him. "You may find me wrong now Bharat but that day isn"t far when you will understand why I did that. I can"t cheat her or anyone."

"What if she still gets ready to marry you?" He posed the question that was making me worry. I had thought about it as well and questioned myself multiple times that, if she agreed, would I be able to give her what I promised? But the thought came rebounding to me, that love is what mattered most for a girl. Hence, she would reject me.

"You haven"t answered me yet." His voice interrupted my chain of thoughts.

"Then, I will give her what I"ve promised but she shouldn"t keep expectations for what I"d not even mentioned."

"Arghh! I wish I could kill Divya. I wish I"d strangled her right at the funeral that day." He yelled, furiously but I blocked the memories and trudged to the lavatory.

I am sorry Abhimanyu. I am sorry, I don"t love you. I love Chetan. I love him. Her words rang in my ears. I immediately closed my eyes letting the soft water cascade down my naked torso, relieving my tensed muscles and exhilarating nook and crannies of my body.

I will not allow anyone to break down the wall I"ve built around my heart. Not now, not ever. I pledged and wiped the mist on the glass wall. I came out cinching towel around my waist, gesturing Bharat to get fresh and he zoomed inside. I changed in pajama and called mom to inform that I reached safely and opened the laptop.

"You are done?" I asked as Bharat stepped out. "See this, then."

"Hold on, bro. I will join you after this call." He had me paused and padded to the balcony. I got his drift. He was going to call Sneha, his wife and our very good friend. They were college sweethearts and he was the first one to get married right after finishing his MBA.

"Now, show me!" He hopped beside me, peering at the screen and I abbreviated the narration.

"I think this has to be the masterstroke." I outlined the preposition and he nodded, "I"d made a backup as well. Let"s check that."

I checked his backup and it was good to be in front foot. "I have an idea, why don"t we proceed with mine if we get to present first and if Mehta Corporations get the chance, we will present yours."

"That"s perfect. Now let"s sleep. It"s already five and we"ve only three hours to relax." He yawned, lying down and I shut down the laptop instantly, slipping on my side.

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