Akruti Arora
I never thought I would live my life like this. A lovely family, with lovable friends whom I treat them as a family and not but not the least my pompous, Viren Khanna. He's the sweetest one I've ever come across. He treats me in the way, a girl would want her guy to treat her. He's still arrogant only for the world but not for his close ones.
Today was Sunday. Meaning Viren's meeting with my family. I wonder how would my family react to it. I even called Nila to come and have lunch. But she told me that she was having her periods and her cramps were so bad, making her impossible to move. I was worried about her.
I checked on her, every hour. I couldn't leave her alone and Viren was also coming here to meet my family. When I told my family, that someone will accompany us for lunch, they went bonkers.
I had to calm them down to answer each of their questions. I just told them it's someone special. But Sahil, he eyed suspiciously at me. In turn, I gave him a toothy grin. Mom was preparing so many varieties of food. The menu was literally big. Guessing Viren's reactions to seeing this made me laugh.
I was dressed in peach color salwar suit with printed dupatta, whilst I tied my hair in a Fishtail braid. Viren messaged me that, he was parking his car outside my home. Informing my parents and brother that the guest has arrived, I went outside to greet him.
He was looking handsome as always, and he was looking hot too. Dressed in a crisp sky blue long sleeve shirt with a mandarin collar and pairing it black pants, he was looking handsome. A frown was adorning his face, probably searching for me. The second his gaze reached me, the frown altered into a full-blown smile. Seeing him smiling, a smile made its way to my lips.
Smiling at me, he hugged me and whispered 'you look beautiful'. And instantly my cheeks started to heat. I also noticed that his right was behind him like he was hiding something from me.
"What are you hiding from me?", I asked him narrowing my eyes at him.
"Well I got my girlfriend a bouquet of red roses and white lilies", saying this he brought the bouquet in front of me. He handed it over to me. I gasped seeing it.
"Wow they're beautiful", I whispered caressing them.
"Well they're not beautiful than you", saying this he winked at me.
"Being cheesy much. Okay now, let's get going my family is waiting for us".
"Um...Akruti they'll like me right?", he asked me with worry filling his tone.
"No", hearing this his eyes went wide.
"Girl, please stop scaring me", he pleaded and I burst out laughing.
Ruffling his hair and pinching the tip of his nose, I replied, "They won't like you. They'll love you instead. Trust me". Hearing this he gave me a full-blown smile.
"Okay, let's get going", saying this he pulled my hand and started walking as if I'm here to meet his parents. Chuckling at the thought, we entered my home. My parents and brother were standing at the front of the door, waiting for us.
The moment he saw my parents, he bent to touch their feet to get their blessings. I was awestruck, looking at this scene. Even my parents were quite shocked, but they blessed him anyway. Sahil and he shared a brotherly hug and all started moving towards the living couch.
My mom instructed me to get some water for all, nodding my head, I went to the kitchen to get everyone some glass of water. I also took some snacks with me. With the help of our housemaid, I took everything to the living room. On seeing me they all stopped talking, which I found really weird.
"Why did you guys stop talking on seeing me?", I narrowed my eyes at them. In return, they just shrugged their shoulders. Nodding my head at them, I offered everyone the things I bought.
"So....", I heard my dad dragging.
"Um... Dad, he's Viren Khanna, my boss", I stopped after this tiny introduction. I didn't know how to tell them, that he was the man I'm in love with. Turning my head, I saw Viren blinking his eyes giving an assurance that he'll handle everything, whilst I smiled at him.
"Um... Sir, I think you already know me. I meant the professional way. About my personal, it's always been kept in low-key, since I didn't want any ruckus in my personal life. I live with my grandparents and my younger sister Preeti. My parents passed away when I was at the age of 10.", he said everything in one go.
"I know that child. I must say your grandparents have nourished you with all the values. But doesn't matter here. What actually brings you here?", Dad said the last portion with a strict tone. Hearing his, voice Viren and I gulped visibly. Even though they'll accept, still I'm afraid to tell them. I don't know why?
"Um... Sir, I actually like your daughter. I've been courting her for more than months now. I know, I should have met you before itself, to get your permission. But I was having some other issues, so I couldn't make it earlier. I'm really sorry about that. So, sir, I'm here to ask your permission, to approve our relationship. Mam and Sahil, I'm asking this, to you too.", saying this he took my hands in his and placed our entwined hands on his lap. Seeing this I smiled at him and squeezed his hand to give him the support he needed.
Turning my head, I looked at the emotionless face of my parents, whilst Sahil was smirking at me. I started blushing when Sahil winked at me and mouthed 'My guess was right'. Excusing himself from us he made his way to make a call.
"Okay Son. I appreciate the efforts that you took. Must say, I'm impressed with your words, but you see we already have someone else in our mind. As our son-in-law.", my mom told. Hearing this my eyes went wide. How could they say like this? I'm sitting here with the person I love. But they already have someone in their mind. To hell with that guy.
"Mom. Whoever that guy is, I'm not going to marry him. I lo- I mean I like Viren. That's it.", I snapped at them.
"But kiddo, what about the guy you met in the park?", my dad questioned me. This time Sahil entered the scene. I looked at Viren who was sitting with a confused face.
"Hey, what happened?", Sahil questioned us. Mom told Sahil, what dad and she planned. Hearing this Sahil, started laughing.
"Mom, for now, leave that guy. I mean to say the mystery man. Who knows he might or might not be your son-in-law in the future. So decide properly guys. Right chicken little?", Sahil replied smirking at me. I wonder why he was smirking and his talks were confusing me. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Viren smiling. I was about to speak when a call interrupted me. Excusing myself, I went to attend the call.
It was a call from Nila. Attending the call, I heard Nila, asking me to bring her some foods from my home, since she can't cook because of her cramps. She also told me she felt guilty for asking me to bring her food when Viren was here. I scolded her and replied to her that, I'll get the food for her. Ending the call, I returned to the hall and told everyone about Nila.
"Do you need any help? Should I come with you?", Viren asked me. Telling him, that I was fine and I'll go by myself, mom and I went to pack food for Nila. Bidding bye to everyone I left towards Nila's apartment. I was thinking about Viren, feeling bad for him.
"I hope my crazy family doesn't do anything stupid".
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Viren Khanna
After Akruti, left for Nila's home there was a comfortable silence. Then Sahil came and sat next to me and faced his parents. All this while he had a smile on his face like he knew this was bound to happen.
"Mom and dad, as I told you guys, you don't need to worry about the park guy, 'cause he was, is, and will be your Son-in-law", he told smilingly, whilst I too had a smile on my face. Mr&Mrs. Arora looked confused.
"Sahil, just now you told us, to leave about him and now you are again talking about him", Mrs. Arora questioned Sahil.
"And what's with the name.... mystery man??", this time Mr. Arora questioned.
"Well, that's what your daughter named him!!", Sahil replied to them in a duh tone. Seeing them chatting like this made my heart ache a little. If my parents were here, even they'll be talking to me like this. Thinking about them made my eyes glistened with tears. Suddenly I felt someone's palm on my head.
I looked up to see Mrs. Arora looking me with concern. "What happened Viren? You became silent all of a sudden?", she questioned me.
"N-nothing mam. Seeing you all like this made me think about my parents", telling this I wiped the lone tear that escaped from my eyes.
"Look Viren, from now on you're like Sahil to us. So you can call us mom and dad if you want", she told with tears flowing from her eyes. I looked behind her to see, Mr. Arora had a smile on his face and nodded his head.
"Mom", I called her. She smiled through her tears and hugged me. Even Mr. Arora... meant to dad also hugged me
"Okay!! Enough of this emotional drama. Mom don't you want to know who's that mystery man of your daughter is?", he said wiggling his eyebrows at them.
"No need. We accept Viren, as our son-in-law", Mrs. Ar... sorry mom replied to him. I chuckled at her reply.
"Mom, its none other than Viren", Sahil yelled happily. Mom and dad's reaction was comical. It was like, they couldn't believe their ears.
"What?", they yelled this time.
I made them, sit on the couch, and told them all the happenings. From Akruti's cousin's wedding to Paris proposal to be girlfriend to how I came to know about the mystery man. They were so happy on hearing this. They literally hugged me on hearing this.
"Mom... not only this. I love Akruti so much. It's like I can't live without her. Even though it's been a few months, we're dating, I couldn't help but fall in love with her", I told them honestly.
"Then why don't you tell her?", Sahil asked me.
"Well, it's just like a month or two we're dating and I don't want her to scare her saying I love her. I want to take this relation slowly. So I didn't tell her", I told them. They nodded their head in response.
Suddenly Sahil's phone ringed. "Yeah Nila.... she left....oh okay...we'll take care...and you too", saying this he cut the call. I asked him, what by raising my eyebrows.
"Well, I already know that you're chicken little's mystery man, the day when I met you at the marriage. So I asked Nila to call Akruti to her home for a half-hour. And when I talked about the mystery man, Akruti's face fell. From that, I came to know that you didn't tell her anything. So I made this plan so that, our parents can know that the mystery man is their son-in-law. Now she'll be here anytime. So change the topic.", Sahil told smiling.
"You guys can't know how happy I'm now. My daughter's gonna get married and I'm getting a new son!!", Mom started shouting in happiness, whilst we laughed at her expression. Even I thought and smiled,
'Well, even I can't wait to make her my wife'.
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