5| Afsana

🪞 Chal tere-mere iss qisse ke paase ko phenkein,

Tu jeeta toh teri, mein jeeti toh jaungi leke🪞

"Kavya, ready ho?" Krishna asked as he knocked on her door.

Are you ready?

"Yes bhai." Kavya replied.

"Mehmaan aa gaye hai." Krishna informed and walked away.

Guests are here.

Kavya looked at herself once again in the mirror and walked out of the room. She was wearing a heavy white anarkali dress with a white dupatta which had blue stitching on it.

It's been a week since she returned from Abhijeet's penthouse. Abhijeet planned a dinner with Krishna at their house. Seemingly it's a normal get-together between the two families but the happy couple knows what's the real motive behind the meet up.

Kavya couldn't stop smiling the whole week. She rambled everything to Radhika on the way home and to say the girl was elated for her best friend would be an understatement.

The whole week was like a dream for Kavya. Her boyfriend, couldn't get anymore sweet. He kept on messaging and calling her as often as he can. He checked in with her whenever he reached his office, sent photos of his lunch or outfits. He knows the time of Kavya's college break and hence texts her inquiring whether she's had her food or not.

One time her lecture ran late and she had to skip lunch. Abhijeet got her comfort food delivered at her college from her favourite restaurant. They even went for a date to a park where Abhijeet organised an outdoor dinner for her.

As she descended downstairs, she saw her family and Abhijeet's sitting in the living room.

"Kavya beta, bahot sundar lag rahi ho." Abhijeet's father complimented her.

Kavya dear, you're looking beautiful.

"Thank you uncle." She shyly answered as she walked in and sat next to her mother.

All the while Abhijeet didn't blink at all. He didn't wanna waste even a millisecond of looking at his girl. Kavya looks ethereal in white and as it's her favourite colour, she wears it often.

Her eyes were literally twinkling whenever she looked at him. The love that she carried in her all these years was now reflecting in her eyes.

Kisiko aankehin padhna gar aaye,

Toh nazarein hamari mohabbat kaise chupaye.

If someone learns how to read eyes, how'll we hide our love?

Abhijeet thought to himself and begrudgingly broke their eye contact. One careful look and everyone will find out about them. Their eyes were being that obvious.

"Kavya beta, samose banvaye the. Zara dekhna toh." Kavya's mother requested and she nodded her head. Getting up from her place, she walked to the kitchen and looked after the refreshments.

Kavya dear, I've prepared snacks. Check on it.

Once the snacks were ready, she served them on a plate and carried them out in a tray. She kept the plate on the coffee table and her mother asked everyone to start eating them.

"Kavya beta, college ab kitna baki hai?" Abhijeet's father asked her.

Dear, how long do you have college for?

"Bas uncle ab result ka wait hai. Exams kal hi khatam hue hai." Kavya politely replied.

I'm just waiting for my results. Just got done with exams yesterday.

"Are waah. Ab aage kya plan hai? Job?" He continued.

Oh good. What's your plan going ahead? Job?

"Ji uncle. Results aaye toh mai apply karna shuru kardu." Kavya replied.

Yes uncle. I'll start applying once the result's here.

"Apne bhai ke saathe kaam nahi karogi?" Abhijeet's mother asked.

Won't you work with your brother?

"Nahi aunty. Thoda experience mil jaye toh bhaiya ko join kar lungi." Kavya replied.

No aunty. Once I gather some experience, I'll join him.

"Chalo accha hai. All the best." She replied and Kavya smiled at her.

Okay good.

"Accha hua aaj baccho ne ye plan banaya. Warna toh milna hota hi nahi aaj kal." Kavya's mother said as she took a bite of the samosa.

It's so good that kids planned this get together. Otherwise we don't get to meet often these days.

"Bilkul. Life itni busy ho gayi hai k aapne liye time hi nahi milta." Kavya's father agreed.

Absolutely. Life's so busy that we don't get time for ourselves.

"Krishna, Abhijeet aise plans yunhi abse bana liya karo. Hume bhi accha lagta." Abhijeet's father said.

Krishna, Abhijeet, do plans such get together often now. We like this too.

"Ji." Krishna politely replied with a smile.

Yes.

"Baat toh sahi hai papa par yeh plan aaj yunhi nahi banaya." Abhijeet carefully said.

You're correct dad but this meet isn't so causal.

"Matlab? Hume toh kabse get together karne ka soch rahe the." Krishna asked as he looked at his best friend who was sitting next to him.

What? We wanted to have a get together since so long.

"Haa soch toh rahe hai but mane aaj ke khaas wajah se yeh dinner propose kiya hai." Abhijeet said as he looked at Kavya for a fleeting second.

Yes we did but today I've a special reason behind this dinner.

She understood what he was about to say. She looked down shyly and started playing with her hands. She wasn't sure how her traditional parents will take the news of their daughter loving someone and wanting to marry him.

Kavya's family was pretty orthodox when compared to other parents of this generation. They have always been a bit reserved for Kavya. She wasn't allowed to wear a certain type of dress, her contact with the opposite gender has been limited, whenever she went out, she had to take the driver with her, her outings have always been limited or timed and so on. Of course Krishna had all the independence one could ask for but he's a man so she really couldn't compare his position to hers.

"Kya khaas wajah hai beta? Khul kar baat karo." Abhijeet's mother asked him.

What reason? Talk freely.

"Umm actually maa..." He was a bit hesitant to speak.

Abhijeet has always been an ideal son. Growing up he always knew he had to takeover his father's textile business. He had groomed himself in a way to bring success and prosperity to the family business. As his nature was giving, he had never really wished or asked for anything from his parents, especially for himself. All the major decisions of his life were taken by his parents, for example his education, his job etc. He never really had any objections to all the decisions his parents took and happily accepted everything.

This was the first time he had made a decision for himself, by himself and he wasn't sure how his parents would receive this news.

"Kya? Bolo bhi." His father asked.

What? Say it.

"Mai proper establish ho gaya hu apne kaam mai aur bhagwaan ki kripa se 2 maru factories bhi khulne jaa rahi hai hamari. Kavya ki padhai bhi ho gayi hai aur ab job bhi shuru ho jayegi jaldi hi." Abhijeet took a break to analyse the faces of their parents and Krishna.

I'm established in my business now and by God's grace am going to start 2 new factories as well. Kavya's done with her studies and will start take up a job now.

"Kya tu wahi bol raha his jo mai samajh raha hu?" Krishna asked as he kept a hand on Abhijeet's shoulder in a firm grip.

Are you saying what I think you are?

"Mujhe Kavya pasand hai. Aaj se nahi, saalon se. Mai bas wait kar raha tha ke uski graduation ho jaye toh aap sabse baat karu. Mai kavya se shaadi karna chahta hoon." Abhijeet concluded.

I like Kavya. Not recently but since years. I was waiting for her to graduate so that I can talk to you. I want to marry Kavya.

Kavya looked at him in surprise. He didn't reveal their relationship to the family. Instead posed the whole idea of the marriage as his idea. She smiled internally as she realised why he did this. If their parents have an outrageous reaction to this, he'll be the only one bearing the load. She would be innocent in the whole scenario. This wouldn't be fair to him.

She opened her mouth to say something when Abhijeet gestured her to keep quiet.

Their parents went silent after hearing Abhijeet. Krishna was the first one to break the silence.

"Tune mujhe kabhi bataya nahi." He was feeling betrayed by his best friend and his emotions were evident in his voice.

You never told me this.

"Sorry yaar. Kaise kehta ke tere choti behen mujhe pasand hai. Kabhi himmat hi nahi hui." Abhijeet explained.

How would've I told you that I like your sister. Couldn't gather the courage to.

"Toh phir aaj kaise bol diya?" Abhijeet's father asked.

So then how did you today?

"Mujhe ek baar Krishna ne kaha tha k Kavya ki graduation hote hi aap sab uske liye ladka dekhna shuru kar denge." Abhijeet explained.

Krishna once told me that you'll start looking for a match for Kavya once she graduates.

"Kya ye sach hai papa?" Kavya spoke for the first time, in her timid voice. The voice she specifically uses to address her parents.

Is it true?

"Haa. Hum soch rahe the ke aaj kale mai tere liye ladka dekhna shuru kardein." Her father replied.

We were thinking of it.

"Mera sujhav yehi hoga k aap ladka dekhna shuru kardein." Abhijeet's mother spoke in a low voice.

I'd say you should start looking.

"Kya? Kyu?" Abhijeet was shocked at his mother's words.

What? Why?

"Hum yeh rishta nahi kar sakte Abhijeet." His mother replied.

We cannot let this happen.

"Lekin kyu maa?" Abhijeet counter questioned.

But why?

"Ghar chal kar baat karenge Abhi." His mother replied with a finality in her voice.

We'll talk at home.

"Nahi maa. Mujhe issi waqt sabke samne ek jayaz wajah dijiye inkaar ki." Abhijeet insisted.

No. I want an acceptable answer here, in front of everyone.

"Tum kavya se shaadi nahi kar sakte." This time his father replied.

You cannot marry Kavya.

"Par kyu?" Abhijeet was on the verge of shouting.

Why?

"Kyunki humne tumhara rishta tae kar diya hai. Tum Ahlawat sahab ki badi beti se shaadi karoge." His mother all but concluded.

Because we've fixed your alliance. You'll marry Mr. Ahlawat's elder daughter.

"Kya? Bilkul nahi." Abhijeet stood up from his place.

What? Absolutely not.

"Aap aise kaise mera rishta tae kar sakte hai. Meri marzi puche bina aap meri zindagi ka itna bada faisla nahi kar sakte. Mai kabhi yeh shaadi nahi karunga." Abhijeet further said.

How could you. Without my knowledge how could you take such a huge life decision of mine.

"Mai tumhare baap hu, tum mere nahi. Mai jaisa kahonga tumhe karna padega." His father replied in an angry voice.

I'm your father. You'll do as I say.

~ Kavya's dress ~

~ x ~

Ohh, did you guys really think they'll have such a love simple story?

PS: Your author has a knack for drama.