4| Yes or Yes

Started writing on 4th May 2020.

Completed on 5 May 2020.

Word count : 1899 words

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(Ayaan reached the place of meet-up, originally a café. )

– A Y A A N –

Huh!

What the hell is this?

I was on a blind date.

I'm sure my answer would be a big no.

But what if the girl is clingy? No! Just go with it Ayaan. It's only a date. I can't be scared by a girl.

Just straightforwardly say— no, I'm not ready.

A cafe! Whose choice would it be to choose a cafe as a dating place? Who cares? Just bear with it.

While roaming my gaze around, I saw Divya sitting on one of the tables. What was Divya doing here? Was she here to spy on me? Or, does she want to tease me that I'm tied being into a business marriage?

"Excuse me. You're Ayaan Chauhan, right." A girl asked. Oh, she's the one. The enemy of my happy life. With the attitude level by which she is sitting, I can clearly say that she's not my type. "I'm Preeti. May I ask you something?"

"Okay!" I said. What did she want to ask?

"Actually, I'm twenty five and I think it's high time to marry someone and settle down. I just wanted to know a few things about you. Like your hobbies, and if you had any girlfriends or not. Majorly, things like this." She said and I nodded.

Want to interfere in my life? Now I'll let you know what I am! "Okay... You already know that I'm Ayaan. After completing my schooling, I went to States and then completed my studies there."

"Oh, I also completed my studies in States. Where did you live at that time?" She asked and I mentally banged my head on wall. What was the need to share this?

"I think, that's of no use now. It's all past. As for girlfriends, I had many, in count twenty-five."

"Truly speaking," She leaned towards me and mumbled, "I had some boyfriends too. I think we have same type of personality. We're really compatible and I assume that we are made for each other. For me it's a yes." She said, being clingy.

Shit!

And, I thought that girls like men who remained single, waiting for their spouses.

What should I do now?

Yes, I should say it. "Look, I'm a person who drinks a lot. And, I also smoke, at least twice a day. You should think about it once more. It's the question of your life."

"Ohh... I don't have any problem. Actually, I drink too. Now that you've opened up your mind, I think I really like you. Atleast you're not hiding anything from me."

My goodness! What's with her? So clingy, as I expected.

What should I do?

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before speaking further. "I have a girlfriend. And, we really love each other. I hope you would understand." I hoped that saying this plus my pitied face would make her back up.

"Can I meet her?" She asked.

What?

Now where will I find a girlfriend?

Shit!

And that's when my eyes went towards Divya.

Divya!

Yeah, she could help me. Thinking positive, I just ran towards Divya and held her hand. "What are you doing?" She looked at me angrily and asked.

"I need your help. Please don't say no."

"What will I get from this?" She asked and I narrowed my eyes. I mean, really? Couldn't she help me? Why is she always doing business in everything?

"You'll get paid leave for a week. Now help me."

After this instant two minute deal, which was made faster than Maggi, holding her hand I brought her near my table. "She's my girlfriend. Divya." I can see both of their face. That Preeti was just looking at her and Divya was shocked and stared me surprisingly.

With my heroic eyes, I told Divya to co-operate with my act. "She's not only my girlfriend. She's my life. And I'm going to marry her. If my parents are not ready then I'll run away with her. But I can't leave her. I hope you understand and change your mind." I said to Preeti.

"Oh... Okay. I'll tell our parents that I'm not ready. Then, I'll get going." Preeti said and went away. Finally! The problem is solved. Such an enjoyable moment it was that I felt myself being relaxed.

"Are you going to hold my hand like this, forever?" She asked,  bringing our joined hands to her shoulder level. That's when I came to know that I was holding her for past five minutes. I quickly left her hand and drifted away from her.

"That was a date arranged by my parents. As I had no other choice, I asked for your help. There is nothing else, so..... you don't need to give yourself a hope that I would like you and, anything like that."

"Who would I like the thought of being with you? I think if there is someone, then she's a donkey. And remember, you promised for a paid leave. Don't back up." Saying this she went back towards her seat where she was doing her work. And there came someone towards the table where she sat.

Wait, he was our business partner.

Okay. So, she was here for a meeting. Now I am relieved from this wedding agreement.

I wanted to dance.

××

"I'm here, once more. Mom and dad, you won't be happy but we are not ready for this relationship and marriage. I hope you understand my choice." I shouted happily.

So, now I was single and they couldn't pressurise me. They have to respect my choice as I am their son, their only child.

"Look! There is nothing to worry about. You don't need to find a match for me, I'm very happy being a bachelor. And, I haven't eaten. I request you to give your only child some food."

I sat on a chair around the dining table while dad sat opposite to me. "Why are you sitting here? You always sit on that seat." I asked and directed towards the head chair, that was on my northeast side.

"Why should I? My son doesn't even feel a need to share his thoughts with me." Dad said.

"What thoughts?" I asked. What's with dad now?

"You don't know what he is saying?" Mom exclaimed in an arrogant way.

"What are you both trying to say?" I asked being unaware of their thoughts.

"Our son has grown up Nayan. He won't tell what's going on in his life." Mom said to dad.

"I don't know what thoughts you're talking about? Can you please explain clearly?" I said. What was going on? What was this new drama now?

"You know what you did today." Dad said.

"What did I do?" I asked. What were they both talking about? I was extremely relaxed an hour ago and now they were hell bent on screwing up my life again.

"You told Preeti that you like someone else. Infact you can run away with her."

"Mom it's not like that-"

"We know each and everything. You like Divya and want to marry her. Surprisingly, we're not against it. You could have discussed this with us earlier." He said.

"Dad no. You're taking it wrong-"

"Nothing is wrong. I know you like each other and we don't want to be an obstacle between you two. She's a good girl and we're ready for your marriage with her."

What the hell was going on?

Why weren't they listening to me?

Why would I marry her?

We can't even talk properly for a minute without cursing each other. How can we live together and love each other?

That's impossible!

"Dad, I don't like her. Infact she doesn't like me too. We aren't ready for this marriage. So-"

"I know you both don't like each other." He said and I sighed. That's right! Now he was on the tight tract.

"Dad that's what I'm trying to say."

"We know you both love each other. Why didn't you tell this to us earlier? Thanks to Preeti, we came to know about it. Now you'll marry the girl of your choice. And, we have already talked to her parents." Mom said and I widened my eyes.

I was eating but her sentence made me split it out. What the hell? They even talked to her parents! My goodness! What was happening? "You have conversed with them?"

"Yeah. We want to settle this matter as soon as possible. Why didn't you inform us that her father is Mr Gupta?" She asked. It's obvious that he would be Mr Gupta, as Divya's surname is Gupta too.

What's new and shocking in it?

"Mr Gupta is our great friend and also a business partner. But, how come I didn't know that Divya is his daughter? Well, leave it. Everything that happens is for good. Now, you'll live with the one you love." Dad said.

What? Mr Gupta!

The same Mr Gupta who is our business partner.

Oh God! Divya is his daughter? But she never told anything about her parents. Moreover, Gupta's company has such a big name, then why is she working here with us instead of her own company?

Such a wierd lady!

Who would leave their own company and work somewhere else? Why did she give such a hard exam? She could have led her own company.

Who knows what's with her!

I can just wait for tomorrow.

×× ××

– D I V Y A –

My Goodness!

I was working while waiting for our client in a cafe. And, guess what happened? That Ayaan appeared there out of nowhere. Out of nowhere!

Was he stalking me?

Where was he hiding all this time?

He came towards me in a hurry and held my hands. When I asked him he replied, "I need your help. Please don't say no." What? Did I hear it correctly? What does he need from me?

Was he in debt?

No, there's no way I was not going to help him.

But wait! What if he's really in a problem? Taking this into consideration, I decided to listen to his problem.

When I asked what I would get in return, he showered me with a week of paid leave, only if I help him. Not bad! It was obvious for me to ask this question as I'm a CA and my profit-and-loss mind always accompanies me.

But wait! It was such an amazing deal. How come he even agree? Did he have an accident? Were the screws of his mind loose?

Why should I even care when I was getting a great offer? Paid leave for a week is one of the great things in life!

As I agreed, he instantly grabbed my hand and pulled me in his direction, rushing towards another table, where a girl was sitting. "She's my girlfriend. Divya." He spurted and I widened my eyes.

Okay.

What?

Me and his girlfriend?!

He has really gone insane! I would die but I'll never be his girlfriend. I was literally shocked after what he exposed. It was like, my soul came out from my body.

"She's not only my girlfriend. She's my life. And, I'm going to marry her. If my parents are not ready then I'll run away with her. But I can't leave her. I hope you understand and change your mind." He said to the girl while she nodded.

What was he saying? He was really out of his mind!

But wait, he asked for a favor. Could this be the help he was talking about? It shouldn't concern me as long as I'm getting a paid leave.

The girl stood up and left but my hand was still in his hold. For the past five minutes, our hands were intertwined with each other. We didn't even knew about it until that girl left away and my gaze went towards my hands, sorry our hands.

I interrupted him from his oh-so-happy thoughts and knowing about our position, he quickly moved away.

"That was a date arranged by my parents. As I had no other choice, I asked for your help. There is nothing else, so..... you don't need to give yourself a hope that I would like you and, anything like that." He said all this to clarify himself.

Why does he even think that I'll give myself a stupid hope like this?

"Why would I like the thought of being with you? I think if there is someone, then she's a donkey. And remember, you promised for a paid leave. Don't back up." I said and left him, walking to my seat.

I really pity the girl who would marry him!

I pity that poor lady but what I care for now is my leave.

*****

TIED TOGETHER BY LOVE 💍

Precap : Should I marry 'HIM'?

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