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Video Attached: Unplugged version of 'Ek Din Teri Raahon Mein' by Javed Ali. It is a kind of proposal that goes deeper than mundane infatuations.
Krishna maneuvered his imposing vehicle into the parking lot, his eyes briefly scanning the rate card which stated fifty rupees for parking a four-wheeler. He leaned over to the small compartment in front of the passenger seat, rummaging through it until he pulled out a hundred-rupee note nestled just beneath the jeep's insurance papers. He handed it to Xavier with a casual, "Pay for the parking and keep the change." With a click, he unlocked the safety system and gestured for everyone to get out, but remained seated himself.
He could feel her gaze lingering on him, questioning silently, searching for answers he wasn't ready to give. He kept his face neutral, unwilling to let his emotions slip. He didn't want to scare her off by baring the rawness of his feelings. As the faint jingle of her anklets faded, signaling her steps moving away, he released a quiet sigh.
Once the others had dispersed, Krishna reached into his breast pocket, fingers grazing the familiar, crisp paper he always kept close to his heart. His eyes brightened at the sight of the cashâjust a ten-rupee note, thick and stiff like starched cotton, meticulously folded.
My love's first gift to me.
A smile tugged at his lips, one that had stubbornly lingered ever since they'd begun their drive to the Municipal Corporation. It widened into a full, genuine grin as he gently shook his head at the cherished memory. Re-adjusting the rearview mirrorâdeliberately angled to catch glimpses of her stubbornly occupying the backseat beforeâhe carefully placed the note back into his breast pocket, keeping it close to his heart once again. Love, it seemed, stayed near him always.
A light tap on the door jolted him from his thoughts. He turned, but there was no one in sight, not even a reflection through the tinted glass. The tap came again, just as soft, and with a readiness honed from countless confrontations with foes, Krishna opened the door cautiously.
"Paba!" a small boy's voice squealed in delight. Krishna's stance immediately softened as a tiny, disappointed face peered up at him, scanning the inside of the jeep with scrunched brows. The little boy squinted his chocolate-brown eyes and stretched out his small arms, an adorable reminder that he was far too young to be walking on his own.
Krishna's laugh was warm and full. "My little boy!" He scooped the toddler into his arms, settling him comfortably on his hip as he stepped out of the vehicle. The jeep's security system beeped twice, confirming that his treasured possession was safely locked.
"So, our chauffeur-wala dharoga has finally arrived!" sang a teasing feminine voice from behind. Krishna groaned in frustration.
"Not even a moment of peace since you landed in Nagpur, huh? Already with the teasing?" He shot back, grinning. "And come on, you know exactly why I was playing chauffeur." He pulled out a chocolate bar and dangled it playfully in front of the little boy. "Here's some yummy chocolate. Does my Ansh want it?" he cooed, raising an eyebrow at the woman, who promptly rolled her eyes.
"It's called teasing, my lovely Krishna," she retorted with a smirk before snatching the chocolate away. "Enough of spoiling him! You're going to turn him into a little brat."
They began walking toward the main office where the bride, groom, and everyone else were waiting for the official call, marking the start of a matrimonial ceremony. The playful banter between Krishna and that lady continued with each step, light-hearted and familiar.
Amid their exchange, Ansh, feeling somewhat neglected, began to babble, his small hands reaching out toward his mother. "Maa, maa, oohm!" he gurgled, drooling all over Krishna's shirt.
"Look what you've done!" she chided lightly, wiping Ansh's chin and chubby cheeks with a tissue. "Here," she said, extending her arms, "give him to me before he ruins your shirt."
Krishna smirked. "So what?" He kissed Ansh's cheeks and playfully nuzzled his tiny belly. "My boy can do anything," he cooed again, earning a happy giggle from Ansh.
"Oh, sure! So I can be stuck cleaning your mess, huh?" she quipped, deftly pulling Ansh into her own arms. "No chance, Krish darlingâthat's going to be my Devrani's job," she teased, eyes twinkling with mischief.
Krishna flushed slightly, a blush spreading across his cheeks. It never failed to amuseâand slightly annoyâhim how easily his sister-in-law could make him feel like a flustered teenager.
"And speaking of which, when are you getting married? Don't think you can fool me, you charming old man. I have plenty to share with your future wife," she winked, her excitement palpable.
Krishna chuckled nervously, not quite ready to dive into that conversation.
"Subhadra's wedding is happening in just a few hours, so from now on, I've got no one to gossip with about these irritating Singh relatives. Ugh! Ansh, quit yanking my hair," she scolded as she disentangled her hair from her son's firm grasp.
As Krishna glanced around, his eyes caught sight of a familiar figureâa beautiful woman in pink, standing by the stairs of the office. Her doe eyes were locked on him, and in that fleeting moment, he felt his world shift. Was it the right time to confess? To tell her everything that had been festering in his heart for the past five years? The questions flooded his mind with the speed of light, yet he couldn't tear his gaze away. Her presence, her eyesâthey pulled him in, making his heart race.
Drawing a sharp breath, he turned back to his sister-in-law. "Nishita, where's Bhaiyya? I saw him earlier this morning, but he seems to have vanished."
Nishita, still fussing over Ansh, narrowed her eyes at Krishna. "First off, I'm your Bhabhi, so you should address me properly, dear Devar. Secondly, your brotherâour dear workaholic Mr. Singhâhas turned into an invisible man ever since he took on that Mrishita case," she sighed. "He's working hard, trying to tackle his mentor head-on."
Krishna frowned. "I have a feeling he's not going to make it to the ceremony."
She arched an eyebrow. "He might miss the wedding, but he'll be there at the reception. For all the work in the world, he wouldn't skip out on something important to his siblings, you both are too special for him. Ansh! Stop patting my cheeks like they're a tabla!"
Krishna laughed at her exasperation. "Come on, champ," he said, scooping Ansh back into his arms. "Let's leave your Maa to her gossip crew and go make some new friends."
Playing with Ansh was always Krishna's favorite distraction. The boy had captured everyone's hearts since the moment he was born a year ago, a miniature replica of his grandparents, with almond eyes from Veer Satyajit Singh and dark brown hues of those eyes from Yashoda Veer Singh. The only feature that stood out was his sharp little nose, inherited from his determined motherâa testament to her persistence and smarts, clearing her CA-CPT exams on her second attempt with a baby on her hip.
Krishna set Ansh down, trailing slowly behind the tottering steps of his nephew, watching as the boy curiously navigated the bustling surroundings. Just as Ansh stumbled, he tumbled into someone's armsâsomeone Krishna knew all too well. Samiksha bent down, picking up the chubby toddler. "Oh! You should be careful," she gently admonished, smoothing his hair with her delicate fingers.
"What's this handsome boy's name?" she asked, her voice soft as she planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Ashh!" Ansh babbled, attempting to respond to the beautiful stranger holding him.
"Ansh," Krishna clarified, stepping closer. "His name is Ansh."
"Oh," Samiksha responded, her gaze briefly meeting Krishna's.
Krishna smiled warmly. "Right, my boy?" he said to Ansh, then glanced at Samiksha, catching the subtle shift in her expression.
"Hmm..." she murmured, her eyes drifting toward Nishita, who was deep in conversation with Yashoda. "She's beautiful," Samiksha commented, nodding toward Nishita.
Krishna nodded in agreement. "Yes, she is."
He noticed Samiksha's demeanor change, a flicker of something heavy crossing her features.
Why does she look worried? Clearing his throat, Krishna began, "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about somethâ"
"There you are, Iksha! And who's this adorable little guy?" Alisha's voice cut through, snapping Krishna back to reality.
He inwardly groaned, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Great timing, Alisha. Just great.
He shot a quick glare at Alisha as she continued to fawn over Ansh, making silly faces until the poor child was visibly distressed, his little face scrunching up in displeasure. "Let me have him," Krishna said firmly, lifting Ansh from Alisha's grasp, immediately soothing the boy.
"Aww, alright kiddo, we'll catch up later!" Alisha chirped, undeterred, as she grabbed Samiksha's wrist, dragging her off.
No, not now!
Krishna watched helplessly as Alisha whisked Samiksha away, mentally cursing his luck and sending imaginary daggers in Alisha's direction, wishing he could just have one uninterrupted moment with the woman who had unknowingly captured his heart.
How'd he confront her now...?