Array
(
[text] =>
I was pacing around the room because I wanted to plan the perfect date for me and Ruh. Since she liked silence the most, I planned everything accordingly.
I just hope she enjoys our date.
I don’t want to come off as a useless boyfriend who can’t even plan a decent date.
Finally, I wrote everything down and double-checked it.
Now, I just hope everything goes smoothly. I’m sitting in the hall on the couch, and I’ve put the slip in my pocket.
Dad’s watching the news on TV, and he never lower the volume. God knows why all the dads love watching the news at full volume.
Ring!
The doorbell rang. I stood up to open the door. Prisha entered and took off her sandals.
“Vihuu, ye bag mere room me jaa kr rakh de aur ek glass paani lekar aa jaa,” she handed over her bag to me.
(Vihuu, take this bag to my room and bring a glass of water)
I scrunched my nose as a familiar fragrance hit my nostrils.
“Did you change your perfume?” I asked her.
She hung her car key on the holder.
“Nope, I’m loyal to my perfume-one and only,” she smiled while making her bun.
“It smells very familiar,” I said, sniffing the air again.
“Are you sure you don’t need an ENT test for your nose?” she scrunched her nose.
“I don’t know, par is perfume ki smell ki wjh se mere dil me alag hi khauf aa rha hai,” I muttered, as a strange shiver ran down through my spine.
(I don’t know, but this perfume gives me a strange feeling in my heart)
“You’ve lost your mind,” she said, taking her phone.
Then, she ordered, “Ek glass paani.”
(One glass of water)
“Naukar nahi hoon main aapka,” I threw her bag onto her lap.
(I’m not your servant)
“Vihuu, remember Mom’s favorite bangle which you…,” she started blackmailing me.
“I’m bringing it, I’m bringing it. What kind of water do you want? Cold, hot, lukewarm, mineral water?” I rambled on to annoy her.
“Bina zeher milaaye, peene layak paani le aa mere bhai,” she said without even looking at me.
(Without mixing any poison, bring me drinkable water, my brother)
I mimicked her and handed her a full glass of water.
Tomorrow is a holiday, so we had a late dinner today. Mumma was experimenting with her dangerous cooking skills again. She somehow made the food edible-keyword- edible.
At the end of the night, Dad had to take over the kitchen.
I finally went to bed, but nervousness crept inside me. I’ve always been a confident guy, but Ruh. I don’t know what she does to me. Whenever I’m with her, I always feel nervous.
I just want her to be happy. I took her scrapbook and started reading. I tried to make notes on everything she wanted to do, as written in her diary. I pinpointed things to make everything perfect for her.
For now, good night-I’m going to dreamland……dreaming of my Ruh.
TOMORROW-
Just two hours left for our date, and I’m still figuring out what to wear.
She told me to wear a white shirt.
I have a few white shirts, but I can’t decide which one to wear-there’s the slightest difference.
I couldn’t decide, so I ran downstairs. Mumma was reading something.
“Mummaaaa!” I yelled while coming downstairs, and she glared at me.
“Ab kya hua?” she asked, closing her book.
(What happened now?)
“Please help me,” I asked her.
“Then you tell me, what should I wear? I have to go with Ruh. I want to look better, even though I know I’m handsome, but still…..” I blabbered, and she gave me a death glare.
“Pure room ka kachra bana diya,” she said, in anger, as she walked to the wardrobe and found a perfect white shirt and handed it to me.
(You’ve turned the whole room into a mess)
“Thank you, Mumma!” I hugged her and immediately ran to take a shower.
After getting ready, combing my hair, and spraying perfume, I checked everything and was ready. And i wore the watch which my Ruh gave.
The moment I was about to open the door, I heard Mumma’s voice.
“Vihuu, remember you have to be back by 7:30 PM, and take care of Ruhanika. Don’t irritate her, and don’t you dare put any adventure ideas into her head while she’s with you. Make sure you both go safely, and take care of yourself too. If you need something, call me,” she said, and I nodded.
“Aye aye, captain! I’ll take care of everything,” I said, giving her a salute.
I messaged Ruh when I got outside her house.
She immediately replied and came downstairs, revealing herself.
My breath hitched in my throat.
She was wearing a white dress with tiny pink flowers, paired with a pink cardigan. As usual, she had put a bow clip in her hair.
She has an obsession with bow clips!
I smiled as I noticed her face details. She had applied just a little makeup-a bit of blush that looked even more beautiful in the sunlight, a pink tint on her lips, and that mole at the corner of her lips, looking hot, freaking hot.
But the most beautiful thing was her smile when she looked at me.
“Hi,” she said in a soft voice as she tucked her hair behind her ear.
Meanwhile, I was already lost in her, and involuntarily whispered, “Haayee,” placing my hand on my chest to calm my heartbeat.
She walked closer to me, looking at me from head to toe then into my eyes, and smiled.
I knew I had done a good job.
I handed her a bouquet favorite flowers-white orchids.
“Thank you,” she said, taking them.
She cleared her throat.
“Chalien?” I asked her to get her to walk first with my hands.
“Chaliye,” she replied looking at me with her hazel brown eyes.
“Umm, can we go by walking?” she asked, I looked at her, questioning.
“You want to?” I asked, and she nodded.
“Fine, we can take the back alley, the parkside.”
As we walked side by side, I couldn’t help but look at her.
If I could do one thing, it would be to just keep looking at her without blinking. I could look at her forever and never get tired.
I leaned closer to her, my voice barely above a whisper, “You know, Ruh, you’re looking so pretty that for a second, I forgot how to breathe.”
I noticed her steps faltering a bit, and she fidgeted with her fingers.
She can be bold sometimes, but in the end, she’s my Ruh, the one who gets shy easily.
I held her hand as we walked together.
We took the back alley, which was calm, with very few people passing by. It’s because there’s a new cafe nearby, and people find it easy to walk here. Walking together has become something we both prefer, and honestly, I enjoy it too-it gives us more time together.
As she stopped and looked at me, we were almost at the footpath, with no one else around. I involuntarily moved closer to her.
So close that her eyes showed nervousness as she stepped back slightly, then took a step toward me.
I slowly leaned towards her, hoping for a romantic moment, only to get pushed away by her.
What? Why did she push me? I stood there, completely confused. Her nervous gaze shot past me, and I followed her eyes.
My heart thud when I saw her dad.
“No way,” I whispered, completely panicked.
“Just run with me!” she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the cafe down the alley.
We rushed inside and managed to hide behind the last seat.
“Great, now we’re hiding like criminals,” I muttered, not exactly how I imagined my date going.
“If my dad catches us, we are doomed, especially you,” she said with a hint of warning.
I gulped at her words, realizing her dad might not be the warm and friendly guy I’d met earlier. Now that I knew I was dating his daughter, I could practically feel the intensity of the situation.
“Ruh, mujhe chakkar aa rahe hain,” I whispered, feeling panicked.
(Ruh, I am feeling dizzy)
She shot me a look that could melt steel.
“Don’t even think about it, Vihaan Raichand! Not now, not at least in this situation,” she snapped, and I immediately shut up.
I tightened my grip on her hand as I saw her father walk into the cafe.
But then, my heart nearly stopped when I spotted my dad walking in right behind him.
Both of our dads in the same place? Oh no.
What a great day!
Just tell me it’s not my last day?
We ducked behind our chairs, trying to stay as hidden as possible.
I wasn’t sure whether I was more terrified of getting caught or of the fact that I was so close to her. It felt like I was in one of those cheesy romantic comedies, except with no funny soundtrack, just pure dread.
Ruh was peeking over the chair, trying to spy on them, but I couldn’t focus on anything but how close we were.
Her face was just inches from mine, and time seemed to freeze. Her hand tightened around mine, her breaths uneven, and the faint blush on her cheeks made my heart race even faster.
I leaned in slightly, drawn to her like a magnet, the world around us fading into nothing.
Just as our breaths mingled, her phone blared loudly, snapping us out of the moment.
As I slightly leaned to her, then, the phone rang.
“Ugh, seriously?” I groaned, pulling out my phone to see that Yash and Siddharth had started a group video call.
I quickly silenced it and shot them a text, cursing them out in the most creative way I could think of, which they happily returned.
I turned back to Ruh, who cleared her throat and stood up.
“Looks like they’re gone,” she said, sounding relieved.
“Finally!” I thought to myself.
“Now we can enjoy the date… maybe.”
Just as we were about to leave, we heard a voice we absolutely did not want to hear.
“Ruhii!”
Her face froze, and I could see the panic in her eyes.
“Dad,” she muttered under her breath.
I didn’t dare look up, hoping the earth would just swallow me whole right there. My heart was racing.
Pray for me that I survive this day.
“Vihaan,” I heard a voice calling my name.
It was my dad. His tone was so commanding that I couldn’t help but turn around.
This was it. Game over.
“What a pleasant coincidence,” I muttered under my breath, looking up at the sky like I could somehow disappear.
Ruhii’s dad looked at her, his eyes narrowing, “What are you doing here, Ruhii? I thought you were at your extra study session?”
Ruh froze, caught in the lie.
“Uh, yeah, I was at my study session. Then we thought….we…. just decided to walk back because the weather’s so nice,” she said quickly, but I could tell she was struggling to keep her cool.
“In this dress? I thought, you like to study in more comfortable clothes,” Akshat uncle asked Ruh.
“Ahnn…it’s a new trend? Wearing dresses just makes studying feel way better…Like, studying’s gonna be there no matter what, but I can’t give up on the aesthetic outfit vibes,” Ruh said, her words tripping over as she tried to explain to her dad.
This line feels familiar, of course, I heard this from Vani.
I looked at her, but instantly looked away as I could feel her dad’s glare burning a hole through me. I’m so dead.
“Where are you two going, anyway?” her dad asked, looking at me like he already knew I was up to something.
I didn’t know what to say, so I just stared at him, totally frozen. Ruh was in the same situation, looking just as confused as I was.
“Fine, if you two don’t have any plans, come with us,” my dad said, slightly hitting me on the shoulder.
“We all were going to watch a movie but last moment due to an emergency our two friends cancelled the planned, so why don’t you two join us.”
“No,” I and Ruh blurted out immediately.
“Oh come on, you two look like you need a break from all that studying. You’ll enjoy it,” my dad said with a grin.
“Ruhii, want to go?” he said, not too sternly, but his voice was enough making her nod.
With a sigh, Ruh gave in, and I had no choice but to nod.
Our date was officially ruined by our father’s.
We ended up sitting in the back of the car with both our dads chatting. They were talking about their school days while I sat there, squished against the door, wishing for some personal space.
And of course, her dad kept glancing in the rearview mirror like a hawk, making sure we had zero chance of even accidentally getting close. Our distance was practically like Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
“Ruh, you okay?” I messaged her, my phone buzzing with the reply—”Fine.”
We were supposed to be on a date. But now, instead of holding hands in a cozy cafe, we were going to watch a movie with our dads as the ultimate third wheel—basically, they were the extra, unwanted guests.
Talk about a legendary first date-with our dads as the uninvited third wheels!
•••••
We entered the movie hall, and as I hoped, maybe this time I could finally get a moment with Ruh, away from all the distractions.
She sat down in her seat, and just as I was about to sit next to her, I felt her dad sit beside her.
Now I was stuck between both our dads. What kind of date is this?
I glanced over at Ruh, and we exchanged a look that spoke volumes—I’m trapped in a dad sandwich.
Before I could even react, her dad turned to me with his usual seriousness.
“Are you okay?” Akshat uncle asked, noticing me coughing.
I tried to act normal, but inside, my panic levels were off the charts.
I swallowed hard and nodded.
“Yeah, just a little dry throat,” I said, trying to keep it together.
But in my head, I was like, ‘No, I’m not fine. I’m stuck between two dads, my date is ruined, and I can’t even look at her.’
“The movie will get more interesting if you look at the screen…instead of another person…right?” Akshat uncle said, his tone is a little stern.
I quickly muttered, “Right, the screen, the movie” but I was barely paying attention.
I mean, who’s going to tell him I can’t take my eyes off his daughter.
This was supposed to be our first date, and it is turning into a family picnic. Just whyyyyy?
After the movie, both of our dads started walking ahead, giving me the perfect opportunity to finally talk to Ruh. Just as I was about to speak, though, her dad called her name.
I swear, if I have to hear him say Ruhii one more time, I’m going to jump from this floor.
At this point, I was seriously considering taking her to Mars so we could have our date in peace.
We sat down at the restaurant, and I thought maybe we could finally relax. But no. My dad, being the dad he is, broke the silence.
“So, how was the movie, beta?” he asked.
What kind of movie was it anyway? I didn’t even see a single scene because I was too busy and lost in thoughts about my Ruh.
Ruh and I didn’t look at each other—well, we couldn’t really. At least she was sitting next to me, and that was a small victory.
“Aaj kal ke bacchon ko kisi cheez mein interest hi nahi hai?” My dad went off, shaking his head.
(Kids these days have no interest in anything?)
“Bilkul sahi bola, bas din bhar phone chlana aur reels scroll karna hai?” Akshat’s uncle joined in, shaking his head too.
(Exactly, all they do is use their phones all day and scroll through reels?)
Ruh and I exchanged glances, both silently praying for the ground to open up and swallow us whole.
“Ek hamara time tha jab hum chhoti si cheez par excited ho jaate the,” my dad continued, probably thinking he was speaking wisdom.
(There was a time when we used to get excited over the smallest things)
“Sahi kaha, aaj kal ke bacche itni suvidha milne ke baad bhi kuch seekhna nahi chahte, na padhna, na movie dekhna,” Akshat uncle agreed.
(Right, these days kids don’t even want to learn or study or watch movie even with all the comforts they have)
“Hmm, ek hamare zamane mein hum 10 km paidal chal kar school jaate the. Humare andar padhai ka jazba tha,” my dad proudly said.
(Hmm, in our time, we used to walk 10 km to school. We had a passion for studying)
Someone, please, give these two a microphone and a stage.
“Ye jo tum log lunch le jaane ke nakhre karte ho, hum log ek rumal mein roti aur pyaaz bandh kar le jaate the. Yehi hamara lunch aur breakfast hota tha. Tum logon ki tarah nahi, ki ek click aur ghar par chole bhature deliver ho jaate hain,” my dad said, looking at me like I had just committed a mortal sin by not appreciating his good old days.
(You guys make such a fuss about lunch, we used to wrap roti and onions in a handkerchief and take it. That was our lunch and breakfast. Not like you, who can just click and get chole bhature delivered at home)
“Aur light ke alag nakhre the. Humare zamane mein hum log raat ko chirag jala kar padhai karte the hum,” Akshat uncle continued, nodding.
(And light was a different story. In our time, we used to study by the light of a lamp at night)
Then, my mouth decided it wasn’t done yet.
Without thinking, I blurted out, “A genuine question, din mein kya karte the aap log?”
(What you all do in a day?)
The moment the words left my mouth, I wanted to bury my face in the dal makhani.
Her dad stared at me like I had just confessed to a crime. I swear, I could hear the theme music of a thriller drama in the background. Ruh looked at me like I’d just triggered a time bomb.
But surprisingly, everyone went back to eating like nothing happened.
So, I took that as my luck chance and focused on the pasta in front of me.
Ruh whispered, “Can’t you just shut up for at least one minute?”
I smirked, whispering back, “You could make me shut up easily.”
“At least look at the situation before flirting,” she said, shaking her head.
But as I leaned slightly closer, I couldn’t help myself.
“Then why were you blushing?” I whispered teasingly, watching her turn an even deeper shade of red.
Before she could respond, we both heard a cough.
I immediately snapped my focus to my plate, pretending to be very interested in the food.
My dad gave me a sideways glance, his frown deepening with every second.
Yeah, I know, Dad, I’m an embarrassment. Please just let me enjoy my meal in peace.
But inside my head, I was having a breakdown.
How did I end up here? What kind of luck is this?
I was just trying to have a simple date…Ruh and I should’ve been in a cozy corner, holding hands, gazing into each other’s eyes and…..Wait, no!
Her dad is right here, sitting like a human barricade. Forget romance, I’m just trying to survive this 6 ft obstacle!
If I make it through this dinner alive, I’ll consider it a miracle.
•••••
We were now strolling through FunZone in the mall, trying out the games. As we passed the ball throwing game. So, we made a card for ourselves, and then Dad turned to Akshat uncle with a mischievous smile.
“So, how do we go about this?” My dad asked, and Akshat uncle replied with a grin, “Challenge accepted!”
The two of them started playing like teenagers, getting competitive over who could make the best shots. It was so funny to watch, and I couldn’t help but smile.
After a while, Akshat uncle turned to Ruh and asked, “Ruhii, want to play?”
Ruh looked confused a little at the sudden question but then relaxed.
“Me? Okay,” she said, walking over to join her father.
My dad and Akshat uncle started teaching her how to throw the ball, and I stood there, watching her.
It made me happy to see her smiling and laughing as she played with her dad.
I took out my phone and opened camera to capture the moment.
I knew her relationship with her dad wasn’t always easy, but seeing them together like this made me feel happy for her.
I recorded her playing and laughing, but then without realizing it, I started taking pictures of her as she smiled so brightly.
“You should not record someone without their permission, Vihu,” I heard my dad’s voice behind me, making me jump in surprise.
I gulped, trying to sound innocent.
“What are you saying? I was just clicking pictures so I could send them to her later,” I explained, hoping he wouldn’t catch on.
“Tch tch, after all, you are my son,” he said with a smirk.
I was embarrassed, but before I could react further, Dad grabbed me to join the game. We played a few rounds, and I kept stealing glances at Ruh, who was still happily playing with her dad.
Then, we walked over to the claw machine game.
“Do you want something, Ruhii?” Akshat uncle asked, looking at her with a smile.
Ruh cleared her throat, looking at the claw machine filled with plush toys, “Umm, maybe that penguin,” she said, pointing to a cute plush toy.
Akshat uncle tried but failed three times.
My dad went next and, in his second attempt, almost got it.
But the penguin slipped out of the claw.
Ruh sighed, “It’s okay. Let’s just move to another game.” Her voice sounded genuinely happy, like she appreciated that her dad was trying so hard to win something for her.
I stepped forward, not wanting to see that sad look on Ruh’s face, but her dad stepped in first.
“Ruhii, just one more try,” her dad said, and I stopped, as i could see he was just trying to do, so I let him take the lead.
After a few more attempts, Akshat uncle finally grabbed the penguin and pulled it out of the machine.
“Yesss!” he shouted excitedly, causing everyone to look over at us.
He handed the plush toy to Ruh, and she smiled up at him.
“Thank you, Dad,” she said with a genuine smile, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the penguin.
I smiled at her, feeling a warmth in my chest. She looked so happy.
After we’d finished with the games, our dads were busy discussing who had cheated during the games.
Ruh came over to me and handed me the penguin.
“What’s this?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I looked at the stuffed penguin.
“I won it,” she said.
“Good, now you have two penguins in your collection,” I teased, but she just shook her head.
“I won it for you,” she said, pressing the penguin into my hands.
I was a little surprised.
“For me?” I asked, confirming it. I wasn’t sure what I’d do with a plush toy.
“Because it reminds me of you,” she said, her voice soft.
“It’s cute, just like you. It’s special, you know? Like when you look at things that make you feel calm… you’re the one who gives me that peace. Just like this toy, it makes me feel better. And I know you’ll be like, ‘What am I supposed to do with this penguin?’ but still, take it.”
She passed the penguin to me with a smile, and I was at a loss for words.
She rolled her eyes, “Ab zyada nakhre mat dikhao, your girlfriend won it for you, so take it,” she said, flipping her hair and teasing me.
(Now don’t show too many tantrums, your girlfriend won it for you, so take it)
“Correct. No one can be my Ruh other than you,” I said, and she giggled.
I chuckled.
Why is she so adorable?
I hold Mr. Penguin together.
After that, we went to the cotton candy stall, where we could make our own cotton candy.
As our dads were busy arguing about the best cotton candy flavors,
I made a cute little cotton candy for Ruh and handed it to her.
“You want some?” she asked, offering me a bite.
I shook my head.
“I’m not really fond of sweets,” I said.
She glanced around and then fed me a little bite, “Just taste it a little bit,” she insisted.
The sweetness melted on my tongue, and I had to admit, it was pretty good.
Ruh got busy with her own candy, while I watched our dads still in their heated debate about cotton candy flavors.
I took the moment to gently grab her hand and pull her to a quiet corridor in the mall, away from our dads.
As I held her wrist, I could smell the sweet fragrance of her perfume. It was so intoxicating that I lost myself in the moment.
I looked at her, my heart racing, “Ruh, I’m sorry. I didn’t plan our date like this. There was supposed to be something special, and I don’t know why it always ends up like this. I know you were excited…”
She cut me off by gently placing the cotton candy in my mouth.
“I enjoyed it,” she said with a smile.
I frowned, not sure what she meant.
“You know, it wasn’t what I planned,” I started again.
But she shook her head, her eyes sparkling.
“I know it wasn’t what you planned, but I am with you. Our dads are together, reminiscing about their old times. They spent time with us. Your dad taught me how to play the games, and you made this cotton candy for me. We played many games and even watched a movie together, even though it was boring. But I am with you. I did enjoy it. Don’t think too much about it.”
“And you know?” she said, a soft smile spreading across her face.
“I got to spend time with my dad today. It’s been so long since he’s spent time with me like this, without worrying about work or something else. For once, he was just…there, you know? We played games together, and he even won a toy for me.”
She paused, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her cardigan, “And, would you believe it? He actually knew my favorite cotton candy flavor. I thought he’d forgotten, or maybe never noticed in the first place, but he knew. It made me…it made me feel happy.”
Her voice cracked slightly at the end, and I noticed how she was trying to mask the emotions bubbling up.
Her words hit something in me. They were raw, unfiltered, and so genuine that I couldn’t help but feel a pang in my chest. This was the first time I’d seen her talk about her father like this, and it made my heart ache and flutter at the same time.
“I’m glad you are Happy,”
I said finally.
“I just want you to know something,” I said, my voice gentle and full of meaning.
“Ruh, You deserve all the happiness. You really do,” As I spoke, I looked around, taking in the moment, and then I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
She looked up at me with that sweet, warm smile that always made my heart flutter. Without thinking, I reached up and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, my fingers grazing her skin lightly.
“Our first date is still left, waiting for us,” I whispered, my words filled with promise.
She nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement, her smile growing even brighter as she held my gaze.
Just then, we heard Akshat uncle calling her name.
Ruh quickly pulled me towards the exit door.
“Ruh, what do I do now?” I asked in a panic, realizing her dad was standing outside.
“Just don’t make any noise,” she said, her tone calm but firm.
“I don’t want to die at the hands of your father! I’ve seen how he was glaring at me, like he was imagining doing surgery on me without anesthesia,” I said, rambling in fear.
“What nonsense are you speaking?” she asked, frowning, but then she sighed.
“Ruh, I don’t want to die yet. I haven’t even kissed you yet,” I whispered, and she glared at me.
“Your thoughts are just one way,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“My thoughts always include you,” I whispered, leaning closer.
“As much as I want to blush at your cheesy flirty dialogues, for God’s sake, look at the situation,” she said, making me snap out of my lalaland.
When her dad called her again, she quickly slipped out through the side door, motioning for me to follow.
I hurried after her, feeling like I’d just escaped a round of Squid Game.
•••••
The whole day had been pure chaos, but nothing could’ve prepared me for what happened next.
When we reached the parking lot, I stopped dead in my tracks.
My jaw hit the floor.
“What in the world?!” I blurted out, and my dad shouted at the same time, “What the heck is going on?!”
What we saw could’ve knocked both of us unconscious.
Prisha di and Kunal bhai were full-on kissing in the Freaking parking lot.
What the-
My sister. With Ruh’s brother.
At this point my brain is not braining.
My dad clutched his forehead dramatically.
“Ye sab dekhne se pehle meri kidney mein heart attack kyu nhi aa gaya!” he whispered, looking like he’d just witnessed the apocalypse.
(Why didn’t I have a heart attack in my kidney before seeing all this?)
I quickly covered Ruh’s eyes.
“Ruh, you should not see this scene, I don’t want you to get traumatized” I said, trying to protect her from the traumatic scene.
Realizing we were there, Prisha di and Kunal bhai pulled away from each other. The shock on their faces was priceless.
What the hell is going on?
Is this some kind of family reunion?
Prisha di nervously waved.
“What are you all doing here?” Kunal bhai asked.
“Hi, Papa,” she said, her voice shaking because she knew she was doomed.
Thud!
I turned to see my dad fainted.
Now I understood where I got my fainting traits from.
Prisha di ran to my dad, while Akshat uncle and Kunal bhai helped him.
We splashed water on his face, and Dad finally opened his eyes, looking confused.
“Keh do ki ye ek darawna sapna,” he whispered.
(Just tell me it’s a nightmare)
“Unfortunately nahi,” Prisha di said, almost in tears.
Dad sighed deeply.
“Mujhe ghar le kar chalo,” he said, as he closed his eyes dramatically.
(Take me to home)
And just like that, the drama of the day had reached a whole new level.
Looks like the night is going to be too long!
•••••
It had been thirty minutes since we all gathered at Ruh’s house.
Aunty and Mom were sitting beside each other, while Dad and Akshat Uncle were seated together.
Ruh had sat beside me initially, but with her father and brother around, we both maintained a respectful distance. Though, I still don’t want to do it.
Meanwhile, Kunal Bhai and Prisha di sat on the couch, and not a single word had been exchanged so far.
Just when the silence was about to get unbearable, Dad broke it with the most direct question possible, glaring at Kunal Bhai. “What were you doing with my daughter?”
The tension in the room doubled.
Kunal Bhai sat up straight as he crossed his arms, “Uh…uh….I was kissing your daughter. Technically, kissing is just an advanced form of breathing exercise….you know….good for lung capacity.”
What the hell is this man saying?
I slapped my forehead so hard it probably echoed in the room.
Prisha di blushed but managed to compose herself.
Dad, seriously asked again, making him squirm in his seat, “And why do you need her for your so-called breathing exercises?”
“Mutual participation, Uncle, Fitness benefits! You should try it too—with Aunty! No, no, I mean…you know, being romantic with her….wait, what the hell am I even saying?” Kunal Bhai said confidently, looking him straight in the eye but fumbled, his face turning red as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
Akshat Uncle’s face was priceless, he stared at his son, in shock, “Kunal, are you serious right now?”
Kunal panicked and mumbled, “That’s not what I meant! I swear!”
The room was one spark away from total chaos when Prisha di suddenly stood up, cutting through the madness, “Okay guys, Listen, we’re dating.”
And just like that, the bomb dropped.
The entire room erupted.
“What?”
“How?”
“When?”
“Why?”
Ruh’s dad, mom, my mom, and I shouted at the same time.
But no one could top Dad’s dramatic reaction. He jumped out of his seat, hands on his head, and yelled, “Nooooooo!”
“Papa, calm down!” Prisha di said, walking over to him.
“How can my Pri date anyone?” Dad whined like someone had stolen his prized possession. Well technically, Yes!
“Well, I asked Kunal to date me,” Prisha di declared proudly, like she’d just won a gold medal.
“I need to process this,” Dad mumbled, leaning on Ruh’s dad for support. Ruh’s dad, equally traumatized, nodded in solidarity.
Meanwhile, Ruh and her brother were busy exchanging panicked eye signals.
I grabbed a glass of water, hoping it would calm my nerves, when Prisha casually dropped the second bomb.
“We both want to get married.”
The water I was drinking sprayed out of my mouth as I started choking. Ruh immediately patted my back, looking equally shocked.
What the hell?
Dad froze mid-panic, his eyes bulging out.
“Whyyyyy?” he shouted.
“Because we love each other,” Prisha said simply, looking directly at him.
Akshat Uncle turned to Kunal, his voice trembling, “Kunal, is this true? Did you both decide to….get married?”
Kunal nodded, his nervousness making him look like a robot, “Ji.”
“Marriage? Why?” Dad asked as mom stood up calming him.
“Because we can’t stay away from each other not even for a second,” Kunal bhai and Prisha di said together.
Dad staggered backward, clutching his chest like he’d just received the biggest betrayal of his life.
“Why are you both so eager to get married….No way…wait….Wait…does this mean… am I going to become a Nanu?” Dad asked in horror.
The entire room froze.
Kunal bhai coughed, nearly falling off the couch, while Prisha looked at Dad in utter confusion.
Is that for real?
No way! But wait…what if it is?
That means… I’m gonna be a mamu!
Wait, what? No!
I do want to be a mamu, but not this soon. I mean, I need to become one first so I can buy toys for my niece or nephew. I don’t wanna ruin my reputation like that, I’m still a berozgar!
But I won’t be having problems becoming a mamu too soon, what the heck am I even thinking right now?
“And if it’s true….am I going to become a Dadu?” Akshat Uncle chimed in, his panic escalating.
Prisha dii rolled her eyes, “It would have been possible, but uncle your son is too shy to do anything, I need to teach him a few things.”
I nearly choked again.
My sister really had no filter.
But a doubt came into my mind.
I leaned toward Ruh and whispered, “Your brother and you are so alike. Does this mean I also need to teach you a few things?”
She shot me a death glare, “situation Vihaan.”
Correct.
Correct.
Focus on the situation, Vihaan.
But she got closer to me and whispered in a soft voice, “You don’t need to worry, I do know a few things.”
I coughed and took a deep breath after hearing her, feeling warmth inside me.
Stay focused Vihaan. It’s a very serious discussion going on.
Meanwhile, Prisha di turned to Kunal bhai, slightly hitting his arms, “ye aap sirf sar upar neeche kyu kr rhe hain, khul kar boliye, nhi toh aisa lagega gunpoint par rakh kar aapse shaadi ke liye haan bulwa rhi hu.”
(Why are you just nodding like a robot? Say something! People will think I forced you at gunpoint to agree to this marriage)
Kunal straightened up like a soldier and stammered, “Ji…y-yes! I mean, I do….want to marry her.”
Mom finally spoke, her tone was deadly serious, “Kunal, why do you want to marry my daughter?”
For the first time, Kunal bhai gathered all his courage, his voice steady but filled with respect. He looked into her mother’s eyes and spoke with sincerity.
“I’m here to ask for your permission because I love your daughter deeply. She’s the most incredible person I’ve ever met. She makes me feel like I can be my true self, and her happiness means the world to me. Her smile lifts me even on my hardest days, and I promise to always cherish and support her. I want to spend the rest of my life making her happy. With your blessing, I’d like to ask her to be my partner for life.”
A tear slipped down Prisha di’s cheek as Kunal bhai gently wiped it away.
I felt happy that my sister find someone who can cherish her forever.
But I’m worried, not about my sister, but about Kunal bhai. Please, give him the strength to survive spending all his life with her.
Ruh, watching them, smiled and leaned toward me, “Aren’t they adorable?”
“Yes they are but you’re more adorable,” I muttered softly, earning another stern “Focus, Vihaan” from her.
“Dad, mumma, please say yes to this marriage,” she pleaded, her voice soft but firm.
She paused, trying to gather her thoughts, then continued, “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. He makes me happy, Dad. Truly happy. He supports me, encourages me, and treats me as his equal. Isn’t that what you always wanted for me? Someone who’ll stand by me no matter what? Someone who’ll love and respect me just like you’ve always loved and respected Mom?”
She looked at him, her eyes beginning to well up, “Please, Dad. Trust me on this. Give us your permission.”
Finally, after a few minutes of silence, Dad gave a reluctant nod after Akshat uncle nodded.
“If this is what my daughter wants,” Dad said as he hugged Prisha di.
“I’d be happy to have him as my son-in-law, turning our friendship into family,” he added with a warm smile.
“Bring some sweets for the occasion,” Akshat uncle said, and aunty got up to fetch them to celebrate.
Ruh ran over and hugged her brother, then turned to Prisha Di. “Welcome to the family, Bhabhi,” she said with a teasing grin, making Prisha blush.
Meanwhile, I stood there glaring at Kunal Bhai, and reality hit me hard—he was going to be my jiju, my worst nightmare.
Should I drink the phenyl or harpic or anything which makes me come out of this nightmare?
“Tere chehre ko kya hua, ye sade hue kaddu jaise shakal kyu bana rakhi hai,” Prisha Di said, giving me a light smack before pulling me into a hug.
(What’s with your face? Why do you look like a sad pumpkin?)
Kunal smirked at me, “sadma lag gaya bechare ko.”
(Poor guy’s in shock, huh?)
I muttered through clenched teeth, “I still don’t like you.”
“Well, I don’t like you either, but since you’re my soon-to-be wife’s brother, I guess I’ll try to tolerate you…saale…sahab,” he smirked, patting my shoulder with his hammer-like hands.
But I am happy for my sister.
As I stared at the happy couple and the chaos around me, one thought echoed in my mind-
If our future kids ever ask about our first date, I’ll have to tell them how their nanu and dadu hijacked our date, and then how their bua and mamu basically arranged their marriage on the spot.
It was a total chaotic mess.
Wow! What a date to remember!
What even happened today?
————————————
Finally Chapter 48…!!
Freaking the longest chapter I ever wrote, 6650+ words 😭😭🤌🏻
So how was the chapter?
Your favourite scene?
Mine was Vihaan’s last wish before dying. Bande ne priorities set kr rakhi hai😭🤌🏻
Ahnnn how was their date😂
I swear this chapter was always in my mind when Ruh and Vihaan don’t even realise their feelings and I was just waiting to write this- the most hilarious date ever 😂🤌🏻
I can imagine Vihaan telling their kids about their first date🤧🤌🏻
I mean jinke confession me itni khichdi paki toh unki date ka pulao banna mandatory tha 🙃
Ab acche se vote and comments kr dena😭 I am waiting for your comments.
Enjoy Reading ♥️
Bye Cutiepies….!!🍁
[text_hash] => 1ff026d8
)