Love Me Like You Do

Do you know how to play devil?

"Akashji. Ye aap...?" (Translation: What are you?)

"I love you Payalji."

Payal stood stunned.

"Ever since I first saw you. I saw a girl who was caring for a child. I saw a girl who was so sweet and rooted to humanity. Remember how you told me we should think about others before doing anything?" Akash got up and took her hand. "I thought about you a lot. Did you?"

Payal was furious. How dare he ambush her into such a situation! She had trusted him, loved him. Huh? Payal, what are you thinking ? What if his mother knew? No Payal, you can't do this.

"No". She retracted her hands and ran away. 

Khushi tailed her sister, leaving the Raizada siblings wondering what went wrong.

"She said no."  Akash's voice was pained.

The night was quite dark for both Payal and Akash. However, it is said that mornings are brighter.

***

When they were leaving the next morning, Mami stopped them. "Hello hi bye bye. Breakfastwa to kar ke jao. Kahi dobara mauka mile na mile?" (Translation: Have some breakfast before you leave. Who knows if you will get a second chance?)

"Nahi Mamiji. Hum chalte hain. Buaji pareshan hongi agar humein der hui." Payal said and dragged Khushi from there. Khushi asked Nk to drop them home, much to Anjali's surprise.  (Translation: No, we should leave. Buaji will worry if we are late)

When they were gone, Arnav said. "Mami, I thought you were always right about these things but yesterday you were wrong."

"Dekho Arnav bitwa-"

"Raizada ko koi mana kiya aaj tak? Isn't that what she said Di? No one rejects a Raizada."

"Very nice, Ma. Thanks for putting an evil eye on your own son's happiness." Akash said.

"Arey toh isme kauno galat baat ka ho gayi. Hello hi bye bye!" (Translation: What is wrong in that statement?)

"She said no Ma. Payal rejected me." Akash yelled and left from there.

Nani was just entering the dining area and heard Akash.

"Payal bitiya, kya? Manorama, e Akash ka bolat rha?" (Translation: What about Payal? Manorama, what is saying?)

"Nani wo..."

"Anjali bitiya, humne Manorama se pucha, aapse nahi." Nani sounded hell angry. (Translation: I asked Manorama, not you.)

"Hello hi bye bye. Akash ko pasand aa gayi hai oo khoon bhari tang. Par himmat to dekho. Humre bitwa ko mana kar diya oo ne." (Translation: Akash likes that Khoon Bhari Taang. See her ways, rejecting my son!)

"Mami, yesterday you were hoping for this and today you're angry about it?" Arnav asked.

Mami was caught. "I heard Gupta sisters talking. I know Payal didn't know."

"Ho kya rha hai iha? Humein koi puri baat btaega?" Nani asked again. (Translation: What is happening here? Will someone tell me the full story?)

"Nani..." Anjali tested the waters again. Then she continued. "Woh... Akash likes Payal but she didn't know. Mami.... Mami caught them sneaking looks and yelled at her. Then Nk bhai and Khushiji helped me to get Akash to confess to her but she said no. She even left without having breakfast here."

"Thik kiya unhone. Aisi Saas ke liye Kaun maanega?" Nani said. (Translation: She did right. Who will want her as a mother-in-law?)

Arnav and Anjali looked at each other.