RaYa Short Stories

Alibag_Part 2

~Pre-warning: The actual date will come in the next chapter. Sorry.
I wanted to include it here but then the chapter would have been way too long.
Promise to upload the next chapter very very soon!!
Happy Reading! :))~

(Contd: Ram-Priya went down to have lunch with everyone in the restaurant of the resort. Everyone was talking among themselves and having a relaxed time)

Shivi (excitedly): Guys, this is so much fun. Kitne time se hum sab kahin holiday pe nahi gaye. Its technically our first full family vacation.

Okay I have decided, aaj raat hum sab saath me dinner and game nights rakhenge! Full family. It will be awesome!!

(Ram and Priya immediately turned their heads towards Shivi on hearing this. Then they looked at each other, both their eyes showing clear disappointment, while everyone else applauded Shivi for her "brilliant" idea.)

Ram (Clearing his throat): uhm Shivi...bachhe...I am sorry. Aaj raat nahi ho payega, I already have plans.

Shivi: What plans bhai? Mujhse zyada important kya hoga aapki life me? Whatever it is, cancel it, I don't care.

(Priya was visibly annoyed with Shivi's tone)

Ram (uncomfortably): Haan bachhe...tu to sabse important hai. But ye sudden plan banaya naa tune, pehle batati to main nahi rakhta.

Shivi: What yaar bhai? So you are saying this is my fault? Bhai, ye ek family vacation hai, isme obviously hum family ke saath time spend karenge naa. Aapko mujhe thanks bolna chahiye aur aap mujhe hi blame kar rhe ho. How mean!
Akki (intervening): Shivi, rehne do naa. Ram jiju kabhi bhi mana nahi karte hai, wo bol rhe hai to kuch important hi hoga. Let it be.

Shivi: No Akki, this is not done. Bhai, mujhe nahi pata. If you love me, you'll cancel whatever other plan you have.

Nandini: Maan jao naa Raam, kyun zidd kar rhe ho. Aisa bhi kya kaam hai tumhe?
Shubham: Yes bhai, aap Shivi ko kyun hurt kar rhe ho. Hum aapke liye important nahi hai?

(Ram now felt trapped. He didn't know what else to say or how to convince Shivi and others. He always gave up in front of Shivi's tantrums. But his heart was breaking thinking about canceling his plan with Priya. The one time, one time he tried to think for himself, he couldn't even do that!
Priya saw the sadness enveloping Ram's face. Her patience had reached its limits. She could never let anyone hurt her husband, ever! She took a deep breath to calm herself down.)

Priya (calmly, looking at Shivi): Woh...umm...actually plan Mr. Kapoor ka nahi...mera hai. Maine unse kaha tha ki aaj ka dinner mujhe unke favorite restaurant me karna hai unke saath. Tabhi wo mana kar rhe hai.
Shivi, tumhe kya bura lagega agar Mr. Kapoor aur mai aaj tum sab ko join naa karke dinner pe jaaye to? Agar humare bahar jaane se tum hurt hogi to hum cancel kar dete hai. No problem. Ye tumse zyada important thodi hai.

(Everyone looked at Priya with an open mouth, especially Ram! No one could believe that Priya was openly talking about her and Ram's dinner date in front of everyone, and was actually willing to miss family time for this.
Akki, Sara, Sandy, Aadi, Meera started beaming and thanked their gods for finally letting Ram and Priya think for themselves.
Nandini and Shubham were shocked at Priya's open revelation. But after her statement, they didn't know what to say.

Ram looked at her shocked. He could never imagine Priya would be comfortable talking about their romantic plans. He never thought Priya would put him above everyone and everything else, including her own comfort and reservations.
His heart did a happy dance learning that Priya was just as excited about their date as he was, excited enough to fight for it, fight for spending a little extra time with him. The sadness in his face was replaced by a soft smile and a light blush.
In that moment, he knew he fell in love with Priya a little more)