Beyond Words

Cupid finds his mark

"Jiji, if Akash ji asked you to marry him, would you say yes?"

Khushi looked at her sister as she asked this question. It was bedtime. Payal lay twirling her long tresses. Her eyes looked distant and she seemed lost in thought.

Khushi's question pierced her thoughts and she jerked her head up. Her eyes narrowed.

"Khushi! I thought we had agreed not to talk about that."

"No jiji! I am just asking. What if he did? Would you agree?"

Payal looked at her suspiciously.

"Did anyone say anything when you went to the Raizada house today?"

Khushi shook her head, her eyes looking innocent and a smile threatening to burst out of her face.

"Actually Akash ji asked me today."

For a moment Khushi did not believe what she heard. Her eyes widened.

"He did?? What did YOU say???"

Buaji peeked her head in hearing Khushi's excited scream.

Managing to convince Bua nothing was the matter, Khushi dragged her sister outside.

"Say that again jiji. Akash ji asked you? What did you say?"

Payal remained silent.

Unable to tolerate the silence, Khushi held her hand.

"Jiji are you OK? You know you can tell me right? I will stand with you no matter what you decide."

Payal looked at her sister and felt relieved she did not have to carry it inside her for much longer.

"I am OK Khushi. I was caught unawares. I mean I knew I liked him. I knew he liked me but marriage seems too much too soon. We hardly know each other."

"I asked him what he knew of me. Of our family."

"Was he sure his family would accept me? His mother?"

"Akash ji listened to everything silently. He held my hands in his and said just one thing."

"He says he loves me. As is. With all of my past. He says he is sure he wants to spend the rest of his life with me. He says he will talk to his Dadi and his parents. He wanted me to answer his question."

"Did I like him enough to marry him?"

"I don't know Khushi. I am so confused. I told him I did like him. I did not know enough about him to say I will marry him. I asked him to talk to his family and if he was serious enough and if his family agreed, to talk to Bua and Amma and Babuji."