"What have you done? Why did you ruin everything? Our story was a fairytale dream come true."
She kept thrashing her arms on the door with full force, only for her pleas to fall on deaf ears. Her wedding bangles broke and fell, her wrists bled and h...
She was beaming with joy, as she unwrapped the package.
They were sitting in a cafe, and it was raining outside. It also happened to be Kalyani's birthday.
"Impromptu rains make great dates, especially on birthdays." Avinash was flashing his smile, as she opened the gift.
"How do you know I love writing?" He had gifted her a handmade paperback diary, embroidered with mastiff designs, and with a velvet cover.
"I saw how your eyes lit up at the mention of libraries. I have always seen you as the studious nerd that you are. And it's obvious you have a knack for literature. Ofcourse, I am too observant." He winked.
She had chalked out her entire plan for the day. She was going to spend the day with her favourite people.
She met Jhanvi early in the morning, and Aashutosh had accompanied her. They had resolved their fights and grown more accepting of their differences. Kalyani was glad to see her best friend handle everything so maturely.
In the afternoon, she had planned out a date with Avinash. They would be visiting a library in the evening, and then have dinner together at Kalyani's home, where her mother had been busy preparing dishes since the morning.
"Thank you. I promise I will make good use of this and write some amazing compositions." She was surprised that he knew she loved writing. She regularly maintained a journal and recorded her life events. Maybe he had noticed that, although she had kept it a secret, and would write only in the solitude of her room, where she had the privacy of being herself and feeling everything deeply.
"Do make sure to show them to me!"
They walked out of the cafe after lunch. But it was raining heavily by now. Kalyani got drenched the moment she stepped out, and she was not carrying any umbrella.
"Hey, wait, be careful!" Avinash came running towards her, and hung his own jacket around her shoulders, to protect her from the rain.
He took her in a side hug, and she smiled at his embrace.
"What about my return gift?" He whispered softly in her ear, as he bent closer.
She was confused and her eyes narrowed.
" I have to ask you something."
She nodded her head.
"I know our parents have consented to our marriage. But I want to know your decision. What do you feel?"
He bent down on his knee and held her hand.
"Will you marry me, Kalyani Rathore?"
He took out a ring and offered it to her. "Please say yes, and give me my return gift."
She was overwhelmed to see how considerate he was. Although their marriage had been fixed, he wanted to ask her personal opinion.
She pulled him from the ground, urging him to stand. She was embarassed when she saw the passers-by stare at them.
"Let's go", she held his hand and pulled his sleeve.
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"We can fix the engagement next month. I spoke to your parents."
Kalyani and Avinash were at her home. Her mother was serving them food, and also conversing with them.
"Sure, but I have asked Kalyani a question, and I am waiting for her answer." He looked towards Kalyani, hinting at her approval.
Her mother nodded, respecting their privacy. She went back to the kitchen for a while.
"I will write my answer in this diary and give it to you." Kalyani whispered softly to him.
"Please join us for dinner, aunty!" Avinash called out to her mother.
Kalyani's mother came back, with Kalyani's phone in her hand. "It's Jhanvi", she said as she gave her the phone.
"When is the engagement?" Jhanvi asked her at once.
"It's next month."
"Next month? That's too early! When will we celebrate your bachelorette? We also have our farewell party next week." They were also completing their residency degree next week.
There was too much going on at once. And all of them were exciting.
"We will plan it all, don't worry." She hung the call before Jhanvi could interview her more. She made a mental note to call her back once Avinash would leave.
Soon after dinner, Avinash left after bidding adieu. "I will be going out of station for some work. We will meet next probably during our engagement ceremony itself."
Kalyani's heart broke at the revelation. She felt disheartened. "Don't be sad, I didn't want to tell you this before, because it would have ruined your birthday. But I had to inform you before leaving. I am going to Lucknow tomorrow morning. We will video call each other everyday and stay in touch. I won't let you miss me." He giggled and hugged her before he left.
And having said that, she knew that she had to get busy in making arrangements for their engagement.
Avinash would be missing her farewell ceremony as well.
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She hung the call after telling all the details to Jhanvi.
She knew she won't let her live in peace without knowing each and every thing about what happened.
She took out the diary that Avinash had gifted her, and turned the first page.
Taking a pen in her hand, she began writing.
Dear Avinash,
Firstly, I want to thank you for coming into my life. And secondly, thank you for giving me this wonderful gift. I am so glad I have this now, and I can write more.
Let's start with the basics.
My answer to your question is definitely a yes!
Infact, I can't wait to get married to you and start a new journey soon!
Thank you!
I love you!
I've never said that to anyone before, but I do know, I really do love you.
