#1 in short stories on 17-6-2017
Few miles away from HER house, a car headed away from Bengaluru.
"So how is it going?", his friend asked.
"All my actions, so far, are suitable enough to make her fall for me", he paused and continued .
"Ahhh.. Sh...
Once the room was deserted, Sanyukta did, what struck in her mind a few minutes ago..
"Hello Princess!! ", she heard his charming voice after the fifth ring.
"I am in big trouble.", she chipped .
"What happened?", he was concerned.
"I'm in Hyderabad now. A prospective groom's family is coming home to see me . It was all planned without my knowledge "
"Wow! Congrats" .
"Oh ! Please Vicky.", she rolled her eyes.
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"Ok Cool down! Now listen, all these days, you've been shunning the marriage proposals. But this time its going to be right in front of you and there's nothing you can do to escape it .", Vikram Said
"So?"
"So ,Talk to the guy and tell him about your dreams. If he rejects, Uncle and Aunty might find your point valid.", Vikram explained .
"What if he accepts, just for the sake?"
"Let's hope that does not happen.", he replied .
There was a long pause.
"Princess??", Vikram chipped breaking the silence.
"Ummm .", her feeble response reached Vikram .
"Sanyu!! don't worry okay . As I said, just try and talk to him. Listen, I have a meeting to attend . I'll catch you later. Bye", the line went dead.
As Sanyukta , placed the mobile back on the rack, she just hoped to keep calm and handle the situation while Vikram on the other side hoped the proposal to get cancelled. He wanted Sanyukta for himself.
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Both Sanyukta and Vikram Ahuja were neighbours and childhood friends. He didn't realise when it happened, but as years passed by, he started looking at Sanyukta differently. For him, she wasn't the same old kid, who used to get irritated when someone pinched her cheeks. She had grown up in to an exceptionally beautiful young woman. Her attitude towards life, her charm made him fall for her deeply . He yearned for just a glimpse of her. It had been more than an year since he had last seen her. He was waiting for the right time and opportunity to express his feelings to her .
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At 10:45 Am ...
Sanyukta was made to wait in her room with Krithika . She closed her eyes and tried to stay calm. Ten odd minutes later , they heard noises from coming from the hall.
"They are here." , Krithika whispered.
The mundane greetings took place and then in another few minutes, Sanyukta's mom came inside.
"Come!", she held Sanyukta by her hand and made her walk out of the room. Her own living room looked a lot different that day. All eyes were set on her. She could see so many strange faces smiling at her. She scanned the room quickly to spot the guy . But she couldn't figure him out among the men sitting on her left.
Her mom nudged her to smile and greet everyone .
"Sit down ", a lady in her mid-fifty's smiled at her.
'Mother in law?', she thought. 'Ahhhh ... I mean the Groom's Mom... ' , she corrected herself the very next second.
"Why don't you sing a song for us?", the lady asked.
"I'm Sorry... I am not a good singer."
"She sings well. We've taught her music.", her mom and Dad said in a unison.
The groom's family had a good laugh at it .
"That is okay.", smiled a man in his early sixties.
Sanyukta's eyes scanned the room again. But she couldn't spot anyone who looked like a prospective groom. She was loosing her patience. She could sense that her expressions became restless but she restored it back to a formal smile.
"My son could not make it today.", the lady spoke, as if she caught Sanyukta's scrutiny. "We are really sorry about it. His company had organized a sudden crucial meeting today. We came here, to keep up our date as we thought why to begin an auspicious meeting on a negative note"
"We would be disturbing you again. We will visit once again with our son.", the Groom's father continued.
" Oh please! don't say that . It would be our pleasure to have you again with us ", Sanyukta's mother and father spoke simultaneously.
"By the way, we like your daughter. She is really beautiful. We are just waiting for our Son's approval . By the way, how much time would you need for marriage preparations?", the lady asked.
" Well ... We have the jewellery, sarees, utensils and all other items ready. My friend owns a marriage hall, so that wouldn't be a problem too. The preparations might hardly take a month.", replied Sanyukta's dad.
Sanyukta was stunned. She could imagine where this was going......
She was not sure whether it was for good or bad. Should she wait to express herself till the guy and his family comes to her house again???? What if it turns out to be futile???? She couldn't take a chance .
"Thank you for the photograph. I will show it to my son. We have already emailed our son's picture to you. Here is my son's phone number , in case you need it . I hope everything goes well.", the lady spoke and smiled at Sanyukta's dad, breaking Sanyukta's chain of thoughts.
By the time, the guests bade a 'Goodbye ', it was almost 12 in the afternoon. She grabbed the piece of paper that was lying on the glass table and safely zipped it in her bag. She changed into her tracks and tried to act normal as if she had no issues with the proceedings.
