The Gymnast's Escapade

Adolf Hitler's Frenemies

You can read my new interview now; the link is given on my wall. Enjoy.

******

Act 1, Scene 6

Have you ever felt like you're confident on your stand one moment, but the next second the energy is out, and you're filled with more dread and less enthusiasm?

Currently, the two couples exactly felt that way when they walked back together to the living room with proud faces but from the entrance as they looked at the happily chattering people, their faces fell at the mere prospect of mopping their dreams away. Though it wasn't a deliberate motive to spoil the fun, a decision undertaken with regards to the deepest interest in the topic of marriage, yet the four experienced severe guilt rising inside them.

"Why do they've to be so happy-happy about all this meeting?" Harsh was the first one to open his mouth, and as his words registered in the other three people's brain, they gave him a ridiculous look.

"In any case, Harsh, did you leave your brain in the refrigerator of the Sehgal Villa?" Aayush asked, battling his lashes sweetly at the man who looked embarrassed.

He eyed Aashka and she stifled her laughter watching the new victim of her father's sarcastic kill list, although, her grandfather, Uncle Jay, Yuvraj, and Aunt Isha topped the list, along with her brother-in-law, Aarav having the second spot, now seeing, the new candidate, she could feel for all of them.

*Subconscious giggles*

"Get used to it," Aashka whispered enjoying the expression on his face, and he mentally face-palmed himself. He sure was going to have a field day after marriage where his bride will have fun at his expense. How convenient!

"You three are not going to be serious, are you?" Raisha chided, and they shrugged their shoulders. After ages, the father-daughter duo found a new scapegoat who was as well hilarious as them.

How could they miss this opportunity to find merry at a moment where they wanted to overcome the guilt of depriving their loved elders, their naïve and pre-planned wishes!

"No, can do, Ma'am." Before Aayush could reply, Harsh beat him to it, surprising the three of them.

He immediately joined his hand in front of Aayush, and apologized, "Sorry. I became over-excited. When I'm nervous, I'm excited; and when I'm excited, then I'm nervous. Does it make sense?"

Aashka clasped a hand on her mouth at his blabbering.

It was the first time she saw someone reveal their nervousness in such hilarity that she found herself at a loss for words.

"If you continue to make my daughter laugh so loudly, you know, I might just approve you for her," Aayush said in a no-nonsense tone making Harsh beam, but a calculative father did let the beam last long and added dangerously.

"Now, back to business. Gain their attention and do as I've told you or for the next one year, we'll be standing here only."

Harsh sighed, but as he looked at the shimmering eyes of Aashka, he knew he'll do anything for her, because not every day he met someone who was bold yet shy; innocent yet smart; beautiful yet generous. But above all—A princess yet a normal girl with normal issues of trust, and casual dreams of companionship.

And the life he had in New York, he didn't even want a wife with high tantrums who'd fail to understand his need to work for more than fourteen hours a day. Sketching, designing, and bringing perfection to clients wasn't easy ever; he had to be on the run always. There was only so much his staff could do, but being the leader, it was his priority as well as duty to be on the stand mode always. A little malfunction or mistake could bring his years of hard work down, and he was in no position to let that happen.