The Refused Proposal- Ongoing

The clichéd engagement

Chapter 2

"Your platinum bands are delivered, Princess."Vilas entered his daughter's room carrying a small jewellery box in his hand.

She squealed in excitement and almost snatched the box from his hand. He chuckled at his daughter's impatience and sat at the corner of her bed.

He stared at his daughter who was looking at the bands and was smiling to herself. She was going to get married in next fifteen days. He had loathed this very day since the apple of his eyes was born.

He looked at her beautiful face again. His little girl had transformed into a pretty woman, Just like some beautiful butterfly leaving the cocoon. His eyes became glassy as he thought of the future. Soon his daughter would leave his home, making it a mere house of bricks and some expensive furniture. He wouldn't get to see her everyday. This thought twisted his guts but he shrugged it off before his daughter would see him shedding tears.

But it was too late. She had already caught him in the act of wiping them. She looked sad. The excitement that overflew from her face earlier was nowhere to be seen now.

She sat beside him taking his hand into hers"Baba, I am gonna miss you too."

"No you won't. You will forget me as soon as you go to that Anya's house."he whined like a child giving her hand a little squeeze. If it had been some other time Shrimayi would have cringed at the nickname her father had given to her would-be-husband. But she let it slip this time without a fight.

She rested her head on his shoulder and spoke again"You know what I see when I look at you?"

He shook his head and waited for his daughter to continue which she did soon.

"Baba when I look at you I see a man who made my Aai happy. You are the person I have been influenced by the most. You are not just my father. You are my guardian angel. You are the reason I never feared to try anything new. Even if it was difficult. Because I knew you would comfort me if I fail. I knew you would be there for me while Aai starts her 'I told you so lecture'."

She chuckled at her own words and soon resumed talking"I can never forget you. You are one of the most important man in my life and you will always be."

She wrapped her arms around his neck. He ruffled her hair.

Then he smiled at his stupid insecurities. His daughter will just be the same even if she gets married.

He pulled away from her and bid her goodnight. He reached for the doorknob but suddenly halt in the midway.  He turned around and asked his daughter"Can you do me a favour Maya?"

"If you want to know what song Anvay's family is performing on, at my sangeet. I can't help you at all."she crossed her arms trying to sound firm.

He shot her a sheepish smile"who told you?"

"Gotya. She overheard your plan. And traded the information against my newly arrived imported handbag."She answered trying to keep a straight face.

"That traitor."Her father commented earning a giggle in response.

As he heard his daughter's laugh , the little hope inside his heart kindled. He tried his luck again,"We need to win, Princess. Don't you want your Baba to show off his swag at sangeet. Please tell me what song they are performing on."

She groaned in frustration and neared her father. She pushed him out of her room."Goodnight Baba."

%%%%%%%%%%

"Taya, get up. It's your engagement today."a voice echoed in shrimayi's ear.

She covered her face with a duvet and spoke through muffled voice"Get lost."