With a twist

13. The Proposal

Prarthana woke up the next morning, feeling unusually buoyant. Freshening up, she flipped through her wardrobe, deciding upon a pale pink dress that fell to her calves. She generally stuck to dresses only over the weekend but her good mood prompted her to break her own rule.

Not until she was applying her makeup did she realise the source of her high spirits - she was meeting Shivaansh that evening for that mysterious conversation he had promised her.

'No! I did not get dressed for him! I did this for me!' she told the mirror.

'Anyway, he must surely have something to discuss about the project! There is nothing festive about it.'

She put all irrelevant thoughts out of her mind and headed to breakfast. Her mother smiled approvingly at her dress and said, 'You look so pretty! You should wear these clothes more often, beta!'

Prarthana smiled at her, 'Thanks, Maa! I just felt like it today.'

Digging into her food enthusiastically, she continued 'I might be late this evening, Maa. I am meeting - uhh - a friend'

Her parents shared secret looks but kept their faces blank.

'Accha! Do you have enough money?' Aniruddh asked.

Prarthana gave him an angelic smile and nodded. Her father would never fail to ask her the question if she mentioned going out.

When she had finished breakfast, she gave her mother her usual half-hug but Reena clung on today.
Surprised, Prarthana looked at her, 'Kya hua?'

'Nothing!' murmured Reena, and hugged her daughter more fully.

Confused, Prarthana patted her mother on the back and said, 'Maa, do you want me to stay home today?? I can, if you want to. I'll jus–

Reena jumped back almost comically and said, 'No! You must go today! I just felt like hugging my daughter.'

She patted Prarthana's cheek and resumed eating.

Prarthana looked at her father, concerned, but he feigned to be busy looking for his glasses.

When she had left, he hissed at his wife, 'Could you have been any more obvious??! Where do you think she was going? War??'

*

7 o'clock that evening found Shivaansh pulling into a parking spot near A Page Turner.

As he walked to the shop, he did not check his image in passing reflective surfaces, quietly confident in his appearance. He had briefly considered dressing up for the occasion but had decided against it, sticking to his usual white shirt and charcoal grey blazer. His only concession to the evening was that he had popped open the top two buttons of his shirt.

He had thought long and hard about how to propose. An elaborate proposal, with candles, flowers, the works, was one possibility. But some instinct had told him that Prarthana was not the kind of girl who would appreciate the ostentatious. He wanted to offer her sincerity and assurance, more than hollow promises.

He entered the shop to find it empty, with only the café area lit up. Hearing a slight shuffling above him, he climbed the winding staircase to the lending library.

Prarthana was silhouetted against the streetlight softly filtered by the tiny window, returning books to their shelves. Shivaansh stood still, just watching her for a bit.

She had a half-smile on her face, as though each book she tucked away held a special place in her heart.

Feeling his presence suddenly, she looked up with a gasp. Panic, surprise, relief and happiness chased one after the other across her face until it relaxed into a soft smile.