With a twist

13. The Proposal

'You startled me!' she said.

Lit by the dim glow from the café, Shivaansh looked like a fallen angel. Banished from heaven for tempting mortals into sin with his good looks, thought Prarthana. She lowered her eyes, glad for the half-light that concealed her blush.

Shivaansh climbed into the library section, and picked up a few books from her hands to arrange them on the shelves. He glanced at the last cover - Haroun & the Sea of Stories.

'I love this book!' he said quietly.

She came closer to look and smiled up at him, 'Me too!'

'I am not surprised,' he said.

Prarthana looked at him for a few seconds and then asked coolly, 'Why? Do you presume to know me?'

'Not at all! But I know this book and the kind of people it appeals to. And you seem to fit the bill.'

Prarthana sniffed and pushed some books together, 'I didn't realise I was that transparent!'

'Were you trying to be mysterious?' Shivaansh asked.

Prarthana looked up at him, now starting to get irritated.

'Don't patronize me, Mr. Randhawa!'

'Do you always get this prickly when someone tries to compliment you, Ms. Malhotra? Or am I getting some sort of special treatment?'

'I don't think compliments are served in such a teasing tone!' she said primly.

Shivaansh sighed and said, 'OK I am sorry! I was teasing...but just a bit.'

Disarmed by this quick apology, Prarthana laughed, 'You must be impossible in an argument!'

'You hold your own very well!' he said grinning, putting the book down. 'Are you done here? Can we leave?'

'Leave?? I thought you wanted to discuss something with me.'

'I do. But not here...'

He led the way back, and waited while Prarthana locked the shop.

Once they were seated in his car, he said, 'Don't worry, we are not going very far.'

Twenty minutes later, they had pulled up in front of the Oberoi Hotel and Shivaansh was handing his keys to the valet.

Feeling severely underdressed in her practical rainy shoes and cotton dress, Prarthana said in a horrified whisper, 'Shivaansh! You should have warned me we were coming here! I am such a mess!'

'You look absolutely lovely! Just come!'

He held out a hand, and she slipped hers in it. His fingers wrapped around hers in a warm, firm grasp that made her feel protected and possessed all at once.

She did not dare make eye contact with anyone in the lobby, and stared at Shivaansh's elbow as she walked. He led them to the elevator which took them to the rooftop restaurant.

The manager greeted them warmly and led them to a patio area that was cordoned off from the rest of the restaurant. Prarthana could see some diners from far-off tables throwing them curious glances.
She stared at Shivaansh's back, wondering why he had brought them here. She saw, with some relief, that there was no table set up on the patio. At any rate, he didn't plan to keep her here for dinner.

When the manager left, Shivaansh turned around to look at Prarthana, and let go of her hand. She strangely missed it, her hand feeling suddenly bereft.

For something to do, she crossed her arms against the brisk wind and stared out at the beautiful vista of the Bombay Bay. She had never seen this particular view in person, only in movies.

She turned around with a smile, only to find Shivaansh looking at her seriously. Her smile faltered slightly. 'This is a beautiful spot, Shivaansh! Thank you for bringing me here.'

She tucked a dancing strand of hair away and said, 'It's funny that they have pushed all those tables in that corner, instead of spreading them out.'

'I asked them to', said Shivaansh quietly. 'I reserved this space. For us.'

'For us?' she asked in a strangled whisper. 'Why?'

'Because I want to ask you something, and I would prefer not to have an audience for it.'

Prarthana's heart beat so fast that she could hear it in her ears.

Shivaansh looked out at the sea for a moment, composing his words. Then, he turned to her and said, 'Prarthana, I know we have not known each other long. I was teasing you earlier, but I do not presume to know you or read your thoughts or anything like that. But I can read mine. I feel that you and I share the same set of values, the core reason for doing what we do, being the way we are in our lives. This is the compatibility that I have always wished for in a life partner, and I think I finally found it. Prarthana, if you accept, I would like to marry you.'

Time stood still, only the wind moving between them, whipping at their clothes.

Prarthana licked her lips, trying to find words while Shivaansh simply looked on, his face composed and calm.

'You want to marry me?? But how?? We don't know each other enough!'

'Well, I certainly know you more than all the "arranged marriage" women that I have met. And you can perhaps say the same of all the men you have met under such circumstances?'

'Yes! But that's besides the point. We don't love each other.'

Shivaansh smiled, touched by the innocence of her words and reaction.

Seeing that smile, Prarthana flared up, 'Don't say you love me now! I won't believe you, because I know you don't!'

'I don't! And you don't love me either, as far as I know! he countered. 'But marriage for me is more than just love; it's about trust, patience, understanding, forgiveness, kindness! Those are the qualities that make a marriage last, not love alone. Don't you agree?'

'I do, but...but...' Prarthana could not explain in words how overwhelmed she was by the situation she found herself in.

'I know this is a lot to take in,' said Shivaansh kindly. 'I don't expect you to say anything right now. I simply wanted to tell you how I feel.'

'I don't want you to feel rushed or obligated to say something. Which is why there is no ring, or flowers or balloons or fairy lights or whatever else a woman deserves to have at her proposal. I would be happy to give you all of that some other time.
For now, I just want to promise you that if you accept, it would be my honour to call you my wife, to respect you, to protect you and cherish you for the rest of my life.'

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