The car came to a halt as they stood in front of a posh hotel. He looked at her, their eyes striking each other's as hers were already on him. His shoulders eased down as he observed that pleasing smile on her face.
"Mishti mai jaaon kya?"
He was just about to leave when she held his wrist.
"Kahaan Mister?" she smirked.
"Dekh...mai toh yahaan tujhe treat dene se raha, aur tu, is restaurant me 'mujhe' treat dene se rahi..." they both laughed.
"Chalo ab" she pulled him by his wrist.
"Arrey but mai..."
"challoooo Karannnn!" she literally dragged him in.
The extravagant hotel had 17 floors, out of which the terrace was a live music restaurant. With tables for two laid neatly distant enough, it also accompanied spot instruments. People could sing and play them as well, kinda pleasant Sunday outings.
Pressing the 18th button, she nervously fidgeted her fingers, waiting for the lift to quickly drop them to their terminus.
"Tu kya kar rahi hai mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha...ulta mujhe toh ghar jaane ka mann kar raha hai. Kahan mai ghar mein mast maggie ke saath netflix dekhta...aur kahan ye tu mujhe le aayii..." he muttered, almost incoherent to her.
"Kuch kaha tumne?"
"Uggh, who? Me? Kuch nahi kaha.." he gave a cocky smile.
"Okay.." she nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, eyes fixed anywhere but him.
'Ye itna nervous kyun ho rahi hai, ajeeb baat hai...'
His thoughts were broken when the lift halted at the 8th floor, two men getting in.
In order not to make her uneasy, he stood beside her, grasping her palm in his, as their fingers filled in the gaps between each other.
He could feel her exhale deeply, perhaps renunciating her discomfort. He turned back to have a glimpse at her. She smiled in harmony.
Shortly again the lift stopped at the 14th floor, the two men getting off. Again, silence intervened, getting the air thicker.
'Uggh, jaldi kyun nahi chalti ye lift....uff....mai legit nervous ho rahi hun....' her brain cells pep talked with each other.
The elevator doors parted away, causing the fresh mellow air to enter their lungs. The terrace was heavenly beautiful. Every circular table was covered with white satin cloth, a glass with contrasting white and red roses placed in the centre, aromating the Shangri-la surroundings.
The rims of the circular tables were bordered with laces of fairy lights, bringing a sense of idyll to a person. Almost all the tables were occupied with couples and pairs of twos. Debattama's eyes wandered around for a second, a complimentary smile dancing on her lips as her hold on his wrist constricted, and she pathed the way towards a distinct table.
Nothing was precise about it, except the fact that it had a reserved tag already on it.
"Mishti.."
"Hmm..." her eyes glimmered in positive delight as she turned her noggin to grab a peek at him, who seemed perplexed.
"Ye table toh reserved hai..."
She passed an 'unbelievable' look on his way, loosing the grip of her palm on his wrist.
"Yahan baitho"
"Arey par..."
"Maine kaha na chup chap baith jao!" she warned strictly in a dictatorial tone making him go mum.
"Okay..."
"Aur haan...idhar se uthna nahin..."
He gaped at her before she turned and strode away, fading into the darkness.
"Like earnestly, she has lost a piece of her mind today..." he mumbled pulling out his phone from the jeans pocket and buzzing lazily through it.
'Matlab ye sahi hai, ek toh I'm in a sulky mood, uspe ye mujhe zabardasti ghar se bahar ghaseet ke lekar ayi saying 'kisine kaha that chauffer humsafar hazir hai ma'am, aap bas ishara kijie'' he mimicked her in his brain
'...aur idhar aaya hun toh mujhe chodd ke khud kahin gayab hai, Karan beta iska koi bharosa nahi...akela chodd kar apne doston ke saath chali jayegi...but she's not too ignorant either I guess...' he fiddled with his phone while having endless pep talks with his mind.
Suddenly the spotlights captured his attention, as a massive ray of light radiated from the staging. A fairy in disguise, with a hazel brown acoustic guitar in her hands, sat on the seat acclimating the mike to her amenity.
Later did his conscience replied, that it was she. He opened his mouth a couple of times to speak but no words formed. He was just left in awe as her fingers plucked the strings of guitar gracefully, just like an angel plays the harp.
Woo Woo Woo
Woo Woo Woo
Woo Woo Woo
Woo Woo Woo
"Haan Yeh Baatein Zaroori Hain
Paas Tum Ho Kaisi Doori Hain
Kahan Ho Tum Ye Kahani Adhuri Hain
Ye Kaisi Dhun Mere Lamho Ko Chhuyi Hain"
The honey-voiced words slipped out of her lips, dancing flawlessly onto the tunes played on the guitar. Every couple seated there had their eyes on these charming people, who made such a stunning couple. Later did he know, that she was singing for him, only him.
"Mere Dil Ka Fasaana Hain
Tum Se Milne Ka Bahaana Hain
Kahan Ho Tum Mazilon Ka Ishaara Hain
Na Koyi Shaq Hai Na Koyi Iraada Hain"
Her lips curled up into an irresistible smile as her orbs observed the transformation in his facial expressions, he was dumbfounded, bedazzled, and most notably, his eyes reflected pure adoration. But somewhere, his mind and heart were trapped in a maelstrom of bizarre emotions.
"Mujhe Samjhaye Koyi Kyun
Na Jaanu Main Na Jaane Tu
Mujhe Samjhaye Koyi Kyun
Na Jaanu Main Na Jaane Tu"
Does she also feel the same for him? Does her heart also flutter seeing him? Does she also feel butterflies in the pit of her stomach? Does her brain too start weaving crazy thoughts just on feeling his presence? Does she also feel something more than just friendship?
As his eyes were latched with hers, he could notice the lingering iridescent effulgence in her irises, tears of bliss, satisfaction and contentment. Her soul conveyed to him, that she discreetly whispered a thank you to him.
"Hai dil pe sabar,
Mai jaaun kidhar?"
Her euphonious voice blossomed in the ambience as her slim fingers danced on the strings of the guitar. And somewhere there, the long-residing mistrust in his heart vaporised into the pleasant air of nothing but pure love.
Haan Badalti Bahaare Hain
Tere Intzaar Ke Sahaare Hain
Kahan Ho Tum Haan Guzarte Sitaare Hai
Na Jaane Khoye Hain Ya Wo Humare Hain
Kahan Ho Tum
His numb lips broke down to an ear-to-ear grin, provoking her to turn crimson. He knew she loved him too. By her heart, soul and being. She loved him.
Kahaan Ho Tum
Kahaan Ho Tum
Kahaan Ho Tum
They were so lost in each other, not even realising when she end the song as the huge crowd started showering an abundance of relishing claps. It seemed as if they were in a nonnative world, all away from the chattering crowd, all solitary, only him and her.
She broke the eye contact as her hand grabbed the mike, her little fingers wrapping around it...
"Mister Sharma, this is for you..."
All the eyes darted towards him, who was staring at her constant as if she was an alluring goddess descended straight from heaven. She smiled as she observed him with each word that she spoke ;
"Mister confusing-yet-adorable Sharma,
jo pehle Mr. reserving, Mr Arrogant, Mr Rude Sharma tha...All-time reserved, all-time alone Sharma...I did take time to lift off the mask, jiske piche ek Mr Adorable, Mr childish, Mr caring, Mr funny Sharma tha. Mister sweet as sugar! And eventually, we became casual friends.
Friends se buddies, buddies se companions, aur companions se ab bohot aage. From working together to talking, laughing, joking, crying, fighting together! We dodged all barriers, we came across all of them together. Slowly he became an inseparable part of my life...me."
The pairs of eyes were soaked, specular refraction causing their orbs to shimmer like crystals.
"When he was in pain, I was hurt too! When he achieved something, I was happy too. We were too mature to the world and too babyish to each other. We did weird and crazy things, that too together. Without being judgemental to each other. We, together, had seen that phase of each other which no one had seen ever till now. And gradually, our friendship grew.
Khud nahi pata chala when our friendship started growing, we were too lost in each other's companies, too busy to even think of something else. Fir voh din aaye, jab raatein jaage bhi voh tha, aur subah se shaam bhi voh tha..."
He chuckled lightly, wiping the lone tear that managed to escape the corner of his eyes that moment. The moment was so insipid, yet surreal, aesthetic. The feelings were overflown, just like a sea with endless tides, getting a shore recently.
"Mr Akdu, kaam se matlab, sadu aur reserved kab Mr sweet and charming, pyaara sa baccha, non-veg jokes ka pitara aur pyaar karne wala insaan ho gaya pata hi nahi chala jaise!"
The crowd were chuckling, smiling and discussing with their partners.
"Does it ever drive you crazy, how fast the night changes? It does to me...
Kabhi kabhi sochti hun, kal hi toh vo din tha, jab mai balcony se bhaag rahi thi, and I saw you coming out of your room. Aur aaj, we stand too close to each other, with our numb proximity.
Life has taken a 360-degree turn with you, every day seems an adventure, you try your best not to make me uncomfortable, you've been a home for me. You've been a companion to me through all the fifty-one shades of my life. You're cool, calm and awesome. Just opposite to me, and that's the reason we fit into each other, we stand out so flawlessly.
Kahaan ho tum, I'm searching for my cool and chill KV, not this aloof one, not this akdu one, because I love him, I love the other one, I love my chill Karan, suna tumne??!!
I love you, Karanvir Sharma! I love you, you stupid guy!
Would you be my companion for the rest of our lives? Would you mark me yours for eternity? Would you make me Mrs Sharma? Would you love me back for a lifetime?
The crowd hooted, cheered, clapped and whistled in joy, as they were the lucky spectators of a blissful proposal, far more than exquisite love confession. They cried 'Say Yes, Say Yes!' till their excitement level, but all to deaf ears.
Karan was beyond astonished, it seemed as he was far more above cloud nine, as if he was floating somewhere in heaven, to say that he was spellbound, would be an understatement. His eyes held tears of pure thankfulness, stupefaction and most importantly, genuine, unconditional, selfless, authentic, unquestioning, surreal, pristine love. Love, which had no bounds, love which was exemplary, love which was beyond words, beyond any bookish definitions. Pure, real love.
"I know I'm not so good in shayari like you, but,
'Bas itna hai pyaar tumse, ki raatein hai tere bin adhoori se,
Tumhe aaj batana chahti hun, mere liye tum ho kitne zaroori se,
Parso anjaan the kal dost, aaj jaise ishq-e-jaan ho gaye ek dam se,
Bas itna hi hai pyaar tumse, bas itna hi hai pyaar tumse.' "
She end her proposal in such a wistful way that every soul there was left transfixed. Hiding his smile behind his stern face, he walked to her. Softly yet dominatingly, he held her hand, as if would never leave that again.
"Ring nahi hai mere pas, kya karun?" he gave a silly smile, such that all the people broke into fits of laughter. Suddenly, he felt something tough on his palm.
His eyes peeked on the blue velvetish small box, a smile appearing on his lips as he fiddled it in his hand.
"Tumhe kaise pata tha mai haan kar dunga?" he spoke in a husky voice.
"Jab pyaar se related kuch hota hai na Mister Kiwi, toh hamesha dil se puchna chahiye. Aur mere dil ne kaha ki tumhe bhi mujhse pyaar hai. Kahin bhi ho tum, mai tumhe dhoond loongi."
He was captivated by the way she wove her words into pieces of love. Bending on his left knee, he kept the box on his left palm, royally opening it with his right forefinger and thumb pad.
Holding the ring carefully, which was a mark of love lasting till infinity, he slid it skillfully onto her left ring finger, a tingle passing through her ' vein of love ', direct to her heart, her heart whispering in reply, 'you've found the right one!'
"I love you too, meri Anokhi, meri Mishti, meri Mrs Sharma!"
Hw got up on his legs, seeing her all emotionally wound up. He cupped his cheeks, joining his forehead with hers, as only a couple of people physically, but the whole world under the faded night sky witnessed the beginning of a never ending love tale.
__________________________
THE END
Cheers to my talented, tactful and tharki twenty, shakhi_heart
ILY so so muchh! Belated birthday wishes 🎈
And sorry for late. Health issues. BALH update on the way!
Stay safe
Love Love ❤️❤️