Raghav and Pallavi met the financial planner after reaching Hyderabad and discussed about how much time will it take for her to open a showroom in the mall. He told them it might take a few months, maximum year end but, not more that. Pallavi was happy that finally, her dream of opening a showroom in the mall would get fulfilled. She happily went home and told this news to everyone and they were equally happy. Pallavi was in her room setting her unused clothes in the cupboard while separating them from the clothes that were to be washed when Aai came there.
"Aai, aaiye na. Aap waha kyu khadi hai?" Pallavi said and Aai settled on the bed.
"Pallu, aaj bohot khush hai na tu?"
"Haan Aai."
"Aur kya hai aapke khushi ka raaj Pallavi ji? Aai asked dramatically. "Aur ab yeh mat kehna ki woh dukaan ki wajah se khush hai. Mujhe pata hai woh bhi ek wajah hai tere khushi ki par aur bhi kuch hua hai jiski wajah se tu itni zyaada khush hai."
"Aai, woh actually, Raghav ne mujhe propose kiya." Pallavi replied shyly.
"Sach?"
"Haan, Aai."
"Toh Pagli bataya kyu nahi?"
"Woh Aai, mein khudse hi kaise batau na matlab. Raghav jab ghar aayega tab pata chal hi jaayega na." Pallavi said shyly.
"Kab aa raha hai woh?"
"Pata nahi Aai. Baat nahi hui."
"Accha theek hai. Use bol dena ki tere Baba se aake baat kare."
"Ho Aai." Aai left with a smile on her face as this is what she always wanted for Pallavi.
--------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning Pallavi and Raghav met at their usual spot.
"Raghav, I wanted to ask that when are you coming home?"
"Why do you want to know? Are you coming to meet Amma or Keerti today?"
"IDIOT, I was asking when are coming to meet Baba?"
"Ohh, you were talking about your home?"
"Of course. So, when are you coming?"
"For what?"
"To meet Baba to ask him for my hand."
"That? You can tell him and then Amma will come for further discussions."
"Buddhu, you'll have to come and speak to my Baba and ask him if you could marry me." She said slightly hitting him on his forehead with her fingertips.
"Why me??"
"Because you want to marry me."
"As if you don't want to."
"I also want to but, it's a very old practice that the guy has to come and ask for the girl's hand from her father in case of love marriage."
"Fine. Then you'll also go to my Amma and ask for my hand in marriage?"
"No, baba. It is only for boys."
"This is unfair. Why do boys have to bear this injustice. If I am getting screwed up then, you should get too."
"Firstly, there's no such practice so, even if you shout on the top of your lungs about the injustice induced upon you, nobody is going to listen.
Secondly, even if there was any such practice, I wouldn't get screwed because your Amma loves me."
"How can I forget that? Of course, she loves you. Even if you come, she'll be like 'No beta, don't ask me anything, go and marry him. I have no problem.' I am sure this will be her response."
"What a drama queen you are!!" Pallavi exclaimed laughing.
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Amma, is there any such thing where I have to go and ask for Pallavi's hand to her Baba?" Raghav asked Amma on the call as he did not believe what Pallavi told him.
"Of course. We'll have to go and talk to her Baba."
"Tum bhi hoga na saath mein?"
"Haan. Rishta leke jaayenge tab hoga na mein saath mein par uska pehle tereko jaake baat karna mangta." Amma told him and now he knew that he had no option but, to go and talk to Baba.
"Theek hai,Amma. Rakhta hai mein."
"Why do I have to go? DEVUDA!! What will I go and say? What will he react? I hope he does not reject me. Thoda rehearsal kar leta hai." Raghav thought to himself.
"Baba, mein Pallavi se bohot pyaar karta hai aur mein usko apna baccho ka Amma banana chahta hai." Raghav said with hesitation.
"Yeh bolega toh Baba kya, Pallavi khud reject kar dega." Lungiwala Raghav responded.
"Toh kya bole mein?"
"Dusra kuch try kar."
"Wahi puch raha hai na mein tereko."
"Woh 2 states movie mein Arjun Kapoor kaisa propse kiya tha Alia ke parents ko waisa kar na."
"Haan, karta hai na. Ring ka jagah Mangalsutra pehna ke aata hai."
"Mera sunnekaich nahi tha toh kayko pucha."
"Tu bakwaas idea de raha toh kya karu mein? Chod. Mein hi kuch sochta hai." Raghav said and Lungiwala Raghav nodded.
"Baba, mein aapka beti se bohot pyaar karta hai aur usse shaadi banana chahta hai. I promise mein uska khyaal rakhega aur usko khush rakhega." Raghav said and Lungiwala Raghav gave him a weird look.
"Yeh bolega tu? Itna simple bolega toh Sanki Buddha bolega ki yeh bakwaas karne ke liye aaya hai kya idhar. Kuch accha soch na."
"Samajh mein nahi aa raha hai."
"Pallavi ko call karke pooch na. Uska Baba hai usko pata hoyega ki unko kaise batana hai."
"Poocha tha par woh nahi bata raha hai toh kya kare?"
"Sochna padega.."
"Chod. Mein aisa simple hi bolega. Accept karna hai toh kare nahi toh mein Pallavi se bhaag ke shaadi karega." Raghav said annoyed at the fact that he couldn't think of a single idea to tell his Sasurji about him and Pallavi.
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Pallavi, is it necessary for me to come and talk to your Baba? I mean is it not okay if I come with Amma?" Raghav asked on the video call.
"Look at your face. Wait." Pallavi said and took a screenshot.
"What did you do?"
"I took a screenshot so that I can show it to you when you say, 'I am Raghav Rao and I don't fear anybody.' I'll have a proof to show you that you do fear my Baba." Pallavi said laughing.
"I am serious, Saree Ka Dukaan. Don't make fun of me and seriously tell me what do I need to do."
"Don't overthink. Baba's not going to eat you alive. Be genuine and simple. Don't exaggerate anything. Just go and tell him that you love me and want to marry me. Simple."
"Itna simple?"
"Haan. Also, don't brag too much about yourself. He hates that about you."
"Fine. Any more instructions, Pallavi devi?"
"No."
"Should I come tomorrow then?"
"Okay. I'll ask him and let you know."
"Ask him now only." Raghav said and Pallavi went to ask Baba if he was free tomorrow to which Baba said that he was.
"He said that he is free."
"Okay. I'll come tomorrow evening."
"I'll arrange a nice date for the both of you." Pallavi said chuckling.
"I'll just speak to him about us and leave. I am not interested in going on a date with him." He said scared.
"Sach mein darr gaye tum toh!!"
"Aisa bolega toh koi bhi darr jaayega."
Author's Note - Raghav is going to talk to Baba super soon i.e. in the next chapter. Baba had agreed to their relationship earlier but, the dynamics have changed a bit after Pallavi's accident so, his reaction may or may not be in Raghvi's favor.
Date - 08th August 2022.