Hey, I wrote this OS as an entry for the Valentine Proposal Contest. Now that its over, I thought to share it in a new thread if anyone is interested in reading.
Stay Mine
Khushi was in the kitchen, munching on fresh jalebis which she had just made, when there was a knock on the front door.
Who could it be? She thought to herself, before taking another bite into her jalebi.
Knock, knock, knock. This time, the sound came louder than before.
It must be Payal. But she had gone to celebrate Valentine’s Day with Akash. Bua was sleeping and Khushi was alone in the kitchen–celebrating the day with her own Valentine–her jalebi.
Knock, knock, knock. This time the ferocious banging on the door harshly brought Khushi back to reality from her thoughts. She angrily picked up the hot pan which she had just made her jalebis in, just in case it was an intruder.
Walking through the dark hallway, she reached for the light switch and then realised that the electricity had gone out. Oh, so that was why this intruder was rudely banging on the door instead of ringing the doorbell like a civilised person would.
She thought for a moment. Should she go back to the kitchen and get a torch? What if the intruder broke in and came behind her by then? She decided it was not a good idea, so she reached for the doorknob and turned it instead, opening the door just in time before a large muscular fist came towards the door again.
“Khushi–”
And there was a loud bang as Khushi’s pan met with Arnav’s forehead before anything could be said.
“WHAT THE,” Arnav yelled in pain, holding his head.
“Arnavji, Arnavji, it’s you? I am so sorry. I thought–”
“You thought I was a burglar, of course. Can anyone expect any common sense being used when it comes to Khushi Kumari Gupta?”
“Look, Laad Governor. I already apologized to you. Can I do anything else to make you feel better?”
Arnav thought for a moment, and then looked at her with mischief, “do you have a Valentine tonight?”
“No.” Where was this conversation going?
“Me neither,” Arnav took a pause, “let’s go out for dinner.”
“Um, okay.”
Khushi agreed and left with him. There was no light for her to get ready, but she thought it didn’t matter. It was just a casual dinner, not a date. Little did she know that this night would change her life forever.
***
The dinner went well, considering Arnav was at his best behaviour. Khushi had never seen him behaving like a gentleman before.
“Dessert?” Arnav asked her, after they had finished eating. And before Khushi had a chance to answer, her eyes widened as she saw Akash and Payal walk to the table, holding a big fat ice cream cake.
“Can we join you?” Payal asked sweetly. Arnav nodded, which surprised Khushi even more.
“How did you come here?” Khushi couldn’t stop herself from asking, as the couple took their seats.
Payal turned to look at Akash, who spoke up. “Arnav called us and told us that you both were having dinner here, and requested us to join. The cake was my idea. I was really craving some cake right now so I picked it on the way.”
Khushi didn’t miss the wink that Akash passed at Payal after he finished speaking. Something was surely up.
A waiter came by a few minutes later, bringing a knife to cut the cake.
“Cut the cake, Khushi!” Arnav ordered sternly.
The Laad Governor was back to his bossy self, Khushi thought as she dived the knife into the middle of the cake.
“Um, Akash… there’s something inside the cake,” Khushi looked up towards Akash.
Arnav stood up and walked towards Khushi, standing next to her. He put his hand inside the cake to take out a little red velvet box.
Khushi turned towards him, as she saw him kneel down on his knees with the diamond ring in his hand, which he had just removed from the box.
“Will you be mine, now and forever, Khushi Kumari Gupta?”
Khushi gaped at him as fresh tears started streaming down her cheeks.
***
“And this is how your father proposed to your mother seven years ago,” Payal told the five-year-old Arshi Singh Raizada, who was sitting on her lap.
“Wow. Was this all planned by you?” Arshi asked excitedly. She loved coming to Payal and Akash’s house everyday to be pampered and hear stories.
Payal nodded, “Arnav had planned to propose Khushi on Valentine’s Day, he had told his plan to me and Akash, and asked us to help him.”
“Wow. Today is also Valentine’s Day. It has been seven years. Let’s celebrate,” Arshi squealed.
Payal chuckled, “they’re gone out for dinner. I guess we can go and arrange things at home before they get back, what say?”
***
Arnav and Khushi returned home from a long tiring evening. They had gone for dinner and then a long drive, after which they had attended a Valentine’s event and danced together.
“I can’t believe I have been tolerating you for seven years, Laad Governor. I should get an award,” Khushi giggled as they walked inside the house.
There was a big ice-cream cake set on the table in front of them, taking them back to the restaurant seven years ago, where Arnav had proposed to Khushi.
“Cut the cake, mama!” Arshi yelled.
Khushi took the knife from Payal’s hand and began cutting the cake.
What was that? A red velvet box? Was she hallucinating?
“Take out the box, mama! Give it to papa!” Khushi heard Arshi scream excitedly.
“Is this another one of your plans, Arnavji?” Khushi narrowed her eyebrows quizzically, handing the small box to an equally clueless Arnav Singh Raizada.
“Not me this time, Khushi. This time it’s our kiddo.” Arnav laughed as he opened the box, knowing just what was coming.
“Papa, show me how you proposed to mama.” Arshi was jumping up and down with joy now.
Arnav fulfilled his munchkin’s wish, and went down on his knees. “Will you stay mine, now and forever, Khushi Singh Raizada?”
Khushi happily nodded as Arnav lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bedroom, slamming the door behind him; Arshi didn’t need to know the details of what was to come next.
THE END
Likes/comments/criticism will be much appreciated 😃 Thanks for reading!
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