Luxurious Life
"Faizi, any idea where Karan is?"
"Uh, yeah... He is in the gym." Just as Monami turned around to leave, Faizi held her arm to stop her, "Monami, he is really disturbed about something. Maybe we should leave him be." Faizi gave her a worried look.
"I think I know why he is upset, Faizi. And maybe I can do something about it, I'll see you around!"
And like every other time Karan vented his frustration, Monami was greeted by the sight of her boyfriend aggressively working out on the battle ropes.
"Leave me alone, Monami." He huffed between shallow breaths.
"I know you are upset about what Papa said, but you don't have to be, Karan."
"Not now, Monami. I really don't want to talk about it."
"I left you alone the whole day, not anymore. I want to talk right now, Karan, your silence is killing me!"
Karan continued to whip the rope, annoying his girlfriend to no end. Finally, she just came forward and held his wrist in a tight grip to stop him.
Only to be rewarded with his famous Khadoos Shergill glare.
"Don't let my father's words affect you, Agent Karan Shergill. You, out of all peole, know how manipulative he can be!"
"You think he was being manipulative!? No Monami, he was stating facts!" Monami's heartbeat sped up when he freed his wrist from her grip.
He was pulling away.
Last night was a big show down between Karan, Monami and her father who somehow found out about their relationship.
Though Karan could smell Dr. Aneesh all over it from a mile away. Annoying little pest.
However, he wasn't scared to deal with Dr. Mahajan until he started spilling some hard hitting facts.
"That's not true, Karan. None of it was true."
His mind went back to the words her father spewed.
"You could have any eligible guy as your life partner, yet here you are, wasting time with an Army guy."
He looked straight at Karan, "Monami, ek kamyab doctor hai, meri legacy hai, mere baad hospital woh chalayegi, usse shaadi karne ke liye reputed families ke ladke line mei khade ho jayenge. They can give her everything she wants in life, what will you give her? A life of compromises. A 1BHK in your army quarters."
"Mark my words Monami, tum iske saath char din bhi nahi tik paogi. I have raised you in luxury, given you everything you wanted, there hasn't been a day you struggled to earn a penny!" He scoffed. "Do you think you will be able to survive a lifetime with a middle class Army man!?"
And that had hit him hard. Although Karan wasn't egoistic at all, Dr. Mahajan had hurt his self-respect by questioning his ability to provide a good life for Monami. He knew she didn't need his money, after all she was a successful doctor, heir to her father's hospital and had her own money. But insinuating such a thing was like a physical blow to his gut.
"Monami, your father is right. Every person tries to give the best to their family, Bhabhi and I do the same for Baby. The only difference is that you and your father can afford the expensive kind of best. That's not wrong, but that is not the kind of best I can give you."
"Karan, I don't need you to buy me the best. Yes, my father gave me the most expensive clothes and cars, I studied at the most prestigious college and my dad will hand over the hospital to me one day. But guess what, I still have my own salary! And as much as Papa likes to tell me otherwise, I am not financially dependant on him anymore."
Monami walked closer to him and hugged him from behind, "I don't care what or how much you can afford. Mere paas jo hai, mai ussi mei khush hu."
He turned and put some distance between them, "Aaj khush ho, aur kal ko yeh sab kam lage toh? Look at me, humari first date bhi thik se execute nahi kar paya."
"Karan, hota hai kabhi kabhi aisa. Nobody could have predicted ki gaadi kharab ho jayegi. But our first date was perfect! I enjoyed every minute of it."
"What about the future? What if you want to buy something expensive that I can't give you? What if you want to buy something that I think is unnecessary expenditure?"
"So what? Hum disagree karenge, argue karenge and eventually figure out kar lenge."
"Kehna aasaan hai Monami. Compromises can keep you happy only for so long. Shaadi ke baad tumhe mera ghar, meri salary choti lagne lagegi. I live a simple, minimalistic life, Monami."
She held his hand in her small ones, "Karan, so what if we won't have the luxuries.... I will be happy with you. Haa, maybe humara ghar chota hoga, maybe mere paas bada sa wardrobe nahi hoga ya branded kapde aur car nahi honge... But I will still have you, Karan."
She saw the uncertainty pooling in his eyes.
"I have spent six months in this academy, Karan. Minimalistic life with average quality food from the mess, no air conditioners in the room, no access to malls and spending my days in a sweaty uniform. I love my life here.
I have also lived the most luxurious life my father could afford, big house, expensive gifts, foreign trips and everything. Still, I had everything but love, Karan.
Mom ke jaane ke baad, sab kuch mila par kabhi bhi pyaar nahi mila. These materialistic things aren't a luxury for me Karan. Love is a luxury. And all I will ever need is your love. I am sure I can manage to live with lesser facilities, but not without your love."
Karan could feel warmth spread inside his chest. It felt like all his insecurities had just been put to rest.
He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight.
"Then you are going to very rich, Cadet Monami Mahajan. Because I have a lot of love to give you, a lot more than your father's net worth. I am going to spoil you rotten with my love." His soft lips pecked her forehead affectionately.
"In future, if you continue to love me as much as you do right now, I am sure I will live the most luxurious life with you." Monami's sparkly eyes started at him.
"I will love my wife more than I love my girlfriend, Rani Sahiba." He said with a smirk.
"Woah! Karan, you are moving too fast!"
"You just said you love me a lot. So do I. So, don't you think we are pretty much set for life?" He wiggle his eyebrows.
"You know what, I love a lot..." She playfully pushed him off her, "But not enough to tolerate your sweaty, stinky hugs. Go and take a shower Special Agent Shergill, you're very unhygienic!"
He chuckled and watched as she made her way to the treadmill.
No Material Can Fill The Void of Love.
- - - - - - - - -
THE END.
A/N: I got this idea while watching the first date episode when Monami said, "Mere liye jagah matter nahi karti."
Monami clearly lacked affection from her dad. Thankfully she has someone like Sid.
P.S. Cap taken from Twitter.
I haven't edited it yet, please excuse the typos.
Criticism is welcome. I hope this one was better than the last one 😅
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