The same night Anika was on the terrace. She missed him terribly. In just a few days they had gotten so close that she felt as if a part of her is missing when he was not here.
Just a week and he had made her realise what she was missing by not having any friends.
'Are you really just friends?'
'Haan. Toh aur kya?'
'Don't you feel anything else for him?'
She was confused. He was special to her but as more than friends? She didn't know.
In the past week if she was confused about something she asked him but whom should she ask when he was in question.
She sighed and started going to her room. She was passing by her parents room when she heard his name and stopped in her tracks.
"Bataiye na kya baat ki aapne Vaibhav ji se? Viraj aur Anika ke liye?"
(Tell me what did you talk to Vaibhav ji? About Viraj and Anika?)
"Bata rahe hai rani sahiba. Thodi sabr rakhiye."
(I am telling my queen. Be patient.)
"Bataiye na."
(Tell me.)
"Rishta bhijwa diya humne. Unhe koi pareshaani nhi hai. Keh rahe the ki Viraj se puchh kar bata denge. Ek baar unki haan aa jaaye phir aap bitto rani se bhi baat kr lena. Thik?"
(I have sent the alliance. They are fine with it. They were saying that they will let us know after asking Viraj. Once they say yes then you ask my princess. Ok?)
Anika didn't hear anything else and just went to her room. She slumped on the bed and a smile slowly formed on her lips.
'Raj aur hum? Lekin agar unhone mana kar dia toh?'
'Tum chahti ho wo haan kare? Kyu? Pasand karti ho unhe?'
She still was in conflict with her heart and mind. Her mind said that he was just a friend to her and her heart said that she had started liking him.
**************************************
The next day Viraj was working from home. He heard someone enter the room and saw his parents standing there.
"Kuch baat krni thi"
(We wanted to talk.)
Rashi said and Viraj nodded and made himself comfortable with his head on her lap.
"Kisi ko pasand karta hai? Ya koi hai teri zindagi mai?"
(Do you like someone? Or do you have someone in your life?)
Viraj was confused. Why was she asking all this so suddenly. But he couldn't tell them about Anika yet. He wanted to be sure about her feelings.
He shook his head and they smiled.
"Ek rishta hai tere liye. Pehle puri baat sun le phir decide kr lena."
(There is an alliance for you. First listen to the whole thing and then decide.)
Rashi said when he opened his mouth to intervene. He nodded again and this time Vaibhav said.
"Pratap ji ne Anika ki baat ki hai tere liye. Hume koi problem nhi hai. Tu soch kar bata dena."
(Pratap ji had sent Anika's alliance for you. We don't have any problem. Tu let us know.)
Viraj was shocked. He had not expected anything like this. When God himself was giving him a chance then who was he to deny it.
"Meri haan hai."
(Its a yes.)
He said immediately. Rashi hit his head and said.
"Badmash! Pasand karta tha toh pehle nhi bol skta tha."
(Naughty! If you liked her then why didn't you say.)
He smiled sheepishly and hugged her.
They went back to their rooms and decided to tell their decision the next day.
He opened his phone and kept looking at her picture that he clicked secretly.
"Hayee! Jaan lelo tum meri. I love you Anika."
(You will kill me.)
He whispered and hugged her picture close to his heart praying for her answer to be positive.
**************************************
The next day Vaibhav informed Pratap about their decision and they were overjoyed.
He asked his wife to talk to Anika.
Anika was in her room playing with Shera. Her mother came in and settled on the bed.
She patted the space next to her and Anika went to her and laid on her lap.
She knew what was coming.
"Viraj kaise lagte hai tumhe?"
(How do you find Viraj?)
Anika's heartbeat fastened listening to his name.
"Aisa kyu puchh rhi hai?"
(Why are you asking this?)
She maintained the facade. Sumitra smiled and caressed her hair.
"Batao toh sahi."
(Tell me.)
"Achha lagte hai."
(He is nice.)
"Shaadi ki baat chal rhi hai tumhari aur unki."
(We are thinking of your marriage with him.)
There was silence for some time. Anika was still conflicted. She knew her answer but she was not sure about her feelings for him.
(Isn't it difficult mumma? Suddenly spending your whole life with someone?)
Sumitra smiled and answered.
"Hota hai. Thoda mushkil hota hai. Pehle toh ladka ladki shaadi se pehle milte bhi nhi the. Shaadi ki pehli raat pata chalta tha ladka hai kaun."
(It is. A little difficult. Earlier girls didn't even meet her husband before marriage. They met each other directly on the wedding night.)
Anika was not worried about that. She knew Viraj and she had started trusting him too.
"Hum toh lucky the. Tumhare papa aur hum ek dusre se pehle mil chuke the. Aur phir hum unhe pasand bhi krne lage the. Toh itni mushkil nhi hui."
(We were lucky. Me and your father met before our marriage. And i liked him too. So it was less difficult.)
"Aapko kaise pata laga ki aap papa ko pasand karti hai?"
(How did you know you liked papa?)
Sumitra guessed that Anika was feeling conflicted.
"Hume unke saath samay bitana achha lagne laga tha. Unse baat krne ka dil karne laga tha. Jab wo dur hote the jo yaad aati thi. Aur jab saath hote the dil me gudgudi hoti thi."
(I liked spending time with him. Talking to him. When he was away i missed him. And when with me i felt butterflies.)
Anika thought about it and gasped as she realised.
"Hum Raj ko pasand karte hai. Hume unke saath time spend krna achha lagta hai. Baat krne ka bhi mann krta hai. Abhi bhut yaad bhi aa rhi hai. Aur jab wo saath the toh dil me gudgudi bhi hoti thi."
(I like Raj. I like spending time with him. Like talking to him. And i miss him. And when he is with me i feel butterflies.)
Anika then looked at her mother and asked like a curious child.
"Hum unhe pasand karte hai na?"
(I like him right?)
Sumitra smiled and nodded.
"Toh shaadi ke liye haan karde?"
(Should i say yes for marriage?)
Anika blushed and hid her face in her mother's stomach making her chuckle at her daughter.
She was still a child at heart.
Viraj couldn't contain his happiness when he got to know her answer.
He went to his room and immediately dialled her.
Anika was sitting in her room thinking about him when she heard the phone ringing.
Her heartbeat fastened as she walked towards the phone. Only he knew about the phone so she knew who was calling.
She picked it up with shaking hands.
"Hello! Anika!"
"Ji."
(Yes.)
"Please tell me tumne apni marzi se haan ki hai."
(Please tell me you said yes on your own wish.)
"Ji. Apni marzi se ki hai."
(Yes. On my own wish.)
He sighed in relief. It meant she too felt something for him. Right?
He decided to tease her a little.
"Wajah jaan sakta hu? Pasand karne lagi ho mujhe?"
(May i know the reason? Have you started liking me?)
Anika stood there wide eyed but she bit her lip and said.
"Wajah toh hum bhi puchh skte hai. Aap pasand krne lage hai hume?"
(I can also ask the reason. Do you like me?)
He chuckled and said.
"Not bad. Seekh rhi ho dheere dheere. Aur haan. Bhut pasand karte hai hum aapko."
(You are learning slowly. And yes. I like you a lot.)
This time she gasped out loud.
'How can he say this like that only'.
She disconnected the call and slumped on her hiding her blushing face in the pillow while Viraj laughed at her antics. ************************************** Please do leave your comments.
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