But please tum summers mein Indore toh chale hi jaana –

Tumhari birthday party ke paise bach jaayenge – waise bhi aaj kal kharcha bohat badh raha hain."

He spoke mockingly and laughed loudly, as my irritation level increased.

"Hey Bhagwan – kanjoosi ki bhi hadd hoti hain!" I gave a frowning look.

After 15 seconds, I gave him a stern look and spoke –

"Acha Abhi listen..." I held his hand and continued.

"I am serious this time –

"What if teri boli hui har baat sach ho gayi?"

"What if all your words turn into reality?" I seriously questioned him, to which he commented –

"Matlab...?"

I continued –

"Matlab yeh ki –

What if I seriously go to Indore in the summers?

What if – meri family ko koi ladka sach mein pasand aa jaaye?

What if – he matches to all my filters?

What if – this rishta turns into MARRIAGE?"

And what if – I seriously get married to this guy?"

At first, he simply nodded to all my serious questions, and then answered –

"Toh isme problem kya hain?"

Before I would comment on his answer, he himself started speaking –

"Your Dad would be happy – that you are getting married.

Your mom would be happy – that everything is happening properly.

Your joint family would be happy – that finally, you listened to them and you understood their concern towards you."

His answers shocked me and I exclaimed suddenly –

"What about me?"

"Dad, mom, family – yeh sab toh thik hain – but what about me?"

He solemnly spoke –

"Look Ayesha, iss baat ki mujhe gurantee hain –

That your dad will get you married to the person – who will keep you happy.

I am sure – woh teri pasand/napasand ka dhyan rakhenge.

And, since you yourself mentioned previously – that

'This man will match to all your filters'

So, I am sure – the marriage will not be against your will.

Right?"

"And what about you Abhi? Kya tujhe yeh sab chalega?" I anxiously asked him, desperate for his answer.

"Haan...obviously."

"If everything is going smoothly – and at the end, you are happy – then why would I have a problem?"

Not only the answer which he spoke, but also the way in which he gave his answer – both of them disappointed me.

I solemnly spoke –

"Look Abhi..." I removed my hand from his hand.

"I am not sure, whether you are serious or still kidding"

"Main nahi jaanti ki tu sirf Mazak kar raha hain – ya tu serious hain – apni baaton mein"

"But sach kahu toh...mujhe tujhse yeh answer ki umeed nahi thi –"

"I was not expecting this answer from you."

I gave a frowning look and turning back, I simply declared –

"Chal Bye Abhi"

I turned back, and started walking towards the car.

After I walked for a few steps, he exclaimed loudly –

"Ayesha...suno" since I did not stop, he again said –

"Ayesha...

At least meri puri baat toh sun ke jao –"

All of a sudden, I stopped and turned.

"Ab aur bhi kuch bolna baaki hain? I spoke, with an annoying look.

"Haan...if you could just wait...for one minute" he actioned with his fingers, to come back, for a moment.

"Karo complete" I stated.

He completed –

"Haan...basically I just wanted to complete my statements adding 2 more points to it.

With a serious look on my face, I waited for his answer.

Number 1 –

Aisa bhi toh possible hain na Ayesha,

Ki tumhare aur tumhare family ke sabhi filters ko match, ek aisa ladka kare –

Jisko tum already jaanti ho.

Basically, tumhare Dad ne tumhe INDORE bulaya hain – ladka dekhne ke liye.

Toh aisa bhi toh possible hain na – ki ladka khud MUMBAI ka ho – aur tumhare family se milne, woh INDORE aaya ho.

He tried – not to stare into my eyes and looked at his shoes, watch and other accessories – just to flaunt at himself.

While I was the one – who had started imagining love in my mind.

"Maine check kiya tha Ayesha...

Mumbai to Indore ki flight tickets – bohat expensive nahi hain.

Toh I caaaaaaaan travel to Indore" the way he stressed on the word CAN – made me happily mad at him.

With the cute dimples on my cheeks, I asked him –

"Aur kuch kehna hain tujhe ABHI?"

"Haan...Number 2 –"

He walked, and was standing very close to me.

I could actually feel his heartbeats – when he held my hand, pulled me closer towards him, his 6 feet body posture – one of the most handsome figure – I had ever seen.

He tangled my hair, in his fingers and lifting them, behind my right ear – whispered –

"Ayesha, mujhe kisi ne kaha tha, (because I was the one, who had told him this statement)

Mujhe kisi ne kaha tha -

That it takes, 21 days for an action –

To become a habit (आदत)

And 84 days,

To become a lifestyle (ज़िंदगानी)."

Now I could actually sense him breathing, as I could myself feel his breath. It was an intimate moment, when both of us, did not care – where were we and was anybody staring at us?

"So, Ms. Ayesha Thakur –

(my heartbeats increased, my lips turned wet and I put my hands, around his shoulder, while he held my waist)

Kya tum meri NORMAL banne ki iss AADAT ko –

Apni zindagi mein, humesha ke liye, apna-na chahogi?"

PURE BLISS OF SOILITUDE!

Wherein both of us, stared into each other's eyes.

I had no idea, what would have happened, and suddenly, when I closed my eyes and lifted my heels up to reach his height, just to cuddle him.

And then, finally -

"The LOVE BIRDS of INFOSYS"

Kabir Chuadhary shouted loudly.

#Sabotaged

Suddenly, I turned back, to see Shreya and Kabir sitting in the car – waiting for me to join in, to go back home.

Shreya got down from the car and walked towards us, while both of us - came back to our normal state and posture.

Both of us were a little embarrassed and shy, when Shreya mockingly spoke –

"Baccho...

Yeh sab chize public place mein karna mana hain.

Aur ulanghan karne par – bharna padega jurmana"

(That typical dialogue of cigarette smoking, when all the three of us laughed)

"Bye Abhimanyu" I waved my hand, while he did not speak anything as we turned back, walking towards the car.

Abhi simply stared at us, and suddenly, what came into my mind – I have no idea – but I rushed back running towards him and exclaimed romantically –

"Now listen Mr. ABHIMANYU MANTRI...

Tumhari inn baaton ki,

Ek AADAT si ho chuki hain.

Toh zindagi mein kabhi bhi,

Mujhe is AADAT se,

Chutkara mat dilana!"

"Raaton ki aawargi ki AADAT,

Toh hum dono ko thi.

Afsos toh sirf ek hi baat ka hain –

Chand ko Grahan

aur mujhe Ishq ho gaya"

TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.