Part 32 Proposal

"You know me... I would not get into anything without thinking. I love Khushi and want to marry her...I hope you won't COMPLICATE it..." he said calmly.

Shashi was stunned. He knew Arnav's working style. He knew Arnav loved Khushi but, he had not talked to Khushi about it yet. So, he was confused about what to do because he didn't want to give words to Arnav before talking to Khushi. As a father, he wanted to know Khushi's stand on this matter clearly. He looked at Khushi who was bowing down nervously.

"Sir, I can't say anything without knowing my daughter's stand. I need to talk to her first" Shashi said.

"Khushi knows I love her..." Arnav didn't hesitate to say that.

That made the trio stunned.

"Yes, I proposed to her but she has not accepted my proposal. She is worrying about you I suppose. She didn't want you to think differently about the social work she is doing unconditionally. She is not wrong. People will think rubbish... and talk rubbish...! I don't want to give it a chance. So, I came here to know your opinion about this matter. I mean... I want to know what's YOUR (stressing) opinion in this matter, Mr. Gupta"

"This is about my daughter's life, Sir. I can't decide anything without my daughter's consent because many things should be considered in this marriage. You are a collector. Your life will not be a normal one. You would be busy like hell and it will affect your family life. Your life partner should be ready to face it..."

Cutting him,

"Do you think, being a straightforward collector, your daughter will face trouble?"

"No, sir... not at all... I'm not thinking about your straightforward nature. In fact, I'm proud of you for being straightforward. If Khushi is ready to marry you, I have no problem. I will give her hand to you wholeheartedly"

Arnav looked at Khushi and called her,

"Khushiiii..."

"Haan?" she looked at him jerking.

"Your father has no problem in giving your hand to me. Now, tell me. Will you marry me?"

Khushi looked at her parents dumbfounded. Garima was stunned... she was seeing such a daring man in her life for the first time but Shashi was calm. Arnav's action didn't shake him. After all, he handled Dev like a fierce fellow without fear. Then why would he be hesitating with the girl he loved?

"If Babuji..."

Cutting her,

"Your father already cleared his stand. I'm asking for your acceptance. Tell me whether you are ready to marry me or not... without betting around the bush..."

Khushi looked down suffocating. Shashi folded his lip to control his smile. Garima, who was restlessly looking at her, said,

"She will marry you,"

Arnav looked at her astonishingly. At least, there was someone like him in the Gupta family.

Shashi and Khushi looked at her, getting amazed.

"Are you sure? Don't you get cleared it from your daughter?" Arnav asked.

"Yes... if she is hesitating to accept you, considering us, we will make it happen. But what about your parents? Will they be fine with this wedding?" Garima asked directly.

"They have already started from Delhi. They will be here in an hour. I will bring them here at 10 o'clock to finalize the proposal. Before that, I would like to get to know your stand"

Guptas were thunderstruck. Were his parents coming to finalize the proposal...? That too, today itself? They just gave their acceptance...! Then, how did he ask them to come here? Was he so confident about the proposal?

Why won't he be confident? After all, he was Arnav Singh Raizada...!

Arnav raised his brows as they stood like statues.

"Ok, I will come with my parents at 10'o clock," he said.

Garima nodded ok delighted.

"I have to go..."

"One minute..." Garima stopped him.

Arnav looked at her.

"You came to our house for the first time and going to marry our daughter... we can't let to go without having anything...!"

Arnav smiled and sat on the couch.

"Tea is fine," he said.

"Khushi... go and prepare tea for him"

"No... I don't want her to prepare it" Arnav said and they looked at him perplexed.

"It's you who want me to have tea here. So, let me have it from my mother-in-law's hand" he smiled, looking at Khushi whose cheek rose into rose color hearing him addressing Garima as Mother-in-law.

Garima was delighted. She nodded ok smilingly and rushed to the kitchen. Khushi smiled biting her lip.

"Take your seat, Mr. Gupta," Arnav said.

Shashi sat in front of him smilingly and asked,

"Is everything all right, sir?"

Arnav looked at him lifting his brows.

"No doubt, you take actions imperiously but every action of yours would have a REASON. You never took action without a SOLID reason. That's why I think, your action of asking my daughter's hand would also have such a reason"

Arnav was truly impressed by Shashi and Khushi was alerted. Did Arnav have such a reason for his fast action? Did Sultan's call have something with this issue? Khushi became thoughtful.

"I love Khushi... I will be in this district for one and a half years only. This is her district... her native...! I want her to be respected in her native... that's why I'm hurrying" he didn't want to make them restless by telling them about Dev's plan. So, he said another reason. He wanted to sort out the issue without bringing it to their knowledge.

Garima came with a teacup and extended it to him.

"Thank you" Taking it, Garima sipped it.

"Good tea..."

"Khushi also prepares good tea"

"That's nice... I also prepare tea..."

"Really?" Garima asked wondering.

"But, it's Khushi who should say whether it tastes good or not" he smiled.

"Very impressive"

"I help my mother in cooking if I go home" Arnav sipped the tea and looked at Shashi.

"Your points are so valid, Mr. Gupta. Being a collector, it will be a little hard for me to handle family side by side... but I will try to cope" he took another sip.

Shashi smiled. Garima liked Arnav very much. Finishing the tea, Arnav stood up.

"We will be here at 10 o'clock sharp"

"You are so simple without the pride of a Collector. I like it, Damadji" Garima said smilingly.

"Thank God, there is someone in this house who doesn't see me as a Collector," Arnav said smilingly looking at Shashi and Khushi.

"Because I never worked with you," Garima said.

"Yeah, these guys make me feel like they are my staff. So. I too am maintaining Mr. Gupta instead of Uncle" Arnav chuckled.

Shashi suffocated. He felt hard to call him Damadji as he used to call him Sir.

"Bye..." Arnav said.

Shashi and Garima nodded ok. Looking at Khushi, Arnav nodded his head slightly and left.

Shashi sat on the couch huffing with a thud.

"I just can't believe he asked for Khushi's hand," Garima said with disbelief.

"I too can't believe it," Shashi said.

He looked at Khushi and asked,

"We know you, Khushi. How did you think we would misunderstand you? Don't we know our daughter?"

"Khushi smiled.

"And, more than that, everyone knows Collector sir is not an easy nut to crack..."

"But, people may talk intentionally..." Khushi said.

"We don't have to care about those who talk INTENTIONALLY... because they are not right and we no need to give heed to the wrong person"

Khushi was silent.

"He is not a person who could be trapped. He will do anything only if he is completely fine with it. It's about professional matters... if it is so, how would he decide about his marriage...? Won't I understand that?"

Khushi smiled.

"He is a nice man. I'm proud that I raised my daughter in a good way that attracted a good-hearted man"

Khushi blushed looking down.

"Garima, tell me what to do... what should be bought"

Garima took a notepad and listed out the things that should be bought. Shashi looked at Khushi and said,

"Go and get ready, beta. His parents will be here soon. We don't have time" Shashi said.

Khushi nodded ok and went to her room. She was thrilled. She was going to be Arnav Singh Raizada... Mrs. Collector...! She could not believe it. She rushed to the washroom to take a bath but she came out and searched for good clothes in her cupboard. She chose a nice suit to wear when his parents arrived and kept it on the bed. Then again went to the washroom with satisfaction.

...........

On the other side, Arnav's driver, Krish was waiting, standing next to the car, whereas Arnav was on call, standing under a tree that was a little aloof from the car. His voice was inaudible to Krish and he didn't intend to hear it. He was looking at their surroundings cautiously.

"Prince, I want the list of IDs that's going to be created from my district in the upcoming two days"

"List of IDs? But why?"

"There is a ploy going behind my back to degrade me"

"What's the connection between your character and the ID?"

"They are going to do it through Social Media"

"Oh..."

"We don't have to care about the ORGINAL IDs but if it is FAKE, let me know"

"It's not a big deal... I will check the IDs with their phone number and Email IDs... then it will not be a big deal to find it out"

"Please don't be careless... it's not only about my reputation but also about my going to be wife"

"Going to be wife?"

"Yes,"

"My God... when is the wedding?"

"Very soon... that's why somebody is trying to do this"

"Leave it on me... I will take care of it..."

"Are not you busy?"

"Will going to be busy with your work... don't worry, I will take OFF to complete your work"

"Thank you, Prince..."

"Don't be formal, ok?" Prince disconnected the call smiling.

Arnav huffed in relief. At the same time, he received a call from Arvind. It seemed they reached...! He headed to the Camp Office to meet his parents.

To be continued...