Part 37 Date Fixed

Shashi and Garima reached the Camp Office. Though Shashi had gone there many times, those were official visits but this was different. He was going there to create a relationship with the district Collector. He was going to become a Father-in-law to the collector. He didn't even think of such a change in his life. He wanted to search for a good groom for his daughter. He had no big expectations. He just wanted his son-in-law to be a nice man with a good character. That was all that he expected from his son-in-law but he never expected, Arnav Singh Raizada to marry his daughter.

Arvind and Ratna welcomed them. They treated them with juice.

Shashi forwarded a paper to Arvind. He took it from him even though he didn't know what was.

"I met our Pandit last evening and got some auspicious dates from him. There are four dates in the chit. You can fix the wedding on any date"

Arvind looked at the dates. There was only one date in the next week and other dates were in the next month.

"What about this one?" Arvind asked about the date that was in the next week. Shashi expected it.

Shashi nodded ok.

"All our relatives are in this district only. I will invite them to the wedding" Shashi said.

"How could you manage your office work in between the wedding work, Shashiji?"

"I have already sent my leave application to the Collector Sir" Shashi smiled.

Arvind laughed.

"Your collector has no chance other than sanctioning it"

"Don't say that Raizadaji. We can't guess our collector that easily. He will reject it if there is an important work in the office" Shashi said smilingly.

Arvind and Ratna spared a glance.

"First, ask the collector if the date is fine with him"

"I don't know about your collector, Shashiji but my son will tick the next week's date. Mark my words" Arvind said.

"That will be great..."

"Don't you want to invite your relatives to the wedding?" Garima asked.

"Of course, we will... they will attend the wedding"

"Won't they feel bad about fixing the wedding in a short period?"

"They would have been if Arnav is a common man... as he is a Collector, no one will open their mouth. People respect our POST, not our character... am I right?" Arvind said.

Shashi nodded yes.

"You know Shashiji, until Arnav finished IAS, no one gave heed to us even though I was a police inspector but now, I'm getting treated like I'm a God...! People made me an admin of all the WhatsApp groups too..." he laughed and others joined.

"Ok, Arvindji, we are leaving. I have to go to the office today to know about my leave application"

"Ok... convey our regards to our Daughter-in-law," Ratna said.

"Sure" Garima smiled.

They left the Camp Office.

Arvind called Arnav to convey the information. Arnav attended the call.

"Yes, Dad... what's the date?"

"The next Friday"

"Oh... That's fine"

"Yeah... your father-in-law doesn't want to disappoint you I suppose"

"He is a nice man"

"I agree... but I don't know if you will be NICE to him"

"but why?"

"He goes to the office to know about his leave application... poor him, he was not sure about his collector"

Arnav laughed.

"As you wanted, he fixed the wedding soon. Sanction his leave and let him work for his daughter's wedding. Don't be strict..."

"Strict with Mr. Gupta? No way, Dad... what if he refused to give his daughter's hand?"

"Oh... it seems there is someone who could make the great collector scared?"

"He is a nice man... that's why... if he is a haughty man, I would not have cared about him," Arnav said.

"Mmm... shall we start arrangements?"

"Yeah..."

"We decided to invite our relatives through Phone"

"Think twice before doing that"

"Why? Don't you want them to attend your wedding?"

"We will arrange a reception in Delhi later, Dad. First, let the marriage happen simply"

"Ok... I will drop the message in our family groups. Those who are interested will come"

"Your wish"

"Ok, will you come for lunch?"

"Maybe..."

"Won't you give assurance for even lunch?"

Arnav chuckled.

"I will come..."

"Ok, bye" Arvind disconnected the call.

Arnav knew Arvind would have called him immediately after Guptas left the Camp office. So, Khushi would be alone at home. So, he called her but she was at Payal's house, talking with her.

Khushi's phone rang. She saw the name and hid it which made Payal doubt it.

"Whose call?" Payal asked.

Khushi nodded her head.

"It must be collector sir's call... right?" She asked.

Khushi bit her lip.

"Attend it... I will just come" Payal left the room, giving her a space to talk to Arnav.

The phone stopped ringing. Khushi made sure that Payal left. She sighed in relief and dialed Arnav back. Arnav attended the call and asked,

"Are you busy, Khushi?"

"No... I'm at Payal's house."

"Oh... how is she?"

"Fine"

"Any special reason for your visit?"

"No... just a normal visit"

"Nice... our wedding is fixed the next week"

Khushi was stuck.

"Next week?" she murmured.

"Yes, next week..."

"Mmm"

"We will have to go to Delhi for our Wedding Reception"

"When?"

"Maybe next month"

"Mmm"

"I'm going to take off for a week"

"Babuji also applied for a week off"

"Yeah... I just sanctioned his leave" he smiled, signing Shashi's leave application.

"Thank you"

"Excuse me, you don't have to thank me... I sanctioned him the leave for me...or else, Mr. Gupta will not work for my wedding" he laughed.

Khushi controlled her chuckle.

"Khushi..."

"Haan?"

"Relax... ok? Don't take tension. I'm here for you"

"Thanks..." Khushi smiled.

That was when someone knocked on Arnav's cabin door. Aman peeped in.

"I will call you later," Arnav said.

"Jee" Khushi disconnected the call.

"Tell me, Aman" Arnav asked.

"Sir, someone called Ramkishan wants to meet you"

"Who is Ramkisahn?"

"Don't know sir. He wants to start a cracker shop in the town, sir. That's why he wants to meet you"

"The cracker shop permission is issued by the DRO (District Revenue Officer) right?"

"Yes, sir"

"Then, why does he want to meet me?"

"Just for a formality, sir"

Arnav became thoughtful.

"Ok... let him in"

"Ok sir"

"I will be on leave the next week"

"Ok, sir"

"My wedding is fixed for next week"

"Is it, sir?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"Congratulations, sir"

"Thanks"

"Shall I call Ramkishan, sir?"

"Yeah..."

Aman went out and called the man called Ramkishan. He got in and advanced Arnav politely.

"Namaste, sir"

"Namaste... take your seat"

"No, sir... I don't have the guts to sit in front of a Nobel man like you"

"You can leave if you don't sit" Said Arnav with a rigid expression.

"No no, sir" He sat in front of Arnav.

"Tell me... why do you want to meet me?"

"I wanted to meet the man who is lifting our district without expectations, sir"

"Expectations?" Arnav lifted his brows.

"Yes, sir... officers before you did everything, expecting something from others. They became multimillionaires but you are not like that. You are working for people. You are even ready to marry a middle-class girl...! who would be like you, sir...!"

"I asked the reason for your visit"

"I would like to start a cracker shop in the town, sir. I have submitted all the needed documents..."

"If you follow all the rules, you will get the license"

"Of course, sir... I build the shop, following all the rules. My shop has two entrances, no huts nearby, there are four fire extinguishers in the shop, and twenty sand buckets are kept outside the shop, no houses around the shop"

Arnav looked at Aman.

"Sir, if the fireman is examined once and approved, the DRO will sanction the license," Aman said.

"The process will happen soon. You can go" Arnav said.

"Thank you so much, sir..."

Arnav nodded ok.

"I have one request, sir"

"What?"

"Whenever I come to the collector's office, please allow me to meet you, sir"

Arnav shrank his eyes.

"I feel proud to meet you, sir"

"I can't assure you because it depends on my schedule"

"I understand sir... thank you so much"

Ramkishan left his cabin.

Aman looked at Arnav.

"Whenever he comes here, let him meet me," Arnav said making Aman awestruck. He knew Arnav didn't like such people who praised him on his face. Ramkishan was doing that extremely. Yet, Arnav wanted to meet him. Why? He didn't conclude.

To be continued...