Author's pov

"What happened?" Mrs. Kohli asked him, confused, and let him in.

"Pack your bag. We are leaving for India." Henry replied excitedly.

"India?" Namrita asked, confused, and came out of her room.

"Yeah, I need Mrs. Kohli's help because I'm going to ask for Samriddhi's hand from her family..........."

"Oh, my God." Both mother and daughter squealed in happiness and cut him off.

"Let me complete," he interrupted, "and Mrs. Kohli, please teach me the proper way to ask them because I want to do it properly. I don't want to give them a single reason to reject me. I know how much her family matters to her, and I want to make her mine with their blessings." Henry completed.

"First of all, you can't ask them for her hand....."

"Why?" Henry cut her off.

"Because in a proper Indian way. Your parents will go and ask for her hand." Namrita replied.

"Yes, she is right. First, tell your parents to go with you. They will ask, and the rest are just things that can be arranged." Mrs. Kohli replied.

"Things?" Henry asked, confused.

"You can't go empty-handed, of course. You have to take sweets or gifts." Kohli Aunty replied, and Henry nodded.

"OK. Thanks, Mrs. Kohli. You get ready, and I'm going to my parents. Smith will come to pick you up." He said that while hurriedly going out.

"No, wait, Henry." Mrs. Kohli stopped him, and he turned.

"Yes?"

"We can't go to her house like this. At least we have to tell them about our arrival." Mrs. Kohli replied.

"But I want it to be a surprise for Samriddhi." Henry replied.

"Then tell Abhinav. He will manage everything there." Namrita suggested.

"You go; I'll talk to him." Mrs. Kohli assured him.

"Thank you so much; you are a lifesaver." He said that, kissed her cheek, and ran.

He reached his parents' house.

"Mom...mom...mom..." He calls her impatiently.

"What happens?" Robert asked while coming out into the hall.

"Where is mom?" He asked impatiently.

"She is with mom. Wait, I'll call her." Robert replied and told a maid to call Kate.

"Hi there, my boy." Kate came and hugged him.

"Mom, dad, pack your bags; we are leaving for India." He said it directly.

"Why?" Kate asked, confused.

"Yeah, why?" Robert asked too.

"You are going to ask Samriddhi's hand from her family......."

"Why suddenly India? And samriddhi......." Robert cut him off, but Kate interrupted.

"Oh my God, when did you propose to her?" Kate asked, cutting Robert off.

"Mom, not yet." He replied to his mother, "And dad, she is not here. She went back to India almost two months ago, and before you ask anything further, let me tell you one thing. We have a very long journey ahead of us. We will discuss everything then. Now meet me at the airport ASAP." He replied, running out of the mansion.

"Beck, did you get that?" He called Beck.

"Yes, boss," she replied from the other side.

"Smith is on his way. Hand it over to him."

"OK, boss." She replied, and he cut the call.

He packs his bag and runs to the airport. His parents were already there, and then Smith came with Mrs. Kohli.

"Boss." He gave him the small box, and Henry nodded and took that box.

Before boarding the plane, he texted Samriddhi that he was going again on a business trip in Australia and would contact her after coming back from there.

Then they all boarded the plane, and Mrs. Kohli told them all the Indian ways of asking a girl's hand for marriage. Henry is learning everything keenly because he doesn't want to give them a second thought. He wants his tigress to be his with her whole family's consent.

Kate is happy for his son. She had never seen him so happy, excited, and nervous at the same time.

On Monday morning, Samriddhi left for work. Abhinav came home.

"Masii, we are expecting some guests," Abhinav said.

"Kon aa rya Abhi? (Who is coming, Abhinav?)" Geetanjali asked.

"Samriddhi nu ni dasna hle, but Kohli Aunty nal Henry aa rya. (We are not telling Samriddhi, but Henry is coming with Kohli Aunty.)" He replied.

"Kyu? (Why?)" she asked, confused.

"Samjh jao. (Just get it.)" He replied with a wink and ran towards her grandparents' room. "Namaste Nani Maa, Nana Ji." He greeted them and foot-wished them.

"Namaste beta ji (son)," they both greeted him back. "Sakshi te Sanvi ni aae. (Sakshi and Sanvi didn't come?)" Savitri asked.

"They will come later, but first we have another business." Abhinav replied.

"What beta?" Roshan asked.

"A boy named Henry is coming with Kohli Aunty to ask for Simmi's hand." Abhinav replied.

"Oh kithe mandi hai (she is not listening to us). I have tried my best and shown her the best men to get married, but no, she always denied it. Even your Nani sent me pictures of a boy. Before I could start that topic, she shut it down." Savitri sighed.

"She will agree this time." Abhinav replied confidently and looked at his Massi.

She came forward and continued, "Hmmm. She liked this boy and asked my permission before, and I told her I'm with her. Whatever she decides, " Geetanjali said this to her parents hesitantly because she still feels afraid to talk to them about such a topic.

"Now he is coming with his family to ask for her hand. In a proper way. Before asking Simmi, he wanted to ask your permission. So that's why he is coming with Kohli Aunty." Abhinav replied, and the old couple is looking at each other surprised. They wonder when that happened.

"For how long has all of this been happening?" Roshan asked, and Geetanjali gulped. "Is that the reason she has been denying it for years?"

"You know the reason for her denial, but none of you want to admit it." Abhinav spoke, and Roshan looked at him.

"Abhi!" Geetanjali whispered to make him quiet, but Abhinav ignored her pleadings today.

"For the first time someone is able to remove her insecurities and fears, please don't throw her into that darkness again when she is finally ready to hold someone's hand." Abhinav said.

"How can I instantly give my daughter's hand to a complete stranger? Whom I don't even know?" Savitri asked.

"Yeah, she is right. We don't know anything about them. How can we agree to this? We don't know anything about that man and his family. What does he do? And where does he live?" Roshan agreed with his wife and asked.

"He is a businessman, Nanu." Abhinav replied, "And he has two brothers. One elder and one younger. They all have their own separate businesses. They are well-known personalities not just in America but also in the whole world." Abhinav said, and they all looked at him, shocked.

"Kya??? (What??) He is a billionaire." Geetanjali asked, shocked.

"Yeah, massi." Abhinav nodded.

"No, we can't marry our daughter in an insanely rich family. Where we have no match." Roshan replied, "Relationships always suit equally-status families. I don't want to make my daughter feel inferior among those high-class people."

"Papa Ji (father) is right." Geetanjali agreed with her father. "I didn't know about that. We cannot match their prestige, Abhi. How could Simmi..."

"Masii, they both don't fall for their money, status, or looks. They fall for who they are and their values." Abhinav tried to make them understand.

"But this can't change the fact that we are nothing in front of them." Geetanjali argued, and her father agreed.

"Masii, try to understand. They are not what you guys are assuming. I met him and his younger brother, and seriously, they are the most humble and down-to-earth people. I never met someone as serious and polite at the same time as Henry. He is perfect for our Simmi."

"When will you meet him?" Roshan asked.

"When I came to know he liked Simmi, she was running from him. I investigated him. Which I found very promising. He is a successful man with zero scandals, but information can be deceiving, so I personally went to meet him. He received me politely, though I was uninvited, and not just that, he canceled his important meeting to talk to me." Abhinav said. "Nanu, he is the best person for our daughter; trust me, and they are not coming here in the greed of dowry, that I can assure you."

"Per yaar smjhan di koshish ker. Ida-kida kudi nu inni dur viyah diye? Tenu pta ni usdi Maa da kon hai usto bina. Isnu kon dekhe ga? Asi ta aaj ha Kal nhi, pal da bharosa ni.
(Try to understand man. How can we marry our daughter this far? Don't you know her mother has no one besides her? Who will take care of her? (We are here today but not tomorrow; life is too unpredictable.)" Roshan argued.

"Nanu, am I not here for you guys?" Abhinav asked, a little hurt.

"Yes, of course, Beta, you take care of us more than your parents, but it's a fact that we can't let go of our daughter this far." Roshan tried to justify himself.

"Nanu, do you really think she left you guys like this? Hun v oh uthe job beshak ker ri c but usda Sara dhiyan ethe hi c (she was maybe doing the job there, but her all attention was here.) And you know that very well. She didn't let you know anything about any work; she takes care of everything even while sitting far from home. Even Dr Come home for your regular check-ups." Abhinav sighed. "Nanu, Henry is the only person who takes care of her insecurities and overthinking. You know what? If not him, then no one else is at his place. You know her very well." He turned and looked at Geetanjali and said, "Massi, don't snatch the only happiness in her life."

"But Abhii........."

"Not buts." Her mother cut her off and continued, "We meet him and then decide. If my girl really wants this, then I have no issue," Savitri declared because, for her, her granddaughter's happiness matters above anything.

"Per Maa..." Geetanjali said

"No per war (no ifs and buts).That's final," Savitri said, and no one crossed her word, not even her husband. "The first time in life, my daughter wants something, and I'll give her that at any cost." She turned to her husband and said, "Suno ji. We had found one for Geetanjali too, and what happened? We all know, and Simmi also has that fear in her heart. Now if this boy really vanishes that fear from her heart, then I'll gladly marry him to her." She finishes and asks Abhinav. "Abhi, when will they arrive?"

"Soon Nani. Their flight might land soon." He replied.

"Good, then start preparations and call Simmi to come back." Savitri said.

"Nhi nhi Nani, we can't tell her." He said it hurriedly.

"Kyu? (Why?)" Geetanjali asked.

"Ummm, it's a surprise for her. After taking your permission, Henry wanted to purpose to her." He replied, scratching his neck.

"Aaj Kal de bache (kids nowadays.)" Roshan said, chuckling and shaking his head.

Savitri is excited, but her husband and daughter still have doubt in their hearts.

Then they started preparing for the guests' arrival, and finally, two black Audis stopped in front of their main gate.

"Madam ji 2 kali gadiyan khdi hai hmare gate k aage (madam, 2 black luxury cars stopped in front of our gate.)" Their maid, Sangeeta, came in running and said,.

They all go to the gate to receive guests.

Kohli Aunty comes forward and greets Samriddhi's grandparents first, "Namaste Uncle-Aunty."

"Namaste beta." They greeted her back.

"Hello, Geetanjali." She came forward and then hugged Samriddhi's mother, and she hugged her back.

"Hi, Sunita Didi. Thanks for taking care of my daughter." Geetanjali replied.

"She is mine too." Kohli Aunty replied, and Abhinav came forward and foot-wished her and greeted her, "Namaste, Kohli Aunty."

"Namaste Abhi beta." She replied, blessing him.

Then Henry's parents came forward and greeted her grandparents first by folding their hands and saying, "Namaste 🙏."

"Namaste," they replied, bowing their heads and taking them in.

Then comes Henry. He first went to her grandparents and greeted them. "Namaste 🙏."

"Namaste beta." Both husband and wife replied lovingly.

But what Henry did next, they didn't expect that from him. He bows down and foot-wishes them. They are surprised by his action, but they lovingly pat his head and give him blessings.

Abhinav is shocked to see Henry's gesture, and he pats his back in his mind and thinks, "Wow, come with full preparation."

Then Henry came forward towards Geetanjali and greeted her the same way.
"Namaste," and bow down to touch her feet.

"Namaste beta." She replied and blessed him. "May you always be happy."

"It's nice to meet you, Mam. I have heard a lot about you." Henry said to Geetanjali:.

"Same here, beta." Geetanjali replied with a smile.

And you know what they say: the first impression is the last impression, and Henry had a very good impression on them. Whatever doubt Geetanjali and her father had, it vanished in a second. Savitri is impressed by the choice of her daughter. 

Being a foreigner and a business tycoon. He bowed and touched their feet in a proper Indian way. It wins their hearts.

Then Robert greeted her, "Namaste."

"Namaste. " She greeted me back.

"Oh my God, it's finally a pleasure to meet you. You are such an inspiration; you raised such a nice and strong girl." Kate hugged her.

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Brown. It's a pleasure to meet you too." Geetanjali replied.

Then Abhinav meets Mr. and Mrs. Brown. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Brown." He bowed and touched their feet.

"You don't have to, dear," Kate said.

"It's part of our lives." He replied, smiling, and they both blessed him.

Then he turned to Henry. They both shook hands first and then hugged. "Good to see you again, man."

"Me too," Henry replied.

The whole family settled, and Robert asked for Samriddhi's hand directly. They can't wait to make her part of their family.

Kohli Aunty explained to them everything about his family and parents. Their work and all.

"We accept this marriage proposal." Roshan replied, and everyone is happy.

Abhinav brings sweets, and everyone eats them.

"Well, we Indians celebrate each good news with sweets." Mrs. Kohli said, and Robert chuckled and ate a lot of sweets.

"Then I'll eat whole; after all, I'm getting one more daughter, for whom I had been waiting for years," Robert said, and everyone smiled.

Henry gets up and goes to Geetanjali and asks, "I need your blessings."

"You have beta," she replied.

"No, I want to propose to her for marriage, and I need your blessings first before asking her." He replied, showing a ring in a small box.

"You have my blessings, beta." Geetanjali replied with teary eyes.

He got up and came outside with Abhinav. "The preparations are already going on at central perk." Henry said. "But how do you call her there?"

"Call Neha. Only she can manage." Abhinav replied and gave him her number.

On the other hand, Neha frowned at seeing an unknown number, but she picked it up anyway. "Hello?"

"Hi, is it Neha? I'm Henry."

She gasped, looked at the phone screen in disbelief, and asked, "You mean Henry. Henry?"

"Yeah." He chuckled. "I need a favor. Can you please bring Samriddhi to Central Perk after her work?"

"Are you in India?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yes."

"But she said you were in Australia?" Neha asked, confused.

"It's a surprise for her, so please, can I count on you?" Henry asked.

"Yeah, of course." She replied happily, and he cut the call.

He is waiting for her in the Central Perk when he gets a video call from Neha.

He saw Samriddhi jamming to some song and enjoying it. She is looking so sweet while singing that song, and she is all lost in it.

Neha cut the call when they arrived, and Samriddhi ran insanely after seeing Smith outside.

With teary eyes, she took steps towards his table, and he looked at her with love.

"Hii." She whispered meekly and sat in front of him.

"Hii tigress." He replied, holding her hand and giving her a big box full of chocolates. "For you."

She giggled, looking at the box and looking at him, and asked, "What is it?"

"Chocolates of all those days when I didn't meet you. In short, from the day I left to today," he replied, and she gasped.

"Oh my gosh, 56 chocolates." She is happy and shocked. "Are you mad, Henry?"

"Yes, insanely for you." He replied, kissing her knuckles, and she blushed. "It's my daily routine to give you chocolate, and how could I miss this?"

"Thank you." She replied, smiling.

Then a waiter came to her and asked, "Dii, what can I bring you?"

"My usual." She replied with a smile, and he left.

"Dii?" Henry asked.

"Yeah, all my employees here call me Dii." She replied, and he nodded. "But wait, you said you were going to Australia?" She asked, frowning.

"That's a surprise for you." He replied, and hearing him, the tears started flowing, which she was holding back.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked, wiping her tears.

"I missed you so much." She replied, holding his hand.

"I missed you too. Now I'm here, so stop crying. I hate those tears." He said it with a smile.

She sniffed and gathered some courage to say the words she couldn't say that day.

"Henry..." she whispered.

"Yeah."

"I love you." She said, merely in a whisper, that Henry couldn't hear if he was not sitting next to her.

"What?" He asked.

"I love you so much." She repeated.

"Say that again." He asked, and she looked around.

"I love you."

"A little louder." He teased her because he was enjoying her state.

She gets up on her feet and stands on her chair. "Everyone, please pay some attention here." She yelled, and everyone looked at her. Neha gasped and hurriedly started recording on her phone.

"I'm samriddhi. As many of you know, he is Henry, the man sitting here in front of me. He is my love and my life. I wanted to scream to this whole world that this man belongs to me. Only me." She is saying it all, and Henry is smiling at his tigress's boldness. "Mr. Henry Brown. I love you. I love you so much in this whole world, of course, after my mother." She scoffed, and he chuckled and mouthed, of course, and she giggled and said, "I love you, 3000."

He gets up from his seat and brings her down, and everyone is cheering for them.

"Yeah, of course, Mr. Tony stark." He replied, engulfing her in a hug and kissing the side of her head, then making her sit on her seat.

The moment she sits. Her phone rang, and she ignored it.

"Who is it?" He asked.

"Hannah. "

"Then why didn't you pick it up?" He asked.

"I'll talk to her later. First, I want to enjoy our moments. I met you after months." She replied.

"Pick it up. Maybe it's something important." He said it, and she picked it up.

"Hello."

"Hello?" Hannah said from the other side, "Hello? Can you hear me?"

"Yeah," she replied.

"But I can't hear you? Hello?" Hannah said it from the other side.

"Go and talk outside. Maybe network issues?" Henry suggested that, and she went out.

"Now, can you hear me? I'm outside." Samriddhi asked.

"Yeah finally. Hii." Hannah replied and keeps her busy with nonsense things to further Henry's orders.

Yeah, it was Henry who told Hannah to keep her busy.

When she gets a message from Henry, "done,"

Then she instantly cut the call, and Samriddhi was really mad at her for wasting her time.

Annoyed, she went inside back, and her jaw dropped seeing what was going on inside.

The lights are dim and looking so romantic, with a lot of candles lighting and flowers on the floor on her way and all the people making way for her. At the end of the flower trail, she saw Henry on his knees. It is magical and she can't believe her eyes that this is happening to her, for her.

She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands in disbelief. Tears formed in her eyes. Nothing good had ever happened to her and now all of this is making her overwhelmed with too many emotions.

She came forward, and he asked, "My dear tigress I never thought that I would ever fall in love, and that's too insanely. I can't even imagine my life without you. I want every second to live with you. Cherish you, love you, laugh with you, talk nonsense shit with you, and have arguments with you over which superhero is powerful. I want my morning to start with you and my day to end with you. I was just living my life, but your presence gave me a purpose to live it for. I want to live it for you and with you." He said that, and she smiled while tears flowed from her eyes.

"Will you marry me and spend the rest of your life with me?" He asked, opening the little box, and she is crying, and words are not coming out of her mouth.

"Just say yes."
"Motte, say yes." Both Neha and Abhinav screamed from her left side, and she looked at them and back at Henry.

"Your mom already said yes. God, it's difficult to sit in this position." Henry said, and she chuckled while crying.

and she sat down on her knees, accepted him, "Yes, yes, yes," and hugged him tightly in a sitting position.

He broke their hug and put the ring on her ring finger. He purposely chooses a black diamond as it is her favorite color, and of course, his girl has a unique taste in everything.

And then he brought her hand near his lips and kissed her knuckles and then her forehead.

"I love you, tigress." He mumbled.

"I love you, 3000." She whispered while looking into his eyes.

Finally proposal. I hope you guys like it. Please press the like button before leaving.