"Here, have this" Gaurav said handing me a cup of coffee as soon as I walked into the kitchen. From what I could see, he was multitasking with a variety of breakfast items.

"Is someone joining us?" I asked as I kept my bag and keys on the table.

"No, it is just you and me. But I want it to be special."

"I can help."

"I know, but I want to do this for you." I smiled and settled down on the kitchen counter.

"So, I was thinking, we could invite Rahul, Sneha, Karthik and Gunjan over for dinner. Maybe we could all go out some place."

"Sure" I said as he placed a plate in front of me and settled opposite to me with his own plate. He talked about making changes to his home so that it would seem more like mine.

I went home sometime later and busied myself taking care of Rishu. Gunjan was grateful for the break.

"Come on now, give her to me and you go get ready." Karthik said coming in my room. It was already six in the evening.

"When are we leaving?"

"Around seven. Gaurav called, said he couldn't get you on the phone"

"I forgot to switch it on. I had put it on charge after the battery drained."

I switched on my phone. Karthik left the room with his daughter planning to wake his wife up. I closed the door behind them.

"Hey, I heard you called. I was with Rishu and lost track of time."

"And here I was thinking I did something wrong and you were ignoring me."

"Why would you think that?"

"Even I don't know why I just spent the last couple of hours figuring out what was it that I did."

"You are crazy."

"Yeah, I know that now."

"Well, I have to go get ready."

"Oh yah, I'll see you soon. Love you."

"Love you too."

Gunjan and Karthik were already all set to go. We reached the restaurant in about fifteen minutes. We met Rahul and Sneha in the parking lot and we walked together as the restaurant manager led us to our table. Gaurav was already there, waiting for us.

The waiter came soon after. "Whenever you are ready." He said as he waited.

We all placed our orders and he left.

"So, there is a reason I asked you all out here today." Gaurav began.

"There is something I want to say.... I need to say... to you Kavya."

From where I sat, he had all of our undivided attention.

"I love you Kavya, and I am sure you know that. It's not that I am not happy. Trust me, I am. I have you in my life, call me greedy, but I want more. I want you to be with me every second of my life. I need you to be beside me every step I take in my life."

I could feel Karthik and Gunjan's eyes on me.

"I have wanted to ask you this for so long, but until yesterday you weren't even ready to meet my parents. Now that I know you like them, I think it is time for me to do it. I love you Kavya, will you marry me?"

For a moment, I couldn't breathe.

All eyes were on me. In fact we had the attention of many others in the restaurant.

"What is she doing?"

"Isn't she gonna say yes?"

"He'll keep asking until she says the word."

"Why isn't she saying anything."

I could hear people murmuring.

"Kavya?"

"Kavya?" It was Karthik. "Say something."

"I... yes... I will marry you Gaurav. From what I have gone through in my life, I never thought I would find happiness ever again. You brought that into my life. If I am to share the rest of my life with someone, it is going to be you, only you."