Chapter 8: A Nervous Shourya.

At The Singhania's Mansion:

Raj was sitting in the living room with Neel. "Bas kr aab. Stop sulking. Jo hona tha who hogaya, ab tu apne bete aur bahu ke bare mein soch."

(stop it now, what was going to happen has happened. Now you just worry about your son and daughter-in-law.)

"Bhai, mera Rohan aiesa karega khabhi socha nahi tha. Bas ab yehi umeed hai ki Meera beti Shourya ke liye haan krde, aur humari izzat bach jaye." Neel says.

(Brother, I never thought my Rohan would do something like this. Now I just hope that Meera child says yes to Shourya, and our reputation and respect stays in tact.)

"Raj is right. Don't dwell on what has happened. Look at Reema, she's taking such good care of her bahu, spoiling her with jewellery and sarees" Their mother, Sunita devi states.

As they were talking and trying to make Neel feel better, Raj's phone started ringing. It flashed Suraj's name as he holds it in his hand, gaining everyone's attention. Raj steps away from the living room, and calms his heartbeats before picking up.

"Hello, Suraj. How are you?"

"Bohot acche hain bhai saab." Came the reply. Raj begins to smile, looks back at his brother and mother. They are also waiting with anticipation, Sunita devi's hands folded as she prays. Raj doesn't want to jump to conclusions. "Suraj, iska matlab. .?" Suraj laughs as he gazes at his angel.

(We are very good brother.)

(Suraj, does that mean. . . ?)

"Hamari Meera ne hain krdi hai! Aur hum mese kisi ko be koi aitraaz nahi hai."

(Our Meera has said yes, and we don't have any objections either.)

"Sachi! Virat beta ko bhi nahi?"

(Really, not even Virat?)

"Nahi bhai saab, balki aaj subhah usne khud yeh baat shuru ki thi."

(No, in fact, he was the one to begin the conversation this morning.)

Raj turns and gives his awaiting audience a thumbs up, resulting in a silent cheer from Neel and Sunita Devi.

"Meera se baat ho sakti hai kya?"

(Can I speak to Meera?)

Suraj calls her over and hands her the phone. She shakes her head, but her baba's encouraging smile and gesture to talk, gives her some confidence. Meera takes a deep breath to calm her nerves, she speaks into the phone ever so quietly, gazing up at her father as he wraps his arm around his daughter for comfort.

"Na-Namaste uncle."

"Namaste betaji, aapko pata bhi hai aapne hume kitni badi Khushi di hai? Thank you."

(Namaste my child, do you have any idea how happy you have made us today?)

"Uncle, please don't say that."

"Rohan ne jo kiya, uske liye bhi to aapse maafi mangni thi. We're all very sorry, Neel to bohot shaminda feel kr raha hai."

(We also have to apologise for what Rohan has done. . . . .Neel is very ashamed.)

"Uncle, jo hona tha wo toh hogaya. Usme hum kya kr sakte hai. Aap sab ko sorry kehne ki koi jarurat nahi hai. And please Neel uncle ko kahe ki woh in baton ko chod kr aapne bete ki nayi zindagi ke baare mein soche."

(What was going to happen has happened, we cannot do anything. Please don't say sorry. And tell Neel uncle to leave all this and focus on hi son's future.)

With that Meera passes the phone back to her baba and scurries back to finish her breakfast. Raj is left feeling proud of his future daughter-in-law, knowing that Meera will be a perfect fit into their family as Shourya's wife. Bless her.

Raj and Suraj decided to meet up tonight at Suraj's house to finalise things. Raj gives everyone the good news, before reaching his son's room, with all his family quietly trailing behind. Shourya, on the other hand, has been sitting on his bed all day. Thinking about what response he'll get. He's been like this all night as well, pacing the room, chewing his nails, running his fingers through his hair. He's nervous.

But why? He's never been like this. He wasn't like this when he was waiting for his college results, not even on his first day at work, he wasn't even nervous when he was waiting for his first client's response. So why now? Why was he this nervous whilst waiting for Meera's response? Meera, a sweet amber-eyed girl, with long, luscious brown locks, with a cute button nose, and heart shaped mouth. Why did that girl make Shourya nervous?

"Shourya." Raj called, "Suraj just called."

Shourya's heartbeat started to rise.

Thud Thud Thud

Shourya stands up, watching his father's frowning face, listening to his deep, punitive voice.

No, she must have said no.

Thud Thud Thud

"I can't believe what he said," Raj continues as he gazes at Shourya's paled face.

"I even spoke to Meera."

Thud Thud Thud

Dad spoke to her.

"She said. . . ."

Thud Thud Thud

"How do I tell you this?"

Thud Thud Thud

"It's a . . . . . "

Thud Thud Thud

"YES!!! It's a yes."

Shourya's shoulders slumped as he sat back down, "of course, she would say that," he whispers.

And then he realised.

Yes. She said yes.

Shourya stood back up as he released a breath he didn't know he was holding.

Raj hugs his son as Aarav and Riya jump out the side, Aarav has a phone in his hand. His mother, chachu and dadi follow right behind. His chachi, Priya and Rohan were reluctant to come in.

"You should have seen your face bhai!"

"Aww mera beta is getting married!"

"Bhai mujhe naya suit chahiye! Aur jhumke bhi. Mein toh apni Meera bhabhi ke saath matching pehnu gi!"

(Brother, I want a new outfit. and earrings as well. I'm going to match with Meera sister-in-law!)

"Congratulations!"

Everything was a blur for him as his whole family gathered around to shower him with love and celebrate the newfound alliance. All he could focus on were the three words.

It's a Yes.

Shourya didn't notice anything, not his mother's and dadi's teary eyes, not his dad's and chachu's smiles, not his siblings teasing glances. Shourya didn't even notice the frowns on Rohan, Priya and his chachi's faces.

He just felt so relieved.

"Chalo bhai, aloo ke paranthe bane hai. I'm so so hungry." Riya pouts as they walk out.

(Let's go, brother, we have aloo parantha for breakfast.)

"Hmm, aur Muskaan ka phone aaya tha abhi, bata rahi thi hamaari Meera Bhabhi ne bhi aaj aloo ke paranthe khaye hai." Aarav teases his brother.

(Hmm, and Muskaan was telling me that our Meera bhabhi also had aloo parantha.)

Meera Bhabhi.

It's a Yes.

The huge grin refused to leave Shourya's face.