This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. It is written in first person but is not my story.
Prologue
“Stop giggling”, making an angry face as I dialed the phone.
“Hello Papa!”, I said happily on the phone.
“I have landed at Delhi”, dutifully informing him my location.
“Achcha Papa, I needed to tell you something”, I said in a tone when the son wants something from his father.
“Haan bolo beta, kya hua?”, was the reply.
“Papa, I wanted to tell you this before -”, putting a hand on the phone I said – “stop it now!”
I walked a few steps away from her.
“Haan Papa – so I was saying, I like – I like one girl. I am thinking of proposing her. But I wanted you all to meet her before I take any decsion. So, she is coming with me to meet you all.”
“Is she coming alone?”, my father said suspecting a plan.
“No. She is coming with her friend, both of them are my best friends. They wanted to celebrate my birthday. I wanted to celebrate it with you all and so they are coming with me. I thought this way you can meet Aashree. By the way her name is Aashree”, I said trying to be as convincing as possible.
I put a hand on the phone, controlled my laugh then faced away from Aashree.
“Will they be staying with us?”, Papa said, making plans as I was already midway.
“No Papa. They will be staying at Sagar Hotel.”
“Theek hai. So you will reach by 12:30 right?”
“Papa, tell mummy what I told you. Make her understand. As I said before, I will marry a girl whom you all also like.”
“Haan, theek hai beta, baaki aao to dekhte hain.”
“Ok Papa. Bye bye.”
“Bye beta.”
I hung up the phone and calmed myself and laughed out loud. I went to Aashree and held her hands then embraced her. The plan was in motion.
The First Meeting – 18 months before the Prologue
Aashree and I met at a cafe in Hyderabad. It was a Friday afternoon and the cafe was nearly full. I saw the only empty table near the exit and went towards it. I saw a girl also moving towards the same table. I increased my pace. She had noticed me and increased her pace too. In hurry, I did not notice and hit the glass door. I thought my nose was broken. Quite embarassed of the situation, I couldn’t look into anyone’s eyes. I was moving towards the exit when a sweet voice asked me, “There is an empty chair. You can sit here.”
“No, its ok”, I said not looking into her eyes.
“Its quite hot outside”, she declared. I moved back and sat with her. ‘I can face a little embarassment but not the scorching heat outside’, I thought.
“So, how is your nose?”, she teased.
“In pain”, trying to check from the corner of my eyes if some part of my nose looked out of place.
She giggled. Finally, I noticed her. She was good looking, composed and tall.
“By the way, I am Aashree.”
“Nice meeting you – “
The manager had called her name, her order was ready. She moved to take her coffee. She crossed me, her fragrance was too good. Her composure suggested that she was a manager at some company.
I said – “hey, he gave you my order.”
“Oh! So you also ordered a Cafe Mocha”, she said. ‘She is intelligent’, I deduced.
“So where do you work?”, starting my question round.
“I work at Microsoft”, she said as if it was nothing special. “Where do you work?”, she asked me.
“I work for myself. I own a small company of which I am the CEO and the chief scientist”, I said happily.
“Lucky fellow!”, she seemed to be jealous.
“Are you not happy with your job at Microsoft?”, I asked her. I had worked in Microsoft for 3 years and then left to start my own research lab.
“Its not like, I am unhappy with Microsoft, I do not want to do stuff that I do not like, and this will happen in every company I go, so its kinda my problem”, she said as if nothing could be done.
“That is why I left Microsoft myself”, I told her.
“You worked at Microsoft? When?”
“I worked there for 3 years, its been a year since I left.”
“Ohh! I was transferred from Bangalore last year.”
There was silence for a few seconds. Then she said, “It was you – who everybody had talked about. Are you the one who reduced 30 kgs in 5 months?”
“Yes, I think so”, I said not able to accept that they used to talk these things about me after I had gone. “Wait a sec! So, you are the girl who took my place. All my friends said that you were quite a bore”, I said teasingly but corrected immediately seeing the reaction on her face – “But I do not think the same.”
“Ya, I was bore in the beginning. I missed my friends from B’lore. I used to curse you, it was your mistake for which I was transferred here”, she fired at me.
“So you are not happy here because you miss your friends?”
“No. That was before. But recently I have stopped liking this job thing.”
“Then what?”
“I would love to do something like you. Start my own company, do whatever I want to do. That excites me”, she said with a sparkle in her eyes.
“Well, in that case, I have just started and since you replaced my position in Microsoft, I think you will have the same skill set.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean to say, you can join me. Be a partner.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. But there will be an interview”, I teased her.
“Yes. No problems, when can I come?”
“Anytime. Right now, if you want. My office is just round the corner”, I said not wasting any time. I was not hitting her. My offer was genuine.
“Okay. Let’s go!”
The Date – exactly 1 year after of The First Meeting
“So, its a date?”, Aashree asked.
“Yes, it is a date!”, I replied back while we both walked into the restaurant.
“From how many months have you been planning this? I heard a rumour that you were going to ask me out last month?”, she teased me. She always teased me and I always liked it – the sparke in her eyes.
“Is it so, who told you – I will fire him or her – whoever it may be?”, I said jokingly.
“It is of your no concern”, she teased me again.
I was in no mood of any kind of fighting. I wanted this evening to be one of the best of many more to come. Aashree had become my best buddy in few months. She understood me completely. Coincidentally, we shared the same birth date. On our last birthday, I had realized that she is the one. But, I was afraid to say it to her. I did not want to lose her. So after rigorous planning of 4 months, I had finally proposed her. She replied with a single word – “Finally!” and I was relieved.
Once I had finished telling her how worried I was beofre proposing her, she said – “I will tell you a secret today.”
“I thought I knew all your secrets”, I tried to tease her failing miserably.
“Okay. Listen, do not interrupt me until I finish. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“So this is about when I was transferred here. You were quite a hero in there. Everyone liked you it seemed. I think that is why they did not like me. I hated you for bringing that misery to me. They showed me your photos of before and after you had lost your weight. I was quite impressed but still hated you. Then on that day in cafe when I saw you hitting the door, I had instantly recognized you. I had thought what a fool! I had thought of revenge – my first feeling was to tell you everything that happened to me because of you, but I thought this will not have the right impact and so I waited for the right time. But then you offered me a partnership, we became friends – the best friends and now you see we are lovers.”
“Then what about revenge?” I said teasing her.
“Well, I had my revenge I stole your heart!”, she fired back.
I smiled and kissed her on the forehead. Then said – “Now, if are talking of secrets – let me tell you one secret of mine.”
“Sure.”
“This may come as a shock, but try to control your feelings”, I said in super teasing tone.
“We will see”, she said in full attack mode.
“Dekho. I love you and that is true. But there is one problem. I have promised my parents that I will marry a girl who they also like and it is quite very likely that will not like you.”
“Why will they not like me?”
“They want a simple gharelu bahu. Not your type of outgoing, flirtaeous and revengeful girl. I think they will reject you.”
She hit me hard. “I will prove them that I am the best for their son.”
“How?”
“I will go and stay with them for sometime.”
“How is that possible?”
“That is your part to think. I think you also want to marry me.”
“Yes. Ok, I will think of a plan.” I already knew that my parents would like her. Even then, I needed a plan.
“My dear researcher, we will chalk it out later. Let’s enjoy the evening”, she said hitting me on the head. She already knew I was teasing her.
The Hotel Incident – a few hours in to the future
“What were you doing in her room?”, mummy said angrily.
“Kuch bhi nahi, I just went to -”, I stammered.
“Kuch bhi nahi kya, sab jaante hain, humko ullu samajh rakha hai!”, mummy scolding me in the lobby of the hotel.
“Mummy, I just went to ask her if she was comfortable”, I tried to explain.
“To tum khud check karne lage the na ki comfortable hai ki nahi, sab samajh aa raha hai humko, sab plan hai tum logon ka!”
“Mummy, she does not know till now – please be silent”, I said trying the emotional game.
Mummy was silent now but staring me with threatening eyes. She said – “Ab ghar chalen?”
“Yes, just two minutes. You go down I will come in a moment.”
“I am waiting here only. You come with me.”
“Ok. Just a second.”
I knocked Aashree’s door, I knew she was standing at the door but she opened it after half a minute. I signalled her that everything’s alright. “We meet in the evening. Enjoy yourself till then. Bye.”
“Bye. Bye Aunty ji”, said Aashree trying to be polite.
The First Meeting With The Big Bosses – back to Present
On certain special days, even trains are on time. While the train was slowing at the platform, I said – “This is the most difficult part, don’t let even a clue that you know why we are here. See, I will tell my parents that Ananya knows about my love for you. Ananya, as we discussed you will be asked a lot of questions by my mother. She will ask a lot about me and Aashree and -”
“Don’t worry yaar, we have discussed it like 100 times now,” Aashree said embracing me in a tight hug so that I stop worrying.
I said – “Ok! All the – there they are – mummy looks a bit angry – we are gone.” My tone changing from highly confident, to a bit afraid, then not understandable. “God save us!”
I bowed down to touch my parents’ feet. Aashree and Ananya said “Namaste” in union.
“Papa, mummy meet my friends Ananya and Aashree”, I said not taking Aashree’s name first. Ananya was quite similar to Aashree. In certain aspects, Ananya was more beautiful than Aashree.
“Hello Uncle, Aunty”, they again recited from the script.
We carried our baggage to the car. In the car everyone was silent. I had already anticipated this. The Sagar International Hotel was at a walking distance from her house. I had already made a booking in the hotel. The girls checked in. I asked papa and mummy to stay in the lobby and I will help the girls to their room.
I went to the room and laid down on the bed with Aashree on my side. “Still on plan”, I said.
I was playing with Aashree’s hair when the room door opened. Aashree and me stood up together immediately, someone was staring me with angry eyes. I silently moved out of the door.
Back to Home – still in Present
“So before you say anything – how was Aashree?”, I asked before a question was shot on me.
“Itni jaldi kaise bata den”, Papa said. Mummy agreeing to him completely.
“Dikhne mein kaisi lagi?”, was my next prepared question.
“Theek hai”, both said in unison. It was quite anticipated.
“Bas theek?”, I asked anticipating a more detailed answer.
Papa said – “She is good looking but I didn’t like her dressing sense.”
“Hmm”, I had made a note to myself to not defend her for anything.
It was my turn to face the questions.
“Why did you tell us at the last moment? Why couldn’t you tell us before you were coming with these girls?”, Papa started his round.
“I did not know it myself. They surprised me at the airport. I thought they were joking till they boarded the plane with me. After that I called you as soon as the plane landed”, I gave the rehearsed answer.
My plan was working, as both Papa and Mummy had become silent.
Then Mummy said – “Mujhe lagta hai yeh log humein milke bevkuf bana rahe hain!”
I went for it – “Nahin maa, she does not know it till now. I think she also likes me but she has no idea of the main reason we are here. Pa and Maa, I have waited so that I could know what is your decision and I promise you both that if you do not like her then I will not marry her.”
“Achcha Papa and Mummy, I was thinking of celebrating my birthday party tomorrow at Sagar, where Dadi and Baba could also see Aashree.”
“Theek hai beta. Jaisa tum chaho”, said Papa.
I hugged both of them. Everything was going as planned.
The Birthday Confusion – the next day
I had not informed anyone in my family except my parents that Aashree and Ananya will also be coming to the party. But no one knew that it was Aashree’s birthday as well. I could not spend any alone time with Aashree till the result was out.
As planned, I had asked mummy to go out with Aashree and Ananya for some shopping. Mummy was the main boss. If she says yes – all is done. I had been nervous for the whole time they were gone. Finally, when they returned from their shopping spree – they looked quite happy. Yes! I was jumping and dancing around in the house.
At 7 pm we left for the party. Everyone – my uncles and aunts, cousins, baba and dadi – had arrived. It was time. The girls entered the scene. I stood up – “Everyone, let me introduce you to my friends and colleagues – Aashree and Ananya”, I said pointing Aashree as Ananya and the opposite.
“Actually, I am Aashree and she is Ananya”, said Aashree. The girls said namaste to all. I introduced them to my family. Aashree was quite nervous and she was fumbling when questions were asked while Ananya was answering the questions easily.
As planned, Ananya was to get a call and both Aashree and Ananya were to leave for 10 minutes, when I could ask everyone if they liked Aashree. I made the call – well the worst thing that could happen was – no network. I cursed under my breath. I could not ask anyone a cell phone because that will cause a problem. I excused myself, went to a waiter, gave him a Rs100 note and asked him to call Ananya’s number once I return back to seat.
The waiter did as told. The call was made, Ananya and Aashree had gone. Now I had to wait. I couldn’t start because then everybody will suspect, so I waited. I knew they will start.
My dadi said, “kuch chakkar wakkar hai kya?” in a naughty tone.
I said – “aisa kuch nahi hai dadi. Asal mein hum chahte the ki aap sab log Aashree se mil len, usko hum pasand karte hain. Aap log ko woh kaisi lagi?”
“Aashree kaun si waali hai?”, one of my uncle said.
“Arrey Aashree woh lambi waali hai”, one of my aunt said.
“Humko to dono hi pasand hain”, a cousin said.
“Tumse kisi ne nahi poocha”, the mother of my cousin, my aunt scolded him.
I tried to make sense out of the discussion. I needed to stop this before they were back. I said – “Aashree is the taller one, in the yellow dress. Humne abhi tak usko nahi bataya hai ki hum usko pasand karte hain, hum chahte the ki aap log ko agar pasand ho to fir aage bolen.”
This was a wrong statement. Another of my uncle said – “pakki baat hai ullu bana raha hai, sab pehle se set hai, tabhi unko bhi phone ke bahane bahar bhej diya, beta hum yeh sab apne time mein kar chuke hain!” The family was on me.
Our table had started making so much noise that the manager asked us to be a little quieter. The final bomb was – one of my aunt said – “mujhko to Ananya zyaada pasand aayi.” We had anticipated that this may happen, there could be only one answer – “but I like Aashree” – so I gave it. But I had not anticipated the reply – “hain to dono hi best friend, aur humko agar Aashree se zyaada Ananya pasand hai to woh to tumhe maan na padega.” Everyone agreed on this. My plan had brutally backfired.
Fortunately, the girls returned and everyone fell silent. I said – “achcha surprise surprise – today is Ananya’s birthday too – oh no – not Ananya’s, Aashree’s.”
“Kiska birthday hai – Ananya ya Aashree?”, asked my mother.
“Aashree”, I said.
After the dinner was over, I asked everyone that I will go and leave the girls to their rooms and they wait for me in the hotel lobby.
“So what’s the scene”, Aashree asked hurriedly.
“Bad! They liked Ananya more than you. And the ‘But I like Aashree’ statement failed. Still let me see what’s happens.” I kissed her on her forehead and said – “Happy Birthday”, I took out a gift box and gave it to her – “your gift.”
She beamed and said – “Happy Birthday to you too” and hugged me tightly. “I have no other gift right now”, with that she kissed me. The phone in my pocket started ringing.
“Where are you?”, mummy asked.
“On my way. In the elevator”, I lied and hung up the phone.
“Bye sweetheart. Bye Ananya. See you both tomorrow.”
In the lobby everyone was in deep discussion. “So what is it that you have decided?”, I asked them.
Dadi said – “humko to bhai Ananya zyaada pasand hai baaki tum dekh lo, Aashree bhi itni buri nahi hai.”
Icing on the Cake – happened sometime in past, not sure when
I was very confident that everyone will like Aashree. She had everything that my parents would have wanted – she was beautiful, tall, smart, bold, composed, eccetra eccetra. Ananya was more beautiful than Aashree, and we were best friends but Aashree and me were couple made in heaven. I couldn’t think of anyone else. When my family said that they think that Ananya is a better choice, I could not reply back. The reason being – I could not explain them that we were so similar in all aspects without revealing that this meeting was all planned.
The Plan.
There was another plan about which I had no idea. This plan was planned by none other than the people who I loved the most – Aashree and my dear parents. Before all the drama that had happened, Aashree had informed my parents about the whole plan. My whole family was partner in crime. It was all a setup. A setup to fool me. I had no idea till -
Epilogue – the D Day
I had not been able to sleep properly. I had discussed with my parents – tried to make them realize that it was Aashree whom I loved and not Ananya.
“We will talk in the morning”, my father had said and everyone had gone to sleep.
When I woke up, I realized that – I had cried in sleep. There were some voices coming from the living room. Some guests had come. I in no mood of meeting anyone stayed in bed. I felt somebody was staring me. I opened my eyes to find Aashree standing over my head and smiling.
She said – “uth bhi jaaiye Mr. Researcher, sapne mein to kuch aur kar liya karen.”
“What are you doing here? If someone sees you?”
“So?”
“Who is in living room?”
“Go yourself and see – by the way here is your birthday gift”, she handed me a card.
I noticed that she was wearing the locket that I had gifted her yesterday. I opened the card and read it – it was an invitation to somebody’s engagement ceremony – “Our engagement ceremony? Today? What is this? How is this possible?”
“Idiot! Get ready fast, it is my parents who are in the living room – I was quite right the first time, you are a fool”, she said hitting my forehead.
“Then you are a bigger fool to fall in love with me!”, I teased her not missing this chance but still confused what was going on. “What is happening?”
And then she told me The REAL Plan.
THE END
PS 3: Thanks for reading it, I know it was quite an effort if you read it full.
PS 2: Please let me know (through comments) if you liked it or not, a little more effort please.
PS 1: I hope that this becomes my story, at least part of it.