3 Proposal
Part 3 Proposal
The next day
Khushi was working fast because she wanted to finish all the work before the water stopped. That was when she heard a knock. She rolled her eyes and rushed out. She saw Arnav standing in a driver's uniform.
"I'm leaving..."
Khushi nodded.
"Won't you wish me?"
"Good luck..."
"Thanks..."
"by the way, if you want to run a taxi in a call taxi company, you should buy a car, right?"
"Yes..."
"Did you?"
"Oh, yes. My mom gave me money for selling our only land. I bought a second-hand car and gave it to the mechanic for service. I will take it and go to work."
"Mmm..."
Arnav left.
Khushi started doing her work.
Arnav came home late in the evening. He parked the car before Khushi's house and got out. Many eyes were on him. Akshaya was one among them. Her eyes sparkled seeing a car. After coming home, he started cooking. He prepared rotti and started eating it with pickle. He saw Akshaya rushing inside with a small bowl in her hand. She extended it to him.
"What's this?" he asked, mouthful.
"Curry..."
"It's ok ji. I don't want..."
"Arrey... how will you eat pickle?"
"What else do I need more than this? This is the best... my mother's preparation." he ate the rotti with pickle.
"I brought this for you. Have it..." she kept it on the cot and ran out.
Arnav sighed and ate it, even though it was not tasty. He was supposed to put the rotti in his mouth, but stopped to see Khushi glaring at him, standing at the doorstep. He hid the bowl Akshaya gave.
"Why did she come here? Didn't I tell you to keep a distance from her?" she asked, with a rigid expression.
"Look, madamji, she is the one who came here and gave me this curry. I didn't ask her anything. Trust me..."
"She gave you, and you got it from her...? This is not done. Find another house..."
"No, no... I will not let her in. Trust me..."
"I won't tell you again..."
"Mmm... may I ask you something?"
"What?"
"You know that I'm searching for a girl. What if the girl is your sister?" he asked and looked down.
"You want a girl who will run a family... and she is not the one."
"Oh... but she looks nice..."
Khushi folded her hands.
"She might be younger than you..."
"Elder..."
"What?"
"She is two years older than me..."
"Oh... If she likes me, she may think of adjusting me and my salary..."
Khushi knew it would not happen. If he married her, she would torture him to bring more money. He would have to drive the car the whole day and night to satisfy her. Yet, she didn't tell him that.
"I have no problem if you marry her. But... I can't allow her to meet you at my house. Do it somewhere else. That's final. Otherwise, find a house..." she left.
Arnav sighed and stuffed the rotti in his mouth. He locked the door and continued eating.
The next morning
Arnav filled water in the drum and finished his work. Taking a half bucket of water, he came out and started wiping his car. Though he did that sincerely, his attention was on his surroundings. Akshya was ogling at him, standing outside her house.
That was when he saw Akshaya's mother, Chandni, going to Khushi's house. She knocked on the door. Khushi opened the door and looked at her plainly.
"Did you give the house to the man?" she asked, pointing at Arnav.
"Haan, So?"
"Couldn't you send him to our portion? You know we are struggling to fill our stomachs. You will get a job in a few days, but what will we do?"
"Why should I answer you? In what right are you questioning me? Why should I give up on anything for you? The tenant in your house vacated just three days ago, but my house has been empty for more than a month. And you want me to send the tenant to your house. Who the hell are you to question me?"
"No one will question you if you had given the house to a family. You have given it to a bachelor..."
"So what?"
"He is a bachelor. You are living alone..."
"I'm not living in a forest, but living among hundreds of people. And, who said girls with their parents will be at a distance from men? (She said, looking at Akshaya.) I know what I'm doing. Just mind your work..." she went inside and closed the door.
Chandni went to her house, glaring all the way at Arnav.
Arnav huffed in relief. He went to his room, finishing his work. He got ready in a white uniform and left.
After a week
Arnav faced a tough time handling Akshaya. She openly ogled him. She came to his house whenever she got a chance. Though Arnav was searching for a girl for marriage, he didn't know why he could not fix Akshaya in his heart, even though she was so cheesy.
Arnav saw Akshaya coming with a kachori. She kept it in front of him.
"Why are you bringing this? I don't like it. Please leave..."
"I brought it because I like it..."
"Then you eat."
"I want you to eat."
Arnav rolled his eyes.
"Please try to understand. I don't want this. Please go..."
"I... I like you so much. Don't you like me?"
Arnav was stuck. That was a too-quick proposal. Within a week!
"You know nothing about me..."
"You are from Rampur and the only son of your mother. She sent you here for a job. She sold a part of your land to buy the car."
Not part of land but the only land."
"That means, don't you have land in your village?"
He nodded sadly.
"If I have that much land, why would I be here, driving a call taxi? Won't I be doing agriculture?"
"Mmm... It's ok. Won't you buy another car, earning much money?"
"How could I earn much money? I just am earning twenty-five thousand. Giving ten thousand rent and living on fifteen thousand. Then how could I think of another car? By the way, why do you like me?"
"You seem to be a nice man. That's why..."
"You too are a nice woman."
"Is it?" Akshaya smiled.
He nodded.
"Will you marry me?"
"I will talk to my mother first. I can't give you word without her consent."
"Will you go to your village?"
"I will go next month. "
"Tell her about me."
"Sure... I will tell her about you. By the way, is my salary enough for you to run a family?"
"If you marry me, you don't have to give house rent. Then we can spend the whole twenty-five thousand. Won't you get a few more thousands by doing overtime?"
Arnav raised his brows.
"I should be up for a full night to earn a few more thousands..."
"Then, no problem. We will easily get a few more thousands..."
Arnav was dumbfounded. Did she understand what he said? No, he supposed. She didn't appear to care about him and was even okay with him being awake all night. It seemed that what Khushi told him about her was true.
"Think about what I said..." She left his house, leaving him dumbfounded.
To be continued...
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