Away From Façade

Family's Reaction

Everyone looks at Aarohi demanding explanation. Alka was about to speak when Swarna interupts.

Swarna: Ye bacche bhi na, bohat mazak karte h. Kaafi salon se saath m rhe h toh ab chahte h ki saari zindagi saath hi guzre.

Everyone present knew Aarvi as Aarohi's best friend. Swarna's explanation convinced them that it was just a joke. Everyone went back to whatever they were doing. 

Manish was about to speak when

Swarna: Manish ji, abhi shaant rahiye. Bohot se ristedaar or friends h yahan. Sabke jaane ke baad is baare m baat krenge. Abhi kuch der ke liye ye baat bhool jayiye. 

Manish agrees and the gathering goes on. Later, Akshara went to her new family. Slowly, all the guests also left. Chauhans stayed back as they knew that Goenkas would have a lot of questions to ask and they didn't want to leave Aarohi alone to anwer them.

Chauhans and Goenkas sit in the garden. 

Manish: Explain.

Aarohi: Bade papa ....

Arjun: Princess, let us talk. Manish ji, I know this is very abrupt. We also didn't want it to happen this way. 

Alka: True. We were planning to talk to you about this after the wedding. This might sound too sudden to you. But ....hum hmare bete Aaryaman ke liye aapki beti Aarohi ka haath maangne aaye hain.

Though they somewhat expected it but Goenkas were still shocked.

Manish: I am sorry Alka ji, Arjun ji. But this is way out of my understanding. As far as I know your son has been abroad for last 4 years. The last time I saw him was Aarohi's graduation party..oh not to mention that it was also the first time. How am I supposed to say yes for such a person. 

Mimi: Alka ji, bura mat maaniyega pr hum log aapke bete ko jaante tk nahi h. Haan hmari aur aapki bht achi pehchaan ho gyi h aur hme yakeen h ki aapka beta bhi aapki tarah acha aur suljha hua insaan hoga pr aise...

Arjun: Aap log please is baat ki tension mat lijiye. Hum aapki chinta samajhte h. Mera beta jld hi yahan aane wala h uske baad aap use jaan lena, parakh lena, agr aapko vo pasand aaye toh hi haan krna. Hum aapko kisi bhi tareeke se force nhi kr rha h.

Manish: Agr yhi baat h toh call him and ask him to be here asap. I want to mee him soon. We will talk after that.

Aarohi: Bade papa, that's not possible....

Manish: Why?

Aarohi: Bade papa, he is at a very crucial stage of his career. Leaving all the work to fly here seems illogical and he is going to come here in a few months anyways. You can meet him then.

Manish: What if I want to meet him now? If you are important to him then he will leave all his work to come here. It's not like a few days off would make some huge impact.

Listening to it Aarohi gets shocked. She thinks that if this is his definition of being important then she has never been important to any of them.

Aarohi: Bade papa I don't need him to do all this to know whether I am important to him or not. No one here knows more than myself that how important I am to him.

Swarna: Since when have you guys been together?

Aarohi: What??

Swarna: It doesn't seem like Chauhans' one sided decision. You both must have been dating.

Aarohi: Umm...actually no.... We are not in a relationship. As of now we are really good friends. 

Manish: What do you even mean? You are frinds and you want to get married. Let it be, I don't want to hear anything else. Arjun ji, if you really wish for this allaince I hope to see your son soon.

Aarohi: Bade papa.

Arjun: Ruhi bacha it's okay. 

Aarohi: Papa.

(Goenkas heard it but they did not pay much attention they thought she was calling 
Manish)

Alka: Don't worry bacha. (she turns toward Goenkas) Aaryaman will be back in a few days. I hope everything will go well.

Chauhans bid goodbye to Goenkas. 

Next day

Aarohi was talking with Aarvi in her room. (video call)

Aarvi: Seriously Aaru, don't be offended but I don't like your family especially that bade papa. I mean who does he think he is. I am not angry at him for calling bhai so abruptly. But I am seriously angry at him for treating you as if you have commited some crime. What does he mean by he doesn't want to listen anymore. I mean come on, atleast listen to what we have to say. Didn't your sister also choose a guy herself. They were even dating and all. He agreed to their marriage. Why so much drama now? Well it's my fault. Had I not shouted and mom dad talked normally they might not have been so hyperactive. 

Aarohi: Aaru, calm down. Take a deep breath and drink some water. You have been going on and on about this for like an hour now. It's not your fault. Jo hona tha vo hogya. I know bade pap is being a bit irrational but I understand. He must have his own worries and thoughts. Let's just hope everything goes well.

Suddenly someone knocks at Aaarohi's door. Aarohi turns to find Akdsara standing there. 

Akshara: I am sorry to disturb you but mujhe kuch important baat krni h.

Aarohi: Aaru, I will calll you later. 

Aarvi: Hm

Aarohi: Bol.

Akshara: Aaru, I heard from bade papa. What is going on between you and Aarvi's brother. Do you even know him?

Aarohi: Akshu, seriously! Of course I know him we have been to same school for two years. He went abroad after I got admission in MBBS. Even after that he often came back during holidays. Even you have met him on graduation. 

Akshara: I know I did. So you guys have been in a long distance relationship since last 4 years?

Aarohi: Kind of but not really....I mean

Akshara: I heard from badi maa that you guys never dated. So what does that mean? I mean tumhara yeh rishta kya kehlata h?

Aarohi: We never really gave a name to it. In 11th we were good friends. In 12th we got closser but as friends. After he decided to leave, we both realised our feelings were more than just friends. In these 4 years we were not bf/gf. We were more like partners, soulmates... we didn't have romantic loving talks with each other but we talked about our life, career, family everyday. We never celebrated Valentines day but we have always looked forward to our weddding day. I know this sounds weird and different. But that's how we are. We both have been extremely busy in these few years. Of course most of the people think of us as bf/gf but we know we never had any confessions so we are not that. We were never aiming for dating we only thought about marrying after we are well settled. He never proposed to me but he told me that will come back and take me to Jodhpur after marrying me. I never said that I like him, love him but I told him how I wish our life to be after we are married. 

Akshara: hmm...I can undestand what you mean. I can see you both are very serious about it. But I am not sure about bade papa. 

Aarohi:  I just wish he just go to see Maan... Aaryaman wthout any prejudice.

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Sorry for late update. Was on a lack of imagination.My mind was roaming around some sad storyline of another fiction. So had to change the whole mindset to a happy one. 

from now on there will be regular updates. 

jld hi shehanaiyaa sunai dengi.