Story of Our Life

Chapter 26

Rajesh frowned as his daughter exited her room with that man, her lips in a soft smile and her hands fidgeting. The man, on the other hand, looked confident and looked at Rajesh with a nod as they both sat down again on the sofa.

"Toh? Kya baat karni thi?" Prerna's mother asked and Prerna looked at her parents, shaking her head.

"Wo sab chodo." Rajesh said and crossed his arms. "Kya decide kiya? Shaadi karni hai?"

Rishabh nodded, so did Prerna and Rajesh sighed loudly. Shivani and Veena gasped quite loudly, unable to mask their shock.

"Rishabh Bajaj. Yahi naam hai na tumhara?" He asked and proceeded. "Kyun karna chahte ho Priyu se shaadi? Kyunki ye sab ho gaya hai? Agar tumhein uski reputation ki fikr hai toh don't worry. Uska baap hai, wo sambhal lega sab."

"Baba!" Prerna gasped and Rishabh held her hand.

"I am sure Mr. Sharma, that you are more than capable of taking care of your family." Rishabh spoke confidently. "But I genuinely like your daughter. Aur jaisa maine Prerna se kaha, agar hum abhi shaadi nahin karte...toh kuch saal baad karte. Hum sharminda hain ki humara rishta iss tarah sab ke saamne aaya, we wanted it to be private not because we are ashamed, but because it was deeply personal."

Rishabh looked at Prerna, who was looking down, unable to face anyone. He squeezed her hand softly and she looked at him, smiling softly at his own smile, dimples shining as always.

"Jo smile kare toh dimples aayein!"

Rajesh noticed Rishabh's warm and dimpled smile at Prerna and recalled his daughter's words from some time ago, as she had gushed about what kind of a man she wanted to be with. He tried to observe the couple in front of him, but especially his daughter. She seemed anchored as she held Rishabh's hand, even though her eyes were a little bit teary. 

"Priyu, tujhe kuch kehna hai? Yaa yahi sab bolega?" Veena said loudly and Prerna looked back at her parents. She straightened her back and nodded.

"Hum shaadi karna chahte hain. I really like him-

"Like toh humein bahut saree cheezein hoti hai Priyu-

"Mr. Bajaj koi cheez nahin hain Maa!" Prerna said in a frustrated tone. "Ye ek bahut achhe insaan hain. Hamesha sahi ka saath dete hain, sabki izzat karte hain, aur mera bahut khayaal rakhte hain. And isse bhi zyada important, I trust him."

"Toh tune decide karliya hai?" Rajesh asked. "Isse shaadi karne ka faisla final hai?"

"Nahin Baba. Aapki marzi ke bina nahin." Prerna shook her head. "Agar aap log haan bolenge, aur iss faisle mein aapki bhi khushi hogi, toh hi hum shaadi karenge."

"Yes, I agree." Rishabh nodded. "Meri family mein koi nahin hai, main akela hoon. Toh aapki permission ke bina, we won't step ahead. You are Prerna's family and I would respect your decision."

"Rajesh." Veena stood up. "Mujhe aapse do minute baat karni hai."

---

"Aap haan bolne wale hain na?" Veena asked her husband as she closed their bedroom's door.

"Kuch galat karunga, agar haan bolunga?" Rajesh shrugged and sat on the bed, looking at his wife.

"Aapne uski umar dekhi hai? Wo Prerna se kitna bada hai-

"Haan, umar dekhi hai...aur uski nazar mein Priyu ke liye izzat bhi dekhi hai, protectiveness dekhi hai...aur Priyu ki nazar bhi wahi kehti hai. Aur kya chahiye tumhein humaari beti ke liye?" Rajesh shrugged and Veena sighed.

"Meri baat suniye...agar inki shaadi ho gayi...toh society bahut baatein banayegi-

"Abhi nahin bana rahi?" Rajesh stood up and looked at his wife angrily. "Mujhe society se koi lena dena nahin hai Veena. Mujhe sirf meri beti se lena dena hai. Agar wo abhi Rishabh se shaadi karna chahti hai, toh main haan bolunga. Agar wo kuch saal baad, usse alag hona chahe, toh khushi khushi main usey apne ghar wapas le aaunga. Aur agar baad mein, usey kisi aur se shaadi karni hai, toh bhi main uska saath dunga!"

"Aap dimaag se nahin, dil se soch rahe hain-

"Kyunki main humari Priyu se dil se pyaar karta hoon, dimaag se nahin. Uski khushi mere liye sabse zyada zaroori hai, society ya padosiyon ki nahin." Rajesh said. "Mera faisla haan hai, tumhara jo decision hai, bahar jaake bata do."

Veena sat down on the bed, trying to wipe her flowing tears with her saree. Rajesh sighed and sat beside her, holding her hand.

"Main gussa nahin karna chahta...par tum samajh rahi ho na, main kya kehna chahta hoon-

"Aap aise bol rahe hain jaise main Priyu se pyaar nahin karti? Uski Maa hoon, fikr hai mujhe uski-

"Wo toh zindagi bhar rahegi Veena. Jab Priyu khud bhi Maa ban jayegi na, tab bhi uski fikr rahegi." Rajesh wiped his own tears. "Par iska matlab ye toh nahin ki hum iss tarah pareshaan ho? We have to be her pillars, humein uska saath dena hai, har mushkil mein, jaise Rishabh de raha hai." 

Veena stayed quiet as Rajesh poured her a glass of water.

"Tumhi socho, wo itna bada aadmi hai, duniya bhar ka paisa hai uske paas, kuch bhi kar sakta hai. Chahta toh humari Priyu ko iss mushkil mein akele chhod kar chala jata kahin. Hum kuch nahin kar paate." Rajesh said. "Par usne aisa nahin kiya. Wo khud yahan tak aaya, humein izzat di, humaari Priyu ka saath diya. Ek ideal partner toh wahi hota hai na jo badi se badi problem mein aapka saath de? Hmm?"

Veena sighed and nodded, making Rajesh smile a bit.

"Toh ab khushi khushi unn dono ko aashirwaad dete hain. Aur sabse acchi baat, humaari tension khatam!" He laughed softly. "Humaari bacchi ne apne sapno ka rajkumar...I mean, raja...dhoond hi liya!"

---

"Agar unhone mana kardiya toh?" Prerna asked Rishabh and he shrugged.

"Ghar chala jaunga." He shrugged and she hit him angrily. "Just kidding!"

"Di...aap serious ho?" Shivani spoke for the first time as she sat beside her sister. "Aap sach mein shaadi karoge?"

"Agar Maa Baba ne haan boldiya toh...yaa." Prerna nodded and Shivani looked shocked. "Kya hua? Itni der se ye sab baatein ho rahi hain...tujhe abhi realise hua?"

"Mujhe laga...ladai-jhagda hoga, daant padegi...and phir sab normal ho jayega." Shivani gulped. "Par agar Headquarters ne haan kardi, toh aapki shaadi ho jayegi. Phir main kya karungi? I am not mentally prepared for this, mujhe laga tha chaar-paanch saal hain mere paas!"

Rishabh and Prerna laughed loudly at Shivani's words, who frowned at them. 

"Theek hai phir." Rajesh and Veena entered the hall again. "Humein manzoor hai."

"What?" Shivani almost screamed as Rishabh and Prerna looked surprised.

"Sach mein Baba?" Prerna stood up and hugged her father tightly as he nodded. "Thank you!"

"Thank you Mr. Sharma." Rishabh stood as well and joined his hands. "I promise you, I'll take care of your daughter."

"Wo toh karna hi padega!" Veena said and shook her head. "Warna ye tumhe chhodenge nahin!"