Illicit Affairs

21 | "will you marry me?"

I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings
Darling, you're the one I want, and
I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this
Darling, you're the one I want
In paper rings, in picture frames, in dirty dreams
Oh, you're the one I want

•

sudhanshu :

After "Best Parivaar" awards happened, I knew it was time.
That was the last awards of the evening.
Most of the awards had been picked by our shoes.

I personally had one "Best Beta" award.
Rupali legit had "Best Maa", "Best Biwi", "Best Jodi" with Gaurav and a "Best Anokha Rishta" with my onscreen father.
We were anyways sitting together, and when we did have an exchange of seats with someone else, I had walked down to her and given her a hug.

I could tell this was the evening of her dreams.

A spot boy jogged down to me.
"Sir..", He said, "It's time for the final song."
I nodded.
I was singing the 'Star Parivaar' title song.

But I had plans before that.

"Sing well, Pandey.", Rupali said grinning. She and Alpana ji had been discussing how cool all of this is.
"Brace yourself Bangully.", I said with a wink.
I shared a glance with Alpana ji for confidence and then walked up to the stage.

The audience stared at me.
I drew in a deep breath.

I looked at Rupali sitting at the seat right before the stage.
Gaurav had come and sat beside her, he flashed me a thumbs up.
I nodded, hoping to renew some of my dead confidence.

I glanced at Arvind sir who gave me a reassuring look.
I looked past Rupali, her mother had taken the seat behind her for this.

She mouthed all the best.

I nodded, taking the last bit of blessings and cleared my throat.

•

rupali :

He looked so nervous, and I didn't know why.
He was so used to hosting and singing, it was literally his second profession.

I looked around myself.
Everyone had a knowing smile.

What's going on here?

"Good evening Star Parivaar.", He said, inhaling deeply.

"Today, I have a confession to make.. before this event ends.", He added.

Confession?

An old fear gripped me.
A mic, a man and the stage, before a hundred people.
It had happened to me twice, and ended terribly.

I paled almost involuntarily.

"This is out of the script, of course. Thankfully SPA management has been kind to me, and now that I have the opportunity. I must begin."

He looked at me.

"Right here, in this very event.. I had met a girl.", He started, my heart skipped a beat.
He laughed a little.
"Actually she met me.", He continued, "I had met her long before that. She played the vamp and I played a sidey character that no one really remembers."