A Unique Proposal

Part 1: A Unique Proposal

New Delhi/ Our Mansion

Sanjana paced back and forth in her room, a whirlwind of emotions. Just that morning, she'd returned from Lucknow after attending a wedding, and the energy of the occasion seemed to linger in her heart like a fleeting shadow. As she took a moment to gather her thoughts, she silently prayed to Devi Matha for clarity and peace. Suddenly, her daughter Isha's cheerful voice broke through, calling out, "Mama!"

As she expected, her brother Arjun soon followed, entering her room with open arms and introducing a comforting and welcoming warmth. He was the epitome of success, a hotshot business tycoon whose features resembled those of a Greek god. With his strong physique, deep chocolate eyes, and perfectly styled hair, he commanded attention wherever he went. Arjun may have seemed aloof to the world, but to Sanjana, he was the sweet brother who would go to great lengths to see her smile.

“I’ve missed you so much,” Sanjana confessed.

“Di, it’s only been four days since you went to Lucknow,” he chuckled, teasing her.

“Not just four days... It's fooour days... They felt like an eternity,” she replied, her heart heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Arjun noticed the sadness on her face and paused, concern spreading across his features. “Di, are you okay?”

Sanjana shook her head softly, “Not really, Chintu.”

“What's wrong?” he asked, worry creeping into his voice.

“Honestly, I just feel a bit lost,” she admitted.

“Lost? What do you mean?”

“For the first time, I long for something that feels just out of reach,” she said, her voice trembling with vulnerability.

“Whatever it is, I’ll get it for you,” he responded confidently, eager to help.

“It's not something you can just give me. I don’t want to burden you,” she said, realising how heavy the topic was on both their hearts.

“Stop right there, Di. Don’t say that. I promise, whatever it is, I will make it happen for you.”

“Promise only if you know what I’m asking,” she said, playfully challenging him.

“Of course, I will…”

“What if I want a girl as my sister-in-law?” she quipped, a mischievous glimmer in her eye.

Arjun blinked, realising he had walked right into her clever trap. “Di, didn’t I say I’m not ready to think about marriage for another three years?”

“Take your time. You can marry her now and start a family later,” she suggested, her tone light yet persuasive.

“Seriously, Di? This is nonsense,” Arjun responded, frowning.

“She just wants time to adjust to being your wife,” she explained.

“Wait, a girl needs time to accept me? Who is this special girl?” he asked, eyebrows raised in mock disbelief.

“Meer is nothing like what you’re imagining. She looks so innocent and sweet. I like her!” Sanjana's enthusiasm bubbled up as they heard little Isha chirp from outside.

"What? Is Meera Didi going to be my Mami? Yay! That’s fantastic! Now I’ll have someone to play Hide and Seek with!" Isha cheered, bouncing with excitement.

“Hide and Seek?” Arjun furrowed his brow at his sister, confused.

“Yes, Mama! We played it in Lucknow, and all my friends love her!” Isha giggled with delight.

Arjun exchanged a bewildered look with Sanjana, clearly overwhelmed.

“Didn’t I say she looks childish and innocent?”

“That’s true, Mama. She was actually more childlike than me! She has many friends in my age!” Isha added with a chuckle.

“She’s beautiful too. Right, Mumma?”

“Absolutely!” Sanjana affirmed, a warm smile spreading across her face.

“But what’s Mama going to do? Is he just going to play hide and seek with her, or what? He doesn’t even play Hide and Seek!” Isha murmured, scratching her head with curiosity.

Arjun shot Sanjana a teasing glare,

“Did you not say that marriage is just a complicated mess—get married, have kids, raise them, and then it’s over? If you’re marrying Meera, your life will be so interesting!”

Arjun raised his brows.

“Believe me, Chintu, she’s not like your flashy business associates or glamorous staff. She’s refreshingly simple and so cute!”

“Are you suggesting child marriage now?” he teased, raising an eyebrow.

Sanjana let out a small laugh. “No! She’s youthful in spirit but very mature in her heart.” She glanced around, trying to locate her phone. “I’ll send you a picture of her. I promise I won’t pressure you into anything if you don’t like her.”

“Where did you get her picture?”

“I took it without her knowing…” Sanjana replied, a sense of pride sparkling in her eyes.

“While playing Hide and Seek?” Arjun asked, a playful smile forming.

“Exactly! The photo may not be perfect, but it captures her essence.”

“Okay, Di. Whatever,” he said, not entirely invested.

Arjun retreated to his room, his thoughts swirling about this intriguing girl. Meanwhile, Sanjana managed to retrieve her phone from where she had cleverly hidden it. She knew her brother often masked his feelings behind a tough exterior, but she couldn't wait to see his reaction once he focused on Meera's picture. Silently, she trailed behind him, having already sent the image.

Arjun settled into his recliner and froze as he looked at the photo. To his surprise, Meera’s innocence and warmth captivated him, drawing him in. He found her surprisingly enchanting, leaving him questioning everything he thought he knew.

Sanjana's heart swelled with joy as she witnessed his reaction from the doorway.

Arjun lay on the bed, contemplating the unique proposal he had received. He slowly closed his eyes, only to jerk awake as Meera's image flashed behind his closed eyelids. He wondered about his feelings; he didn’t know anything about her. He didn’t know what to do, but denying the proposal was never an option. He smiled at the thought of waiting three years until Meera was ready for the relationship. He considered discussing it with Sanjana.

The Next Morning

Sanjana saw Arjun enter her room. She mentally prepared herself, determined not to give in easily.

“Di… I want to talk to you.”

Sanjana immediately understood what he wanted to discuss. Although she felt panicked at the thought of confronting her egoistic brother, she knew she had to face him.

“Tell me, Chintu. What do you want to talk about?”

Arjun took her hand, made her sit on the bed, and sat beside her.

“It's about my marriage.”

“Take some time to think it over, Chintu. Please don’t rush into any decisions.”

“You told me Meera wants time to adjust to this relationship. So why not wait three years? What’s the urgency? Why not get engaged now?”

Sanjana's face brightened at his words. For the first time, her brother was speaking positively about his marriage.

“Yes, we can. But why should we waste three years? She’s from a small village and knows nothing about our society and modern culture. If Meera is with us, we can help her adjust and learn about our lifestyle. She also lost her father a few years ago, and her mother and aunt are her only relatives. They raised her with strict control over every little thing. I’ve heard them talking about searching for a groom for her. Why should we trouble them? They would feel relieved seeing Meera settled in her life.”

“What about their income? How do they manage?” Arjun asked with concern.

“Through house rent. They own a house and receive monthly rent; that’s their main source of income. Meera’s aunt also has her own house in Delhi. She went to Lucknow to support Meera’s mother after Meera’s father passed away. They’ve already struggled a lot, Chintu, and I don’t want to add to their burdens.”

“Okay, what is Meera’s main issue that makes you consider this situation?”

“It's not anything specific. From her childishness, I realised she was not ready for a husband-and-wife relationship. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Arjun nodded.

“Poor girl, she shouldn't end up with the wrong person. And I know there can't be anyone more understanding than you. You also suggested waiting three years before marrying, which fits Meera’s situation perfectly. Everything seems to be falling into place.”

Arjun nodded, feeling content. He smiled at Sanjana.

“Do you think a childish girl would fit as Mrs. Arjun?”

“Absolutely. I’ve seen her advising children about respecting elders. That’s impressive. What else do you need to be Mrs. Arjun? She will learn.”

“Alright, go ahead.”

Sanjana's eyes widened with excitement.

“Really? I can’t believe this. Are you…?”

“Don’t overreact.”

“Thank God!” Sanjana hugged him happily.

“I agreed because you said I can take three years to start a family.”

“Sure... possibly even longer. It depends on how your relationship progresses. Who knows? She may fall for you soon, and your responsibility is to manage that.” She chuckled.

Sanjana noticed Arjun struggling to suppress a smile. She felt delighted to see her brother like this, believing there was nothing to worry about if he liked her. He would take care of everything.

As Arjun left Sanjana’s room, he pondered her words about Meera. Was it possible for him to make a childish girl fall for him? Could he keep his distance until then? Why not try to bring her closer? It seemed like a mess! Some girls longed for just a glance from him, yet here he was, planning to make his future wife fall for him. He let out a chuckle. What would it be like after marriage if he felt this way just seeing her photo? Sanjana was right; his married life would be different from others—and enjoyable.

To be continued…