Chapter 43 - Love is in the Air

 Om slung on his jeans jacket and adjusted it's collar before posing for Rudy.

"Kaisa lag raha hu mein ?" ("How do I look ?") Om asked Rudy, who was lying on Om's bed.

Rudy yawned a bit before looking at Om and giving him a face splitting grin.

"Omg ! O, you look so handsome !" Rudy squealed in a squeaky girly voice and sprang up from the bed.

"Bro, aj toh Gauri bhabhi apko shaadi ke liye propose hi kar dengi." ("Bro, Gauri bhabhi would surely propose you for marriage today.") Rudy chuckled and added cockily. "All Thanks to me."

Om rolled his eyes but stayed silent cause he knew he couldn't deny the fact that Rudy had helped him a lot.

Rudy had not just made arrangements for the dinner date but had also helped Om choose an outfit for it.

"Yeah, yeah whatever." Om replied. "Tune sab thik se toh arrange kar diya hai na ?" ("Have you arranged everything ?")

"Why fear when Rudy is here ?" Rudy raised his imaginary collar with a smirk. "Don't worry sab arrangements thik se ho gaye hai." ("Yup. Everything is arranged just the way we want.")

"Okay great." Om heaved a relieved smile. "Chal ab fatafat address send karde." ("Now send me the address of the venue.")

"Haan abhi karta hu." ("Yeah, I'm sending it right away.") Rudy nodded and quickly pulled his phone out to text the address of the venue.

"And-" Om was cut off by Bhavya, who had just walked in the room.

"-Gauri didi ready hai." ("-Gauri didi is ready.") Bhavya informed as she stood beside Rudy with her arm slung on his shoulder. "And just so you know...She's looking absolutely breathtaking."

Ruvya shared a cheeky smile before wriggling their eyebrows teasingly at Om.

Om smiled to himself as he got blinded by Gauri's thoughts but he snapped out of it soon enough.

Om cleared his throat and spread his hands in mid air striking a pose with a smile.

"How do I look ?" Om raised an eyebrow.

"Um..." Bhavya ran her eyes up and down Om as she pretended to think. "...aap bhi thik hi lag rahe hai." ("... you're looking okay-ish.")

Om flashed a fake look of offense.

"Oye ! Mere O bhaiya sabse handsome lag rahe hai." ("Oye ! My brother is looking handsome.") Rudy chided in and slid beside Om. "He's the smartest, cutest and handsome most bachelor of the country."

Bhavya nodded playing along.

"Ab aapka smartest, cutest and handsome most bachelor of country yahi rahenge ya fir date pe bhi jayenge ?" ("Is your smartest, cutest and handsome most bachlor of country going to take his date on date or he's going to stay here itself ?") Bhavya asked.

"Oh shoot !" Om checked his watch before storming off to pick his date from the room down the corridor.

Ruvya chuckled.

"Inka toh ho gaya, ab..." ("He got the love of his life, now...") Rudy trailed as he glanced at Bhavya shyly.

"Ab...kya ?" ("Now...what ?") Bhavya asked softly with blush creeping up her cheeks.

"Ab..." ("Now...") Rudy took Bhavya hand in his as he maintained eye contact with Bhavya. "...hume Shivika ko bhi milana hai." ("...we have to bring Shivika together as well.") He quickly covered up.

Bhavya nodded, her face rubbed up with disappointment. "Of course."

Rudy smiled.

'I wanna make my proposal special, my love. I'll propose you but not now.' Rudy smiled to himself.

♥

"Om, hum pohonche ?" ("Om, are we there already ?") Gauri asked for the umpteenth time as she squeezed Om's hand gently.

Om was walking Gauri towards the date venue with her eyes blindfolded.

"Haan, bas 2 second." ("Just a moment.") Om smiled.

"Nikalu yeh ?" ("Can I remove this ?") Gauri asked excitedly and tugged at the blindfold.

"Hmm." Om hummed as he nervously yet patiently waited for Gauri's reaction.

Gauri removed the blindfold at the speed of lightening and gasped.

Before Gauri was a beautiful lake with ducks resting in the middle of it with their ducklings. Moon shone brighter than ever with all the twinkling stars as it reflected in the lake water.

A table for two was set up on the wooden deck built on the edge of the lake.

"May I ?" Om asked in polished accent as he bowed a bit and extended his hand out for Gauri to take.

Gauri grinned as she accepted his hand.

"It's Gorgeous !" Gauri squealed unable to content her excitement.

"I'm glad." Om gave a light chuckle as he witnessed her excitement and amazement.

"Omg ! Love you so much, Om !" Gauri giggled and hugged Om, catching him off gaurd.

Om chuckled and hugged her back.

"Itni jaldi love you bhi bol diya ? Abhi toh special surprise baaki hai." ("You already admitted your love ? The special surprise is yet to be revealed.") Om said.

"Special surprise ?" Gauri amused as she pulled apart.

"Yes." Om spoke softly. "Pehle dinner, fir surprise." ("First dinner, then surprise.")

Gauri nodded.

"Shall we ?" Om waved his hand at the table.

Gauri nodded with her smile reaching up her eyes. She linked her hand with Om's as he walked her up to the table.

*

"Dinner toh ho gaya. Ab surprise !" ("Dinner's done. Now surprise !") Gauri cheered after wiping off her lips gently with a paper napkin.

"Ok. Let's go." Om smiled.

Om came behind Gauri and started tying the blindfold again.

"Firse blindfold ?" ("Blindfold. Again ?") Gauri grumbled.

"Surprise hai na ? Toh yeh jaruri hai." ("It's a surprise, so blindfold is important.") Om replied.

"Fine." Gauri rolled her eyes behind her closed eyelids.

Om finished tying the blindfold and took Gauri's hand in his again and took the lead.

Om walked Gauri around the lake at one clearing where a small sitting area was decorated with fairy lights and flowers. A projector screen was hung on a tree across from the sitting area.

Om led Gauri towards the mattress lying in the middle of the sitting area and made her sit against the pile of comfy looking cushions.

Om gently took off the blindfold from Gauri's eyes.

Gauri looked around in awe before striking a confused look at Om.

"Yeh sab..." ("All this...") Gauri trailed.

"Special surprise !" Om grinned. "Can I ?" He asked for Gauri's permission to sit beside Gauri.

"Sure." Gauri nodded and scooted over to make some room for Om.

Om plopped beside Gauri and pulled out a small black remote. He pressed one button on the remote and dimmed the lights scaring Gauri a bit.

Gauri jumped near Om and held his hand tightly. "Yeh kya ho raha hai ?" ("What's happening ?")

"Chill." Om said softly and held Gauri by her shoulders. "Mein hu na." ("I'm right beside you.")

Gauri blushed by their closeness.

"Waha dekho." ("Look there.") Om whispered as he pointed at something in the woods.

Gauri followed Om's finger and gasped with wide eyes as she adored a tree illuminated by fireflies.

"Jab tak chand sitare rahenga,
Jab tak yeh jugnu chamkenge.
Do jism ek jaan hai hum,
Humare dil ek sath hi dhadkenge." ("Until there are stars and moon in the sky,
Till the fireflies shine.
We're 2 bodies but one soul,
Our hearts will beat together, our relationship is divine.") Om whispered softly.

Gauri's eyes filled up with happy tears.

"Love you, Om." Gauri said with cracking voice. "Thank you. This is very special."

"Abhi aur bhi hai." ("There's more.") Om said and pressed another button on the remote.

Ting ting ting ting ting ting...ting ting...

Gauri's head snapped at the projector screen as the familiar tune of 'Tum pass aaye' song registered in her brain.

"Meri favourite movie !" ("My favourite movie !") Gauri smiled as the movie started playing on the screen.

"Tum humesha kehti thi na ki tumhe tumhari date pe yeh movie dekhna accha lagega...apne boyfriend ke sath ?" ("You always used to say that you'll love to watch this movie on your date...with your boyfriend, didn't you ?") Om recalled with a smile.

Gauri nodded. "Tumhe yaad tha ?" ("You remembered ?")

"Of course. Tumhari har baat meri liye pathar ki lakeer hai." ("Of course. Every word that rolls out of your mouth is a command for me.") Om smiled. "Love you, Gauri. Love you so much."

Gauri smiled.

The movie started playing and Rikara made themselves comfortable against each other as they enjoyed the movie together.

♠

Shivaay knocked on the door of Annika's hotel room and walked inside with Khanna trailing behind as soon as he got a 'come in' from Annika.

Shivaay was about to open his mouth to say something but cut himself off when he saw Annika laying out various types of wigs, clothes, eyelashes and other disguise items on her bed.

"Yeh sab kya hai Annika ?" ("What's all this Annika ?") Shivaay questioned as he took a closer look at the items.

"Yeh mera jadui khazana." ("It's my magical treasure.") Annika chuckled. "Bhavya ne iska naam rakha hai. Yeh sab bhes badalne ke liye hai." ("Bhavya suggested that name. These things help us in disguise.")

"Lekin mam, bhes kyu badalna hai ?" ("But mam, why do we need to disguise ?") Khanna interrupted.

"Arey Khanna ji aap bhul gaye ? Hum yaha kis liye aaye hai ? Jhonny ko pakadne ke liye na toh hume usey pakadne ke liye koi bhes badalna padega na." ("How can you forget Khanna ? Why did we come here ? To catch Jhonny, and to catch him we need to change our looks and our identities.") Annika explained.

Khanna looked unconvinced but when Annika gave him a glare he nodded frantically.

Annika smiled and picked up a few things.

"Yeh meine aapke liye choose kiya hai." ("I've chose this for you.") Annika said as she pushed a grey wig and moustache and a small box in Shivaay's hand.

Shivaay flipped the wig in his hand and frowned.

"Yeh toh budhe logo ka lag raha hai." ("This is for an old man's disguise.") Shivaay said with distaste.

"Lagta nahi hai. Hai !" ("Yes !") Annika chirped. "Aap budhe aadmi ka bhes lenge. Yeh wig, yeh mooch laga ke toh aap khudko bhi nahi pehchan paayenge." ("You'll be an old man. This wig and this fake moustache will make you look different.") She gushed and opened the box in Shivaay's hand. "Aur yeh dekho...yeh massa toh aapka look hi badal dega." ("And look at this...this fake mole will completely change your looks.")

Khanna almost laughed out loud when he saw Shivaay's cringed face, but he held himself in time and saved himself from getting fired.

"Massa ?!" ("A mole ?!") Shivaay repeated.

"Haan massa." ("Yes, a mole.") Annika replied innocently and took the fake mole on her finger and stuck it on her left cheek. "Yeh dekho isey aise lagate hai." ("This is how you stick it.") She pointed at the fake mole on her face.

"Eww !" Shivaay scrunched up his face in bewilderment and disgust and gave Annika's things back to her. "Iski koi jarurat nahi hai." ("No need. We don't need to do all this.")

"Lekin kyu ?" ("But why ?"? Annika pouted. "Meine toh aapke character ka naam bhi soch liya hai. Batau kya ?.... Massa Manush." ("I had also decided a name for you....Massa Manush (Moley Human).")

Khanna couldn't help but laugh this time.

Shivaay gave Annika a 'are-you-sure-you-ain't-a-mental-on-the-run' look before giving Khanna a deadly glare and shutting him up instantly.

"Koi jarurat nahi hai !" ("This is unnecessary.") Shivaay said sternly. "Khanna ne Jhonny ke addo ka pata lagaya hai. Hume bas waha jaana hai aur usey pakadna hai. Got it ?" ("Khanna has already found out a few places where we can find Jhonny. We just need to go there and catch him. Got it ?")

"Pr-" ("But-") Annika was about to protest but Shivaay cut her off.

"No ifs and buts. Just...just get ready and meet us in the hotel corridor." Shivaay ordered and left the room, Khanna in tow.

Annika made a face. "Stupid Singh Oberoi."

♦

Rudy was sitting on the terrace beyond his Mini basketball court. He was busy adoring Bhavya's picture on his phone and hence didn't sense someone's presence behind him.

Rudy was just wondering how could Bhavya look cute and hot all at the same time when he was suddenly startled by someone keeping their hand on Rudy's shoulder.

Rudy quickly locked his phone and turned around to see who had caught him in the act.

Janvi passed a teasing smile to Rudy before taking a seat beside him.

"Woh Bhavya ki tasveer thi na ?" ("Wasn't that Bhavya's picture ?") Janvi wriggled her eyebrows.

Rudy blushed a deep shade of red in embarassment.

"Aww...mera baccha." ("Aww...my baby.") Janvi cooed with a chuckle. "Pyaar karte ho Bhavya se ?" ("Do you love Bhavya ?")

Rudy gave a slow, shy nod with a sheepish smile.

"Usey pata hai ?" ("Does she know ?") Janvi asked.

Rudy shook his head with a sigh.

"Toh kab bataoge ?" ("When are you going to confess your feelings ?") Janvi frowned.

"Pata nahi." ("I don't know.") Rudy shrugged.

"Hmm." Janvi hummed. "Mere pass ek idea hai agar tum chaho toh woh use karlo. Bhavya jhat se haan kar degi." ("I've an idea, if you like you can use it. Bhavya will accept your proposal right away.")

"Really ?" Rudy perked up.

"Kya idea hai...uh...maa ?" ("What's the idea...uh...mom ?") Rudy puzzled, the word 'maa' ('mom') tasting foreign on his tongue.

Janvi gave a soft smile and narrated her idea to him.

Rudy's smile widened as he listened carefully.

"Amazing !" Rudy chirped. "Mein yahi karunga. Thank you so much maa." ("I'll do this. Thank you so much maa.")

Rudy hugged Janvi, catching her off gaurd.

It took 2 whole minutes for Janvi to process the happiness of getting a hug from her youngest son but she collected herself just in time to hug her son back with tearful eyes and cheerful smile.

"You're most welcome, beta." Janvi replied, a crack sounding in her voice.

Rudy pulled apart with a grin.

Janvi quickly pinched the corners of her eyes and returned the smile.

"Aise hi haste raha karo. Tumhe aur tumhare bhaiyon ko jab khush dekhti hu toh bahot khushi milti hai." ("Keep smiling. When I see you and your brothers happy, I feel immensely happy.") Janvi said softly.

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Hey bubblies !

I know this one's a really, really cringy chapter. I admit that one thing.

Until the next update
Have a safe and great life 😇