Chapter 5 Chapter 4. What is happening to me

Anvi

I don't know how and why but I genuinely liked him. His thoughts are as good as his looks. I could see it in his eyes that he respected women a lot. I liked the fact that he was genuinely showing interest to know me. He didn't laugh at my stupidities rather he was listening to me attentively the whole time. And the way he called me beautiful, felt endearing. For the first time in my life, I felt happy getting a compliment.

While I was lost in the Aditya land, bhabhi came to my room to ask about the details and my decision.

"So how was it and what do you think about him?" She asked grinning.

"First you tell. Did you and bhai like him?" I asked trying to control my excitement over my feelings.

"Yes. Ashish was all praises about him. I also like that he is polite and respectful."

After she answered, I jumped up excitedly and twirled her along with me. She started to giggle at my enthusiasm.

"Bhabhiiiii, I found him so amazing," I replied excitedly.

"Wow wow slow down tiger! This is your answer in the first meeting. Hmm seems like someone got really impressed." She teased me.

"Impressed would be an understatement. You won't believe bhabhi, he is such a gentleman. Oh my God! His eyes bhabhi!!! Ugh! They are so beautiful. And his smile, his laugh, his talks; everything about him is so endearing. I can't believe I am saying this but I like him so much. Ah! He is so dreamy. He is my new crush from now on." I sighed dreamily while bhabhi looked at me with an open mouth.

"Who are you? What have you done with Anvi?" I giggled at bhabhi's response.

"So what did you guys talk about?" She asked.

"So many things. I even told him about the job and my bucket list."

"You told all about your bucket list to a guy you just met? That is crazy. You don't trust anyone so easily. You are giving me so many surprises today. He must be really good to have gained your trust so early."

"I don't know, bhabhi. He was just so sweet. I felt like sharing everything with him. You know what I mean?"

"Hmm. I get it. When you can see yourself falling in love with someone, you just want to share everything with them."

"Oh bhabhi! I was just asking him whether he likes travelling or not but you came and I couldn't ask him. It was only about me. I didn't ask anything about his hobbies. Why did you come so early?" I pouted sadly.

"Aww! Don't worry, you will have lots of time to know each other. And if you can't wait to ask him, then just google these things." Bhabhi said casually shrugging her shoulders.

"Google these things?" I asked confused.

"Yeah. You will get all the details." I was still confused at what she was saying.

"I am not getting you."

"Doesn't his name ring a bell in your head, Anvi? Don't you think you have heard it before?" "His name is Aditya Aggarwal. Right?" I asked. "Yeah," Bhabhi answered.

"Then?"

"Oh, God! Just google his name, tube light." Bhabhi whacked me on the forehead lightly.

"Okay." I immediately searched his name on google. As the results started popping out, my mouth went dry. He is the effing owner of A. International, one of the fortune 500 companies in the world. The sweet people I greeted outside were one of the richest people in our country. I looked at bhabhi with an open mouth and wide eyes. "I hope you got your answers now." She smirked at me.

"They are 'The Aggarwals'? Did you guys know all this from before?" Bhabhi nodded at my confirmatory question.

"And you didn't even find it necessary to inform me about it. I was blabbering unnecessary stuff out there with him. Why is my memory so effing poor? Girls in my class used to talk about him so much. Even I made a project on their company in college and I couldn't remember them. What will he think of me now? He is definitely saying no to me. I liked one guy and even he turns out to be the Aditya Aggarwal. Couldn't he be some normal man? He was going to be my boss's boss if I had joined that job. Why do I always get caught up in these situations? And what the hell are "The Aggarwals" doing in our home?" I got hyper and started pacing around in the room.

"We tried to tell you but you only refused to listen. Your "the Aggarwals" were suggested by common friends of mom-dad. Don't worry he won't say no. And stop pacing around like that, you are making me dizzy." Bhabhi stopped me by placing her hands on my shoulders. "Why won't he say no, huh? I know he will say no. Look at me, I am not even beautiful and look at him, he is dreamily handsome. Why will he say yes to me? Give one reason for him to say yes. He has the whole world waiting for him. Who am I? I am a nobody who doesn't even have a freaking job." "Shut up," Bhabhi scolded me and I shut my mouth immediately.

"Sorry. I know I am just speaking nonsense but I asked him what he does. Can you imagine I asked him such a stupid question? He must be laughing at me. Heck! I feel like laughing at myself too." I laughed nervously but I was on the verge of breaking down.

"You are making such a big fuss about this whole Aditya Aggarwal situation. And anyway you didn't even let me finish. I was going to say that he likes you. He already said yes, idiot." I looked at her with anticipation in my eyes.

"Yes. He likes you and this is the reason he said yes. Why wouldn't he say yes to a girl, who is so beautiful and so lovable? Anvi, believe me, you are beautiful both inside and out. Only a stupid will say no to you. Stop degrading yourself all the time." She said holding my hands and smiling brightly.

Did he say yes to me? He likes me. Bloody hell! The hotty Aditya Aggarwal likes the okayish me. I smiled like a fool and hugged bhabhi tightly. "He likes me?" I asked blushing.

"Yes, Khushu. Aw! You are so cute." She cooed at me. "Now let me go outside and tell everyone that you are completely smitten by Aditya's charm," Bhabhi said with a serious face and a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"You are not doing anything like that." I gasped holding her hand not letting her leave.

"Stop me." She giggled. I narrowed my eyes at bhabhi.

"Fine. Don't be a mean sister-in-law now. I am just going to say that you are okay with this alliance. Happy?" I smiled in triumph and left her hands.

"Now, can I go?" I nodded my head excitedly and bhabhi left the room with a smile. I couldn't remember the last time I felt this happy. What is happening to me?

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Aditya

I got so happy when bhabhi came outside and told everyone that Anvi is okay with the alliance. But deep within my heart, I was hoping that she took the decision because she genuinely liked me as a person, not because she wanted to make her parents happy. Everyone was busy talking about dates and preparations but my eyes were fixated on her room door. I wanted to talk to her so badly. Mom looked at me and raised a brow. "Eager to meet her again, I see." She commented. My hand went to rub the back of my neck nervously. Wow, I caught her nervous habit too.

"I am happy that you like her," I responded to her with a smile.

As per both our families' traditions, every ritual related to the wedding was going to have an auspicious timing told by the priest so everyone agreed to do that first. After some time, we decided to take our leave. I kept looking at Anvi's room waiting for her to come. Her bhabhi went to bring her outside. She met my parents with a smile. A comment from my mother made her blush. All this time I kept looking at her, waiting for her to look at me for once at least. She was standing far away from me.

Her cheeks turned red when her bhabhi said something in her ear. She looked so pretty with her blush. I wished they would let me talk to her alone. While everyone was busy with their own talks, Akshita bhabhi came to me and cleared her throat to gain my attention. I looked away from Anvi and smiled at bhabhi.

"Someone wants to talk to their fiancée, I see." Bhabhi teased me. The word fiancée certainly has a nice ring to it.

"Can you arrange something, bhabhi? Please, just five minutes." I asked desperately. She laughed slightly and nodded. She went and without anyone's notice, said something in Ashish bhai's ear. He smiled and nodded. While everyone was busy in their conversations, bhabhi sneakily brought Anvi towards me.

"You guys can talk. Ashish and I will take care of everyone."

"Thank you so much, bhabhi," I told her before she left and Anvi started looking everywhere but me.

"Do you like me?" I asked straightforward. She looked at me with an open mouth. Cute!

"I meant, this decision isn't forced on you, right?" I asked, rephrasing my question.

"It was my decision." She clarified and a hue of pink spread through her cheeks. I grinned like an idiot.

"Thank you for saying yes and for giving us a chance. I am happy." I said looking at her. She wouldn't stop blushing and it was making my heart beat faster. "I am happy too." She murmured, making me grin like a fool.

"Can I have your number?" I asked rubbing the back of my neck nervously. "Give me your phone." She murmured while I smiled excitedly. She typed her number and handed me the phone back. Bhabhi gestured us to join everyone.

I mouthed a goodbye to Anvi to which she smiled and blinked her eyes at me. As soon as we reached home, I immediately ran to my room to avoid my parents' teasing. They teased me the whole way to our home. I went to my room and freshened up. I called my best friend, Abhi and told him everything about Anvi. He teased me a lot but he was happy for me as well. After that, I tried to do some office work to pass my time but I couldn't do it. My thoughts were occupied by her only - her smile, her laugh, her beauty and her blush. I was dreading dinner that night because I knew that I'll have to answer my parents' questions. And as predicted, my parents passed me curious smiles at the dinner table.

"Ok. You get to say 'I told you so'. Ask what you want to." I sighed after putting my spoon down. My parents chuckled.

"So tell us about her. How do you feel? What did you talk about? Isn't she sweet? She is beautiful, right?" Both of them looked very excited and fired questions at me left and right. "Stop stop! So many questions."

"You better start answering them then." "What should I tell you guys when even I don't know what I am feeling? I haven't felt like this ever before. She is an amazing person, so dreamy and so endearing. She is a right mix of childishness and maturity. I think we have a lot of things in common. She loves travelling just like me. Can you believe this, London is her dream travel place? I am so excited already thinking that I will be the one to fulfil this dream of hers." I grinned at both of them.

"And she is not scared to speak her heart, she has her opinions which I like the most. I just want to know every single thing about her. But why do I like her so early?" I whined at them.

"It's not early, Adi. You just feel this way because you finally found someone with whom you can relate so much. You like her now because you want to love her in future. It is the first step for you. So be happy and do not overthink this." Mom explained to me.

"You always have the right words for me, mom."

"I know right. I am an awesome mother." She said patting herself. I rolled my eyes at her while dad stared at her with loving eyes.

"I called Abhi and told him about her. He was whining about not being present to see my reactions. He is such a prick."

"Adi, language." Mom scolded.

"Okay. Sorry."

"Honestly, I am so happy for you, son. I think Anvi is going to be the best thing happening to you." Dad smiled genuinely happy for me.

"I hope so." I smiled and hugged him.

"Oh and dad, do you know she got a job in Rayson's ltd. but her parents didn't let her do it. I mean getting a job in a company like Rayson's is brilliant. I think she can work for our company after marriage." "Already making plans for marriage, huh?" Mom said in a teasing tone.

"Mom! You will never change. Which mom teases her son about a girl?" Dad laughed at my comment while mom made a face.

"Jokes apart. I do agree with you, Adi. Ashish told me about her academic excellence and I think she deserves a good position in our company. We will discuss this with her." I nodded happily. "I feel so bad that her parents didn't allow her to do a job. That is so wrong."

"They must have their reasons, Adi. You can't judge them because of this. I could see how much they love her." "She said the same. She said they are protective of her."

"Parents are protective of their daughters." I nodded in understanding.

After having dinner, I went to my room. For some time, I kept on opening her number, typing a message and deleting it. But after gathering courage, I finally texted her "Hi" in hope that she would be awake.