I'M OKAY WITH IT
1615 Words
SEVENTEEN: I'M OKAY WITH IT
Ishanvi felt an instant shift in the air as Neer came and sat beside his mother. She suddenly found it hard to concentrate on the ongoing conversation with Nurvi. She felt something had changed this time as she was meeting Neer for the first time after she gave her consent for the marriage.
Neer knew Ishanvi was joining them for dinner tonight, and her presence was announced with Nurvi's loud squeal, but he didn't hurry to meet her. He decided to let her get comfortable around his family before he came here.
Although Neer had sat across from her, he hadn't dared to look at Ishanvi. He, too, could feel that there was a difference in their meeting this time –but he couldn't discern whether it was because his family was there or whether there was another reason behind this– and this feeling made him feel slightly awkward.
But at the same time, Neer wanted to have a glimpse of Ishanvi. He himself couldn't understand the reason behind his strange behavior, but he just wanted to have a look at her, even if it was for a fleeting second.
He was thinking hard to come up with some excuse to look at her without being apparent about it; as he talked with his parents, he noticed a substantial antique mirror that was placed against the wall on his right. It provided him with a whole, clear view of Nurvi and Ishanvi, who sat across from him. He had now found a way to look at Ishanvi without being evident that he was looking at her.
He looked at her reflection in the mirror discreetly. He noticed how she was dressed in a kurti and denim trousers and yet looked gorgeous. And her bindi and jhumkis added to her charm, especially her bindi caught his eyes as it was the first time he had seen her dressed like this, and he couldn't help himself from staring at her face that was glowing under the warm lights in the room. As he gazed at her reflection, he noticed her discomfort. He understood that he was making her uncomfortable with his presence, though he didn't know why as it had never happened before whenever they met.
"Please excuse me; I have to make an important phone call," Neer excused himself and went to the balcony.
Ishanvi sighed in relief after Neer left. She didn't know why she was being so weird in his presence all of a sudden.
"Don't tell me you're starting to develop feelings for him already!" her mind shrieked at her.
"Don't be stupid, brain! I don't fall in love with someone so soon. I need to make sure that they aren't going to hurt me before developing feelings for them," her heart replied smartly.
"I can't trust you because sometimes you fall for a person right after seeing him/her!" her mind pointed out to her heart.
*"Oh, just shut up, you two!"* Ishanvi told them off before shutting down their voices.
Neer was still on the balcony when their dinner arrived.
They all got up and moved to the dining table as the server placed the dishes on the table.
"I didn't know about your likes and dislikes, so I ordered some kadhai paneer, tandoori chaap, butter naan, plain chapatis and pineapple raita with some vinegared onions and pickles. Hope you're okay with it?" Nurvi asked tentatively.
"Oh, I love kadhai paneer and butter naan," Ishanvi said, rubbing her palms together excitedly as they took their seats at the dining table. "In fact, everything that you've ordered is my favourite. You sure you didn't ask someone about it?" Ishanvi raised her eyebrows at Nurvi.
"No, I didn't ask anyone. Actually, these are bhaiya and my favourite dishes. So, I ordered them and thought if you didn't like it, I'll order something else for you," Nurvi replied sheepishly. "But I'm happy to know that our taste matches in food too, especially yours and bhaiya's as he too loves kadhai paneer and butter naan!" Nurvi informed her.
Ishanvi let out an awkward smile at this piece of information.
"I thought butter chicken would be his favourite, but no, sir has to like my kadhai paneer! Now I'll have to share my food with him," Ishanvi thought bitterly.
As Ishanvi was lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice when Neer returned to the living area and came to them.
It was when Mrs Oberoi asked him to sit beside Ishanvi that Ishanvi was brought out of her la la land.
Horrified, she looked at Neer, who was standing across from her. She tried to mask her feelings, but Neer had already seen it. So, even after Mrs Oberoi and Nurvi's continuous insistence, Neer refused to sit with Ishanvi as he didn't want her to be more uncomfortable than she already was!
They ate their dinner silently as the Royals followed the 'no talking while eating' rule. Ishanvi was thankful for this silence as she could use this time to sort out her jumbled-up emotions after seeing Neer.
Once the dinner was over, the server brought in the desserts. There was ras malai, gulab jamun, gajar halwa, sandesh and jalebi.
Ishanvi's mouth watered at the sight of ras malai; she just loved the squishy balls bathed in the flavoured milk.
Both Nurvi and Neer noticed her drooling over the rasmalais and suppressed their smiles before Nurvi placed the bowl of rasmalais in front of her.
"They are all for you," Nurvi told her.
Although Ishanvi was instantly salivating at the sight of gooey dessert, she knew she had to hide her hunger for them in front of the Royals. "I can't eat all of them. I can have a piece or two at max," she said, pushing the bowl away.
Neer spoke up this time. "I know you can finish it all. I have full faith in you," he said solemnly, though only he knew how hard it was for him to keep a straight face and not burst out laughing as Ishanvi eyed the dessert hungrily.
"Yes, we have full faith in you," Nurvi chimed in.
Ishanvi couldn't resist the gooey dessert anymore. "Okay, if you insist," she said, placing the bowl before her.
She quickly placed two pieces of ras malai in her bowl and relished the excellent taste of those cottage cheese balls dumped in the flavoured milk.
Neer and Nurvi smiled inwardly at her innocence as they ate their *gajar halwa*.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
After desserts, Mrs Oberoi, Nurvi and Ishanvi were talking in the living area while Mr Oberoi and Neer were working in the bedroom.
Ishanvi glanced at her wristwatch and realised it was time for her to leave. Just as she was about to take her leave, Ishanvi remembered that she had bought a pair of earrings from Raabta for Nurvi on her way to the hotel.
She pulled out the box from her handbag and extended it towards Nurvi. "This is for you."
Nurvi's face lit up as she saw the gift. "Whoa! You even brought me a gift! I like you all the more now!" Nurvi chirped happily.
She opened the box and saw the beautiful pair of earrings. "This is so beautiful, just like you."
Ishanvi sighed in relief. "I'm glad you liked it."
"Of course, I would like anything that's from you. After all, you're going to be my sister-in-law pretty soon."
"About that," Mrs Oberoi said, "have you thought about the roka ceremony, Ishanvi?"
Ishanvi sat still as she heard the question. She had almost forgotten about it. She was so busy at the University today that she had no time to ponder this. But she needed to give them an answer as well, even if she didn't know what the answer was.
"I think you should say yes," her heart said.
"No, you should think about it carefully before saying anything," her mind advised.
"Not again, you two!" Ishanvi sighed.
She closed her eyes and thought about her parents and siblings as if trying to communicate with them through their non-existent mind link. But then, her parents' conversation about Neer rang into her ears, and suddenly, she knew what she had to do.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and turned towards Mrs Oberoi, who was waiting for her reply.
"I'm okay with having a small ceremony whenever you would like," Ishanvi finally said in a low voice.
Mrs Oberoi engulfed her in a hug. "You made me so happy, Ishanvi."
"Great. I'll wear these gorgeous earrings at your roka ceremony then," Nurvi added happily as she hugged Ishanvi.
"Let her go, Nurvi. It's getting late," Mrs Oberoi reprimanded her as Nurvi continued to hug Ishanvi.
"Ah, yes. I'm sorry," Nurvi apologised as she broke the hug.
"It's absolutely fine," Ishanvi smiled at her.
"Where is Neer? He should go and drop you off," Mrs Oberoi turned towards the bedroom to call Neer.
"It's alright, ma'am. I'll go myself. Please don't bother him," Ishanvi said hurriedly.
"Are you sure?" Mrs Oberoi asked uncertainly.
Ishanvi nodded her head.
"Okay, then. Call me once you reach home safely. And be safe on your way," Mrs Oberoi spelt out the instructions.
"I will, ma'am," Ishanvi assured her.
They hugged Ishanvi once more before she bid them bye.
Mrs Oberoi and Nurvi stood in the corridor until Ishanvi boarded the elevator and disappeared from their sight.
Mrs Oberoi then asked one of her bodyguards to make sure Ishanvi reached her home safely before she went back to her husband to share the good news with him.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
- Writer
