SS: Home Coming Epilogue pg 125 Arpil 1 - Page 93

"I'm coming…I'm coming," Geet yelled as she hurried across the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX.

 

She was on the phone with work and had fallen behind a few steps while everyone else raced forward. As she finally approached her family, an involuntary smile spread across her face.

 

"Hurry will ya," her sister Naintara called, "We don't want to miss her."

 

Could one person be so blessed with this much happiness and love?

 

Standing ahead of her was her family – her rather large family – which had grown throughout the years thanks to God's grace. What would she have done without her family? So what if they weren't all blood related, that didn't matter. What made them a family was the love that the shared for one another. It was the love and care that made it possible for them to all live in such close proximity and still not what to kill each other.

 

Geet joined Meera, Dev, Naintara, Yash and Maan where they stood, over looking the pathway where all the international passengers came out of. Each had in their hands either a bouquet of flowers, or a bunch of balloons, or a stuffed animal. Each of them, eagerly awaiting the return of the most loved family member. Everyone awaiting the return of Roshni.

 

As Geet thought about her daughter, a sense of pride and love overwhelmed her. Her little miracle baby had fought and over come all obstacles, far surpassing their hopes and dreams. She had been an adorable and smart girl in her adolescence. She'd blossomed into a beautiful and intelligent young woman.

 

Roshni had Geet's raven hair, bubbly attitude and slight frame. But don't let looks fool you because she had Maan's intense eyes and fuming anger as well. However, despite being spoiled by one and all she was a down to earth and well rounded human being. Despite all fears that she would have a learning disability as she grew, she proved everyone wrong. Roshni had been on the honor roll ever year since she was in elementary school and maintained a higher than 4.0 GPA all through out her education. She graduated from high school at the age of 16 and from college by the age of 18, when other people her age were just starting college. Like her father, she too went into the medical field, finishing by the time she was 22. Unlike her father, however, she had chosen to go into obstetrics and gynecology, like Meera. Roshni had just finished her 3yr internship and had gone on a trip to Europe with friends.

 

It was the first time she had been away from the family for so long and it was driving everyone, especially Maan nuts.

 

"Where is she?" Maan asked as if on cue, "She should have been here by now!"

 

"The flight landed already, where could she be?" Dev asked irritated.

 

"You think she got stuck in customs or something?" Yash asked worried.

 

Dev and Maan looked at him in shock.

 

"Would you three mamma bears relax!" Meera said, "Her flight hasn't landed yet."

 

"Yes it did," Dev argued, "Look…Flight 545 on time…landed at Gate 14"

 

Meera smacked her head.

 

"That is flight 454 not 545," she pointed out.

 

"Oh," he said dejectedly.

 

"They act like such children when it comes to Roshni," Naintara said.

 

Geet, Naintara and Meera laughed while the men were suddenly grumpy. It was not a hidden fact that all three men still treated Roshni as if she was a 5 year old.

 

"Speaking of children," Geet said as she looked around, "Where are our hooligans?"

 

"There they are," Meera said as she pointed behind Geet.

 

Turning around, Geet saw the other half of their family – the children – walking down the terminal with beverages in their hands.

 

Other than Roshni, the family was blessed six other children. Dev and Meera had Riya, 22, and Aarav, 18. Riya was currently pursuing her MBA at UCLA, While Aarav was about to graduate high school and then join Riya at UCLA. It was one of Dev's life's greatest tragedies that neither of his children had chosen his alma mater, USC.

 

Then there were Yash and Naintara's three children. First came twins Ishaan and Payal, 20. Ishaan was currently going to school at CSULA to get his teaching degree, while Payal was at USC going for psychology. Naintara had been ecstatic that she'd had a boy and girl because she wasn't about to go through labor again, no way no how! However, God had other plans. That is why nearly ten years later she found herself pregnant and gave birth to a little angel they named Naina. And true to form, Naina was the apple of everyone's eye. Having a new baby in the house was something that everyone enjoyed.  

 

Leading the group was Ishaan with Naina holding onto his hand. Behind them trailed the rest of the group talking and chatting away.

 

"You kids and your caffeine!" Naintara complained, "Must you always drink these things?"

 

As Geet looked closely, they all had iced coffee's of some sort in their hands.

 

"Please tell me Naina isn't drinking coffee," Meera said as she pulled Naina to her side.  

 

"Of course not Massi," Aarav began. "We got her a smoothie."

 

"Rodi's not here?" Naina asked at the mention of her name.

 

Rodi was what Naina called Roshni, because as a younger child 'Roshni Di' was just too much to say. Throughout the years, the name stuck.

 

"No honey, not yet," Geet said.

 

"I'm so happy Di is finally coming home," Riya said. "We have so much to chat about."

 

"I know!" Payal agreed.

 

The three girls were as close as sisters and loved each other the same way. Riya and Payal looked up to Roshni and used her as a sounding board for any decision they needed to make. Whether it was to choose what dress to wear to prom or what college to go to. No matter how big or small the issue, they always took it to Roshni.

 

"Why isn't she here yet?" Maan whined as he came and stood by Geet.

 

"She will be, give it time," Geet said.

 

"Relax Jiju, we always have the best homecomings!" Naintara reminded.

 

Everyone smiled as they remembered various home comings beginning with Roshni coming home from the hospital all those years ago.

 

"Then she's probably pregnant," Ishaan said.

 

"What!?" all three sets of parents yelled.

 

"Well, just think about it…all of our family homecomings bring with it one of two things, news about marriages or news about babies," Ishaan pointed out.

 

True enough, every pregnancy announcement – every single one – had some how coincided with someone coming home from a trip, a conference or something like that.

 

"Gadha!" Dev yelled as he hit Ishaan's head. "Don't say such things!"

 

"I swear Naintara, I'm gonna kill your son," Yash said.

 

"So now he's only my son?" Naintara asked. "Not yours."

 

"I'm just saying there's a chance that Rosh Di has pregnancy news," Ishaan said in support of his idea.

 

"Its times like this I'm relieved I'm not blood related to these nuts," a voice said.

 

It was Rahul, Maan and Geet's 21 year old adopted son. They had adopted him from an orphanage when he was barely a year old. Geet had wanted more children, even if they weren't her own. She had a lot of love to give to a child in need. Since the day her eyes fell onto him in his crib, there was no going back. Maan, Geet and everyone loved him like their own; they never even brought up the fact that he was adopted.

 

Rahul went straight to Geet and gave her a hug. He was totally a Mamma's boy. However, he was in complete awe of his father, which is why he was in med school with the aim to become a cardiologist like Maan.

 

"Whatever," Ishaan said, "You're jealous that you don't have our flawless genes and you know it."

 

"He gets his obnoxiousness from his father," Naintara said as Rahul went and hugged her as well.

 

It took Rahul a few minutes to make his rounds and greet everyone. He was in college and living in dorms so he didn't see his family as often as he'd like.

 

Just as Maan was about to ask Rahul about his studies, there was an overhead announcement that made everyone forget everything as smiles spread on their faces.

 

"Flight 545 form Paris via JFK has now landed at Gate 17."

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

Home. After two months abroad, she was finally home. She couldn't wait to see her family. In her 25 years of life, she had never been away from her family for more than two weeks during summer camp as a child. More than anything else in the world her family meant the most to her. Her crazy, wacky, infuriating and loving family was her world. How could they not be?

 

She came out of the plane and immediately followed the signs that lead her to immigration. The sooner she cleared through all of that, the sooner she could get her things and be out. Lucky for her, because she held a US passport, her time in the lines were quicker than those carrying foreign passports. Once that was done with, she headed over to baggage claim, tying her hair in a knot so that it wouldn't get in her way. Just as she was coming up on the carousel her phone vibrated. Looking down to see what it was, a smile spread on her face. She had a text message from her father asking if she'd landed.

 

'Yes Papa, I landed. I'll be out soon.'

 

Soon after, with her two large luggage's and two carryon's secured on the trolley, she proceeded to customs. Customs took nearly no time at all and now, it was the moment she waited for.

Geet pushed her trolley along, a huge grim speared across her face at the anticipation of seeing her family again. She came down the long tunnel like path way that would lead her into the heart of the Tom Bradley terminal. She made the turn and held her breath as she turned the corner and began walking up the pathway that led to the waiting area. Her eyes scanned the crowd for her family, but she couldn't spot them. She came all the way around and still nothing. Then, suddenly there was a roar.

 

"Roshni!"

 

Turning her head in the direction that the sound came from, Roshni's grin grew as her family came in sight.

 

As she walked towards them, she counted everyone. Her loving and overprotective father with her two Chacha's (Dev and Yash) – check. Her crazy, funny and well meaning Massi's (Naintara and Meera) – check. Roshni always found it funny how she only had Chacha's and Massi's, but now Chachi's or Mausa's – that is how close Maan was to the boys and Geet to the girls. Then came her cousins. The twins, Ms. MBA (Riya), Mr. Prom King (Aarav), Professor Wannabe Ishaan, and her over achieving brother Rahul who held Naina in his arms. As much as she was happy to see them, her eyes searched for the most important person in her life – her mother.

 

Roshni had always loved her mother from the bottom of her heart, they had always been close, but as a teenager, like everyone else, Roshni and Geet had ran into problems that had led to an explosive argument that ended with Roshni telling Geet she hated her. It was that night she had found out the painful truth of her existence.

 

Roshni had only been 14, a freshman in high school, when her father had told her what Geet faced to bring her into this world. Maan had told her about the surprise pregnancy, how her grandparents had treated her mother. Not just that, but the complications of her pregnancy, the unexpected delivery and the sheer love and miracle that helped Roshni survive those first few weeks when the doctors were sure if she'd live of die.

 

From that night on the love that Roshni felt for her mother grew ten fold. With that love came admiration, respect and gratitude for her amazing mother who fought for her, nearly loosing her life in the process. She had always heard that mothers would die for their children, and it sent chills down her spine just thinking that hers nearly had.

 

Despite all that, it amazed Roshni that her mother held no grudge against her parents. Sure, they weren't part of their lives, but Geet never wished them any harm or hardship. What further amazed her was that her mother was not only a mother and wife, but a career woman. She had gone back to school and obtained a BA in child development and an MBA as well. Now, with the help of her aunts, Geet ran a non-profit organization for pregnant women in need of prenatal care and a child development center where parents of children with all kinds of disabilities could come for help.

Between her Naintara, her college professor aunt, Meera and Geet, Roshni had the best role models throughout her life.

 

"Welcome home Ro…" she heard some say.

 

However, Roshni paid no attention as her eyes finally fell on her mother who appeared to be on a phone call.

 

"Mamma," she said as she let go of her still moving trolley and headed straight for Geet.

 

She heard Ishaan complain in a grunt as her trolley hit him but she didn't care.

 

"Mamma," she said once more as she hugged her mother from behind.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

Geet had first heard her voice, then felt her embrace and finally turned to see her pride and joy, her daughter. Geet's eyes filled with tears as she cradled her daughters face in her hands.

 

"Roshni," she said softly.

 

Then, being a mother, she checked her from head to toe to make sure that she was the same as when she'd left.

 

"Welcome home baby," Geet said as she took Roshni into her arms again.

 

The stayed like that for a few seconds, just enjoying being with each other again.

 

"You're such a horrible child," Rahul said. "Always making Mamma cry."

 

"Stop it Rahul, don't tease your sister," Maan admonished.

 

"Sorry Papa," Rahul said immediately.

 

Now it was Maan's turn to greet his daughter. He couldn't help the smile that spread on his face. His baby girl as finally home. The happiness and relief was present in his eyes.

 

And so, one by one, everyone took their turn and hugged Roshni to welcome her home.

 

---------------------

 

Geet was in the kitchen with the rest of the ladies of the family, while the men were all huddled in the family room watching some sort of action movie.

 

Geet was cutting vegetables while Meer stirred a pot on the stove. Payal, sat at the table talking to Roshni about her trip, while Riya worked on the dessert. Even little Naina helped by peeling potatoes for Geet. Naintara on the other hand, sat on a barstool that looked out into the yard and had a clear view of the front of their house – she sat with a special task.

 

"There was this really great boutique that had the cutest dresses," Roshni told Payal.

 

"Did you bring us back samples?" Payal asked excited.

 

"Payal!" Naintara admonished.

 

"What mom? It's just Rosh Di, chill out," Payal commented back.

 

"It's ok Massi," Roshni said. "And of course! I brought one back for all the ladies…even you Mamma."

 

Geet smiled at her daughter.

 

"You have to wear it," Roshni said before her mother tried to argue.

 

"What about the museums? Were the all you hoped they'd be?" Meera asked.

 

Roshni got up and moved to where Meera stood. As she passed Geet, she took a sliced carrot and popped it into her mouth.

 

"They were more than I expected," Roshni said.

 

They continued to talk about her trip for another 20 minutes of so. During that time Ishaan and Rahul came for snacks and drinks as per the orders of their fathers.

 

"Oh my God, oh my God," Naintara yelled as she became giddy in her seat.

 

"What?" Geet and Meera asked at the same time.

 

"Oh my God, oh my God," Naintara continued to yell; only this time she was jumping up and down.

 

"What Mom? Are you ok?" Payal asked.

 

"Umm…" Naintara began, as she looked from the window to the women in the kitchen. "Umm…the…the umm…the bean is in the burrito!"

 

"What!?" the women all yelled together.

 

"The bean is in the burrito!" Naintara repeated.

 

She was getting frustrated as everyone stared at her blankly.

 

"Oh my God," Geet said nearly inaudible.

 

"You understood what Massi said?" Roshni asked.

 

"Umm…yes…yes I did," Geet said as she eyed Meera.

 

"Oh God," Meera said as she nearly dropped her spoon in the pot on the stove.

 

"You too Massi? How?" Payal asked.

"It's a sister thing," Geet lied.

 

Geet put her knife down and wiped her hands on a towel and came around the counter.

 

"Riya why don't you take Roshni upstairs and help her get dressed for dinner," Geet suggested.

 

"Why?" Roshni asked as she slipped in another piece of carrot into her mouth.

 

"Make sure she changes into a nice outfit," Naintara said.

 

"But why?" Roshni asked.

 

"Just because…we have the whole family together after a while," Geet said.

 

"O…kay…" Roshni said as she gave her mother a weird look.

 

"Take her up Riya," Meera said.

 

Then, coming close to Riya who stood at one end of the counter, she whispered something so no one could hear.

 

"Make sure she stays up there for a while," she said.

 

It took Riya a minute but it soon sunk in for her too.

 

"Meaning…" she began, but then the light bulb went off in her mind as well.

 

"Yes, now go!" Meera said in a hurried voice.

 

Riya put down the batter she was mixing and quickly went to Roshni and took her by the shoulders.

 

"Come on Di, lets go get changed for dinner," Riya said. "Payal, you too…you can help us."

 

"Ok sure…" Payal said as she got up.

 

"Can I help to Rodi," Naina asked.

 

"Of course you can munchkin," Roshni said as she picked Naina up. "It's make over time!"

 

As Roshni lead Payal and Naina out of the room, Riya looked back at the women still in the kitchen and jumped up and down.

 

"Eee!!" she yelled before disappearing with the girls.

 

As soon as they were sure that Roshni was upstairs, Meera threw a dishrag at Naintara.

 

"Really? 'The bean is in the burrito', that's what you came up with as the warning sign?" Meera asked.

 

"What?" Naintara asked innocently, "I told you that you'd know it when you heard it."

 

"Why are you surprised Meera? Di has always been like this," Geet said as she untied her apron.

 

"Ya, but I'm afraid," Meera said.

 

"Of what?" Naintara asked with a frown.

 

"The fact that you are a professor who is responsible for educating the next generation," Meera said.

 

That elicited a giggle from Geet, a look of triumph, and a gasp of shock from Naintara. Now it was Naintara who threw the dishrag at Meera.

 

"Please stop it you two," Geet pleaded. "It's show time."

 

Naintara and Meera smiled at Geet knowingly. While Geet and Meera headed out of the kitchen, Naintara grabbed the bag of chips that were on the table. The three of them were walking down the hall that led to the family room when the door bell rang.

 

"Yup, it's definitely show time," Geet said with a smirk.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Aarav get the door," all of the men in the room yelled with their eyes still glued to the television set.

 

"Hey! Why me?" Aarav asked.

 

"Cuz…you're the youngest son," Dev said as he popped another cheese puff into his mouth.

 

"But…" Aarav began to complain.

 

"Oh!" they all yelled as a car exploded on the screen.

 

"Just go you goof!!" Ishaan said.

 

"Ishaan," Yash admonished.

 

"Sorry…I mean, just go Aarav," Ishaan said as he corrected himself.

 

Grumbling and complaining, Aarav finally went to open the door. As he was walking out of the room, the wives entered the room.

 

"What you are you ladies doing here?" Maan asked.

 

"We just came to see what you guys were up to?" Geet said as she placed a quick kiss on his cheek.

 

"Well…" Maan began only to be cut off.

 

Aarav returned soon with the surprise visitor in tow. Behind Aarav trailed a 28 year old man. He was tall, slim and well built, with black hair, deep brown eyes and some facial hair. Maan looked at the man confused because he knew that man rather well. The visitor was actually one of his former interns and now residents. He was one of the most promising of his cardio-thoracic residents.

 

"Dr. Arora, what are you doing here?" Maan asked as he got up. "Is it a patient? I didn't hear my pager."

 

Maan picked up his pager from the table to see if there was something he missed.

 

"Dr. Khurana…I…umm…I'm not here on work related issues," Daksh said rather nervously.

 

"Ahem ahem," Ishaan said from behind.

 

"Of course," Maan said as he turned to face the family. "Everyone this is Dr.  Arora, one of my residents. Dr. Arora, this is my family."

 

Maan stood silently was everyone greeted him with a quick hello.

 

"Daksh beta, how are you?" Geet asked with a smile.

"Good Aunty, good…" he answered.

 

Maan looked at Daksh with a confused look. Since when had is resident began calling Geet 'Aunty'?

 

"Can I get you something to drink or eat?" Meera asked.

 

"No…no, but thank you very much," he said.

 

Maan was getting more confused. Why were they acting like they all knew Daksh?

 

As Dev switched off the TV, Maan moved closer to Daksh.

 

"Not to be rude, but why are you here Dr. Arora," Maan asked.

 

"Daksh…please call me Daksh," he said.

 

"Ok, Daksh why are you here?" Maan asked.

 

"I uh…wanted to uh…talk to you…if it's uh…possible," Daksh said.

 

"Sure, lets got to the den," Maan offered.

 

"No actually, uh…I'd uh…I'd like the family here," he said.

 

"Why?" Maan asked.

 

Maan watched as Daksh looked down at the floor.

 

"Maan, why don't you sit down," Geet said.

 

"What?" Maan said not hearing his wife.

 

"Sit down, trust me," she said.

 

Maan was suddenly very cautious. His wife had that gleam in her eyes when she knew he wasn't going to like the next thing that was going to happen. He went back to the couch where Dev and Yash already sat. Ishaan and Aarav sat on the floor in front of them while Rahul leaned on the sofa handle. What made it all unnerving was the fact that Geet, Meera and Naintara stood very forebodingly behind them with unsettling smiles on their faces.

 

Daksh stood silent.

 

"Well spit it out boy," Dev encouraged. "We haven't got all day."

 

That last bit earned him a smack from Meera.

 

"Dr. Khurana…I mean Uncle…I mean…Dr. Khurana," Daksh fumbled. "I'm actually here in regards to…uh…your…uh…your uh…"

 

"Wow, seems like 'uh' is his favorite word," Rahul whispered to Aarav and Ishaan.

 

"Boys," Yash warned which quickly shut them up.

 

"I'm here in regards to your daughter," Daksh said rather quickly.

 

"Which one?" Maan asked.

 

It wasn't an odd question because he treated Riya, Payal and Naina like his own children.

 

"Roshni sir," Daksh said.

 

"You know Rosh Di?" Ishaan asked.

 

"Sure he does, through rounds at the hospital," Maan said. "I even introduced you two."

 

"Yes…yes sir you did," Daksh said.

 

"What about Roshni?" Dev asked.

 

Suddenly, Maan watched as Daksh began to fidget.

 

"You see sir, uh…the thing is uh…I uh…" Daksh stuttered.

 

"You uh…what?" Ishaan asked, causing the boys to giggle

 

Maan watched as Daksh closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

 

"I want to ask for Roshni's hand in marriage," Daksh finally said.

 

The initial shock took a few seconds to wear off.

 

"You what!?" Maan, Dev and Yash suddenly yelled as the got to their feet.

 

Even the boys sat up straight, the shock clearly visible on their faces.

 

Everyone noticed the step back that Daksh took as the three grown looked at him murderously.

 

"My baby…" Maan said in a menacing voice, "You want to marry MY baby!?"

 

With every word he spoke Maan took a step forward as Daksh took a step back.

 

"Just who do you think you are coming in here asking for our Roshni's hand in marriage?" Yash asked.

 

"I'll have you thrown in jail!" Dev yelled. "I know people!"

 

There was a slight chuckle behind them.

 

Maan turned and looked at Geet.

 

"Did you hear that Geet? Did you? This…this boy…wants to marry my daughter!?" Maan roared.

 

Maan was expecting Geet to be just as upset as he was, if not more so. But instead of anger or confusion, Geet seemed happy. If the smile on her face was any indication, he's say she was more than a little happy.

 

"Aarav honey why don't you take Daksh to the kitchen and get him something to drink," Geet said as she came around the couch.

 

"Ya chootu, get going," Ishaan said.

 

"This is grown up talk," Rahul said getting more comfortable in the love seat.

 

"You boys go with them," Meera said.

 

"But Massi…" Rahul began to complain.

 

"Now," was all Naintara said that had the three sons of the family headed out with Daksh.

 

As the men, Maan, Yash and Dev began to pace, the women, Geet, Naintara and Meera simply came and sat on the couch ad watched their husbands begin to freak out.

 

"Maan calm down," Geet said.

 

"Calm down!? What do you mean calm down?!" he asked. "Some boy just came in and asked for my little girls hand in marriage…how am I supposed to CALM DOWN?!"

 

"She's not your little girl any more," Geet said. "She's grown up, you know."

 

"This isn't time for fun," Dev said.

 

"What do we know about this boy any way?" Yash asked.

 

"Lots actually," Naintara said, but it clearly fell on deaf ears.

 

"What do we know other than the fact that he's a doctor and his name is Daksh Arora?" Dev asked.

 

"Like what about his family, his parents?" Maan asked.

 

"Doesn't have any, they died when he was 10," Geet said.

 

The men looked at her shocked. How did she know that?

 

"How did he go to school? Does he have loans? I mean, I don't want Roshni going into something that will only give her burdens," Yash said.

 

"His parents left him enough money to cover the costs of his schooling, so he has no loans," Naintara said.

 

"Great, he's a spoilt trust fund baby who doesn't know the importance of money," Dev said.

 

"He got a partial scholarship so the left over money from his trust fund was donated to the Make A Wish foundation," Meera said.

 

That left Maan and the other men speechless and grasping for other issues to bring up.

 

"What about siblings?" Yash asked.

 

"None, he's an only child," Naintara said.

 

"What does he know about Roshni? I mean I don't want this to be a spur of the moment thing. How did the meet?" Maan asked.

 

"You introduced them at the hospital," Geet reminded.

 

"What does he know about her?" Dev asked.

 

"Everything," Meera said.

 

"Have they been dating? If so, how long?" Yash asked.

 

"Three years," Naintara said.

 

"What!? Three years!?" the three men yelled.

 

This was not going as he'd hoped, Maan thought.

 

"How do you know so much?" Maan asked.

 

"She's told us," Geet said.

 

"What? She told you…all of you?" Yash asked.

 

"Well…" Meera said. "All the girls."

 

"Why didn't she tell us?" Maan asked.

 

"Because you three probably would have killed him," Meera pointed out.

 

"Can't argue with that," Dev said with a smirk.

 

Maan, Yash and Dev listened in shock as Geet filled them in on everything. Apparently Roshni and Daksh had been dating for a while now. Roshni had kept her mother and her aunts in on the loop from the very beginning. Maan didn't know why he was surprised, Roshni had been close to Geet since she was a teenager – they were best friends. Roshni had introduced Daksh to her mother and aunts after a few months of dating when things got serious. Geet even explained how the girls had been treated to lunch by Daksh a few weeks ago where he told them his plans for proposing to Roshni after she returned from her trip.

 

"What do we know about him though? Like, what kind of person is he?" Dev asked.

 

"He's sweet and considerate," Meera said.

 

"He's kind and caring," Naintara said.

 

"He's the kind of person that actually volunteer at the homeless shelters on his day's off," Geet said.

 

"He's definitely not hard on the eyes," Naintara said.

 

"Right!?" Meera agreed as she laughed.

 

Geet walked over to Maan who was standing whit his arms folded across his chest. It wasn't until he felt her touch against his arms that he looked at her.

 

"And most importantly," Geet began, "He loves her."

 

"But…" Maan began to complain.

 

"He loves her for who she is, he's never tried to change her," Naintara added.

 

Maan stood silent, refusing to budge even one inch from his stance.

 

"They are so young," Maan said adamantly.

 

This got a chuckle from Meera and Naintara.

 

"Says the man who married my pregnant 19 year old sister when he was in his early twenties," Naintara mocked.

 

He felt Geet pull him to the love seat where she made him sit. Then, kneeling in front of him, she took his face into his palm and spoke.

 

"He loves her now, like you loved me then," Geet said as she referenced their early beginnings.

 

That caught his attention, Maan looked into Geet's eyes.

 

"How can you be sure?" he asked.

 

"I know, I'm her mother and I'm a woman. I see the way he looks at her. It's the same way, you looked at me," Geet said softly.

 

Maan was surprised when she leaned in and places a soft kiss on his lips.

 

"It's the way you still look at me," she said with a smile.

 

Maan felt his shoulders slump as he sighed.

 

"Do we even really get a say?" Dev asked.

 

"Ya, it looks like you girls have already made your minds," Yash added.

 

To that, Meera and Naintara simply smiled.

 

"Safe to come back?" Rahul asked as he popped his head into the room again.

 

"Yes," Meera answered.

 

Maan watches as Rahul and the other boys filled into the room with a scared looking Daksh behind them.

 

"So, what's the verdict?" Ishaan asked.

 

Naintara came forward and walked towards Daksh with a smile on her face.

 

"Get out your best suit Dr. Arora," she said. "You've got a proposal to get ready for."

 

"Really!?" Daksh asked. The shock of actually being accepted by the three fathers present in his voice.

 

Geet, Meera and Naintara all nodded their heads feverishly.

 

"Do I have your blessing?" Daksh asked. "I know how much Roshni loves her family and how much her family loves her. I could never do anything without her families blessing?"

 

"Of course you have our blessing," Geet said.

 

"Dr. Khurana, do I have your blessing?" he asked.

 

When he gave no response himself, Maan saw Daksh walking towards him. He came and stood in front of Maan.

 

"Do I have your blessing Sir?" Daksh asked again.

 

Maan was silent for a few seconds before he replied.

 

"You have our blessing," Maan said rather irritated.

 

"But do I have your blessing sir?" Daksh asked, stressing 'your'.

 

Maan was already annoyed so Daksh pushing his buttons didn't help. Maan shot to his feet.

 

"Don't push your luck Dr. Arora!" Maan roared.

 

He heard gasps go around the room as Yash quickly came to his side.

 

"Maan…" Yash began as he put a hand on Maan's shoulder to calm him.

 

"I can imagine what you're going through," Daksh began.

 

"Don't you dare…" Maan said.

 

"Every time I see another man telling her a joke causing her to giggle…you know, the one where her nose crinkles…I get jealous. I'm generally a calm and sensible person, but at times like that, I have the sudden urge to throw him through a window," Daksh said.

 

Maan listened intently as did everyone in the room.

 

"I've only been in her life for a few years. I've only loved her for a few years and already I feel this sense of protectiveness and responsibility towards her, like I could strangle someone who dares to make her cry," Daksh continued. "You…you're her father you feel what I feel to the nth power. You've given your life to make sure she stayed healthy and happy and…loved. I may not be what you pictured your son-in-law to be like and I may not be what you expected. But Roshni…Roshni is more than I ever dreamed of. True to her name, she is the light of my life. If I die tomorrow…"

 

"Daksh…" Geet said softly.

 

Daksh turned to look at Geet who stood next to Maan.

 

"If I die tomorrow…I'll die a happy man knowing that not only did I love a remarkable woman…but that she loved me back," Daksh said.

 

Maan stood silent as he felt tears from Geet's eyes fall on his arm as she held on to him.

 

"Roshni's told me about how she came into this world. She's told me how the two of you fought against all odds and fought against death just so she could live. For that alone I respect you like no one else. Every child should be so lucky to have parents that have half the love you have," Daksh said. "Her happiness lies in her family's happiness…in her parent's happiness. I could never do something that her family wasn't happy with because that would hurt Roshni."

 

"Oh…" Maan heard Naintara say softly.

 

He also heard Meera sniffle somewhere in the background.

 

"Roshni is a miracle and I'm asking your permission to have that miracle be a part of my life. You're her father, she's your little girl…and while I have Aunty's blessing, I won't take the next step without your blessing Sir," Daksh said adamantly.

 

Maan looked at the man that stood in front of him. He had been right, of course. The first though in Maan's mind when Daksh had asked to propose to Roshni was that Daksh was going to take his little girl away from him. His little girl…away from him…the thought alone terrified him.

 

"Have a good evening," Daksh said as he turned to leave."I'm sorry to have intruded."

 

"Maan…" Geet pleaded.

 

As he had listened to Daksh talk about Roshni, Maan knew, in his heart, that what Daksh spoke was the truth. He truly loved Roshni and as a father, what more could he ask for?

 

"Wait," Maan said.

 

Maan looked at Daksh as he turned back around.

 

"You…" Maan began but stopped.

 

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

 

"You have my blessing," he finished.

 

The smile that spread on Daksh's face was so genuine that it made his eyes sparkle. That annoyed Maan. Just because he gave his blessing didn't mean that Maan had to like Daksh. He knew was begin childish but he didn't care.

 

"Eee!" a scream came from behind Maan.

Before he knew it, he was pushed aside as Meera, Naintara and Geet all rushed ahead to hug and congratulate Daksh.

 

"Chachu, did you really just say yes?" Aarav asked as the boys came and all stood by Maan.

 

"I can't believe it…Roshni Di's getting engaged," Rahul said.

 

Daksh was soon gone but the girls were still falling over themselves in excitement.

 

"Oh my God, our baby is going to get engaged," Geet gushed.

 

"Mrs. Roshni Daksh Arora," Meera said.

 

"Ah! I love the sound of that," Naintara said excitedly. "It rolls right off your tongue."

 

"Mrs. Roshni Daksh Arora," the three women said in unison.

 

Maan stood in a like with Dev and Yash next to him. The enormity of what he'd just agreed to finally hit the three of them together.

 

"I think I'm having a heart attack," Maan said.

 

"I think I'm having a stroke," Dev added.

 

"I…I think I'm going to have psychotic break," Yash finished.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*