Chinmayi's POV:

"Chinmayi Sharma, you are the most confusing, commanding and the most beautiful woman I have ever met in my life. You make me want to be a better person. I think, no, I know for sure that I am in love with you.

Will you, for god sakes, marry me?"

And to add cherry on the drama cake,  he knelt on his knee and pulled out a small blue ring box and well, the diamond was just glaring at my face!

WHAAATTT!!!!!!

HE, THE DEEPAK JOSHI IS IN LOVE WITH ME, CHINMAYI SHARMA?

And is he really on one knee, proposing to me?

What just happened to him?

Am I in some sort of dream world?

Is it an Inception?

Somebody kick me, let me wake up!

"Deepak-", I just couldn't conglomerate more words out of my mouth.

"Chinmayi, I know you find this ridiculous and I totally realise that you find me amusingly ridiculous! I have been nothing but a jerk, narcissistic fool, an arrogant bastard, an egocentric idiot, a rude asshole and what not to you.

But it is to you that I could confess about my true self and about my past. I could, without any hesitation talk about my insecurities and my worst actions and activities.

Initially, I was scared that a soul as pure as you should not get tainted or even be associated with an injured mind like me. But everytime I spoke to you, even if it was to break our marriage, I felt like as if I was moving towards the locus of healing.

I want to heal, Chinmayi and your love, care and affection is the medicine. I know that it's all quite contradictory to what I have spoken and done all these days, but pardon me, for my moment of realisation was just at the time when they fixed our wedding date.

I should have been wiser, gentler and braver to set aside my thick curtains of ego and let myself feel what I am feeling for you. Please take your time, but let me know how long I should stay on one knee, because it really hurts!"

Woah! Now, that's a lot!

Well that was answered by a shrill scream from my you get sister, Akhila!

"OMG OMG OMG!

Bhai, bhabhi, Anirudh, Veera, everyone come here!"

Oh my dear Lord, this is just getting worse!

I just wanted the 2012 movie to happen, you know, I just want to be swallowed by the Earth!

To the way Akhila screamed I could hear the thumping footsteps of my cousins. Everyone except Charan and Megha were there and I just looked like as if someone had saved me from drowning and slapped me to keep me warm and alive.

"Aww, this is so cute! Chinnu, say yes! Come on!", cheered Bhabhi.

"Oh, wait wait, let's take a video of this beautiful moment...", said Anirudh as he took out his phone to "capture" this undecodable happening!

"Aah- Chinmayi?", called Deepak.

"My knee really really hurts and well everyone's there, so can you please reply?"

"Chinnu say yes!

Chinnu say yes!

Chinnu say yes!

Chinnu say yes!", my cousins chanted.

And to my horror even Veera and Eeshwar ji were cheering along!

And now, the chant changed to

"
Chinnuu_._. Chinnuu

*Clap. Clap. Clap.*

"

I literally felt like a basketball in a highschool gym!

All of this would just end when I intend to, even so meaninglessly,  I just have to utter one word,

"YES."

Deepak slipped the ring onto my left ring finger and slowly rose up. Anirudh filmed in every possible angle as my cousins cheered in the most defening way. I smiled in the outer surface just to not show the real puzzled, chaos of a train of thoughts going inside my head.

How did everything change?

Well with everyone around, I couldn't question him, I am just another hitched Sharma!

"Congrats Chinmayi and welcome to the family", said Eeshwar ji.

I mumbled a thankyou and forced a broader smile.

"Chinnu!", said Bhabhi and pulled me into a warm embrace.

"Well, my brother is always known to steal the attention and had his way with the ladies!!", chuckled Eeshwar ji.

"Eeshwar!", growled  Deepak while the others laughed.

"But if you have impressed our Chinnu, then I sure must agree with Eeshwar ji", teased Bhai.

Anirudh didn't stop filming and well, this is more of an embarrassment video rather than am engagement video.

"Come come come come, it's photo time!", called Akhila.

"Hey, why don't we go to the common room and take the selfie?", suggested Anirudh, pausing the video. (I guess!)

My heart thumped so loudly and prayed that it didn't echo around this big Mansion.

My cousins just pulled Deepak and me out of my room as we posed for our  first photo.

Veera noticed that Megha and Charan were not here so she asked us to wait while she calls them from the living room.

In the mean time, chairs were arranged as all of us took our seats.

Akhila wanted to have a couple's questionnaire sort of thing with the three pairs.

Bhai and Bhabhi were in love with the idea as they found this to be the right opportunity to come back at all the teasing I did during their wedding.

"Okay, Chinnu- ush, we don't want to hear one word from you. All questions are directed towards our Jiju. Okay?", ordered Akhila.

" Eeshwar ji, you are okay with this right?", asked Bhabhi.

"Oh, definitely why not?", said Eeshwar ji, with his calming voice.

Veera gently smiled at him as Akhila dramatically cleared her throat.

Anirudh resumed with the shooting while I pulled on with the act.

Calmness is the key.

"So Jiju, what's the most amazing thing that you find in Chinnu?"

"Her love towards her family."

"Woah, that's an awesome observation Jiju!"

Frankly even I was impressed with the answer.

Bhai nodded in agreement and Bhabhi raises her eyebrows in appreciation.

"Ok, next question. What is Chinnu's favourite colour-"

"STOP THIS IMMEDIATELY!" ,
bellowed a voice.

My heart skipped a beat as everyone rose from their seats.

I turned to see teared Megha, a blemished Veera and a fuming Charan.

"Charan, what's happening?", asked Bhai.

"Bhai, he is playing with our Chinnu's life."

"What? What are you saying?", Asked a shocked Bhai. 

"Ha Charan, kindly tell us. Is everything okay?" Asked Eeshwar ji.

Bhabhi turned to look at me and my eyes searched to look at my best friend.

"Well, Megha told me everything Chinnu. How could you tolerate with everything? Aren't your brothers here?

And you, Mr. Deepak Joshi, you can't get away by hiding the truth from us.

Now, you don't have to reject my sister.

The Sharma's are rejecting you!"

***