*Bharghav Pov*
“What?” They three shouted at me.
“What?” I asked them back.
“Repeat it again.” Sanjay asked still completely shocked.
“I proposed her and she said yes. We are engaged now.” I said sipping my coffee.
“This is all a joke.” Kalyan decided to himself and sighed.
“What do you mean by joke? What’s wrong with it?” I asked him frowning.
“Do you really want us to believe that you just proposed her and she accepted it? No way!” Sanjay said shaking his head.
“I agree with them.” Khushal said shrugging.
“Ok! Next week on Christmas there is engagement party. You three are welcomed if you believe that this is true.” I said getting up.
“Where is the party?” Sanjay asked.
“At her house!” I replied.
“We need not believe this to enter their house. So we will be there.” Kalyan said.
“Today your imaginary girlfriends will tell you the news.” I said walking away.
“Imaginary?” Sanjay asked.
“Did you guys ask them to be your girlfriend recently after the break up?” I asked him back.
“Oh shut!” Sanjay and Kalyan said face palming themselves.
“What about you?” I asked Khushal.
“I never asked her.” He replied frowning.
“Then it is not at all a surprise that she didn’t come back to you.” I said and walked outside the café completely.
It has become a general thing to meet in the café everyday whenever we think it is possible.
We four must have never thought to be like this without a war of words between us as I know they three too can’t bear each other. But these sisters made the impossible possible.
Next day I walked inside the café grinning and met with three pairs of smirking eyes. I frowned and sat at their table.
“So do you guys believe me now?” I asked them smiling.
“What? That you got an imaginary fiancé?” Kalyan asked.
“They didn’t tell you?” I asked them frowning.
“We already know it is not possible Uncle.” Sanjay replied.
“I am not Uncle but tell me why it is not possible?” I asked them challenging.
“One you are Uncle and you can never propose to which anyone say yes. Two Priya Di would have informed her sisters.” Kalyan replied.
“Just a minute!” I said and dialed Priya’s number.
“Hello!” She said lifting her phone.
“You didn’t tell your sisters about the engagement?” I asked her directly.
“No! I am trying.” She replied.
“What is there to try? Anyway here these guys are thinking that I am lying and that you are imaginary. Can you tell them?” I asked her.
“Sure!” She replied after few minutes.
I put the phone on speaker mode and placed it at the centre. I cleared my throat and said “Now tell them!”
“How many times do I have to tell you Bharghav? That you can’t have some imaginary engagement in your dream and make me accept it.” She shouted from the phone and I looked at it in shock.
“That’s what we have been saying Priya Di.” Kalyan said shaking his head in disappointment.
Suddenly she burst out laughing along with Kalyan and Sanjay. Khushal just looked outside frowning.
“You guys know!” I stated shaking my head.
“That was fun!” Priya said and then hanged up.
“You three are not invited.” I said leaning back.
“We will ask Di!” Kalyan said smirking.
“Then I will tell her that I don’t want you guys to be there saying I may fight with you all infront of her parents.” I said challenging.
“We are sorry!” They both said at a time and Khushal is still looking outside.
“Then you three need to do something.” I said smirking.
“What is it?” Khushal asked finally giving attention to us.
“What were you doing until now?” I asked him.
“Akhila Di is out with some Varun guy as per Kritika and that too to this café. They have been sitting here until now and just left.” Sanjay replied instead of Khushal.
“New guy? Khushal you will lose her.” I said and he just sighed.
“Anyway now the challenge is you three need to hold your girls hand infront of their parents.” I said and they three looked at me shocked.
“Challenge accepted?” I asked them smirking more looking at their faces.
“Sure!” They three said after few minutes.
We all left but Kalyan just kept on frowning and I walked near him asking what happened.
“Next week after the Christmas is Ritika’s birthday. I don’t know what to gift her.” He said.
“Give her some biography books.” I said shrugging.
“I know that! But I want to give something special.” He said rolling his eyes.
“Hmm.. why don’t you collect her old photos and prepare a slide show for her?” I asked him.
“Wow Uncle! I never thought you will have such idea.” He said grinning and I just kept silent that I read it somewhere in google.
*Priya Pov*
“I need to tell you guys something.” I said while we are having dinner.
“What is it?” Akhila asked.
“Bharghav proposed!” I replied looking at her.
“What? And what did you said?” Kritika and Ri asked at a time.
“Yes!” I replied showing them the ring.
They three shrieked and hugged me tightly coming near me. They immediately called Mom and Dad and informed them and I even told them when the engagement party is.
“We are so happy for you Di.” Akhila said hugging me.
“I thought you guys would think I shouldn’t have said yes so easily.” I confessed.
“And why would we think that?” Ri asked frowning.
“I don’t know!” I replied.
“He is changed Di along with the other.” Kritika said.
“Except one I guess.” I said looking at Akhila who looked down.
“Di! We three said what our insecurities are and you kind of made them go away then why are you not doing it?” Ri asked and she just sat there calmly.
“Call me hypocrite but I can’t. I let my insecurities go one time but I got hurt and I don’t have the strength to let go of them again.” Akhila replied.
“Share the insecurities with us Di.” Kritika said.
“I can’t! You guys will hate me.” Akhila said with tears.
“What are you saying Akhila? We can never hate you. Leave us no one can hate you.” I said holding her shoulders.
“No Di! You three will hate me if I say them.” She said sobbing a little covering her face.
“Shh.. tell us when you are ready.” I said rubbing her shoulders.
“I will just go and sleep.” She said and left the room.
“I am getting scared for her.” Kritika said and we nodded.
*Akhila Pov*
“Mom, Dad!” I said opening the door.
“Akhila!” Mom said hugging me.
“Don’t tell me those three are still sleeping.” Dad said shaking his head.
“They are! We all kind of slept late as we applied Mehandi.” I said showing mine.
“All the preparations are over?” Mom asked looking around.
“Yes! She has three sisters Mom ofcourse they will be over.” We heard Priya Di saying walking down the stairs.
“Sorry we couldn’t reach early.” Dad said.
“Dad! I told you guys just few days back. It was my mistake.” Priya Di said.
Yesterday we didn’t play our tradition and just enjoyed it gossiping and all. Today evening there will be engagement and all our friends are going to stay here the whole night.
“So when will I meet him.” Dad asked and we three smiled looking at each other.
“In the evening!” Ri said coming near us with Kritika following her.
“You have to meet all our friends along with Bharghav Sir.” Kritika said hugging Mom and Dad.
By the afternoon everyone reached and we already cooked the food for them. The list is kind of long. In simple words the number of people is same the number who walked out of the fresher’s party last year but a little extra.
Even Princi and his wife came along with many lecturers from the college. I was just rushing here and there along with Ri and Kritika hosting everyone. Even our friends helped us a little.
After that we moved the couches and chairs making only elders to sit on it and we all sat on the floor and I am just ignoring someone’s presence.
“Chanllenge!” Bharghav sir whispered to Sanjay, kalyan and Khushal.
Sanjay cleared his throat and said “You know I still can’t believe Uncle actually know how to propose in the first place.”
“Yeah! It is same with me.” Kalyan said nodding.
“What are you both doing?” Bharghav asked them.
“Challenge!” They both whispered.
“Maybe he would have done like this. Kritika can you get up.” Sanjay asked and she did frowning at him.
He kneeled infront of her and held her hand saying “I know I am boring but will you marry me giving me a hope that I am not lost case?”
We all laughed hearing that and Kritika slowly whispered “Don’t do this again!”
“Never!” He whispered back winking.
“I don’t think so Sanjay. He most have done like this. Ri! Can you please stand up?” Kalyan asked smiling and she nodded getting up.
He too kneeled infront of her holding her hand and said “I know I am an Uncle but will you marry me and become an Aunty.”
“That maybe correct one.” Bharghav sir’s Mom said laughing.
“If you say this to me again then I will punch you.” Ri threatened him and sat down.
“I can’t wait then.” Kalyan whispered.
“Khushal! Don’t you have another theory?” Ramya asked him.
He nodded and stood up walking towards me. I frowned and glared at her.
“Will you please get up?” He asked.
I looked around to see that everyone is looking at me. I sighed and got up standing before him.
He stared at me and I stared at him back lost in my thoughts. Few people cleared their throats and he suddenly pulled me towards him completely making my eyes go wide.
“What are you doing?” I asked him shocked.
“Be mine!” He said loudly.
“Now that’s very demanding proposal but you can leave my sister.” Kritika said after few minutes as we just stood there.
I sat down when he released me and took few deep breaths. Kritika held my hand and I smiled when I felt everyone looking at me.
“We won Uncle!” Kalyan said looking at Bharghav.
“Yeah, yeah!” He said rolling his eyes.
And the time for their engagement arrived. We made Di and Bharghav sir sit on the couch.
And their engagement went smoothly but now elders will kind of leave all of us alone for the party...