Chapter35

Armaan stopped the car in front of Janani's house. He decided he would drive himself for
this weekend trip.
Khanna was asked to follow them keeping a distance and he didn't want to alarm Janani's
parents by the fact that he always has a bodyguard around him.
Janani got down the car with the two energetic kids and Armaan followed them to the door.
Sharadha Trivedi opened the door and shreiked excitedly seeing her daughter and little Advi.
Harshvardhan Trivedi who heard his wife came out to greet them.
Ava who was all excited to meet her new grandparents became suddenly shy and insecure
when she saw them and hid herself behind Armaan's legs.
"Ava baby. Come and meet Nana-Nani" Janani called her in an encouraging tone but Ava
pressed herself more against Armaan.
Armaan hoped Janani's parents would accept Ava and love her just like they love Advi.
Sharadha Trivedi crouched down in front of the little girl.
"I had made some cookies for little Ava. Now who will eat them if she is hiding behind her
papa??" Sharadha asked with a finger on her chin
"Cookies for me??" Ava asked peeking from behind Armaan's legs.
"Only if you give nani a cuddle" Sharadha said and Ava tentatively came out of her hiding
place and walked towards Sharadha's outstretched arms and was immediately engulfed in
the warmth relieving the kid of any insecurity she felt.
"Will you do all the greetings at the doorstep, Sharadha. Let them come in first'' Harsh told
his wife who in the excitement of meeting her daughter after so long forgot to invite them in.
After the initial greeting along with coffee and snack Armaan took a deep breath and looked
at Janani's parents.
"I would like to talk about something important to you both." He said and the elderly couple
looked at each other with a slight frown.
"Sure" Harsh Trivedi said and guided him to the backyard along with his wife
"Yes Armaam?? What is it that you wanted to talk about??" Harsh Trivedi asked
"I would like to ask your daughter's hand in marriage uncle." Armaan said and Sharadha
Trivedi gasped in surprise
"Marriage?? But she is..!! Vikram!! Harsh ji??" Sharadha was lost for words at the sudden
marriage proposal
"I understand you are surprised with my sudden proposal. And I don't expect an immediate
response too.I will wait for your decision" Armaan said politely
"She was engaged once" Harshvardhan Trivedi said
"Janani had already told me about it." Armaan informed wondering when he will finally get rid
of Vikram.
"We were hoping they would get married" Sharadha said uncomfortably and Armaan had to
bite his tongue to stop himself from telling them that their precious Vikram is a lying cheating
basta*d. But he couldn't.
If Janani had kept the truth from them then there must be a reason for it and he will not
break her trust by blurting out the truth now
"I request you to talk to Janani about it aunty" Armaan said
"She is aware about your proposal??" Sharada asked
"She does. I told her that I would be asking her parents for her hand in marriage and she
was okay with it." He said and as an after thought added "as long as we have your blessing"
"You want to marry her because you want a mother for your children??" Harsh asked
suspiciously
"Of course No uncle. I can understand your apprehension. But you are already aware of the
fact that I opted for a surrogacy to have a baby. And the reason why I did that was because I
didn't want a woman in my life. I was prepared to raise a child on my own too. And that was
until I met Janani. I never believed I am capable of any feelings where women are
concerned. But your daughter changed my perspective" Armaan said genuinely
"I would like to talk to Janani before making any decisions" Harsh said
"Before making any decisions uncle, I want you to know everything about me. I don't want
you to regret any decision you make later on" Armaan said and proceeded with his life story
starting from his mother's abandonment and father's addiction to the playboy lifestyle he led
up until he discovered the existense of his daughter.
He saw the change of emotions in their eyes and realised how Janani had become such a
warm and loving woman as opposed to her twin. It all comes down to the upbringing they
get.
"I am not hoping for any sympathy. I want you to understand what made me the man I am
today." Armaan said
"We understand. Thank you for being honest" Harsh Trivedi said patting him on his shoulder
in an understanding gesture
Armaan took both their hands in his and looked earnestly into their eyes
"Janani is very precious to me. And if you give her to me, I promise I would cherish her all
my life" Armaan made a promise to her parents which he have every intention of keeping.
Armaan along with Janani's parents walked into the house to the scene of a guy, probably in
his early twenties on his all fours with a giggling Ava and Advi on his back as he raised his
one hand like an elephant's trunk followed by mimicking an elephant's trumpet.
His children where laughing uncontrollably and Janani had a soft smile on her lips watching
the scene which in turn formed a smile on his face too
"Arre arre.. Are ava and advi on an elephant journey??" Sharadha asked gaining the young
man's attention and Janani let the kids down and he straightened up with a grin on his face.
"Are you the infamous Armaan Verma" He asked forwarding his hands for a manly shake.
"You have me at disadvantage there mate" Armaan returned the handshake instantly liking
the guy.
"Aditya Dhawan. From next door" he said grinning
"The Aditya who used to fight with Janani for the TV remote??" He asked making both
Janani and Aditya to frown
"What is this Janani di. Is this what you tell people about me?? You ruined my first
impression" Aditya complained earning an eye roll from Janani
"Why would you even want to impress him. He doesn't have any younger sister for you to
trap" Janani said making him pout
"But I could have earned an internship at his company. They are the biggest construction
company in India and just imagine di, getting an internship at Verma constructions would do
absolute wonders for a just graduated architect like me" Aditya said with all the animation he
could bring on his face
"If you want to become something worth in your life, Adi, do it own your own. Not with other
people's recommendations" Janani said dryly making him pout
"You always spoil all my plans" he complained and then grinned and hugged her tight "but
still I love you"
Armaan chuckled at the sibling banter going on between Janani and Aditya.
"Janani. Come to my room beta." Harsh called her and excused himself from there followed
by Sharadha and a nervous Janani
"What do you think it could be?? Should I go and eavesdrop??" Aditya frowned up at him
from the floor where he was sitting Indian style with Advi all but crawling on him.
"And that would be very bad manners, one I am sure your Janani di would definitely
disapprove of" Armaan said taking a seat on the couch
"True" Aditya agreed with a sad face, disappointed that he will have to wait to know whatever
it is being talked inside the four walls of the bedroom.
Janani looked nervously between her parents
"You know what we want to talk about Janani" It was her mother who began the
conversation
"Yes" Janani admitted not seeing any benefit in playing dumb
"What about Vikram??" Her mother asked and Janani sighed
"We broke up ma. It's been two years now and I have moved on" Janani said
"But he still thinks that you two will get back together" Sharadha said
"I have never encouraged him in that belief ma. I have made it clear for him that there would
be no reconcilation. It is not my fault if he cannot understand that." Janani said
"But.. "
"Maa. Whose happiness is more important for you? Mine or Vikram's?" Janani asked, hurt
that her mother couldn't see that her happiness is not with Vikram
"Of course yours Janani. When you two broke up two years ago it was you who was more
hurt than Vikram. It was plain for everyone seeing. I don't know what happened between you
two, but when I saw Vikram wanted to get back with you, I thought that would make you
happy. I thought that's what you want and you are just keeping him away because you are
angry" Sharadha explained seeing the hurt on her daughter's face.
"I no longer love Vikram ma. Whatever it was between us, its long over now. If a marriage
with Vikram is what you want, I will agree for that ma. But I would never be happy in that life"
Janani said
"You will be happy with Armaan??" her father who had been silent since they came into the
room finally spoke
Janani lowered her eyes feeling shy all of a sudden and her father chuckled seeing the tell
tale signs of blush on her cheeks
"Aap sharma rahi hei kya Janani??"
"Papa, aap bhi na"
"Your happiness is what matters for us Janani. Never think otherwise okay" Sharadha said
taking her daughter in a bear hug
"We like Armaan. And we believe he will keep you happy" her father said
"Thank you so much papa. Thank you ma" Janani said as tears of joy formed in her eyes
"Lets not waste time crying. Let us go and inform damad ji about our decision and put him
out of misery" Sharadha said wiping her own tears.
They walked out into the living room too see both the kids playing sitting on the floor and
Armaan and Aditya engaged in a serious discussion on MS Dhoni's recent retirement from
cricket.
Men!! Janani shook her head
As soon as Armaan saw the trio coming he stood up from where he was sitting and looked at
Janani's parents waiting for their response.
The expressionless face of Harshvardhan Trivedi is not in the least helping and Armaan
realised he hadn't been half this nervous when he made his first business deal ten years
ago.
Well!! This is not a mere business deal. This is his life. What did he even expect??
"Sharadha, bring some sweets for daamad ji. Let's begin with something sweet" Harsh
Vardhan Trivedi said with a smile and a grin broke out on Armaan's face
"Daamad ji??" Aditya let out a dramatic gasp earning an eye roll from Janani. She seems to
do that quiet a lot while in Aditya's company.
"Is that what you were talking inside. And you knew about it and didn't tell me??" Aditya
turned his accusing look towards Armaan
"How can I tell you a family matter without knowing whether I am supposed to tell you or
not??" Armaan asked
"I am family. I have been practically living in this house for as long as I remember" Aditya
said offended
"And have been a thorn in my side ever since" Janani added throwing a stink eye at him
"Jiju. See how cruel she is. Why are you even marrying her" Aditya returned the look
"Jiju??" Janani asked raising an eyebrow at Aditya
"His misfortune, he has decided to marry you, my di. So that makes him my jiju" he said
"That's right saale saab" Armaan said earning a grin from Aditya
Aditya sat on the couch and crossed his legs in a manly way and relaxed
"Now that I am Armaan Verma's brother in law, my internship at Verma constructions is
confirmed" he said with a smug smile
Sharadha came back with home made sweets and first fed Armaan followed by Janani and
then the kids.
Armaan took out the velvet box from his pocket looked at everyone
"With your blessings" he said and opened the box revealing the beautiful diamond encrusted
ruby ring and a half eternity band made of rose gold he had bought for Janani
He had been to seven jewellers before he found the perfect ring for Janani which is not too
extravagant as he know she would't prefer them
Janani gasped as she saw the beautiful ring nestled in the velvet box
To her further amazement Armaan dropped onto his knees in front of her and she cupped
her mouth in disbelief
"Janani Trivedi. Will you marry me and make me the happiest man in the world??" Armaan
asked looking earnestly into her eyes
Her parents looked on in aww and Aditya grinned and captured the moment in his phone
"Janani??" He asked again seeing her still looking at him in wonder
"Oh yes" she whispered and he happily slid the ring on to her finger.