Nikhil ko lagta hai aaj uski life ka sabse bada moment hai. Usne smart-casual ke naam pe ek tight blazer pehna hai jo uski saans aur confidence dono ko thoda-thoda daba raha hai. Uske haath paseene se geele hain, pocket mein ring box baar-baar check ho raha hai, aur café ke us chhote se corner table tak aate-aate usne apne aap ko teen baar mentally propose kar liya hai. Window se soft afternoon light aa rahi hai, ek decorative plant unke table ko baaki café se awkwardly alag kar rahi hai, jaise universe bhi bol raha ho: yahan embarrassment guaranteed hai.
Tanya pehle aati hai, phone haath mein, eyes suspicious. Nikhil ke rehearsed smile ko dekhte hi uska radar on ho jaata hai. Woh menu card uthakar seedha practical mode mein chali jaati hai—coffee ke rates, weekend plans, aur Nikhil ke blazer ki fitting par comments. Nikhil har baar romance ka opening line bolne ki koshish karta hai, par Tanya har baar usse kisi aur direction mein ghuma deti hai. Jaise hi woh ring box nikaalne ka sochta hai, Tanya ka phone buzz karta hai aur woh usse ignore karke seedha puchti hai, “Tum itne nervous kyun ho? Kuch chhupa rahe ho?” Nikhil ka dil aur gale mein aa jaata hai.
Tabhi Sonal aunty ka entry hota hai—glittery salwar suit, heavy bangles, over-accessorized confidence, aur aisi energy jaise woh café nahi, family court mein aayi ho. Tanya ne hi unhe invite kiya hota hai, yeh bolkar ki “Aunty also wants to meet you casually.” Nikhil ko ab samajh aata hai ki yeh casual nahi, cross-examination hai. Sonal ek hi saans mein uski salary, savings, EMI, future plans, aur “shaadi ke baad rent ya own house” ka lecture start kar deti hai. Woh bouquet ko dekhkar bolti hai, “Achha, flowers laaye ho? Budget mein fit hai ya over-romantic ho?” Nikhil ki romantic fantasy ka har frame practical advice se overwrite hota jaata hai.
Comedy ka engine tab aur tez hota hai jab Nikhil har baar proposal ka chance dhoondhta hai, par har baar koi na koi interruption aa jaati hai. Coffee spill hoti hai, napkins girte hain, phone ring hota hai, Sonal auntie apni shaadi ki purani stories aur “mere time pe” wisdom sunane lagti hain. Tanya, jo shuru mein suspicious lag rahi thi, dheere-dheere aur bhi dangerous ho jaati hai—because she is not just observing, she is testing. Nikhil ko lagta hai woh apne love life ka hero hai, par asal mein woh family audition mein hai.
Finally, jab Sonal aunty bathroom ke bahane ek aur “important call” ke liye thodi der ke liye uthti hain, Nikhil ka moment aata hai. Woh ring box kholta hai, kneel karne hi wala hota hai, aur Tanya usse rok kar bolti hai, “Ek minute. Pehle batao, tum meri family handle kar loge?” Nikhil blank. Tanya phone screen uski taraf ghumati hai—usmein Nikhil ki draft proposal message, restaurant search history, aur ring jeweler ka WhatsApp open hai. Nikhil ka face white.
Twist yeh hota hai ki Tanya sab kuch pehle se jaanti thi. Usne Sonal aunty ko isliye bulaya tha taaki dekha ja sake ki Nikhil pressure mein kaise react karta hai. Kya woh romantic sirf candlelight mein hai, ya practical family chaos mein bhi survive kar sakta hai. Sonal aunty waapas aakar seedha verdict deti hain: “Thoda nervous hai, par bhagta nahi. Chalega.” Tanya finally smile karti hai, phone pocket mein rakhti hai, aur bolti hai, “Proposal ab reverse mein hoga. Pehle family approval, phir ring.” Nikhil, jo ab tak proposal ka director tha, suddenly audience ban jaata hai.
End mein Nikhil ring box phir se kholta hai, is baar Tanya ke liye nahi, Sonal aunty ke saamne almost formal sa gesture karne ke liye—“Aunty, permission?” Sonal aunty dramatic pause leti hain, coffee sip karti hain, aur bolti hain, “Pehle bill kaun dega?” Tanya aur Nikhil ek dusre ko dekhte hain, phir hans padte hain. Romance proposal se nahi, survival test se jeet ta hai. Aur us chhote café corner mein, decorative plant ke peeche, teenon ka alliance ban jaata hai—pure comedy ke saath, aur ek aise shaadi ke promise ke saath jahan pehle family, phir forever.
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