Chapter 654: Proposal or Confession
At Tea house,
Noor picked a beautiful flowy short dress that had delicate lace adorned. She got off her Audi R8, thinking of calling Arsh to know where he was.
Her eyes fell on a man who was standing in front of a bench watching the calmly flowing water in the river. She didn't enter the tea house and went towards him.
Arsh sensed somebody going towards him. He turned around and saw her beaming. He could say her decision hasn't changed looking at her glowing face.
Her slow steps quickened and she skipped towards him on her heels. He wanted to say. 'Careful' as she was running on the uneven grassland, he didn't feel like she would listen to him so he saved his breath.
She leaped to his arms and hugged him, wrapping her arms around his neck on his shoulder. "Everyone is supporting my decision." She said gleefully.
Arsh smiled hearing her excitement. He had still thought she was young for the marriage. When she was ready and eager to be with him, why would he hinder it?
Before he could utter anything, Noor saw something following on the river. It was a large wooden floating deck beautifully decorated. "What is that?"
She said, unwrapping her arms and looking at it.
Arsh knew what she was pointing at. He should have asked her out formally but they started in a tricking way. So he wanted to give her a proper proposal.
He didn't respond. He grabbed his blazer from the bench and took her towards the floating deck. As they got closer, Noor saw the large wooden deck was equally balanced with heavy plant pots at four ends so that if anybody walks on it, it won't lose its balance.
What caught her eyes were big pendant lights having big burning candles. There were smaller sizes too. Red and white rose petals were spread on the deck with a bunch of flowers in a vase.
Her eyes fell on a board that had a word written beautifully, 'Nosh.' She instantly guessed, "You did this for me?" NoSH - Noor + Arsh. It was an easy guess.
Arsh rubbed his eyebrow. Rooney and Jasmine were more excited than Noor after hearing Arsh asking for their help. He glanced at her, leaving his hand and skipping front.
Noor wanted to jump on it but she was afraid it might move the deck away from the shore. Looking at there is nothing to sit on, "If there was a little floor mat, a few pillows with yummy food, it would become the perfect date." She suggested it to him.
Arsh: "..."
'You are still dumb.' The nervous Arsh thought that. Seeing her still not guessing why had done that.
He was squeezing his brain thinking about what to say. Jasmine had eaten his head for more than an hour to be romantic and sweet. She had asked him to smile more but his lips were further contracted. Noor didn't seem to mind it.
He went to her and held her hand, "Step on." He sounded cool. Noor got on while thinking they have to sit on the wood but food? She giggled to herself thinking they should catch some fish.
Arsh: "..."
He didn't want to ask why she was happy again. He got on the wooden deck, passed her his blazer, and picked the long wooden paddle that was on the deck in complete silence. He pressed the river bank with the edge of the paddle and gave a strong push. They moved away from the edge and started floating away on the water at a very slow pace.
Arsh left the paddle on the deck and slowly breathed. He never had thought one day he would be so nervous. He knew it wasn't necessary but he didn't want to leave it. He was nervous She might laugh at him or don't like it. He might end up saying some crap making it worse.
Noor was enjoying her view without fear. She was about to call Arsh and noticed that he was uneasy and the decor on the wooden deck felt more than a simple date.
Her face soon morphed to surprise and then shyness. Then she was excited, she poked Arsh and asked in a low voice, "Are you going to propose to me? Here? It's beautiful."
Somehow her voice and the little compliment eased him up. When he turned around to look at her, he saw her fetching the little jewelry box from his blazer.
"Why does your brain work faster for this?" He asked helplessly.
Noor shrugged her shoulders, "It is there in most of the movies and dramas."
Arsh: "..."
Noor saw the gorgeous lady's diamond ring inside it. She extended her hand at him, "Where is another ring?" He asked for a men's ring.
Arsh pointed to the blazer without knowing what she was up to. She was flushing like delicious cherry as her hands again started to look in each pocket and took the men's ring out.
Noor was aware Arsh wasn't comfortable in speaking a lot and adding all the words to complete the romantic proposal. Since he was the one who was waiting for her and she was the one who had to decide for them, she chose to propose. No, try it out.
Even though she was able to decide, she started becoming nervous but there was determination. She lowered to keep the blazer and the ring box and she stood up.
"You shouldn't laugh at me." She warned him.
Arsh was wordless looking at her taking the lead. He wanted to stop her but seeing her resolution gazing at the men's ring, he fell silent.
Noor could feel her heart thundering inside her chest when she looked up to him. Seeing his anticipating gaze, her nervous smile stiffened. His hands reached out to her and held her so tenderly, Noor slowly relaxed and softly smiled.
Her mellow voice floated to his ears, "I am not the beautiful girl out there or an intelligent one. It was like nothing really matters to you but fme. You bully me, you also make me feel good inside. Like we are meant to be together. So to celebrate the togetherness every day, will you marry me?" In the end, she adorably tilted her head. Her eyes were blinking at him, cheeks were flushing every second.
Arsh flashed a smirk of amusement and content. He loved her sweet proposal but… He probed her, "Noor, you are missing something. Aren't you?"
Noor bit her lips thinking what she missed, what he might be expecting. A few seconds passed and she looked at him in disappointment for not understanding.
Arsh went closer to her and brushed her fluttering hair strand and tucked it behind her ear. He heard her ask, "Are you dissatisfied?"
"No." His response was quick, "I am very much content. Probably I am expecting a little more this time."
His deep voice rested her crazy heartbeats but she was a little sad for not meeting his expectations. "What is it?" She asked directly, clutching the ring tight in her palms.
Arsh watched her, she looked like she was going to cry any moment. His intention wasn't to make her sad when she was so happy reaching him. He faintly smiled at her to keep her at ease and voiced his opinion.
"People are in a rush to fall in love. Some force themselves to like one. Some settle with one for some wants. Many base their relationship on physical rather than emotional. I want our relationship to be about love, fondness, and unwavering devotion for each other…"
Noor understood she proposed to him but she never confessed to him. His expectation was her confession. She felt her cheeks turning hot thinking of confessing looking him in the eyes.
Her arms lifted and hugged him, hiding her face from him. Arsh paused by her reaction. He least wanted to make his words sound blaming.
"Noor…"
Noor cut in again, "I-I love you." Her timid voice sounded close to his ear. She felt his body stiffen and she continued with a little more bravery, "For being so patient with me, for guiding me, for never showing me the shortcut, for always supporting me. I love you, not for your name or how you look. For who you are."
She would have tried to run somewhere and hide if they were on the land. Here she couldn't do it so she tightened her arms, waiting for him to speak.