The Proposal: Dil-e-Nadaan

Episode 9 – Scene 1
Late Night – Zayaan’s Bedroom

Zayaan is lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The faint glow of moonlight streams through the curtains, creating soft patterns on the walls. His phone lies beside him, the conference call with Saad and Sameer still lingering in his thoughts. As silence engulfs the room, Zayaan unknowingly starts thinking about Anaya again.

He turns to his side, closing his eyes, but her face appears vividly in his mind—the way the morning sunlight danced on her face, how that strand of hair teased her, and how he had almost brushed it away.

Zayaan: (softly, to himself)
“Kya tha yeh subah ka manzar? Woh dhoop… woh uske chehre ka noor… kyun aise lag raha tha jaise sab kuch ruk gaya ho?”
(What was that scene this morning? That sunlight… the glow on her face… why did it feel like everything had stopped?)

He sighs, running a hand through his hair, restless.

Zayaan: (muttering softly)
“Yaar, kiya larki hai Anaya… ghar sambhalti hai, aur upar se itne mazay ka khana banati hai. Har cheez perfect.”
(Man, what a girl Anaya is… she manages the house, and on top of that, cooks such amazing food. Everything’s perfect.)

He shifts again, resting his arm under his head, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

Zayaan:
“Phir woh blogs bhi likhti hai. Har baat mein perfection! Kisi bhi topic par likh do, itna interesting hota hai ke bas padhta hi jao.”
(And then she writes blogs too. Perfection in everything! Whatever topic she writes on, it’s so interesting you can’t stop reading.)

He chuckles lightly, shaking his head at himself.

Zayaan:
“Kahan milti hain aisi ladkiyan? Kaam kare toh poora, baat kare toh itni tameez se. Aur phir woh smile… yaar, uska muskurana hi alag level ka hai.”
(Where do you even find girls like her? Whatever she does, she does it perfectly, and the way she speaks so politely. And that smile… her smile is just next level.)

He sighs deeply, staring up at the ceiling now, his expression soft but thoughtful.

He shifts uncomfortably on his bed, muttering softly to himself.

Zayaan:
“Lekin mujhe kya ho gaya hai? Kyun main bas uske baare mein soch raha hoon? Kya yeh normal hai? Ya main hi kuch zyada soch raha hoon?”
(But what’s happening to me? Why am I only thinking about her? Is this normal? Or am I overthinking?)

He rubs his forehead, sighing deeply. Her smile, her way of talking, everything about her flashes through his mind again.

Zayaan:
“Anaya, tum… tum itni perfect kyun lagti ho mujhe? Kyun lagta hai ke tum se behtar koi hai hi nahi? Kya dadi sahi keh rahi hain humare rishte ke baare mein?”
(Anaya, why… why do you seem so perfect to me? Why does it feel like there’s no one better than you? Is Dadi right about our match?)

Zayaan:
“Kya woh bhi kabhi mere bare mein sochti hogi?
(Does she ever think about me?

Suddenly, he jolts out of his thoughts, sitting up slightly in bed as reality hits him.

Zayaan: (with frustration)
“Ye kya soch raha hoon main? Anaya toh mujhe se shaadi nahi karna chahti. Aur maine hi toh yeh rishta mana kiya tha! Ye kya ho raha hai mere saath?”
(What am I even thinking? Anaya doesn’t want to marry me. And I was the one who rejected this match! What is happening to me?)

He exhales heavily and leans back against the pillow, covering his eyes with his hand. The weight of his conflicting emotions feels overwhelming. The silence of the room envelops him again as he shuts his eyes, trying to calm his restless thoughts.

But even as sleep finally takes over, one name remains in his heart—Anaya.

Scene 2 – Morning, Breakfast Table

The family is gathered at the breakfast table. The aroma of fresh parathas and tea fills the air. Anaya is serving chai to Dadi, talking casually with her about the day’s plans. Zayaan sits quietly, but his eyes keep drifting toward Anaya. He tries to appear indifferent, but his gaze lingers whenever she moves or talks.

Anaya, sensing his eyes on her, shifts uncomfortably. She tries to ignore it, focusing on her conversation with Dadi, but her face betrays slight nervousness.

Dadi:
“Anaya, tumhare article ka kya bana? Aaj submit karna tha na?”
(Anaya, what about your article? You had to submit it today, right?)

Anaya: (forcing a smile)
“Haan, Dadi, bas kaam chal raha hai. Abhi do-teen ghante aur lagenge.”
(Yes, Dadi, it’s in progress. It’ll take another two or three hours.)

Zayaan stirs his tea absentmindedly, still watching her. His hand stops mid-stir as he sees a strand of hair fall onto her face. Anaya tucks it behind her ear, and Zayaan quickly averts his gaze, pretending to focus on his tea.

Scene 3 – Afternoon, Common Living Room

Anaya is sitting on the sofa with her laptop on the coffee table, a notebook by her side. She’s typing furiously, her brow furrowed in concentration. Zayaan enters the room, scrolling through his phone. He hesitates for a moment, looking at her deeply engrossed in her work. Finally, he walks over and sits beside her.

Zayaan:
“Kya likh rahi ho, Anaya?”
(What are you writing, Anaya?)

Anaya: (without looking up)
“Naya article likh rahi hoon. Newspaper walon se bari short timeline mili hai. Pata nahi kaise complete hoga.”
(I’m writing a new article. The newspaper people gave me such a short timeline. I don’t know how I’ll finish it.)

Zayaan: (casually, with a soft smile)
“Tum kar logi, mujhe pata hai. Tum perfect ho.”
(You’ll manage it, I know. You’re perfect.)

Anaya freezes mid-typing, surprised by his words. She looks at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. Zayaan realizes what he just said and clears his throat, feeling awkward.

Anaya: (half-smiling, trying to lighten the mood)
“Zayaan, tumhari tabiyat toh theek hai?”
(Zayaan, are you okay?)

Zayaan: (hesitates, but then speaks with confidence)
“Haan, main theek hoon. Bas kal raat apne bachpan ke din yaad kar raha tha. Unmein bhi tum apna homework time par complete kar leti thi, aur phir mujhe bhi help karti thi. Toh abhi bhi kar hi logi.”
(Yeah, I’m fine. I was just remembering our childhood last night. Even back then, you always finished your homework on time and helped me with mine. So you’ll manage now too.)

Anaya feels an old warmth in her heart. Her mind drifts for a moment.

Anaya’s thoughts:
“Tumhe ye toh yaad hai, par ye yaad nahi ke hum ek dosre ko kitna pasand karte the. Hamesha saath saath rehte the. Ab toh main tumhare type ki nahi rahi.”
(You remember all this, but not how much we used to like each other. We were always together. Now, I’m no longer your type.)

She composes herself, suppressing her emotions, and replies playfully.

Anaya: (mockingly, with a smirk)
“Wah, bhai! Tumhe toh sab yaad hai. Phir toh lagta hai tumhare type ki ladki perfect nahi honi chahiye, right?”
(Wow, you remember everything. Then I guess the girl you like shouldn’t be perfect, right?)

Zayaan blinks in confusion, not understanding the hidden jab.

Zayaan: (genuinely curious)
“Ye kyun kaha bhala?”
(Why would you say that?)

Anaya: (sharply, with a hint of hurt)
“Isliye, kyunki agar main perfect hoon, aur tumhare type ki nahi hoon, toh tumhare type ki ladki toh vice versa hi hogi, nah?”
(Because if I’m perfect and not your type, then the girl you like must be the opposite, right?)

Zayaan feels the weight of her words. For the first time, he realizes that his casual remarks might have hurt her over time. Guilt washes over him as he processes her hidden emotions.

He doesn’t say anything in response, but a small, apologetic smile appears on his face. Anaya notices it and returns to her laptop, trying to hide her own feelings.

The silence in the room grows heavy, but for the first time, Zayaan feels an unfamiliar ache in his chest—a realization that things between them are far more complicated than he thought.

Scene 4

Scene: Evening, Dadi’s Room

The whole family gathers in Dadi’s cozy room after dinner. The atmosphere is casual but takes a serious turn when Kamaal clears his throat to speak.

Kamaal: (firmly)
“Ami, mujhe aapse ek zaruri baat karni hai. Main Sameer se akele mein mila hoon. Mujhe woh pasand aaya. Main chahta hoon ke hum uske proposal ko aage badhaein.”
(Ami, I need to talk to you about something important. I met Sameer alone, and I liked him. I think we should proceed with his proposal.)

Dadi, who was sipping her chai, pauses mid-sip and raises an eyebrow.

Dadi:
“Phir Zayaan ke proposal ka kya? Uska toh faisla karna tha humne.”
(Then what about Zayaan’s proposal? We were supposed to decide about that.)

Kamaal: (calmly)
“Ami, maine Zayaan se bhi akele mein baat ki thi. Usne khud kaha ke woh Anaya ko sirf ek dost samajhta hai, usse zyada kuch nahi. Aur woh toh yeh bhi keh raha tha ke Anaya ke liye ek aisa life partner hona chahiye jo usse pasand karta ho aur uski kadar kare.”
(Ami, I spoke to Zayaan alone too. He himself said he sees Anaya as just a friend and nothing more. He even said that Anaya deserves a life partner who truly likes and values her.)

Dadi narrows her eyes, about to say something, but Aslam interrupts, his voice sharp.

Aslam:
“Ami, mujhe bhi lagta hai ke humein zabardasti ka rishta nahi karna chahiye. Isse sirf bachon ki zindagi kharab hogi, aur koi khush nahi reh payega.”
(Ami, I also think we shouldn’t force this proposal. It will ruin the kids’ lives, and no one will be happy.)

Dadi: (frustrated, voice rising)
“Arre tum logon ko kya ho gaya hai? Pehle toh sab Zayaan-Anaya ki baat karte the, aur ab yeh!”
(What has happened to you all? First, everyone was talking about Zayaan and Anaya, and now this!)

Before Kamaal can respond, Rayaan suddenly enters the room, his face serious but hesitant.

Rayaan:
“Baba, Ami, mujhe aap sab se kuch zaruri baat karni hai.”
(Baba, Ami, I need to talk to all of you about something important.)

Everyone turns toward him, curious.

Kamaal: (frowning)
“Kya baat hai, Rayaan?”
(What is it, Rayaan?)

Rayaan: (hesitant but determined)
“Mein ne bhai ki baatein suni hain. Ye sab Zayaan bhai ka plan tha, Sameer bhai ka fake rishta bhejna. Ismein Saad bhai bhi shamil hain. Aur Sameer bhai ki toh agli mahine shaadi ho rahi hai! Ye sab Zayaan bhai ne apni shaadi talne ke liye kiya.

“(I overheard my brother’s conversation. This was all Zayaan bhai’s plan—sending Sameer bhai’s fake proposal. Saad bhai was also involved in it. And Sameer bhai is getting married next month! Zayaan bhai did all this just to delay his own marriage.)”

The room falls silent. Aslam’s face flushes with anger as he slams his tea cup on the side table.

Aslam: (furious)
“Itna bada dhoka! Zayaan ab itna bara ho gaya hai ke aise harkatein karega? Usse toh main chorunga nahi!”
(Such a big betrayal! Zayaan has grown up so much that he thinks he can do such things? I won’t spare him!)

Rayaan takes a cautious step back but speaks again.

Rayaan:
“Baba, mujhe lagta hai Zayaan bhai ab Anaya aapi ko pasand karne lage hain, bas woh accept nahi kar pa rahe.”
(Baba, I think Zayaan Bhai has started liking Anaya aapi but isn’t able to accept it yet.)

Aslam’s anger dims slightly, replaced by confusion.

Aslam: (shaking his head)
“Yeh tum kya keh rahe ho? Pasand karta hai toh aise planning kyun ki?”
(What are you saying? If he likes her, then why did he plan all this?)

Dadi, who has been quietly observing, suddenly speaks, her tone calm but sharp.

Dadi:
“Agar aisa hai, toh ab woh apne muh se kabool karega.”
(If that’s the case, then he will admit it himself now.)

Aslam: (confused)
“Ami, yeh aap kya keh rahi hain? Main samjha nahi.”
(Ami, what are you saying? I don’t understand.)

Dadi: (with a sly smile)
“Samajh jaoge. Bas abhi usse kuch mat kehna. Jaise main kehti hoon, waisa karo.”
(You’ll understand. Just don’t say anything to him yet. Do as I say.)

Dadi leans forward and whispers her plan to everyone. As they listen, the tension in the room shifts to disbelief and amusement.

Kamaal: (laughing)
“Ami, aap bhi na! Kaise soch leti hain yeh sab?”
(Ami, you’re too much! How do you come up with these ideas?)

Aslam: (shaking his head, chuckling despite himself)
“Yeh toh kamaal hai, Ami! Aapka dimaag toh kamaal ke ideas se bhara hua hai.”
(This is something else, Ami! Your mind is full of brilliant ideas.)

Dadi: (smiling proudly, with a mischievous glint)
“Hamesha kaam ki baat sochti hoon. Ab dekhti hoon kaise nahin bolta mera Zayaan.”
(I always think of useful things. Now let’s see how Zayaan doesn’t confess!)

The family exchanges amused glances, and the room fills with lighthearted laughter as they agree to follow Dadi’s plan. The suspense now lingers on what Dadi has in store for Zayaan.