The Proposal

Chetan looked at the envelope placed on the table and wiped his forehead. Horror was evident on his face.

"Why isn't she here yet?" He muttered.

Just as he sipped his drink, his secretary Naina came rushing towards him.

"Why have you asked me to come immediately, sir?" Her eyes scanned him thoroughly.

"Wait," Chetan looked towards the entrance with impatient eyes.

Lovesick couples were enjoying their date in the luxurious Taj Residency Hotel, seated all around them. The glass doors of the restaurant opened instantly and the gorgeous Nitara stepped in, clad in a frilly floor length gown, all dressed up for a candlelight dinner with her beloved. Chetan immediately dragged his eyes from her as he saw her walk in. He kept throwing furtive glances at her as she approached with a long and confident stride. When she was only a few steps away from the table where Chetan was seated, he pulled out a ring from his pocket and hurriedly slid it on Naina's finger.

"I love you, Naina," he said, "will you marry me?"

He didn't look at Naina for a reply. Her reaction was not important to him. From the corner of his eyes, he watched Nitara's eyes fill up. She placed a hand on her broken heart and ran out of the place without a word.

"What are you doing, sir?" A shocked Naina asked, "you were planning to propose to your girlfriend tonight. You bought this ring for her, isn't it? Then what's all this?"

"Yes," a shattered Chetan replied, "I love Nitara and I had plans of proposing her too. But I went to meet my doctor today and he told me that I have only months to live."

Chetan handed over the envelope to Naina.

"These are my medical reports." He said, "its blood cancer. I had to make Nitara forget me otherwise she will be left alone after I'm gone. I'm really sorry Naina but...this proposal was the only way to do so."