chapter 20

Chapter 20Trapped!Ishiqa stopped pacing as she saw Ved come out of granny’s room. She rushed up to him and asked, “How is she now, what made her so upset?” Without looking in her direction, he answered, “Come up, I will tell you.” She followed him up to his room and entered hesitantly. He walked up to the window and stared out, with his back to her. He looked tense. “Granny knows our being together was a charade and that is why she was upset. I wonder who told her, but no doubt I will find out soon.” He paused. She knew there was more coming. Her heart beat fast in anticipation, wondering what her fate would be now. She would be asked to leave, no doubt. She did not expect the next words he uttered. “She likes you a lot and she did not want to see you getting hurt, so she wants us to get married.”“And what do you want, Ved?” she asked softly.She held her breath, hoping to hear him say that he loved her. He said, “I only want to see her happy.” All her hopes for love were dashed to pieces. “We are getting engaged officially, day after tomorrow,” he added.“Excuse me!” she exclaimed, the suddenness of it all unnerving her. His matter-of-fact tone riled her.“You heard,” he said arrogantly. She retorted, “I heard alright, but I am not getting engaged to you - not now, not ever, do you understand? I am leaving now!” In a flash he caught her by her upper arms and pushed her against the wall. “You are not going anywhere.” She struggled to free herself of his vice-like grip, “Let go of me, Ved.” Recalling the joy and romance they had shared in Maldives, she felt tears sting her eyes. none of that had ever meant anything to him. When he made no move to let her go, she bit his hand. He swore loudly, caught her around the waist with one hand, and supporting her head with the other, he bent and swooped down on her lips in a punishing kiss. She tried to resist but as his kiss deepened, she was overtaken by sensations of pleasure, making her whimper. Her legs refused to support her and she clutched his shirtfront tightly. When she felt his warm hands slide to the side of her waist, sending electric signals through the thin fabric of her T-shirt, she pulled away with an effort. “I am going home.” And she fled. “Ishiqa, listen to me!” He came running behind her, but fury and disappointment gave her legs wings. She made it to the road and hailed a cab, giving directions to her brother’s place. She forced herself to be calm during the ride as myriad thoughts dizzied her brain. Rabia was delighted to see her aunt and greeted her enthusiastically, jumping on her lap and chatting away non-stop. Through her heartache and pain, Ishiqa managed to smile and laugh with her niece. “Hi Ishiqa, so good to see you back. Hope your trip was good,” Namita smiled. “Yup I had a great time. There is so much to see in Maldives,” Ishiqa said. The telephone interrupted them and Namita went to attend the call. Namita’s eyes widened in surprise as she smilingly turned to Ishiqa and squealed in delight, “Oh great! We are so very happy for you both.” After ending the call, leaving Ishiqa in no doubt about who was on the phone, Namita turned to her daughter, “Rabia do you know your aunty is getting engaged day after tomorrow?” She hugged Ishiqa. “Well, congratulations dear. Why didn’t you tell me the news yourself?  Did your fiancé have to do it on the phone?” Namita beamed without rancour. Ishiqa’s jaw dropped in surprise and she looked at Namita with a mortified expression. ‘What is this guy up to now! He has told my family because he knows that now I definitely cannot squirm out of it! The wretched man! Why can’t he just leave me in peace?’ She cursed him wearily. “Hey, come back,” Namita laughingly waved her arm in front of Ishiqa’s wide eyes. “Already lost in another world? This gives us no time to plan.  Let’s see what you are going to wear. Shall we go shopping today?” “No! Not today! I am too tired, please let us go tomorrow,” Ishiqa pleaded. Saying goodbye, she left for her house. Walking back to her house she cursed the object of her irritation all the way and flung her flat door open only to stare blankly at a huge bouquet of roses - a blend of all the colours, pink, white, yellow, red and purple - emitting a sweet fragrance into the room. She walked towards it carefully and plucked the card from the basket. It read, “I am truly sorry I hurt you. Keep smiling like the petals of these roses,” and Ved’s name was signed on the back of the card. She fumed and said aloud, “Does he even know the meaning of the word sorry?” She picked up the bouquet and chucked it behind her, burying her face in her other hand. Suddenly she realised that she didn’t hear the bouquet fall on the floor and turned to see why.  To her utter surprise, she found Ved hiding behind the bouquet he had caught in his hands. “Oh my poor roses, don’t cry!” he mocked. Walking towards her, he put them back into her hands.  She put the flowers carefully on the table and folded her arms across her chest defensively. “Who allowed you into my house, Mr. Ved Kashyap? Please leave. You know where the door is.” Ved smirked and went back to close the door with a bang and put down the shopping bag he had been carrying. He looked so ruggedly handsome walking towards her in tight black jeans hugging his lean hips and a white T-shirt and his hands half wedged into his pockets that she stared. His eyes twinkled, “Now where are you going to run, my dear Ishiqa?” She raised a finger to stop him. “Don’t you dare call me your dear, because I am not!” He took a step forward. “So what do I call you, my sleeping beauty?” She covered her ears with her palms. “That is quite enough. Just say what you have come to say and get lost.” “Okay, fair enough. I am really sorry to drag you into all this, but you very well know, I cannot pull out now. Granny is waiting to see us engaged, to get married soon, and I am sure you won’t break her heart. If you do not care for her at all, then I will not force you any more, you can walk out of our engagement anytime you like. Now, the decision is all yours.” “But this is emotional blackmail. You know very well that I would never hurt your granny!” she cried in despair. “Well that’s settled then. See you day after tomorrow, at our grand hall in the hotel with your family.” And he walked to the front door waving goodbye. “Hey you just cannot...!” She might as well be talking to the walls, she fumed. He suddenly turned on his heels and faced her. “You were saying something?” “Nothing much, only that this idea is preposterous, do you realise that?” “Oh really? Thank you for making me see light,” he winked. She stamped her foot in frustration. “You are impossible! Why am I breaking my head with you?” “Aw, come now, I do pity you. Come here, I will show you something,” and he took out a wrapped parcel from the bag he had brought with him. He opened it and showed her a gorgeous violet coloured ghagra choli. “How do you like it?”  he asked as she looked the pieces of satin with a sparkle in her eyes. “It’s very beautiful!” “I just cannot wait to see you wear it at our engagement party,” he smiled warmly. How romantic all this seemed; she wished reality was this magical…   “Now don’t refuse, because I have not come all the way to hear you say no.” He grasped her hand in his and planted a soft kiss on her palm, all the time looking into her eyes and sending tingles of desire down her spine. She snatched her hand from his grasp.“Do not keep me waiting too long sweetheart.” As he left, she stared at the dress in her hands. She was actually going to get married to him! The man she was desperately in love with, but who did not love her in return. A man who treated her like putty, to be shaped as he willed. All his endearments sounded shallow to her; there was no room for love there. She sobbed, burying her face in the cushions on the sofa.