14 - Why this sadness!(S1)

Back in the room,

"What just happened to me?" He cursed silently under his breath.

"I'm starting to get insane. I need to head back, and soon," he said, expressing his confusion. Just then, Abhi entered the room, appearing quite happy. Prthvi, while packing his bag, asked himself, "Where did my tab & clothes gone? Abhi, let's leave," looking surprised about where they went.

"We are not going," Abhi said, glancing around.

"What?" Prthvi said, puzzled, as he continued packing.

"Wait! You hid my things Right? Abhi! What's your problem? What's this time?" Prthvi asked.

Abhi, with an excited grin, started sharing his experience. "So, what happened is,"

Abhi narrated:

Girls were laughing together when I interrupted, faking a cough like that, "Ahem, ahem." They stopped, and Ekta looked back, saying, "You again here. What do you want?"

"you've got your answer. yesterday I'm married you have no chance" placing her hand on her hip, looking damn hot. Absolutely irresistible - like a five-course feast you'd regret not tasting.

"Abhi?" Prthvi said.

"Will you stop somewhere, with your simping," Prthvi said in a serious manner.

"Acha, sorry,so what happened Next--" Abhi said.

I ignored her and said, "Sorry, but I wasn't talking to you. Why are you so full of yourself? Yesterday, you misunderstood, Miss... uh, sorry, Mrs." I left her in shock. I could bet she was surprised.

"Excuse me," I continued, leaving her bewildered.

"Miss, what's your name?" I asked, moving toward the girl next to her. The girl looked at her first before answering and then at me, blushing as she told me her name.

"Oh, you've got a pretty name, just like you," I complimented.

"Thanks," the girl said.

"By the way, you dance gracefully. I can't even stop eyeing you," I said, and I knew after that what that Ekta's face might be looking like - the very dark shade of red, crimson red.

"No, I'm not--" the girl responded.

Then I glanced in her direction.That Ekta was visibly angry, coming forward, and she said, "Are you done? We have a lot of work to do." - to me. Well, I wasn't.

She said to that girl, taking her hand, "Let's go, yaar."

I replied, "Then you go. Leave this lady."

"What?" she said.

"Well, you see, she is single, not married or a mother, so I have a chance with her," I said, with a smirk.

"Do I have, Miss? " I asked that girl.

"What?" Girl asked.

"A chance? Do I have a chance on you. " I said. I think that girl feels like a slice of cheese between a sandwich, stuck.

"Let's go, yaar," she said again, in anger.

"Mrs. Ekta, what's your problem? are you angry? Why don't you want your friend to settle down, like you?" I said, looking toward her.

"What? Why wouldn't I want that?" she replied, now flushed.

"Then you're jealous," I said, moving toward her.

"Why? I'm not," she said, shrugging her shoulders.

"No, your face tells a different story," I said, leaning to her face.

"By the way , I don't mind dating married women. I'm quite open, you know. Mommy material is better when it comes to bed experiences," I whispered in her ear.

"Abhi" prthvi said in shock, he can't believe his friend.

Abhi said,"listen what happened after that", like he just didn't tell most unholy thing to prthvi & her

"Huh!" she said. Her eyes looked like they were going to pop out.

"You can divorce, right?" I said.

"What?" she said.

"If you like me," I said. Now she had that expression which I wanted to see on her face - 'stuck in my own trap.'

"So, Miss Ekta, next time, think before lying about who you are lying to. I'm quite serious. If I start flirting, your whole body will have goosebumps," I said. She looked at me in shock.

"I'm sorry," she said,looking guilty.

"You should think before lying or before making fun of me, or a laughing stock in front of your friends," I said. Then I moved back. I know she must be regretting messing with me. I left from there with a victory smile.

"That's it. Now I will play hard to get. She should get her lesson," Abhi concluded.

"Abhi, are you a child? What's your problem? I can't keep up with this game. You are absolutely wasting yours and my time," Prthvi asserted.

"And about your sail or relationship or whatever you call it drowned before it sailed, and the reason is you. You lost interest really quickly, and it will happen again." prthvi said, basically stating a fact.

"No, you don't understand. This time it's different. Please." abhi said.

"No, we are going back," Prthvi said with a cold face.

"Please, could we stay for at least the wedding?" Abhi pleaded, wearing a puppy face. Still, there was no reply from Prthvi.

"My baby," Abhi continued, starting to touch him and grabbing his hand. " your majesty, please " he said, leaning in.

"For God's sake, okay. And don't touch me, stay away. It's disgusting, get a life," Prthvi said.

"I already have," Abhi replied, winking.

Prthvi agreed to stay, but Abhi wasn't the sole reason. Unbeknownst to him, somewhere in his heart or mind, he also wanted to stay for someone. Maybe For just one more glance at that someone.

***

At the wedding,

Everyone's attention was focused on the groom, bride, or their sisters, teasing and celebrating. However, Prthvi's eyes were searching for a specific pair - those almond eyes that had captivated him before. As he scanned the crowd, he spotted her in a quiet corner. The owner of those mysterious eyes was lost in her own world, a world that didn't radiate happiness. Her face didn't reflect the joyous occasion but rather a mix of sadness and unhappiness.

Prthvi muttered to himself, "Who is she? Why does she keep appearing in front of me? And why was she crying last night?"

"Yes, aunty, believe me, Abhi's with me," Prthvi reassures the concerned person on the other end.

"Then why is he not picking up my phone?" the voice on the phone asks.

"Maybe he's asleep," Prthvi suggests.

"Aunty, I'll call you later," Prthvi ends the conversation.

As Prthvi contemplates his surroundings, his attention is drawn to the private room's balcony, where he spots the same girl. Her laughter echoes through the night. However, the joy transforms into tears, leaving Prthvi wondering, "Am I imagining things again?" The girl's emotions, swinging from happiness to sorrow, captivate his attention.

"What's her reason for crying?" He said to himself. The mystery surrounding this girl intrigued him, and he couldn't shake off the desire to unravel it.

***

Next morning,

Niharika's pov

Veer's bhai's wedding is done, everything went perfectly. Should I really try? No, no, Dad will get sad. But he's always upset from me, it's nothing new.Also, I can't let this opportunity go. Ishita di is here; maybe she can help. She is the only person.

I went to her room, knocked on the door, and waited for her to answer. But there was no reply. I guess she might be in the lounge or kitchen, helping out Maa. I should check there. I stepped towards the kitchen, and there they were.

"D...di," I said.

"Yes, bol bacchi. How did you remember your sister this early?" she replied.

"Di... di, I need... need your help," I said to her. She is my last hope.

"Haan, kaise help chahiye?" Di said with a smile.

"Di, I got...an..internship..f...fo..r,,, animatin..g videos. Th..ey said they..l-like my de..sign," I shared it with excitement.

"Arey wah, yeh toh acchi baat hai, good work Nihu," Di said, leaving her work.

Then She continued, washing her hands, said "Join it. Why do you need help with that?"

"Di, I... need to... join an..internship...progr..am i..n Hy..derabad. I ne..e.ed to go..there," I said hesitantly. I know Dad doesn't even allow me to go outside much. I usually sneak outside with the help of Ekta di or Dadu.

"What? Samjhi, so you want me to insist Dad to send you there?" Di asked.

"Y-yes," I said, unconsciously biting my nails.

"Okay. I'll talk to him. That's a good thing. You're doing so much hard work for your career," Di said.

I felt immensely happy after hearing that. But then she said, "I'll talk to him in 2-3 days."

"No," I said.

"Ab kya hua?" she asked.

"Di,....the pr..oblem is this pro...g.gram will start..in the n..ext 2 days. I...need t...o join; O-otherwise,,, there's no..chance for a year. Only next year,,, th..ey will h.h.ire," I explained. I wanted to ask about permission for the internship for a long time, but I didn't get a chance. I know somewhere it will be a no.

"Oh, then you might need permission right now," she said.

"Yes. C.an you..help..me..g-get Dad's pe..rmission? I'll..manage A-all expenses, and...my s..tipend I'll ..get from...the...C-c-company. I just nee..d.d permission. Th..ey will...never give it to...me if I a..sk directly,,,but..if y..ou talk..to t.hem, they might," I pleaded.

"Okay, I'll go and talk. You wait outside the study room," she said.

"Thanks, Di," I said, feeling like I'm on cloud nine and a bit nervous.

***

"Dad," Ishita said, entering her father's study room. She observed a few people already present there, so she patiently waited for them to exit. The individuals in business suits filed out of the room, leaving her alone with her father.

She then addressed him, "Dad, I want to talk to you about something," glancing towards Jairaj, who appeared far from calm; his expression was stern and serious.

In response, he looked at Ishita with a dead serious face and instructed, "Call all the family members here, every elder in the house except your dadi. Let them rest."

"Ji, Dad" Ishita acknowledged and left the room. She couldn't summon the courage to ask when her father seemed so serious early in the morning. However, that didn't mean she wouldn't inquire. Once outside, Niharika, waiting there, questioned in sign language, 'What was Dad's decision?' Ishita gestured to wait and said, "Go to your room. I'll ask for sure."

"Okay, Di," Niharika responded, heading to her room, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement.

After some time

All the elders of the family were present in the room, except for the girls and Dadi.

Jairaj instructed, "Ishita, close the gate." Tension gripped not only Ishita but the entire family. Pin-drop silence filled the room after Ishita closed the door. The tension was palpable on each member's face, but no one dared to ask the reason for their sudden presence at this time of day.

"Bhaishab, what happened? Why did you call us so urgently? Aisi kya baat thi jo aap breakfast per nahi kar sakte the, and everything was done perfectly in Veer's wedding?" Chachaji asked, breaking the ice. The question resonated not only in his voice but in the minds of everyone present. However, Jaiveer didn't answer; he seemed deeply lost in his thoughts.

"Bhaishab, aap kuch boliye. Ab mujhe tension ho rahi hai. Sab thik hai na?" Chachaji asked again, expressing his concern.

"I have decided to marry off Niharika," Jairaj announced with a blank expression. The room fell silent, the news sinking in, and everyone trying to comprehend the unexpected declaration.