18 - The surprising truth(S1)

"I don't know. I've never seen her before or heard anyone mention her here," Abhi said, deep in thought.

"But she looks familiar. Kahin toh dekha hain?" Abhi pondered, trying to recall where he had seen her before.

"Prithvi, do you know her?" Abhi asked, coming forward with curiosity. However, Prithvi's gaze was fixed on the girl, an intense stare that suggested he couldn't hear them.

"Prithvi," Abhi called again.

"Huh!" Prithvi replied, finally tearing his gaze away from the girl.

"Where were you gone? I was asking, did you see her before?" Abhi repeated his words.

Prithvi replied, "I think, Abhi, you should stop poking your nose into others' affairs. Enjoy the wedding without creating any trouble, and please leave me alone for some time, you two," he said, an abnormal impatience evident in his tone.

With that, Prithvi went near the bar corner, not bothering to answer their question.

There was a lot going on in his mind. He needed air to process everything-the surprises, revelations, and the fact that the girl he had been dreaming about was getting married to someone else. He wanted to know her until now-the girls he kept colliding with, their worlds intersecting. It made him oblivious, clouding his thoughts and feelings.

He wanted to ask everything, why, for the first time in his life, he felt vulnerable and confused. But now, everything ended with him finally knowing her, at the cost of her being someone else's bride. It would have been better if he hadn't known about her, but now he knows everything.

How could anything start between them now?Prithvi silently observed her, not with a greedy or lustful gaze, but with a fascination that even As an author I failed/ or feel challenging to explain. It was as if he was captivated by her innocence and vulnerability.

He took his seat near the stool, ordered a drink, and then gazed in the direction of that girl. It seemed like he was searching for answers that she couldn't provide. "Did she know the storms she created in his mind all this month?" I wonder, prithvi taking a sip from his drink. Observing her closely, he noticed that the girl didn't seem happy, despite her smile. "She's faking it," he whispered to himself, feeling his peace disturbed. Unconsciously, he swirled his glass, then noticed small tears welling up in the girl's eyes. "She's crying? Again" he thought, surprised.

"Again?" he repeats his word.

"Wait," he muttered, connecting the dots. "The girl I just encountered," he said to himself, recalling the girl he had questioned about why she was crying when he sought an apology.

"That girl was her." He realized As that girl's face was covered with Haldi, but her eyes he couldn't just forget.

Amid the crowd, one tear escaped the girl's eye, and he keenly observed it. The girl quickly wiped it away, maintaining a forced, fake smile that seemed to convince everyone around her. However, deep down, he could sense the pain hidden behind her facade. He wondered what could have caused her to cry and wished he could offer some comfort or support. The complexities of emotions in that moment made him question the intricate webs of fate that connected their lives.

He couldn't help but ask, "Really, who are you?"

"Waiter," he called.

Prithvi flagged down the waiter and inquired, "The girl sitting there, is it her wedding?" The waiter gave him a strange look in response to the unexpected question. Prithvi noticed the confusion in the waiter's expression.

He quickly clarified, "Actually, I'm new here, and I was told that the girl whose wedding it was is that lady," he pointed at Anamika, who was busy with her friends. "I'm confused about whom to congratulate."

The waiter smiled and replied, "Sir, you have some misunderstanding. The bride is not that ma'am, but the girl sitting there. She is the youngest daughter of our sir." The waiter finished his explanation.

"Okay," Prithvi responded.

"Is there anything else you'd like?" the waiter asked.

"No," he replied, shaking his head. "Thank you," Prithvi said as he waved the waiter away.

"But how? She wasn't even present at any function officially. At her own brother's wedding," he asked himself.

While lost in his thoughts, Ishita came and sat near her. He recalled her question,

"Why are you looking at our bachi like that?"

He sighed and admitted, "Why am I thinking so much? God, she's all over my brain." Trying to shake off the thoughts, he took the last sip of his drink.

Jairaaj arrived, and he formally greeted Prithvi, immediately delving into a conversation about business. It seemed like Jairaaj had been waiting for this opportunity, but Prithvi already had enough on his mind.

"Excuse me, Mr. Jamwal, if you don't mind, I'll call it a night. I need to get some rest," Prithvi said.

"Sure, I'll have someone prepare your room," Jairaaj offered.

"No, no need. We have our hotel booked. Let's call it a night," Prithvi insisted, refusing Jairaaj's offer.

"But, Mr. Prithvi," Jairaaj began to protest.

"Mr. Jamwal, I hope for your understanding," Prithvi interrupted, ending the conversation and excusing himself from the ongoing business talks.

He needed some time alone to process the revelations and emotions swirling inside him.

***

"Amar, you are just a genius," Abhi said excitedly.

"I mean, she literally asked me for a date and gave her number for that," Abhi continued, still in disbelief.

"Look, I told you to be patient.Haan thoda risky tha ( it was a bit risky), but it was me, so it had to work," Amar said confidently, shrugging invisible dust from his shirt.

"Can you just believe she fucking fainted in front of her family, only because I was ignoring her to get my attention?"

"Whoa, I'm getting goosebumps all over my body. She is a total daredevil, my type," Abhi said in awe.

Amar gave a smile as if to say, "Bitch, who the fuck cares, I told you it will work" but then he let go of that attitude and asked in a concerned tone, "Bhai, what happened to Prithvi bhai? I mean, boss, what happened to him?" he asked, genuinely concerned.

Abhi muttered, while looking at the passenger seat,"What happened to him? He's alright, maybe just bored," stressing the last word-bored, looking concerned.

Prithvi, who was looking outside the window, lost in his thoughts, didn't say a word to them for hours.

"Why is boss behaving like that?" Amar asked in concern, looking at Abhi while driving.

Abhi nodded in concern."Prithvi?" Abhi tried.

"Prithvi?"

"Huh! What do you want?" Prithvi said, looking at them.

"Are you okay?" Abhi asked.

"Yes, I am. Mujhe kya hoga," he said, sounding distant and lost.

Then Abhi continued as he or Amar could be silent for a minute.

"Bhai, the girl who was the bride wasn't looking happy," Amar said.

"Yeah, even I noticed, but anyone would be!" Abhi said.

"Why?" Amar asked.

"Her dad is marrying her to someone who is much older than her. He's divorced and has been accused of domestic violence by his previous wife. It was on the news. So, it's obvious," Abhi explained.

"What, bhai, I feel bad for her," Amar said.

Now Prithvi finally speaks, stated, "You both look more like a family to me of hers. than her original family."

" But, Boss it's sadistic how could a father do that to her own --" Amar tried to speak

"enough, I don't want any discussion on this topic. Act like your age for a minute," Prithvi said.

***

Niharika's POV:

"E..ekta di, I can't now. Can I g,,g,,go back to M-my ro..o..om?" I whispered with a voice weighed down by the burden of emotions.

Ekta di nodded in understanding. She knows me too well, comprehends the storm that rages within. And Ishita di?, her disappointment mirrors in her eyes. I feel a pang of sadness; I'd feel the same, but my choices are not solely mine to make. I can't afford to be selfish. The ache of being unwanted, the sting of being ignored-I can't bear the thought of Ishita di enduring the same.

I reached my room and closed the door. I felt my knees weaken, and I fell there, tears streaming down my face. I looked at the mehndi on my hands. It made me hate myself. Felt like a cruel joke, As I saw someone else's name on it. In the bathroom, I grabbed soap, scrubbing vigorously, as if trying to erase the unwanted markings that symbolized a union I hadn't chosen. "Ju..st g..e.t off," I whispered desperately, but it clung stubbornly. "Why is it n...ot g..gg..getting off?" I sat there with the tap on, asking why. Why is this happening? I don't want this. Why was I born? I think, sobbing there. I don't want to marry. I wanted to do something I like. Shivji, what wrong did I do? I've been getting all this. Why? Why was I born into a destiny that didn't align with my dreams? Why doesn't anyone understand my feelings? I can't. I don't want to be entangled in a loveless marriage.

A knock echoed through the room.

"Niharika," Dadi's concerned voice reached my ears.

I stood up, looking at my surroundings. I closed the tap and cleared any traces of tears or crying, practicing a fake smile and taking a deep breath. I opened the door.

"D...Dadu," I uttered with a fragile voice.

"Nihu, bachi so rahi thi," Dadu said, Attempting to read my worn-out expression.

"...Ji...Ji Dadu," I responded, feigning sleep, avoiding direct eye contact.

"Aa..pne ut..ha di.ya," I said, not wanting to know her.

"Acha, mera bacha mera paas aa," Dadi said, settling on my bed.

I came forward near her.

"Tu so rahi thi ya roh rahi thi?" Dadi inquired, looking into my eyes, seeing through my pretense. I failed here.

"D...Dadu," I said.

She gestured for me to lay my head on her lap, a silent invitation to share my inner anguish. I complied.

"Meri bacchi, mujhe maaf kar de, yeh buddhi dadi apne bachi ki khushi bhi nahi de paye," Dadi expressed, her voice resonating with regret.

No, no it's not her doing, she doesn't need to regret anything.

"N...Nahi Dadu," I responded, getting up, shaking my head in denial.

"Nahi, Niharika, tera baap ki taraf se maafi mangti hu," Dadi said, starting to fold her hands in apology. "Beta, maaf kar de mujhe," she said.

"Na..hi Dadu, A-a..ap to m..era maan hai. Aap me..ra saam...ne.. aise h..h..ath jodoge toh me..in toh toot jau..gi. Aapki N..ihu haar j.j..j.ayegi!" I said, putting her hand down.

"Nahi meri Nihu kabhi nahi har sakti," she said, and I nodded," Mena use harna nahi sikhaya " Shaking her head.

"Jairaaj uska dimag toh kharab ho gaya hai, jo apni hi aulaad ka sukh-dukh nahi dekh sakta," she said. I don't know what to say to that.

"D...Dadu," I murmured.

"Da..du, kya me..in itni b..uri hu?" I finally dared to voice the question that had haunted me for so long.

"Nahi tu bilkul bhi nahi hai," she reassured, gently rubbing my face and planting a kiss on my forehead.

"Ph..ir Dad..u, m...m.era his..se ki k..k.hushi mu..jhe kyu nahi mi..lti?" I questioned, seeking solace in her wisdom.

"Bhagwan na kabhi apne bando ki lambi pariksha leta hai, use phal dene se pehle, ki woh uska layak bhi hai ya nahi, phir usko duniya ki sari khushi deta hai," she said. But then she paused. "Par pata nahi tera hissa ki khushi kaha hai," she said in disbelief. I felt.

"Mujhe na us upar wale pe ab shak hone laga hai," she said, pointing her shaking finger. To the celling "Woh kyu meri phool si pyari bacchi ke jeevan mein dukh hi dukh deta hai uski khushiya kaha hai," she said, start shaking abnormally.

"N...ahi, nahi...aise m..at bole," I said

" Nahi--" she try to speak.. I embraced her, patting her back, attempting to provide the comfort.

" Sssshhh ,, ku..ch M..t bolo" I said gently patting her back again & again.

"Dadu. Me..ri w..w..ajah se aap ap..ne B-b-bhagwan par sh..ak karogey" tear escape from my own eyes.