Chapter 7: Promises

4 years ago

Elvish_Hobbit

@Elvish_Hobbit

"Apologize to him right now!" Ishani shouted, as the three girls before her trembled.

"It's alright, Ishani. Let it go," Ranveer insisted, glancing awkwardly at the guests who eyed them uncomfortably.

"Didn't you listen to what I said?" Ishani continued as if she hadn't heard Ranveer at all, and the girls, distracted by Ranveer's pleas were brought back to look upon the deadly Ishani.

"Ishani, it's alright!" he said again. "You didn't know who RV is, right?" He looked at the girls who nodded in affirmative and Ranveer smiled. "See? Let it go, Ishani. And, all of you, please have fun!"

The dismissed girls left and Ranveer turned back only to find the space Ishani stood empty. After a 20 seconds search, he found her leaving the party hall hurriedly as he followed her.

"Ishani!" he called her out but music being too loud for anything to be heard blocked his voice's way to her. He followed her further, but Ishani was nowhere to be seen. "Ishani, are you there?" Where could she disappear within seconds? He wondered.

In nearly 5 minutes' more struggle, he saw a figure, clad in a golden coloured saree, sitting beside the fountain that showered its spray upon her. He approached and sat next to her.

"Hey! What's wrong?" he asked and Ishaani looked disgruntled.

Shaking her head, she spoke. "What are you made of, Ranveer? Those girls insulted you so much and you let them go away just like that!"

"It's all fine, Ishani. They didn't know who I was. And there's no point in thinking it over to much."

"Didn't it hurt you?" she asked, leaving him surprised.

"It did," he admitted honestly. "After being who I am today, people still assume I'm the same old driver... it does hurt."

She only looked at him. "They needed to apologize!" she said after sometime.

Ranveer moved closer and looked deeply into her eyes, intensity in them making her shiver uncomfortably for some reasons she could not express. He took her hand in his. "I don't care about them, Ishani," he said earnestly, and with each word of his, she found it harder to endure his gaze. "The world speaks what it likes and I don't want to worry about that. At the end of the day, it's you that matters."

She wanted to look away. She couldn't look into his eyes. "And?" she gulped.

He moved slightly away from her, and his lips arched in a soft smile, though not devoid of a fear she always found thoroughly explicit in his eyes. "And I know you are never going to do that to me. I trust you on that. But, Ishani, the unexpected day you do speak what the world says to me, always remember: that would be the last day of my life," he said, his tone too honest to be misunderstood anymore. Ishani felt herself shiver.

"I'll never-" Ishani said, but Ranveer interrupted her, placing his finger on her lips.

"I know!" he said, smiling. The colour of his eyes returned back. "Now, come. They're all waiting for us."

"Can't we wait here for a more while?"

"Ishani, it's your sister's party, and you are supposed to be there."

Ishani sighed. Why couldn't they stay there away from everyone and be with each other? She liked it here with him.

He looked at her and she nodded despondently, and holding his hand, walked beside him. She could feel he felt awkward at the close proximity they were in, but surprisingly enough, she didn't. As they entered the house, many apologetic glances welcomed them but now with him by her side, she felt no apprehension. She looked at him as he indulged himself with the guests and discussed the matters related to the stock markets only. She smiled as she looked at him and he smiled back. Suddenly, her palm slipped in his as he was taken by sudden surprise and looked at her as if in awe.

She sighed, as his smile filled a part of her with the content and happiness she had never felt before. She continued to look at him and he blushed as he caught her eyes on him and smiled.

He was her pride. Her life. She couldn't have been happier that she was married to him, however insane the thought appeared when she had found him to be her groom one week ago. He had always given her reasons to smile and days to cherish for. And as she continued to look at him, she made a promise to herself: promise to never let anyone hurt him and assault his pride. He was no servant anymore and the world had to see him the way he was. The King of Dalal Street. She promised herself to stand by his side always, no matter what, and be the shield to protect what was dearest to him.

But little did she know, sometimes, promises were meant to be broken.