Chapter 55

51. Shaadi Begani, Deewana Abdullah

‘Mayank, please? Please, I am begging you!’ She folded her hands and pleaded with him. 

‘Kirti, yaar. Get a grip over yourself.’ Mayank despite feeling her helplessness could not agree to her request for what she wanted from him was his freedom - too big a sacrifice.

‘How can I get a grip over myself? How? HOW?? How can you even expect me to be sane at this time? My Dadi is dying! Our Dadi is dying!! It is her last wish to see me married. Please Mayank, help fulfill her last wish please...please…’

‘Kirti...this is marriage we are talking about! How do you...stop crying for God’s sake! Stop with this emotional blackmail please.’

‘It does not have to be a real marriage...Mayank...Mayank listen no... Don’t leave, please…’ She grabbed him by his arms. ‘I will never impose on your life. It will only be a sham. Just to please my grandmother. After that we can each go our own ways. You can eat, play, and continue to act just as before.’

‘Mayank...Mayank...please…’’

XxxX

‘Kirti,’ he said, catching her from her arm.

Nishit had been pacing the hallway, his eyes hooked on Kirti and Mayank on the other side of the hospital corridor. They had been continuously arguing over something, at the climax of which Mayank had pushed a crying Kirti off his arm and stomped away.

She looked disheveled and worn out, tears never stopping from her eyes.

‘Are you okay?’ He said, straightening her up. Shaking out of his hold, she said, ‘I need to talk to Mayank.’ It was like she was a woman possessed. She looked at him but did not see him.

‘Kirti...Kirti...wait,’ he blocked her path. ‘What do you need? Tell me?’

‘Nothing,’ she sidestepped him.

‘What are you begging him for? You can ask me!’ He pulled her back to him.

‘None of your business!’ She spat.

‘This is good. When you need my help, you are polite and all business and now that you’ve got what you wanted, this is the way you behave?’

‘What do you want? That I organise an acknowledgement ceremony right now for you? To sing your accolades? Can it wait for sometime? My grandmother’s prayer service meet and your thanking ceremony I will conduct both of it together.’

‘All your fights, indifference, hatred, resentments you have reserved for me only? Tumhari sari ladai mere liye? Doesn’t matter how others treat you, you are good to them but all I get is venom?!’ Then closing his eyes, he took a deep breath; when he opened his lids, he whispered, ‘You are giving up too early. Have faith, Kirti, she will live.’

‘I have no faith. I have nothing left in me. Leave me,’ she began peeling his fingers off her arms. ‘Leave me, I said! Who do you think you are to poke your nose into my business like this?....’ When all her struggles seemed fruitless, she said, ‘Nishit, what do you want? I am sorry, I was rude. I am very grateful and obliged to you for your timely help. But right now I have other priorities.’

‘I do not need your thanks. Tell me, what do you need? You do not have to beg him.’

‘Please, Nishit, let me go. You cannot help me this time.’ She struggled in his hold but he was not ready to give in. 

‘Try me’

‘My grandmother is dying, Nishit. If that is her last wish I need it to fulfill immediately. I need him to marry me immediately. I do not have time. Let me go!’

XxxX

‘In a very startling turn of events, Nishit Aggarwal offered...to be very specific...is right now offering a marriage proposal to your da... Kirti.’

‘WHAT??!? Are you kidding me?’

‘You think I have an appetite to crack jokes right now?’

‘How? Why? I mean... how do they even know each other? Why is the heir of the Aggarwals offering for her? What is he even doing there?’

‘He has been here since last night. Left for a while and then came back again.’

‘Any hidden motivation? How did she even manage to hook him? Sly little thing isn’t she?’

‘He has eyes and  certain other goods as well in proper working condition going by his active dating life. Apart from that...they have known each other for a long time now. She went to the same school as him. Hidden motivation...affection, ‘lou’?’

‘Impossible!’ Then a few seconds later Urmi added, ‘Phuk! We cannot let this happen, Hardiik.’

‘Of course because he has caught your fancy!’

 ‘Stop her from accepting him.’

‘How can I?! You don’t want her to marry the Ojha guy. This Nishit is also forbidden. And she’s determined to marry today itself. The grandmother is on her deathbed and it’s apparently her last wish!’

‘That crow eating, manipulative witch! She has still not stopped with her manipulations. That ancient vulture is not going anywhere, I can give it to you in writing. She has fed on the bones of rhinoceros and the blood and tears of common people like us. I’m telling you, the minute the marriage is solemnized, she will wake up and say, But I’m still alive!’

‘Why does she even have to marry?’ He asked.

‘Don’t let Nishit marry her!’

‘Obviously not!’ His tone was dipped in sarcasm.

‘If she’s so determined then I guess any guy will do ...YES...you... is there any way we can get you both hooked?’

‘I see how you did not think twice before relinquishing me.’ He said all the while his gaze stuck on the young woman in front of him. Hair coiled up, a few cowlicks grazing her forehead. The Diwali party’s glow was all washed out. In place of that radiant woman, now a pale and ghastly looking woman stood. While saying something to that suave slimy b*stard, she wiped her tears with the back of her hand, and Hardiik looked away.

‘We have to part ways sooner or later. She’s good enough? I am hoping. Not as experienced as me but you’ll teach her what I have taught you, wouldn’t you? I just hope she’s not a lost case. Steeped in those archaic ‘sanskars’. The old bag’s granddaughter after all she is.’

That can always be mended, he thought. 

To the woman on the phone he said, ‘‘You think this is Pocket FM’s Emergency Ki Shadi going on? We are standing outside the Marriage Registrar. I will go and say, Hey Tina, Are you looking for a groom? I am Ranvijay. My bride also did not turn up. Let’s get married and she will look at me with gratitude filled eyes?!’

‘What FM?’

‘Forget it!’

‘Hardiik, should I make my carpet entry? Announce myself?’

‘No!’ He said, his eyes unconsciously seeking out Kirti..

‘But the young lady just piques my interest.’ 

‘There will be enough occasion to appease your curiosity. Right now isn’t the time for it. How do we prevent the marriage?’

‘Figure out yourself. Use your charm, your resources.If the old bag passes away, pass on the good news without any delay.’

[MEMBERSONLY]