Chapter 3
Font:
Text Size:
Theme:
Okay guys, I am back and am now much happier with my exams finished! Here's your next part, the suspense continues...
They now had two months holiday before they had to start their duty. After graduation all of the cadets left for their separate homes except for Alekh, who of course had no home to go to. Instead he went home with Yudi, to stay with him for a few days before Naina's engagement. Although Yudi's parents still didn't know quite how to act around Alekh, they had reluctantly accepted him as their future son-in-law. Neelu had miscarried the baby, and when Akash had come to the hospital to apologise to her, they had realized how much Alekh had done to protect their honour.
The moment that Naina arrived home, her parents started involving her in engagement preparations. She had to shop for an outfit, choose jewellery, approve the decorations, approve the catering, approve god knows what else. She had never realized how much work would go into something like this.
"Bas, Ma…" she said on the second day after arriving back. "I'm tired of all this, I'm sure that whatever you choose for me will be fine." And she had gone to her room.
Her parents were worried by her quietness, she didn't seem to be excited in the way that a girl who was going to get engaged should be. But whenever they asked her about it, she made excuses.
"I'm just tired, it's nothing to worry about Ma and Baba. Really, we only just finished our exams, then graduation, and now… really I'm very happy to be getting engaged, but please don't ask me to make all these decisions."
After that her parents left her alone and decided these things themselves. When Naina wasn't having to sit with visitors who wanted to congratulate her, she would often go for walks or simply stay in her room.
Finally, two days before the engagement, Alekh and Pooja arrived. It had been decided that they would be from the bride's side while Yudi and Ali would be from the groom's. Pooja immediately began helping with the decorations and other preparations, endearing herself to Naina's parents even though they couldn't understand half of what she was saying.
Alekh was happy to help set up, and was on his best behaviour around Naina's mother and father. They thought that he was polite, but very quiet. Pooja laughed when she heard this description, but quickly stopped before they could realize how far from the truth they were.
Alekh had been watching Naina closely ever since the moment he had arrived, looking for some sign that something wasn't right. As he stood covertly observing her while pretending to put up flowers, Pooja came and tapped him on the shoulder.
"You think something's not right, don't you?" she asked him.
"Nahi to…" Alekh trailed off, not wanting to lie to Pooja but also not wanting to unnecessarily suspect Naina.
"Even I've been wondering why she suddenly agreed to get engaged to Huda. She rejected him for all these years and suddenly… no dating, no I love you call, just an instant connection." Pooja looked over to where Naina sat on the couch, patiently listening to some aunties tell her what a beautiful bride she was going to be. She looked… sedated. That was the only way to describe it. As if you could set off a bomb right now, and even then Naina wouldn't notice. "You try and find out what's going on, Qaidi," Pooja told him "You're the only one who can do it."
It was not until the afternoon of the day before the engagement that Alekh had a chance to do so. Finally, almost all of the preparations were complete and there were no more visitors. He found Naina sitting in her bedroom, staring at the mehendi on her hands.
"Want to go for a walk?" he asked her.
They walked for half an hour in silence, until they had left the houses behind and were heading into some forest. Finally, Alekh found a suitable place and sat down on a log, beckoning Naina to sit down next to him.
"Naina, I know that it's hard for you. Navin isn't here to attend your engagement or to help you. But as long as I'm here, you should know that you've got a brother."
Alekh watched Naina's eyes fill with tears at this statement and carefully took her hand.
"Now, as your brother, I want to know the truth. What's going on?"
It was then that everything which Naina had been holding inside herself burst out. "Oh Alekh," she sobbed, "Believe me that I want to tell you, but…"
"But nothing, I swear that whatever it is, I won't tell a single other person." He looked into his eyes. "I swear on my mother."
Naina looked at him in astonishment, amazed that he had made such a serious promise. She wiped her tears and calmed herself down.
"Fine then, Alekh, but this has to stay between you and me."
And she told him everything.
They now had two months holiday before they had to start their duty. After graduation all of the cadets left for their separate homes except for Alekh, who of course had no home to go to. Instead he went home with Yudi, to stay with him for a few days before Naina's engagement. Although Yudi's parents still didn't know quite how to act around Alekh, they had reluctantly accepted him as their future son-in-law. Neelu had miscarried the baby, and when Akash had come to the hospital to apologise to her, they had realized how much Alekh had done to protect their honour.
The moment that Naina arrived home, her parents started involving her in engagement preparations. She had to shop for an outfit, choose jewellery, approve the decorations, approve the catering, approve god knows what else. She had never realized how much work would go into something like this.
"Bas, Ma…" she said on the second day after arriving back. "I'm tired of all this, I'm sure that whatever you choose for me will be fine." And she had gone to her room.
Her parents were worried by her quietness, she didn't seem to be excited in the way that a girl who was going to get engaged should be. But whenever they asked her about it, she made excuses.
"I'm just tired, it's nothing to worry about Ma and Baba. Really, we only just finished our exams, then graduation, and now… really I'm very happy to be getting engaged, but please don't ask me to make all these decisions."
After that her parents left her alone and decided these things themselves. When Naina wasn't having to sit with visitors who wanted to congratulate her, she would often go for walks or simply stay in her room.
Finally, two days before the engagement, Alekh and Pooja arrived. It had been decided that they would be from the bride's side while Yudi and Ali would be from the groom's. Pooja immediately began helping with the decorations and other preparations, endearing herself to Naina's parents even though they couldn't understand half of what she was saying.
Alekh was happy to help set up, and was on his best behaviour around Naina's mother and father. They thought that he was polite, but very quiet. Pooja laughed when she heard this description, but quickly stopped before they could realize how far from the truth they were.
Alekh had been watching Naina closely ever since the moment he had arrived, looking for some sign that something wasn't right. As he stood covertly observing her while pretending to put up flowers, Pooja came and tapped him on the shoulder.
"You think something's not right, don't you?" she asked him.
"Nahi to…" Alekh trailed off, not wanting to lie to Pooja but also not wanting to unnecessarily suspect Naina.
"Even I've been wondering why she suddenly agreed to get engaged to Huda. She rejected him for all these years and suddenly… no dating, no I love you call, just an instant connection." Pooja looked over to where Naina sat on the couch, patiently listening to some aunties tell her what a beautiful bride she was going to be. She looked… sedated. That was the only way to describe it. As if you could set off a bomb right now, and even then Naina wouldn't notice. "You try and find out what's going on, Qaidi," Pooja told him "You're the only one who can do it."
It was not until the afternoon of the day before the engagement that Alekh had a chance to do so. Finally, almost all of the preparations were complete and there were no more visitors. He found Naina sitting in her bedroom, staring at the mehendi on her hands.
"Want to go for a walk?" he asked her.
They walked for half an hour in silence, until they had left the houses behind and were heading into some forest. Finally, Alekh found a suitable place and sat down on a log, beckoning Naina to sit down next to him.
"Naina, I know that it's hard for you. Navin isn't here to attend your engagement or to help you. But as long as I'm here, you should know that you've got a brother."
Alekh watched Naina's eyes fill with tears at this statement and carefully took her hand.
"Now, as your brother, I want to know the truth. What's going on?"
It was then that everything which Naina had been holding inside herself burst out. "Oh Alekh," she sobbed, "Believe me that I want to tell you, but…"
"But nothing, I swear that whatever it is, I won't tell a single other person." He looked into his eyes. "I swear on my mother."
Naina looked at him in astonishment, amazed that he had made such a serious promise. She wiped her tears and calmed herself down.
"Fine then, Alekh, but this has to stay between you and me."
And she told him everything.
Your reaction
Nice
Awesome
Loved
LOL
OMG
Cry
3 Comments