||ManYa FF - Against all odds|| Epilogue Pg 45 Updated-12.10.15 - Page 25

Originally posted by: neet06

This is so very sweet of you!! Thank you! Thank you! And Thank you for all the time and effort and the love! Both of them are awesome!

🤗

Hola everyone!

Thank you for all the love, support and encouragement. Like I mentioned earlier, the story is heading towards its end and will wrap up in another 5 chapters so sit tight for lots of upcoming drama. This is a rather short chapter because the story demanded it but hope you enjoy it nevertheless.

Once again, thank you for all the love!

Cheers,

Neet

Chapter 24

"Rama I think you should go to the doctor," Mantu said. "No its not that bad. They didn't get around to doing much apart from the first few blows and that too because I was caught unaware," Rama replied. "But who were they? Why did they beat you up?" Mantu asked. Rama shrugged his shoulders in response, "I don't know. I asked them if they were waiting for the passes. They asked me if I had the passes and then they just started beating me up. An auto happened to pass by and stopped to check what was going on so before I could get done with any of them or ask them anything, they were all gone."

Sumitra stood wringing her hands nervously in a corner. Rachita stood with tears streaming down her eyes. Amaya saw Rama and Rachita exchange a long, silent look and she looked at Mantu, "I think we should leave now and let Rama jiju rest. Rachi di will take care of him." Mantu nodded his head. "Take care Rama," Mantu said. Amaya gave Rachita's hand a gentle squeeze before she followed Mantu out the door, limping on her injured foot. Sumitra stood at the door, hovering around, unsure of what to do. "I am alright Amma," Rama said softly. In all these months, this was the first time Rama had addressed her directly and Sumitra began to cry. She went up to Rama and hugged him. Rama hugged her back. She held up the haldi milk she had gotten for him earlier and Rama drank it. Sumitra turned to Rachita then, "Mere bete ka khayal rakhna," she said before heading out the door and closing the door behind her.

With feet still unsteady from the shock and pain of running like crazy through the streets, Rachita walked over to the bedside and reached for the first aid box. "Take your shirt off," she said to him, trying to keep her voice steady. "There is no need.." Rama started to argue. "Rama, just shut up and take your shirt off!" Rachita said, anger and pain blazing in her eyes. Rama had no option but to comply.

***

"Amaya careful," Mantu said as he helped Amaya get off of the bike. He didn't even bother asking her if she could walk and simply picked her up in his arms to carry her into the house. "Mantu, I am alright," Amaya said when he sat her down on the bed. "I saw how alright you are. Your whole foot was covered in blood," Mantu said, a tad irritated and she knew exactly why.

Amaya caught his hand as he walked away from her, "Mantu.. I am sorry." "I warned you Uma would be up to no good," Mantu said, his irritation replaced with pain. "I wanted to give her a chance. I wanted to give your childhood friendship a chance," Amaya said. "There was nothing left Amaya. There was nothing left to redeem. It all ended the day she proved she never really knew or understood me. I was only something she wanted, she thought she owned. Nothing else," Mantu said pained. Amaya stood up and limped on her foot as she went up to Mantu. "Amaya! What are you doing? The doctor gave you strict instructions not to put pressure on that foot," Mantu said, reaching out to hold her. "I.." Amaya started to apologize but Mantu shushed her with a finger to her lips. "You don't have to apologize. You have a pure heart, you couldn't have understood or fathomed the extent of Uma's obsession. Its alright. Now, you take rest. I'll bring you haldi milk," Mantu said as he made her sit back down on the bed and went to the kitchen.

"Mantu! You know I hate milk! How will I drink this haldi milk? Please. I don't want it. I'll eat all my medicines but not this haldi milk!" Amaya pleaded as Mantu came back with the haldi milk. "Amaya! Stop cribbing now and drink all of this in one go! Come on, come on" Mantu pinched the bridge of her nose with his fingers as he held up the glass of milk to Amaya's lips and made her drink it. He made sure she finished it all till the very last drop before he set the glass down. "That's like my good girl," he commented as he ran a finger over her lips and wiped away the milk moustache she'd gotten.

"This is torture," Amaya complained making faces as the taste of the milk lingered in her mouth. "Ha! Wait till I make kada for you," Mantu replied and Amaya's eyes widened in shock. "Kada?! Isn't that a horribly nasty concoction that is used to wake people from the dead?" Mantu laughed heartily at that, "It'll help you recover fast and fight infections too." "No! I don't want to recover fast and I'll fight infections with antibiotics, thank you. I am not drinking any kada," Amaya said. "And if you force me.. I'll.. I'll.. I'll go to Mom's house and I won't return till you promise me you won't make kada for me!" "Threatening me eh? Okay fine. I won't make kada for you but you have to promise to drink this haldi milk at least twice a day, agreed?" Mantu asked. "Twice a day?! You are so mean! Once a day?" Amaya tried to bargain. "Amaya, we aren't buying vegetables here for you to bargain. Twice a day means twice a day, or you get the kada!" Mantu replied. "Fine!" Amaya agreed, pouting. She looked so adorable pouting, Mantu couldn't stop himself and pecked her quickly on her lips.

"It could have been you," Amaya said softly. "Huh?" Mantu asked. "You were supposed to go give the tickets. They were waiting for you Mantu. You could've gotten.." Amaya couldn't even get herself to finish the thought, much less the sentence. "You saved me," Mantu replied smiling, seeing how affected Amaya was by what had happened. "Mantu, its not a joke! Do you think.. Do you think Dev Agnihotri had a hand in this too?" Amaya asked. "Honestly, I hadn't thought about it till now but you could be right. A tactic to scare me off from digging into his past and his motives," Mantu thought as he sat down on the bed next to her. Amaya hugged him, "I am scared Mantu. I don't want anything to happen to you," she said. "And nothing will. As long as you are with me! And your Superman too. We are doing this to clear his name. He won't let anything wrong happen to us," he replied hugging her. "Yes! Superman will protect you," she reaffirmed.

"I'll sleep here tonight. I need to make sure you don't get a fever," Mantu said a few long moments later. "Ohhh.." Amaya said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. He slipped into bed next to her and Amaya giggled. "What happened?" Mantu asked. "Mantuji, if you want to take advantage of the fact that we are alone here, I wouldn't mind," she said, giggling. "Really now," he said and in another second, she was pinned beneath him. "Mantu.." Amaya said breathlessly. "So, you were saying something," he said. "I... I..." Amaya's thoughts were a jumbled mess as he leaned in closer and closer. "Go to sleep Amaya," he whispered against her ear before kissing her on her eyes and rolling off of her. He lay down next to her and she turned towards him. He opened his arms to her and she cuddled closer, her head resting against his chest. No haldi milk, no kada could ever help her heal the way Mantu's love could, Amaya thought peacefully before drifting off to sleep listening to the steady rhythm of his heart beat.

***

"Why? Why did you have to try to be a hero and try to fight the goons? Couldn't you have just run and saved your life?" Rachita asked angrily as she tended to Rama's wounds. "Don't worry Rachitaji, in a few days, after our divorce, you won't have to worry about me at all," Rama replied. Rachita dabbed the cotton swab with Dettol forcefully on the wound and Rama winced at the burning sensation. "You know what? You deserve to get beaten up. You.. You.. You are an insufferable moron! That's what you are," Rachita said, her temper soaring. "How dare you?! How dare you give me those divorce papers without even giving me a chance to explain myself?" "When you don't love me then what's the point Rachitaji?" Rama asked. "Just.. Just keep quiet! Don't say anything! The goons should have hit you on your head. That would've knocked some sense into you!" Rachita said, angry tears streaming down her face as she cleaned his wounds. And when she could hold on to her temper no longer, the cotton swab slipped from her fingers and she crashed into his chest crying. "I was so scared. When Shyamu said you were.. I was so scared.." "Rachitaji, I am alright. Please don't cry. I can't see you crying. Please," Rama said, gently stroking her hair and waiting for her sobs to quieten down. He then pulled away from the hug and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Why do you love me so much?" Rachita asked. "I don't know. From that very first moment that I saw you, I just fell in love with you," Rama confessed honestly. His simplicity tugged at her heart and Rachita held his hands. "I want you to listen to me Rama and listen to me carefully. It wasn't love at first sight for me. In fact, when we first met, I was sure I would never love again in life. The one person I thought I loved had left me when I needed him the most. If that was what love meant, then I did not want love in my life. Then you came along, with the same kind of quirks as me, with your simple nature and good heartedness. I saw a friend in you. When you said you loved me, I honestly felt cheated. Cheated out of a good friendship. Then all the drama happened. I don't know who did it or why but it led to our marriage. I made the choice Rama, to get married to you and I've explained my reasons for that before. But somewhere along the way, I realized that I haven't lost that friend of mine. And in that friendship.. in that laughter, in those quiet moments of togetherness, in those countless tears of mine that you've wiped away and turned into a smile, in all those moments of caring love that you've given me.. I found the other half of my soul.." Rachita's voice broke as she finally confessed what was in her heart.

Rama could barely breathe as he took in everything that Rachita said. "I love you Rama," Rachita said, her lips quivering as she fought back her tears. "And even if you want a divorce, I am not giving it to you!" She said emphatically as she got up with the first aid box in hand. Rama caught hold of her hand and stopped her. He made her sit back down next to him. "Say that again," he said. "Even if you want a divorce.." Rachita started to repeat. "No! No! What you said right before that," Rama said. "I love you," Rachita said, a million butterflies fluttering in her belly as she looked at him. Rama pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her hair. Outside the window, a full moon rose and swelled up in the ink blue of the night sky as the shadows of two figures merged into one.

***

Originally posted by: ItsAlia

Arey yaar Neet..what can i say for u 😳😳

Y are u so awesome as a writer 👍🏼

Such a superb update it was..i read it more than 3 times i think

These two scenes were the perfect picture for me.. i could imagine it..seriously

ManYa scene...Haldi Scene..i could imagine Mantu taking care of Amaya

And RaRa confession..ufff... 'Rama pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her hair' Absolutely PERFECT!!! ❤️

i PRAY THAT A BIG PRODUCTION HOUSE HIRE U AS A WRITER AND THIS IS MY WISH DIL SE 😳

Originally posted by: misha101

Pls dont end so soon i love u and ur story so beautiful take as much time as you want in releasing updates but pls dont end so soon i am crazy about these updates i have told almost every person i know about u and ur new tsm story and all of them r readers now pls dont wrap up so soon make it a long story and if ur running out of ideas there r 100s of silent readers who have got ideas of what they want 2 see next so if ur running out of ideas u can take surveys on what fans want

PLEASE I BEG OF U

DONT END SOON

FROM A DEJECTED FAN OF TSM

AND A CRAZY FAN OF @neet06

Chapter 25

Rachita woke up bright and early. Her gaze rested on Rama's face and she smiled, running her fingers through his already tousled hair. Who would have thought that this is how and where she would find love? The truth was she had never felt happier or more loved in her life. She felt a blush crawl up her skin as she rewound the events of last night. Gosh! She was actually blushing. Rachita Mathur never blushed.. But Rachita Ramashrey Gupta did, she thought smiling. She made a move to get off the bed and saw the outfit she'd worn at the fashion show last night scattered on the floor. She wrapped the bedspread around her and hastily picked the clothes up before heading to the bathroom.

Rama's mom was already in the kitchen when Rachita decided to venture into the kitchen to make tea and breakfast for Rama. "Oh you are awake! How is Rama? How are his wounds? Is he in a lot of pain?" Sumitra asked. This was the first time since her marriage that her mother-in-law was talking to her and Rachita was stunned for a few minutes. "Rachita.. I am asking you something," Sumitra said. "Huh? Yes. Rama is.." As soon as she thought of Rama, Rachita's thoughts wandered off to the previous nights. "Rama is fine Aunty," Rachita replied hoping desperately that her mother-in-law would not notice the color on her cheeks.

Sumitra looked Rachita over for a few long minutes and Rachita shifted on her feet uncomfortably. "I don't like this Aunty business. I am Rama's Amma and you are married to my Rama. You should call me Amma too," Sumitra said finally. Rachita looked up stunned. Wait, what? Sumitra Aunty was telling her that she should call her Amma? Did this mean.. Did this mean she was willing to accept her? Rachita wondered. As if she had read the question in her eyes, Sumitra replied, "You are my daughter-in-law. My Rama's wife. You should call me Amma like he does too. Its taken me a long while to realize that my son is happy with you and that means more to me than anything else." Rachita smiled happily as she went to hug Sumitra. Sumitra returned the hug a tad bit awkwardly. "Theek hai. Theek hai," she said, awkwardly patting Rachita on her back and pulling away from the hug, "Agli baar pair chhu le na. Saas aur bahu aise gale nahi lagte." Rachita grinned in response and bent to touch Sumitra's feet. "Now come on. Since this is the first time you've stepped into the kitchen in all these weeks and months, we'll have your rasoi rasam," Sumitra said. "Did you take a bath?" Rachita nodded her head. "Do you know how to light the stove?" Sumitra asked next. Rachita nodded again, a bubble of happiness welling up in her chest.

And that's how Rama found them a little later. He had come looking for Rachita and had been pleasantly surprised to find his Amma and Rachita in the kitchen. His amma was giving Rachitaji instructions on how to make kheer in her usual curt tone, but in her eyes, he saw a growing fondness for Rachitaji and he smiled happily.

****

"Pushpa! Dinesh! Bahu!" the excitement in Gajanan Chuabey's voice resonated through the halls of both the Mathur and Chaubey havelis. Sneha, Jazz and Kaushalya too gathered in the courtyard of the Mathur haveli to find out what was happening next door. "What happened? Why did you call for all of us?" Pushpa asked. Just then, Rudra brought Neeti back from college. Gajanan turned towards Neeti and beamed happily, "Arey Neeti beta! Good that you are here too." "But Babuji, what's the matter? Why did you call all of us here?" Dinesh asked. "I'll tell you. But first, Neeti beta, come here," Gajanan opened his arms towards Neeti and she went to hug her grandfather. "Now tell us what this is all about.." Pushpa urged and Gajanan smiled. "I just got off the phone with the Sharmas. They like our Neeti. They have agreed to the alliance!" Gajanan announced. Chaubey Nivas erupted in applause and congratulations as everyone celebrated the good news. Everyone except Neeti and Rudra.

"Neeti is getting married? But she hasn't even finished college Mom," Jazz commented. Sneha looked at Neeti concerned. She did not look happy at all even as her family members kept hugging her and blessing her. Pushpa came over with sweets for Sneha then, "I know you are diabetic like your Babuji but for the sake of shagun, have a small bite." Sneha took the sweet her mother offered but did not eat it. "Maa, Neeti's wedding? Don't you think she is too young to get married?" Sneha asked softly. "She is in her last year of college Sneha and you know your Babuji won't ever allow her to go to work. And as it is, all this is happening with her knowledge," Pushpa explained. "Knowledge yes. But is she happy with this decision Maa? I don't think so," Sneha pointed out.

"What are you trying to say?" Dimple butted into their conversation. "I am just trying to say that we should ask Neeti once if she is happy about this decision. It is a matter of her life after all," Sneha replied calmly. "There is no need for that," Gajanan Chaubey announced before Dimple could say anything. Sneha braced herself for the tirade she knew her father was about to unleash. Gajanan Chaubey had never been open to suggestions or opinions other than his own. And that hadn't changed in all these years, Sneha realized. Even after he claimed to have forgiven and forgotten the past, he hadn't learned from it. Which was why, though the physical wall between the two houses had been broken down, there were still many invisible walls of perspectives, outlooks, principles and ideologies that separated the two families.

"I know my granddaughter. I have raised her with the right kind of values. She will never object to anything I say. She knows that I will only make decisions with her best interests in mind," Gajanan said. "I know Babuji. All I am saying is, to ask her once. What if she wants to have a career?" Sneha asked. "Career? What nonsense! I've told you before Sneha that the Chaubey family has never had to life off of its daughter's earnings. I warned you about daughters stepping out of the house to work with both Rachita and Amaya. But you did not listen to me. I don't have to tell you about the consequences, do I? Have you forgotten about those pictures of Rachita and Rama? Well at least Rama has a decent family even though he does not come from a respectable family of wealth and power like ours. But what about your other daughter? Amaya? She got married to a guy who has no family, no steady job. I bet he is living off of Amaya's salary now," Gajanan said acerbically. "Babuji, coming from a wealthy or reputable or powerful family does not ensure happiness. Both my daughters are happy with their respective partners. They may not have luxuries but they are happy, they are loved, respected and cherished and that is what is most important to me. And I think that is what we should hope for Neeti as well," Sneha said.

Gajanan waved his hand in a gesture of curt dismissal as if what Sneha was saying was utter nonsense as he turned to Neeti, "Neeti beta, tell your Sneha bua that this is what you want and clear her misconception once and for all so that she does not get a chance to question your Nanaji like this again. Show her that the values that this family and I have imparted to you are not that shallow. Show her that our upbringing is right. Tell her that you are happy with my decision."

Neeti felt tears well up in her eyes that threatened to spill out any moment. She looked at her Nanaji and saw how much pride he had in her. Then she chanced a glance towards Rudra, standing beside her mom. How she wished Rudra would just speak up and tell everyone the truth and put her out of this misery. How she wished she had the guts to tell the truth to Nanaji. But none of that would happen. Rudra signaled her to nod her head. Neeti looked at Sneha bua as she swallowed past the lump in her throat and nodded her head.

Sneha wondered if she was the only one who could see the tears of helplessness that Neeti seemed to be fighting back. Gajanan let out a triumphant humph and looked at Sneha challengingly. Sneha shook her head. "You are making the same mistake you made with me 27 years ago babuji. The same mistake," she thought to herself as she turned and walked away.

***

"This Tourism Festival was a huge success Mantu!" the collector commented as Manu took a seat in his office. "I just got the detailed reports and figures back. We have had 4-5 major textile houses express interest in starting projects here in Banaras and we also have foreign investment interest. A number of tourism projects are interested in pitching in to better showcase and highlight Banaras. Not only that, the Government has sanctioned a 50 crore budget exclusively to improve infrastructure to support development in Banaras!" "Arey waah! This is amazing news!" Mantu said, literally jumping out of his chair. "Thank you Mahadev! Thank you!" Mantu said, joining his hands in a quick prayer of gratitude. "I know. And you deserve all the credit. This project was your idea and not just your idea, you put in so much time and work into it too," the Collector commented. "Now, I have a suggestion for you Mantu. You are like my son so I hope you don't mind me saying this." "No Sir! Not at all. You have been such a source of support to us. If you wouldn't have agreed to the idea and supported us through all of this, this definitely would not have been possible. You have a right to say anything you want," Mantu said. "Well then.."

***

"You are a good-for-nothing idiot! I should have finished you off long ago!" Dev Agnihotri yelled. "What kind of idiots are your men that they did not even check if the guy was actually Mantu before beating him up? They ended up beating Ramashrey instead!" "Mantu or Ramashrey, we have enmity towards both of them, don't we?" Rudra asked, getting irritated with Dev Agnihotri's high handedness. On the one hand, he was running out of time to execute his master plan of convincing and marrying Neeti to get into the Chaubey family and on the other hand he had to stand here and bear Dev Agnihotri's wrath. He couldn't wait to get out of Dev's clutches to teach him a good lesson he wouldn't forget. "Rama can do nothing! He is a mere pawn in this game. Mantu is the brain behind all this. He is the one playing this game against me with both wits and brawn," Dev replied angrily.

It wasn't Rudra's fault, Dev thought. He simply did not have the brains to think of or decipher the elaborate trap that Dev had planned and designed to destroy the Mathurs. He'd originally laid out the trap to destroy Rishi Mathur but the coward he was, he committed suicide without even putting up a fight! But this Mantu.. Its his spirit that Dev wanted to break. Dev needed to corner Mantu from all sides. If he had been beaten up, he'd have ended up on a hospital bed for a while unable to do any more of snooping into Dev's past. In the meantime, Dev would have trapped Amaya in the missing file scam and have her behind bars or at least on the streets. If that would have happened, Dev could have re-created the scenarios that forced Rishi Mathur to commit suicide all over again. He would never let the Mathurs live in peace. By association and because of his impudence, Mantu would have to suffer too.

"What had to happen has happened. It was dark and the boys were expecting Mantu. They had no idea Rama would come in place of Mantu. I told them to beat up the guy who brings the tickets to the show because I'd gotten someone to ask Mantu to arrange tickets for them saying they were tourists. It was a mistake. I should've given them a photo of Mantu. Next time I'll make sure to give them a picture of Mantu," Rudra said. "There will be no next time. Now I will take care of whatever needs to be done on my own!" Dev dismissed Rudra. "Sasura, couldn't you have done everything on your own from the beginning then? Wasted so much of my time!" Rudra muttered under his breath as he left.

***

"There is something I need to talk to you about," Mantu said to Amaya later that night after dinner. "What is it Mantu?" Amaya asked. "I met Collector Sir today. The Tourism Festival was a huge success. We have so many new investment and start up interests in Banaras and he gave me inside info that the Government is earmarking 50 crores in funds for the development of Banaras!" Mantu informed her. "That is amazing!! Oh my God! 50 crores! All your dreams for Banaras are going to come true Mantu! I am so happy!" Amaya said as she shot up from the charpaayi excited and immediately winced in pain. "What are you doing Amaya? Your foot hasn't healed yet and if you keep jumping around like this, it won't heal!" Mantu scolded her. "So what? Even if it doesn't heal, you'll carry me around so it doesn't make a difference," Amaya said, mischief glinting in her eyes. "Amaya, you know I don't like jokes like that. Wait, let me get the first aid box to change your dressing," Mantu said as he went back into the bedroom.

He reappeared a few seconds later with the first aid box in hand. He sat next to her and gently took her foot and started to untie the dressing. "I never finished telling you what the Collector said," he continued, carefully removing the old dressing and applying medicine on her wound. "Collector Sir was suggesting that I should attempt the Civil Services Exam. He was saying that our country needs young minds like me to work for the country's progress." "That's a really good idea Mantu! Imagine, Abhimanyu Shrivastav IAS! How awesome would that sound? And you have the brains and smartness to ace the exam! And what is even better is the fact that you will be doing something that you've always wanted to do! Working for the progress of your own people! I think it's a brilliant suggestion, Mantu! I think you should do it!" Amaya replied. "I don't know Amaya. I don't know if I can do it. It's a very difficult exam to begin with and then the interviews and group discussions, and if I do get in, the responsibilities. I am a small town guy. Organizing a tourism festival in my hometown is one thing but being responsible for the welfare of so many people.. I don't know if I am capable of all that," Mantu said, his attention focused on tying the new bandage back in place on her foot.

Amaya placed her hand over his and Mantu stopped in the process of tying the ends of the bandage. He looked up at her and for the first time since she'd known him, Amaya saw a lack of self-confidence and sense of inferiority lurking as shadows in the dark brown depths of his eyes. "Mantu, if there is anyone capable of doing all that, its you. You may come from a small town but that just means you are more connected to the people. And that is what will make you stand out from all those other people taking the exam. You won't have just the knowledge you gained from textbooks, but you will know how things look and work in real life. I have full faith in you, Mantu! I've said this to you before and I will say this to you again and again, till you start believing it, that you are meant for bigger and better things," Amaya's eyes were filled with tears of pride as she cupped Mantu's face and spoke looking at him in his eyes.

She was all he needed, he realized, and he could conquer the world if he wanted to. She had so much faith in him, so much love for him. For that love and faith, he decided he would take the exam. He nodded his head at her and Amaya smiled wide and bright.

"As it is, with the Astrium group's file still missing, Dev Babu is going to kick me out of my job pretty soon. I can even help you with the preparation," Amaya said. "Don't worry. I am sure Mahadev is bound to open up a way for us before that happens," Mantu replied.

***

"There is no other way out Neeti. If we don't do this now, we'll never be together," Rudra whispered urgently to Neeti. "I am scared Rudra," she replied. She was terrified. Every step of the way she had been terrified. Even now, meeting Rudra in secret, this late at night, that too on the terrace of Chaubey Nivas, her heart was pounding so hard, she was afraid it would leap out of her chest. And Rudra was asking her to marry him in secret. How could she get married without her family's blessings? She had never made even a simple decision like what dress she'd wear to an event for herself in her life, then how could she make such a huge one? She loved Rudra, she wanted a future with him but she was still scared. "Your family may not accept at first, but you are the one who always says that your Nanaji loves you more than anyone else. He will eventually come around. Wasn't that what happened with your Sneha bua too? Or is it that you doubt my love for you?" Rudra decided to play the emotional card getting just a little annoyed with what he considered Neeti's drama. When had she started to think so much? Why couldn't she just say yes to everything he said, the way she did with all the other family members? "No! No! That's not true! I don't doubt your love at all. I know you love me.. I just.. Okay.. I need to learn to take my own decisions. I will marry you. Just let me know when and where," Neeti said. The emotional blackmail always worked with Neeti. She was such a nave fool, he thought. "Tomorrow? At the temple by Rajendra Prasad Ghat? We'll leave in the morning the way we normally do to go to your college but we'll go to the temple instead, okay?" Rudra said. He'd been planning this for long and the excitement of it was finally settling in. "Okay," Neeti whispered, nervousness and excitement making her stomach tumble.

****

Amaya had just fallen asleep when she heard the buzzing of her phone that she had put on silent. "Jazz! Why is she calling me so late at night?" Amaya wondered as she answered the call. "Amaya.. Its me.. Neeti," the voice from the other end whispered. "Neeti! Is everything okay?" Amaya asked worried. "Yes! No! I don't know. I needed to talk to you urgently so I sneaked into Jazz's room and took her phone. I shouldn't have done that. But I couldn't sleep and I don't know.. I think I should be nervous and excited but I feel scared and I had no one I could talk to about this other than you. Did I disturb you? Were you sleeping?" Neeti blabbered. "It's alright, Neeti. Don't worry about it. Tell me.. Whats the matter?" Amaya asked.

"Amaya.. Rudra and I are getting married tomorrow morning," Neeti said, nervousness, tension and excitement adding an unusual high pitch to her tone. "What?!" Amaya swallowed nervously. "Yes. The Sharmas, the family who came to see me last week? They called Nanaji today and told him that they wanted to go ahead with the alliance. Nanaji wants the wedding to happen as soon as possible. We don't really have another option so Rudra decided we should get married. I mean.. Rudra and I.. We.. We decided to get married. Whatever happens after that, we'll face it together. Nanaji is going to be really upset, I know. I just hope the shock doesn't his affect his health adversely. But I am sure he will eventually come around. He loves me so much and when he sees how happy I am with Rudra, he will come around. And Rudra, he is such a nice guy. He will win Nanaji's heart. Just like Mantu jiju will.." Neeti continued on and on and it sounded like she was trying to convince herself than explain anything to Amaya.

Amaya worried her lower lip as she wondered what to do. If she tried to tell Neeti straight up that Rudra was only doing this to get into the Chaubey family so Nanaji would have to save him from all his past misdeeds she was sure Neeti wouldn't believe her. And if she did say all that, Neeti would most likely not tell her what her plans were. And how would she stop her if she did not know what their plans were? "So you are getting married tomorrow?" Amaya forced to keep the panic she was actually feeling out of her voice. "Yes. In the temple by Rajendra Prasad Ghat, at 9," Neeti said. "Acha Amaya. I better go now before someone sees me. Wish me luck." "I hope that you never have to regret any of your decisions in life," Amaya said solemnly but Neeti had already hung up.

****