Arohi was lying on her bed on her stomach and crying keeping her head on the pillow. She was not able to control her tears. She could not believe what just happened some time back. She could not believe what her Dad said. She did not wanted to believe that but whenever she would try to not to believe in that; her father's words comes back to her mind.
FLASHBACK...
"I want you to get married" said Arvind and looked at Arohi. Arohi stared at her father asking what she just heard is what he said? As an answer to Arohi's questioning look Arvind said "Yes you heard me right, I want you to get married." Arohi could not say anything, her eyes were now wet. She was trying hard to control her tears but she could not hold them for long and the tears started flowing from her eyes. She wanted to tell him that she does not want to get married now, she wants to make a carrier first and then she'll get married but the words did not come out of her mouth all she could say was "Dad" in a slow whisper. "You said you want me make me feel proud so get married, it will not only make me feel proud but it will also make me happy. You can do whatever you like after your marriage, ya only if they allow you to do so." Said Arvind.
Salil and Purvi were quietly listening to Arvind and were continuously glancing at Arohi. "I'll give you time till tomorrow morning and I don't want to hear a no, it SHOULD be a yes" said Arvind. Salil had now had it. He was about to say something but stopped when he heard Arohi say "I'm ready." Salil and Purvi looked at Arohi with a shocked look and Arvind smiled listening to her. "Good, I'll fix a meeting with the boy tomorrow." Said Arvind and retarded to his room.
Arohi just sat there, tears flowing from her eyes. Purvi got up and sat on the chair besides Arohi. She kept her hand on Arohi's shoulder. Salil looked at his sister who was crying. Whose dreams were shattered in a minute; He would have spoken to Arvind only if Arohi had not said yes for the marriage, now he could not do anything as Arohi was ready.
"Arohi" said Salil, but Arohi didn't looked up. "Arohi you don't have to do this, we'll talk to Dad tomorrow." Said Salil. Arohi got up from her seat and went to her room; she wanted to be alone.
...FLASHBACK ENDS
Her father's word "You want to make me feel proud? Then you'll have to do the things which will make me feel proud, which will make me happy. I want you to get married." Were echoing in her mind. Because of these word she said yes for her marriage. If she getting married will make her father happy then she'll do that. If she getting married will give her, her father's love then she'll do that. She would do anything for her father.
Arohi gets up from her bed and moves towards the window in her room. She knows what she has to do tomorrow. She'll go and meet the boy and will tell a yes to him. She does not care how the boy will be. The only thing she cares about now is her father's happiness.
~*~
Salil was standing on the terrace and looking at the blank space. That's when Purvi came and stood beside's him and kept her hand on his shoulder. "I should have spoken to Dad before. I shouldn't have let this happen. I'm not a good brother. I cannot do anything for my sister. I'm very bad" said Salil and tears started flowing from his eyes. Purvi held his shoulders and turned him so that he was facing her. "You've spoken to him so many times regarding this Salil but it did not work. It's not that you haven't tried and we had spoken about this earlier right?" asked Purvi. Salil looked up and nodded.
When Arvind had said about Arohi's marriage to Salil, Salil had tried his best to avoid this but it did not work and Arvind always knew that Arohi will not tell him no for anything he ask her to do. Purvi and Salil had, had a talk regarding this they had thought that this will be good for Arohi. At least she'll not have to stay here where she gets happiness but in the end its all pain with which she is left with. They knew that Arohi will not tell no to Arvind and had thought that getting Arohi married will get happiness in her life.
"What if the boy whom Dad has chosen for her is not nice? What if he'll not be able to give her happiness and will only give her pain? What if this decision of us is wrong for her? She'll be broken Purvi. I know her very well after meeting that boy tomorrow she's going to say yes." said Salil. Purvi cupped Salil's face and said "we'll not let any random boy come and take our Arohi away. We'll make sure that the boy is good and will only give her happiness." Salil hugged Purvi and said "I just hope we do not make a wrong choice for her." "We'll not" said Purvi hugging him back.
~*~
Arjun came back to his room after Neev and his Dad were tired of teasing him. He went towards his bed, lay down on his stomach and closed his eyes. The moment he closed his eyes. He saw her face; her scared face. Arjun opened his eyes and sat up with a jerk. 'What was that?' he thought. He was confused why did he saw her face? "May be because of the nonstop teasing by Neev." Arjun answered his own question. "I think I should take a shower." Arjun said to himself and went towards the bathroom.
Arjun took a long hot shower and came back to his room. He was feeling very good now. He came and lay down on his bed. 'Phew, it was a long day.' He thought and closed his eyes and again saw her face. This time he did not open his eyes. 'She was so scared and embarrassed; I could see that in her eyes.' He thought and this time he opened his eyes. "What's wrong with me?" Arjun asked himself with a frown on his face. He thought for a moment and then a smile appeared on his face thinking about her scared face and her eyes "Wait" Arjun said and sat up on his bed. "There was something about her eyes''' Was that pain in her eyes?" Arjun asked himself and thought for a moment. "I guess she was really very scared. Was I rude with her?" Arjun thought. "Hang on, why am I thinking about her? Arjun you have gone crazy. This is all because of that Neev. He was teasing me so much today. Ya it's because of him I'm thinking about her." Arjun was talking to himself. "I should sleep" Arjun said and lay down and tried to sleep.
~*~
Next Morning Arjun was in the gym doing pushups and he heard the door open. "I'm not in the mood of teasing now Neev so you better not tease me." Said Arjun and turned to face Neev and saw Rudra smiling at him. "Dad? I thought its Neev." Said Arjun. "Ya I got that, So tired of his teasing huh?" asked Rudra. "Ya he's been teasing me so much." Said Arjun to Rudra. "And because of him that girl is not going out of my mind" Arjun muttered to himself. "Did you say something?" asked Rudra. "Huh? No was just'hmm' nothing" Arjun fumbled with words. "So you have any plans for today?" asked Rudra. "No, nothing as such. You had some work?" said Arjun. "Yes actually I wanted to talk to you." Said Rudra. "Ya Tell me" Arjun said but was a bit tensed. Rudra glanced at his clock and said "Actually I have a meeting now, why don't you come to the office. We'll have lunch together." "Sure" said Arjun.
"Good Morning Bro" said Neev while entering the gym. "Morning Dad, You've come for a workout?" asked Neev teasingly. "Good Morning Son, and No I have not come here for a workout, don't worry" Rudra said laughing and added "just wanted to talk to Arjun" "Oh, did I disturb you'll?" asked Neev. "No was just leaving" said Rudra and turned towards Arjun and said "I'll see you at the office and get this lazy brat along with you. He doesn't do any work." And smacked Neev's back. Arjun laughed and said "Sure." And Rudra left for his office.
"Did you sleep well?" asked Neev. "Because of him I could not sleep and now he's teasing me again" Arjun muttered to himself. Neev frowned looking at Arjun and said "I'm not talking to walls here. You didn't even wish me back and now you are not even answering my questions. It was such a simple question. I'll ask again. Did you sleep well?" asked Neev. "Stop teasing me Neev." Said Arjun. "Huh? When did I tease you now?" asked Neev. Arjun sighed and said "Forget It" and added "Good Morning and I slept well all thanks to you. Now Happy?" said Arjun. Neev stood there confused 'What's wrong with him?' he thought.
"Neev you should join the office, it will be a great help for Dad and even you'll gain experience" said Arjun. "Why don't you join the office, it will be more help for Dad, you even have experience." Said Neev. Arjun looked at Neev and sighed. "I cannot come back Neev, I have my whole business out there and I cannot leave that and come right? And you have to take over Dad's business, so you should join." Said Arjun. "I can say the same; you have to take over Dad's business. Actually we both have equal rights on Dad's business. I'm not the only one who has to take care of it." Said Neev. "Yes we both have equal rights on Dad's business, I agree but you are the one who will have to take care of the business in the coming future. And as I said I have my whole business set and I cannot leave that and moreover I cannot come back and stay here." Said Arjun. "Why? Why can't you come back and stay with us? Why do you want to stay away from us? All these years you have stayed away from us and we hardly even get to speak on the phone and it's once in three months we get to see each other's face that too through internet. And the reason you are giving that it's because of your business out there you cannot come back is not true Bro, I'm sure about it. I don't know what is the actual reason that you always choose to stay away from your family; but one thing I know is it's because of Mom you are doing this." said Neev with a straight face. Arjun moved towards Neev and kept his hands on Neev's shoulder and said "It's not that Neev, you are taking it wrong." "Then what's the reason? I want to hear it. Today you'll have to tell me why you don't stay with us and prefer staying alone." Said Neev. "I think we should shut the topic out here." Said Arjun. "No" said Neev. Arjun was now getting irritated. He took a deep breath and said "Listen Neev, you knowing the reason will not change my decision I'm not going to come back now. And you have to join Dad's business whether you like it or not. That's final and no more discussion about this. Now get ready, we have to leave for the office." Arjun walked out of the room.
"I'll find out one day bro." Neev said to himself looking the door getting closed.
~*~
*KNOCK KNOCK*
Arohi heard the knock and went to open the door. She opened the door and saw Purvi standing with a tray of food. She moved aside to give Purvi space to enter her room.
Purvi looked at Arohi whose eyes were bloodshot red and there were tears on her cheek. Arohi had been crying whole night. She did not even sleep. Sleep was miles away from her. All she was doing is recalling the conversation she had with her Dad the previous night and thinking about her only dream which was now shattered into pieces in a matter of seconds. But in the end only one thing came in her mind; this decision of hers will make her Dad happy for once, which she's been trying to do from past years after Preeti's demise.
"Arohi" Purvi said looking at Arohi who was looking down. Purvi kept the breakfast tray on the bed and then made Arohi sit on the bed and she herself sat in front of Arohi. "Arohi" she said again and again no response. Arohi didn't utter a word. Purvi sighed and held Arohi's hand and said "I can understand what you are going through Arohi, why not think in a positive way. Maybe this is best for you Arohi." Purvi paused for few seconds and added "I and Salil knew this from before" Arohi looked up when she heard Purvi say this. She got another shock, her brother and bhabhi knew about this and they didn't even bother to tell her about it? At least she would have not been shocked if she would have known this from before, she would have prepared herself for this. Arohi slightly shook her head and tears started flowing from her eyes again.
"Salil had tried his best to stop Dad but it did not work." Purvi said lowering her head now. She had seen many questions in Arohi's eyes. "I and Salil thought about it a lot Arohi, we think this is best for you. May be this will bring happiness in your life, we cannot see you like this Arohi. Trust me this is going to be best for you and we'll not let you marry any guy. We'll make sure that the guy is good for you. Trust me." Said Purvi holding the tears forming in her eyes.
Arohi wanted to scream, she wanted to tell that for once let her decide what is good for her. She wanted to tell that it's her life she'll do whatever she wants but on the other hand she did not want to hurt her family. Arohi freed her hand from Purvi's hold and walked towards the window, tears flowing from her eyes non-stop. Arohi was heartbroken. She was feeling very bad. First her Dad and now even her brother and bhabhi wants her to get married.
Purvi got up from the bed and looked at Arohi who was standing by the window. "This is the photo of the boy" Purvi said keeping the envelop on the side table and added "You have to go and meet him at City Plaza, at 8:30." Purvi kept on looking at Arohi waiting for her response 'This is best for you Arohi' Purvi said in her mind and walked out of Arohi's room, closing the door.
Arohi leaned on the wall and slid down. She hugged her knees close to her chest, kept her head between her knees and started crying. She kept on crying for god knows how long and slept in the same position.
It was 6 in the evening when Purvi came in Arohi's room to wake her up. She had come in the Afternoon to check on her and she'd seen Arohi sleeping in that position and the breakfast untouched on the bed. She did not wake up Arohi at that time as she thought she'll get some sleep. "Arohi" Purvi said waking Arohi up. Arohi woke up as she heard her name. She looked at the clock which showed 6:00 p.m. She stood up and went towards her wardrobe. She took out a salwaar suit and went towards bathroom; she did not care about what she'll be wearing. She did not even let Purvi speak. Purvi saw her going in the bathroom and she herself went out of the room.
Arohi came out of the bathroom after taking a long shower. She went towards the dressing table and did little make-up. She tried to take care of her eyes which were swollen because of crying but it didn't help. She left it as it is, and walked towards the side table where Purvi had kept the envelope of boy's photograph. She removed the photograph and glanced at it only for recognizing the boy; with whom she's suppose to get married. She kept the photograph back in the envelope and kept the envelope back on the side table.
Arohi walked out of her room and saw Purvi sitting in the hall. She walked down the stairs and directly went out of the house. She did not want to speak to anyone now. Purvi also didn't try to talk to Arohi as she knew that Arohi does not want to talk to anyone.
Arohi reached City Plaza at 8:15. She headed towards the restaurant and sat there, waiting for the boy to come.
~*~
Arjun reached City Plaza and got down from his car. He gave his car for valet parking and looked at his wrist watch which showed 9:00. 'Oh God, I'm late. I hope she's not left yet. Dad will screw me up.' Arjun thought and started moving towards the restaurant hoping that she's not left.
While moving towards the restaurant he collided with a girl and immediately said "Sorry" looking at the girl who was moving towards the exit. It looked as if she did not realize that she just collided with someone. Something struck Arjun's mind instantly and he immediately said "Excuse Me." A bit louder so that she can hear him.
Edited by veds_6791 - 14 years ago
Anupamaa
