Chapter 4
"So you are really going through with this?" Aaman said.
Tensions were riding high in Yash's bedroom.
"How can you do this to Ads, Bhayia. She loves you. Why are you breaking her heart like this? Said Prateek
"She brought this on herself. If she had agreed to make our relationship known from the outset, I would not have come to this. She is never going to commit to me so I am moving on."
"Cut the crap Yash. Don't forget how well I know you. What is it that you are not telling us?" Aaman said
"Why do you insist that I am hiding something, Aaman. I have made a decision to move on with my life without Aarti and that is it."
"Then look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't still love her"
"My love for her has never been the problem. It has been her inability to commit to me. And that is all. I keep telling you. Now please stop this. I am running late for my engagement."
"Why have you chosen her particularly? She is a horrible woman bhaiya. You never even liked her." Said Prateek.
"She is a good match and Ma and Bauji are happy."
"And are you happy, Yash?"
"I have given up on happiness and love" he said dejectedly.
"Fine. Go ahead. Marry the rake. But don't ask me to support you in this. You are breaking both your and my Aarti bhabi's hearts." he walked out the door with Prateek behind him.
For the first time in his life he had lied to Aaman. For the first time he had not confided in him. But he couldn't. He thought back to the incident in his office 2 weeks ago.
"Sir you have a visitor"
"Who is it?"
"Hi Yash, it's only me" Ishita forced her way past his PA.
"Hello Ishita, what are you doing here." He felt a bit irritated.
"I am kidnapping you for lunch" she smiled.
"I am so sorry, unfortunately I cannot get away today. I have a deadline."
"Oh no" she sulked.
"Maybe another time" his attention was already back to his work."
"Yash, I just need a few minutes of your time."
"What for"
"To persuade you to marry me."
He was totally flabbergasted at her forwardness.
"So sorry Ishita, I am not in the market for marriage"
"Not even to that servant girl?"
His immediate reaction was to be angry at the way she was referring to Aarti. Then he realised that she knew about them. But how?
"Yes, Yash. I know. In fact I have something for you." She took out an A4 sized envelope out of her bag and put on his desk in front of him. He opened it curiously.
What he saw made him feel sick. Someone had spied on them and had taken intimate pictures of him and Aarti. Not too intimate, but enough to ruin her reputation and to tarnish her family honour.
"How dare you?" he said with disgust in his voice.
"I want you and I will do anything to get you. This is just your copies. I have many more that I can distribute to your family and hers. I can also leak one or two to the tabloids so that the world can see what the art director of Scindiya Fashion and Design, the biggest fashion house in India, is up to. So what is your answer?"
"Fine I will do it."
"You love her that much? No to worry, I will see that you are over her in no time. Please see that a proposal reaches my parents before the end of the week. Good by my love"
He was angry. Angry at Ishita. Angry at aarti. But most of all angry at himself for being so easily swayed by his love that he now found himself in an impossible position. Now they were lost to each other forever.
She had been at Arpi's house for days after he had given her the news. She could not stay at home. How could she explain to her parents why she was constantly in tears? They were so happy that Yash was finally getting married, as if he was their own son. Two weeks ago they had met at their house. "Their house" she thought. Not their house anymore. She wanted to hug him but he was cold towards her.
"What is it Yash"
"I am getting married."
"What! To who?"
"My parents sent a proposal to Ishita Gupta and she accepted." We will get engaged in the next 2 weeks and we will be married two weeks after that."
"No Yash. You can't be serious. You are joking with me right?"
"No Aarti. This is not a joke. How many times have I asked you to marry me? How many. But you didn't want to. I am done waiting for you Aarti. I have asked Ishita to marry me. You can go ahead and accept the proposal that came for you after your studies. You don't have to worry about upsetting our families anymore. Aren't you happy now?" he said angrily.
He had never been that cold to her before. Even when they had their arguments. She was devastated. She couldn't even cry.
"Come I will take you home."
She allowed him to take her home, as if in a trance. She was hoping that this was just a nightmare, that at any moment she would wake up. But it was her reality. Because of her cowardice, she had lost the man that she loved.
"No it's over. His engagement and even the marriage date has been set. Luckily Prashant is still prepared to marry me, and it is a good proposal.
Please come tomorrow. I want you to be part of my engagement. You are my best friends"
"Have you both gone insane!" said Arpita
"No Arpita. We were clearly never meant to be. I have to move on with my life as he has done."
"I give up. Pari You speak to her please."
"Ads, you love Yash. You don't even know this Prashant. Why are you giving up on your love so easily?"
"Because I am tired of fighting. It will be easier this way."
She just walked away
Oh what fresh hell is this, Yash said in his mind. Why would Vidhi Bhabi suggest such a thing? It was bad enough just being here at her engagement. Now everyone was excitedly talking about a double wedding! How is he going to endure this?
"Sorry Vidhi Bhabi. We can't get married together. I mean, we won't be able to contribute so much to a wedding." Aarti
"Don't be crazy Aarti beti, you are like a daughter to us. We won't accept any contribution from Rhada & Dubey. Don't worry about a thing.
Damn she thought. How else could she get out of this? Having endured his engagement and now having him at hers has been unbearable and now this. Can she not catch a break? She just wanted to get married and move away so that she doesn't have to see him anymore. It was too painful.
"So this is what you wanted right Yash. All your problems are solved now. You are getting married and Aarti is getting married. Everyone is happy"
"Not now Aaman!" he said and walked out of the house.
The foursome was standing together.
"We cannot allow this. This madness has to be stopped. We only have a week left." said Paradhi. The other 3 were in agreement.
The happiest people there were Ishita and Prashant. Prashant could not wait to marry Aarti. He had his own plans for her. How dare this servant girl refuse to marry him? In what world would she get somebody like him? He had seen her at a relatives wedding and wanted her immediately. He would have gone after her immediately but she was apparently very close to the Scindiya family and they protected her so he could not do what he normally does.
Prashant Ramanand was a psychopathic predator. He preyed on the poor and innocent. He would get poor girls off the street and get them jobs and then assault them, physically and sexually. He got away with it as in most cases the girls were so scared to report him because his status was so much higher than theirs or his parents paid them off. They could have been even richer by now if it had not been for his parents continually having to pay off girls and paying for children and abortions. His parents who protected their disturbed son instead of helping his victims, were so happy that he wanted to settle down. They wer delusional and thought that the marriage would fix everything. Ever since Aarti turned him down his abuse of women became more frequent and more violent. He was always envisioning that he was punishing her. And now he would finally have his chance. In two weeks she would be his, to do with as he pleases.
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
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