• Second Chances •

8. The Talk

"What if we make a profile for Priya on a matrimonial site?" suggested Kunal. 

"Oye genius!" Aditya called him out. "Do you think that her family must have not done that already?" 

"I know!" laughed Brinda. "The thing is that she herself does not want to get married. So no matter who we suggest, Priya is not going to like anyone." 

Ram shook his head and sank into the couch. He stuffed his mouth with a huge bite of the pizza that he was eating and said, "I am just glad that Shivina is not pregnant. Rest all will fall into place." 

"Yes..." Vikrant hummed. "Waise, what happened when you went to see Shashi?" 

Ram's eyes and shoulders, both fell. When he had broken up with Vedika, or rather when Vedika had dumped him, he had felt like it was the end of the world for him. And he was being brutally honest, it was in a way. He had never really risen up from that blow. Even now, he sometimes found himself daydreaming of living a good life with Vedika. Years later, when Shashi had proposed an idea of getting his brother Sid and Shivina married, Ram had jumped at that idea. Even it seemed stupid, he and Vedika would get to be a part of one family. It would be enough for him to spend this life. Now with Shivina refusing to marry Sid, even that glimmer of hope had died. He was back to square one. 

"Nothing much," he whispered. He didn't want to embarrass himself and admit that he had cried like a child in front of Vedika. His friends would roast him alive. "I told them the truth and they agreed." 

With sceptical eyes, everyone nodded. Brinda crossed her arms. "Good. At least un se toh peecha chuta." 

"Bri yaar..." whined Ram. 

"Shut up Ram!" Brinda scolded him. "You are blind and stupid. I am not. I know that both Shashi and Vedika are snakes. So don't you dare argue with me." 

Ram shook his head and went back to his pizza. He didn't wish to add anything to what Brinda had said. A lot of times, some inner instinct told him that too. She had a feeling that Vedika had knifed him alive. But Ram's love for Vedika was so great that he kept allowing her to twist the knife whenever she wanted. After all, their breakup wasn't her fault. It happened because of Vedika's family. She was as much a victim as Ram was. 

"Anyway," huffed Brinda. "What now? How are we going to find a groom for Priya?" 

"More than that," said Vikrant. "Shall we wait and see if this Akshay is a passing interest of Shivina? Who knows, she may not like him after a few days?" 

"Damn!" Kunal nodded. "That can definitely happen. She is a little crazy anyway."

Ram smiled. "It's funny cause they have posed this condition in front of us. I mean look at us, we have to be the most unlucky in love group there can ever be. Except for Adi and Bri. I am a sore loser who cannot move on, Kunal can't speak with girls and Viks might get married for the third time soon. How will we ever find a guy for Priya?" 

It made all of them laugh. Aditya chuckled and sat down beside Ram. "You are so right. Aandho se raasta pooch rahe hai." 

Smiling, Brinda looked at Ram. "Jaan, kabhi kabhi aandhe bhi sahi raasta bata dete hai." 

Ram scrunched his brows. "What?" 

Aditya sat up in alarm seeing the smug face of his wife. He knew that a plan was brewing in her head. "Wait. Brinda...what are you thinking?" 

She chuckled and pinched Aditya's cheeks. "Nothing darling! Don't use your nonexistent brain too much." 

"Seriously Jaan, what is it?" asked Ram impatiently. 

"I will tell you but in private. Not in front of these clowns. Okay?" grinned Brinda. 

There was an uproar around the room but Ram just nodded. "Fine. Tomorrow then." 

"Yes!" laughed Brinda and fed Ram a huge piece of cake. 

***********************

"Will you not talk to me?" asked Akshay. 

"Why should I?" Priya snapped at him. "Not only did you act extremely irresponsible with Shivina, but you also lied to us. If you were in love with this girl, you should have told us." 

"I know!" cried out Akshay. "But I was scared." 

"You weren't scared of keeping a physical relation with her..." shrugged Priya. 

Before Akshay could defend himself, Sara pipped up. "She is right, Akshay. This is not cool. And then you go ahead with this condition of getting Priya married before you. It's just too much." 

"Yes, but at least listen to me!" Akshay tried to speak. "I really wan..."

"No!" Priya glared at him. "Don't you dare! You just made me feel very small today. And nothing you say is going to make me feel better. Absolutely nothing. Now, excuse me. I am tired and I have a long day tomorrow. I am going to go and sleep."