Fragile Hearts

Chapter 3

The moment she had heard the words "I can't stay away from you" from his mouth, Pallavi had decided how she will take revenge from him. She had been confused and angry at him but never felt an urge to hurt him the way he did until now. When he selfishly asked her to put efforts in their marriage was when she realised he will never let her go. Even after knowing the fact that she wasn't happy. When everything you know and love is taken away from you harshly and all you can think of is anger, hatred and revenge, nothing and nobody can save you. Pallavi too felt as if revenge was all that was left of her.

Raghav Rao had come into her life like a storm. She recalled when he first came to the Deshmukh house asking for her hand in marriage. Pallavi was told to not leave her room till Raghav left and she had no idea what he was doing there at her house. She remembered glancing at him before she headed upstairs to her room and him smiling at her.

Flashback:
"Young man you must have some nerve showing up here and asking for my daughter-in-law's hand in marriage." Vijay Dekhmukh spoke up as if agitated by the fact. He had never really liked Pallavi but he dearly loved his son Mandaar and couldn't oppose when he wished to marry her. Soon he warmed up to Pallavi after Mandaar's death when she chose to stay with them. He acted like a father figure for her which was not admired by his own daughter Amruta. Infact she hated Pallavi, even her mother-in-law was cold to her.

"Raghav Beta, why do you want to marry a widow. There's a plenty of other girl for you" Sharda spoke up as if hinting towards Amruta to charm him. It was clear by his expensive outfit and ride that he was loaded and Sharda was surprised he wanted to marry someone like Pallavi. She would do anything to prevent him from marrying Pallavi, she was determined.

"No Aai, if he wants to marry Pallavi then we shouldn't be the one's to decide. Ask Pallavi, I know she will agree. After all she has been so lonely after Dada's death." Amruta too interfered thinking if he marries Pallavi it will be a good riddance for her and her father would stop telling her to be more like Pallavi. Amruta was smart enough to understand her mother's intentions of marrying her to Raghav instead but she was a loyal girlfriend so never showed interest in any other guy, let alone the don of Hyderabad.

Vijay realised Amruta was right. Pallavi had indeed been lonely. At times he would see her crying alone at night yet couldn't say anything to her. Maybe it was a presence of a loved one she really needed. Still, his ego didn't allow him to marry off his daughter in law to some guy who randomly showed up at his house. She was the pride of their house, she was their daughter in law.

Raghav was surprised by the reactions of all three people. Surprisingly it was Vijay Deshmukh who he thought was genuinely concerned for Pallavi. He had to convince him and he had to do it now before he changed his mind. Vijay Deshmukh was very short tempered, his men had told him. Once he makes a decision, he doesn't change it through the end, whether right or wrong he sticks by it. "Amruta, I hear you want to go to London to study Fashion?" Raghav asked her. All eyes were on him. Even though surprised Amruta was keen to spill her admiration for fashion and London. "... Yes but we aren't financially doing that well so..."

"What if I pay for it?"Raghav spoke. One thing was clear to him, However strong and adamant Vijay Deshmukh may seem, his children were his weakness. He couldn't ever say no to them. Just like he had allowed Mandaar to marry Pallavi, he was sure he would allow Amruta to pursue her dream. "I'll pay for all your expenses. College fee, living, food. What say?" He asked enthusiastically.

Vijay was smart enough to understand Raghav's intentions and glared at his daughter as if challenging her to say yes. When Amruta didn't say anything Raghav spoke again, "and if you want I can also arrange for your parents to be with you?"

Within moments he saw Sharda walking upto Vijay and whispering something into his ear, following which all three of them went inside the privacy of their room citing they had to discuss something. Vijay was adamant to not let Raghav negotiate anything in order to marry Pallavi. He didn't have such low esteem that he would practically sell off Pallavi to him so that his own daughter can live happily but was convinced otherwise by his wife. "Just let me negotiate with him" Sharda spoke. It was a golden opportunity for her to milk the cow.