Bride Set off

chapter 19

"You ready?" jay asked.

"Yes. I need to do this."

I texted Piku, she and I are going to meet at cafeteria in about fifteen minutes. I am bit nervous but I need to do this.

"I will be here next to you. you have nothing to worry about." Jay says as he walks to cafeteria with me.

"I will be alright, you should go or else you'll miss the class."

"I got text from my classmates. There are no class today, everyone is helping in décor, planning music and chit chatting." He shows me the text in his group chat.

"You should go."

"I don't want to."

Jay sat on table beside me. I have to introduce them too. I hope she understands, I am nervous.

"HEY!!" Piku waved from door way. She seems so happy.

"I am so glad you are here. I had a blast and meeting you today is perfect day." She takes sit and Jay gave me look. I ignored Jay.

"I am so sorry about yesterday, Piku. I didn't mean..." she cuts me off and sighs.

"It's okay. We don't need to talk about that."

"I do. I do want to talk about it. I want to you tell everything about myself, you are my only friend here."

"I am flattered and you are my only true friend but I don't want you to feel pressure. You need to tell me, it's okay. I will listen carefully but you don't need to tell a word, I don't want to hear."

"but yesterday..."

"Yesterday, I was mad because of my parents. I just happened to take out on you. I am sorry."

"You okay?"

"Yeah." Her voice breaks a little, she is about to cry.

"It's just that I trusted them. They promised that they would never force me to do anything but they broke the promise. Later, I met you. You broke promise. Emotions broke out all sudden."

"I am sorry."

"It's okay. The sorry train would go long, let me get something to eat for us." She stood up to get food from counter.

Jay texted me.

Are you okay?

I look up at him and he is already looking at me worrying. I am sure he heard all.

I texted him back.

I am fine. You heard everything?

He texted immediately.

No, I put-on air pods and listen to music. She just stood up all sudden. I was startled.

I texted back.

Thank you for not listening, it'd have been awkward. I haven't told her yet, she went to bring some food. I will tell soon.

He texted back.

Okay.

Piku came back holding food tray while doing her happy shoulder dance. We ate the food while she gossiping about new couple in management department. Piku seems happy while talking about them which I don't understand.

We walked around the campus. Jay followed us back in distance. I will find another day to tell Piku everything.

Jay texted me.

I need to drop by my class for few minutes. I'll meet you later.

I replied.

Okay.

I turned around to see him, he waved and ran by.

We sat in our class, no one was in there. Piku sighed.

"Rashi." She sounds worried.

"Yes?"

"My parents are insisting on visiting our relatives."

"Okay?"

"My mom told me that we are just visiting but dad told me that his friend son's is suitable for me." She cried.

"Both of my parents talk in puzzle. I know that they are trying to get me married. I made the deal with them, till I study they can't force me to marry. Now, my studies are completed and PhD application got rejected. They both are happy."

I gave her hug while wiping her tears. I feel what she is going through.

"We will find some solution. Don't worry." I said as she sniffs.

"I don't think this can be solved." She looks at me. Her eyes are red.

"You can apply to other university for PhD program. Maybe far away. You can leave and start new life." I said and she showed me her phone.

There were rejection emails from eight different universities.

"We can still apply to more universities. There are so many."

"PhD in Anthropology from just random university, no placement guarantee. Temporary happiness? No, thank you." I didn't expect this answer from her. I am amazed of how she is handling herself with coping mechanism.

"We can talk to our faculties and get you in PhD program here." I am pretty sure that all my buttering will come useful.

"I did. They said that one of the students gets transferred, I will get in."

"That is the bright side."

"It's not. I talked to all of them. I came in early helped in decoration so that I can pursue at least one but I failed. I failed bad." She said holding tears, sniffing.

I can't see her like this. One student back, that can be me. I can apply to different university. I didn't even hope to get in this PhD program, I just did without even giving a thought. Piku nagged me to submit application at that time. I just did because she told me to. It's her place, not mine.

"I will do it."

"No."

"I want to. Please, Piku."

"No, Rashi. I can get married to any stranger picked by my parents but not let to give away your dream."

"I can apply elsewhere. You can get in here now. Show your parents and bam! Problem solved."

"I don't approve." She said holding my hand.

I stood up and walked out of the class. I need to withdraw my application today and get Piku her place. I have made up my mind. She needs it.

Piku followed me yelling my name. I ignored her, running away. Everyone were staring at us, I don't care. I saw Jay at distance. He was with his friends. I ran by him, grabbed his hand, and made him ran with me too. He looks confused. He looked back at Piku who was still screaming my name.

"What's happening?" Jay asks.

"Run. Run fast." I am trying hard to run and breath. I can't talk too.