Hidden Hues Of Henna

Phool aur Taare (II)

Part-2

Mansi's Sangeet never happened neither did she come out of her room since holi day.Rahul's mother had 'postponed' the wedding in not so many words and now the entire Deshmukh house was a lost case.

Guests and relatives were planning to leave and the hosts were too sorrowful to care.

The house landline kept on ringing multiple times every hour. Each call from some long lost relative or a random stranger asking if it was indeed the Deshmukhs'daughter who was on the tv and if so then why. After seven calls,the residents of the house had given up on answering any calls at all.

Amrutha had followed her sister's suit and locked herself in the terrace store room. Whilst her father was just sadly trying to make through the day,her mother had tried to get media attention but was unsuccessful due to Raghav Rao's strong hold over the whole scenario. Disturbed and disappointed Sulochana had chosen to go to her brother's place in Kolhapur all of a sudden.On the other hand,the elder Deshmukh couple had taken to complete and utter silence and ignorance to save face.

A whole of forty eight hours had passed but the unexpected predicament created by their daughter still felt like a fresh wound on the reputation of the Deshmukhs.

"Didi! Didi!" Krishna's voice caused her to come out of her thoughts.

Blinking slowly, Pallavi looked up at her assistant and saw that she was not there alone. To the right of Krishna stood Jaya Rao,both of them looking at her with worried eyes.

"Jaya aunty,"Pallavi began in surprise before breaking into a rush to usher her guests in."Please come sit. I am so sorry I was a little lost. Come on in please.Aunty please sit."

Having made Jaya seated, Pallavi quickly sent away Krishna to fetch some coffee. It was more of a way to send the girl away than anything else.

"How are you all holding up?" Jaya asked the moment she sat down."I was not expecting to see you here after all that happened..." Jaya trailed off looking very uncomfortable at the mere thought of what happened.

Smiling feebly,Pallavi shrugged a little.

"What happened, happened aunty. Life has to go on."

Jaya nodded at her reply before asking hesistantly,"Er..your family? Is your sister okay now?"

"Everyone is a little lost,each one of us. Amrutha has not left her room since but that's not the concern at the moment. It's Mansi I am more worried for." Pallavi bit her lip as she once again got lost in wondering about Mansi's wedding.

Placing a sympathetic hand on her arm,Jaya brought her attention back to the present.

"If you want I can talk to your sister's parents and Raghav and see if he could settle it all more amicably. I am sorry for whatever he did."

Pallavi frowned in confusion.

"Aunty,Raghav did nothing." She shook her head still frowning.

Jaya did not seem to take her answer seriously as she smiled sadly and said,"Do not be afraid Pallavi. I can try and help."

"Afraid? Aunty,I am not sure I understand...."

Before Pallavi could complete her sentence or clear her query she was interrupted by her assistant who came into the shop huffing loudly as she called her.

"Didi!" A red-faced Krishna tried to speak between her pants."Di-di! They're coming,to—"

"What happened Krishna?" A worried Pallavi was instantly by her side."Who are coming?"