His Rooh

08 | Her Decision

Aruhi

The room was silent, filled with an air of tension so thick you could practically cut it with a knife. My heart hammered in my chest as I stood there, rooted to the spot, trying to process the scene unfolding before me.

My mind raced with a million questions, each one more bewildering than the last. Who was she? Why was she here? And most importantly, what did it mean for me?

Vaishnavi Aunty stepped forward, her expression filled with regret. "Aruhi, I am so sorry bacha," she began, her voice trembling slightly.

I stared at her, my confusion deepening. "What... what's going on?" I managed to ask, my voice barely a whisper.

She took a deep breath, glancing at Vikram and the girl beside him. "This is Neha," she explained. "Vikram and Neha... they eloped and got married."

The words hit me like a physical blow, and I felt my knees go weak. "Eloped and got married?" I echoed, struggling to comprehend.

Vaishnavi Aunty nodded, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Yes, beta. The-they decided to get married without informing anyone. We found out just this morning and didn't know how to break the news to you."

She took a step closer, her hands clasped together in a gesture of apology. "I'm truly sorry, Aruhi. We never wanted to hurt you like this."

I stood there, my mind numb. The betrayal, the shock, it was all too much. But I knew Vaishnavi Aunty meant well, and her apology came from a place of genuine regret.

"Aap mujhse badi hain, please don't apologize." I said softly, trying to muster a reassuring smile despite the turmoil inside me. "Mujhe aapse ya Vikram se koi narazgi nai hai,"

Despite the gravity of the situation, a small voice within me whispered a faint sense of relief. Perhaps it was because I never felt any spark between me and Vikram. Yes, he is a really nice person, but there was no connection between us like how I always imagined I would have with my life partner.

Anirudh Bhaiya's words cut through the tension like a knife, his voice heavy with disappointment and righteous anger. "Vikram," he began, his tone unwavering, "yeh tumne kya kiya? Tumhe humare parivaar ki izzat ka kuch bhi khayal nahi? Aur Aruhi ko toh bilkul hi nahi? Agar tumhe kisi aur se pyaar tha toh pehle hi bata dena chahiye tha."

Vikram's response was solemn, his gaze meeting Anirudh bhaiya's with a mixture of regret and resolve. "Bhaiya, main jaanta hoon ki maine galat kiya hai, maine aap sabka dil dukhaya hai," he admitted, his voice tinged with remorse.

Kiara's eyes glistened with unshed tears, her hand reaching out to grasp mine in a silent gesture of support.

Dada Sa stepped forward, his presence commanding the room's attention. "Everyone, let's all calm down and sit," he suggested, his voice steady and composed. "We need to talk this through."

As we all moved to sit down, the air still thick with tension, I could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on me. My heart continued to race, but I tried to steady myself, focusing on the support of my family around me.

My father looked tensed, his expression etched with tension and concern. "Ab kya karenge hum?" he murmured, his voice laced with apprehension. "Humne toh pehle hi rishtedaar ko bulaya hua hai. Agar sabko sach pata chal gaya toh hamari izzat mitti mein mil jayegi."

His words hung heavily in the air, a stark reminder of the fragile balance that now teetered on the edge of collapse.

Once we were all seated, Tanvi Aunty and Shubham Uncle stood up, exchanging a quick, meaningful glance before addressing the room.

"We understand that this is a difficult situation," Tanvi Aunty began, her voice gentle yet firm. "But we believe there's a way forward that can bring happiness to both families."

My mother stepped forward, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "What do you propose, Tanvi?" she inquired, her voice tinged with anticipation.

Tanvi Aunty's eyes met mine, her expression gentle yet determined. "What if Aruhi were to marry Rudraksh instead?" she proposed, her voice steady despite the weight of her suggestion.

Shubham Uncle nodded in agreement. he continued, looking directly at me. "The marriage of Rudraksh and Aruhi, if and only if Aruhi is willing to accept."

As Tanvi Aunty's suggestion hung in the air, the room fell silent, each member of the gathered assembly processing the implications of her proposal. My gaze flickered to Rudra, whose expression remained neutral, it looked like he was good at hiding his emotions. 

Before I could gather my thoughts to respond, my brothers, Siddharth and Anirudh Bhaiya, stepped forward, their expressions a blend of concern and unwavering support. "Aru," Siddharth bhaiya began, his voice gentle yet firm, "this is your decision to make. No one will force you to do something you don't want to."

Anirudh Bhaiya nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with a brotherly affection. "We're here for you, no matter what," he added, his voice a reassuring presence amidst the uncertainty that gripped us all.

As I turned to face my father, I saw the stress etched upon his face, the weight of his worries pressing down upon him like a burden too heavy to bear. 

Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I stepped forward, my voice steady despite the turmoil that churned within me. "I am ready to marry Rudraksh," I declared, my words echoing through the tense atmosphere.

A collective sigh of relief seemed to fill the air, the tension that had gripped us all dissipating like a dissipating mist. But before I could finalize my decision, I knew there was one more conversation that needed to take place.

Turning to Rudraksh, I met his gaze with a mixture of determination and uncertainty. "Rana sa," I said softly, my voice barely more than a whisper, "may I speak with you alone, please?"