“5 din mai company ki 30th anniversary ka function hai. Waha pr dono ko milwaungi. Aur uske 10 din baad Ayesha ka birthday hai. Uske birthday wale din dono ki engagement ki announcement kr denge.”
Abhijay felt the life being sucked out of his body. Engagement? Of her Ayesha? To someone else? In front of his eyes? He preferred death over it.
“Thoda jaldi nhi hai engagement? Abhi toh mile bhi nhi hai ladke se. Aur phir Ayesha ko wo pasand aaye na aaye-”
“Pasand aayega! Meri guarantee hai. Aap bas promise kriye aap support krenge mujhe.”
There was silence for some time.
“Thik hai. Lekin tab tak jab tak Ayesha khush hai. Agar mujhe kisi bhi moment pr laga ki wo khush nhi hai ya wo ye sab nhi chahti toh mai aage aur kuch nhi sununga. Her happiness matters more than any damn money in this world.”
Abhijay wiped his tears and walked away from there. He wouldn't be able to work with all this information in his system. Luck seemed to be on his side today because just as he stepped out in the front yard, he bumped into Ayesha.
She looked at him and her eyes turned worried seeing his tears.
“Wh-”
Before she could ask what was wrong, he spoke making her heart stop.
“Abhi abhi aapki engagement ki baat sun kr aa rha hu. You are going to get engaged on your 25th birthday. What a great gift right? Well, congratulations. Mam.”
With that he left before she could see anymore tears falling from his eyes and she stood frozen. Engagement? Her engagement? To someone else? She'd die before letting that happen.
She ran inside and started looking for her mother. She knew who could do this. The ultimate enemy of her and her happiness.
“Mom? What the hell am I hearing? Mai kisi se engagement nhi kr rhi hu.”
She declared seeing her mother working on her laptop. Her mother looked at her sharply and said.
“Lower your voice when you talk to me. I'm your mother. Tameez seekho. Shaadi ke baad kaam aayegi.”
“Aapko shayad sunai nhi dia. I'll repeat for you. I'm not getting engaged or married to any fucking body. Aap mujhe Jay ke saath nhi rehne de skte toh mai kisi ke saath nhi rahungi.”
She declared. Her mother smiled sinisterly, making her fear what was about to come. Although she had an idea what.
“You would go ahead with the engagement and the marriage too, darling. If you want your lover boy to keep the job he had ‘worked hard’ for. Or you know what I'll do.”
Ayesha felt like she'd lost another battle. But she wouldn't let it happen. She smiled with tears in her eyes and said.
“Thank you for telling me ki aap mujhse kitna pyaar krte ho. Aaj aapne ek baat kahi hai. Toh meri bhi ek baat sun lo. Mai, Jay ke alawa, kisi ke saath apna naam nhi judne dungi. Chahe uske liye khudko kyu na khatam krna pade. Lekin Ayesha hamesha sirf uske Jay ki rahegi.”
With that, Ayesha ran to her room and cried her guts out. Why was life being so cruel to her and Jay?
The day of the anniversary arrived earlier than Ayesha wanted. She was still trying to think of a way to get rid of this engagement bomb.
She was ready in her pastel grey gown. She looked in the mirror. She looked pretty but there was no hint of any happiness or smile on her face. How was she supposed to act like meeting someone else as her fiance in front of the man she loved was easy?
She reached the venue with her mother. Her father was already there along with Jay. Ayesha wanted run and cry but her mother held her hand in a deathly grip not leaving her alone even for a second.
She moved around the place greeting people and introducing them to her.
“Tia! You look gorgeous!”
Her mother greeted another fellow businessman's wife while stood there bored.
“And you're as beautiful as always.”
The woman too complimented and the two of them air kissed each other, while Ayesha stood there bored.
“She is Ayesha. My lovely daughter.”
Her mother introduced her and Ayesha greeted the woman he hugged her a little too enthusiastically, taking Ayesha by surprise.
“It's so nice to finally meet you.”
The woman said making Ayesha smile awkwardly.
“Tia? Where's our Rohan? Ayesha's been waiting for him.”
Ayesha turned to look at her mother with an incredulous look. Excuse me? She had been waiting for whom now?
“Ahh! He must be around here. There he is! Rohan!”
The woman called for a young man who seemed around her age. Ayesha's gaze fell on Abhijay who was talking to some businessmen with her father by his side.
She smiled seeing him being recognised and people realising his true worth. She didn't realised she had been staring at him too long until her mother nudged her with a sharp look in her eyes.
“Rohan’s been calling you darling.”
Her mother spoke in an overly sweet voice although her eyes held a warning. Ayesha turned her attention to the man standing in front of her and grinning like an idiot.
“Hi Ayesha!”
He said and she nodded with a polite hello.
“Not a fan of handshakes I see. A hug it is then.”
He spoke and hugged her out of nowhere making her flinch back and their mother laugh like it was funny.
Abhijay who had seen Ayesha a few moments back, clenched his fists seeing the scene unfold before his eyes. He excused himself the from the guests and went to fetch a drink for himself. He'd need more than one tonight to keep his sanity and keep himself from stomping towards her and claiming his stake.
Rohan called a waiter carrying a tray of drinks their way and handed all of them a drink each.
“I’m fine.”
Ayesha refused politely but he was adamant.
“Oh no you're not! It's a celebration. You have to have a drink.”
“I don't drink. I'm fine.”
She replied but the man was adamant.
“Come on Ayesha! It's your company's 30 years of success party. You have to drink today. Besides there's a first time for everything.”
Ayesha wanted to smack his head. Did he not understand the meaning of ‘no’?
“It's not that. Alcohol doesn't suit me. I'll just have some mocktail or something.”
“No! Not happening. Mrs. Khandelwal, ab aap hi bolo.”
“It's okay darling. Have one today. Rohan itna insist kr rha.”
Her mother held her hand squeezing a little more than necessary. Ayesha took the drink from his hand and he clinked his glass with her.
Abhijay frowned seeing the drink in her hand. Alcohol didn't suit her. Why was she drinking then? It was then that he realised her body language and how uncomfortable she was at the idea of drinking. But she did not want to make it any more awkward than it already was.
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