Heartbeats And Halos

Chapter 5

• R o s h a n •

Standing on the terrace of the Routray villa I was waiting for the girl whom I was supposed to meet. When I came back to the hotel yesterday night mom forced me to have a look at the girl's picture who she'd chosen for me. And when I did infact see it, it took me by a surprise.

Palak Routray.

When I agreed to meet a girl who was suggested by a relative I had no idea it was her. It was the same person I met yesterday in the market whose sister caused a scene but I had known her before that.

The Routrays were pretty nice people. I had done business with them a few years ago.

I don't know Palak personally but I had known she was Ashish Kumar Routray's daughter. I was also the chief guest in her graduation ceremony, she was the topper of the college and that's why I remember her.

Marriage was the last thing on my mind at the moment. I have been ignoring this topic for the last two years like plaque. But when my mother emotionally blackmailed me with a pool of tears saying she didn't want Abhi to be deprived of a mother's love and me to be on my own when I grew old I didn't decline her request, I couldn't. Abhi was everything to me, he was the only hope in my life which had turned black and white ever since...Anika left me.

After her, I couldn't even bring myself to look at a woman. It just felt like I was betraying her. We had planned so much and had many dreams for the future. We had promised each other our hearts, our loyalty, and our souls altogether.

But fate had other plans. It took away from me the most precious thing I ever had. And now all the fame and power just felt meaningless. It meant nothing without...her.

I didn't want to get married again. There were many reasons behind it. Firstly if I had to get married for myself then I would never marry at all. I will spend the rest of my life looking at her picture and cherishing all the good memories we had together.

But it wasn't just about me anymore. My life was not just mine, Abhi was a big part of it. There were a lot of girls who'd do anything to marry me but it was because of all the money I had. None of them could truly care about my son like his own mother would have.

None of their hearts are pure...It had been polluted by worldly politics. But I couldn't go against my mom. And she was sure that this girl was different. Sarmila Aunty was an old friend of Mom, known for her matchmaking skills.

So far she had settled more than a hundred families. I am not sure though but Mom has faith in her. She had assured us that the girl was one of the purest and kindest of souls we'd ever meet. Albeit I highly doubt that.

Palak Routray was a businessman's daughter. She had been raised with a silver spoon in her mouth. How do I know she's not spoiled? Also not to mention she's six years younger than me. Too young for all this. From my experience, I knew one thing no woman wanted to raise a child that was not hers and her husband and ex-wife's.

I knew this proposal was a lost cause. I was sure she's gonna reject me or even if she agreed she would put some ridiculous condition like giving up on Abhi or something stupid like that which would make me reject her. Either way, this marriage is not happening.

Speaking of her I have been standing here for the last ten minutes and still no sign of her. This meeting was supposed to be a fifteen-minute chatting session. Ten minutes have already passed five minutes more to go.