Trishalini ~ The Jewel of Mahabaleshgarh

20 ~ Churning of Emotions

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Trisha POV

"Bring it on," Agastya said, and we both walked into a small, isolated place. The guests had begun arriving, and I did not want to catch more eyes.

"It's complicated," I said, and he chewed on a bunch of grapes and asked.

"What is complicated?"

I sighed deeply and looked away for a moment before whispering it out. "He proposed to me for the wedding. He asked me to marry him,"

And, as soon as the words spat out of my mouth, Agastya choked on grapes and coughed.

"Ughhhh, ughhhhh, what?" He asked in utter shock, and I nodded.

"Are you not like brother and sister?" He asked, and I sighed deeply.

"Well," I muttered, unable to answer. "We are... I mean, we were more like friends. We never discussed being brother and sister," I tried to say, and he looked away momentarily.

"I think there is something wrong in Mahabaleshgarh's blood. The people there fall too quickly in love," he said, and I shook my head.

"It's not love," I exclaimed, and he turned his head towards me. "I mean, it's not even like he likes me," I added, blabbering in confusion.

"Then what the hell is this?" He asked, and I shook my head, sighing deeply.

"I do not know what it is. It's just that I am confused, and I do not even know whom to tell about it," I explained to him. He ate a few more grapes silently and then looked at me.

"Do you also want to marry him?" He asked, and I cleared my throat.

"What I want does not matter. Our choices do not weigh enough to be considered," I reminded him of how the ladies in our Villages were brought up. We were not Princesses who could marry whoever they wanted. Our fathers would not arrange a swayamvar for us.

"Well, it's only you who can change it. Tell me what you answered when he asked you to marry him," he asked, smiling at a man he knew.

"Nothing," I replied, confused about what else I should have said.

"Why?" He immediately looked at me.

"Because I am getting married to Shantanu, and I cannot marry him now," I tried to understand him, but he sighed deeply before clicking his tongue.

"You are getting married, but you are not married yet," he said, and I thinned my brows.

"But, I am tied with him," I said, referring to Shantanu.

"You are not tied with anyone, didi," he said, and I shook my head.

"If you cannot even decide for yourself, what else would you do in your whole life? Do you not think it's too foolish to spend your lifetime standing upon others expectations?" He asked, and I lowered my gaze.

"This is called love and family, Agastya. I was raised as a perfect daughter who would set an example in the village. My face is not mine, but it's a reflection of my father's upbringing. I am his success," I said, and he placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Maybe it's the partial truth. Maybe it's just how you see things and not true," he said, and I immediately lifted my eyes to meet his.

"What else would be true, then? My father is a known teacher for the Kingdoms, and he knows best," I said, and he nodded.

"Certainly, he knows best, but when certain emotions lead our actions, they are not best. Has he even asked you if you like shantanu or not?" he asked, and I looked away.