ᴇx-ʙᴏʏʀꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ɴᴇxᴛ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ

Chapter 16

Yuvaan

I sat with uncle in a chair cafe next to the temple and his restaurant, while the rest were working.

"What do you mean you're being blackmailed?"
"Yuvaan, this all started just 2 days ago, once we signed the deal. We signed it with Manoj Verma. He gave us 20 cr as a deposit and gave us 5 years to give him 25 cr back, including the interest. I told him I would but since yesterday he has been telling me that he's increasing the rate by 60%, saying that this is normal for a prime location in which I got it in."
That bastard.
"I told him I can't give him that much back, it's a lot, so he said that he has a workaround in which he will excuse all my money."
"What way is that?" I asked.
"He... he wants Nishtha."
"WHAT?!" I screamed, "He is 60 years old."
"He wants his son Manish to marry Nishtha, in return he'll excuse my money."
Manish to marry Nishtha?
"I... I don't want that beta. Manish has a very bad image and he's using Nishtha to prove that Manish is a family man."
"Pay him the money back."
"I can't. I don't have anything. He... he said if I don't pay him back within 2 months, he'll tell Nishtha everything and then marry her, by suing me for stealing money." Uncle held his head.
I clenched my jaw.
"You're not doing anything like that. Give me a bit of time. I will figure something out."
"No beta, it's not your concern."
"I'm not asking Uncle. Please. You go inside and work on your restaurant. When do you open?"
"Hopefully by next month."
"It'll happen. You don't focus on anything else." I got up and left.

That bastard.
I had a doubt he would do this.
How dare he even think of using her?

I drove home. More like sped my way home.

"What do we even do?" Mom asked.
"Do what about what?" I asked, entering.
"Your Mom and her superstitions bete, are going to be the end of me." Dad said and chuckled.
"Rajesh! You aren't understanding! We need to invest into something before July 5th. Please!"
"Invest into what?"
"Yuv, my astrologer told me that I need to invest into something small, something service, before July 5th before retrograde begins."
I rolled my eyes jokingly, "Okay and...."
"I have found a few temples or I'll buy a small café and invest there."
Café. Restaurant. Oh my God.
"Actually, Mom, I have an idea for you." I said, sitting down, "Alok Uncle has opened a new food restaurant."
"What?" She asked.
"Yeah, he always wanted to venture. I think you should invest in his restaurant."
I didn't tell them about Nishtha.
"Excellent idea. I'll meet him now then!"
"I'll come with you Jayu." Dad said.
"Would you like to come Yuvaan?" They asked.
"I don't know. I don't think so, you go."

I went to my room and locked the door.
I need my gym.
My room has an inbuilt gym - obviously.
I removed my shirt and changed my pants. I went to the gym and instantly got myself busy.
How dare he see Nishtha that way?
Why didn't anyone tell her?
Why has Nishtha not spoken to anyone?

"Arush." I said on call, "I need all details on Verma. Manoj and Manish Verma."
"Sure, give me a bit."

After 2 hours of gym, I got a call from Mom.
"Yuvaan. Come here now."
"Where is here?" I said lazily.
"Caster Colony. Nishtha's house. Now."
"Mom..."
"I'm not asking. Come." She said and hung up.
I sighed and got ready. I dressed in a simple blue shirt and pants and got ready in a car.

Within 10 minutes, I was in front of her house.
I hadn't come here in 4 years.
I sighed. I didn't know how to do this. I knocked.

Rupali Aunty opened the door, "Hi beta."
I walked in. Why did everyone look depressed?
"What happened here?"
"Sit." Dad said, "We need to talk to you."
I sat down, "What's going on everyone?"
"Beta, are you aware of Manoj Verma?" Mom asked, "and his son Manish Verma?"
I pulled out my phone and gave it to her. She read through it and was shocked, "Oh my God. He is... horrible."
"I can't let this happen to Nishu." Aunty cried.
Wait, does everyone here know?
"I told them beta." Uncle said.
"What are we going to do?" Aunty cried.
"I told you Rupali, we won't let this happen to Nishu. She won't become his wife." Mom turned to me, "Yuv, go and give Verma 60cr right now."
"I tried to do that." I said, "But..."
"But what?"
"But..." I showed them my call recording.

"Verma, drop this game with Nishtha. You will get sent your 60cr. That's the end of it."
"Awww has her ex boyfriend come to save her?"
"What is your issue?"
"Listen, I'm marrying Nishtha, or you two's love story is getting leaked, and I don't need to tell you how that is going to impact you and her."
"Don't you dare."
"Why do you care bro? She's your ex. I know you had a bad past, you should be happy."
"You aren't going to do anything."
"We'll see."

I saw Rupali Aunty sit on the seat in fear. "what do we do now?" She asked.
"There's only one thing left to do and we will." Dad said, "Yuvaan. You have to marry Nishtha."
"WHAT?!" I stood up.
"He's right." Mom said, "that solves everything."
"No Mom. It doesn't."
"It does. He is blackmailing you because of you and her past. If you two get married, none of his stories matter. If he leaked them as well, it will only strengthen your case. It'll show your love."
"Mom, Nishtha and I can't even stand in the same room together, and you want us to marry?"
"Beta..." Uncle said, "I... I'm begging you." His hands started folding.
I ran and got up, kneeled in front of him, "Uncle what are you doing?!"
"Please help my daughter." He said.
I sighed.
"Beta, just... marry her for a few years and then leave her if you want." Aunty said.

We all looked at her shocked.
"What are you saying Rupali?" Mom asked.
"I know that Yuvaan and Nishtha don't have a good past anymore. I don't know what happened between you two, so I... I don't want Yuvi and Nishu to be forced into something that they aren't happy with, so if you accept, you can just get married for a few years and then leave her."
"Rupali this is our daughter."
"I know, but what can I do? If they both don't like each other then what can we do?"
"Aunty. Just don't think of all that." I said.

Why am I feeling irritated at her speaking like that? Whatever, ignoring it.

"I'll marry her." I said, everyone looked at me as I continued, "but I have a condition."
"What's that?" Dad said.
"She should never find out about Verma."

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