He likes her sister.
She has a crush on him.
What will happen, when a Rishta meant for her sister is sent to her? How will he react? How will the family react? What's their story?
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Two months later
As I parked my car at the grocery stores parking lot, my eyes went to my engagement ring; a smile involuntarily appeared on my lips. I get out of the car and entered the store. I went isle to isle picking up the necessities. I checked out, and put the grocery bags in the trunk.
When I got in the car, rain started pouring down; hitting the windscreen. I pull out of the plaza and started driving on the roadway. Two months had gone by since I got engaged to Akshara. Everything feels so unreal. I never really wanted to get married especially after witnessing my parents marriage. But spending time with Akshara made me realize -- marriage might not be bad.
As the traffic light turned red, I released the accelerator and pressed on the gas paddle and my vehicle halted. The noise of the wipers moving back and forth echoed with the pitter patter of the rain. I peer to my left at the library and saw Aarohi coming out from the automatic double doors.
Is she gonna wait for the bus in this weather? I changed my lane and drove to the library stopping where Aarohi was opening the umbrella. Rolling my window down, I asked, "Are you going home?"
She gasped and turned to face me. Placing her hand on her chest, she let out a sigh. "Abhimanyu! Who does that?"
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." I said.
"It's okay. But be careful next time."
"Okay. You didn't answer my question."
"What was the question?"
"Do you have a ride to pick you up?"
"I'm taking the bus."
"I can drive you home." I suggested.
"You don't have to worry about that. I don't have any problem taking the bus."
"I insist."
"Okay." She finally agrees. Closing her umbrella, she sits in the passenger seat.
I pull out of the library and focus on driving. "Why did you take the bus? You could've come by car?"
Through my peripheral, I saw her looking at me. "Actually, my car broke down and everyone was busy with their work. And I was tired of sitting in my room, so I took the bus and had a good study sesh in the library."
"Okay. How are you feeling about the topics?" I asked, as I changed the lane.
"I've covered most of them. Currently I'm just revising." Wow, she's fast at learning.
"When is your exam?"
"It's in two days." I take my words back.
"Oh, good luck with that," I said, glancing at her with a smile. Soon, we reached Goenka villa. I halted my car in front of the gate. She got out of the car, muttering a thank you, she opened the gate and stepped into the courtyard. When I was sure she's inside. I drove home.
The minute I entered my house, I was welcomed with my parents fighting. I immediately put the groceries bags on the floor and intervened.
"Why did you have to grocery shopping. It's a ladies duty. Your a man, a doctor to be precise. not a useless woman," Papa shouted. Maa's not a useless woman. She works day and night to cook for us.
"Firstly, Maa didn't force me. I did it because I wanted to. Secondly, Maa does a lot of work, being a housewife is also a full time job," I shouted back.
Bade Papa grabbed Papa's shoulder removing Papa from Maa's personal space. Maa was looking down.
"Harsh, Abhi is right. Bhabhi does a lot for this house. She might not earn but it doesn't mean she's free."
"Bhai Saab, you also." Papa let out an exasperated sigh and strode upstairs.
"Maa, come on, let's go upstairs." I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and took her upstairs. Tears were raining down her face. Neil also tagged along.
I made her sit on my bed.
"Maa please divorce Papa. We can't see you like this. The so-called society is stopping you right? The same society will not care about your mental health." I rested my face on her lap.
Maa started hysterically crying. Neil who was sitting on the bed took Maa in a hug and tried to calm her. I stood up and sat beside her.
"Bhai is correct, Maa."Tears gathered in his eyelids. "Please file for divorce. Sir only cares about his reputation and Abhimanyu. He never considered me his child."
I didn't know how much time passed by but Maa finally calmed down.
"Abhi, Neil." She called out. "I've decided I'm going to divorce him."
"What!?" I said, wanting to confirm what I heard was right.
"Yes. But that's gonna be after your marriage. Until then I'll discuss about the divorce with him."
"I'm fine right now. Don't worry about me, okay?"
"Okay," Neil and I said in unison.
. . .
A week later
"Akshara?" I was confused to see her here but at the same time happy.
She stood up. "I wanted to spend some time with you and ask you a question. You free right?"
"Yeah." I walked over to her and opened my arms out for a hug. But, she held out her hand. I dropped my arms.
"No hugs. Just answer this question. I saw you and Aarohi together in your car. Are you two cheating on me?"
I was taken aback by the question. I
"I was just dropping her home." I clarified. "How can you doubt my love Akshara? If not be but the person who you are assuming I'm cheating with on you is your sister."
"Never mind, I'm leaving." She strode out of the hospital, got in her car and I sat in the passenger seat to manofy her.
"What made you doubt me?" I asked breaking the silence.
"Um, your colleagues have told me you're a bit of a akdu (arrogant person). So I thought you are cheating on me and Aarohi had gone out."
"Akshara, don't assume stuff like that, especially the rumours. I can't believe I'm clarifying this, but it was pouring when I gave your sister a ride. You should trust me because if you doubt me now then what will happen in the future."
"I'm not doubting you. I was genuinely insecure, okay? Let's leave it. You'll never get me."
"If you don't tell me what you are thinking and what's eating you up. Then how I can understand what you—" A toddler came in front of the car. "Akshara turn around or you'll hit the kid." I took control over the wheel and turned left but then the car crashed into a tree.
A/N
How was the chapter?
In chapter 2, I wrote Aarohi being under Abhimanyu's supervision. But Abhimanyu is still under training, so he can't supervise her. I'll correct that to him just working around her in the cardiology department.
One more thing, I've stopped using Grammarly to correct spelling errors because Grammarly has this robotic tone. It always underlines stuff which isn't written the way it's programmed to write. Even though it's grammatically correct. So, if you find more mistakes in my chapters, It's because of that. I'm grammar checking manually.
