Samjhota [The Compromise]

2. The Shocker

The sudden grasp startles her but with the realisation that it's Raghav, only leads to the anger to burst out. " Leave my hand!!!" she protests but he pulls her to the feet. She grasps the back handle of the bike taking support.

"Where were you? You left me there to die!!!!" Vaani yells, glaring at raghav whose entire attention was to the helmet which he held in his hand.

"I got an important call."

"A call!!!"

"Yes, a call!!! And he isn't blind, he can see. Because of your insolence, I don't want to lose my job or embarrass myself."

At the mere utterance Vaani's heart sinks realising that she doesn't matter to her brother at all.

" What do you mean?" Her voice breaks.

"I mean he's my boss, Shaurya Singhania. I work in his office, and he already has a lot of accusations against him. I don't think he would want to take on another by running you over with his car. And I didn't know you would fall." He gets on the bike while Vaani holding back the tears somehow manages to sit, not wishing to argue any further with him.

The headlights fade away, hurling darkness upon the sleek black sedan car which a moment ago entered into the Singhania mansion. Swinging the door open, Shaurya steps out onto the path showered with soft golden light whose trail follows to the grand staircase of the mansion. The keys are handed over to the guards for parking the car. The approaching steps halt at the threshold of the hall decked with hanging glass drop chandeliers and the entire structure reflecting the grand regal feel to the entire mansion. every gaze turned to him causing suspicion in Shaurya.

"What happened?" he questions. Getting the phone into the pocket of the blazer, Rakesh rises from the sofa and lets the news break.

"We have found a match for you, but the girl is younger than you."a hesitation forms in his father's tone. The mere statement causes bafflement to Shaurya.

"How old is she?" he steps in walking to the sofa where everyone's presence is.

"She is 17, but she'll turn 18 tomorrow."

"I will not marry her!!!" Shaurya bursts out, learning of her age.

"What do you mean you won't marry?? You will have to get married, Shaurya. We've already suffered enough losses because of you—no more. you know that relationships can break apart because of you, don't you?" Rakhi yells, taking out the suppressed frustration and anguish. Shaurya looks at Raavi whose hopeful eyes wished for a yes from his side.

"Bhai, are you okay?" A familiar voice shoots from behind as Karan rushes to Shaurya having known the fact that his car conversed with the furious breeze leading worry to shroud over him of his well being.

"Yes, I am fine." Shaurya responds.

"Bhai, please say yes to this marriage. This marriage is enough to prove your innocence and to silence everyone. Then no one will have the courage to point a finger at you." raavi pleads but shaurya's fierce expressions refrain from softening his stance.

"I know!!! But that girl is very young for marriage. For this relationship."

"You don't need to think about all that. Tomorrow she will turn 18, and your marriage will also take place tomorrow." The declaration forced upon Shaurya earns those brows to constrict.

"I don't want to get married!!! Why aren't you understanding?!!!"

"Why don't you want to get married!! We know very well. We are well aware of the fact that even today, (his finger points towards Shaurya) Ahana resides in this heart. But don't you have any duty towards your family? And if you're having so much trouble with this, you should have thought about all this before committing that sin." the mere words fade away the scowl on Shaurya's handsome face replacing with a subtle smile crossing on those gentle lips, not able to believe that his own father suspects him.