Heartbeats And Halos

Chapter 22

• P a l a k •

"My daughter Diya" The sentence made everyone's eyes in the room snap towards Trisha Masi. I glanced towards Rishabh who looked like he was about to burst but Ragini held his bicep. He looked at her and she nodded at him calmly silently telling him to calm down too. Rishabh stayed still but his jaw was still clenched. All this made me realize how much effect Ragini had on him. I shook my head to get out of such matchmaking thoughts and focused my eyes on Aunty who was taken aback by Masi's words.

Mumma, papa, chacha, and uncle had the same expressions on their faces and somehow the air in the room had become hard to breathe in. Ankita Aunty, Rishabh's mother awkwardly cleared her throat before speaking.

"I--um well..." She began, probably unsure of what to make out of this sudden proposal. Diya was sitting silently with her head hanging low. "I think Rishabh should be the one to decide this...it's his life after all" Aunty finished and Masi scowled.

"Oh please, it should always be the parents who decide about the kids' marriage. We only want the best for them of course." Masi gave out a sarcastic laugh but nobody in the room laughed except her.

"I am sorry to interrupt Aunty Ji but may I speak Mom?" Rishabh suddenly asked Aunty keeping a hand on her shoulder and Ragini took a sleeping abhinav from his arms. Aunty looked at Rishabh and nodded at him to speak keeping her hand above his on her shoulder. Trisha Masi's forehead wrinkled at the thought but there wasn't much she could do anyway.

"Aunty Ji, not to be rude or anything but I have just begun my career and I am not considering marriage right now," Rishabh said pinpointedly. Trisha Masi really looked shocked by his words but quickly recomposed herself and plastered a fake smile on her face.

I looked towards Roshan who was still busy with his call. I wanted to slap my forehead. The situation was getting out of control.

"Ohh of course beta ji. I am not talking about your marriage now. I am also talking about the future, six months from now perhaps." Masi smiled but again no one else did. I held the urge to roll my eyes and Ragini glared at Masi.

"Well we will see when I want to get married but I am not planning to get married for some five years from now." Masi gasped in horror and I smiled in victory.

Well played Rishabh!

"Behen ji?" Masi turned her attention to Aunty who looked alarmed. "What is this, the kids don't get to decide these things."

"Yes well, you are right." Aunty suddenly replied.

"But mom" Rishabh tried to say but Aunty showed him her palm.

"No more Rishabh" she warned him. Rishabh clenched his jaw but remained quiet. Masi let out an evil smile. Just like the devil she was. I so wanted to scream for Masi to stop.

"So should we finalize the date for the wedding?" Masi asked almost too eagerly and shamelessly. My eyes widened in horror and I could hear mumma and Ragini gasp. Roshan and my wedding wasn't finalized yet and she wants to finalize Diya and Rishabh's wedding. Who doesn't even want to get married?

"We--wedding?" Aunty stammered. Masi nodded with a big smile adorning her lips. "Oh yes, wedding. But we would like some time to think. Also, Palak----" but Masi didn't let Aunty finish.