U And Me Will Always Be Together

Chapter 14

Expecting the worst, Santhosh and Rishika closed their eyes and opened them immediately when they were pulled in for a hug.

Rishika froze at her spot, noticing her dad hugging them and Santhosh on the other hand stood baffled. "Oh, I am so happy for you. Why didn't you tell me before?" Rajsekhar exclaimed at Rishika after stepping back

Rishika stared at her father in disbelief with eyes wide.
"Dad?? Tell, what?" Rishika stuttered. She felt she would faint at any moment. "What else? That you liked Santhosh."

Rajsekhar declared stressing on the word santhosh Rishika looked at Santhosh, who was equally perplexed and then at her dad and thought 'Didn't that clown already tell you that?' glancing at Santhosh once again.

"Oh" she said aloud not quite understanding what is wrong with her dad.

Rajsekhar smiled at them and turned back to Krishnan and hugged him. "I am so happy Krishnan. Finally we would be relatives." He said while Krishnan seemed to be equally pleased. "Me too Rajsekhar.

How come we never thought about this match?" Krishnan exclaimed and then hugged his wife Suganthi.
Santhosh pulled Rishika close to himself and whispered "What is going on Basket? You said that your father is furious at us. But I see a completely different reaction of his."

While she just stared at him blankly. Rahul, Meera and Sanjay stood silent not daring to utter a word after the turn of events while Raji was busy in arranging the pieces together to make some sense out of it.

 'So Rajsekhar and Krishnan are friends. They are happy about the kids. What next?' Raji thought and as soon as an answer appeared in her mind, she was startled.

She looked at Santhosh and Rishika who stood like living corpses. When they looked at her, she tried to convey them something through her eyes but in vain. She sighed and shook her head slightly at them.

The excitement of Rajsekhar, Krishnan and Suganthi was paused when Rajsekhar's mobile rang. He answered the call and suddenly his face fell. He quickly asked to switch on the television and stared at the news.

"HISTORY REPEATS. SECOND Rajsekhar HIERESS IN THE FOOT STEPS OF HER ELDER SISTER. ELOPED FROM HER WEDDING WITH HER BOYFRIEND Santhosh  THE ONLY HIER OF Santhosh INDUSTRIES."

Rishika stared at the TV screen and held her breath. Glimpses of past appeared infront of her eyes and she quickly closed her eyes.

She felt her head spinning and leaned against Santhosh for support. He held her protectively and whispered 'Are you fine?' to which she nodded slightly.

After a couple of moments, she opened her eyes to watch her dad fall onto the couch with his head in his hands and Krishnan by his side, calming him down.

 After few minutes, which seemed like an eternity, Krishnan spoke "Don't worry Rajsekhar. I won't let anything happen to our reputation. I have a solution, if you agree."

When Rajsekhar nodded he turned towards Santhosh and Rishika and continued "Let's get them married" he paused and looked at Suganthi, for her answer.

When she nodded at him he turned to the culprits and glared at them saying "as soon as possible."

Santhosh was shocked beyond his wits at his father's words. He closed his eyes for a moment wishing that he was hallucinating.

When he opened his eyes and looked at his dad glaring at him, he came back to his senses. He looked at a numb Rishika by his side and was frustrated. 'What the hell is happening? Why isn't she speaking anything?' He thought while his blood boiled in his veins.

Not finding any protests, Krishnan spoke "Good. Now that you are ready, I'll get everything arranged." He turned to leave with Rajsekhar when Santhosh spoke

"No dad. That's not going to happen. I don't want to marry." When he noticed Sanjay frowning at him, he shook his head irritated and said again "I mean, not now. We both are too young for it and-"

Krishnan cut him and yelled "Yeah we can see how young you both are. You have already done so much by using your brains.

What the hell were you planning after bringing her here from her wedding? Now just shut up and do what we say." Santhosh was taken aback by the fury in his dad's eyes.

He glared at Sanjay for his good-for-nothing plan but tried to argue and stopped when he heard Rishika speaking. "We are ready to get married." She spoke impassively, without meeting his eyes, mortifying him.

Suganthi smiled at her and announced that she would call for a pandit. While Sanajy's joy knew no bounds, Rahul, Meera and Raji stood still waiting for the words to sink into them.

Santhosh grabbed her by her arm and before he could speak anything she pushed his hand off her and stepped front. "Not a traditional wedding. We decided for a court marriage."

While Santhosh panicked, Suganthi tried to convince her but Rishika was adamant. After a short discussion, all the elders agreed for it. "Fine then. I'll talk to the registrar of marriage and arrange for the wedding tomorrow."

Rajsekhar declared relaxing in the couch a bit with Krishnan. Santhosh breathed heavily and thought 'Thank God. By tomorrow, we can come up with some plan'. But his relief didn't last for long.

Sanjay remembered something and spoke "But uncle, it's Friday today. So the Register office will be closed tomorrow and the day after. But the media will create unwanted fuss if we wait till Monday.

It's better to arrange for the wedding today." Santhosh cursed him under his breath and wished he could kill him right then.

Rajsekhar smiled at him thankfully while Krishnan said "I guess he is right Rajsekhar. We can't wait till Monday and give a chance to the media." Rajsekhar called someone to get the arrangements done.

Before he could understand what is going on Santhosh found himself sitting in the car with his parents and Raji heading towards Register office.

Rajsekhar followed them with Rishika and Meera followed by Rahul and Sanjay. With panic stricken face, Santhosh urged Raji to do something, pleading her with his eyes while she shrugged her shoulders giving up.
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With Lots Of Love
NavyaAS