Rhythm Of Luv

6. How it all started.

Unedited VERSION

"So you want to get married at the age of fourteen?" The lanky boy has asked her the first thing as they sat across each other.

Her father has taken the guests to show off his car collection leaving her with these two brothers. One obviously older went straight to her father's bar and started to inspect labels. The younger one or should we say the prospective groom had said very few words only when required. However, he had confidently shaken hands with her brothers and seemed okay with the whole process.

"Well, you too are sixteen only. Doesn't change much for you either." Rhythm had replied back, forgetting her mother's instruction not to open her big mouth.

"Well, you know my story."

"I don't even remember your name let alone the story."

The older one's attention had shifted back to them as he tried to hide his smile.

"Luv. Luv Singh Rathore." He told her after a pause, "Try to remember. It won't do you any good forgetting your own husband's name. "

"Luv. Luv Singh Rathore." She repeated after him, "Nice. I wouldn't approve if you had some shady name like Bhanu or Manju."

"My father's name is Bhanu." The girl had bit her tongue and Surya had started laughing.

"I like her." Surya had commented.

"Then you marry her." Luv had replied.

"I'm not the one escaping this country. Remember you need parents' blessing to go abroad not me." Surya had shot.

"Don't forget money. He will need financial support more than blessings." Rhythm had chipped in.

"And what about you? Who are you escaping?" Luv's question was met with silence.

"Ummm. I am escaping this." She had finally motioned towards her house. They fell silent after that.

"Can I ask you something?" Surya had offered to take up Luv's job of asking questions.

"Yeah."

"Are you okay with this?"

"Obviously. It's impossible to make me do anything against my will."

"Cool. So you would not mind marrying this brother of mine?"

"No. Just one condition." She had replied, "Ask him to improve his wit the next time we meet."

With that, she had risen and left the room to meet their approaching parents.

Rhythm had it all sorted out. From the moment her father had brought the subject of her marriage to the moment, she vowed not to go back home. Home! A funny word in her opinion. Because when her friends talked about home, she heard the happiness in their tones; even when they complained about their parents. On the other hand, her home was just a place to be, to sleep, eat and having the occasional conversation with her dad. She found more comfort at Shiba's house than her own. She was welcome there at least. And that was the main reason she accepted her father's idea of marrying her off. Not that her father hated her or anything; but it was best he could do to protect her, to save her from ruining her own life. It wasn't his fault in some ways that she had become scandalous and the one who was responsible shushed her away. So, she became destructive, her childish naughtiness and pranks becoming a hurdle for her own self as the time passed.