PROMISE TO BE YOURS

CHAPTER 3

Monday morning dawned like any other day. Since the hotel fiasco Rudhi has kind of gone into a shell. Raghav's heart broke to see her all silent and gloomy. The Singhania mansion blossomed and bloomed with her laughter and chattering but now it was very quiet. Rudhi refused to face her parents but JRS made sure no one said anything to hurt her and insisted that the marriage will take place within a month to come. When Raghav went looking for Rudhi she was just coming out of her room. He kept his hand on her chest and gently pushed her inside the room. He stepped in and closed the door. Rudhi had a startled look on her face. "Hey Rudhi why that scared look baby girl" unlike other days she stood still with her head bent down. When he raised her head with his finger his heart broke "Oh Rudhi come here my darling" he pulled her into his arms and wrapped one hand around her waist and put the other at the back of her head. She started to cry in earnest. Raghav held her close to him and gently rocked her in his arms. When she stopped crying she started to hiccup. He led her to the bed and made her sit and got her some water. He gently held the glass till she finished. He then pulled her closer to him "Okay now tell me why is my princess so sad and crying" she continue to sniffle "Rudhi, we have your last paper today and it's your finals so we have to go but I am leaving this room only if you tell me what is wrong". "I am sad" "I know you think I am stupid but I think I understood that part" she turned to give him one of her exasperated looks but her face split into a smile. "See now that is my girl"

"Rudhi do you know how much I love you" she hugged him tight in reply "I want you to look and me and answer this question" he turned her towards him and pulled her face up "I know you love me but are you ashamed of what happened" she shook her head no vigorously. "Do you trust me" she nodded yes "do you know come what may I will marry you and never leave you alone" she nodded yes again "so then why are you sad my princess" she hugged him but her eyes were full. He turned her face up again and kissed her for a long time "I want you to forget all this nonsense and concentrate on your paper today" "okay" "Rudhi it's the finals and today is your last paper, we can't afford to miss it or be lethargic so forget everything and just do your best today" "okay" "and once that is over we will concentrate on getting married" "okay" "do you want a lavish wedding" she shook her head no "Yes, we are going to have the wedding of the year so everyone remembers when I made you mine" "okay" "good girl, come lets go dad is waiting for us" before he could pull her out of the room she pulled him back and "kiss me Raghav" and he did "do you know how much I want you baby girl"  "I want you too"  "okay so after the exam we go straight to the registration office and then "honeymoon in Paris"  "what happened to the big lavish wedding"   they were giggling like school children but Rudhi  stopped as soon as she saw JRS.   

JRS got up from the dining table to meet Rudhi at the bottom of the stairs "Ohhhh princess what is this, my princess is the strongest person in this world, and here I have a weeping willow in my house" she hid her face in shyness. "Listen to me carefully Rudhi, I am going to find out who did this and make sure they pay for it, meanwhile you are going to be my good old princess and carry on as if nothing happened" "mamma" "mamma is okay and she has nothing to worry about so is your father now give me your 1000 watts smile" when she gave him a lukewarm smile "that will not even light a match forget a candle so give me your best smile" she made a very funny face "we have the best horse on two legs in our house" Rudhi could not hold a straight face "see now that is my girl, come here give papa a good hug and let's get you to college to finish this headache" "I love you papa" "I love you too my princess and it will make me very happy if you are happy and smiling"

After breakfast Raghav rushed her to college as they were late. But before he left the house his father whispered "who ever made her cry will pay for each and every tear drop she shed Raghav. Never leave her side until I get this sorted out". Raghav dropped Rudhi in college and stayed in the car waiting for her to finish. He adjusted the seat to lay back and thought of their kiss just before she ran into the exam hall. When he stopped the car she tried to open the door but he locked it and stared ahead "Raghav what are you doing" "There is a tax levied to open this door madam" "Stupid Raghav Singhania" and she leaned on to his seat and kissed him hard and long. When she tried to pull back he wouldn't let go "I have a important paper and sick man which one do I choose" "the sick man of course my princess" she leaned into his body kissed his lips tenderly "this is why I call you stupid Raghav Singhania" "I love you" "I love you too" "when you come back we go straight home and hide in our room" she whispered "okay" opened the door and ran towards the exam hall.

Raghav was nodding off when he heard the shrill ringing of the phone. He had slept for almost three hours and Rudhi was still not back. When he checked the phone it was his father "dad, she hasn't finished yet"

A/N: Even if destiny had a happy ending fate would always take its course. What was that call all about.............................