PROMISE TO BE YOURS

CHAPTER 14

Mrs Silva met Rudhi one bright Sunday morning when she took two children for their routine check-ups. Rudhi was the new GP intern who had joined the hospital and Mrs. Silva found her very warm and friendly with the children. From then Mrs. Silva made it a habit to take the children when Rudhi was around. It was on one of these visits she found out that Rudhi was 7 months pregnant alone and she was not taking proper care of herself. This prompted her to invite Rudhi to visit her orphanage so she could make some home cooked food for her. One thing led to another and Rudhi became a permanent visitor to the orphanage liked both by the children and staff.

Mrs. Silva was very supportive and being a mother herself knew how to help an expectant mother to be. These constant meetings and visits concluded in Rudhi disclosing who she was and why she was alone. She found out that Rudhi had lost a brother and father recently. Her brother's girlfriend who was pregnant with his child blackmailed his mother to force Rudhi to leave her cousin Raghav's life so she could marry him. Shanika incidentally said if the marriage did not happen then she would take her yet unborn child and give him for adoption as she wanted to continue with her life. Unknown to Rudhi her mother Radhika had taken this proposal to JRS and requested him to help Raghav get married to Shanika so she could have access to her grandson. JRS was furious but understood and promised to help his friend's wife without disturbing the lives of his children Raghav and Rudhi.

When JRS was not successful Radhika turned her attention with full force towards her daughter. Rudhi was never close to her mother but deep down she loved and respected her. She was shell shocked when her mother asked her to get married to Nathan so Raghav could marry Shanika. She refused to listen to any excuses or justifications. Rudhi was heartbroken when her mother said "you were never my child, I was just an incubator for JRS so now it's your time to show me how thankful you are for getting a surrogate father like JRS who gave you the life of a queen" Rudhi tried speaking to Shanika but she had only one cold statement to make "I never asked you for anything so don't come to me, your interaction should only be with your mother". Raghav was completely clueless. JRS did not update him fearing his reaction. Rudhi did not have the guts to go to him with her mother's request.

Raghav continued to meet and mingle with his Rudhi as usual. He did find her quiet and preoccupied with her thoughts but did not get any replies when questioned. They still hugged and kissed and smooched and used every minute alone to show how much they needed each other. On several occasions Raghav mentioned about her quietness and she brushed it off as being tired or laughed it off as lethargy after their sessions. Once she was settled and started to intern as a qualified doctor he repeatedly insisted Rudhi to inform him when she wanted to get married. They had decided to postpone the wedding due to the bereavement.

JRS did not know what was happening behind his back between Rudhi and her mother. As promised to Radhika he got Gaurav and Mona down from the UK and offered a partnership in the company so Shanika could stay with Radhika give birth to the child and then continue with her studies while the grandmother took care of the child. Gaurav was willing to push Shanika without all the added benefit but not Mona. She said as a mother it was her duty to support her daughters wish and take care of her during and after childbirth. This was possible only if she was married so it was very important that Raghav get married to Shanika. Mona knew this was the only chance she was going to get so she stood by her daughter. When JRS could not convince Shanika or her mother to change their mind he gave them an ultimatum. Either be a partner of the Singhania group or leave his home and company for good.

All the while JRS was busy negotiating a deal behind his back plans were already in place to make sure Rudhi voluntarily walked out of Raghav's life. Radhika was all out to send Rudhi out of Raghav's but this did not guarantee a wedding between him and his cousin. After giving it much thought Radhika, Mona and Gaurav went back to JRS. This time they came with a different scheme altogether. Raghav and Shanika will get married on a temporary basis so that the baby will have a father's name. 6 months after the baby is born he or she will be handed over to Radhika permanently and Shanika will go back to the UK. In return Nathan gets to keep the job as a partner and Singhania company will fiancé further education for Shanika. JRS saw a tiny dot of light at the end of the tunnel.

Radhika along with JRS decided to talk to both Raghav and Rudhi. Raghav refused point blank and even screamed at his father for thinking in those lines. Rudhi at this point of time thought it was better to have the cake and eat the cake. She tried reasoning it out with Raghav "Rudhi you cannot ask me to get married to that scheming woman just because your mother wants Mohan's child" "Raghav please think of the child, if you don't agree this kid is going to end up in an orphanage" "He won't Rudhi, we will find a way out of this" "Raghav if she was a rational woman she would never come up with this heartless proposal as she knows we love each other, but Shanika is being Shanika, remember the incidents we faced when we were in London" JRS could see the pain and hopelessness in Rudhi's eyes but he knew she got a point. Radhika emotionally stressed on the fact that she had lost both her husband and child and this grandson was a lifeline for her. Raghav and Rudhi both should think of her before thinking of themselves. Both should come to terms and remember this was only a temporary arrangement until the baby was born and given to her. Put like this even JRS thought it was a viable option to get out of a very emotional tight bottleneck.

Raghav sat in the garden and beside him Rudhi sat with her head on his shoulder and their fingers entangled together. "What is happening baby girl, where is this going to end" "I never thought a day will come when our families will make a bargain for you Raghav" "hmmmmmmm, but no one will make me leave your life Rudhi, if they think it is even possible they are crazy""What is killing me is knowing I am replaceable that too by someone who is not even born yet" "You know that is not true Rudhi. You are not replaceable you are indispensable and you know dad and I will not trade you for the world" "I know that is the only thing that is keeping me sane, my mother's words killed me Raghav" "shuuushhhh don't allow these things to disturb you my princess" This is when JRS joined them "what are my two favorite people plotting and planning about" "Run away with my Raghav so no one will take him from me" "I will not allow anyone to take him from you princess".

A/N: Envying another's love and trying to make it yours is a recipe for disaster and disappointment.