First Impressions

Chapter-11

"Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you."

She caressed the words trying to sink in the meaning.

"Yup!!! Finally I found it" she heard a voice and turned to find Ashmith.
She rolled her eyes seeing him holding a pendant close towards heart and smiling dreamily while closing his eyes.
"How did it land here Ashmith?" asked a confused Vishali

"Even Am confused about it.. But well there must be some magnet over here attracting my pendant and me" he pouted childishly looking at Saasha who was irritated with his presence and looked at the ground.

Vishali rolled her eyes thinking 'Magnet.. My foot, I'll not let this idiot to be close with you Ashmith. You are mine. ONLY MINE'

"Hey Saasha.. Hai" he waved his hand at her
She looked up and managed to smile a little.

"Vishali, you go in and give the message to Ashu. I'll come in a minute" he finally found Saasha alone and couldn't miss the chance
Vishali stomped her feat and left.

"You like reading books?" he started the conversation

"mm.. Yeah!" she said looking down

"Even I do, I have a big library at my place"
She smiled

"I guess that pendant in your hand is very special?" she asked
He saw the pendant in his hand, it was a simple yet stylish S pendant.
"Ummm... Yeah! This was my mom's favourite pendant, so I keep it close to me always. I can feel her presence with this" He closed his fist. She looked down feeling sad for reminding him of his mom.

"And you know.. This is the only thing I can wear from her accessories" he smiled and she narrowed her eyes

"I mean I can't wear necklaces or bangles or any other jewellery she owned" he looked up and shooked his head, imagining himself in those and she laughed.

"Ashmith, I'm sorry"

They remained silent for few seconds.

"Saasha... If you don't mind.. Mmm" he stopped in between to read her expression.. She was confused
"would you like to join us.." this time Amar interrupted them.

"Coming Amar" she ran inside as soon as she got the chance to escape him.
Ashmith sighed and went behind her.
Mrs. Rao welcomed him with a broad smile. His smile disappeared as soon as he found Raj there, his face became red in anger while the other was smirking seeing him.

"Hai Ashmith" Raj came forward for a hand shake

Ashmith clenched his fists and Raj acted to be upset as he saw Saasha and all witnessing the scene. Ashmith stormed out without uttering a word, leaving everyone shocked behind him.

"Looks like I should leave" Vishali said eyeing Raj
"Ashu, I came here to pass the message. Your Rome... Ummm... I mean my brother wants you to accompany us to Banglore" she smiled at her, Ashu was surprised.
"Well... You have one whole day to think and inform us.. I'll take your leave. Bye" she said waving her hand.

Even Raj leaves taking the chance to escape Amar's  further enquiry about his fake identity.

"Wow.. My darling. Didn't I tell you he would choose you. See, he asked you for dance, took you for dates and now he wants to take you with him.. Which means he can't live without you" Mrs. Patel said holding Ashu's chin.

"Mom... Don't expect much.. Vikram didn't invite Ashu by himself.. Which means he is still in a doubt. Anyways why should he take her to Banglore?" Preethi shrugged

Ashu got a call from Vikram
"Hello"
"OK, I'll talk to my parents and inform you" She ended the call

"What happened beta?" her father asked

"Dad.. He said he wants to... To.. Introduce me to his parents" she jumped

Her mom hugged her while her dad remained silent thinking something.

"What are you thinking dear? We'll send her to Bangalore"

"I don't think.. This is right. We can't send her to Bangalore. You know, she falls sick due to weather changes... And we'll not be with her, how will she manage?"

"Oh c'mon. She is not going to some boarding school,she is going to meet the Mathurs and they'll have many helpers to take care of our daughter"

"Why are you are being so desperate to marry her off to him"
"What do you mean?"

He doesn't reply and just stares at her.

"If you call seeing your daughter well settled desperate, then Yes, I am desperate. I don't want them to suffer... If they need money in their future and look back at us.. We have nothing for them except telling few good words, to make them feel better. So, I want my 3 daughters to be married to rich people and I don't care what you or people call me" she finally breathes wiping her tears.
Mrs. Rao tries to console her.

"Money doesn't give them happiness like love does.." he holds her shoulders and continues "Even I don't want my.. Our daughters to suffer. I care for them as you do. But, that doesn't mean I'll tie them to someone who has money but doesn't love them or value people." she shoves his hands from her

"And why do you think Vikram doesn't love her? Value people? ... He is such a kind man"

"Yes he is kind. But we don't know whether he loves her or not.. You can't be so sure about it."

"Listen.. I don't want to know, what you think about him. Ashu is going to Bangalore and that's final"  She storms off to her room

Saasha holds her father and Ashu is confused.

"Let's give him a chance annaya(Brother)" Mrs. Rao suggests

"I'm afraid if that one chance will break my Ashu's heart" he pats Ashu's head who hugs him immediately.

"Don't worry Dad. Ashu is stronger than what she seems to be" Saasha says hugging him from other side
Preethi rolls her eyes and leaves.