© Nirvana | ✔️

Chapter 8

Radhika stood by the hotel door and pressed her ear to it. She heard the faint sound of what sounded like Krish's mother berating him. Then she heard Shravan's voice trying to pacify his mother and then finally Krish's dad.

Radhika sighed and walked back to her hotel room and shut the door. She looked at the mirror realizing that she was still in last night's clothes. She gazed at her arm and looked that there were huge red bruises because of the tight grasp of Neelima and the guard.

It wasn't their condescending behavior or their ruthless diatribes that they threw at her. It was just the fact that people thought it was acceptable to push her around constantly. It was as if someone could simply look at her and infer that she was naturally weak.

A knock on her door could be heard and she walked over to answer it. It was, of course, Krish. He gazed at her face apologetically.

"I'm really sorry Radha," he said softly.

"It's okay.." she trailed off as he interrupted her again. "How bad is your arm?"

"Oh, it is fine."

"Show me."

"It is seriously nothing."

He grabbed her hand and yanked her towards him.

"Shit!" he exclaimed looking at the huge bruise on her arm.

"Krish I swear I was going to just apply some.."

His fists clenched and he pointed at the chair and ordered her to sit down. She obeyed and sat while he pulled a medicine box out of one of the hotel drawers. He started to blow on the bruise and Radhika closed her eyes as he touched her wound.

She jumped and looked away from him and the injury she had sustained. Radhika couldn't tell what was affecting her, his touch, or the actual injury?

As soon as he finished wrapping the bandage around her arm, he stood up to leave but as he was closing the door, he turned around and said something.

"Radhika."

"Yes, Krish?"

"I'm sorry about your husband," he said and then he closed the door and left.

•••

20 minutes after Radhika left the banquet hall to go to her balcony and Shanaya and Shravan exchanged rings.

Shanaya and Krish were talking privately behind the stage.

"Exactly what is your goal?" asked Shanaya quizzically.

"I knew the minute I saw her at the party, she was definitely going through something. What is it?" Krish asked.

"Well first you have to tell me what exactly you are up to?" asked Shanaya to her brother-in-law.

"I saw her at the party and she looks.. Sad. I don't know. She looks as if she doesn't know what happiness is. As if she's alive but not living. I want to help her."

"Krish, you are a lawyer. You aren't a therapist. I don't think your efforts will be valuable, she's been like that for four years."

"Exactly what is her name again?"

"Radhika."

"Radhika is another name for Radha. The Hindu Goddess who was in love with Krishna. She of all people should be confident when it comes to the subject of love. Also, what happened to her that now she is all shut up?"

"And did you realize that your name is Krish? And what that means?" asked Shanaya smirking.

Krish paused his mouth ajar when he realized what Shanaya was saying.

"Fine. Let's make a deal." offered Shanaya. "If you succeed in helping Radhika through her grief, you can ask me for one favor when the time comes. If you don't succeed then you have to leave her alone."

"Deal. And you already arranged the blind date between both of us in the dance studio?"

"Yup! But I also have a couple of conditions for this deal."

"Whatever it is I agree," said Krish

"Ugh! You are just like Shravan, at least listen to me. The first condition is that you don't tell any family members because then I will get in so much trouble. We can only break this rule if absolutely necessary."

"Done."

"Second is that I will not be helping or assisting you in any way to try and aid Radhika. You are a lawyer so you need to figure out your own mess," said Shanaya sassily.

"Done," said Krish laughing at Shanaya's tone. "And the last one?"

"Just.. be careful. Her heart is delicate. If I think of any more conditions then I'll inform you."

"Okay done! Which direction did she go in?" asked Krish.

"She went towards her hotel room." Shanaya pointed in the direction of the elevator and hotel lobby. "Good luck!" said Shanaya giving Krish a thumbs up.

"How are you planning on talking to her?" asked Shanaya.

"I'll try to wait outside her hotel room. I'll walk from the garden to her room," said Krish.

•••

It was a wedding day.

The groom's procession began to dance all the way to the bride's quarters. Once they reached the gate, the procession ended and the groom's family stopped dancing.

The bride's sisters and friends stood at the entrance greeting the guests of the groom's party. Radhika was handing out gifts while Nivedita was greeting people and handing them the cards that showed today's events in order.

Radhika hands suddenly touched someone's and she looked startled as she looked up and saw Krish.

"You won't even look at me after all I've done for you?" Krish said smirking and looking at her expectantly.

"You again?"

"Yes. It is I. Your knight in shining armor."

"Shut up. Get to the point, what do you want from me?"

"The shoes?"

"What?" asked Radhika confused.

"As if you've never been to an Indian wedding? Aren't you and your girl gang going to protect the shoes and prevent it from getting into the wrong hands?"

Radhika realized. "Oh yes! And exactly why do you want the shoes?"

"You owe me a favor. Since I treated your wound," he said pointing at her bandaged arm. "I want the shoes," he said, smirking.

"You aren't getting those shoes. And besides, you won't be able to even find them. You can't harm a hair on my head so don't even bother to threaten me." Radhika responded back in a feisty tone.

"And if you lose?"

"We won't. Competition brings out the best in me," said Radhika as she walked away flipping her hair sassily.