© Nirvana | ✔️

Chapter 31

Krish buttoned up his shirt and looked down at his chest. He saw fingernail marks where Radhika had put her hand.

Nisha suddenly entered the room and she ignored him buttoning up his shirt. Though the nail marks did not go unnoticed.

"Where were you yesterday? I tried to call you," she asked.

Krish was silent and he looked at the floor. "You think I want to talk to you after everything you've done."

Nisha sighed and looked down at the floor. "I mean I don't know what to say, Krish. Shivaay and Radhika are still getting married and neither of them has called it off. And I get your anger. It is justified, however, how long will you stay mad? At the end of the day, Shivaay.."

Krish cut her off. "Yeah sorry. I just have been really out of it lately and I wanted to tell you that even though me and you aren't getting married, Radhika still is and that is bad enough."

Suddenly, Krish's mother walked inside the room.

"There you are. You lovebirds are already sneaking around aren't you?" asked Neelima as she walked into her son's room. Shivaay was standing behind his mother.

"You look so handsome baby," said Neelima as she kissed the top of Krish's forehead. She also hugged Nisha.

"Let's go! It is getting late. The Arora's must also be on the way. I need to greet Supriya and Radhika as well since all the functions and ceremonies." said Neelima grumbling.

Engagement time!

•••

Nisha and Krish sat down next to each other. Krish looked down at his phone that was buzzing.

'I'm just a friend. Don't think about me too much'- Radha.

Krish's heart skipped a beat as he heard a pair of heels click and he closed his eyes as he could infer who had arrived.

"Welcome Supriya!" said Neelima.

"So glad you could be here today," said Ashok.

"Hello aunty," said Shivaay formally and then there was a short pause and his gaze landed on Radhika.

"Hello. You look gorgeous," said Shivaay looking at Radhika, he kissed the top of her knuckle.

"Thanks, Shivaay."

"If you guys don't mind, then we would like Radhika and Shivaay to sit just directly over there." Ashok wanted them to sit over there so they can be close to one another so people wouldn't have a hard time walking up and congratulating them." proposed Neelima.

"Why not? You can take Radhika yourself Shivaay," said Supriya.

Shivaay and Radhika put their hands in one another's and Krish averted his gaze when he saw them together.

Nivedita shook her head and smiled sadly at Radhika when they both went to sit down.

"Should we start the ring ceremony?" asked Ashok to Neelima.

"Sure. I'd want to start with Shivaay and Radhika's first. Radhika has some work to do apparently that she can't stay at her ceremony for too long. She's leaving early." said Neelima rolling her eyes.

Krish's lips turned upwards when hearing that and Shanaya and Nivedita gave each other a knowing look. They both knew that Radhika probably had to leave early because she would struggle to stay here for much longer.

"Shanaya, can you get the rings from inside the room?" asked Neelima. "They are on top of the cupboard."

"Sure mom," said Shanaya.

"I'll accompany her to help," said Shravan.

Plan in action!

•••

"Exactly what do you have in mind? My brother can't abscond the ceremony last minute," asked Shravan to his wife.

"No. Get that hammer," said Shanaya.

"Hammer?! Killing Nisha won't help us get Krish and Radhika together." shrieked Shravan.

"No stupid! Just get me the ladder and the engagement ring from the box as well as the hammer." Hurry otherwise mom will come in."

Shanaya snatched the ring from Shravan's hold and she placed it down on the table. She closed her eyes and raised the hammer and banged the ring with all her force. The ring broke apart and the solitaire diamond fell out.

As Shravan set the ladder down, Shanaya climbed up and adjusted the fire alarm.

"What are you doing?" hissed Shravan.

"Sorry mom," said Shanaya grimacing as she picked up the broken ring and put it in the trash.

The alarm started to ring violently and Shanaya heard people screaming downstairs as the speakers in the house echoed the words. "There is a fire within the house! Please exit immediately!"

Modern problems require modern solutions!

•••

"I can't believe you said off the smoke alarm in our house," said Akaash.

The entirety of the crowd was standing outside the Malhotra mansions waiting for the inspectors to check if there was an actual fire.

"Easy for you to say. You weren't the one on the ladder," said Shravan who was highly irked.

Krish rolled his eyes and looked around. "This is so stupid! How is this supposed to stop their wedding?"

"This is so filmy. How many times have I seen this in Indian films," said Nivedita?

"That's our family. We are no less than a dramatic Bollywood movie," said Krish muttering.

"I hate lying man but I know mom will never agree in a million years if I say that I want to marry Radhika," said Krish.

Akaash and Nivedita looked at each other.

"I don't even get how this is supposed to stop the wedding," complained Krish.

"I don't think it is supposed to stop it but it's at least supposed to stall it. I know Shanaya has some master plan that she thinks will work," said Akaash.

"As long as it doesn't involve one of us dying, getting injured, or getting pregnant, I am all up for her and her wacky ideas."

"She is the quintessential Indian daughter in law," said Akaash.

"And sister in law," added Krish laughing.

Success!

•••

"Where is the ring?" asked Neelima as she looked at Shanaya and Shravan who had returned empty-handed.

"We couldn't find it. I think it got stolen!" exclaimed Shanaya loudly, on purpose.

Murmuring went around the crowd and Neelima and Ashok looked around stunned.

"A thief is roaming around the house," yelled Neelima loudly, not being able to control her temper.

Everyone stood up and Nisha looked at Krish worriedly. Krish was eyeing Shanaya expectantly. Radhika and Shivaay both looked concerned.

"You guys. Just double-check to see if it is there. Maybe you guys just couldn't find it." said Ashok.

Shanaya nudged Shravan to go 'check' to see if the ring was still in the room.

"I'll get rid of it this time," said Shravan whispering to Shanaya.

"Flush it down the toilet or something," said Shanaya.