The Girl With the Red Scarf | ✔️ [DriKshit]

Will and Won't

DRISHTI'S POV

The hall was dimly lit, the black shadow of the staircase falling upon its white marble floor. Thirsty, hungry and devoid of sleep, I tiptoed downstairs to the kitchen for a glass of water. But to my slight surprise, the kitchen light was on. I peeped in through the door and found Maasi sitting at the kitchen table, her head buried in her hands.
I rapped slightly on the door and she looked up almost immediately, her face drawn in a strained smile.

~ "Drishti, you didn't eat anything at dinner. Are you feeling hungry?"

I nodded.

~ "Wait. I will heat up some rotis for you."

~ "Maasi, have you eaten?"

~ "I am not hungry."

~ "Okay, then I am also not hungry."

~ "Drishti - what -"

~ "Maasi, I will eat only if you eat with me."

Maasi looked at me sternly and then smiled. She got up and placed a pan on the stove, her bangles clinking.

~ "You know, sometimes you remind me of Vidya so much. The same determined nature... By the way, do you know where your sister is?"

~ "She isn't home?"

~ "No, she isn't home. She is also not picking up my calls. I am really worried..."

~ "She hasn't called me. She left this afternoon... She might be with - umm -"

~ "Sikhar?"

Honestly, I was surprised that Maasi was talking about it so casually.

~ "Yeah - er -"

~ "I called him, she is not with Sikhar. Anyways, Mahima ji and Rakshit are coming tomorrow. We were thinking if your and Divya's marriage could be done on the same mandap."

Rakshit was coming?

~ "Umm - yeah. The idea is nice..."

~ "What did you think of Aarav?"

~ "I - umm - er - I don't know -"
I didn't know why but I couldn't stop myself from sharing everything with Maasi, but she just laughed.

~ "Don't worry, Drishti. Soon, Aarav will be charmed by your beauty and he will forget whoever his lover is. Just believe in the magic of your marriage."

I knew this, no matter what, Aarav was my destination. I had to marry him.

I kept quiet. Maasi put a plate of rotis and mixed vegetable in front of me, sitting down in the opposite chair.

My conversation with Rakshit was a small one - he seemed somewhat subdued. But I knew that I would be seeing him tomorrow and the thought of sharing everything with him cheered me up a little.

                           ~

RAKSHIT'S POV

The entire morning, I strengthened my will, telling myself that no matter what happens, I will avoid Drishti with my entire heart and soul. I knew she will be surprised, heart broken, angry, but I have no other choice. She was getting married and the more attachment we kept from each other, the more trouble this was gonna give us later. But when I saw Drishti, wearing a royal blue saree, her hair pulled back in a ponytail, a few strands hanging loosely around her face, I couldn't stop myself from staring at her. She was looking breathtaking, but her eyes were blank. The sparkle was missing in them, lost somewhere in the infinite black of her irises.

Mom and Maasi fixed the date of Drishti and Divya's marriage next week, but I couldn't concentrate during the entire meeting, nodding only occassionally. Seemed like I was not the only one whose mind was wandering off, Drishti seemed extremely troubled, gazing out of the window.

After the formal discussion, I excused myself, telling the elders that I needed a smoke and would be in the garden if they needed anything. Mom looked at me, her eyebrow arched for she knew that I had almost quit smoking, but she didn't make a remark.

I slipped out through the kitchen door and stepped into the small garden that Drishti and Divya have curated with extreme care. There were roses, sunflowers, lilies -

~ "You have quit smoking truly and really, have you?"

I turned. A light breeze ruffled Drishti's hair, the loose strands swaying.

~ "I am Rakshit Shergill and I am always true to what I say. But - honestly speaking, I was tempted - didn't find the courage to do it. Actually, I remembered your angry face."

I laughed. She smiled, but it seemed forced.

~ "What's wrong Drishti?"

~ "Nothing."

~ "Have I ever told you that you are the worst liar I have ever seen?"

~ "Rakshit it's noth-"

~ "Cut the crap, will you? Remember, we share everything with each other? But yeah, you are getting married now. I might not be important to you anymore... You will be busy with your husband, you will share everything with him before telling me - you might even start ignoring me -"

Drishti ran towards me and hugged me, burying her head in my chest and that is when I realized that she had been crying all this while. I was extremely surprised by her sudden outburst.

~ "Drishti - I didn't mean -"

And that is when she told me the entire Aarav Gupta case. That guy is a piece of crap. How can he do this to her? She is leaving her job, her house and he tells her that she is worth nothing?

I caressed Drishti's hair, my heart sinking at the feeling that maybe this was the last time I would be touching her.

But Aarav Gupta was not all. She told me about her parents and I was shocked to hear how they died. Love never has happy endings, does it?

~ "Drishti - I don't know what I should say - but you - you can't marry Aarav - your entire life will be destroyed."

I tucked a strand of stray hair behind her ear. Did I even have the right to be holding her?

~ "Rakshit, I want to see Maasi happy. She would be happy to see me settled - with - Aarav -"

Her voice wavered, I held her tighter.

She pulled apart, just enough so that she could look into my eyes.

~ "Rakshit, will you promise me something?"

Her eyes - it wrecked ny heart to see them so blank, so meaningless.

~ "Anything."

~ "Promise me that no matter how far we are, our bond will forever remain like this. Promise me that no matter what problem we are in, we will always find spcae to confide in each other. Promise me that we will always hold a special place in each others heart, a place that no one else can ever have."

~ "I promise, Drishti. I promise."

And thus, with a single but powerful promise, I held my heart together, preventing it from scattering into pieces. I didn't know for sure if I loved her and I didn't want my confession to jeopardize the special bond that we shared, a bond that I had yet not been able to name.

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Huge twists and heartbreaks upcoming! Stay tuned! Will try to post another part today!