Against All Odds

Chapter 6

Author's POV

" Shikhar darling can you accompany me in the kitchen? I will need help opening the bottles of cold drinks."
Ashu's voice was laced with anger which she was trying to hide in front of the guests.

" Uhh sure sweety."
Shikhar's voice couldn't hide the fear which he was trying to suppress by smiling.

It wasn't hard for Shikhar to guess that Ashu was angry. But he followed her in the kitchen nevertheless, so as to not piss her off more.

"What the hell? What were you thinking by calling him? I thought you were supposed to call your brother."
Even though Ashu was whispering her voice was anything but calm.

" Calm down sweets. Rakesh is my friend and a very good guy. He is also a C.A. like Niyati."
Shikhar was trying his best to pacify Ashu.

" I am sure he is a very good guy. So what if he is occupying half the sofa himself! I don't care about looks. So I was ignoring the fact that he is 200 kg and Niyu only 50 kg! But….but who brings their fifteen years old daughter with them when you are going to look for a bride for yourself?"

Ashu had started walking back and forth with her hands on her hips. She was clearly losing it. She could not keep quiet anymore.

" Ashu please calm down. Look, even I care for Niyati as my own sister.  But she is 34. There aren't many unmarried guys left at this age. Plus I only called him to know about her choice since she isn't ready to tell us."

" What happened to your plan of playing Cupid between your brother and her? Did you even talk to him? You didn't, did you?

" Please just breathe. I will talk to my brother once I know what is wrong with Niyati."
Shikhar was talking softly so that no one could hear them.

" What the hell do you mean by what is wrong with her? She just didn't wanna get married because of me. Nothing is wrong with her. Now that I have met you, she can also settle in her life. She is nervous because of her age. That's all!! Do you get that?"

Shikhar had moved near the kitchen door clearly to maintain distance from Ashu who was fuming now, also in case she starts throwing things at him he can escape easily.

" You are right. I am sorry it was a misunderstanding on my part. I will myself say no to him later. But please let's not insult him by saying no right now, that too in front of his daughter. Please."

Shikhar waited in silence as Ashu got lost thinking about his offer. How could she insult her guests. It would spoil her image. Plus her sister will kill her for behaving badly. She knew she had no other option but to smile like a good host for the rest of the evening.

" Fine!! "

Shikhar took a deep breath. He smiled and hugged Ashu gently who first hit him on his chest but later reciprocated his hug.

Niyati and Shikhar came back into the living room to join the guests and Niyati who was sitting blankly looking at the floor.

Rakesh was sitting on a three seater sofa occupying half of it. Besides him was his daughter. It was hard to tell she was a girl, with her short hair styled like her dad. She was a carbon copy of her father, except she was slim built. Ashu had borrowed three chairs from their neighbor which were now occupied by Sharma sisters and Shikhar.

Shikhar was relieved that Ashu had calmed down. It would have been awkward for him if she insulted his friend. All that he said inside was just to avoid Ashu from creating any scene. Deep inside he had a feeling Niyati herself was going to reject the proposal no matter who walked onto their doorsteps. He wanted to know what reasons she would be giving. Rakesh being his friend will tell him everything honestly.

Shikhar was a very observant person. Some of his parent's excellent business skills had been passed onto him. He could clearly read a person in a short span of time, and Niyati was always around. It wasn't difficult to guess something was wrong with her. He genuinely wanted his brother and her to like each other, but for that it was necessary to know what her problem was.

Ashu on the other hand was like a pampered kid who lived in her own world. For her everyone was always happy. She was very good as a designer, but when it came to knowing people, she always went by face value. She was always being kept away from problems by Niyati. Shikhar knew this very well. So it was obvious she would be oblivious to Niyati's behavior who would never burden her sister with anything sad.

Shikhar's suspicion that Niyati had agreed for this meet only so that they could move on, was nagging him since the time she said yes. It was something about the way she said it that fueled his suspicion.

It was late night, day before yesterday when Niyati came home and asked them why they weren't getting married. Shikhar was on cloud nine with the prospect of marrying his love but he wanted his big bro to get married first. Ashu also was quick to state that she would get married only after her sister.

" My age for marriage has passed long back. I don't think I can adjust with a total stranger now. I don't want to get married. Shikhar, maybe your brother also doesn't want to marry. I can understand if you want to wait but I think you should talk to your brother."

As Shikhar had expected Niyati refused to get married. But she could never say no to Ashu. So when Ashu bluntly told her that if she says no it's a no for their marriage too, she agreed to see the prospective candidates.

" Fine! I am ready to meet the guys. But no one will pressurise me to say yes. Also, if I don't find anyone during this month you will stop looking and start preparations for your own marriage. Is that a deal?"

Shikhar wasn't stupid to not understand Niyati's intentions behind whatever she had said, but Ashu being naive agreed to it.

Shikhar wasn't the type who would get trapped. Instead he had laid a trap for Niyati. If all goes as per plan, Niyati's secret was going to be revealed soon.