Marriage Carnival | 04. Promise To Preserve

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

🎶 Yeh Aaina by Shreya Ghoshal.

• Rihaan •

Nervousness manipulated her still and poised stance at my question. The way, she fumbled with the her handbag strap wasn't unnoticed from me, which portrayed me of her inner conflicts.

"To be honest, I am not ready for marriage yet." I heard her say, that made me stare into her, encouraging her to speak further.

"Post-graduation is already hectic and it would only grow assiduous in the next year. It would be tough for me to handle both my professional as well as personal responsibilities." She poured out her thoughts, which made walk towards her.

"I understand. But, do you think your or my responsibilities will anyday magically decrease in the coming years?" I replied to her statement with another question, which forced her to gaze at me. She shook her head in negetive.

Slipping my left hand into my pant pocket, I inclined on my desk.

"Life will never be easy for us, Bhavna. So, the question was never about comfortibility. All that matters is - if we are ready to share our responsibilities, compromise for each other and are willing to make amends life long for our happy future." I tried to infuse my thoughts in our short conversation.

"What if I get asked to divert my priorities for this relationship?"

"What if I say, your priorities will be my priorities too?" I instantly replied, in order to cajole her deep-rooted conflicts. Surprise flashed in her eyes, at my words.

"I-" She stammered, before I cut her off again.

"Trust me on this, I'll treasure your dreams with everything I have." I smiled at her, staring into the depth of her brown orbs. She nodded.

"I don't want you to accept me just because my Mom would love to have you as her daughter-in-law or because of the promise of your mother made to mine. Accept me, only if you feel, you can share your life with me." I stood upfront her, her eyes gently gazing at me. I smiled at the slight smile tugging itself on her lips.

"Are you ready to share your life with me?" I was surprised at my own question.

A tender blush painting her cheeks, sort of assured me of her affirmation. Still, I waited for her words of confirmation.

"I guess, I am." She mused with a different shine in her alluring brown eyes. I smiled at her chirpy self. She seemed to be pondering over something, while we walked out of my cabin.

Before the door of my cabin could close, I heard her ask, "What about you?"

I chose to not respond to her question, but I extended my bandaged right hand for her. She glanced at me, briefly, before placing her hand gently over mine. Pulling her towards my left, I held her hand, softly as we padded out of my cabin to the main entrance.

All the eyes were on us. I could feel a few good-for-nothing men leering at her, their nasty stare concentrated at her low back blouse. Her eyes moved back to me while, few of her steps faltered as my left palm brushed against her bare back, after I protectively draped my arm around her to guard her from those ill-stares.

"I heard, we are already engaged." I whispered near her ear, teasing her.

"Vansh. That monkey! He told me that if I say the receptionist that I'm your fiancé, she'll only let me meet you." She whispered back, making me cough to cover my erupted chortles.

"Are you fine?" She asked, concerned as she rubbed my back.

"Fine." I nodded, coughing more.

"Vansh would be happy to hear his new nickname!" I exclaimed and we both shared a good laugh. Walking mindlessly, we soon enough reached the parking, where her car was neatly parked.

Standing before the car, I turned to her and held her arm, before she could enter into the car.

"Didn't you ask me something, in there?" I raised my brow at her perplexed expression.

"To answer that question, you never really gave me a choice, did you?" I jested, playfully.

"What?"

"After declaring yourself as my fiancè, what choice have you really left for me? Except accepting you, huh?" I crossed my arms, trying to look tad-bit dominating.

"I'm sorry, Rihaan."

"Ah, you shouldn't call me by my name." I continued my drama.

"I didn't mean to- Shit, I am so sorry. Can I do something to undo it?" I saw her, cutely fretting over the issue and I laughed out loud, shocking her.

"You are so cute." I expressed, in between my endless chortles.

"Bhavna, I really like you. So, no doubt, I would be the happiest to accept you as mine." I confessed, smiling wide, which she reciprocated with her smile.

"Let me tell you a secret." I closed the distance between us and leaned towards her as she curiously scooted closer to me.

"After you said a 'yes', I already feel like we are married." I hushed in her ears, which she responded with a mesmerising laughter.

"Come on, you can't laugh at me!" I pouted, which made her laugh more.

"Oh, come on, I can very well laugh at my cute man." She spoke, still laughing.

"So, I am yours, huh?" I flirted, taking advantage of her last unconscious statement.

"That, you are!" She winked at me, making me smile, while shaking my head.

"See you." I heard her whisper as her fingers again played with her handbag strap again.

"Let that poor thing breathe." I untangled her fingers, curled around the handbag strap, freeing it.

"Now, also that poor thing can't breath." She argued like a child, making me pinch her cheeks, gently.

"Drive safe." I murmured, hiding her softly in my embrace and placing a chaste kiss on her forehead.

She climbed into the driver's seat and locked the door, while I stood outside, seeing her settling on the seat.

"What should I call you?" I heard her voice again.

Sighing, I replied, "What about hubby or baby?"

I saw her nose scrunching up at my suggestions. But, she soon recovered and exclaimed, "Too cheesy!"

"Another secret about me, I love cheesy things." I winked at her, which was returned by her childish stunt of showing her tongue, before she ultimately drove away.

• Author •

"Where's the CEO's office?"

"On the 15th floor, but, you can't meet without an appointment, ma'am. Tell me, what you need? Perhaps, I can help you out."

"I'm his fiancè."

The dark room again welcomed Rihaan as he saw three members of his family orderly seated on the sofa, while eating popcorn, from the bowl, placed on his mother's lap.

He guessed it to be a movie night of the family. So, grabbing a handful of popcorns from the bowl, he lazily slouched on the sofa, beside his Dad and set his eyes on the wide LED tv  screen.

Popping three popcorns into his mouth as he saw the visuals running on the screen, his eyes popped out of his socket.

He chocked on the popcorns, when he realised that there was no movie going on, but, the CCTV footage of his office's parking was displaying on the screen. At that very time, he gasped as the picture of them, hugging each other showed up.

He wondered, why was he still alive?

This time, too, he knew, whose work it was!

Grunting and grumbling under his breath, he saw his brother's cheeky grin, sent his way. How he wished to break all his teeth?

"Mom, huggy and kissey!" Vansh clapped excitedly, making Rihaan facepalm.

The level of embarrassment to see his mother, father and little brother gushing over his private and intimate moments were unparalled.

"Come on, guys! You all are invading my privacy." He screeched, which was replied with his mother, twitching her lips at him, distastefully.

"This can't be my son." His mother declared, swatting her hand at him.

"Mom!" Rihaan pouted.

"Just a hug and a forehead kiss, that's all?" His mother grumbled.

"No, Mom. Don't you remember, they were inside the washroom for whole ten minutes? We don't even have any footage of the washroom." Vansh grimaced, making a thoughtful look cross his parents' face.

"Vansh, you are right!" His mother grinned and soon enough, sat beside him, wriggling her brows.

"Will someone join us by the end of this year?" Rihaan chocked at his mother's words. What the hell were they thinking?

"Mom, you are going overboard now." Rihaan complained and continued, "For god's sake, We just met officially yesterday."

"So, you guys knew and met each other earlier, unofficially?" Vansh piped in, receiving a death glare from his brother.

"I did. She didn't."

"What did, didn't? Explain!" Vansh reappeared in the conversation, mimicking his mother. Surprisingly, his mother too nodded at him.

"I saw her at the airport, one year ago. I swear, I didn't know her name too. She even unknowingly took my energy bar as our seats were back to back. That is how, I met her. We never met before yesterday or talked one to one before today." Rihaan confessed, cautiously, alert to receive the reaction of his crazy family.

"Mom, here!" Rihaan saw Vansh forwarding his Dad's phone to Mahima.

"Mommy, Let's seal the deal." Vansh exclaimed, jumping on the sofa.

"Yes, Mrs. Das. Yes, that's why I called. It's a yes, from our side. Sure, we will be waiting for Bhavna's answer." Rihaan heard Mahima speak in the phone with a wide smile.

"Done!" Mahima declared, while giving a high-five to Vansh and Sharad.

"Mom, what's going on?" Rihaan asked his mother, trying to gauge, what's happening?

"I informed Das family about your 'yes'." Rihaan realised the fun, they were having at his expense and thought to retire his room, quietly.

He was already too exhausted after the subsequent episodes of drama in his life. Seemed like his burnt hand, drained his energy. He needed some time to sink in everything. He was exhausted today to bear his chaotic family's drama.

At the quiet departure of Rihaan from the living room, another chaos swirled among the three other members of the family.

"Is bhai angry at me?" Vansh's serious tone cut through the tense silence of the living room.

"Perhaps, he is angry at all of us." Sharad said, to which, Mahima nodded.

All three of them rushed towards Rihaan's room, only to see him already sleeping.

"Is he so angry that he didn't even change into his towel and vest and directly slept?" Vansh grumbled, pouting.

Crawling on the bed, Vansh sat beside the asleep figure of his brother. He poked his arm, to check his degree of anger. But, feeling hot, he checked his brother's temperature, only to find his body literally boiling.

"Bhai." Vansh shook his brother, vigorously.

"Vansh, go away. Let me sleep." He could hear his elder brother's irritated whispers.

"Mom, bhai has high fever." Vansh shouted, listening which, his parents joined him.

"Do have any medicines for fever?" Mahima asked Vansh in an alarmed mode.

"I have. But, I guess, the fever is induced because of his burn. Let's consult a doctor. What if the burn is infected or there's some underlying issues?" Vansh suggested, which convinced Mahima and Sharad.

"Shall I call Bhavna here?" Mahima inquired Sharad and Vansh, to which Vansh nodded.

"No. It's past 9:30 pm now. How'll she come alone?" Sharad interrupted them.

"I'll go and bring her here. Will that be good to go?" Vansh suggested, to which both of them nodded.

"I'll come soon. Take care of him." Sparing a glance at his brother, Vansh rushed out of the house.

Though Vansh was dramatic, he knew, how harsh life could be. He was aware, life wasn't a dramatic comedy. Dramatic tragedy, perhaps, yes.

Driving though the dark lanes, he was haunted by the same dark day of that bygone year. A same sight of Rihaan in a pool of his own blood, struggling for every breath, he inhaled. The 18-year old him, driving through each nook and corner of Mumbai, mindlessly searching for his brother, after his college farewell party.

That day still sent chills down his spine. Recollecting those memories were no more than a tough task. Still, they haunted him, the indication of his fear being his freely flowing loose tears.

"I've to bring Bhavna ma'am, immediately." He thought, taking a swift turn into the passage of Das Mansion, wiping his tears.

Pressing the doorbell, he waited.

"Vansh", He heard Rashmika utter, presently surprised.

"Aunty, Is Bhavna ma'am awake?" He directly asked, touching her feet, obliterating the pleasantries.

"Yes."

"I am here to take her home. Bhai is suffering from high fever. Maybe, she can check if it's normal fever or any sort of infection." Vansh was explaining, when he saw Bhavna and her father descend the stairs.

"Ma'am, Bhai-" Vansh quickly reached Bhavna, only to be interuppted by her.

"I heard, Vansh. Let me get my bag, then, we can go." Bhavna shared a look with her parents, before rushing back to her room to grab her bag and a dupatta.

In few minutes, they were on the way back to Bhardwaj Mansion.

"Were you crying?" Bhavna's fingers ruffled Vansh's curly hair as he drove the car. In response, Vansh stubbornly shook his head in negetive.

"I am here, right. I will not let anything happen to him. Stop being this serious and sad. It doesn't really suit you." Vansh nodded at Bhavna's comforting words.

"Smile now." Bhavna pinched him cheeks after he grinned.

"Ah, perfect. Now, you perfectly look like a red nosed monkey." Bhavna complimented, making his snort.

"I'm not a monkey!" Vansh scoffed before another round of argument took place between them.

Arguing and pulling each other's leg, they reached Bhardwaj Mansion. Though the grandeur of the mansion was eye-catching, Bhavna had no time to admire it.

"Fever may have happened due to the burn. But, there's no infection, fortunately. The suit may feel suffocating, we should change him into something lighter." Removing his blazer, Bhavna uttered as she unbuttoned Rihaan's shirt's button, making Vansh pout.

Vansh forwarded her a loose cotton t-shirt to make Rihaan wear.

"Vansh, bring a cloth and small bucket of water here." He complied my Bhavna's instructions.

Vansh turned around to close his eyes as he saw Bhavna wiping Rihaan's body with the wet cloth.

"Help me out, Vansh" He heard Bhavna's voice and strided towards her.

"Wipe his lower body." Vansh dramatically gasped at her words, his eyes popping out of his sockets.

"My virgin eyes can't tolerate it. No! No!" He shouted, covering his eyes.

Cursing herself for asking help from an idiot, Bhavna contemplated on what to do.

"Alright, but, change his pants." Bhavna shrugged, awkwardly.

"No no no." Vansh adamantly stood on the bed, before leaving the room altogether.

Bhavna contemplated on what to do, holding his half pant. She waited for Sharad, Mahima or Vansh, but three of them magically disappeared somewhere.

Hesitating, she removed his belt. But, going beyond it, when he was unconscious, felt too shameful.

"Rihaan" I shook his arm, but he didn't even budge.

"Wake up, Rihaan." I tried again, but stood up, disappointed.

"He is just a patient, Bhavna" She convinced herself as her hand reached his zipper after unbuttoning his pant.

Seeing his crescent eyes trying to open, she thanked her stars. Cupping his cheeks, Bhavna supported him as he himself changed his pant and slept again. Wiping his legs, Bhavna wrapped him in the comforter again.

"Mom is calling you for coffee." Vansh informed her, looking at her, rather suspiciously. She nodded, while making him drink the solution of melted medicine with water.

After Bhavna strolled out of the room to the living hall for coffee, Vansh pouted and sat cross-legged before his brother.

Kissing Rihaan's cheeks and forehead, Vansh pouted, he grieved for his brother's lost dignity.

"Bhai, you know what? Bhavna Ma'am saw your everything!" Vansh innocently sulked, wiping his imaginary tears, setting his sleeping brother's hair properly.

The whole night flew past with cups of coffee, lots of light-hearted banters and the usual chaos of the Bhardwaj family members.

With the seeping sun's rays, Rihaan's sleep disrupted. The first thing, he noticed was his throbbing head and aching body. He felt dizzy and lethargic.

Rihaan's eyes widened as he saw a hand, holding his. To both his shock and surprise, it was Bhavna.

"He was indeed dreaming!" He thought.

As he sat erect after few trials and stood upright on his legs, his vicinity just revolved around him. But, the sight of the girl, alseep in a sitting position on his bed, quickly got him into action to make her sleep on the bed, peacefully.

Looking down, he saw the three figures sleeping on the floor in a thin white mattress, arms and legs over each other, too clumsily.

Seeing these four members of his family together made him genuinely fulfilled and blessed. He needed nothing more than them.

•~~•~~•~~•

[Unedited]

Thank you so much for your cute comments and appreciations, here and there. Just know that, I am sooo grateful.

Stay happy, Be crazy in life to pursue whatever gives you happiness. Don't compromise on your happiness. Ever!

See you. Happy Reading.

Next update - 12 August, 22 (Friday).

Love,
Lonalicious.❤


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net