“So…I guess I haven’t got a chance to tell you how breathtakingly
beautiful you look tonight…” Shashi whispered to Garima as they stood watching
the marriage rituals; she smiled shyly and gave him a side glance “You don’t
look too bad yourself…it’s the first time I have seen you in traditional wear”
she said as he gave her a small smile and turned his head back towards the
mandap
“I’m going to tell the kids tomorrow morning…It’s long
overdue! Plus I think Payal suspects something already since she’s been
snooping around and asking me odd questions” he said as Garima looked up in
surprise and something akin to uneasiness passed over her face, which did not
go unnoticed by Shashi
“Hey…it will be fine sweetheart…Don’t look so worried” He
said in a soothing voice as she shook her head and looked away “No…its’ just
that…I’m a bit nervous…what if Payal does not like it…or Ritwik objects to
this…to us, I mean” she said as Shashi looked at her upset face and physically
restrained himself from hugging her tightly
“They will love you Garima…as it is, they can’t stop raving
about the yummy food you keep sending or how cool you are…don’t worry,
everything will be fine” he said as she nodded and smiled again at him “Uh…I
think I should move around…been standing with you since a long time now” she
said as she observed some people noticing them
“Yes, I too should go and look for Payal…God only knows what
all she is stuffing her face with” he chuckled as Garima gave him a hard stare
“Don’t say that…girl’s don’t stuff their faces…boys do…and speaking of which I
saw Khushi too going towards the food area…lets go together, she needs to get
back here for the Gathbandhan*” she said as both turned to walk towards the
food arena specially created at the other end of the hall
***
“Don’t you think that Dinkaran has been spending a lot of
time with rimmy? They’ve been standing together for quite some time now…” Tripti
said looking at the couple suspiciously as her husband followed her gaze “Don’t
be silly…they are probably just talking about mundane stuff…he and his family
practically live with them” he said before turning his attention back to the
rituals
“I don’t think so…they have been smiling a lot…and rimmy has
been blushing constantly…I haven’t seen her like this since…” Tripti said as
Sanjay sighed and held her hand “Don’t upset yourself by thinking of those
times…its all in the past now…and if Garima is getting over all that and
becoming an independent woman, you too should not worry about her so much” he
said as Tripti sighed
“No…I don’t mean it that way…I feel that its high-time Rimmy
find someone else for herself…and looking at her with Mr Dinkaran…” she said as
Sanjay once again looked at the couple who were now walking towards the buffet
area “Rimmy is not like that…she is a one man woman…” he said pointedly as Tripti
colored and looked away “Yes, but she’s been alone far too long Sanjay…and if
she finds happiness with someone else, we should be happy for her” she said as
Sanjay looked away towards the holy fire, his eyes reflecting the orange color
in them
“You are right Trish…she should find someone else…but this
time, we should make sure he is the right man for her…she has suffered too much
at Arun’s hands…” he said as Tripti sighed and leaned her head against her husband’s
shoulder, holding his upper arm for support as she watched her son getting
married to his sweetheart
“Yes she has….We all have” she finally said, as the flames
reflected in her dark as midnight eyes…her vision becoming blurry with unshed
tears of the past.
***
“Umm…is everything ok here?” Khushi asked as Arnav came and
stood by her while Akash and Payal once again turned to face one another
“Khushi…what is going on here? And what do you mean by love birds?” Arnav asked
her, as she uneasily observed Payal’s face, which was at present full of
murderous rage directed at Akash, who looked everywhere but at her
“Uh…Akash and Payal are dating…I mean, I saw them doing
stuff outside out gate a few weeks ago…I thought I will surprise them by
bringing them together at this wedding” she said as Arnav looked even more
confused than before
“Doing stuff? Akash…is Payal the girl you were talking
about?” Arnav asked him as he nodded meekly while Khushi gave him a sly smile
“You chupa rustam…even your own brother didn’t know haan?” she said teasingly
but was surprised to find Akash looking at her in irritation as if he was
annoyed with her…but why? She got him closer to his girlfriend…weird!
She then turned
towards Payal to finally say what she had wanted to since the day she had seen
them together “So Payal darling! You too kept this well hidden huh? Remember
the time you found Arnav and me together and would not stop teasing us? Well?
What do you have to say now?” she said with a teasing glint, as Payal’s anger
seemed to have left as she turned towards Khushi with an unreadable expression
in her large almond eyes, full of hurt
“Thanks Khushi…I guess, your little ploy to expose me and
Akash, exposed a lot more which was necessary…it made me understand what a stupid
fool I have been!” Payal said in an emotionless voice as Khushi suddenly felt
alarmed
“What? Wait…you both are dating right?” she asked the couple
while Arnav looked on, trying to make heads or tails of the situation “No…not
anymore” Payal said as she turned around to leave when Akash held her arm
“Payal…no wait…let me explain at least” he said as she turned towards him and
jerked his hands away
“Explain what? How you lied to me? How you made me think you
are a simple middle class boy whose sister was abused in college? Were any of
the things you said you did even true? Your eye and organ donations…your philanthropy…giving
half you pocket money to charity? Hell…you spoke of Pocket money? You are
filthy rich! How can you lie so much?” she asked as her voice got more and more
hoarse from the unshed tears clogging her throat
Khushi and Arnav looked on shocked as Akash shook his head
and tried to hold Payal, who kept pushing him away “Don’t touch me Akash…how
could I…how could I love someone like you? How could I see myself sitting in
that mandap with you next to me? You played me a fool Akash…you…” she said with
a sniff before her eyes filled up and her cheeks got streaked with tears
running down unchecked
“Payal please…let me explain please…I love you baby...I
truly do…everything that happened between us was real…I did not play you…I
would never do that….I fell in love with you the first time I saw you…trust
me…” he said as Payal gave a mirthless laugh
“Trust you? Really? Tell me Akash…how long were you going to
string me along? Till I get in your bed? Was that you plan?” she asked him, as
he looked at her in shock “What? How can you say that? You know I would never
do such a thing Payal…I truly love you…yes, our relationship started on
lies…and even though I tried so many times to tell you, something or the other
always came up” he said as she stood rigidly in front of him
“Something always came up? What Akash? What came up? Why
didn’t you tell me when you were busy kissing me? Or, telling me how much you
love me…Or sitting with me for hours on end deciding on what our future will be
like…why didn’t you tell me then? Why did you lead me on? There is only one
answer for all this…you never loved me…you only played me Mr Raizada…and I like
a fool, got played…” she said as she stepped back
“But not anymore…I hate you…I hate you so much! Don’t ever
show me your face again…do you understand?” she said in a loud voice as Akash
panicked and pulled her forcefully towards him but was shocked out of his wits
when he felt his cheek sting with a slap that Payal’s palm had left on it…he
let her go as she too was surprised at herself before turning around and
running towards the restroom
“Payal…” Akash said as Khushi held him back “No…Akash…not
now…”she said sternly as he turned angry eyes towards her “Its all because of
you! Who gave you the right to…” he started saying when he felt a hand holding
his shoulder in a tight grip “Watch you mouth Akash…how can you blame Khushi
for your wrong doing? It was you who lied to Payal…how was she to know that
your relationship was based on a lie!” he said with a calm voice when Akash
turned towards him
“You too bhai? You also think I was wrong?....You know how
much I loved her…how I always spoke about her” he said as Arnav shook his head
“If you really loved her Akash…you would have told her the truth…not kept her
in the dark for so long…you don’t do that to people you love…” he said as he
looked at Khushi and signaled her to go after Payal while he spoke to Akash
Khushi nodded before giving one more look at a devastated
Akash and went behind Payal; “What do I do bhai? I have ruined it…” he said as
Arnav sighed and held him by his shoulders “You need to make it right Akash…if
you really love her? Make her understand your love…convince her that you truly
love her and ask for her forgiveness…and if you both are meant for each other...things
will work out...” he said as another voice interrupted their talks
“How dare you?” Shashi Dinkaran said as he glared at the
tall lanky man standing in front of him…this was the man who broke his
daughter’s heart “I heard everything young man…and I can’t believe that you are
still standing here after all this…and you Arnav?” Shashi said as he turned
towards Arnav who was standing next to his brother
“You are encouraging him to go behind my daughter again?
After everything he has done?” He asked Arnav who walked towards an angry
Shashi as Garima stood behind him, watching the three men in horror…what had
Akash done? “Shashi, please…try and understand…I know what Akash has done is
unforgivable…but behind all the lies, his love for Payal is true…I have seen
it…” he said as Shashi shrugged his hand off
“No Arnav…I will not have this man anywhere near my
daughter, do you understand? If I could, I would put him behind bars right
now…” Shashi said going forward to physically harm Akash as Garima stepped forward and held his shoulder to restrain him "Shashi no.." she said as she looked at Akash angrily while her eyes filled up at what Payal must be
going through “Arnav, please take Akash from here…right now we need to think of
Payal…please” she said as Arnav nodded and pulled Akash along with him
“I’m sorry I’m asking you to leave Arnav, but…” Garima said
as Arnav shook his head “Please aunty…don’t say that...I know this is the right
thing to do…please take care of Payal and tell Khushi I’ll call her tomorrow”
he said as Garima nodded softly while the brothers left the hall dejectedly
“Shashi…” she said as he turned teary eyes towards Garima “Payal…that
boy…” he said as Garima hugged him tight “Shh…Shashi, it will be ok…she’s a
strong girl and we are all there with her…she’ll be fine” she said as Shashi
hugged her back, burying his head in her neck…breathing in her comforting scent
