Hey guys, I got a new idea and thus penned it down. This one is a fun story- not too serious, not too comical. Hope you'll enjoy. It's a light readđ
Part 1
âMarry me, Rishabh!â
Someone sputtered. A glass of wine shattered. A smile formed.
Rishabh blinked hard at the woman who had went down on one knee, in front of him. Facial expressions still neutral by default, he fished out a handkerchief from his trouser pocket and suavely wiped his mouth followed by brushing clean the lapels of his coat that had been stained red by his sputtering. Who could fault him for being surprised?! His ex-wife had just proposed to him.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and snuck a glance to his right side. If the broken shards of the wine glass were a proof enough, she was just as shocked. Well, unlike him her widened chocolate browns hadnât made an attempt to gloss over her expressions.
Rishabh finally sighed, âWhat is this nonsense, Menka?â
The aforementioned woman widened her olive green eyes, distaste clearly evident by the twist of her lips. âThatâs not how you respond to a proposal, Rishabhâ.
In response the man smirked, his eyes meeting a similar pair of obsidian ones on his far left side. âI do, when your intentions are as clear as a dayâ.
Menka opened and closed her mouth like a fish. Rishabh only shook his head in disbelief. âKukki isnât that easâ
âWoooowww!!â A squeal echoed cutting him off, following by creaking of sneakers against the wooden floorboard and soon his teenage daughter, stood by his side, glitter in her eyes putting stars to shame.
âSay yes na, dad, pleeeease!â, 16 year old Kukki clasped her palms in plea, jumping on her feet like a rabbit gone insane.
Rishabh internally groaned. Kukki seriously was forgetting something, or rather someone very significant.
âKukki, Mr. Bajaj is already marriedâ, Finally the silence was broken as the bearer of browns, draped in turquoise sequins stepped forward, her heels crunching the shards to smithereens.
âI know, Prernaâ, Kukki responded without batting an eye, her excitement just as strong and continued, âBut isnât this a chance for you too?Reconcile with Anurag!â
Prerna flinched then but schooling her face turned to Rishabh, having decided that teenage was not the age for rationalities. âWhy are you so quiet? Speak upâ, Prerna half glared, as Rishabh nodded.
âKukki is right though, Prernaâ. Prerna had opened her mouth to retort when Rishabh raised a finger and continued, âHear me out, will you?!You finally have your daughter, Samidha with you. Mr. Basu, as we all have got to know never did betray you. Even though, his incapabilities are not worth being excused, I believe Samidha deserves to be with her father, especially when he dotes on her so much. And also, you still have Mr. Basu in your heart so why not?â
âExactly, Prerna!â Kukki interjected making Rishabh close his eyes in exasperation.
âAnd vese bhi, youâve always said that the person who loves you can make you happy. Menka mom loves dad. Dad gets a shot at being happy too. Isnât that what you wouldâve wanted for him, and you too?â
Prerna pressed her lips, her fists clenched. She could not just snatch Samidha from Anurag, with Komolika out of their lives for good,Samidha could get her father too. ButâŚ
Her line of thoughts trailed as she saw Rishabh. He deserved to be happy too. His share of love that she had never given him, if Menka was willing to give it, then there was no harm, was there?
âOh, and you donât have to worry about the divorce agreement. Mr. Mehra will have the papers made at the earliest!â
âYou are awfully preparedâ, Rishabh narrowed his eyes suspiciously at his daughter who only chuckled in response.
âYou overanalyze dad!â Kukki deflected, her eyes discreetly studying Prernaâs face. A sullen face. A job well done! Patting her shoulders in her brain, Kukki clapped her hands in glee. âNow that we have everyone onboard with the idea, letâs not delay!What is it they say- chatt mangi, pattvyaahâŚ.Kal engagement and parson wedding!â
âItni jaldi!!!âPrerna, Rishabh and Menka shouted simultaneously as Kukki glared at Menka, while Prerna and Rishabh eyed her suspiciously.
âYes! I want no delay, ok! Oh, and Prerna, your ceremony will be held only after dadâs because he is your seniorâ.
Prerna smiled tightly as Kukki dragged Menka away with her while Rishabh excused himself on pretext of a call.
âCoward!â Prerna murmured annoyed as she slumped on the sofa seat behind her. Leaning her head back, she sighed deeply. What was even happening? In all the days, Menka had stayed with them she had never once betrayed any hint of affections towards Mr. Bajaj. Though on many a situations, she had seen the two bicker, it possibly didnât classify as love. Right?! As a scene of the two having a squabble flashed in front of her eyes, her chest squeezed painfully and Prernaâs lips twisted. Swatting the scene away, she put her brain back on the task at hand. Menkaâs sole focus had been about badgering kukki to give her another chance, then what was this sudden proposal?!
As if a tangible realization had slapped her, Prerna shot up in her seat, her eyes widening. What if, Menka was just using Rishabh as a means to get to Kukki?! NO! She would not just let Rishabh get used!
âAs if you can talk. Heâd certainly be better off with a woman whose interests lie with him, even if thatâs his daughter so as to say!âHer conscious retorted and Prerna slumped back, all traces of fight leaving her body.
~*~*~*~*~
Leaning on the railing, Rishabh let out a puff of smoke, his eyes focused on the water below. It was so painfully obvious that Menka simply wanted Kukki. And he couldâve refused butâ
Rishabh sighed for the umpteenth time, his mind going back to the conversation he had with Kukki two days back. He shook his head in hopelessness. He wouldâve gladly resigned himself to a life without love as long as Prerna was with him but Kukki didnât want that. And Prerna would never step up to stop this marriage. Never. The past 8years after all had been spent in stalemate with her.
Crushing the cigar under his feet, Rishabh turned around,his ears picking on the noise of cars and the pollution in the air. Yeah, even if it was going to be a pain putting up with Menka all over again, sheâd do that for them. For Kukki and Prerna. And for Samidha. Definitely.
With that Rishabh walked back towards his Rover.
~*~*~*~*~*~
âAct naturally, will you?â Kukki spoke through gritted teeth.
Menka smiled apologetically. âSorry, sweetheart. Itâs just that even the thought of marrying Rishabh is horrifyingâ
Offended, Kukki stuck her forefinger at Menka, âMy dadâs not a nightmareâ.
Menka smiled lowering Kukkiâs finger and cupping her hand,âOf course not. He is but a snob with a rod of annoying plans stuck up his a**eâ.
âDadâs not like that!â
âYeah, with you and Prernaâ
Kukki huffed in response and started pacing around the room.
âBut how did Rishabh even agree? Heâs rather bang his head into a wall than marry me!â Menka asked.
Kukki grinned cheekily in reply. âIt was me. I just shed a few tears and asked dad to live for himself. Took a promise for him that if someone will be willing, he will spare them a chanceâ.
Menka hugged Kukki from the back, impressed. âYou sly brat!â
Kukki wiggled in her arms, annoyed and finally escaped her embrace. âPlan has not yet fulfilled. You get to spend time with me, only onthe condition that Prerna confesses to dadâ.
Menka pouted and grumbled a âfineâ. âBut, what if Prerna decides to marry Anurag?â Menka asked suddenly.
âIn that case, Dad does not need to hold on to her. All themore better. But I have faith that Prerna will interfere. She may not love him the way he does, but she cannot just let go of him. Iâm sure, weâll succeedâ
âI hope your faith stands true or Iâm abandoning the mandapâ, Menka shuddered.
Kukki rolled her eyes, âAs if Iâd let dad marry YOU!â
~*~*~*~*~
âWhere is Prerna, Kukki?!!â Menka spelled, her fake smile splitting her face, as kukki helped her sit in the mandap.
âShh, she will definitely come!â kukki quietened her as Pandit adjusted the scrolls and samagri.
âMenka rolled her eyes. âAre you sure? Even during engagement yesterday, words were lost to her!â
Kukki snickered, âIf you wouldâve bothered to look away from dadâs face yesterday, you wouldâve actually laughed at Prernaâs face. She had legit looked constipated!â
âYeah about that, I did laugh but at Rishabhâs face. His features were waaay more constipatedâ,Menka smirked.
âYajman ko bulaayeâ, As the pandit asked for Rishabh, Kukki quickly rushed away.
As Rishabh came and settled beside Menka, Kukki closed her eyes in prayer, âIf Iâve ever loved my father, then please god, may his love fulfill!â
~*~*~*~*~*~
Prerna sat at the edge of bed, her head in her hands as a beautiful red dress was scattered on the bed-the dress she had worn at her wedding to Rishabh. She had seen Rishabh walk past her room, and he had stolen her breath away. Navy blue sherwani definitely complimented his stone hard features.
She had no clue what to do. Gooood, she had even jinxed their engagement yesterday in her head!
Prerna recalled how she was annoyed by the fact that Mr.Bajaj had never given her a ring whilst he slipped a pretty one into Menkaâs dainty finger and adorned another in his own. And last night, when she had come across him in the kitchen, his ring had caught her attention and awfully displeased about she-had-no-clue-what, she had murmured a profanity and the very next, he had cut his finger by mistake, and had to remove the ring!
It was best that she reconciled with Anurag, if only for Samidha. Because her heart may have left an iota or two of love for Anurag but she had no trust. She just could not see herself abandoning this life. She could not even stand the thought of waking up in the morning, not to come across Mr. Bajaj in the kitchen as he whipped her favourite coffee. Her mornings would be forever empty if they wonât involve the struggles that went into waking Kukki up for school. How was she supposed to live without bickering with Mr. Bajaj on his non-existent fashion sense?
A tear of helplessness rolled down her face. She did not want to name her feelings for him. But they were strong, so strong that she would drown if she even thought of letting go. Rishabh Bajaj was her happiness and comfort. He was the habit that sheâd forever hold onto and cherish.
âDonât leave, Rishabh!â Prerna murmured, her heart aching.
part 2- https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/153853685
How was it?! Hope, you enjoyedđ
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