PART 5
There had been an atmosphere of festivity and joy at the Sharma House, after the Poddars had left, everyone had been in high spirits, except Abhira, who was still in a shock to react. Akshara hugged her lovingly and said, "I knew they would like my Abhira. Who wouldn't? Wait till I tell Mrs. Singhania and Mrs. Maheshwari, that we have got the proposal of marriage from none other than the Poddar's."
Kiara winked at Aryan and quipped naughtily, "Why Ma? You were planning to murder Didi when she came back. Ab kya hua?" Akshara gave a scathing look at Kiara and told her to shut-up as she asked Muskaan to call up their family priest as soon as possible and take out a day and date for the Engagement and Wedding. Everyone was too excited to notice Abhira who had been unusually quiet and still, only Muskaan did so and felt really scared of the earthquake that was going to follow in the wake of Armaan's proposal of marriage.
Abhira woke up early the next day and went out for a walk near Mussoorie Lake which was quite close to their house. She sat alone on the bench, which was still wet from last evening's rain and looked at the placid lake blankly. She could not for the life of her understand how and why had that man said yes for the marriage. They had barely talked to one another, in fact, if she remembered correctly, not only had she come home late, making them wait for so long but had behaved in a rather childish manner with him when they had been alone. And as far as Abhira knew, she was nothing to write home about, just an average looking, young girl with no special talents or interests, far worse, gifted with a stubborn streak and a brutally honest tongue. Abhira was extremely disturbed by the memory of her short encounter with Armaan Poddar and she did not want to ponder on something which she was hell bent on not making a part of her life. She had decided not to marry and she was going to keep her vow. She couldn't care if her family did not understand that fact, but they have to accept it, with or without happiness.
Abhira came home close to 8:30 am, when the entire household was at the Breakfast Table and Akshara was frantically making phone calls to her sisters and brothers, telling them the "good news". As soon as they saw Abhira, everyone's attention turned towards her, she came in quietly and slumped on her chair at the Dining Table and started eating whatever was served without offering any comment.
Akshara was in a brilliant mood and in an overflowing motherly love fashion, put lots of butter onto Abhira's Parantha while saying, "Eat more, Beta. Look how thin you have become. Now who will feed you all this after you are gone?" Kiara put her head down, to avoid sniggering at her Mother's melodrama while Aryan and Muskaan exchanged droll looks.
Abhira gave a withering look at Akshara and said, "I am fine and I don't want any butter. Please." Akshara was a bit taken aback by her coldness but still continued in her Motherly syrupy voice, "Ok then, have some Kheer, that I have made for you, your favorite." Without waiting for Abhira to give a response, she poured a generous quantity of some sticky and inedible looking substance onto her bowl. Abhira looked up at her family, everyone had a silly smile plastered on their faces and suddenly, she blew up in anger and pushed her food away, getting up from the table violently.
"I don't want to marry him. Tell them that I have refused the proposal." Abhira thundered out emotionally, turning her back to the family. Everyone was stunned quite for some time before Kairav called out, "What are you saying Abhira? How can we turn them down? Armaan has agreed to the match himself."
Abhira turned to face her brother and quaking with rage and emotion said, "So what if he has said yes to the marriage? Doesn't my yes or no count for anything?"
Kairav stood gaping at Abhira till Muskaan tried to intervene peacefully but was cut-short by Abhira who was now on the verge of tears, "No Bhabhi. Please don't go there again. I agreed to meet him only because you insisted. But I am not marrying someone against my wishes. This is final."
Everyone was quiet for some time, till Akshara, all her good mood dissolved, went red in the face in anger and came striding towards her daughter, holding her fiercely by her shoulders and almost yelling, "Nobody is going to ask you for your opinion. There is no need. Your Father likes the boy, I like him and you will marry him as per our wishes."
Abhira was now crying openly and shouting back on her Mother said, "Does my feelings matter anything at all to you? Or am I just a burden as you said, that you have to pack me off and send me with the first man who wants me?"
Akshara was exasperated and as she began yelling back, Abhinav got up and said serenely, "Beta, what is wrong with Armaan? He is a nice enough boy, comes from a very good family and I know for sure he will make a good husband for you."
Abhira looked at her Father with pleading eyes and said, "Papa…It is not about him or anyone else. I don't want to get married. Please, try and understand. I don't want to marry. Don't force me into this, please."
Saying that she fell on the floor, breaking down into heaps of tears, as the rest of the family kept staring at her dumbfounded. Kiara and Aryan also began crying, as Muskaan kept her own tears withheld and holding Abhira gently by her shoulders took her to her room upstairs.
The whole atmosphere of the Sharma House underwent a drastic change as Kairav finished talking to Armaan over the phone, bidding them goodbye and promising them to get back with Abhira's answer soon. No one knew what to say or do and even though Akshara had hotly argued that Abhira should be coerced into the marriage, Abhinav had told his wife with finality that he would never agree to anything like this. It was the biggest decision of his daughter's life and he was certainly not going to put her and some other person's life into jeopardy. If the marriage was to take place, it would be with Abhira's whole-hearted consent or not at all.
Muskaan had not brought up the issue with Abhira as she had consoled her young sister-in-law's tears, knowing what was really going on through her heart at this point in time. Abhira was still too young to be practical enough to leave the past behind and move on and Muskaan only wished that Abhira realized the value of time before she was left far behind to catch up with it.
The topic had not come up for discussion anymore till Abhinav had called Abhira downstairs with everyone assembled and asked her in his loving, caring way if she really did not want to get married.
Abhira had replied quietly, "There is nothing wrong with him. But papa, I don't want to marry. I want to study further and have a career." Kairav had tried to cut short impatiently and explain that she could always do this after marriage too, but Abhinav had told him to be quiet and said, "Alright. If you are so against the idea of marriage, we won't bear upon you. After all, it is your life as you said and you have all the rights to make your own decisions."
Akshara had been heartbroken but had to keep quiet as Abhinav's word was final and they had decided to call up Armaan's family and apologize to them regarding Abhira's answer.
The last words from Abhinav to Abhira had been, "I want to tell you one thing, Beta. Please don't let go of what you get for something that you wish for. It is in the search for the unknown, that we let go of things that really matter to us."
Abhira had gone back to her room, feeling extremely depressed and sad despite things moving in her favor.
.... Aapne toh Dil Khush Kar ditta! 
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