Chapter 5) Twigs Of Memories

Flashback Continued:- 

"Now meet their son, 'Prathvik' ", Dua's father motioned for her to look at the boy, and unknowingly, her gaze fell on the boy, who had a small smile on his lips. 

'PRATHVIK!', Dua whispered his name softly, her heart skipping a beat as she and Prathvik stared at each other.

Dua extended a greeting and bowed her head slightly, and he reciprocated. Her heart was pounding, and she was nervous as hell.

"My child, take Prathvik to your room and talk," Dua's father said directly. In front of everyone, Dua panicked and yelled, "No!" 

Everyone stared at her and the way she yelled. She looked at the boy, who had a deep frown on his forward. 

Dua's father shook his head again at her daughter's childish behavior. 

Dua managed to calm her racing heart. She felt warm gazes on her body. She recognized that she had made a mistake and that everyone was thinking negatively about her father's upbringing. She decided to abandon her facade of a shy and quiet girl and start saying whatever she felt in her heart.

"Papa! I am fine here, and there is nothing else to say about it. If he wants to talk to me, he can do so in front of everyone. I do not have any problems with it", Dua spoke boldly, and her father closed his eyes.

"And I am not taking him to my bedroom", Dua's father was left speechless after Dua had clarified every point. 

Dua's father knew her daughter disliked having strangers in her room, particularly boys. She was a straightforward girl, which was her father's main source of tension. She did whatever she liked. Finally, her father agreed, and she smiled broadly.

"Prathvik! We are outside. You two can speak freely", Dua's father spoke, and she looked at him. 

Dua wanted to end it all, but she was powerless. Her thoughts began to turn toward her dreams and future. Her thoughts were interrupted by a throat-clearing sound. She looked at him, and he smiled broadly.

"Hello!", Prathvik said, and She responded with "Hello!" as well. 

"So, Is there any problem with you that you directly refused to take me to your room?", Prathvik asked and Dua looked at him. 

Dua sighed loudly.

'Dua, Just speak freely. He is not your husband, and the relationship has only recently begun. I am not sure how many boys and his family will come to see you in the future for alliances', Dua said to herself and then She took a deep breath, released it, and then looked at him. 

"Yes, I have problems because, firstly, I do not like strangers putting their legs in my bedroom, and secondly, boys who are not my relatives or friends, and you fall into both categories", Dua said, and Prathvik nodded his head while smiling warmly at her. 

"So, Dua, you have some basic knowledge about me?", Prathvik asked, and Dua responded, "Yes". 

"I am aware that you work and live in Canada with your family. You are 26 years old", Dua spoke, and Prathvik smiled.

"Then ask me what you would like to know about me?", Prathvik asked, as he liked Dua's personality. 

"I do not have anything to ask you. Actually, I have two important facts about my life that I would like to share with you just to clear your perception of whatever you have for your future life." Dua spoke, and Prathvik listened to her.

"My father is my first priority, followed by my dream. Dream to open my own fashion line", Dua said and looked straight at him. 

"Yes, I know you are studying fashion design in Delhi", Prathvik spoke, and Dua nodded.

"Yes, and my father is my only family, and he has not been well in a few months, so I come from time to time to take proper care of him and help him in the Mart business", Dua said as she did not want to rush into any relationship, but the small smile her father gave her prompted her to consider this marriage.

"Oh okay", Prathvik just responded in short.

"But if we marry, where will you live? With me or with your father?", Prathvik asked her casually but Dua interpreted his words incorrectly.

"What do you mean? I did not say anything like this. I just made it clear that I only have my father and my father only has me, and most importantly, he is getting old and will need someone in the future, and that someone will obviously be me", Dua said in a loud voice, leaving no room for conversation. 

Prathvik nodded and smiled broadly at her.

"I like you, Dua. So what about you?", Prathvik asked, and Dua looked puzzled at him. 

"Why do you like me?", Dua asked him as she was confused.

"Because you know what you want in life, and you understand that our parents are the foundation of our future. You love your father as much as I love my parents", Prathvik spoke softly, and Dua smiled.

"Actually, I want a partner who can listen to and understand me", Prathvik said, looking at her directly.

"Listening to you implies you want a submissive girl?", Dua asked him, but he shook his head negatively at her.

Dua was an independent girl who lived her life according to her own desires, but she never exceeded the limit that his father had placed in her system. Giving freedom did not mean abusing that freedom and making a fool of parents. 

"No, I want someone who can listen to my blabbering", Prathvik said while smiling awkwardly. 

However, She burst out laughing.

"I am sorry,", Dua said, and Prathvik shook his head, saying, "No, you are quite interesting." 

Now, this time, Her cheeks got flushed at his words.

"So, what do you expect from your partner or future husband?", He asked and looked at her round, chubby face. 

"Freedom and Promise." I expect freedom from him, as well as a promise", Dua responded to him 

"Freedom and promise?", Prathvik arched his eyebrows at her, and Dua nodded.

"Yes, I want the freedom to do whatever I want. Freedom to complete studies, as well as freedom to talk, walk, and meet with anyone at any time. Freedom to visit my father whenever I want, and a promise that he will always stand by my side without asking anything of me", Dua stated confidently. 

Prathvik was amused by her words and realized that the girl sitting in front of him was a fighter and survivor. She knew how to get back into the game. He smiled and looked at her.

"What do you expect from your future wife?", Dua asked and played with her fingers.

"I will give her freedom, but she will never cross the line of freedom, and I will always be by her side", Prathvik replied and Dua stared at him.

Prathvik was a genuine, honest person. She liked him. He liked her, but in the end, they were strangers embarking on a new life journey together. 

Their parents noticed them talking freely and smiled at them. They inquired about their decision, and they immediately said yes to the marriage. They were all extremely happy. They shared sweets and hugged each other. 

Their parents chose an auspicious day for their engagement.

"Papa, I have to return to Delhi tomorrow. My classes are about to begin." Dua said, and they understood her issue.

"What time is your train?", Dua's soon-to-be Mother-in-law asked Dua. 

"At night," Dua replied, and their faces bloomed with happiness.

"Then it is fine. We will hold an engagement here tomorrow with a few family members and friends.", Dua's soon-to-be father-in-law spoke and Dua's father agreed with it.

Dua looked at Prathvik and noticed him staring back at her. She looked down and felt someone touch her hand. Everyone left her home. 

Dua was dazed when she discovered a piece of paper in her palm. She examined the paper and discovered that it contained beautifully written numbers. She was perplexed and looked everywhere, her gaze fixed on Prathvik. 

Prathvik smirked at her, indicating that the paper and number were his. Dua smiled and shook her head. She found him mouthing, "Call Me." 

Dua stuck out her tongue at him, and he laughed loudly.

… 

The next day was Dua's engagement day. 

Dua and Prathvik exchanged smiles and glances. Both looked stunning in their simple traditional Indian attire. Their families were smiling. Dua looked at her father, whose face was beaming with happiness.

Soon, the Priest chanted holy spells, and they offered a brief prayer and sought blessings from their God. 

They exchanged rings and shared sweets. The Priest checked the auspicious date for their marriage, and the date they chose fell after an important festival. Her father asked Dua's opinion, and Dua nodded, indicating that she was fine with the date. 

Dua had five months of time for her marriage. Her father hugged her tightly, and they shed tears in each other's arms.

Dua returned to Delhi for her studies, but she had a new contact number on her cell phone, which began ringing shortly after her meeting with him. She smiled whenever his number appeared on her phone's screen. 

It displayed "PRATHVIK" with a smiley emoji.

A new journey was about to begin. Everything was blooming in Dua's life, but — 

Darkness was hiding and preparing to crush her completely.

….. 

Thank you

ShineeSunshine ❤️