Chapter 8

*Usha Pov* 

I think I am about to faint, so I sat on the couch and took a few deep breaths. I put a very sweet smile on my face and looked up at them. 

“Mom! My answer is still ‘No’.” I said sweetly. 

“We will not hear your answer until you meet him. Tomorrow you can decide clearly after meeting him.” Mom said even more sweetly. 

“Ok! I will reject him when I meet him then.” I said getting up. 

“We even need the reason for your rejection.” Dad said making me flop on the couch. 

“But that’s unfair. This is my first proposal and you guys are acting like if I don’t get settled with this, then I will never get married in my life.” I said glaring at both. 

“That’s because this is the best proposal.” Dad said with a hard expression. 

“Maybe not best for me.” I said shrugging. 

“Usha! His father is our college best friend. We got together with him after so many years and that too for your proposal.” He said and I actually don’t understand what he is trying to tell me. 

“So?” I asked him confused. 

“Just meet him tomorrow. That’s the best thing, and we are more than sure that this will be settled.” Mom replied. 

“Are they coming here or do we have to go there?” I asked them after few minutes of silence. 

“We are actually going to our village. It is our family's home town, and we will meet in your uncle’s house.” Dad replied smiling. 

“You mean Deepu will be there with me?” I asked him suddenly feeling good that at least one thing was happening as well. 

“Yeah! They are so happy about this proposal too.” Mom said. 

“Why?” I asked him completely confused. I mean, why they would be happy for my marriage proposal. 

“This proposal was actually sent to Deepthi and somehow you got it.” Dad replied but didn’t give me any details. 

I will think about it later and present I just want to come out of this problem. Looking at their faces, I can tell that they so want this to happen as per their plan. 

“I will go and sleep.” Saying this I again stood up. 

“By 9am we need to be in the village. You can ask for the leave later.” Dad said. 

I ignored him and went inside my room. Who cares about the leave right now when my life is more important here? 

I immediately called Abhay, but he is not lifting his phone. After a few tries, he finally picked up saying, “Hello?” 

“I am doomed here.” I said in panic mode. 

“I really can’t talk right now Usha. I am very busy.” He said in a hurry. 

“What do you mean you are busy? The situation here is really serious.” I said, trying to make him understand. 

“It’s Shruthi! She is having another breakdown, and I am actually with her at present. I will talk to you later.” He said not at all hearing my words. 

Shruthi! Is it always going to be about her? I thought, frowning. 

“You may lose me because of this problem, Abhay. Can’t you at least hear it?” I asked him pleadingly. 

“I will listen tomorrow freely. For now, she needs me so bye and can’t you understand the seriousness of the matter here.” he shouted making me gasp. 

“Look Usha! I am...” he started to say, but I cut him off shouting “Go.To.Hell.” 

Hanging up the phone, I threw it on the wall in front of me making it scatter into pieces. I am fuming now more than ever. 

How dare he to shout at me like I am just there to waste his time? I thought, pacing my room. 

Tomorrow I will just go and reject that other idiot. For now, I will just sleep. 

The next day I woke up with nothing but a headache. I don’t want to meet anyone today! I groaned, getting up. 

“Usha! Here, wear this sari. It will look good on you.” Mom said, entering my room, and I don’t know how she knows that I am awake. 

Then I heard my clock blazing from the bedside table. I turned towards my mobile, which is lying on the floor in broken mode. 

“Usha! Are you listening to me?” Mom asked, snapping her fingers in front of my face. 

“Yeah! I will wear it.” I replied dryly. 

“Usha! Don’t be in that mood. This is your first proposal right? Aren’t you excited?” she asked smiling brightly. 

“Yay! I finally got a proposal. How lucky am I?” I asked excitingly jumping up and down. 

“I think it went little up to the notch.” Mom said frowning. 

“Either this or the sour mood. Choose yourself, Mom.” Saying this I went inside the washroom. 

We three finally got ready and left the house. Before going inside the car, I felt like I should try once more to skip all this. 

“Dad! You guys go ahead I will come later.” I said looking at him. 

He was about to protest, but I threw him a look that I am not going to budge. He finally sighed and said, “Don’t be late!” 

After they left, I immediately took a cab and reached Abhay’s house. I remember this when I saw it on some file. 

I went near the gate but got stopped by the watchman. The words that left his mouth when I asked him about Abhay shook me completely. 

“What do you mean by engagement?” I asked him confused. 

“Mr.Sharma told me that they were going for his son’s engagement. They all went for that only.” He replied. 

I looked at him in shock for a few minutes and then left for the village. During the journey, I couldn’t help but let a few tears flow. He said he loves me but now going to get engaged to another girl. 

I am sure it must be that ‘Shruthi’. I shook my head and rubbed my eyes. I reached Deepu’s house and stood in front of the door. 

*Abhay Pov* 

“Are you ok now?” I asked knocking on her door. 

“I am fine, Abhay! Thank you so much for the support.” She replied opening the door. 

“What are friends are for right.” I said smiling. 

Then I felt my phone ringing. I just hope it is Usha. I have been calling her after yesterday’s call, but it is saying switched off. 

“Hello?” I said after seeing that it is my Dad. 

“Abhay! Come to our village right now.” he said in a serious tone. 

“Why?” I asked him confused. 

“You are going to meet the girl we selected for you.” he replied, and I can feel the smile in his reply. 

“What? What do you mean?” I asked him shocked, and Shruthi frowned at me. 

“By yesterday, one month is up, Abhay. Today you are going to meet the girl.” He replied. 

We started arguing, but he didn’t budge at all. Not even single percent. If I don’t come there, then he said he will never forgive me. That girl’ parents are actually his friends, so he doesn’t want anything wrong to happen. 

“I don’t even have time to get ready.” I said trying the final tip. 

“You are in Shruthi’s place, right? I am sure there must be some of your dresses. I am not hearing anything Abhay. You need to be here in half n hour.” He said hanging up the phone. 

“What happened?” Shruthi asked worriedly. 

Then I told her what my dad is doing, and I even told her that I like someone else. When she started asking about her, I said I will tell her everything later. 

For now, I decided to meet Usha right now. There is still time for her to leave her home to the office, so I left Shruthi’s house immediately. 

“What do you mean they went for engagement?” I asked the watchmen in shock. 

“That’s what my sir told me.” he replied frowning. 

Usha! How could you decide to marry someone else when you told me you love me? 

Is this what you wanted to tell me yesterday? I thought, concentrating on the words she said. 

I didn’t try to hear her words at all. I was really busy taking care of Shruthi. 

For now, I need to go there and reject that girl. I reached the address Dad message me and walked towards the house calling Usha again. 

I stood near the door to see someone standing beside me. I turned towards the person and then turned towards the door. 

It took me a second to realize who she is. My eyes went wide, and I turned to see she is also looking at me with same expression. 

“What are you doing here?” we both asked each other at a time. 

Then we heard the front door opening, and a girl stepped out with a big smile. 

“You guys are finally here. Everyone is waiting for you both.” Saying this she dragged both of us inside. 

I am still in shock, so I sat where that girl made me sit. I looked up to see Usha sitting in front of me. 

I watched her still in shock, and she too did the same. 

“Looks like they both are already mesmerized by each other. They are not looking at anything except towards each other.” I heard someone saying. 

“Yeah! They are not even hearing our calls.” Someone else said. 

That’s when I broke my gaze and looked away. They all have teasing glint in their eyes. 

“Let them at least talk in privacy.” The girl who dragged us inside said and again made us stand up. 

She took us inside some room and left, closing the door mildly. I looked at her completely confused. 

Is she the one who is selected by my dad? But Dad said she already told me ‘Yes’. Does that mean that she was just playing me all these days? 

*Usha Pov* 

After Deepu took us inside her room and left us alone, I looked at him in complete shock. 

Is he the one Mom and Dad selected for me? But they said that he already told me ‘Yes’ one month back itself. 

Does that mean that he was just playing me all these days? I thought and then the realization hit me very hard. 

His eyes too went wide and in a matter of seconds, I held his collar with one hand angrily, and he held my other hand angrily. 

“How dare you?” we asked each other a same time. 

“Huh?” we both again said confused. 

“So this whole month is nothing but fake for you?” He asked glaring at me. 

“I should just ask you that question. Now that your game is out you are accusing me?” I asked him glaring back. 

“You are the one that is accusing me and not the other way around.” He replied rolling his eyes. 

“Until yesterday with me then with Shruthi and now another girl. You are really good in this.” I said, pulling him holding his neck. 

“Look who is talking.” He said, tightening his grip on my wrist. 

In the meantime, we both heard the shouts of “Congratulations! We are going to be family.” 

Everyone erupted into laughs, and we both looked straight at each other wide eyed. We both left the hold on each other and rushed towards the living room. 

“What is happening?” I asked Deepu who saw us. 

“You guys have been there for some time, so we all know that you both accepted this proposal. I am so happy for you.” She replied hugging me. 

“Let us conduct the engagement.” Suddenly, Dad shouted. 

“Engagement?” We both shouted together. 

“Oh! You both are already in sync.” Deepu said teasing us. 

I thought that situation would not get any worse, but I got proved wrong when the doors opened and entered a few villagers who are the head of this village. And many standing outside the house. 

My uncle actually has a big name in this village so it is more than a celebration for the villagers if anything good happens in Uncle’s house. And they must have heard the shouts. 

I can’t go with this. I can’t marry a person who is nothing but a cheat. 

I called Mom and Dad, and they reached me holding some ring box. I was about to say my rejecting but then saw some miracle. 

They both are talking to each other sweetly, and I can see the love shining in their eyes when they started to talk. What should they do for the preparations? 

Well, I will wait for him to reject this proposal because I don’t want to be the one who will break my parent’s happiness regarding this. 

*Abhay Pov* 

How could I marry her? When I know that she just played me and thinks me as a cheat when she is the one actually. 

I called Mom and Dad and was on the verge of telling my rejection, but then saw something, which is nothing but a miracle. 

They both are talking to each other that to too much of talking. I was looking at them in shock. 

This is what I wished for all these years and now, it is happening in front of my eyes. How can I be the reason to break this thing? 

So when I was given a ring, I took her hand and waited for her to tell her rejection. Nonetheless, she was looking at her parents and not looking at me at all. 

I was looking at my parents and then placed the ring on her finger. Then I heard her gasp. 

She looked straight at me, and I looked at her. Gulping she took the ring and started placing on my finger again watching her parents. I too looked at mine when she was doing that. 

“We just found out that in one week, there is a very good time for their wedding.” I heard one villager saying, and then we saw one pundit sitting in one of the chairs. 

“But it is too soon.” We both said at the same time with our own parents. 

“Don’t worry about the preparations. The whole village will take it in its hands to conduct an amazing wedding. After all, this is the function in this house, which is very important for all of us.” Another villager said. 

We then just saw that we are entirely outnumbered in high level and by going with the engagement is the biggest mistake now. 

There are only two words for this current situation, and that is “Completely Doomed.”