Chapter 4

Gauravi's POV 

"I agree that Mihir is a nice man but he has feelings for you, not for Tami. "  Mom said. 

" But he is a good man from a good family... A good son, a good brother,  and a good friend." I argued. 

" I'm sure he would be a good husband," Dad said. 

" Yes, I am sure, but he would not be my husband. "  I said firmly. 

" There is no rush, I think that you panicked as we were fixing your wedding date, take some time and think about it for some time. I want you to think of all the pros and cons of this. "  Dad said and Mom nodded. 

" Dad, Mom, trust me I am saying this after thinking all these things. I don't deserve his unconditional love when I can't reciprocate his feelings. " I said and Mom looked into my eyes, I averted my eyes away as I knew she was trying to read my mind as she had this magical power to read people's minds, now even Tami had inherited that trait. 

I wish I could read people's minds and know what they were thinking. 

" Gautam, stop this! There is no use,  she has made up her mind, and she is not a child anymore. I think we should go to the Malhotra mansion and talk to Sagar and Damini about this. " Mom said. I looked at her and a smile came on my face. 

" Talk to Sagar about what?? About Shaurya? Never! I would rather beat him to a pulp, he is a playboy, a Casanova. No, I  will not allow my daughter to get involved with him, never!  Sid, get my gun... " Dad yelled telling Chachu to get his gun.

 Chachu kept dad's gun with him as Dad has been a bit short-tempered especially if any guy comes anywhere near Tami, Sri, or me. So Mom told Chachu to keep it with him, or she will throw it away. She did this as Chachu was the only level-headed man in the family apart from Dadu as my cousin, Siddh was just like Dad as he followed him in everything. 

" Gautam, calm down!!  So what if he is a Casanova? Sahil was also like that, see how much he has changed. " Mom argued. 

" But I don't want my daughter to be with him. " Dad retorted. 

" They are already together, Gautam."  Mom said and Dad looked at her with questions in his eyes, she nodded. Dad closed his eyes and clenched his jaw and fist. 

" Whatever... I am not going to talk to Sagar about it. If I go there, it will be to warn Shaurya to stay away from my daughter. I don't care if you feel anything for him or not, I  will not accept him. " He said and went away. 

By now Tami had also come out as Dad was yelling at me. 

" What happened? Where is everyone?"  She asked.

"They left, as she refused to marry Mihir. " Chachi said, Tami was shocked to hear that. 

" What? Why? " She asked looking at me But I didn't bother to reply and looked at Mom, she shook her head and went after Dad. 

" Why did you refuse to get married to Mihir? He is madly in love with you."  She asked. 

" Because I don't want him. " I said and she was as confused as others. 

"She wants to get married to Shaurya bhaiya," Siddh said. 

" What?? I am not getting anything? Where did this Shaurya come from?? " Tami asked. 

" Don't strain your peanut-sized brains. Leave me alone." I said to her. 

" What have you done, beta? Why did you have to complicate everything? If you had feelings for him you should have told us earlier. " Chachi said and Chachu came and hugged me. 

" I also feel the same, but don't worry, your Mom will handle Bhai. She has been handling him for years. Chill! But I don't like Shaurya either, if it was Shlok, I would have agreed in a second. "

" No, Chachu, Shlok is just too boring... I can't even think of myself being with him. Shaurya is... Shaurya. "  I said thinking about him. 

" But you never even liked him... " Tami asked and just then I saw Siddh coming out of his room and going out,  he looked very angry.

" Siddh, where are you going? " Chachu asked. 

" Going to beat that... man to a pulp. How dare he..." He said grinding his teeth. 

" No, you can't beat him, Siddh. " I said immediately. 

" Oh, Shut up!! I  don't need your permission. "  He said. He has always kept all the other boys away from me, except Mihir and Vihan as they were my classmates, but he always kept giving them threats not to mess with me or they would have to face him. He was a boxing champion like my dad apart from being a qualified doctor. 

" You are not going anywhere,  go back to your room," Chachu said. 

" Dad, I need to go and beat him. " Siddh said. 

"  I said, go back to your room. We have to be calm and handle the delicate matter with care. And under any condition, at least, you are not going to handle this. "  He said. 

" This is not fair, Dad, how dare he flirt and have an affair with my sister? "

" Calm down, Siddh... Your dad is right. Maurvi will solve this issue. She is very good at it, actually the best in the whole lot of friends."  Chachi said. 

" Fine, I  am not going right now, but I will break his teeth very soon. And you stay away from him. Don't you know how he is? Or do you want me to remind you? "  Siddh said glaring at me. I knew that if I argued with him, he would definitely do what I would tell him not to do. I could not involve Siddh in this complicated situation, to make the issue more grave. So I went to my room. 

I tried calling his number but it was still out of reach. 

Where are you, Shaurya? 

****

After about a week... 

I was ready to go to the hospital and went to the dining room to have breakfast as I was feeling very hungry.  The situation had become very awkward between me and Mihir. He was so hurt and upset with me that he was not even looking in my direction, which was very weird for me as he has always been around me, being my best friend. I missed him but... He was just that... My best friend. 

I joined everyone at the dining table and they looked serious. 

" What happened?? " 

" Nothing, have you decided what do want to do now? I hope you have noticed, how hurt Mihir is, don't you think, you should not have rejected him like that? " Siddh asked. 

" I still like him as my best friend but I can't marry him. "  I was firm on my decision. 

" Why?? Because of that... Playboy? "  Dad asked in an angry tone. 

" Dad, please... " 

" Okay, Gauravi beta,  do you think that he is serious about you? "  Mom asked and for the first time in my life, I saw Dad glaring at her. Mom ignored him and kept looking at me. 

" I don't know... Maybe. " I said truthfully. 

" You don't know??? Maybe?? What do you mean by that ?? "  Siddh asked in a higher tone. 

" It means that I am not sure but I think so... "  I explained after taking a deep breath. 

" Okay, call him right away and ask him to come here, we will ask him directly. " Mom said and Dad looked annoyed. 

" Maurvi!! " 

" Gautam, we have already talked about it. Sid, don't take out the gun,  however your brother asks you to. "  Mom said and I smiled. 

" He will never come here, he is such a playboy, he wants a new girl every day but is scared of any commitment. " Siddh said. 

" Siddh, calm down! " Chachu said. 

" No, he is absolutely right. Call him! Say that we want to meet him so he must come here immediately. " Dad said. 

I tried calling him but his phone was still not reachable. 

Oh, God! 

What do I tell them now? How do I tell them that I was...

" What happened?? Is he not picking up your call?? Or is his phone busy? " Siddh asked with sarcasm. 

" His phone is not reachable. I have been trying to call him for a few days." I said. 

"  I am sure, he is involved with many such girls and hence he is not picking up your calls. I think you should forget about him, he is not reliable or dependable. I am not comfortable with the fact that you are even thinking of him. Let's go and meet Shahs, we can say that it was just a prank. They know that I am a big prankster and you are very much like me. They might forgive you, Mihir loves you so much that he would be very happy to have you back in his life. I must say, that Mihir is a very nice boy, and I was excited to have him as my son-in-law. " Dad said firmly. 

" No, Dad... Please try to understand, it is not possible. " I said.  

" Why is it not possible? I will make it possible for you. You deserve Mihir, not Shaurya. " Dad argued. 

" No Dad!! I don't want to get married to Mihir when I feel this way for Shaurya. " but I was adamant. 

" I am so sick and tired of hearing his name. Enough is enough, I have always given you everything you asked for. But I can't spoil your life by agreeing with you on this matter. You are coming with me to the Shah house. "

" No!! It will spoil many lives, Dad. "  I said. 

How do I explain my reasons?? But I have to tell at least one of them... 

" What? Why?? What is so good about him that you are ready to leave Mihir for him? "  Dad asked, he was absolutely impressed with Mihir and his dedication. 

" I can't forget him and marry Mihir because... I am pregnant with Shaurya's child."