Chapter 5

*Maheshwari Pov*

I glanced to my right and immediately looked away seeing the way Di gripping the wheel tightly making her knuckles turn white.

“Di!” I called her finally getting some courage.

“Don’t say a word.” She warned and stopped before our home while blazing the horn so that the gates can be opened.

“Where were you? Don’t you know these should be opened when we reach near the corner of the road?” she blasted at the poor watchman and she looked down.

“Don’t shout at them in anger on me.” I said, placing a hand on her shoulder but she shrugged it away.

“Get down!” saying that she walked inside and I immediately heard her shouting for Father and Mom.

“Why are you shouting, Sweety?” Mom asked when I stepped inside the house while she is fuming in the living room.

“You don’t know what she did today, Mom.” Saying that she turned towards Father who walked towards us with a confused look.

“What is it?” he asked and she turned to stare at me.

“I saw her today with that… that bodyguard of Nakul.” She replied in disgust.

“We just met.” I mumbled and she glared at me.

“Don’t lie to me, Maha! I saw you that day in the park with him and immediately started observing you. I know you have been meeting him so many times and even talking to him.” She said and I felt myself frozen.

She observed me? Oh god! Does she know what we both were doing? This will be more than mess because I am sure this Maheshwari will also die.

I immediately scolded myself for these thoughts and started thinking what to tell her. Well, I can say we are friends, but she will not believe him because if she actually checked my calls then they are very high number to think a conversation between two newly formed friends.

“I… I am trying to get to know him. You know…” I trailed off and cringed at my lie, but it is kind of true too because now I know him a little.

“Didn’t you got any other person than him? I mean he is a bodyguard.” She asked and rubbed her forehead.

“But he is a nice person.” I pointed out and she sighed before sitting on the couch.

“If she likes her then let her date him. Why don’t you call him for dinner today?” Mom asked, smiling and I gave a panicked look.

“No!” I shouted and immediately closed my eyes.

“I mean, this is so new.” I mumbled and smiled at her, but it slipped when my gaze went to Di because now she has a narrowed look.

“He is your boyfriend, right?” she asked, stressing the word ‘He’.

“Uhmm…” I made a sound and glanced at Father to see him just staring at Di and me.

“Well?” she asked sharply, moving towards me and I nodded.

“Call him!” she ordered suddenly after a few moments of silence.

“What?” I asked her in shock.

“Call him now for lunch.” She replied and I glanced at Mom.

“Mom?” I called her and she frowned at him.

“It’s okay, Maha! We will just talk.” Mom said in an assuring tone but then I glanced at my Father to see him frowning at Di.

“What happened, Sweety?” he finally asked and she glanced at me for a second before moving towards him.

“It is important.” That’s all she replied and he nodded before glancing at me.

“Call him now.” Saying that they both walked to the study while I suddenly felt the fury.

“I am not going to call him, Mom. We know each other for just a week.” I said looking at her.

“We are not getting you married to him.” She said smiling but then frowned.

“Are you hiding anything else?” she asked and I shook my head before walking outside the house.

Oh god! He will kill me if he gets to know that I lied to my family and now he has to be here as my boyfriend.

I immediately called him and blabbered whatever came to my head and pleaded him to come here. The moment he accepted, I hung up sighing in relief.

I walked inside to see Mom rushing the maid regarding arrangements for the guests with same excitement she showed when I told her that I have a boyfriend during college time.

Her’s was a love marriage and she says no one could ever love her like my Dad. I wish he was here and he would have dealt with all this in a calm but successful manner.

However, here I am struck to this thing with a lie and hope nothing worse comes from this. I just paced in the living room and glanced at the door hearing the footsteps.

“What happened?” he asked and I immediately rushed near to him.

“She saw us already when we were in the park and even checked my call history. I had to lie, we are dating and that you are my boyfriend.” I rushed my reply so that we can have a conversation before anyone can realize he is here.

“Checked your history? Does she think herself as a spy or what? What right does she have to check your phone?” he continued to ask and I groaned with the way he is wasting time.

“It is my mistake to not have any password set and to keep it anywhere without care.” I replied and he gave me a weird look.

“So, she doesn’t know anything, right?” he asked and I shook my head.

“But she doesn’t believe whatever we said and my father and she walked inside the study room. I don’t know what they are doing now and my Mom is excited to meet my boyfriend though.” I added and he smiled but immediately a frown appeared.

“Let us act like that only and we will try our best to not let them get suspicious. Within five days, everything will settle. Who knows, after that none of us would meet each other ever.” He said and I waved his words off thinking all that is not important.

He doesn’t know my Di at all. She was always been too sharp and very strong too. If she thinks something she will do anything to prove it.

“James! Come inside.” We heard Mom’s voice and immediately walked inside to see her smiling at us.

“I will call them.” She said and was about to move but stopped making me realize they are already here walking towards us.

And the lunch started which actually gave the tough competition to the awkward dinner we had a few weeks ago.

“So, where are your parents?” Mom asked smiling.

“They died in a car accident when I was five years old.” His reply brought the effect which I expected by everyone just stiffening in their seats.

“It was in New York and not in India.” Hearing his reply I wanted to poke him with my fork.

Does he know what he just did? Because I did the way Father and Di looked at each other before giving me a look and then at James.

He just increased their suspicion to a high new level. I just lost my appetite and played with my food, knowing well I will get played by these two soon.

“I was raised by my grandma but she passed away two years back.” He replied to my Mom’s question which I completely missed.

After the lunch, my father casually gestured us to the study room and we all followed before sitting carefully in the chairs present.

“So, you both are dating?” he asked James and he nodded.

“Okay! What are your intentions?” he suddenly asked and I groaned, but felt a small pressure on my hand making me realize James is holding it.

“Honorable!” he replied and I grinned to myself.

“Then marry her.” Hearing those words from Di made the grin wash away with a splash.

“What?” We two shouted and glanced at her to see she is already staring back at us.

“We are just dating.” I said as a simple explanation.

“Tough! We have a situation here.” Di said and sat in a chair near the window.

“What happened?” Mom asked and she sighed.

“My friend saw a journalist who was there when we walked into the café take the picture of these both. You know how the media is and Dad doesn’t want any tarnishing of the family’s reputation.” Di replied.

“Di! If me holding a hand of a guy in a café will tarnish then what will they say about this fast wedding?” I asked finally letting my irritation out and felt James snort while everything else filled with silence.

“That’s it!” saying that Father stood up and walked towards us.

“Either you both are getting married or I will be making a call to Nakul. I will ask him to send James away right this moment until wedding as it will be awkward to Maha with seeing her ex-boyfriend.” He announced and I gasped at him.

“But why will he be my ex?” I asked him finding my voice.

“Because unless you both are completely in love, I will not allow you to date someone like him.” He replied.

“What do you mean like him?” James asked in a threatening tone.

“Like one with such a low-life job and with no family background or anything.” Di replied and I immediately stood up along with James.

“Di!” I said, frowning at what she is saying.

When did she change like this? I remember her being but now she is talking some other language.

“I already have a few prospects of grooms in my mind and there is a talk too. You will be married in a nice house. However, if it is true love, then I don’t want fuss by forcing you.” Father added and I stared at him.

“Or is there something which we have to know?” Di suddenly asked, breaking the silence, making me glanced at her to see the same suspicious look.

“I want to talk to her.” James said and they all slowly left but Mom stayed.

“Why are you not saying anything, Mom?” I asked her feeling hurt.

“Maha! I can see he is important for you with him knowing about the accident and also the way you raised your voice defending him which you never did for yourself. I am feeling this is right and if you both feel the same then what is wrong? Because I know if you don’t marry by your choice, then you will have an arranged that are being chosen by Sathish and I don’t think what he has in mind is attached to your happiness. However, I am here to support whatever your decision is but think.” Saying that she walked away.

“What a mess!” James said, sitting back in the chair while I moved towards the table.

“I am sorry about her words.” I said, turning back to stare at him.

“She will be sorry soon with her this whole planning and plotting being washed away.” He said shrugging.

“We will do it!” he suddenly said and I stared at him like he actually grew another head.

“Are you mad?” I asked and he sighed.

“Look, I have a plan too. I can see your sister is full on convinced we are hiding something. Why don’t we go along by which we can buy sometime for ourselves so that he can be here before all this. It’s not like one wedding is happening for the second to happen.” He explained.

“This is because of you. Who asked you to say the accident was not in India? They all realized I talked to you about the accident.” I said.

“I just said that so that they don’t assume Nakul is behind that too.” He said shrugging again.

“It is not a simple matter to be ready for marriage, no matter how sure we are it will not happen.” I said frowning.

“There are a lot of advantages. We will be up front in everything and if by our bad luck, the doctor gets late, but will be here near to wedding time, we can make them wait because we will have the same important. Being in an audience will not be same.” He explained.

“I don’t know! I am feeling we are making something huge out of a mole.” I mumbled.

“If we don’t, then he will call Nakul and I will be sent away. Because I know bride’s sister is more important than a bodyguard. He will not like it, but he will do it.” He said and I sighed.

“Of course! Anything for a business.” I mumbled and he sighed.

"Even I don't want this." he said and I sighed.

“Fine! I shouldn’t have come near you for help only. I should have stayed calm and let everything go as it is.” I mumbled and he stood up.

“I shouldn’t even have listened to your words only. I should have just said everything to Nakul and everything would have been fine.” He mumbled.

“Di shouldn’t have planned this only.” I added and he nodded before we burst out laughing.

“God! I feel like this is last laugh kind of thing.” I mumbled and he shook his head.

“You are too dramatic and we will use this in a worst case scenario to trail time as much as we can but I am expecting him to be here like he said.” Saying that he held my hand and we both walked out of the room.

“We are fine with the marriage, but it should be along with Nakul’s.” James announced and now it was their time to look shocked.

“What? Do you know what you are doing?” Di asked, frowning while staring at me.

“Yes!” I replied with full conviction that it got settled and James left.

“If you are happy then only it will happen.” Mom said and I nodded smiling.

Now, only Di left in the living room staring at me and she suddenly walked towards me. She stood near me with a blank expression before groaning in irritation.

“Maha! I don’t want you to ruin your life. Do you understand? Don’t do this thinking this is it. Tell me the truth and a simple call will cancel this.” She said and I stilled hearing a little pleading tone.

“What truth?” I asked her back hoping she will confess, but she closed her eyes.

“Fine! It’s not like there will be a we…” she trailed off and composed herself.

“Tomorrow we will go to my boutique and you choose a dress.” Saying that she walked away while I stared at her.

I rubbed my chest feeling the little pain thinking what will happen. Wait! There will be no weddings only when the doctor comes here and there is also a point where I can stop it if it reaches a little more than we planned and he too doesn't want all this.

*James Pov*

“What?” Nakul shouted and I stared at him.

“I am getting married to your fiancé’s sister.” I repeated while he stared at me like I have grown another head which is the second time I got today.

“Her?” he asked with his nose scrunching.

“Is she even major?” he added and I laughed.

“Of course! She is more than a major. And no need for such expression.” I said in a little anger tone even though feeling more inside for giving that expression for Maha.

She is a nice girl and just because he is used to the girls so modern and like Swathi, it doesn’t mean he can disrespect her.

Woah! Calm down! I thought to myself and Nakul said the same raising his hands.

“I am just saying, but it is your wish. And was she the personal thing all this week?” he asked and I nodded.

“So, we both are getting married on the same day. This is interesting.” He said, smirking and walked away while I sighed.

What have I got myself into for this stupid? Well, it’s not like we will reach the time to get ready with arrangements with myself for wedding in the first place.

I grinned and then started checking with my team while giving him details of the doctor to be brought near to me the moment they see him near this house.

“What? Why?” I screamed, making a few security people turn towards me with curious looks, but they turned away when I gave them a warning look.

“I have an important patient and she is critical. I will be there as soon as I can but not today.” He replied and I tried to control my breathing.

Day after tomorrow evening is the wedding and he didn’t even started from his place. I rubbed my temples and started thinking.

“I will send you the money right now to take the flight ticket anytime and I want you here within forty eight hours. A minute later would end up with your funeral.” Saying that I slammed the phone on the car front with force.

“There is a problem.” I finally uttered the words, bringing as much dare as I can and called her.

“What is it? I am tired with this shopping and arrangements. But I liked the dress. Maybe I can wear it for functions too.” She continued to talk.

“Doctor is not coming today.” I mumbled and there was nothing but silence.

“Wh… what?” her voice quivered.

“He will be here before the wedding time. I threatened him too.” I offered as a comfort.

“Threatened? Threatened? You… ugh!” she mumbled something which I didn’t even understand.

“Go and drag him here for god’s sake.” She shouted and I pushed the phone away from my ear feeling surprised by her outburst.

“You are stressed!” I stated and winced when she suddenly laughed.

“Stressed? Of course I am! Monday onwards I am going to start my wonderful job and here I am shopping for a wedding that is not going to happen to which I am happy point to be noted. Now, you tell me that there is a problem which would end up with someone’s ruin.” She continued her rambling.

“Stop it!” I said, raising my voice and she finally did.

“Calm down! I already told you even before the last minute, these weddings can be stopped. I will send some of my men to drag him. I will bring his patient with him if needed. Happy?” I asked and heard a sigh.

“I am sorry! It’s just… this… this is too much. I know this is not your fault. You are helping me to save my family.” She mumbled.

“It’s okay! Just enjoy the shopping and think about your job. If I go now there will be a problem me being a groom and all. Otherwise, I would have without a doubt.” I explained.

“Okay! Just… just make sure all of this stops soon before it gets out of our hands.” She mumbled and we hung up.

How can I point it out to her that it already got out of everyone’s hand? I asked myself and looked up to stare at the sky feeling a little dread inside the chest.