Chapter 3 •3•The Nasty Argument

"Jivi!" Chachi called. "Beta, please help me with this decoration." She shouted, still holding the long bunch of tiny lights.

"Chachi You don't need to do this. I'll call the servants. Just-"

"No Beta! You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this day." Chachi said, completely ecstatic.

I always want to see them like this. Happy and content. And their happiness lies in Radhs's happiness.

"Jivi? Where are you lost?" Chachi asked while waving a hand in front of my face.

"Nothing Chachi. Just too happy today." I said and thanked my glasses for being there. Otherwise I would have to lie again about these moist eyes.

"Oh yes. I know what you were thinking." She said, smiling ruefully. "Thinking when your Prince Charming will come. right?"

"What? No." I said quickly.

"Don't worry Beta. Once we're done with Radhika's wedding, we'll find a handsome groom for you also."

I almost coughed on the water I was drinking. "I... I have no such plans, Chachi. I first want to complete my studies, master Business administration, and then join Chachu at the office." I said all in one breath before Chachi could get started.

But like any other Indian mom, my plans were too much for Chachi. "Arey Beta kya saari umar iss Sab me hi nikaal deni hai! (Child, would you spent all your life doing this only!)"

I smiled. "Chachi Before I leave this house, I want a degree in hand, experiences in life and no guilt that I didn't do anything for you. I want to help Chachu with business, be his son, and give him some relief. He has spent all his life working hard so that we... I mean me and Radhs never have to work even a single day in our life. How can I leave him like that just because I am a girl? I will work in the office and... um... at least send you and him on a month's honeymoon to Paris. That's the least I can do." I said smiling and Chachi slightly hit my arm, "Besharam. (Shameless)" she muttered but I could see a tinge of blush on her aged, wrinkled face.

"Ok. I'll see where Radhs is." I turned around and saw Chachu standing there. Shoot. Did he hear the honeymoon thing?

How embarrassing!

I stood there and waited for him to react so that I could know. His eyes had a glint in it and he placed his hand on my head and said, "I am blessed to have a daughter like you Jivi. I'm so proud of you. I never knew you had such deep plans. I thought studying business administration is just your preference like Radhs has for modelling."

"Chachu, you call me Beta (Son) right? So... I will become your Beta." I said those words with a promise to myself.

"Let's keep this conversation for later Jivi. Are we forgetting today is Radhs's engagement?" Chachi said excitedly and I tried to smile.

"Jivi Beta. She's not so disciplined like you. It's early morning. Engagement is in the evening. I bet she'll wake up just an hour before that. Such a lazy girl."

"Oho Chachi. How could I forget? I had to pick her dress from the designer." Saying this I rushed out. I'll call the beautician also on the way. I want her to look the best.

I returned Home with the dress and it was beautiful. It was elegant and revealing, just like Radhs likes. One needs a lot of confidence to wear dresses like these.

A White and silver Fishtail lehenga with several other colors at the bottom. A sleeveless blouse ending high above navel. With that, I chose a diamond Jewellery set which perfectly complemented the lehenga and Radhs's complexion.

***

I rushed to her room. She was still sleeping. "Oye? Wake up sleeping beauty." I almost shouted near her ear.

She woke up with a gasp and I laughed. "Jivi?" She said angrily, throwing pillows at me.

"Look at you Radhs?" I said between laughs. "And come on get up. The beautician will be here anytime and try this dress and tell me if it needs any more touch ups. Fast."

"Jivi Be serious. You know I always wake up late. Then? Why this 'special treatment' today?" She asked angrily with a yawn.

"Radhs Are you trying to be funny?" I asked unbelievably. "It's your BIG DAY. How can I not give you special treatment?"

"What are you talking about?" She asked, confused.

Huh?

"Didn't Ranbir or our families tell you anything?" I asked, now hell worried.

We both kept staring at each others horrified faces for complete 10 minutes (No less.) Then I broke the silence. "Radhs, Today is your engagement. With Ranbir." I said and waited for her to respond. Minutes clicked by.

OK. Now she knows. She should be the happiest person in the world but her expression wasn't like that. Maybe she is just shocked at the suddenness of the moment, nothing else. I tried to explain myself but my instincts say something else.

"Radhs I understand you're in shock but–"

"Jivi I can't get engaged now. This engagement CANNOT happen." She said leaving me at the loss of words and in a state of pure shock. How can she say or do something like that now?

Radhika's POV

"Radhs! Today is your engagement. With Ranbir!" Jivi said.

I felt like someone had thrown a bucket of ice water on me

My engagement?

Today?

And nobody thinks it's necessary to ask or even inform me?

"Radhs! I understand you're in shock but–"

"Jivi I can't get engaged now. This engagement cannot happen." I said before she could complete. They can't do this to me.

I looked at Jivi and she was trembling. Her palms were covered in cold sweat. She seemed like she would collapse from a panic attack any moment.

I made her sit. "Jivi relax. Are you-"

"You can't do this Radhs. Invitation cards are sent. Guests have arrived. There is Media from all the country to capture the event. The respect of two families is at stake."

Damn. Why does she have to be so emotional?

"Radhs Do you have any idea of-"

"Cut the crap Jivi. Everything else matters. Only my will doesn't?" I asked unbelievably.

"How can you be so selfish, Radhs? How can you say NO now?" She was practically yelling at me. "If you didn't have to do the engagement you could have told us earlier. But-"

"I should have told you earlier." I said pointing a finger at myself.

She held me by my shoulders with the intention of calming me down. "Look Radhs... Even if they didn't... Inform you... They have a justified reason for that. I mean... They are not marrying you off to any stranger. It's Ranbir. The love of your life. So please stop all this and get ready." She calmly, handing over the dress to me which I angrily threw on the bed.

"Where are Mom and Dad? I need to have a word with them." I said curtly and walked outside before she talked more sense. In my case nonsense because I didn't care.

I angrily rushed outside ignoring the horrified looks everyone was giving me because I was walking in a nighty and bed hair on the day of my engagement. Without a thought I pushed their bedroom door and stormed inside and of course my dear sister followed. She had been trying to stop me all the way till here.

My mother was shocked. "Ye kya badtameezi hai Radhika? Knock nhi kar sakti thi. (What ill mannered behaviour is this Radhika? Couldn't you knock?)" Mom's angry voice diverted my attention to them.

"Mom? What the hell is going on? It's my engagement in two hours and nobody-"

CNow don't you dare say that you have a problem with this." Mom said even angrier.

"Of Course I do. You peopl-"

"Radhs I thought Ranbir will-"

"No Jivi beta. I purposely didn't tell her." Mom said.

"What?" We both shouted in unison. Jivi in surprise and me in complete shock.

"But Chachi-"

"No Jivi Beta. You don't know her. But I am her mother. I have given birth to her. I am familiar with every nerve in her body. If we had told her earlier, she would have talked... Wait, scratch that... Emotionally blackmailed Ranbir into postponing this engagement like she has been doing for the past few years. I couldn't let that happen again. I want her to stop, get married and settle down in her life. She can continue whatever she wants after her marriage. She has always put her career before Ranbir, before her family we never objected but she can't do that all her life. We are her parents and we have to think about her future even if she doesn't."

I literally cringed at her mentality. At her low thinking.

"How could you, Mom?" I said rage taking over me at this betrayal. Why does she hate my career so much?

"I don't owe you any explanation. Just go and get ready. Ranbir's family would be here any moment." She said, folding her hands at her chest.

No. She can't get away with this just like that.

"Mom but-"

"And yes. there is one more thing you need to know so that you don't create a fuss in the upcoming functions."

"Up...Upcoming functions?" No God. Don't let this be what I am thinking.

"Yes. Within a week, Haldi, Mehendi, Sangeet are going to take place and seven days later is your wedding. Then you'll become Mrs. Radhika Ranbir Khurana. After that you can do as you please. But till then... you are my responsibility. So please be an obedient girl and make all this easier for yourself and us too." Saying this Mom angrily walked out.

Jivika's POV

I just kept staring at Chachi's retreating figure and then at Radhs. What just Happened? Chachi just admitted that she cheated Radhs. And Radhs really didn't know about anything.

My mind isn't able to process anything for now. Just that my sister needs me. "Radhs I-"

I saw she is not here. Oh my God. Where did she go? She is very angry right now. She can do anything. I have to find her and stop her.

I ran out of there to search for Radhs. Oh God. Please be with Radhs. Don't let her do anything stupid. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have Left her alone when I Know her behaviou-

Huh?

I opened the bedroom door and was shocked.