Chapter 4 TOMORROW'S PLAN

-At Roshni's Apartment-

Roshni opened the door and saw Ram standing there. Off course she wasn't at all happy at the turn of events but still she couldn't blame him completely for anything. Whatever maybe the cost, but he had saved Chhotu's life.

"Uncle you here? Come inside." She spoke.

"Ya. I had brought this for you." Saying this, he handed her the invitation card of tomorrow's function.

Roshni was not at all comfortable with all this. "What will I do there?" She asked hesitantly.

"Roshni. Tomorrow, I'm going to announce you as Abhishek's wife. So, I want you to be there."

She nodded unwillingly.

"But before that, I want to ask your hand from your family. Where are they?"

"Uncle there is no one to approve of our marriage from my side." She spoke.

"Oh. I know this is too fast for you. And also, that you don't want to marry him. But believe me... He needs someone like you in his life. Only you can help him. I have seen that. Please consider me as your father. I won't pressurize you for anything. A father is begging you to save his son's life." He said folding his hands. Roshni immediately separated them.

"I'll marry him. And I'm not saying this because of any contract but wholeheartedly. I'm ready to marry him."

Ram was so overwhelmed. He kept his hand on her head and said, "I always wanted a daughter like you."

He asked. Roshni was so filled with emotions, she hugged him tight.

"Uncle, I don't even remember the face of my parents. But I'm sure my father must be like you."

"Not uncle. Call me Dad. And yes, we've to discuss something important."

"What?"

"Tomorrow's plan." He said with a mischievous grin.

***

He told the plan to Roshni. Roshni was shocked. "No Dad. We can't do this."

"Off course you can do this. Problem kya hai?" He said confidently.

"OK. I'll try."

"Not try. You'll have to do your best. OK. Then see, he'll have no other option than marrying you."

She nodded.

"OK then. Meet you at tomorrow's party. I'll send you the dress. And I trust you, you won't ruin the moment for me." He said placing a hand on her head.

"Good night."

He left while Roshni was still in thoughts. She had never done something like that.

'Oh God. Please Help me.' She thought.

***

-Abhishek's Mansion-

He touches a football kept in his cupboard and reminiscences something.

'A girl's voice says,

"Choco Pie, if you had to choose between football and a good job, what would you choose?"

"Of course, Football. Because a person should make a career only where his passion lies."

"And if you had to choose between me and Football." The girl asks in an annoyed tone.

"Is this something to ask Sanju? Is there anything more important than you?"

Both laughs.'

He smiles sadly.

He keeps getting deeper in the alleys of those dark memories. After sometime, he gets reminded of something dreadful.

'Don't touch me.'

' you're a criminal.'

'The law must have spared you but I won't.'

'Everyone who loves you gets broken.'

'You don't deserve anybody's love.'

'You deserve to be hated.'

He can't take those voices anymore. He closes his ears tightly with his palms but still no effect. The loud voices are intact on his eardrums.

At last, struggling and out of breath, he takes out a syringe from the drawer and injects it in his vein and falls unconscious on the bed.

"God. you gave me everything except the Peace of mind that I had always craved for. Why?"

Saying those words to himself he closes his eyes and falls into a deep, restless slumber.

-Next Evening-

At the Felicitation Party

Abhishek and Ram arrive at the Party. Abhishek is dressed in a black suit and tie looking dashing as always.

As their arrival is announced, all the girls from the party rush to the entrance to have a glimpse of him. Just one girl remains seated in her place and doesn't react to his arrival like all other girls.

Abhishek is enjoying the attention just then he notices the girl who didn't move. Her back is facing Abhishek so he can't see her face clearly.

But his ego is hurt. Abhishek in his mind,

'Is she from this planet only? Or she doesn't know me?'

He brushed away the thoughts and walks inside.

The host called Abhishek on the stage and after some sweet words in his praise, handed over a memento to him. Everyone clapped and Ram was proud of him.

After some time, Abhishek is sitting on the front table with Ram. Ram and Abhishek were having drinks. Roshni is sitting on the last table with her back facing Abhishek. She is wearing a peach-coloured backless fishtail gown. Her hairs are tied in a clean knot because of which her perfectly toned back is clearly visible and some men are staring at her with lust in their eyes.

Abhishek notices this and fumes.

"What's wrong Abhishek?" Ram asked.

"Look at those men there, Dad. They are staring at that woman as if she is some piece of meat."

"Oho Abhishek. Beta go and tell that girl to sit on some other table or join us. Go."

"Dad. I can't. I mean yes, I really want to tell her that but I have to keep myself clean remember. Away from scandals, affairs and women. Mr. Johnson's deal. It's important."

"How mean Abhishek? Beta who is asking you to do anything stupid? just go to her and from a 10 feet distance tell her to change her table or her dress. That's it. Father's order. GO."

Abhishek thought something was fishy but then brushed away the thought and decides to go and tell the Lady to go and sit on some other table.

"OK Dad. I'll be back in a minute." He told Ram.

"No, you won't son." Ram muttered to himself.

"You said something."

"Nay."

Abhishek went to her table and slightly tapped her bare shoulder from behind, "excuse me. Miss" he said. Roshni knew it was Abhishek and slight touch of his sent electric current through her body. She couldn't understand the strange sensation.

She turned around and for a second, he was mesmerized by her beauty. She was looking really pretty. Few hairs had escaped from the knot and were caressing her face because of wind.

Roshni was an introvert girl. The men's stares around her were making her really uncomfortable but it wasn't the same with him. For some reason, she wanted him to keep staring at her and admire her beauty.

He composed himself and remembered the purpose of coming here. He started to say, "listen, I think you should come there and sit on the front table. There's an empty seat on my table. Come." He spoke.

He turned around to walk away but she called out, "listen."

He turned. "Can you please pick up that ring and give me?" She said looking down. He couldn't understand the reason behind her words. He looked at her with questioning eyes.

"No. No. Don't get me wrong. Actually, this dress is very tight and if I bend down, I'm afraid it will..." she didn't say further but he understood.

"OK." He bends down to pick her Ring and while sitting on his knees, he extended his hand towards her and said, "here take it."

Within that very moment, all the reporters and cameramen from all over the party rushed to the spot and clicked pictures and the reporters asked him,

"Sir, when are you getting married?"

"Sir. Why did you choose this place to propose your Lady love?"

"Sir, congratulations for your marriage."

"Sir, what's the name of future Mrs. Malhotra?"

Abhishek couldn't understand what they were saying but then he saw his position. He was sitting on his knees with a ring in his hand in front of a girl.