The Compromise
Arjun ~
It was a fact already established that I was not a good man. I had vices and my latest one was Siya Dhar, whom I wanted despite every fact. She was eleven years younger, she had no intention of marrying me but the most important of them all was, yet she was going to be mine.
When she walked out while I was talking to her father and brothers, I couldn't help but feel a sense of victory rush all over me and when her father called out for me, all she did was come and stand in front of me, extending her palm to me, asking for something. Ah, the keys, but I stood there with a poker expression. I needed to hear her voice.
" I need my keys." She finally said with one hand towards me and the other on her waist as she tapped her left foot impatiently.
I was going to tell her that I didn't have them with me when Mrs. Dhar made an entrance.
Siya ~
" Siya a good morning or hello would have been nice first, no?" Mumma had followed me here and as much as I wanted to tell everyone screw you, I took a deep breath and put a smile on my face.
" Good morning. How are you doing this fine morning? Nice weather, right? I hope you have a good day and it'll be a huge favour if I can get the keys to my scooty." I said in a sickened sweet voice, in the one which I'd hate to be talked to.
Surprisingly, Ranaji was not annoyed a bit. In fact, the smirk on his lips had just curved upwards even more as if he was enjoying this! Stupid man! But the other standing there did cringe at the tone so it wasn't a complete failure but I was more embarrassed than this outburst more than anything because when my eyes went to his father, I walked to him and folded my arms in a Namaste.
" It is so good to meet you beta." He gave me a genuine smile which I returned. This man here had saved my father and my family. How could I not admire him?
" There are her manners." Karan bhai mocked me.
" Why don't you worry less about my manners and more about taking the car out so that we can leave Cockroach?" Oh damn it was like I was losing my filters in front of everyone!
" Geez okay." He didn't counter me and left to perhaps take the car out of the garage. How did he listen to me in the first go? Miracle.
" I will have your keys send later today with your bike." Ranaji finally replied and I gave a small nod after which I went to Kritik and asked if he was ready to go.
" No Bua we will go to the fair tomorrow! I am going boating with Jahanavi today." He told his plans to me. Wait, what? This five year old had more plans in life than me? Just wow.
" But I am all ready and your chachu is waiting for us in the car." I complained.
" No buaa...you go. I will go boating with Jahanavi. She is my best friend." He opposed again, leaving me a bit hurt. Till the last visit, I was his best friend!
" Ouch young man, that hurt. Wasn't I your best friend?" I asked, ruffling his hair.
" You are my best best friend." He replied with a hint of laugh in his voice.
" Fine then! I will go with my brothers to try and get over this demotion. You have fun!" I said, kissing his cheek and walked back to Rohit bhai.
" Let's go bhai. I need you to win some soft toys for me and get me cotton candy and also, Panipuri!" I dragged him out with me. My brothers make me forget everyone around and it's just us against the world when we are together!
" Get home soon." I heard Papa call after us but we were too involved to respond.
---------------------------
---------------------------
It was a day well spent with Rohit bhai and Cockroach. Bhai won me a huge Husky soft toy and Cockroach got me so many treats from the vending machine. I probably gave them both a headache but that's okay.
Reaching home, I was hoping for a quiet evening with my family but instead I got a living room where my family was sitting with his family, talking.
" What is the possibility that we can sneak out without getting noticed?" I whispered to them.
" Well taking into consideration that Ranaji saw you the moment you stepped in, I'd say zero." Cockroach replied and my eyes widened. Saw me? He's here?
" I am still going to try and get to my room without mumma or papa seeing me." I replied and started to retreat my steps but who was I kidding?
" Siya is here with her brothers too. Come on here you all." Hansika bhabhi was the one who threw me under the bus as I withdrew my plan to disappear.
" Come and sit with me beta." Raani Maa Sa asked me and how could I say no? I walked upto there and took a seat next to her.
She then introduced me to Ranaji's younger brother and sister-in-law. They seemed like nice people!
" Now Siya, please tell us what do you want? Everything will be yours." Ranaji's father asked me and my eyes widened. Did they think I wanted something material?
" It's not anything per se that I want uncle. I don't want to be the Queen or anything and...." I started but was cut off in the middle.
" You'll be my wife and by default, the Queen. That is non-negotiable." Ranaji chimed in, grabbing my attention.
" I know that I will be Queen, god this sounds so stupid when I even say it! But I don't want people to know that I am your wife or the queen till the time I finish my graduation. I want zero public attention. Also, I will work after this wedding after I have finished studying. You and I will not be seen together in public till then and yes, I will not be forced or coerced to do anything I don't want to." I laid down my demands which seemed pretty reasonable to me and I secretly hoped that after listening to all this, he's just see how much of work this will be and back out.
I was sure Ranaji was going to oppose to everything that I had just said but Raani Maa Sa spoke up instead.
" That's all?" She asked me with a neutral expression on her face.
" I'll get the visit my family whenever I want. No questions asked oh and one last thing, I will not be forced to change myself. This is me, all of me and I like the way I am." I told everyone clearly.
" Beta you are just like my daughter, not our prisoner. You will get everything you want and yes, we will keep your marriage hidden till the time you graduate." Uncle accepted everything that I had just said. Thank God!
" You will take a transfer from Jaipur university to Jodhpur University starting your next semester. Everything will be taken care of." Now is when Ranaji decided to speak.
" What!?" I shrieked, getting up.
" What transfer? I am not taking any transfer. I will study in Jaipur. I have a life there!" I told him. he couldn't do that!
" I don't believe that studying in Jaipur was one of your terms in that list." He replied as if he was bored! What does this man think of himself!
" I thought that was common sense Ranaji!" I threw my hands in the air, annoyed to death.
" Well, the choice is yours. You can either decide to let the people know that you're the Queen so that I can provide security for you in Jaipur while you study there or you take a transfer to the university of Jodhpur and stay close so that I can look after you myself." He announced, standing up just in front of me.
" I don't need security or anyone to look after me. I can take care of myself and why would I need security when people don't know I am your wife? I'll just be another girl studying like I am" I tried to talk some sense into him but one look and I knew that he wasn't going to give in.
" Security is protocol. I can waiver it off if you are closer to home but if you decide to stay in Jaipur, you will have your own security team on you, always. There is nothing that I can do about it. It's all in the hands of your father." He replied and his words immediately made me look towards Papa.
" Ranaji is right beta. You will need to have security cover if you want to stay in Jaipur. There are some rules which can't be amended." He spoke up in his favour.
" Thank you so much Papa for always having my back. Good to know." I decided to storm out of there before I fall weak and let the tears flow down but before I could take more than two steps, Rohit bhai stopped me.
" Princess, listen to me." He whispered in my ear and Karan bhai came to me too.
" Stay closer to him and make his life a living hell. I know you are perfectly capable of doing that." Karan bhai was the one to whisper this so minutely that no one could have heard. I couldn't suppress the chuckle.
" Moreover this way, you'll be closer to us and anytime you feel like running away, give me a call and we'll take a break from reality and run off to Jaisalmer or Ranthambore or anywhere in the world." Rohit bhai said and this offer seemed so much tempting.
" I think I can do this. But you have to promise that you'll take me anywhere I ask you to?" I whispered back to them.
" We do." They replied together and I finally let out a laugh and turned around.
" I will take the transfer but no one can know about this wedding till after my graduation." I agreed to him.
" Thank you beta." Raani Maa Saa said but I did not have it in me to reply or smile or be a good girl.
" I hate you." I announced, looking at Ranaji and this public declaration got out a genuine smile out of him and I gasped as I felt weird knots in my stomach. He is a hot twisted man and I hope he rots in hell.
Hey guys! This is the next chapter. I hope you all like it. To unlock the next one, at least 90 comments are required on this one.
I love you all. Until next time. Byee!!