Akhil walked around the garden area with the woman his father had chosen for him in complete and utter silence. It seemed like even the crickets had taken off at the prospect of how awkward things were going to be.
“So, what do you do for fun, I mean,” Mehek asked as she tried to keep her voice quiet and walking style lady-like in the way her mother taught her. Akhil put his hands in his pocket and kept his answers short,” I like to read.” Mehek nodded and waited for him to ask her the same question but he just kept his brisk pace and walked towards the small canopy.
“I like to dance,” Mehek said and Akhil nodded as he leaned against the pillar and looked out at the garden. Sighing, Mehek stayed quiet as she crossed her arms over herself. Looking down at his phone Akhil smiled and typed something back which made Mehek raise an eyebrow as she nodded to herself.
“Excuse me,” Akhil said to her and she nodded, watching as he walked off quickly to attend to his ringing phone. Groaning, Mehek let her scarf fall as she tipped her head back. “Brother dearest, already boring you,” Rahul joked as he walked out onto the patio. Mehek jumped and glared at him as her grip tightened on the railing. Angrily, she smacked her hand on the railing before walking past him.
Rahul grabbed her hand and pulled her back towards him before looking down at her red hand. Looking around he bowed his head and placed a kiss on her palm as he said,” Please just listen to me.” Mehek twisted her hand out of his grip and stared at him with tears in her eyes. “I listened to you for 2 years. You made a lot of promises then. What happened to them? Rahul, take a look around you. My parents are asking another man, your brother, for my, your girlfriend’s, hand-in-marriage. And all you are doing is standing there watching as it happens.”
Rahul bit his lip and looked down as he tried not to let his tears fall. Mehek just scoffed and shoved him before walking away. Angrily, Mehek stormed into the bathroom and allowed her scarf to fall to the floor as she leaned over the sink trying to control herself. Angry with herself she fell to the floor and muffled her sobs with her hand before someone knocked on the door.
Akhil knocked again as he looked at his watch and then the bathroom door. He did not want to be here. He did not want to be meeting this girl and he did not want to get married to her. Unfortunately, for him, he still couldn’t find the courage to tell everything to his Dad. “Mehek, can you please come out,” he tried to be polite but then frowned when he heard sniffling.
Just as he was about to go find Malina Bhabhi to figure out what was going on, Rahul almost ran him over with how fast he was running down the hallway. “Rahul, are you okay,” Akhil asked as he stared at his brother in the eyes, hoping that he wasn’t high or buzzed or drunk. Rahul shook his head and then looked at the door for a minute before grabbing Akhil’s arm in a loose grip and pointing behind him. “Koyal is looking for you,” he said and then all but pushed Akhil in that general direction which made Akhil suspicious but he walked away, nonetheless.
When Rahul heard the sniffling again, he looked around before grabbing the free key from the top of the door. “Mehek, I’m coming in,” he warned and waited a few seconds before inserting the key and slowly opening the door. Rushing in when he saw her slumped over on the floor he hesitated before dropping to his knees next to her.
Looking around because her clothes had become wrinkled and dirty from when she had slid to the floor, Rahul found her scarf and slid it over her shoulder before freezing when she grabbed his hand and pressed her cheek against it.
“Rahul, I don't want to marry him. I love you, please, It’s only you,” she admitted and Rahul went motionless against the wall before wrapping his arms around her and allowing her to rest her head against his chest. Brushing her hair back he kissed her head and said,” I’m sorry, Mehek. I’ll fix this. I’ll make things right. I promise.” Meher nodded and settled against his chest, not caring that they were sitting on the floor of a bathroom.
“Well, we all have a lot of things to make right, don't we,” Amir said from the doorway and the two quickly moved away from each other while Rahul wiped his eyes and stood up. Mehek stood behind him, staring at the floor, while Rahul looked ahead defiantly at his brothers.
“Mehek, I think you should go downstairs. Your mother was looking for you earlier,” Amir said without breaking his gaze from Rahul who squeezed her hand before she walked out of the room. Rahul winced when Amir grabbed him by the ear and tugged him out of the bathroom while Akhil followed behind, shaking his head.
Rahul tried to pull himself away before yelping and complaining, "Bhai, it hurts." Amir rolled his eys and Rahul sent a look to Akhil who smiled before calling out for his brother, "Bhai, come on, let him go." Amir looked between the twins before nodding and then grabbing Akhil's ear in his free hand. Akhil winced as he was dragged behind his brother until they reached his room and Amir pushed them both inside.
Both of them massaged their ears to get rid of the sting while Amir closed the door and whisper-shouted, "Do either of you want to tell me why the hell neither of you came to me about these women in your life?" Akhil made an uneasy face as he rubbed the back of his neck but Rahul just gasped as he turned to face him, "You have a girlfriend, too?" Akhil rolled his eyes as he muttered, "Fiancee."
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