The chatter stopped all of a sudden, focusing on Avinash.
Ram Mehra sitting at the head seat said,
" Go on beta, we are listening."
" Grandpa I,I,I want to say , say that…"
Meena Devi chimes in from beside, " Say it beta , your grandfather loves you dearly, don't be scared. Right papa ?"
"Of course,say it beta." Grandpa hummed happily, approving Meena's point.
" Grandpa I love Riya and I want to marry her, I don't like Nalina."
Avinash said it so suddenly that it hit Nalina and family like a bomb.
" What nonsense are you talking about?" Ram Mehra's rage came like fire from hell, in a fit of anger he threw his plate to the ground.
Without saying anything Avinash quickly goes to his knees saying, " I never want to hurt your feelings, but love just happens, I can't control it."
" I can't marry Nalina and ruin her lifelong happiness, if you don't allow me to marry Riya I will end my life grandpa."
Hearing this Meena Devi and her husband Ratan kneel down as well, Meena starts crying, " No, no, no…, you are my only child, how can you say such heartbreaking words."
" I can't live without her , Maa, I'd rather die."
Tears came down from Avinash's eyes.
Following this the three of them started crying even more, making Ram Mehra emotional.
Ratan, Meena pleaded for their help, facing them in this state, Ram Mehra finally broke down agreeing half heartly, " Okay, if that is what you want, this is the last favor I do to you guys."
He looked at Raghunath and then at his elder son Anil saying, " I know after what happened, I don't have any right to ask you anything but please let me give you an explanation, please follow me in the study room." He paused a little, " please come with me, both families."
In the study room atmosphere was very tense,
Both families and Grandpa Ram with his wife Jaya Devi were present except Nalina. Avinash's action hit her like a storm , destroying her feelings. From a young age her name was connected with Avinash and as she grew up she gradually accepted it. She used to believe that she hadn't fallen for him yet but now the numbness she's feeling describes something else.
Her condition was so devastating that she could barely walk on her own. With help of her mother she reached the study room, observing her condition Jaya made her sit in the waiting room.
Inside the study room:
Ram and Jaya apologize, " Beta saying sorry is not enough but we apologise for today's event, please forgive us ,as elders it's our fault for not educating him properly."
Raghunath and sumitra quickly stop them,
" It's not your fault, please don't apologise."
Anil and kamla also added, "yes, it's not your fault."
Ram looked at Raghunath with tears in eyes, " your father was my best friend, like my own brother, we decided these marriages back then with good intentions, never imagined that something like could happen, but it's not too late yet, please give me one more chance to fix these."
Everyone looked at him not understanding his meaning, as he continued, " I won't force you guys to agree but just listen to me first, we all know Ashutosh is well educated, successful, self-made, with good character a perfect candidate for marriage and so is Nalina, well educated, modern, sensible, beautiful, hardworking." He smiled gently.
"What if we match them together?" Just as he completed a shine came to Jaya and Rekha's eyes, unlike Riya's artificial perfect image, they always liked Nalina's natural personality more.
Raghunath and sumitra were shocked by this sudden proposal, compared to them Anil was much more serene, he voiced out his thoughts, " father, it's not like I have a problem here, Nalina practically grew up in front of our eyes, and" he continued sharing a look with Rekha and his mother, " we like her very much, if she can be our daughter-in-law it'll be a blessing but I think we should let them decide it , it's up to them."
" Yes uncle, I think this time they will decide for themselves." Raghunath added.
After listening to their opinions Ram became happy again. He looked at Ashutosh smilingly before asking, " What do you think of my proposal beta?"
Ashutosh had already trusted his grandparents' decision and now even his parents approved the idea. He had detested Riya's past behaviour so much that never got a chance to like her, so moving on was not difficult for him and after thinking of Nalina's straightforward personality, her natural beauty without any makeup.
He didn't speak, but his lips curled ever so slightly. Something in his chest stirred — the first ripple of intrigue.
Without thinking much he replied, " I agree."
Ram happily smacked the table, laughing like nothing bad happened today he looked at Ashutosh, " well done beta, I promise you will never regret this." Pausing mid-sentence he looked at Raghunath and Sumitra with a smile, " Now, we have to get Nalina's approval."
Raghunath spoke out his troubled thoughts exchanging a glance with Sumitra, " Uncle we liked your proposal very much but after what had happened Making her agree will be very difficult."
"Oh , no problem, no problem, take your time, coax her gently, she's a sensible girl, she'll understand and I know for sure that she won't say no to you." Ram said patently.
Jaya also added, " Sumitra,give her some break first, after a day or two gently talk to , she will definitely approve of these and let the kids talk with each other because asking her to make a decision, like that her heart will be at ease."
After taking through everything, when they took their leave none of them showed the previous tension except for Nalina, she too in better state had already removed every piece of jewelry. When she saw Sumitra coming out she asked her to fetch her some clothes to change into,
Watching her strong mindset tears fell down from Sumitra's eyes.
Sumitra quickly brings her clothes, after changing Nalina brings everything to the living room where now Both Avinash and Riya's family were sitting and chatting like nothing had happened.
They stopped talking upon seeing them coming out, Ashutosh's family didn't stop there after saying their goodbye to Ram and Jaya, to Nalina's family also they quickly took their leave.
Nalina's family didn't stopped their either after putting the clothes and jewelry on the tea table as they were about to take their leave Avinash stopped Nalina saying, " I sincerely apologise for what happened but matches are made in heaven, it's not my fault and and these clothes and jewelry are gift from me, take them with you."
Even after changing into plain clothes Nalina still looks so beautiful the jewelry or clothes can't t define her beauty and there she stood almost reached the gate with her back straight, Ashutosh's family hearing Avinash paused a little bit but didn't stopped and Nalina she didn't even looked back saying in lightly harassed but firm voice, " the event is over, all the Relatives are gone, save your acting skills for them,"and they leave quietly.
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Ashutosh's thoughts:
She is radiant — not only in appearance, but in essence too. Alive, unconcerned with perfection. Unapologetic.
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