15 - Losing my cool(S1)

"I have decided to marry off Niharika," Jaiveer announced with a blank expression. The room fell silent, the news sinking in, and everyone trying to comprehend the unexpected declaration.

"What?" Ishita and Veer said in shock. The whole family was in shock.

"To whom, bhaishab, ap ya kya bol rhe hain?" Chachaji asked in shock.

"Mr.Jasrotia,he proposed to me for the marriage proposal himself. For his son. And he's one of my good business networks. I can't deny," Jaiveer explained.

"Oh, Mr. Vivek Jasrotia, our investor. But bhaishab, his son is divorced and once went to the bar for domestic violence allegations. Will that be okay to marry Niharika to a man like him?" Chachaji expressed his concerns.

"No, those are just rumors. He explained to me; things were misunderstood from his side," Jaiveer defended the decision.

"Explained? Misunderstood? Rumors? Dad, what are you talking about? Why would anyone spread this type of rumors about someone? He must have done something," Ishita said, unable to keep quiet any longer.

"Ishita," Shika, her mother, intervened.

"The one who was just here now, he was the son you're talking about," ishita said.

"But, Dad, he looked double the age of our Niharika. In fact, he seems older than me. How could you even think..." Ishita started, expressing her disbelief.

"Ishita, chup" her mother said.

"No, maa, Dad, I know you don't like Niharika from birth. You always discriminate against her compared to Anamika. Being younger, she never got love & support she deserved, and now you want her to marry a middle-aged man? That's what she deserves?" Ishita accused her father.

"Ishita tum toh chup ho jao.You are the main reason behind this decision," Jaiveer blamed Ishita.

"Me?" Ishita questioned.

"Yes, you let her go around with a free spirit, dance. I have already restricted her; she wouldn't dare to go against my decision. But you always spoil her," Jaiveer argued.

"Dad, how could you be so cruel? You know he could do anything with her. And still, you want..." Ishita protested.

"Yes, Dad, how could you do that with Niharika? Ishita is right," Ishita's husband added, supporting her.

"Enough, I made the decision. Now, if anyone has a problem with that, they can leave. I don't want their presence here or around any function," Jaiveer declared.

"Maa, tell them you don't agree, please say something," Ishita pleaded with a dry voice.

"Shika has no problem; she agreed with me in this decision," Jaiveer revealed.

Ishita stared at her mother in disbelief, who stood still, silently agreeing. Ishita said, "Maa, aap bhi?"

"Okay, then I will not be part of this cruel game of yours or reputation. She is my sister, and I can't see her life ruined in front of me," Ishita said, her eyes teary.

Then she looked towards everyone present, not saying anything, not opposing the decision. She said, "Y'all, I feel pity for you."

Jaiveer then said, "The engagement will happen tomorrow, as his son has to return to London for work. Everything is already decided."

He paused, then said, "And The marriage will happen after one month, on the same date."

He then looked towards Ishita and said, "I didn't call you all here to give your opinion but to tell you my final decision. Now, whoever wants to be part of this wedding is welcome, be my guest. If you don't want to, then there's no need to be part of this wedding."

Ishita's eyes filled with tears as she heard her father's words.

"Ishita, let's go. We don't need to be part of this show. You don't need to be insulted or face any humiliation here," Ishita's husband said.

In hall

Niharika & ekta waiting for Ishita to come out of the room.

When they come outside the room, Niharika, with a nervous, innocent smile, approaches & asks, "Di... di, what?"

"Di, what happened? Bade papa said yes or no. Tell Nihu; she is standing here for a really long time, waiting for your answer. Tell her she got permission," Ekta said. Niharika looked at her sister with hope, nodding in agreement with what Ekta said.

"I'm sorry, Nihu," Ishita said, unable to help but cry.

"Di, y..you don't ha..a..ve to cry. It's o...o.kay. I d..don't want to g..o.o for the inte..r.rnship," Niharika said with a dull and low voice. Her smile faded away as she saw her sister cry.

(Meanwhile, Ishita felt sad for her sister.)

***

Niharika's POV:

It's been a long time since Di went inside, and the whole family was called in. I feel worried.

"Di, will Dad say no?" In my concern, I asked Ekta Di.

She comforted me, telling me not to ponder too much. she said, "Stop thinking too much. Di said she will handle, then will handle. You know how fiery she is. Bade Papa will definitely say yes." She then began scrolling through her phone.

I believe she is correct. Dad will probably say yes and start waiting anxiously for Di to come out. I'm excited and nervous too. I know a lot happened these days, but still, we are family. We can't abandon each other. Maybe Dad's circumstances were different or complex. . It appeared like he was speaking with his business associate.and if he had a bad impression on them, Dad might face losses in business. He has the responsibility of the whole house, and I can handle myself alone. I like it when nobody gives me attention because no one will be there to judge, and basically, I'm nobody.

In my quest, I did not notice & ishita Di came out of the room. I came forward with Ekta Di following me. With excitement and nervousness, I asked Di if Dad agrees or not. But Ekta Di asked questions that I wanted to ask Ishita Di and added in the end, "Di, what happened? Bade Papa said yes or no. Tell Nihu; she is standing here for a really long time, waiting for your answer. Tell her she got permission," and playfully hit my head. I smiled, but in my excitement, I didn't notice Ishita Di's face. She looked sad. Did Dad take out his anger on her because of my stupid permission?

Di said, "I'm sorry, Nihu," and started crying. Now I know the answer. How stupid or selfish I can be to make my Di cry. Her crying really broke my heart into several pieces. She is my hope. I don't want to go anywhere hurting her.

I said to her, "Di..."

But Di started crying more badly, and Jiju took her into the room. Ekta Di also went with them.

Here I'm standing alone. Because of me, Di's eyes were full of tears. The person who fought for me."How can I face Ishita Di now?" I went directly into my room.

After pacing around in the room, my mind chimed, "I should at least say sorry to them for hurting them."

"y...Yes," I said to myself.

***

In Ishita's Room:

"Di, what happened? Why are you crying? Is everything okay?" Ekta said, following Ishita to her room, and Gaurav left the room.

"Dad is the cruelest father I've ever seen," Ishita said.

"What happened, Di? You're making me scared," Ekta asked.

"He wants Niharika to marry some middle-aged man in his early 40s," Ishita said.

"What? how can bade papa do that?" Ekta said in shock.

"Nihu!" Ishita said in shock as she looked at the door. Niharika was standing there, still.

She ran away when Ishita called her name in shock.

"Ekta, you should leave," Gaurav said, and Ekta went outside in shock, nodding.

"Ishita, stop crying; you will get sick," Gaurav said in worry.

"Gaurav, how can they be so cruel to her?"

"You know, I saw her from childhood. She always sacrifices. She wore Anu's worn-out clothes. She never had friends. She used to sleep alone in her room at such a young age. You know, everyone ignores her. This house is big, but still, there was no place for her. She was punished for tiny mistakes, and Anu never. She studied hard, and you know used to help Maa and Dadi in work, hoping this family would accept her. But still, no one did."

"Ishita, please stop," her husband said in worry.

"She always smiled, I never saw her complaining once. All brotherly & Mother love was for Anu. But her."

"Ishu, first, handle yourself."

"No, let me speak. You know what she said to me. She wants to go for an internship in Hyderabad. She said to me di please asked Dad for permission, but what Dad did, took her life's biggest decision and didn't even ask for her opinion."

"Ishita,Chup ekdam" Gaurav said, getting worried.

"Gaurav, I want to go back."

"Yes, we will. First, you stop crying," he said, hugging her.

***

" Niharika, open the door," Ekta said, standing outside the room. There was no answer.

"Niharika, at least let me check on you," Ekta said in worry.

"D...di... I'm okay," a faint voice came from behind the door. Ekta knew Niharika wasn't okay, but she understood how much Niharika needed space to process everything. So, she left her alone.