The curtains flow gently with wind , Nalina was sitting there thinking about her conversation with Ashutosh.
She was so lost in her thoughts that didn't even noticed her mother's arrival,
Sumitra came in ,
Watching Nalina lost in thoughts again, she gently placed her hand on her head, catching her attention.
"So , what do you think?"
Nalina looked at her her heart racing,
Sumitra said, " listen , Only if you agree, no pressure ,okay?."
Nalina noded in understanding,
"So it is yes or no?"
"Yes."
Sumitra happily place her hand again on her head saying, "Khoosh raho beta."(Stay blessed) with relief in her eyes, because of those turn of events she was so worried about Nalina's future but now with god's grace everything will be fine.
—-----
Downstairs Sumitra shares the good news with mithai,
"She agreed."
It made Rekha so happy that she smiling from ear to ear.
Happiness spread to everyone like a virus even always cold Ashutosh was also smiling,
Together they decided to arrange engagement ceremony tomorrow and Ram ji quickly called a pandit so set their engagement date and muhurat, along with wedding date and it's muhurat.
They happily give Nalina shagoon and took their leave, with Rekha's request that they want to take Nalina with them for engagement shoping .
---
The news like a storm reached Kamla Devi's doorstep too.
Meena, rigid and formal, arrived with a strained smile and folded hands, she brought some gifts as well, Kamla's eyes light up seeing that her daughter will be happy with such a caring family, with some hesitation she said,
"They set Ashutosh rishta," she said as Kamla's face lit up, "Thank God now , no will blame our children for ruining his Rishta."
"—with Nalina."
The room went still.
Kamla Devi's thoughts:
No. No! This can't be. That wretched girl — always in the background, always pretending not to care. But she has ruined everything. Everything!
Kamla stared. "What did you say?"
"With Nalina. " Rekha repeated.
Riya, listening from behind the curtain, dropped the tray of sweets she had brought. The crash of metal against tile was like a thunderclap in the silence.
Kamla's face drained of color. "You must be joking."
"No. Ashutosh has made his decision."
"What about Nalina?, She accepted this?" Kamla's voice trembled with rising fury.
" Yes, papaji happily shared this news with us just some moments ago, that's why I came here, They are holding the engagement ceremony tomorrow."
The shadow on Meena's face, her clinched hands shows her dislike for the turn of events, the girl Avinash leave will get engaged before him, it's a slap on their face.
"Tomorrow?, Why so soon?" Kamla is shocked and confused with how fast they took the decision.
"So they can insult us, by showing people that our Children are not so special for them and they can move on easily." Meena said with gritted teeth.
"Not only that but papaji said that they are getting married next month, we have to fasten things otherwise we won't be able to show our face in public." Meena looked at Kamla
"Let's hold the engagement tomorrow as well at the same time and wedding at same day as them, infect I was thinking of doing it together, this way people won't criticize us."
Sensing the urgency of situation Kamla also agreed, by now Riya who have came and sit with them, also sighed with relief, she can't afford to damage her reputation because of those useless,low class people. Yes Ashutosh has been already fall down from her sight after meeting Avinash.
They are going to shoping for engagement after an hour and I heard from maaji that they will take Nalina with them. So I want Riya to come with us anyway as both families engagement and wedding jewelry will be purchased by papaji ,maaji will be there and we will go with them, shop together so we can show our harmony to all relatives. Now I have to go so can tell maaji about this plan and Riya be ready in hour we'll come to pick you.
Riya asked worriedly, "But, will dadi agree to holding functions together and shoping together?"
Meena waves her hand with disdain saying,
"Oh, Don't worry, for the sake of family reputation maaji and papaji will agree, anyway his promise is not broken exactly, just brides are switched."
With saying that Meena quickly took her leave, because she has to go back to convince her Saas and Sasur, though they will agre but it won't be that easy, and she have prepare for engagement and shoping compared with those families, their ceremony should look more lavish.
______
At Nalina's house:
Sumitra and Raghunath were sitting in the living room, Sumitra talking with her sister and Raghunath reading the News paper.
"Yes, sister final I'm relieved now, otherwise after what had happened,we were so worried about Nalina."
"She wasn't eating or drinking properly, closed in her room, no matter how hard we tried she won't even talk to us, she's having fever everyday, the medicine won't work properly, even now she's still sleeping, she's so weak right now that , she can barely walk on her own." Sumitra said about Nalina's condition with pained expression.
"Hmm, Rekha ji insisted on taking her along for shopping, I told her that she's feverish and very weak, but she still insisted." saying, "They will take care of her."
As she is talking Nalina slowly comes down stairs, looking weak past days have made harsh effects on her.
Sumitra see's her coming downstairs quickly cut the call, walks to her in middle of stairs helping her down,
"Beta, why did you come down?, do you need anything?, Are you hungry?, Let me cook something for you."
" No, maa I'm a little thirsty, I'll just drink some water." saying that she moved towards kitchen, Sumitra followes her inside saying "don't drink water I have made fresh orange juice for wait a little let me mix some glucose in it, so you'll have energy for shopping."
Nalina sits on the platform for waiting for the juice with frown on her face,
"Is it necessary?, I don't want to go ,maa."
"I know Beta, but they insisted so much we can't say no, just go with them okay, drink this and you'll be fine, eat this fruit as well otherwise you'll faint." Sumitra said while giving her the glass.