Chapter 1 :

10 August, 2024

9:30 a.m.

Geetanjali's POV

"Ma'am what about our test papers?", asked one of the students.

Trailing up my gaze from the attendance register to the students infront of me, I fixed my glasses.

"They'll be distributed by tomorrow", I announced roaming my gaze over all of them.

Some of them groaned in annoyance while some seemed happy and the rest were unbothered. I chuckled silently before fixing my gaze on the attendance register when my phone rang.

Silencing it without looking at the screen, I stood up, "Thank you students. See you all tomorrow."

They all responded with a 'welcome ma'am' as I walked out of the room.

The guys in my class are the most attentive during my class because according to them, I'm single, young and unmarried.

You know what I'm talking about.

Turning on the phone, I dialled the recent number from which I had received a call.

"Where are you Geet?", asked maa through the call.

"At the university, maa", I replied monotonously.

"When are you coming back?", she asked making me glance at my wrist watch.

"I'll be home by 5 in the evening", I replied smiling at my colleague who passed by.

"Can't you come sooner? They'll be here soon", she spoke, her tone normal.

I sighed, "I can't maa. I have copies to check before I leave. Ask them to leave if they can't wait", I replied.

I've been annoyed because of the constant nagging by my mother to get married. They aren't lying that I've grown up enough to get married. I'm already 27.

I don't have any problem in getting married because I'm independent and legal. But still. The fear of marriage is common.

"That's not how you behave Geetanjali. Better talk nicely", she spoke sternly. I sighed.

"Fine. I'll be home by 4. I can't make up before that", I replied as she hummed and asked me to be home soon.

Cutting the call, l tucked the phone inside my bag and walked inside the staff room.

As I settled down on my chair, Mrs. Dhanawade spoke up, "How're you Ms. Manyavar?"

I looked at her and threw a small smile. She has recently got married and because her husband is a government employee, she never leaves a chance to show off his money.

"I'm good Mrs. Dhanawade", I replied calmly before taking out the bundle of test copies from my bag kept on the floor beside my chair.

"When are you getting married?", she asked her favourite question. I regret choosing this seat when I joined this institution.

I just smiled at her and resumed my work after fixing the glasses resting on my nose bridge.

I work in Miranda House, Delhi University. So you can guess that it's not easy to maintain a professional image here. People like her are everywhere, regardless of the status of the institution.

Shaking off the thoughts, I read the answer written by one of my students.

'Heart is an organ that beats normally but it gets faster when the person it finds special and attractive near. It pumps out blood at a fast pace and eventually that blood reaches the face, ears and neck causing them to turn red which is termed as 'blushing'. And when the special person rejects, the heart walls contract and the blood pumped out is very low and hence, it causes depression'-this is the answer my one student wrote when the question was about what's heart. Will you believe this is a student of DU? Like seriously?

These students can make me laugh amidst the turmoil I've carried in my life.

Giving a zero I hopped onto the next question.

Even if I belong to a middle class family, I've got enough freedom. I was allowed to study how much I wanted, I was allowed to do a job and enjoy my freedom. So it's fine. It's just that I don't have the freedom to get married when I want. I'm not being forced to get married because it was me who agreed but actually, I never thought of my marriage or anything. But I have a sister after me who also needs to get married, so of course, I have to.

They've found a guy named Adhvik Raichand. My mother had said that he was a software engineer at some company but he earns a lot. According to her he's three years older than me. So he's 30.

They're coming to see me this evening and my parents want me to meet them.

•

5:15 p.m.

"Dii, are you ready?", asked Neha entering my room with a smile.

I smiled at her before standing up and having a look at myself. I was wearing a light pistachio green anarkali and wide leg pants with a dupatta, pastel flower hand painted designs adorning it. My wavy hair was left open because Neha told me that Adhvik would say yes at first glance if he sees me with my open waist length hair.

I didn't say anything because I'm not interested in all these. I don't feel like doing anything after giving up on something that I had held dear to my heart.

I nodded at her and walked with her downstairs.

They arrived half an hour ago.

I went directly to the kitchen and picked up the tray of tea cups. Neha took the tray with snacks and fruits.

The Raichand family is well known for their business but the surprising thing is that they don't have any ego. Just their elder son is a bit egoistic, who might become my husband.

I don't know how maa found this rich family for me. I don't like meddling with these rich people who can throw money everywhere and get anything easily. People born with a silver spoon don't know what struggles are.

As I made my way towards the front room, where we let our guests rest, my heart thumped hard against my chest. I'm nervous.

Gulping down the lump forming in my throat, I walked inside.

"Yeh lijiye, humari badi beti Geetanjali", spoke maa indicating me to serve the tea.

(Here's our elder daughter, Geetanjali)

I smiled at them and bowed carefully so that the tray in my hands didn't fall.

At first I gave the tea cup to Adhvik's father, then to his mother and finally it was his turn. His presence felt oddly calm and chilling. When I neared him, who was seated on the individual sofa adjacent to his parents sitting on the long sofa, I grew more nervous.

His face was calm and blank. I took my time examining his features when I bent down a bit to serve him his tea.

His each and every feature was sharp, little beard added to his handsome face. He had hazel blue eyes, a very rare sight to see. A mole was there under his right lower eyelid. He had short hair which was neatly combed back.

He was simply wearing a black shirt and grey pants. Neat and tidy but classy.

I smiled a little but in return all I got was his blank stare.

"Here's your tea", I spoke calmly forwarding the tea cup on the saucer towards him.

He nodded and mumbled a 'thank you'. So basically, this was our very first conversation.

'Here's your tea' and 'Thank You'.

Handing over the tray to Neha, I settled down beside maa and fixed my attention on his parents.

"Toh beta, aap kya karte hai?", asked his mother, Mrs. Priya Raichand. She seemed like a sweet lady.

( So dear, what do you do?)

"Aunty, I'm a lecturer in Miranda House", I replied calmly.

"Oh that's really good. What do you like to do?"

"I like reading, writing, singing and dancing. Painting also adds sometimes"

"What do you expect from your husband? I'm just being free and asking. It might sound wrong or something not so good to talk like that but because I'm bringing someone's daughter to our house, it's essential to know what she wants in my son. I want both of you to lead a happy life, even if there'll be ups and downs, I want both of you to understand each other and decide", and she dropped an awkward bomb on me. It's really awkward for me to talk about all these.

I fisted my palms resting on my thighs while digging my nails into them.

"It's just the ones any wife would want. Calm, understanding and a good husband", I replied in short but they meant everything I needed in my husband.

She nodded understandingly, "I can understand you. I don't doubt my upbringing but as the child grows up and sees himself adjusting with the outer world, he or she decides how they want to be. And also, I don't doubt my son until he decides to prove me wrong. He knows himself well so I'll leave it to both of you to decide", she replied calmly but her words held sternness and belief.

I smiled.

"Now we are happy and ready to bring you as the wife of my son and our daughter-in-law to our family. But it's your wish whether you are ready for this marriage or not", she placed her words.

"I'm ready aunty. I'm okay with this proposal. And if Mr. Raichand is agreeing to this marriage, I mean if he's happy with it, then you all can fix the dates", I also placed my words.

I just don't care about anything anymore. His parents are good and well behaved. So it's fine for me. I don't need time to know him or let him know me. It can happen after marriage. I don't have enough time and anymore energy to give my full time and attention to such things.

"Adhvik has already agreed when I talked about you to him. We had already talked about everything and he knows everything necessary about you. But beta, don't you wish to know him? Don't you need some time?", she asked.

I shook my head, "No aunty. I'm fine. I trust him."

•

20 August, Friday, 2024

4:15 p.m.

I wonder sometimes about how I let my fate get tied up with Adhvik Raichand. It's been ten days since our marriage was fixed. We neither have each other's number nor have met each other.

Our marriage is in ten days and my engagement is tomorrow. I know it's very soon to let things happen like that but as I had said, I don't care.

As I was lost in my thoughts, the ringing of my phone brought me back to trance.

'Rohan' the caller ID read.

I sighed and flipped my phone on the table. We had a mutual breakup and now he keeps calling me.

We did love each other but the situation didn't allow us to get married. I don't even want to remember everything that happened around one month ago. After breaking down completely like that, I no longer wish to fall in love again.

The phone rang again and in annoyance, I picked up the call.

"Why are you calling Rohan?", I asked annoyingly.

"Why are you angry Geet? Are you upset?", he asked softly. He was still the same-soft and caring. He was a very understanding person and still is.

I sighed looking down at my lap.

"No I'm not. I'm just stressed", I replied.

"Why? If it's about your job then you can take a break. You already have your holidays left to use so why not now? You need to rest Geetanjali", he spoke, concern lacing his tone. It hurts me that he still cares for me and I broke his heart.

"Rohan I-are you fine?", was all I could ask. I couldn't muster up the courage to tell him that my marriage was fixed. I need to tell him because we can't keep talking like this. I'll be someone's wife within a few days and I don't want to carry the tag of a cheater that despite having a husband I'm still stuck with my ex.

"Can we meet this evening?", I asked slowly. Tears had accumulated in my eyes.

"Of course we can. You know I can never deny you. Tell me where you want to meet", he replied. He must be excited to meet me but he'd be so broken listening to what I'll tell him.

"Where we met for the first time"

•

5:30 p.m.

"Where are you going Geetanjali?", asked papa when I stepped inside the front room.

"Papa I'm going to meet Rumi. I need to give her the invitation card", I replied smoothly. I can't tell him that I'm going to meet Rohan because there's already been so much chaos regarding Rohan and me and I can't bear it anymore.

"Be back before night", he replied focusing back on the newspaper in his hands.

"Ji papa", I replied and left. I had already informed maa about this.

"Dii, are you sure you want to marry him and not Rohan bhai?", asked Neha, seated beside me on the driver's seat.

She wanted to drop me because she's heading to her friend's house for some assignment and a sleepover. She knows I'm meeting Rohan. She was very close to him and still is. And that's the reason she's neutral in opinion about my marriage with Adhvik.

"I'd already talked about this with you. So I don't want to repeat the same words Neha", I replied monotonously.

She didn't reply. She knows it hurts me every time someone brings up the past about me and Rohan.

After sometime she dropped me infront of a library. It was very huge compared to other libraries and it was old too. Even if upgraded, its style still remains like an old vintage library. Its vibes are just so good.

I entered the place as the bell hanging by the door rang. The receptionist smiled at me. She's a middle aged woman and ever since the first day I came here, she's known me. She's very kind.

Wishing her a good evening, I walked over to the bench where I'll meet him.

2nd floor, bench number 102-just beside the huge window seat giving a serene view of the garden and the pond behind the library.

He was there, wearing a light pink shirt and beige pant. His hair was messy and his clean shaved face looked really different on him because he normally has beard. He was wearing those same glasses he was wearing five years ago. I smiled in nostalgia.

I'm also wearing a white anarkali suit and hair is tied up into a low bun. A maroon bindi rested on my glabella as I fixed my glasses and walked over to him.

"How're you?", I asked taking the seat infront of him.

His head instantly shot up from the book he was reading which was held upside down.

Taking the book from his hand, I placed it back but in the right way and then laughed slowly, "Aren't we recreating too much?", I asked.

His hazel eyes still held admiration for me. The way they twinkle everytime I come infront of him, makes me want to run away very far with him but unfortunately, I can't.

"I'm fine. What about you?", he asked keeping the book aside.

"Just going on. By the way, you really look like the old Rohan", I spoke clearing the tension building between us.

It was weird that the people so in love were getting awkward now.

He smiled, "You look good too. Just like the Geetanjali I had a crush on", he replied calmly.

My smile flickered when I remembered what I was here for. But I didn't want to ruin the moment. I want to be selfish and live those moments again for the very last time before I close this chapter.

Some books don't have a happy ending and guess what? I'm the character of one of those books.

"It's 20 August today", I spoke staring straight into his eyes. They still hold the power of make me forget everything.

"Happy six years anniversary, Geetanjali", he spoke ever so softly. He used to call me love but he knows he doesn't have the right anymore to do that.

"Happy anniversary to you too Rohan. We completed six years together. The most memorable period of my life", I spoke.

He nodded, "I love you Geetanjali. Like the very first day I had fallen for you, I still love you the same. No. I love you more. I can't express how much but I do. I really do. It feels like we're back to those golden days."

My smile faded, my heart ached and my throat went dry. I couldn't form any word to respond to his words. I wanted to reply but what? That I love him too? I can't make things harder for him than they already are.

I just smiled and gulped down the painful lump forming in my throat.

"You had given me a bouquet of flower. I couldn't find the exact one. So here's a keychain like that", I handed him a keychain I accidentally happened to find on the street while walking to the library.

The bouquet it had as the charm has exactly the same flowers which he had given me today but six years ago.

He smiled adoringly at the keychain and kept it in his pocket.

"Thank you", is all he spoke.

I glanced down at my watch. It was already past 6:30. I need to go back soon.

I looked down at my bag. It felt too hard to take out that simple invitation card and place it on the table. The dream we had woven once of distributing our wedding cards together was getting shattered infront of my eyes and I wasn't even able to do anything.

I can't even cry anymore. It's like I've lost the ability to do so.

Opening the bag, I took out the pink invitation card and slid it towards him on the table. Without looking up at his eyes, I mumbled, "This is my wedding card. My marriage has been fixed. Tomorrow is my engagement and today I'm closing this chapter officially. Don't contact me or try to reach me out Rohan."