10 ~ Engagement
Chahat's POV.
We entered the jewellery shop.
Bright lights. Glass counters. Rings sparkling under soft yellow glow.
Everyone gathered around. Designs were being shown. Sizes discussed.
I stood beside Mukti di, trying to focus on her.
"Ye wala try karo," Mumma said and she nodded faintly.
(Try this one.)
But something felt... off.
Her grip on my hand tightened slightly.
"Di?" I looked at her.
She didn't respond, her face had gone pale.
"Di, are you okay..."
Before I could finish, her body went limp.
"Di!"
Panic shot through me as she collapsed.
I caught her halfway, my heart dropping.
"Di... di uthho!" I tapped her cheeks lightly, my voice trembling. "Mukti di... please..."
(Di...di Wake up!)
Everyone rushed forward.
"What happened?"
"Paani lao!" Mumma said.
(Bring water!)
"Koi baat nahi. Ho sakta hai kamzori ki wajah se chakkar aa gaya hoga. Usne subah se kuch khaya nahi hai kya?" Papa asked.
(It's okay. She might have felt dizzy. Hasn't she eaten anything since morning?)
"Doctor ko bulao!" I said, almost shouting, my chest tightening with fear.
(Call the doctor!)
I didn't even realize when Kartik stepped forward.
He didn't ask or hesitate. He just lifted her in his arms and moved toward the exit.
I followed immediately, my steps unsteady.
We were in his car within seconds.
She lay unconscious, her head resting on my lap.
My fingers trembled as I brushed her hair away from her face.
"Di. please uthho." I whispered, tears pooling in my eyes.
(Di. Please wake up.)
From the front seat, his voice came... controlled, steady.
"Aap log fikar mat kijiye. Main Mukti ko hospital le ja raha hoon."
(Don't worry everyone. I'm taking Mukti to the hospital.)
The car sped forward and for the first time I didn't care about anything else.
Not him. Not what happened earlier but only her.
We reached the hospital.
I was left outside the room waiting for her.
What happened to her suddenly?
My hands clenched together tightly, my eyes fixed on the door.
Tears slipped silently down my cheeks.
I didn't even try to stop them.
"Chahat..."
I didn't look at him.
"I'm fine," I whispered automatically.
I could feel him standing there watching me.
Not saying anything.
A few minutes later, Mumma and Papa rushed in along with his father and grandmother.
"Chahat!" Mumma held my face, "Kya bola doctor ne?"
(What did the doctor say?)
I wasn't able to speak. Kartik asked them to calm down. The doctor was checking her.
We waited. Those minutes felt like hours.
Until finally the doctor came out.
"Don't worry," he said calmly. "Nothing serious. Dehydration aur low blood pressure ki wajah se faint hui hain. Thoda rest aur proper diet se theek ho jayengi."
(She fainted due to dehydration and low blood pressure. She'll recover with some rest and a proper diet.)
My shoulders dropped. Relief hit me all at once.
I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding.
"Aap inhe ghar le ja sakte hain."
(You can take her home.)
We brought her home.
Everyone was calmer now.
The next morning felt... normal.
"Mukti, Chahat... tailor ke paas jaana hai," Mumma called from the living room.
(Mukti, Chahat... we have to go to the tailor.)
I groaned under my breath but got ready anyway.
The tailor shop smelled of fabric and chalk.
Mukti di handed over her outfits first and have her measurement absent mindedly.
Then it was my turn.
I held up the blouse and frowned. "Neckline thoda low karna. Pichli baar bohot high tha... suffocate ho rahi thi main."
(Lower the neckline a little. Last time I was very high... I was getting suffocated.)
The lady nodded, writing it down. I asked her to make it sweetheart neckline and she agreed noting it down.
We both gave strict instructions that it's urgent as the engagement is in a week.
She agreed.
I wish everything else was that simple too.
Days started slipping by fast.
For ring size we sent a ring of Mukti di to them and they send his ring as well. So now there was no ring selection drama left.
The house that once felt normal now felt... different.
Every corner was filled with something; clothes, jewelry boxes, guests coming and going, decorations being discussed, calls being made.
But in between all that chaos, there was silence between me and di.
The worst kind.
The kind that sits heavy in your chest.
The kind that doesn't go away no matter how many times you try to fix it.
I tried.
"Di. suno na..."
(Di. Listen to me...)
No response.
"Please ek baar meri baat sun lo..."
(Please listen to me once...)
She would walk away, ignoring me like I wasn't even there.
And maybe I deserved it because every time I looked at her I was reminded.
This is your fault.
If I hadn't sat in her place that day...
If I hadn't tried to ruin it...
If I hadn't interfered
Things wouldn't be like this.
She wouldn't look at me like that.
I thought now atleast kartik would refuse for this marriage but no. He didn't.
Now when he knows it was me who sat in her place and fooled him then he should simply call off this engagement and wedding but he didn't.
And before I could even process it, the day of engagement arrived.
I stand in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection as my fingers adjust the dupatta for what feels like the hundredth time. The silver lehenga sits perfectly on me, exactly how I wanted it elegant, flowy, the kind that doesn't scream for attention but still demands it.
The blouse, however... is a different story. I tug the dupatta slightly higher, angling it just right so it covers my neckline properly because a little cleavage was visible.
From the front, it looks decent now. But I know one wrong movement, one careless step, and everything will slip out of place. I exhale slowly, trying to calm the slight nervousness creeping in.
I keep my hair open, letting the soft waves fall over my back, intentionally covering the exposed skin of my backless blouse. Maa would lose her mind if she saw it properly, and I am not in the mood for a lecture today. Not today of all days.
Once I'm done, I turn toward her.
She's sitting in front of the dressing table like someone who has no will of her own.
Her eyes are fixed somewhere in the mirror, but I can tell she's not really looking and that bothered me.
"Di..." I try again, softer this time. "Aap theek ho na?"
(Are you okay?)
She didn't respond.
Something twists uncomfortably inside my chest. This isn't anger anymore. This is something else. Something deeper. Something... wrong.
"Please, baat toh karo mujhse," I mutter, concern slipping into my voice despite myself.
(At least talk to me.)
Her lips part slightly.
For a second, I think she will finally say something.
But instead she scolded me, "Chup raho aur jo kar rahi ho wo karo."
(Stay quiet and do what you're doing.)
The words are cold.
I freeze for a moment then press my lips together.
Fine if that's what she wants. I won't ask again.
The room behind me was filled with soft noise, someone calling out for safety pins, Mumma's voice somewhere in the background but it all felt distant and muted because all I could see was my reflection.
My sister was already dolled up like a bride. Her pink lehenga was looking beautiful on her.
My fingers slowly traced the edge of my dupatta adjusting it unnecessarily.
We walk downstairs together.
Maa's face lights up the moment she sees Mukti.
"Hayee..." she smiles, pulling her closer, placing a small kajal dot behind her ear. "Kisi ki nazar na lage meri beti ko."
(May no evil eye fall on my daughter.)
I can't help but smile faintly at that.
Papa looks at both of us, pride and warmth in his eyes as he blessed us quietly.
.
.
.
We entered the banquet hall. It was grand.
Crystal chandeliers shimmer above, casting soft golden light everywhere. The air smells faintly of fresh flowers and expensive perfume. People move around in clusters...laughing, greeting and judging.
I immediately spot them.
Ishika, Ina and Rivan, all three of them together.
For a second, everything else fades.
Relief washes over me as I walk toward them.
"Finally!" Ishika grins, pulling me into a quick hug.
Ina smiles warmly, and Rivan he looked at me a little too long.
"Damn," he mutters under his breath, though loud enough for me to hear. "Aaj kisi ki jaan lene ka irada hai kya?"
(Are you planning to kill someone today?)
I shook my head, "Mat kar Rivan please. I'm tired already."
(Don't do this Rivan please.)
"Kya hua?" Ina asked.
(What happened?)
Ishika reached for my hand, "Tune bataya kyun nahi mujhe ki Mukti is getting married to Kartik Singhaniya."
(Why didn't you tell me that Mukti is getting married to Kartik Singhania.)
"Chhod na."
(leave it.)
"Kya hua itna stressed kyun lag rahi hai?" As soon as I heard Rivan asked this my eyes turned teary.
(What happened? Why do you look so stressed?)
I shook my head blinking my tears back.
How do I explain that Mukti is blaming me for all this!
And I'm feeling guilty as well.
They gave me space not asking anything further because I was not in the condition to talk.
Rivan tried to lighten my mood and to be honest I felt better.
Mumma called me and asked me to be there as his family will be here any minute.
I looked around and saw the decoration. The setup was beautiful.
Lights strung across the open space, soft golden glow spreading everywhere. The stage was set perfectly, decorated with subtle flowers and elegant drapes. The catering area is neatly arranged, waiters moving around efficiently. It's not extravagant but it's perfect.
But somewhere in the back of my mind a thought lingers.
Kartik Singhaniya.
I don't know why my eyes keep drifting to the gate.
I fold my arms, shifting my weight from one foot to another, pretending like I'm just... observing. Waiting for guests. Watching the decor. Anything but what I'm actually doing.
Waiting for him?
The realization hits me like a slap.