THE CONSIGLIERE'S BRIDE

Chapter 4

HELP HER TO RUN.

YES, SHE WILL RUN AWAY.

With this, she jumped on the bed happily and was about to sleep, when her stomach crumbled. Then she remembered she hadn't eaten anything for the day. She looked at the alarm clock on the side table, it was past 1 am and all maids might be sleeping. So she decided to have something on her own. She steadily came downstairs without making a noise. She was about to enter the kitchen when she smelled a wonderful aroma of something that something was surely Pizza, she could smell it and her stomach crumbled again. 'OH, i***t STOMACH!! Can’t you stay quiet? What if someone catches us? You know right, I am supposed to be angry!! “She whispered placing a hand over a stomach. She wondered who might be eating pizza this late.

She started walking towards the dining table and peeped in, to check who it was. Her Brother was sitting alone and eating in silence. She wondered, why is he eating this late? Where was he today? He did not meet her!! With too many questions she entered and called him, "Bhai, what are you having?”

Rishabh was surprised to see her still awake. He came in late because he did not want to face her, obviously in the future maybe, but he was not ready yet.

"Little one, why are you still awake?"

"Answer my question first Bhai"

"Question?" then he saw the slice of pizza in his hand and recollected the question, "OH!! I am having Pizza. Want to join?"

"You doubt!" saying this she smiled sheepishly and sat beside him. "And yes, I was hungry so I was going to the kitchen to get something but THIS" she pointed towards the pizza. "Its smell pulled me here."

"Oh I see, didn’t you have dinner?"

"Mmm!! Nah I did not, I wasn't in the mood."

"Not in mood? Everything fine?"

“Yes bhai. How was your get together?

“What?”

“You had a get together with school friend’s right? Mom said me so you left early in the morning!!”

“Oh yes that! It was good” He lied.

“You are surely fine?” Didn't Mom, Dad has a conversation with her but her eyes were puffy it meant she had been crying. So why is she talking so normally something is fishy?

"Yesss Bhaiii" she said while devouring the pizza.

Seeing her happy he did not ask any questions further he decided to ask his Mother regarding it tomorrow.

"Little one, I wanted to tell you that tomorrow I will be shifting to our flat in Prabhadevi. This up and down every day is too tiring and I have got too much work load!!"

“Why bhai you know right I don’t like living without you” she said stubbornly.

“It is important baby”

“More important then me?” she said while staring him with those puppy eyes.

“NO, nothing is important then you but it is too important”

"Ooo, but promise me you will come to meet me every weekend"

"Yes, I promise"

"Come on Bhai, not in words. Pinky promise with a seal" she said innocently.

Looking at her, he cursed himself for running away, but now after this conversation, he will surely do something. He will save his sister.

"Yes Baby, Pinky promise" then did pinky promise and sealed.

"Chalo Bhai (Come on brother) I am off to sleep. I am full. You too sleep early. Okay?"

"Yes” saying that she ran to her bedroom and slept tightly.

Seeing her running away. He smiled sadly and thought. ‘I’ll try my best to save you little one.'

*****

She woke up when she heard few whispers

"She isn't waking up. What should we do?" 1st person said.

"I have an idea," the other one said.

She recognized the source of the voice. It was Riya and Richa. And it struck her," Oh s**t!! It is Riya and Richa. Wait, what!! They are planning something!!" and her instinct kicked in. She quickly opened her eyes and was about to sit up on the bed, but it was too late, she was already wet with water all over her bed. ‘These idiots threw a whole bucket of cold water on her. Damn it! Whole bucket that too so cold water’. She was now boiling in anger. She gave them a hard glare and said, “You idiots, this is so cold. Watch your steps because you’ll are so dead now"

"Get up 'Murkho Ki Maharani'" they said in unison.

"It is past 11 am, our result will be out by 1" said Riya

"Stop calling me that!! Do you think I am a fool? I don't wake up so late"

"First and the most important thing is 'You are a fool' said Richa and they started laughing. Ishika narrowed her eyes and was watching them as if one more word and she'll kill them. 

"OKOK!! Sorry. But it is 11:15 now you wasted 15 mins: (" said Riya and turned herself to face clock. Ishika looked in the direction she was looking and her eyes widened. “OH s**t, I overslept" while saying this she climbed off the bed in hurry and fell on the ground.

Riya and Richa couldn't control their laughter and they burst out laughing. Ishika glared at them and stood up to hit them but within seconds they were out of the room.

"Idiots" she shouted and went to take a quick bath. By the time she got ready it was already 11:55 pm. She ran downstairs but no one was there, nor in the room. Then she saw a maid passing by so she asked "where is everyone?”

"Everyone is in your Father's study room".

"Ok, thanks." and she began walking towards study then she heard sound of the clock. It meant it is already 12!!

Her father's study was on second floor in a corner. So, she quickly ran upstairs so fast that as soon as reached she started gasping. She quickly composed herself and entered. All eyes on her!! Some shocked, some trying to control laughter.

Her mother broke the awkward moment and said, “What is this behaviour Ishu? Come on quick we have entered your details, let's check your result"

She went and stood near the laptop with Riya and Richa on either sides holding each other’s hand and also crossing the finger simultaneously with her eyes closed,

And boom!!!!!!!

"Congratulations Love, you scored 84.70%" said her father.

"What?" she couldn't believe it and kept staring at the screen. Still in shock.

"Someone pinch me" and she extended her hand. “Please pinch me, quickkk"

Riya and Richa pinched both her hand for either sides.

"Oouchh, it hurts, it means this is true, it is true, yeahhhh" with that she gave a bone crushing hug to everyone and started dancing happily.

They then checked Riya and Richa's results. Riya got 80.45% and Richa got 80.15%. 

All of them were happy for this 3 little girls. Unknown of the fact that Ishika's happiness would be short lived.

Riya and Richa started teasing each other.

"Ooo, you got less than me" Riya

"Shut up we are equal “Richa

"No. I got 0.30% more than you “Riya

"Still, it is considered as 80"Richa

"Enough!! Forget it. We can go to the same university. Yayyy" said Ishika.

"Oh yes" they said in unisons.

"Ishu might take a university in LA" her father said.

Ishika looked at her father and was staring at him now. She wasn't able to register his words. Yesterday, he was talking about her marriage and today has decided to send her to University that too in LA. She felt guilty for thinking and planning about running away. She overcomes the shocked and hugged her father saying,” OH papa. I knew you won't do that with me"

"What do you mean?"

“I mean about that marriage and stuff. You won't do such a thing"

“No Ishika. You will study in LA because your soon-to-be husband has agreed to let you continue your education."

"What?" she took a few seconds to process what he just said? What is wrong with him? Why will a stranger take her Life's decision?

"Why will I need some stranger permission?"

"He isn't a stranger. He is your soon to be husband."

She started clapping her hand in a mocking way. “Wow, like really wow"." You are marrying me off to a stranger whose name, occupation nothing I know and also he stay in LA that too so far. If you want to send me far, kill me already! Why should I marry?"

"ISHIKA" her father shouted. "Enough of your bullshit talks. He stays in LA and His name is” Ishika did not let him complete the sentence and said," I don't give a flying f**k who he is"

"Stay shut. You are marrying him, better learn how to behave. This is my Final and Last time informing you "YOU ARE GETTING MARRIAGE IN 2 MONTHS AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT IS POSTPONEDED. HE WILL BE HERE AFTER 2 WEEK.BE READY", "I hope it is crystal clear"

She took a long breathe and said,"Ok, so hear me out Dad. I will die but won't marry a stranger" with that she ran downstairs and out of the gate. Riya and Richa followed her after assuring her father that she will be safe.

He then got a call from security, he knew what it was for. “Let her go but follow them from far."

Riya and Richa's parents left followed by Ishika's mother. This was the first time he (Ishika’s Father) was feeling so helpless and vulnerable.  Rishabh was standing in the corner observing everything. Now he knew what exactly is to be done!! He had already asked about yesterday to his Mom. It wasn’t shocking for him at all but his father’s state now was!!Giving one last glance towards his father. He left the study.

*****