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Ishanvi sat down on one of the couches across from Mr and Mrs Oberoi.
She had noticed their tensed faces the moment she walked in, thus she realised whatever the matter was, it was something major.
After asking about her journey, Mrs Neela Oberoi came straight to the point. "We are sorry to call you here on such short notice but this matter requires your presence before we decide upon anything."
Then she briefed Ishanvi on whatever had transpired yesterday.
After Ishanvi got to know the whole story, for a moment she was dumbfounded. Then she gathered her thoughts together and began speaking, "I know what Parthiv and Trisha did wasn't right and your disappointment is just and fair…" she paused to look at everyone before her gaze fixed on Neer who stood near the window on her left, his muscular back faced her. "But they are in love, and there's nothing right or wrong when it comes to love. People commit mistakes —from little, silly mistakes to grave one— all the time in love because when someone is in love, nothing else matters for that person except the happiness of the person they love!"
At those words, Neer gradually turned to her. He tried to read her face but Ishanvi had already schooled her expressions. Neer leaned against the window, his hands folded across his chest as he kept his gaze focused on Ishanvi now.
"I'm in no way trying to justify what they did and I agree that they deserve to be punished," Ishanvi said. "But if you don't mind, can I suggest their punishment and if everyone agrees, Parthiv and Trisha will have to accept the punishment," she said tentatively as she looked at Mr and Mrs Oberoi.
Mr Oberoi signalled for her to continue.
Taking a deep breath, Ishanvi said, "Whatever has been done is done now. We can't undo it. But there's a way Parthiv and Trisha can rectify their mistakes.
"Ishanvi *beta*, I don't think anything can amend the sin they've committed," Pavitra Oberoi sneered.
"I'm sorry *chachi ji*, but I don't think they haven't committed any cardinal sin. I know the way they handled things is wrong and reckless on their part but their intention wasn't wrong. They just couldn't wait any longer to be with the person they love. Please don't be so mad at them," Ishanvi pleaded.
Pavitra gave her a small smile. "I'll try. Now what is the idea you've come up with?"
"Thank you, *chachi ji*,"Ishanvi grinned. "Yes, about that idea, I want to ask first if we could trust the staff working at the Royal Palace and how many of them know about this incident?"
"All of our staff is trustworthy but not many of them know about this," Mrs Oberoi answered. "Why do you ask?"
"That's great! Then this matter won't be leaked out in public," Ishanvi said. "Okay, so as they've already registered their marriage in the court and we can't hide this truth from the media and public for long, so we need to make it look like that was our plan all along."
"What do you mean? How can we do that?" Riddhima, who was again on the Skype call like yesterday, queried.
"Now listen to me carefully. The concept of getting married in court first is getting popular these days. People first register their marriage in the court and then tie the knot with all the rituals in front of God and family. We'll do exactly this.
"We first need to find a date to get them officially married, the sooner the better. Once their *anand karaj* is done, they'll announce their marriage to the world in a joint statement or i********: post and will also tell them about their civil marriage, citing they wanted to keep the news under the wraps until they tied the knot in front of their close families and friends. Everyone would believe that this was their original plan— register their marriage in the abode of law first without disclosing it in the public, and then perform the religious ceremonies to get hitched in presence of God and those who matter. This way nobody will ever find out about the real reason behind their secretive civil marriage, and Parthiv and Trisha will be happy too!" Ishanvi finished.
Pavitra Oberoi looked dissatisfied with the idea. "This doesn't sound like a punishment to me."
Ishanvi smiled before saying, "Their punishment will be that they'll have to stay away from each other until the *anand karaj*. Do you think there can be any greater punishment for lovebirds than staying apart?" Ishanvi raised her eyebrows.
"You're right. This is the perfect punishment for them even if it isn't really a punishment," Pavitra agreed with Ishanvi.
Everybody gave their assent to proceed with Ishanvi's idea. They were grateful to Ishanvi and hoped this would work out successfully.
Parthiv sent a thankful smile at Ishanvi's way. She nodded her head in acknowledgement.
Neer too looked impressed with her idea. Even if it wasn't anything extraordinary, it still solved their problem and gave them a smooth way out. But he didn't voice his thoughts out loud and chose to keep them to himself.
Unbeknownst to anyone, a couple of faces twisted in sneer as they witnessed the scene unfolding in front of them.
Soon, the Royal *Rajpurohit* was called in the assembly hall of the Palace. He was asked to give a nearest possible date for the *anand karaj*.
To everyone's relief, the Rajpurohit announced the first Sunday of August as a perfect date to hold Parthiv and Trisha's *anand karaj*, which meant they had less than a month to prepare for the wedding.
While all this happened, Ishanvi was taking a quick shower in her room in the guest house. Mrs Oberoi had asked her to freshen up as the discussion had taken up almost all the morning and Ishanvi had got no time to eat or relax since she arrived in Chandigarh.
Once she was showered and dressed, she walked out of the bathroom and began combing her hair. Just then, someone knocked on her door.
"Please come in," Ishanvi said, rolling her hair into a messy bun.
Ishanvi had worn a off-white ankle length pant with a floral printed cotton kurta. She was glad that she had decided to bring her ethnic clothes with her. It was only after she arrived and saw everyone dressed impeccably that she realised the responsibilities she had to uphold as the future daughter-in-law of the royal family. And one of them was being dressed gracefully, even if you're wearing casuals like Ira.
Simmi walked in holding a huge wooden tray in her hands.
"*Rani sahib* has sent this brunch for you, ma'am," she told Ishanvi as she put the tray on the coffee table.
Ishanvi glanced at the tray and saw there was *idli and sambhar*, *upma*, *dhokla*, *poha* and a plate of freshly cut fruits as well along with a glass of freshly squeezed watermelon juice.
"And everyone requires your presence in the Royal garden after the brunch," Simmi informed her before leaving.
Ishanvi was so hungry that as soon as Simmi left, she put the tray on the bed and started eating upma and dhokla directly from the dish without bothering to serve it on a plate first.
Once she ate to her heart's content, she washed her hands clean and looked in the mirror to see if she looked presentable before heading out to meet everyone in the Royal garden!
Ishanvi sat down on one of the couches across from Mr and Mrs Oberoi.
She had noticed their tensed faces the moment she walked in, thus she realised whatever the matter was, it was something major.
After asking about her journey, Mrs Neela Oberoi came straight to the point. "We are sorry to call you here on such short notice but this matter requires your presence before we decide upon anything."
Then she briefed Ishanvi on whatever had transpired yesterday.
After Ishanvi got to know the whole story, for a moment she was dumbfounded. Then she gathered her thoughts together and began speaking, "I know what Parthiv and Trisha did wasn't right and your disappointment is just and fair…" she paused to look at everyone before her gaze fixed on Neer who stood near the window on her left, his muscular back faced her. "But they are in love, and there's nothing right or wrong when it comes to love. People commit mistakes —from little, silly mistakes to grave one— all the time in love because when someone is in love, nothing else matters for that person except the happiness of the person they love!"
At those words, Neer gradually turned to her. He tried to read her face but Ishanvi had already schooled her expressions. Neer leaned against the window, his hands folded across his chest as he kept his gaze focused on Ishanvi now.
"I'm in no way trying to justify what they did and I agree that they deserve to be punished," Ishanvi said. "But if you don't mind, can I suggest their punishment and if everyone agrees, Parthiv and Trisha will have to accept the punishment," she said tentatively as she looked at Mr and Mrs Oberoi.
Mr Oberoi signalled for her to continue.
Taking a deep breath, Ishanvi said, "Whatever has been done is done now. We can't undo it. But there's a way Parthiv and Trisha can rectify their mistakes.
"Ishanvi *beta*, I don't think anything can amend the sin they've committed," Pavitra Oberoi sneered.
"I'm sorry *chachi ji*, but I don't think they haven't committed any cardinal sin. I know the way they handled things is wrong and reckless on their part but their intention wasn't wrong. They just couldn't wait any longer to be with the person they love. Please don't be so mad at them," Ishanvi pleaded.
Pavitra gave her a small smile. "I'll try. Now what is the idea you've come up with?"
"Thank you, *chachi ji*,"Ishanvi grinned. "Yes, about that idea, I want to ask first if we could trust the staff working at the Royal Palace and how many of them know about this incident?"
"All of our staff is trustworthy but not many of them know about this," Mrs Oberoi answered. "Why do you ask?"
"That's great! Then this matter won't be leaked out in public," Ishanvi said. "Okay, so as they've already registered their marriage in the court and we can't hide this truth from the media and public for long, so we need to make it look like that was our plan all along."
"What do you mean? How can we do that?" Riddhima, who was again on the Skype call like yesterday, queried.
"Now listen to me carefully. The concept of getting married in court first is getting popular these days. People first register their marriage in the court and then tie the knot with all the rituals in front of God and family. We'll do exactly this.
"We first need to find a date to get them officially married, the sooner the better. Once their *anand karaj* is done, they'll announce their marriage to the world in a joint statement or i********: post and will also tell them about their civil marriage, citing they wanted to keep the news under the wraps until they tied the knot in front of their close families and friends. Everyone would believe that this was their original plan— register their marriage in the abode of law first without disclosing it in the public, and then perform the religious ceremonies to get hitched in presence of God and those who matter. This way nobody will ever find out about the real reason behind their secretive civil marriage, and Parthiv and Trisha will be happy too!" Ishanvi finished.
Pavitra Oberoi looked dissatisfied with the idea. "This doesn't sound like a punishment to me."
Ishanvi smiled before saying, "Their punishment will be that they'll have to stay away from each other until the *anand karaj*. Do you think there can be any greater punishment for lovebirds than staying apart?" Ishanvi raised her eyebrows.
"You're right. This is the perfect punishment for them even if it isn't really a punishment," Pavitra agreed with Ishanvi.
Everybody gave their assent to proceed with Ishanvi's idea. They were grateful to Ishanvi and hoped this would work out successfully.
Parthiv sent a thankful smile at Ishanvi's way. She nodded her head in acknowledgement.
Neer too looked impressed with her idea. Even if it wasn't anything extraordinary, it still solved their problem and gave them a smooth way out. But he didn't voice his thoughts out loud and chose to keep them to himself.
Unbeknownst to anyone, a couple of faces twisted in sneer as they witnessed the scene unfolding in front of them.
Soon, the Royal *Rajpurohit* was called in the assembly hall of the Palace. He was asked to give a nearest possible date for the *anand karaj*.
To everyone's relief, the Rajpurohit announced the first Sunday of August as a perfect date to hold Parthiv and Trisha's *anand karaj*, which meant they had less than a month to prepare for the wedding.
While all this happened, Ishanvi was taking a quick shower in her room in the guest house. Mrs Oberoi had asked her to freshen up as the discussion had taken up almost all the morning and Ishanvi had got no time to eat or relax since she arrived in Chandigarh.
Once she was showered and dressed, she walked out of the bathroom and began combing her hair. Just then, someone knocked on her door.
"Please come in," Ishanvi said, rolling her hair into a messy bun.
Ishanvi had worn a off-white ankle length pant with a floral printed cotton kurta. She was glad that she had decided to bring her ethnic clothes with her. It was only after she arrived and saw everyone dressed impeccably that she realised the responsibilities she had to uphold as the future daughter-in-law of the royal family. And one of them was being dressed gracefully, even if you're wearing casuals like Ira.
Simmi walked in holding a huge wooden tray in her hands.
"*Rani sahib* has sent this brunch for you, ma'am," she told Ishanvi as she put the tray on the coffee table.
Ishanvi glanced at the tray and saw there was *idli and sambhar*, *upma*, *dhokla*, *poha* and a plate of freshly cut fruits as well along with a glass of freshly squeezed watermelon juice.
"And everyone requires your presence in the Royal garden after the brunch," Simmi informed her before leaving.
Ishanvi was so hungry that as soon as Simmi left, she put the tray on the bed and started eating upma and dhokla directly from the dish without bothering to serve it on a plate first.
Once she ate to her heart's content, she washed her hands clean and looked in the mirror to see if she looked presentable before heading out to meet everyone in the Royal garden!
- Writer
