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It was a late autumn night, winter was marking its arrival. There was a chilliness in the air, making for the perfect weather the Delhiites preferred over the scorching heat.
Ishanvi didn't realise how long she stood there and it wasn't until she got a reminder call from Inaayat that she made her way back to the hall where the party was going on.
"It's not too late. If you aren't happy, we'll call off this relationship right away
She wanted to tell her father that she wasn't sure about her decision to marry Neer anymore but something came over her and decided to go ahead with the wedding.
There was a year before they tied the knot anyway, and a tiny part of heart somewhere believed that Neer might change his mind by the time they got hitched although it seemed next to impossible but her heart wanted to cling on to that tiny sapling of hope germinating inside.
Thus, she chose to not let anyone know about Neer's hurtful words and how this marriage meant nothing to them now. And decide to continue with her lies.
Ishanvi hugged her father and said in a baby-like voice, "It's not that. I'm just sad about leaving you and Mumma alone here. I don't want to go away. How will I live without seeing you guys everyday?"
It was true, she didn't want to go to Chandigarh and leave her parents and siblings behind.
"If you don't want to, no one will force you to go," Mr Dixit told her. "We'll ask Neer to settle down here in Delhi with us. How does that sound?"
"As if Dadi will let it happen," Ishanvi rolled her eyes.
"Who will tell her? Definitely not me."
"Paa, it's not like Dadi won't see him. We live in the same house!"
"Oh yes! I didn't think of that!" Mr Dixit said as if he just realised this.
Ishanvi knew his father was just trying to lighten the mood and cheer her up by being stupid.
"Paaaa!" Ishanvi whined before tightening her hold.
"Okay, fine. I'll stop being dumb," Mr Dixit laughed, hugging her back. "But promise if you ever encounter any problem with Neer or in life, you'll come straight to us and tell us."
"I promise."
Ishanvi didn't want to lie to her father but she knew there won't be any problem between her and Neer in future because there won't be a real relationship between them. And as for other problems, her family has been her go-to option every single time, be it a happy or a bad news.
"And as for staying without us, I'm sure the Royal palace would have a couple of extra rooms for us. So we'll settle down there."
"Paa, you're the best," Ishanvi said, pecking her father on the cheek. She meant it.
"I know," his dad replied, and both father and daughter burst into laughter.
Their laughter could be heard for a while.
"It's late. Go back to bed. We have to leave early," Mr Dixit said after a while.
"You too. You need to sleep more than me because I know you have been super busy today," Ishanvi told her father, standing up and motioning her father to do the same.
"How couldn't I? It was my daughter's engagement ceremony, I had to make sure everything was perfect," Mr Dixit said, getting up from the bench.
Ishanvi shook her head in amusement. Her father always made sure that his kids got the best of the things.
"Let's go now," Ishanvi dragged him away from the garden and to the elevator.
Once she dropped her father outside her room —after a long persuasion from her as he wanted to drop her to her room first just to make sure she was safe— Ishanvi walked away to her room with heavy steps.
She was exhausted from spewing all those lies today and now she really needed a good rest to relax her aching heart, mind and body!
The Oberois had left for Chandigarh at the first dawn while the Dixits had returned to their home shortly after them.
They all had come to see the Oberois off before they left. Ishanvi had greeted the elders and hugged Paridhi, Riddhima and her daughter, Renée. To everyone's surprise, Ira —who usually avoided people and bodily contacts— had hugged Ishanvi as well.
Ishanvi was amicable to everyone in the Oberoi family except the one who was the main link between her and the Oberois— Neer. She had avoided him like a smelly washroom. Even when Riddhima and Paridhi asked them to spend a few minutes together before they had to leave, she refused them politely saying she didn't want them to get late.
Neer knew very well why she had been behaving this way and he didn't blame her. Putting her detached behaviour at the back of his head, he got into his car and drove away without glancing back at Ishanvi.
Once they left, the Dixits too packed their luggage and checked out of the hotel and went home.
The time was moving forward and soon, the world welcomed another year with open arms.
The Oberois and Dixits were getting along really well. Both the family would often engage in group video calls and plan the wedding together. Mr and Mrs Oberoi had even made a couple of trips to Delhi in the last two months. Even Paridhi had visited Ishanvi’s house once after the engagement.
Both Paridhi and Riddhima would often talk with Ishanvi and Inaayat, and sometimes with Ivaan as well, and they had gelled along pretty well.
However, her courtship period was nothing like she had imagined it to be. Ishanvi and Neer barely talked to each other, let alone meeting up. The last time they had seen each other was at their own engagement ceremony. As for talking, they never called each other. And would send a text if they had to ask something. But that was all.
Ishanvi had even wanted to block his number on her phone but it'd raised suspicions, so she had to let the thought go.
“It's not he ever bothers to call you or leave a text unless it's work related,” her inner voice had mocked her at the thought of blocking his number.
It seemed that his indifferent attitude was reserved solely for Ishanvi. It was evident from the way he treated her family— he would often call her parents to know how they are doing, would talk with Inaayat on alternate days, and would have long conversations with Ivaan on weekends regularly. He had bonded really well with her family, alas unke mann ke taar nahi judd paaye the abhi tak.
The season of love was around the corner and everyone had begun to tease Neer and Ishanvi but they both seem unfazed by it.
- Writer
