Chapter 25 :: Marriage of convenience

few days ago...

Insiyaa's final exam of 12th, was going on that time and she was waiting outside of her college for her car to come at front...God knows why Gora was late today. Quite a sunny day it was and she was already tired and hungry.

She suddenly yelped when not one but two different car came across each other almost at the same time.....and both familiar, one of them was her's and other one was of Sanklap Singh Rathod's.

And what surprised her even more was how hurriedly he got out of his car, dragged her in it and almost threw her inside and ordered her driver Gora to follow them behind.

"Hello to you too Rathod!" She said with a annoyed look

''Yeah! Raichand, formalities are not needed here, there are more pressing matters.....emergency! Not here though, first we find a good spot, It's private'' Sankalp said in a tensed voice.

She just gave him a reluctant nod and sat straight watching her car following them through the mirror.

they drove to a nearest cafe she knew to be good enough for conversations.

"Bohot bhook lagi hai yaar mujhe, ek to exam ke tension me kuch gale se nahi utra aur tumhara shakal ke halat aur jyada tension de rahi hai.....batao to aisa kya ho gaya"

[ I am very hungry, man, one thing was the tension of the exam, nothing came down from the throat and then your face is giving me even more tension….. tell me what has happened ]

'SHAADI.....hui nahi magar hone wali hai, hum dono ki'

[ MARRIAGE.....not happened yet but it is going to happen, both of us ]

"what....who told you" She squeaked

Sankalp cleared his throat....''Gyan Singh heard from Raanisa's personal maid, apparently uncle came to our house few days ago, he____

All the hunger and tiredness Insiyaa felt few minutes ago, suddenly died down....

''Raanisa has no problem with it as she even hinted .....I'm screwed, I'm not ready to get married

RAICHAND ARE YOU LISTENING ?'' Sankalp suddenly said in annoyed tone that pulled her out of her trance...

she snapped at him...."What ?.....so, you thought you can get away with coming here infront of my college without giving any notice and then almost giving me a heart attack the way you pulled the car off....and then asking me to make plan of how to break it off"

Her sudden bluntness made him speechless for awhile, he opened his mouth and closed few times before forming a good sentence.

''ah...yes! I mean n_no.....i mean yeah__i-i do '' He sighed

"why are so confused ?" She asked

''I do want to break it off but...

"But ?....there's a but now!"

Sankalp cleared his throat again looking little nervous...he scratched his neck before continuing....

''you do know your brother is looking for good families to marry you off right ? And my mom had been doing the same.....almost months She showed me at least 50 pictures of different girls from every state of India.....It's seriously getting on my nerves now! I just took over the business, it's already so exhausting."

Insiyaa was still watching him with a skeptical look on her face.

"Aaand ?"

''Raichand....i know It's sounds crazy but i want you to say yes when your father and my mother asks you and mind you, she is already checking bridal magazines for Saares and Jewelleries and what not.....i already gave my answer affirmation''

anger came rushing and her jaw tightened,... Sankalp noticed so, he pulled both his hands up and made a gesture to calm her down.

'before you jump on me with a knife, listen to me...

"so, you think my father or my brother would even bother to ask me ?....and Yes, please DO EXPLAIN...how exactly our problem of not willing to get married is going to be solved by me saying "YES"

''if we agree, both of our parents will stop shoving brides or grooms under our nose and, who said we have to marry right now, we can postpone it for at least 2/3years____

Insiyaa narrowed her eyes in anger again, she gritted out....."and we still have to MARRY after that"

''At least we'll get the time to think of something, right ? you do want go to finish your study and become a jewellery designer, don't you ? And i want to settle in first too. So,____

Look, think about it Raichand....with the way everything going on among you and uncle Raichand and Rahat___i don't even what happened in Pakistan or here in past couple of months...but i can feel the tension and nobody would give me straight answer i know...Raanisa doesn't know all of it...but Dad do, and he'd not say anything either. I'm just saying that Rahat--he looked insistent on___

"marrying me off to the first orthodox family he gets ?''

Sankalp....again looking really nervous.....he chuckled.

''now as much as your family is famous all around the Rajasthan, it's hard to find one good Muslim family who actually can look past your surname,.....even if all of you have been following Islam ever since your dad married your Mom and another fact is them demanding dowry, which is illegal but they don't care, they will take you in with Money you'll bring them....I'm sure, Rahat agreed but Uncle did not and that's the reason got Rahat frustrated"

Insiyaa scoffed _____It's true, she didn't want to marry this early either but the way her father is looking for a good family to marry her off she's afraid it wouldn't take long....

"Suppose i say yes, but what happens after that...what would it be!"

"a marriage of convenience....at first!"

"still an arranged marriage.... never took you for one" Insiyaa muttered begrudgingly

"why so sad dear....my parents had an arranged marriage...and it turned out quite splendid,....well, before the accident occurred, c'mon they are still together, they were each other's friend, grew fond of each other over time"

''I'm sure of Rathod....but my parents had love marriage of which whole Jodhpur is aware of....so yes! i dreamt of love, not just fondness''

"still something far better than what your Brother would offer" Sankalp coolly said

"yes!" She said....and there was hopelessness in her voice

"deal then ?" He smirked

Insiyaa was about to protest when he raised his hand to stop her.....and said

"I'd never do anything that makes you uncomfortable, we would have each other's back infront of the family and the world,...and stay true to each other, no matter what"

"no matter what ?"

"yes"

and how are you so sure that they'd even agree on postponing.....?"

''we,---I'll think of something!" He said while she gave him a long look

"you did not want anyone else as bride.....and now you are not even sure if you want me as one....I'm just a what your barricade against your Mother ?

"and i against your family, you are welcome...we'll cross the bridge when we reach there'' Sankalp said determinedly looking at her

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