Another Half Of Me - Chapter 21

Roshni waited patiently in the car waiting for someone to come and get her. She looked at Rudy through the rear view mirror and saw him smiling at her reassuringly. Feeling a little better, she closed her eyes but opened them instantly when she heard the car door open.

Sudha was waiting for her. “It’s time to go my bride-to-be,” she said smiling at her. Roshni blushed with nervous energy.

“Don’t worry, they will like you. They are as eccentric as us,” Sid said squeezing her arm lovingly.

Walking inside, she saw a huge room with everyone speaking at the same time. Amidst all this, she saw Siddha looking at her offering his hand, beckoning her to come to him. In a trance, she went to him and placed her hand in his.

Squeezing her hand, Siddha smiled at her reassuringly.

“Dadaji, Nanaji, Chachaji and Chachi, this is Roshni Thakur,” he shouted making sure they heard him amidst their loud chatter.

Suddenly, Roshni felt 4 pair of eyes looking at her intently. My goodness, I am more nervous than performing on stage, she thought trying her best not to hide behind Siddha.

It was Siddha’s aunt, Veena Singh Rajput who broke the silence. Coming up to Roshni, she said touching her cheek, “Nice choice.”

Biting her lip, Roshni smiled at her and then bowed down to touch her feet.

“Come here,” Dadaji commanded in a heavy booming voice.

Siddha let go of her hand and pushed her a little towards his grandfather. Feeling the push, Roshni walked gingerly towards him, trying her best not to run away. His dadaji gestured her to sit down in front of him.

“Do you who we are?” he asked looking straight into her eyes.

Roshni nodded. “You are Siddha’s dadaji and nanaji,” she managed to answer in a croaking shaky voice.

“So, tell me who do you think is handsome between us?” Dadaji asked her gesturing to him and Siddha’s Nanaji.

Siddha smiled and shook his head. Dadaji, you will never change.

Looking at them one by one, Roshni seriously could not figure out the answer. What should I say?

“You both are the same. He has your eyes and you have his heart,” she said gesturing at both of them.

Laughing hard, Dadaji placed a hand on her head. “This girl is more intelligent than you are, Siddha.”

Thakur Durgesh Singh looked at Roshni and somehow felt he was looking at his Subhani. He blinked away his tears and asked Siddha, “So, when do you guys want to get married?”

At first Siddha did not realise what his Nanaji had asked him, but when he did he stood at his place motionless.

Roshni turned at him and he saw tears streaming down her eyes. All he wanted to do was hug her close to his heart, however that can wait. Before everyone again erupted with joy, he thought it was best to tell them the whole truth because he had never really hidden anything from them.

“I think all of you should know certain things before you give the consent for marriage,” he said trying his best to avoid Roshni’s eyes.

Roshni knew what he was going to say. Before he could, she said in a grave and strong voice, “I am an orphan. I have never known my parents. I was brought up at an orphanage in Delhi. I was named by them, and the person who sponsored my studies and dance lessons gave me his name legally. So, I don’t have a family.”

Closing his eyes, Siddha felt her pain vibrate to him. But, he did not want to console or hold her. He was proud of her and what she had done till now. 

Shanker Singh Rajput stood up, helped by his friend. He touched her Roshni’s head and said, “You have a family now and as long as Siddha is there you will always have one. Welcome to the family!”

Roshni did not know how to react. All she could do was cry in front of them like a child. Veena rushed to her and hugged her. 

Siddha stood where he was without moving a muscle. He did not know what to do, whether to thank his grandfathers for accepting her or just to stay shut. He remembered what they had told him when his parents had passed away.

“We are your family and you will always have us no matter what.”

Shaking his head, he tried to blink away his tears. Sid and his friends surrounded him and he felt Prashant’s arm squeezing his shoulder. But he looked straight at Roshni silently commanding her to look at him.

Roshni was still reeling from their consent. Hugging Chachi, she looked at Siddha.

He was looking at her with tears brimming in his eyes. The look in them promised her their future together: a blissful and happy one.

*************

A woman waited near the baggage belt waiting to pick her luggage. Once it arrived, she picked it up and handed to over the person standing behind her. Striding briskly, she stepped out of the airport and the chauffeur opened the car door for her. She sat down and picked her phone to dial his number. She disconnected the line feeling irritated when it said out of reach.

“Take me to his office,” Sandhya told the chauffeur.  

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