Song of the chapter is
Sweet Marie by The Walters

-56-
-Kartik Malhotra-
-Present-

__________

Arora Residence
12 December, 2030
4:56 pm

"No."

The party popper in Zoya's hand was a second away from exploding. As Veronica uttered her answer, the rest of us, who were hiding behind the tree, suddenly stopped in our tracks.

No?

"Did we hear that right?" Saina asked in a whisper.

"You all heard no, right?" Zoya turned towards me. Siya and I nodded in unison.

"What the fuc-"

"No?" Himanshu's feeble voice made its way to us next. The rest of us stood still, awaiting Veronica's explanation.

Veronica scoffed, laughing slightly. "Moose....you can't be serious-"

"I hundred percent am, Ronnie."

"What the fuck is going on?" Zoya whispered shouted again.

"We'd be able to hear if you stop shouting in our ears, Zizi." I responded back. She scowled and turned away.

"But Moose...." Veronica began, a hesitation laced in her voice. "You aren't thinking straight, okay? Marriage is a huge responsibility. I can't just let you take a decision based on your fear of losing me-"

"Ronnie-"

"No, Moose." She interjected, putting her hand on his arm. "Listen to me. I love you. You know I do. And there's no truth in this world that would ever change that."

She paused before continuing, "I know that you're scared of what's about to come next. Frankly, we all are. And it has made you overthink about things and I get it, I understand. But I can't let you take such a huge decision in a hurry, just because the situation seems to call for it."

Himanshu opened his mouth to retort when he was interrupted again.

"I am not going anywhere, Moose. I promise." She crouched closer to him. "Once all of this is over, you'll have time to think clearly. Whatever decision you want to take, you can take it then. Right now is not the right time."

"Ronnie," Himanshu finally began, looking diligently at her. "I've thought about this, okay? This is not just a rash decision I'm making, alright? I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. What is so wrong with that?"

"There's nothing wrong with your intentions, Moose." She said. "Infact, I'm so glad that you even thought about...this. But it's just not-"

"What? What is it not?"

Veronica sighed visibly. "What if when all of this is over...and you-"

"I what?" Himanshu asked, sensing her hesitation.

She looked at him for a solid moment before saying, "...you regret it."

A long silence followed that.

"You think I would ever regret being with you?" Himanshu asked next, his voice an evidence of the pain that Veronica's words had given.

"I...don't know, Moose." Veronica answered, her voice strained. "A lot could change in a moment. A lot could change in the future."

"Ronnie," He breathed. "For the past fifteen years of my life.... I had spent my every breathing moment....loving you. Nothing changed...even when we were apart. We're still the same. Our love's still the same."

A forlorn look crossed Veronica's features as she looked at him and then looked away.

"I'm sorry, but..." She finally uttered, her voice low and hoarse. "I don't think I can do this."

Saying that, she ran back into the house, leaving a dejected Himanshu standing all alone. My heart broke for him in that moment.

The rest of us appeared from behind the tree, obviously dejected by the surprising turn of events. Zoya went ahead and gave Himanshu a hug and Saina and Siya joined right after.

As I watched his face crumple like a piece of paper discarded away, I thought to myself, 'Was this really how this story ends?'

My mind couldn't bear the obvious answer.

So I decided against it.

No way, I wasn't going to let this ship drown.

Asking Siya to take Himanshu and the others out for a drive, I decided to stay back with Veronica in the house. Once the rest were gone, I walked back inside and found Veronica sitting alone in the living room.

Her face looked crushed.

I sighed vehemently. Only these two could find ways to torture themselves by hurting the other.

I sauntered towards the couch and took a seat next to her. She moved slightly and avoided any eye contact.

This was going to be a long fight.

"Veronica," I began but she interjected me before I could complete.

"I really don't wanna talk about it, Kartik."

I sighed, nodding. A long silence prevailed following that.

"I just... I don't know what to do." She sniffled. "All these years....all I've done is disappoint him and hur-hurt him."

I flickered my gaze over to her and found her silently weeping.

"I didn't wanna do this. I really didn't wanna hurt him." She cried, looking at me.

Holding her hand, I consoled, "You didn't, Veronica."

"No, I did." She retorted, crying. "I saw his face. I broke his heart....again."

"No, you didn't." I said, reassuring further. "All you said was what you had in mind."

She gave me questioning look.

"You're obviously scared, Veronica. Anyone will be. After whatever you've been through,...it isn't easy to just put your faith in one person. I get that."

"I have faith in him, Kartik." She responded, her voice laced with misery. "He means the world to me. And I hate the fact that I can't ever show him that."

I looked down at our hands and asked, "Why did you say no?"

"Because,.... it's a rash decision-"

"What do you think a marriage is, Veronica?" I questioned, looking straight at her. "Do you think it's about customs and rituals and paperwork?"

"No, I-"

"Then what does marriage mean to you?"

She looked at me for a moment before speaking, "It's when two people...who love each other...and want to spend their lives together...tie the knot."

I smiled ruefully. "No, it isn't that."

She looked at me to elaborate further.

"A marriage is a spiritual promise...that you give to the person you love and know you will, for the rest of the eternity." I spoke slowly. "There's just two people in that promise. No one else."

"For all these years that you guys have been apart, have you ever felt like Himanshu was always there....around you...in your desperate times? Like even when he was not actually present?" I asked.

She took a moment before nodding. "Yeah. Millions of times."

I blinked, sighing. "Have you ever felt so tied to him that you could not even comprehend thinking about anything else? Or anyone else?"

"Yes."

"Have you ever been so in love with him...that you felt like you couldn't breathe?" I questioned, looking deep into her eyes. "Even when...he wasn't even yours to love?"

Her eyelids flickere twice or thrice before she looked down, nodding slightly.

I smiled softly. "Well then, Veronica, you guys have already been married to each other for years."

The stillness of it all perhaps made that moment more profound. I felt her shiver slightly as she thought hard before looking at me.

"Marriage is not walking seven rounds around a fire or signing some papers or putting on a ring. It's when two people feel comfortable to share every moment of their lives with each other, when they stand together to fight every fight, when they think about the other before themselves. That's marriage."

She licked her lips and moved restlessly.

"Ofcourse, I'm not saying that if you're in love, you have to get married. That's not the norm for everyone." I said. "But for you guys it's different. You have always been there for each other,....in your hardest times. I have never seen a couple more meant for each other than you guys."

She smiled painfully and got up. Trudging her steps towards the mantle, she picked up a photo of her and Himanshu that he had safely kept for all these years and gazed at it.

"What if he regrets it, Kartik?" She asked. "What if one day he wakes up and suddenly he realises....that it was all a big mistake?"

I walked up to her and peered at the picture. Their budding smiles as they stared at each other seemed so genuine.

"You really think that could ever happen?" I asked. "You really think Himanshu could ever get bored of you?"

She turned towards me, her eyes glistening slightly.

"Veronica, if you haven't noticed....the guy is practically mad for you."

A laughter escaped her lips.

"He really loves you. And I don't think he can imagine his life without you in it." I enunciated. "Himanshu has always been the kind of person who sees the best in people. But he saw something in you...when no one else did. He was there for you, throughout it all. If that's not unconditional love, I don't know what is."

She looked at me and then trained her eyes back at the photo.

"I know." She spelled. "He's truly the best."

"So why are you missing out on the chance of having him by your side for the rest of your life?"

She pursued her lips together but stayed silent.

"Do you really want to give up on this?" I asked. "Don't you wanna stick around and see how good it gets?"

She looked up at me, a smile appearing on her lips.

"Say yes, Veronica." I said, smiling back. "And see how Himanshu spends his life being obsessed with you."

She laughed, out loud this time.

"Take it from me, I know best." I uttered, touching my own wedding ring.

She sighed, looking at me as I wiped her tears. "Thanks, Kartik."

"No problem." I spelled, giving her a side hug. "Now shall we call him up and tell him that your answer has changed?"

She looked at me for a solid moment, a slow mischievous look crossing her features.

"I might have a better idea."

_____________

As I, once again, hid behind the tree, awaiting the arrival of the rest of the gang, I breathed a sigh of relief.

I had texted Siya fifteen minutes ago, telling her to get Himanshu back home as soon as she could. I had spared her the details since I knew Zoya would definitely not be able to keep her mouth shut.

As our car parked in the driveway, Veronica gave me a thumbs up. I made sure the party popper was ready as well.

They all walked inside and slowly and gradually, followed the little notes that Veronica had planted across the house for Himanshu. As they all stepped into the backyard, Himanshu's face became even more puzzled seeing Veronica on her knees.

"Ronnie, what are you doing?"

Siya took the rest and came and stood beside me, giving the two of them their space.

"Moose," Veronica began, inhaling sharply. "I need you to listen to whatever I'm about to say very carefully."

"What is going on?" Zoya expressed visible confusion.

"You'll get to know soon." I smirked.

"All my life, I have always treated my best moments like they were trapped behind glass." She said. "Like they were too fragile for me to stick around and let them...become something real."

Himanshu blinked cluelessly as she continued.

"But Moose.... I would rather have...a whole messy existence with you than another....perfect moment with anyone else."

His eyes twinkled with surprise. Siya and I exchanged a glance.

"So what I'm saying...or rather.... asking...is that..." She stuttered before inhaling deeply, "does your offer still stand?"

A slow yet genuine smile appeared on Himanshu's face as he heard those words. Zoya practically started jumping around in excitement.

Himanshu laughed as he pulled her up. "That's a really bad way of giving me a heartattack."

She smiled. "So is that a yes?"

"You stole my question."

"I think you've already got my answer."

A surge of happiness and awe washed over as the group erupted into cheers, and I couldn't contain my smile. I had never seen Veronica so elated, and the sight of her and Himanshu sharing that moment was pure magic. I gripped the party popper in my hand, my excitement bubbling over. With a quick twist, a shower of colorful confetti burst into the air.

As the confetti rained down around us, I felt a sense of camaraderie and happiness that was simply infectious. Zoya jumped on top of Himanshu's back while Saina hugged Veronica. Once the excitement subsided slightly, Zoya said, "If I knew that you were going to change your mind, V, I wouldn't have bought Himanshu an icecream!"

We all chuckled.

"Well, you have Kartik to blame for that." Veronica said, exchanging a look with me. "He was the one who knocked some sense into my head."

"Always a pleasure." I tilted my head to the side.

"We have so much to plan! Oh my god!" Saina exclaimed. "I might just cry from all this excitement."

"Gosh Saina, when do you not cry?"

"These are happy tears!" Saina retorted, crying even more.

I laughed. "Okay okay, it's clear that we're all very emotional and excited. So why don't we just get back to the house and celebrate tonight?"

"Yes yes, but before that," Zoya interrupted saying. "I call shotgun on being maid of honour!"

"Hey!" Saina retorted.

"You're his cousin, so you'll be the groomswoman!" Zoya retorted before she could speak further.

"But she's my friend too!" Saina fought back like a child.

"Okay children, you can have this fight later." Veronica said, chuckling slightly. "But one thing is decided though."

"What is that?" Himanshu asked.

"I want Kartik to be my best man." She said, turning her head towards me.

"Really?" I asked, surprise evident in my voice.

"If it hadn't been for you,.... I would've probably still been bent on my foolish decision." She said, smiling genuinely. "I can't thank you enough for this."

I gave her an appreciative smile as I caressed her head. "Anytime."

"Okay, so it's decided then." Zoya announced. "Kartik and I would be from Veronica's side and Siya and Saina, from Himanshu's."

Saina opened her mouth to retort again but stayed silent.

"Well, then, come on people," I said, looking at the rest.

"We have a wedding to plan."

_____________

I'm so happy for my babies AAAAAAAAAAAAA!

save the date y'all!
the wedding of the year takes place
this Sunday!!!

and don't forget to vote, comment and share the book as much as possible!

love,
Bosedisha