Chapter 17

Chandhini sat down in front of Arnav. She could not decide what to say, at one side her heart wanted to latch on this opportunity but on the other hand the same heart still could hear Advay's pleading voice and wanted his happiness.

Arnav looked at Chandhini's bowed head and understood she was confused. His years of experience dealing with students had made him an expert in body language.

Arnav,''Beta ,I do not want you to feel pressurized, it's an open choice for you, no one will think bad of you if you refuse. I am sorry about karan's mother, she is my relative yet she...''

Chandhini looked up and said, ''Please baba don't blame yourself.''

Arnav took a deep breath and said, ''I will not lie to you Chandhini, I will be really happy if you and Advay got married but if you really want to say no, then I won't mind it at all.''

Chandhini thought to herself, Khushi's words and Advay's plea ringing her ears, finally she looked at baba and confessed,'' Advay does not want us to get married.''

Arnav,''I want to know Chandhini what do you want? Not what Advay wants? Your decision is yours as Advay's decision is his own. I know you will face problems in this relationship but all relationships demand work and love to make it successful. If you think you love him enough and you can put in the hard work needed to make this relationship work, then say yes and if you are not sure, then say no.''

Chandhini thought to herself, 'Yes, she was willing to do anything to make this relationship work. To be truthful, this was what she always wanted but, ''what about Advay baba? What if he is not willing to make this relationship work?''

Arnav,''May be at start he won't but he loves you Chandhini, so he won't be able to see you in distress.''

Chandhini nodded. Baba and ayi both looked so hopeful and they kept saying things will get better with time and she knew Advay won't remain angry at her for long just like she could not remain angry at him.

Arnav moved his hand forward and covered Chandhini's hand,''I promise, I will be always here for you. We will all help you''

Chandhini took a deep breath and closed her eyes and said, 'Yes, I will marry him.''

...

Advay was lying on his bed staring at ceiling, waiting for Veer to come and tell him about Chandhini's decision. Finally he heard the door open and Veer entered the room. Advay got up and looked at him.

Veer,''she said yes.''

Advay sat there stunned, she said yes? I told her to say no, still...so did she liked him like that. He felt nauseated.

He looked at Veer and bitterly said, ''Are you on their side?''

Veer looked away from Advay eyes and said, ''I can understand how you feel Advay but...''

Advay waved his hand in air and moved toward the closet, he felt anger and rising sense of deep betrayal, ''bullshit, all this is pure bullshit, no one knows what I am going through or no one would have dared say such a thing to me.''

He got out his bag and checked, his passport, his id card, and other papers and threw the bag on bed. Next he started to take out his clothes off the hangers and start throwing them on bed.

Veer, ''So you are leaving us.''

Advay icily replied, ''Do I have any choice?''

Veer, ''Advay there is one other option.''

Advay,''which I refuse to take.''

Veer, ''No, I mean a third option.''

Advay paused and looked at him, ''Third option?''

Veer, ''you know how much everyone is gossiping about you and Chandhini and being a guy it won't reflect badly on you but it will tarnish Chandhini's reputation. So if you marry her and then later divorce her, things will be different. We can say things didn't work out between you two because of age difference or something and baba or ayi won't be able to say anything.''

Veer went closer to Advay and put his hands on Advay's shoulder, ''I promise you Advay, everything will happen the way you want, I understand how it's impossible for you to feel that way about Chandhini as I also cannot think about like her in that way. I think she is feeling pressurized ,because of what happened, it's not only your wedding which got called off today.''

Advay looked at Veer, ''but ...''

Veer,''Advay I am your brother, I care about you and I care about Chandhini too, I am trying to find the solution for this mess which swathi created. Please, don't let our family be shattered because of this incidence. We are all stronger than this.''

Advay thought about it and realized that he did not have any other option because baba will never let him come back if he walked out today and Veer was right, it was a matter of family honour.

So, he went downstairs for dinner.

Arnav smiled when he came and Khushi and Arnav shared a look between each other. Chandhini was sitting opposite to Advay but he did not look at her during the whole dinner or talked to her.

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