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|Her fruitless aims for the bitter vines were dodged by the grace of almighty for the sake of his ripe love patiently waiting to be devoured|

by medicallymessedup

•present•

Maple trees are rare to locate in the countries' capital but amidst all the negative responses from the fellow gardeners upon growing it, there was a humongous beast of a maple tree in the backyard of Batra household. It was planted by Ruchi and Kartik when they were just three and nine years old respectively under their Baba's assistance who told them that the growth of this tree would depend on their care, love and dedication, and that it would grow up just like them. It would shed its old, yellow, crinkled leaves during unpleasant autumn in order to survive harsh winters just like they as humans were used to discarding old clothes in the lure to purchase new ones. It would blossom like a full-moon during the spring and swing like a carefree-kid on hot evenings. It would be capable of feeling the happiness and pain too but it still was in a better space than her.

[Baba - An Indian endearment used to address father and grandfather.]

Ruchi's impassive eyes observed the single senile leaf on a branch of the same maple tree resisting against the force of the gyrating gale. The resilience to fight its morbid reality was worth a handful of praises. A satirical chuckle left her lips along with a flight of waterworks. Even a crisp maple leaf was braver than her doomed fortitude. She even after being a breathing human was functioning no less than a corpse.

Since her return, her father was acting sweetly with her for the sole purpose of this marriage. His actions towards her were selfish for an unknown motive. Whereas she was running after him blindly overlooking everyone else for a drop of affection from her father. She had hurt the emotions of Mamta, Sujal and Kartik in the middle of pleasing Sunil. She had been the reason for their mortification. She had pushed them away. They who had always been by her side, they who supported her through thick and thin, they who loved her without putting her through any trials. Did they deserve her bitterness for all their selfless undertakings?

But what else should've she done?

The relationships in their family would've fragmented if she would've refused to get engaged to Aakash. Not only her but everyone would've been affected by her one wrong decision. She was selfish but not enough to be the reason behind everyone's torment.

And other than her family there was another person who would be deeply affected by her action, to the one she can't even explain her infelicity. If what her heart spelt was true then Aryan Mallik would've to swallow the crunch of her resolve. But could she ever tell him the truth, she wondered.

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Kartik sighed for an umpteenth time gazing in the direction of the staircase where Ruchi had last ascended after an unseen squabble. She hadn't left her room since that day, a week had passed yet the only time he saw her was when he entered her room to give her food because she had refrained herself from keeping any kind of interaction with them and right now she wasn't even in the house.

"Kartik!" Sunil called him out, followed by a man who worked as his manager in the catering services he owned, "I hope you've received the guest list from Bhaiya. I've called Bhavar so tell him the approximate number of guests along with the final menu decided for the engagement tomorrow so that they could start preparing from now. I don't want to give anyone a reason to point out a finger over the arrangements from our side."

"Aren't you too excited for this engagement, Chachu?" Kartik couldn't help but snicker out loud, "How happily are you organizing a feast to show off the world while you have left your daughter to burn in the pyre of life-long sufferings!!" He clapped his hands, "Hats off to your courage!!"

[Chachu - Younger Paternal Uncle]

"Sahab, shall I come later?" Bhavar interrupted sensing the heat in the air. "Don't worry about the arrangements because I'll myself overlook our staff for the event. Ruchi bitiya ki sagai dhoom-dhaam se hi puri hogi."

[Sahab - Sir]

["Ruchi Madam's engagement would be a grand affair."]

"Not at all, Bhavar Uncle!" Kartik stopped the man with a rancid sneer directed towards Sunil, "You're here to note down the menu, right? Please, pen it down. Five dishes in appetizers, four dishes in main course and three mouth-watering desserts. Make sure that there are no discrepancies when a guest nears the buffet area. It's the matter of your owner's precious prestige." He snorted.

Sunil turned red in anger hearing Kartik's remarks with an unmeasured scale of humiliation in front of his worker. His nephew had often raised his voice against him in favor of Ruchi but now he was outgrowing his limits which he couldn't tolerate.

"Bhavar, leave!!"

"No, Uncle. Kindly stay and take my requests for tomorrow's grand ceremony-" Kartik mocked.

"I said leave." Sunil directed his employee out of the house and later turned to face Kartik.

"Do not fuckin' act like her real brother, Kartik. She's my responsibility until she gets married and I am fulfilling my duties before she walks on the path of destruction due to her stupidity." He seethed, "I have fed Ruchi under my roof for all these years since her birth and the least she could do is owe me this much. It's not like I'm sending her away with a criminal or worse a scoundrel."

"You out of all the people shouldn't question my relationship with my sister." Kartik cautioned with a rough glare, "Kuch rishte khoon ke nahi par dil ke hote hain aur aese rishto mein dilasein nahi umeedein hoti hai. Sukoon hota hai, yakeen hota hai." He laughed sourly, "But you won't be able to understand the purity of such selfless relationships, Mr. Sunil Batra!!" He inched closer to Sunil while, "Kyuki aapke toh saare rishte hi matlab ke hai." Kartik wasn't backing down with his words. "And your actions had never been less than a slaughter who feeds a lamb to butcher it later on-"

["Some relations are not of blood but of heart and in such relations there are hopes and not consolations. It is comforting, it is trustworthy. But you won't be able to understand the purity of such selfless relationships, Mr. Sunil Batra!! Because all of your relationships are for a purpose."]

"I would've taught you a lesson by now only if you hadn't been my elder brother's son." Sunil's words failed to waver Kartik's stance even when he breathed anger right through his nose. "Bhool to aap apni khud ki beti ko bhi chuke hai, main toh phir bhi aapke bhai ka beta hoon. Hum mein se kisi ko bhi isse zyada umeed bhi nahi hai aapse." He added, "But trust me on this because the moment when I catch the whiff of your ulterior motives behind this alliance then I will be the very first person to show you your place in this house."

["You have forgotten even your own daughter then I am still your brother's son. None of us has any more expectations from you."]

"You-" Sunil stepped ahead but two enraged voices prevented him from advancing further.

Sunil's parents, fondly addressed by Kartik and Ruchi as Baba and ThakuMa entered into the house closely followed by Mamta and Sujal who earlier left for the railway station to fetch the old couple. Kartik's parents weren't surprised by the way Sunil reacted because his tyranny had been quite often nowadays but Baba and ThakuMa were aggravated by Sunil's behavior. He had always been the subject of their shame and now things were going out of control. Firstly, they thought it was the result of his separation from his wife but the moment their innocent granddaughter was pushed in the entire fiasco, all the theories were proven wrong. They didn't know what madness their son had developed over the years which each time unfortunately had been dumped over Ruchi's shoulder. Now he had arranged for the engagement in a haste and lined up the marriage before a family discussion which didn't sit well with anyone.

[ThakuMa - A respectful Bengali endearment used for addressing grandmother]

"Have you forgotten all your basic manners, Sunil?" Baba shouted at him, "How dare you talk to your young nephew like that when it's you who's doing wrong."

"I could say the same thing for your respectful grandson, father!!" Sunil taunted, "Didn't Bhaiya teach him the manners to talk to his elders!?"

[Bhaiya - Brother]

"I've taught my children well enough, Sunil. They know who deserves their respect and patience, and who does not." Sujal responded, "I wonder why my daughter hasn't shown you the mirror until now because you clearly aren't one who needs to be respected."

"It's because of you that she had dared to cross her limits this time. Only if you hadn't given her this much freedom to work on her wishes-" Sunil hissed mentioning Ruchi who was clueless and oblivious of this verbal spat because Aakash's mother had taken her up for the trials of the wedding outfit to a boutique of their choice. "I feel disgusted to say this but God knows where and with whom had she ran away under the shutter of this vacation trip-"

"Do you even think before sprouting shit arising from that broken head of yours, Sunil!?" Baba clamored while rage filled everyone's nerves who heard him say hateful things for Ruchi. "You're talking about your daughter. Kuch toh sharam kar, besharam!!"

["Have some shame, you shameless!!"]

"Sharam kar raha hoon tabhi toh uski izzat se shaadi karwa raha hoon warna kabka iss ghar se bahar nikal deta-"

["I am ashamed, that's why I am getting her married with respect, otherwise I would have thrown her out of this house long ago-"]

"Do not take her name with that gutter mouth of yours, Sunil!!" ThakuMa glowered, "Uska baap nahi ban saka kabhi par kam se kam acha insaan toh ban jata. Log hazaar baar apne bacho ki galtiyan maaf kar diya karte hain par tu us bacchi to kis baat ki saza de raha hai!!?"

["You could never become her father, but at least you could've tried to become a good human. People forgive the mistakes of their children a thousand times but why are you punishing that child!!?"]

"Even after all the happenings, she's breathing in the same house as me yet you're asking me what's her fault?" Sunil argued back, "You blame me but she's the real person who should be blamed. She's the root cause of my and Srinija's divorce. Only if she hadn't been conceived by Srinija and her bloody lover that night-"

"Shut up!!" ThakuMa yelled with her palm meeting his face in absolute shock and fury, "Shut up!! Bastard!! I asked you to forget that woman!! Forget it and move on for the sake of your sanity and Ruchi but you're still stuck in the past like a broken record!! It's been twenty-one years, Sunil!!"

"Ruchi isn't the daughter of that Srinija's lover, you fool!!" Baba insuniated, "She's your and Srinija's blood. You believe that witch's poisonous words over the truth reflecting in Ruchi's innocent eyes!?"

"No!! She's not-!!! She cannot be mine..." Sunil screeched like a banshee.

"The truth isn't going to change with your inability to accept the truth, Sunil." Sujal convicted once again using the statement he had been repeating since Ruchi's birth, "She has her own identity which doesn't match with your pathetic accusations but making you understand is impossible."

"I do not believe anything else but what Srinija admitted before leaving me and for me that's the ultimate truth." Sunil bestowed before wheeling out from the scene in humiliation. "Ruchi isn't my daughter but that bastard's shit."

"When you will realize your mistakes then it would be too late to repent and ask for her forgiveness, Sunil." Mamta asserted but for him all of their advice had evaporated in air.

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"Leave the way." Kartik subjected angrily watching the people on the door of his house.

"Kartik, please-" Samiksha pleaded, aware of his anger which though justified wasn't anywhere near cooling away.

Samiksha along with the others had been visiting their house daily to meet Ruchi for once since Aryan informed about her return but each day it would be Kartik who didn't allow them inside let alone near their friend. Their calls and messages delivered to Ruchi had remained unanswered much to their dismay. Kartik had refused to speak a word of their arrival to Ruchi or even fill-in about her well-being to them which increased their restlessness. The decorators working in and out of their residence didn't help either as the engagement preparations were going in a full swing.

"Kartik! Just once, hear me out. I'm really very guilty of my foolishness-"

Kartik abruptly cut Samiksha off, "Don't you think that it's quite late to accept your foolishness." He deemed, "No way you're stepping inside the house, Ms. Khanna!!"

"But-"

"I had very clearly told you to go away, girl." He gritted his teeth at a pale-faced Samiksha, which was a rare sight to see.

"We all are at fault Kartik thus we are here to sincerely apologize for it to our best friend and inquire about her well-being." Vivek summarized along with Chhaya, "We are really sorry for our carelessness, Kartik. Please, let us meet Baby once."

"You called her, right?" Kartik probed, "And she didn't answer you so doesn't it click a bell to all of your dumb heads, huh!?" He stated, exhausted by the environment in the house that was getting awful, "She doesn't want to see you."

"Bhai-!!" Ruchi's voice startled them when she rushed inside through the iron gates with her arms filled with shopping bags. "You all-?!" She was ducked by their sudden appearance.

A scanty wave of relief flushed over the face of her friends watching her close. Samiksha's emotions couldn't hold back anymore and launched into her arms while bursting out in tears. The mustered strength wired her being and Samiksha cried like a mother who lost her child in a crowded fair. She hugged Ruchi hard who was still in a stupor, knowing that it was the longest time she had spent without seeing Samiksha or talking with her. The guilt of hurting her bestfriends resurfaced with a thunderstorm.

"Shh..calm down!!" Ruchi consoled gulping down the knot in her stomach with her hands letting the polystyren bags fall down as she embraced Samiksha. "I'm here with you, Sammy!!"

"I'm so so so sorry!! Baby!! I'm so crazy!! I forced you there and see what happened to you-"

"I'm alright, Sam-"

Ruchi's words were cut off by a loud shriek coming from Misha, Aakash's younger sister who openly castigated her to-be sister-in-law for her negligence.

"What are you doing, Ruchi!? These bags have jewelry and dresses worth lakhs." She chastised Ruchi making her over-conscious and shift on her spot uncomfortably, "I'm sorry, Misha! I didn't mean to-"

"Then you should start paying attention to the expensive gifts our family had bought for you with our hard-earned money. You're getting engaged to my brother tomorrow. What will you do when you accompany Bhai to important dinners? Have some responsibilities from now on or else you would make him an object of fun among his peers. My brother has an esteemed reputation to keep up and your carelessness could cost him a lot in the future." The girl carped while Ruchi looked distraught. "Ab dekh kya rahe ho? Pick all of them up and keep them safely."

["What are you staring now?"]

Ruchi wiped the tears from Samiksha's face and bent down to pick up the bags when Kartik and Vivek stopped her. They collected the bags in their hands as it was impossible for anyone to hold them alone for how much they weighed.

"Aakash gets a good paycheck, I guess." Bhavesh who was silent until now spoke up and Misha haughtily pushed back her hairs making everyone aware of the zeroes in her brother's income. "Then make sure to keep a servant next time because our girl isn't a bloody hanger!!" He condemned.

"And next time spend a little too much on your mouth because you evidently lack manners by the way you talked to your brother's to-be fiance." Sarah noted but pointed out with a sweet smile, "But how can I forget that etiquettes couldn't be purchased by money!!"

Misha raised her finger to rebuke the two but Kartik politely appealed out for her to leave. Misha got on her heels and left not before battling her eyes at Kartik which didn't go unnoticed by the others.

Samiksha who had wiped away her tears with the end of her sleeves by now closely observed Ruchi who appeared immune to her surroundings. She for sure acknowledged their presence but she appeared lost and on instinct Samiksha scrutinized her from head to toe. She wore a heavy ensemble that consisted of a designer kurta, wide flared sharara and a complementing dupatta, the set was beautifully detailed with gota lace but the vibrant colors failed to bring the glow on her face. Her kohl-filled eyes which lacked the lustre and zeal for someone who was getting engaged tomorrow, her sacked cheeks caked with dusty mauve shades couldn't highlight her beauty and a courteous smile that was void of sparks. She didn't resemble happiness from anywhere.

[Kurta - A long top, generally of knee-length worn by both men and women.]

[Sharara - A pair of wide-legged pants where the pants are free-flowing and not lurched at the knee.]

[Dupatta - It is a long shawl-like scarf traditionally worn by women in the Indian subcontinent to cover the head and shoulders.]

[Gota patti - Gota lace or gota work is a type of Indian embroidery that originated in Rajasthan, India. It uses the applique technique. Small pieces of zari ribbon are applied onto the fabric with the edges sewn down to create elaborate patterns. Gota embroidery is used extensively in South Asian weddings and formal clothes.]

"Baby, you don't look fine." Samiksha entreated with uncertainty, "Are you unwell again?"

"Nothing to worry about, Sammy. I am alright." She replied but Kartik's words snapped at Samiksha who overlooked his intimidating demeanor, "Do you remember that it was you who left her in an unknown place then why do you look worried now?"

"Leaving her behind was an unintentional mistake, Kartik." Samiksha remorsefully begged for him to hear her apology because she was ashamed to push Ruchi in a pit of hardships by her one dumb move, "I might be unbearable but not heartless enough to be the reason behind my best friend's woes."

Kartik though wanted to believe her words was rendered sightless by his lividity and so he ignored her while asking Ruchi to get inside but she stepped in-between unable to watch her friend's anguish. "Why aren't you letting them inside, Bhai?" She asked. "Why are you blaming her?"

"I don't want to entertain someone who was responsible for your-"

"It wasn't her or anybody's fault, Bhai." Ruchi tried to explain, "I was as much involved and please don't blame any of my friends for whatever happened." She told him.

Kartik wished to argue but he couldn't deny his little sister being aware of her mental state that was already disturbed and let their gang inside the house not before sending an unsaid warning to the one whom he found was the culprit behind Ruchi's condition.

One by one, they all started to apologize, especially Samiksha who blamed herself for her disappearance. Ruchi comforted her through her words, predicting Kartik's mood that would've probably targeted her best friend behind her back along with the others. If her brother could endure Samiksha's tantrums for the sake of his sister then he could definitely bash her too for he knew the incident had worked like fuel to fire the recent occurring.

Ruchi met her grandparents who were initially gloomy but got pleased after watching her. ThakuMa presented her with her favorite home-made rasgulla while Baba uplifted her dampened spirit while animatedly sharing his farming experiences back in their native village.

[Rasgulla - Rasgulla is one of a kind of traditional Indian desserts made from milk casein with an attractive white colour having a spongy, porous structure and spherical shape, popular all over the world for its taste, flavour and unique texture.]

"My child, are you happy?" ThakuMa asked her when they were left alone, "Do you really want to go ahead with this engagement?"

"Do I have any valid reason to say no to it, ThakuMa?"

"That doesn't mean that you should do it just for the sake of Sunil."

"I've spent years in a shell for his sake, ThakuMa." Ruchi responded by holding back a name that was on her lips because that was enough for her to break down. "Phir ek aur rishte mein bandh jane se kya hi farak padega." She held the frail palms of her old grandmother watching the troubled lines of worry on her wrinkled face, "Your granddaughter isn't going to give up so easily." She stated with a convincing curve of her lips, "I will try to make it a success and be happy in this new venture of my life, ThakuMa."

["Then what difference will it make if I get bounded in another relationship."]

"I pray for it too, my love." ThakuMa muttered with a glint of hope. "May you be blessed by all the happiness in the world!"

Lots of Love,

ANKITA