Ragini's POV:

Anger was bubbling inside me... helplessness... irritation... frustration...I felt it all!!!

I was looking at the diamond studded ring on my finger radiating a 'S'!!!

Like it was shouting into my face...

Look Ragini!!! You are engaged to this looser!!!
Huhh!!!
Whom am I fooling...I am a bigger looser!!!
An year of a beautiful relationship and now my man is not reachable!!! His phone is switched off, he is not replying my messages, my e-mails. His friends don't know where he is!!!
I was loosing my mind!!!

And now this engagement...
In anger I began pulling out the jewellery and bangles from my hand. I threw the got damn engagement ring that he slided into my finger on the bed.

In no time Siddhesh was in my room and trying to pretend all innocent like he didn't know if I was asked and tried explaining me that he was innocent. My eyes poured blood rather than tears. I shouted at him about my new job opportunity. He looked at the papers and look confused and shocked.

Huhh!!! What did he think I wouldn't get a job??? Yes I have a month for my final semester results to come. Although it was in Mumbai I found one for myself. And I was prepared to leave!!! I just wanted to escape.

My anger bursted out on the diamond necklace that was hung to my neck as a gift by my mother from Siddhesh's side as a part of a ritual in this engagement ceremony.

In one go I pulled it out of my neck and flung it to the dressing table and it broke the mirror of the dressing table causing cracks on it.

I could see Siddhesh's eyes turn red.
Ohhhh!!! So he knows to get angry!!!
All his cool and calm attitude is a facade!!!
I wanted him to shout at me, do something stupid so I could go and straight right reject him but he just stood up and walked towards the dressing mirror and collected the broken diamond necklace. He looked angry and hurt. I wanted him to react but next second he just picked the necklace and left the room.

I saw the clock ticking 8:50pm.
Huhh!!! So Mr Timetable's sleeping time it is!!! Woooooow!!

My anger was still prominent...I began tearing the bedsheet and even broke the table lamp.
I continued calling Rohit but his number was still not reachable

Ughhhhh!!!
Finally I got a call from Aman who is mine and Rohit's common friend. He told me Aman was in Warwickshire and he had left a message to Aman to let me know that he would reach me once things get back to normal. My throat filled up listening to Aman.

I had tears rolling down my cheeks.

I knew it!!!
I knew it he can't cheat on me!!!
Huhhh Dad!!!
Look my man isn't a cheat!!!

I wanted to yell on top of my voice...but I swallowed my pain while Aman asked me to stay strong.

I quickly googled to find out Warwickshire was a small countryside place near London. I wanted more details about his whereabouts. But Aman told me this is all he knew. Thanking him for this piece of information I began strolling in my room desperately. I began looking at our old pictures. The priceless moments which I spent with Rohit. My eyes welled up.

'Where the hell are you Ro...I miss you...once just once reach me out...I know it's your parents...I trust you...I do baby...just once...'

Holding the mobile close to me I lied down on my bed. I was in no mood to change however I managed to somehow slip into my PJ's. Tears and old sweet memories engulfed me into a deep slumber.

I was woken up by a shrill loud voice. I wasn't understanding what was happening. I was really not interested in the family drama. My father must have found yet another lame reason to blame me. I wanted to sleep off but then his voice was getting louder and louder and first thing that came into my mind was 'Ajjo'

Damn!!! Why is my father so insensitive.

I quickly ran down the staircase and saw a scene which looked shocking to me.

Siddhesh stood there with his suitcase. Mukund Bhavaji was trying to pacify my father who was yelling on the top of his voice.

Wooow did my yesterday's burst out session cause this??? Is he planning to break off this engagement. Excellent!!!
I was feeling calmer now but my mother looked scared. That's when I remembered Ajjo.

Oh god!!!

'Amma what happened...you guys know right Ajjo isn't well...why is dad yelling ?' I whispered to her expecting a yell or a slap...but nothing came...

After a few minutes Amma said...
'Your Ajjo has been took for a check up to the hospital and looks like Siddhesh was only waiting for this...it's unbelievable he is doing this now' my mother finished and I was wondering what had he said that my father was flaring up like this...

'Ohhhh so you are here... come watch this drama too...come..' my father began his ranting at me...

'What is it now Dad' I asked him in an annoyed voice. I was least interested in talking to him but I was left with no choice. This mess should settle down before Ajjo comes home.

'Both the kids I have brought up are turning against me...they don't value my decisions anymore...you...you were someone I could never expect anything from Ragini...
But Siddhu you...you hurt me...
You are coming up with this stupid condition now??? You didn't think about it before??? Now you realise it is it???' dad asked and I looked at Siddhesh who stood there with a serious face. His gaze pointing a nowhere space like he was engulfed in some deep thoughts.

I looked at my father..
'What condition has he come up with?' I asked my father and he said...

'Well Mr Pai who silently agreed to get engaged to you till yesterday suddenly realises that you aren't enough for his standards!!! Can you believe it??? This time table of a man who must be proud to find a girl like you thinks you aren't good enough for him'

I was biting insides of my mouth as happiness was bubbling inside me.
Excellent!!! He is breaking the engagement I thought but next second dad said...

'He wants you to complete your MBA and then marry you' and I snapped my head in his direction.

I could see a scowl on his face. His face so serious. He looked determined.

'Didnt he realise till yesterday you were a undergraduate??? You will be a graduate in a month which is more than enough for a girl...after all what big you have to do tomorrow... take care of kids and kitchen...why do girls need education...huhhh...you are not a boy to go to work...this much education is enough to teach your own child...but all of a sudden Siddhu thinks he wants a educated confident woman... isn't beauty enough for a man...' dad brought his age old shit mentality here.

I wanted to walk out of this house right now. I didn't know why Siddhesh was doing this but my father's sick mentality was something I couldn't tolerate!!!
Even in this generation where men and women are equal my father thinks men deserve education and women are only worth kitchen and bearing kids!!!
Wayyyy to go gender equality!!!

I looked at my father and said...
'Dad I won't do my post graduation...'

And dad looked at me smirking...
'Who will let you...more education to women means more freedom...huhhh...and then you will become like those girls who try to compete with men... nonsense...Siddhesh you must marry Ragini next week...we have finalised the wedding date' saying my father broke another bomb on my head.

I was seeing him in horror now.

'I can't marry him...I...I have a job opportunity in Mumbai..I will take that up' I said and my father looked at me gritting his teeth ...

I could see he was about to slap me and I closed my eyes in fear but nothing happened.

I saw Siddhesh holding my dad's hand.

'Enough Mamu...I can't let you slap my fiance...you don't have those rights anymore' he said and I looked at him in a state of shock.

His gaze shifted from dad to me and our eyes met. He protected me.... AGAIN!!!
Suddenly I saw the 20 year old Siddhesh who protected a 14 year old Ragini back then. But next second all the old memories came by and washed away that image!!!

I averted my gaze elsewhere...

'She won't go to work Mamu...
I won't let her' he said and my anger spurted up...

'Who the hell are you to stop me from taking up this job' I yelled and he removed his glasses and looked deep into my eyes clenching his jaws ..

'Your future husband!!!' he announced and I was boiling!!!

Still looking into my eyes he said my father...

'Mamu...I have got admission for Ragini in London University. I will sponsor her education. She has to complete her MBA. I move around educated high society business folks and it's shameful to say my wife is an undergraduate where as I'm a rank holder in MBA. My business is vast and I have huge respect amongst rich big shots in London. I can't take around a graduate from a small village back there who would hardly know anything about business world. So...

Simple!!!

Let her complete her MBA and acquire the tag of Mrs Siddhesh Pai...

If not...I'm sorry I will have to break this engagement' he said and I was fisting unfisting my hand angrily. I was biting my teeth and grinding them against each other. My temper was sky high!!! I wanted to smash his face which was right now cool as as a cucumber!!!

Bloody walk-in timetable!!!