Ragini's POV:

I was choosing a saree from the huge collection of sarees that Shetty uncle had sent home. I looked at my Ajjo (grandfather) who was smiling at me and I was scratching my head now.

I so badly wanted to wear the designer lehenga choli which I had seen at Mallik's showroom but my Anu (dad) and Ajjo denied it. Dad was always the strict types. He said traditional silk saree during GSB (Gawda Saraswat Brahmin community who speak Konkani) engagement is our culture and as per Nayak's family prestige and heritage, I would also wear the same. Although I was annoyed my dad shut me up saying

'You have chosen the boy yourself, atleast let us choose what you wear!!!'. There was sarcasm and anger dripping from his voice. I don't know why my father never liked Rohit and his family. Although Rohit was my 2nd maternal uncle Vishnu and Pritika aunty's elder son my dad never liked them. Well it could be due to Pritika aunty trying to show off her money and standards, I have never understood why she always gave me a cold shoulder.

But then Rohit wove me in his charms and I was smitten. Ours wasn't a childhood love story. I and he were friends and gelled well. It's only when Rohit came back from Delhi post training to Mangalore during last summer as he got a placed in the Bangalore branch of his company. That is when during a wedding we happened to meet each other after many years. Suddenly I don't know what changed between us. His eyes admired me and I would obviously find him handsome. He was the most handsome amongst all my cousin's. Slowly he began staring at me and we would exchange glances and a few touches here and there. He was 4 years elder to me then. He was 23 and I was 19. He would hold my hand suddenly and I would feel all shy. But he was careful to not let anyone know. Ours was an unspoken relationship.

We never expressed what we felt for each other but only expressed via our touches or our eyes. But then my father wanted to fix my engagement as soon as possible. My father was always against girl's education. He wanted to marry me off in my final year itself. According to him education means giving a woman... wings !!! and making them independent. And according to my father independent women don't make good homemaker. So I was restricted my education. I hated these dungeons. My only happiness was Rohit.

My father found a match for me and I quickly denied and without a go confessed that I and Rohit love each other. My father was pissed off and created a huge scene but my grandfather handled the mess. My Ajjo can never see me in tears. I explained him everything and he understood everything. Although my Ajjo hated Pritika aunty for her greedy attitude, he agreed for my sake. The proposal was sent although Pritika aunty wasn't too happy she agreed. Strangely Rohit never said anything.

But our engagement date was fixed.
It is in a week from now.

I was extremely excited. I picked a pink colored saree. It was beautiful. Rohit admired me more in pink. I blushed at that thought. While Charu my bestie whispered in my ears...

'Ragz...you are blushing sweetie ...I swear it's high time you both propose each other' Charu said and I smiled saying...

'I will soon' I said and went to try the saree on me. It was beautiful.

I also picked a few salwar suits and went into my room to try those...
While coming out I see a tense atmosphere.

I observed there was silence in the room and I couldn't understand what was happening...

I looked at my parents and my grandfather. My father was sitting on the chair and fuming.

'I will ask an'

'No Sumanth... don't...' my Ajjo stopped my Anu.

I wondered what happened and Charu came near me and showed Rohit's fb status.

It said...

Engaged to 'Swati Bhat'

And I saw properly...

Engagement pics of Rohit and Swati. Swati looked so happy and so did Rohit. It was looking like he suddenly changed.

Rohit the man I was in love with...

The guy whom I was to get engaged to...
Got engaged just 5 days before engagement.

I was left shattered 💔