' The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do '
Sister Lucia's voice ringed in Vinny's ears. She was in sixth grade and sister Lucia was her moral teacher. Sister Lucia was teaching them about how their words could affect someone,it has the power to break someone, mend someone and it can cause self damage too. So she was telling her students, to think twice before using their tongues.

The sixth graders nodded in response and Vinny did the same, she didn't understand that fully then. But that words remained with her all these years and was ringing in her ears like angry waves in the ocean, it was roaring in her head,  making her realize how she was digging her own grave with her stupid words.

      Vinny shook her head to get the ringing go away. She tapped on the table impatiently as she waited for Mr. Rao. She felt a wave of fear washing over her. What was she going to do now. Why did she put herself in such a tight spot? Vinny sighed looking out through the glass window on the wall.
           In the past one hour , Vinny has been on an adrenaline rush. The realisation, that he wasn't the guy she was waiting for and yet spilled everything to him, had pushed her into a flight mode. The damage was done and she needed to fix it, before it was too late.

Vinny had literally ran to her dad's PA and asked him to inform the original groom, that she could not meet him today and she got Avinesh Rao's contact number.

Dad's PA seemed skeptical about her sudden approach but she was in a rush. She will deal with her dad later.
First she should deal with this guy. She had called him immediately and asked him not to utter a word to her brother or dad and meet her in an hour. He responded positively and she texted him the address of the nearest coffee shop Cafe cube.

               It was a cute cafe with dim light and large comfy chairs. The smell of freshly roasted coffee beans and low music added the charm to it.
If it was any other day Vinny would have loved it. But today she was restless and she could hear her own heart beat. She had selected a corner table close to the window, It was a quiet and balmy dusk, with a pink shaded sky and sun taking a leave at its horizon,  contrast to her emotions.

          A soft knock on her table broken her thoughts and her eyes met the soft brown eyes from early encounter.
She sat there numb for a long moment,  while he sat down opposite her , facing her , studying her, like making her outline in his mind.
She sat still, preparing herself for a confrontation till he ordered cold coffee for both of them.

'So.. what do you want to talk about Ms. Reddy?' his tone was calm and he saw how her shoulder was tensed and how uptight she was sitting.

Vinny took a deep breath and tried to collect herself.

'See Mr. Rao, I made a mistake earlier. I mistook you for someone else. It was all my mistake and I am sorry about that. You know a lot of things about me now.' her voice shook a bit and he raised an eyebrow at her.

' But please don't tell anything to my brother or dad and proceed with your plans to help Bhai.
You can judge me as much as you want, but please keep it to yourself. Will you?' 
Her voice was hoarse with worry and trepidation.
She hated how desperate she sounded, but she was in need of an assurance and she wanted it from him.
       By the time their coffee arrived, Vinny felt like sitting on an edge, a slight push and she will be gone.
The air of uncertainty hung in the air and it choked up the air around her.

           Avi took his time to sip the coffee and think it over while she sat there unsurely.

' I am not going to use that information against you Ms. Reddy. Please be assured, I know it's very personal and I should not have nudged for more information. It just happened that way. I am sorry about that and Varun is my friend, we will sort it out about the business I mean.'

He saw how she relaxed listening to him. For some weird reason, he felt sorry for her. She looked fragile, even a tiny change could break her into pieces and he did not want that to happen.

     Vinny thanked him with a small smile and she took her coffee and took a sip. She relaxed a bit , somehow she had took care of it, now she has to make a plan to get away from here as soon as possible.

'If you don't mind can I ask you something?' his calm voice cut her thoughts and her eyes met him again. She slightly nodded her head in response  as she placed her cup back on the table.

'What are you going to do now ? I take it, your dad has planned to marry you off to some prestigious family. And you are not ready to tell anyone about your situation. What will you do?'
She was asking that in her mind for a long time now and still she hasn't an answer to give.

'I really don't know. I can't stay here long , I don't want to deal with dad and Bhai now. I need to get away from here...find a job or something, somewhere far from here. I am not sure' he looked shocked listening to her plan or the lack of it.
She herself was astonished, how naive she sounded.

'Your identity would pose a problem there, don't you think?. Even if you manage to get away from here, people will recognise you and that won't be good' he said with a certainty in his tone.

'Nobody knows me Mr. Rao. I have been away from the media lights for a long time, and not even my friends know about my family. I would manage. Thanks for your concern' she said in a  half mocking manner.
The only thing that assured her that she could get away was that her identity was hidden. She wasn't in social media, never came in media light. She was safe.

Avi studied her a for a second before he fished his phone out and turned it towards her.
' You haven't seen this yet..I guess.
Check this'
Vinny grabbed his phone as she saw her picture on the screen.

It was an article about her upcoming marriage with a groom from a potential business family, but there wasn't any reference about the groom or his family. It almost looked like her biography , her name, education, her college... everything was written there. She wasn't an anonymity anymore.. she can't run anymore.
Her dad did this...he planned this, so that Vinny won't run away again as she had done four years ago.
Vinny felt like someone kicked in her stomach. Bile rose to her mouth making her feel the bitterness. And that news was published in an online portal of a leading newspaper. It's all over the social media. There will be follow ups from tomorrow. She can't flee jeopardising her brother.

' How could he do this to me?' her eyes welled up and she really looked at him.
She felt helpless, pathetic.

'I should not have come home' she muttered under her breath. Tears flew down her cheeks like a  narrow creek making its way to sea. 

'I...I should go. Thanks for everything' she stuttered as she stood up. She felt disoriented and everything looked blurry for a moment. She sat down again on the comfy chair, and closed her eyes till the dizziness passed. Avi got her a glass of water, and she drank it down gingerly.

' You are upsetting yourself. I know you are running out of options here.
Listen...I have a suggestion for you. If you want to hear me out, I could tell you'.

He wondered why he was doing this, making a plan for this girl.
He disregarded the inner voice and just paid his attention to the girl looking at him with her big orbs. She was scared but there was still a flicker of hope or the mind to fight back whatever fate has in his bag for her. She wasn't a damsel in distress, she wasn't asking him for help, she was asking to help her brother. May be that's what made him to offer this deal. He wasn't sure, but he wanted to do that much for her, for the sake of an old memory.
        
          Vinny nodded in response and she straightened herself on the chair.
When he was sure,he got her full attention he took another sip of his coffee to explain his deal.

' You have an option here Ms. Reddy.
Why don't you marry me??
I don't come under your dad's choice right now, but I could make it happen, since I am going to help in the business.  He can't say no to that influx of money right now and Varun trust me.
And moreover, I know everything about you. I could help you to get away from here once we are married.
You don't have to get involve with your dad anymore. Your privacy will be protected somewhat.
What you say?'
     Vinny looked surprised by the sudden proposal. A million questions ran through her mind , and she wasn't sure what to make out of the situation'

'You mean a real marriage?' she raised her eyebrows, emphasizing her point.

'Yes Ms. Reddy, a real marriage. But it's a deal between us. You will get your freedom back and the pregnancy will not be a problem for you or your family.
We will seperate after a year or two as my lawyer decides and we will sign that agreement and pre nuptials before marriage.' he said and took a breath. He maintained a neutral expression and Vinny was confused.

'Why would you do that? Why do you want to get married to me, even if it is for an year or two?' She quired again to make a good assessment of her place in this deal.

' I have my reasons and I think you have your reasons too. I will make my entry to your dad's empire and you will get what you want too.  You don't have much time to decide. You don't have much choice either. It's up to you to decide.'
Avi felt like a total jerk making it sound like a deal about money and power. In reality he wasn't sure why he was doing this.
So  this was the best he could come up with for a reason.

Vinny was taken aback for some time.
He was right. She hasn't much options, and this deal might work for her and the baby.
She felt like watching a stupid movie with fake marriage and a villain dad but it was her reality.
After thinking a few more minutes, she gave up on being a rational person.

'Let us do this Mr. Rao. My reason is my baby and I could do anything to keep the baby safe . I am ready' she said and took a deep breath, as he leveled her gaze with his.

'Okay. Give me two days, the plan will work out by then. I will talk to Varun too. ' he stopped in mid sentence.
His next words were careful and slow.

'How long are you pregnant for?'
Vinny stirred in her chair uncomfortably.

'Three weeks' she whispered.

'Perfect. Let us say this is our honeymoon baby, once the word gets out' his jaw were set and there wasn't a tinge of any kind of emotions on his face.

' Were you like this always Mr. Rao.
Business minded?' Vinny chuckled a little thinking about how he had a perfect solution for her every problem.

'That is what I do for a living Ms. Reddy... business'

And the realisation hit her like a tight slap on the face.
Finally she had met someone exactly like her dad and the history was repeating.