Right after Vinnati left, a faint knock rattled Sakshi's door. She leaned on the headboard with her knees drawn to her chest, regretting speaking out loud. The old Lajo had overhead every word she jabbered about Ayush.

"Come in!" she said in a tone cold as ice.

Lajo sheepishly entered the room and reclined on the chair beside the bed. Her eyes scrutinised the furnished room as she kept twisting her fingers anxiously.

"Beti, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to spy on you. I was just concerned-"

"What is it, Aunty?"

"You were saying about a boy named Adarsh or something. Is he the one you met this morning?"

"Yes."

"Do you like him?"

"Please don't mistake, but I'm not comfortable sharing everything in my life. Some things are . . . personal."

Her features contorted into a thin scowl. "I understand what's going on. You're in love with the boy."

Lajo's eyes stabbed her soul like she had committed the worst crime on earth. The temperature of her blood shot up, beads of sweat trickled down her forehead.

"Are you going to tell Bhaiyya?"

"If I wanted to, I wouldn't come here."

Sakshi released a laboured breath and ran her fingers over her the emerald stone etched in the lion-shaped gold ring.

"What's the boy's name? How did you meet him?"

"We met at the fair," she said, careful not to divulge his name.

"You lied that he's like Vinnati's brother and all of you mutual friends."

Sakshi pursed her lips. "It's not exactly a lie."

"This is not good. Leave it, Beti."

"I can't and I won't, Aunty! I going to talk about him to Babaji after my exams."

"He will never agree."

"How do you know?"

"I'm telling from experience."

"You don't know my Ayush, he's a million times better than Hemant!"

"He may be, but a girl from a prominent like yours can't marry to satisfy her whims. Kushwant Sahab and your Babaji are serious about planning the engagement."

"That's not happening. I told Kushwant Uncle said I can take some time."

"He said that to calm you down. Later, I overheard him talking about finishing things as soon as possible. Rana Sahab also feels it will strengthen the party ties."

"I am not a mere knot to strengthen their ties! I have my dreams and wishes, and I will achieve them."

"It's not right for a girl to be this headstrong. You should learn to compromise for your own good."

"As the person who always had my back, I hoped you would understand me. How can you speak like this, Aunty?"

Lajo stroked Sakshi dishevelled hair. "Our society is much more complicated. I kept telling this to my daughter, but she never listened."

"Your daughter?"

Her eyes flooded with pain and fondness. "Her name is- I mean, was- Shashikala. I named her after my favourite actor Shashi Kapoor."

She tried to control her fragile emotions. "I didn't know you had a family."

Lajo managed a wrinkled smile. "I was married at 15 years of age to a landlord from my village. He was a good for nothing man- gambling, drinking cheap liquor, beating me. His first wife and sons, who were twice my age, taunted me day and night."

Sakshi held her hand with tears bordering her eyes. "I'm so sorry."

"I tolerated everything for three years. When my daughter was born, my so-called husband didn't want a girl child. He . . . asked me to throw her in the river."

"What nonsense! How can a father think of such a thing for his own child?"

Lajo dried her eyes with the pallu of her saree. "I ran away from home as an eighteen-year-old with a newborn child. I did menial jobs and slogged to raise her. I gave her a good education."

"W-what happened to her?"

"After all I did, she died because of love. I won't say it's love, it's more like madness. Like a moth drawn to a flame, she fell for a rich man's son. The man's father shot both of them for ruining his honour."

Sakshi felt lightheaded and her breath shuddered in horror.

"Rana Sahab won't think twice before gunning down that boy."

"No!" She let out a blood-curdling scream, pressing her fingertips into her temples.

"Answer me honestly- will your father let you choose a stranger over his beloved friend's son?"

She drew circles on her palm. "He won't."

"Please forget it, Beti. Not just for your good, but also for that boy."

Sakshi glanced at her features flowing with dread. All her life, she viewed Lajo as a strong tree that could withstand storms. But the woman was scarred on the inside like a tree gnawed by termites.

"Fifteen years after Shashi died, you came into my life. Coincidentally, your parents name you Sakshi, and I felt like seeing her again. I can't lose another child, Beti," she said as her voice cracked.

It dawned upon Sakshi as to why Lajo called her 'beti', or daughter, with every breath. It was this grieving mother's way of keeping her child alive in a corner of this cruel world.

"Think from your head, not your heart. This . . . will only lead to heartbreak," she said and left.

Her heart twisted at the thought of poor Shashi, however that didn't mean the same would happen to her. The words nagged her soul, driving her into sheer despair. This will only lead to heartbreak.

•••

Ayush was bubbling with joy after withdrawing his salary from the ATM. It was the only thing that made him stick with his cruel boss. For quite a while, he wanted to surprise his father with a trip to an expensive restaurant that served home-style food. As per his plan, he booked a taxi and headed to the place with Amar Singh.

"Where are we going, Ashu?"

"I won't tell you now, Papa. It's a surprise."

He smiled and looked out of the window for the rest of the journey. The taxi stopped at the entrance of the Homestar Restaurant. The boards lit up in neon purple letters and a fountain within the sophisticated stone compound.

"Surprise!" Ayush said.

"Ashu, this place is very expensive."

"Don't worry about that, Papa. I've been planning this for a long time."

Amar beamed with a proud smile at how his little boy had evolved into a fine man. Ayush escorted him to the seat reserved for them on the first floor. Golden lights, colossal windows with coconut trees shading the surrounding avenue, overlooking the town at night. Buildings and stars twinkled alike against the moonless indigo sky. They reclined at the table closest to the balcony.

"The view is spectacular! We don't get to see this side of Sonambar often," Amar said.

"Very true, Papa. What would you like to have?" Ayush slid the menu card across the table.

"Ten gulab jamuns."

Ayush rolled his eyes. "Papa!"

Amar guffawed and slapped his thigh. "Okay, jokes aside, I can eat only a plate of rotis with vegetables."

"You can order whatever you want tonight, except sweets. Doctor Nahar said your sugar levels are low these days, so you can have a cheat day."

"Now this is a bigger surprise! I'll have fried rice with mushroom manchurian."

Ayush puckered his cheeks to suppress his laughter at the sudden change from rotis to fried rice and manchurian. He placed the orders and returned to his seat. "They'll be serving soon."

"Good. How is Sakshi?"

Ayush flicked an imaginary speck of dust from his face and smiled. "She is doing well."

"Why didn't you tell me about her earlier?"

"I thought you would be angry."

"Haha, why should I? By finding such a lovely girl on your own, you have made my work easier. I don't need to search for a bride and all that!"

Ayush scratched his neck, struggling not to blush. "That's an interesting point of view, Papa."

"But I seriously like her, son."

"So do I," Ayush whispered.

"Said something?"

"Nothing, Papa. Continue . . ."

"Finding such caring people in today's world is rare. She reminds me of your mother. Kind, humble, caring. I've never seen a girl like her after Damini."

Every word his father uttered was true. Ayush wished she was here with them. As a cold breeze rushed in, his soul yearned for her warmth. The waiter served steaming fried rice for Amar and a plate of Lucknowi biryani for Ayush.

"She was the girl who sheltered Chirag and me during the rain, Papa."

"Oh! She's the one?"

Ayush nodded.

"So sweet. Also, the diet food she prepared- it's the best I've eaten in years! She didn't have to do all that, but she took the extra effort. Invite home sometime for lunch, Ashu."

"Sure, Papa. I'll tell Sakshi."

"Shall we call her over this week?"

"I don't think she will be available this month. First elections, then her exams . . ."

"Elections? What does that have to do with her?"

"Her father is the party of the Sunehra Jeevan Dal."

He narrowed his eyes and stopped chewing. "What's his name?"

"Udayveer Rana."

"Rubbish! What the hell are you saying?"

His blood ran cold. "W-why, Papa?"

Amar slammed his fists on the table. "He is the scoundrel who tortured Damini!"

"No!"

"Of all the girls on earth, you fell for that rascal's daughter?!"

Amar's steady gaze impaled his soul. His throat ran dry like the cracks of a parched desert, his hands weakening like moist clay. Untold anger gushed in his heart. Not at his father, not at Sakshi, not even at Udayveer. But at himself. How had he gotten serious with her without verifying everything? Now, even if he wished, he couldn't remove her out of her heart. She had become a part of him like the lifeblood pumping through his veins and arteries.

"I wish I can vomit the food she made! I wouldn't have touched a morsel if I had known who she is."

"Please don't say like that, Papa. It's not her fau-"

"Shut your stupid mouth!" He shouted as a couple of guests and waiters gathered around.

Ayush's fingers trembled, his eyes welled up in unspeakable pain.

"You must never meet that kameeni- never! Or you won't see a worse man than me!"

His lungs pulsed rapidly. "I beg you, please calm down. People are watching us."

"I don't care! Promise me you won't see her again."

"I- I promise," he lied, solely to pacify his father.

"That wretch killed my wife, and I must take his daughter as my son's wife? Not until my last breath! Mark my words- all that he made Damini suffer, Sakshi will suffer ten times more!"

His heart shattered into a million pieces, bleeding and ripping into crushed fragments of flesh. All his beautiful hopes of seeing her again were extinguished like a candle flame in a thunderstorm.

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