Forbidden Desire by Ritesh Prasad (best books to read ever TXT) 📖

in the same day.

 

I decided to celebrate her birthday in her home and asked her to invite all her friends. This was the first time we were celebrating her birthday in such a grand way. The arrangements were made by Sakshi herself and financed by me. I order her favorite Black forest chocolate cake. All hers friends were there some new and some old but Riya was not part of this occasion as she could not come due to her some other personal priorities. As schedule I reached her home with her favorite Black forest chocolate cake and pressed the doorbell. The door was opened by Avantika and was happy to see me.

 

“Hey Jiju…how are you, long time no see?” She said and hugged me.

 

“Ohh my little princess so you are also here.” I said and hugged her back while entering.

 

“Why… aren’t you happy to see me? Shall I leave then?” She said and mocked her face.

 

“Ohh my Drama queen… can I ever mean that? You know I am always happy to see my beautiful princess.” If I not wrong I am seeing you almost after a year.” I said and by this time Sakshi came in with glass of chilled soft drinks.

 

“What’s going between Jiju-Saali, so mean… two are engrossed so deeply with each other that they didn’t even notice me… Ohh hello Birthday is mine not hers. So I am entitled for the special attention not your little princess.” Sakshi said joining us.

 

“See Avani …. I told you na, your didi is always jealous of you.” I said and we both laughed.

 

“Don’t worry Dids I am not going to elope with your would be husband. He is all yours; we are just having some good time together, as we are seeing each other after a long gap.” She said and hugged me again.

 

“Yeah Avani it has been long since we met. You are the only one of her relatives whom I like the most and I am comfortable with.” I said and pulled her cheeks.

 

“Hold on …what do you mean by that? All my relatives are very humble and nice okay …don’t you dare say anything about my relatives.” Sakshi warned me with her eyes.

 

“Okay okay… I admit that…happy now. I said and winked at Avani…see I told you na she bosses me every time.”

 

“What do you mean I boss you every time? Please check yourself before pointing finger at me. You are the one who screams at me unnecessarily always. Shall I remind you of the instances, in case you have forgotten?” She said in a louder tone.

 

“Okay Okay My dear Didi and Jiju… I am not here to witness your silly fights. You have the time of the world to continue with this some other time. Please don’t spoil the party.” She said raising her hand.

 

“By the way so when are you getting married? I am dying to dance on your wedding day.” She said taking sip from the glass.

 

“Sorry dear ….then in that case you have to wait at least for a couple of years.” I said smilingly while Sakshi came and sat close to me.

 

“Ohhhh that’s so disappointing. Please get married soon.” She said and we all laughed loud.

 

“By the way are all arrangements done?” I enquired to Sakshi.

 

“Yes …except the cake? Where is it?” She asked and I handed her the packet.

 

“It’s the same one that I told you?”

 

“Yes my dear how I can overlook your order. Has this ever happened before?”

 

“And where is my birthday gift?”

 

“Gift??? Do you still need one? I thought you are happy with party that I gave on your birthday.” I pretended to be innocent.

 

“Jiju you didn’t buy a gift for her? That’s really not fair.” Avani added.

 

“I don’t want to talk to you Rohit … you are so mean.” She said and was about to leave.

 

“Hey Hey…wait I was just kidding. I have a surprise for you.” I said holding her hand.

 

“Then show me what is it?” She asked in excitement.

 

“Not now…have some patience Dear! Will give you after the cake cutting ceremony.”

 

“Okay…I can wait Honey.”

 

“By the way …where is Kaushik? I enquired.

 

“He would be coming soon. He had called Sanjeev and is on his way.” She replied and left with Avani.

 

I would be meeting Kaushik after a month gap. How will he react when he sees me here? The thought made feel a bit uneasy. But anyways I need to put an end to this cold war between us today. After a while Sanjeev entered and said Kaushik is about to reach.

I went to other room and met with Aunty and was introduced to her other friends I greeted everyone. In the meantime doorbell rang and as expected Kaushik entered he saw me but didn’t utter a word when quietly to other room I felt a bit embarrassing. Sanjeev was already there with him in that room. I went to kitchen had a glass of water and prepared myself for confrontation with him.

 

I entered while he was sitting there with Sanjeev. As soon as he saw me he got up and was about to leave. But I blocked his way and asked him to sit.

 

“Please leave my way Rohit?” He said and was about to move.

 

“Comon Kaushik…now let’s put an end to this cold war...It almost a month now. If you have any grudges then please speak up. Unless you speak, how would I know what’s there in your mind? ” I said with a long breath.

 

“I have nothing to say. Who the hell am I to say anything? I am neither her guardian nor yours. You both are free to do anything.” He said and stood up to leave again.

 

“Sit damn it!!!! And stop behaving like a child.” I said and pushed him back on the bed. Sanjeev got tensed with my sudden aggression; he wasn’t expecting this from me.

But the very next moment I cooled myself and put my hands on Kaushik shoulder and said. “Okay if you don’t have anything to say fine… But please listen to me. Just for a minute, I beg you.” I said sitting by his side. He sat calmly like an obedient child with his face on the other side.

 

“Kaushik… i know you are badly hurt by what I did. But believe me I never meant to hurt you. How can I ever betray my childhood friend? You are the one who helped me to settle here, to find me a decent job and introduce me to such a wonder family.”

 

“Ohhh Yessss and in return you backstab me. What a great friend you are.” He taunted me.

 

“Backstab??? Just because I fell in love with your sister, that doesn’t mean I backstab you. Love doesn’t work on logic…though I tried to find the one but couldn’t. It was destine to happen this way so it happened. I really love her and I am very serious about her. Soon I am going to talk about her to my family. It’s just not having a causal affair or using her. I am damn serious taking our relationship to next level.” I said countering his allegation.

 

“Now tell me, what I have done so wrong? That u can’t accept our relationship…Some day she would marry someone may be it will be arranged or love. Ultimate thing is you would want to see her happy…right? So what’s wrong if she chose me? You know me and my family very well. So I don’t think you have got any doubt about. So what is the thing that is bothering you so much??”

 

“Rohit I am not against your relationship with her. True I was upset but more than that I was embarrassed. I was the one who introduce you to her family. So I felt more like a culprit. I know you will always keep her happy. But you came through me so I felt bad, the entire blame game will be vested upon me…. It’s hard for you to understand my situation. If her family is willfully accepting you than I have no qualms.”

 

“Yes Yes they have without any pressure… Can’t you see the happiness in Sakshi’s eyes? Her Mom has approved our relationship too. I have already given Sanjeev the authority and now I am telling you the same thing that If you ever find that I have done anything wrong against her. Come and bash me, I will not utter a single word. But Please Kaushik I want you also to approve our relationship without any grudges. Without your consent it’s incomplete. Please please my brother my friend!!!!”. I literally begged him.

 

“Okay okay don’t be so dramatic.” He said and smile.

 

“Ohhd God!!!!!! I felt so much in relief. Believe me I was most tense about your approval than anyone else.” I hugged him tight. Sanjeev was witnessing this moment and chuckle as the melodrama was over.

 

I was still hugging Kaushik while Sakshi entered and questioned me through gesture is everything okay?? I just bowed my eyes and smile she understood and went back.

 

We all then went to the other room where Sakshi was ready for the cake cutting ceremony. She asked me to come…but I insisted not me and pushed Kaushik and Aunty instead. With me it will be always, there are just couples of years left give them the preference. She smiled and cut the cake together with them. Everyone clapped and sang “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO U ..HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU…HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SAKSHI..HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUUU”. She then blew the candles and cut cake and first piece in her Mom’s mouth then Raju and then Kaushik. She looked at me… I smiled and said later.

 

Everyone was about to take back their position….. I raised my hands in the air and said “Wait Wait …it’s still not yet over” I went ahead and took out a box from my pocket and took out a golden ring. It was with initial “R” as soon she saw the ring she screamed in excitement, “Ohhh so you took it so seriously that you really brought me a golden ring. I was joking that day babyy…Ohhhh so sweet of you”. I place the ring on her middle finger and boasted, “Everyone attention Please!!!! We are now officially engaged.” You all are cordially invited whenever the marriage takes place. Right now not sure about the date but may be two years later i.e on 22nd Dec 2010”, and she hugged me tight. The room roars with clapped sound.

 

Music was played loud “Crazzzy Kiya Re ooh Crazy kiya Re” and the party began. Avani was the first one to pull me. We all enjoyed and blasted for the next few hours on foot tapping numbers. Food was as always awesome. This time there was no fight and Sakshi and I shared the same plate…later joined by sweet would be sister in law Avani as well.

 

I noticed while having dinner she was continuously gazing at her finger and could not resist herself from looking at the ring again and again. I smiled and said, “This is just the beginning. I have told you na …everything will be fine. See now everyone has approved our relationship. Just a matter for couple of years and we will be husband–wife.” She smiled and gave a peck on my cheeks.

7. 6th January 2009: Third Love Anniversary