Entangled Lives

Chapter XXIX

PLAN?

Seven days.

One Hundred and Sixty-eight hours.

Ten thousand and eighty minutes.

Six lakh, forty-eight thousand seconds.

That was the time left before she will be forever taken away from any hope to reunite with her Ranbir. Not only that she will be married to someone, he too will be married. To her own sister no less.

Yes, The Rhea-Ranbir wedding was still on. 

Though the wise priest had guided them in clear words to drop the thought, the beautifully portrayed act of 'skipping meals' and 'I-can't-live-without-Ranbir' by Rhea and the manipulative words of Aaliyah had made the family members succumb before them.

"I can not believe the level of cluelessness this family has." Shahana barged into the room, slamming the door shut behind her.

"Huh?" Prachi frowned.

"Seriously," Shahana plopped down in the middle of the bed. "If they didn't want to obey guruji's words why did they even bother to ask him in the first place? If all everyone had to do was go by Rhea's wishes, why did they act out all the Kundali Milaan and all?" She said in one go.

"It's not like that Shahana, they just don't want to hurt Rhea-" 

"So they are going to obey each and every wish of her's? Honestly Prachi, I don't care what they do with the spoilt princess of theirs, all I'm worried about is that they are taking these kinds of decisions when not only Rhea's but also Ranbir's life is at stake."

"All they want is for us children to be happy."

"For the last time Prachi, stop explaining their actions."

"I'm not explaining their mistakes, I'm just saying that they want the best for us." Prachi tried, but Shahana was fed up now.

"Yes, you are! And that too when what they are doing is wrong." Prachi opened her mouth but Shahana continued. "See, you were about to interrupt me again." She then followed in a softer tone, "You need to stop defending them when you know that what they are doing is wrong. I know that their intentions are good, but that doesn't make their decisions right."

Prachi exhaled a deep breath and took a seat on the bed. Shahana too moved further to rest her hand on the other girl's shoulder.

"I know Prachi, that you know that you are the only one for Ranbir, and he for you. I'm telling you Prachi, there is still time, you can stop all this."

"No, Shahana, I can't."

"Are you sure?" Shahana asked, looking for any teeny-weeny loophole to convince Prachi to tell everyone the truth.

It took a moment for Prachi, but the "Yes, Yes I'm sure." was rock solid.

Though her hopes were crushed, Shahana smiled. She squeezed the other in a side hug.

"Group hug!!" They heard moments before they were tackled back to the bed with a crushing weight over them. "I'm so haAAPPY!!"

"You'll be crying shortly over my dead body if you don't leave me." Prachi squeaked, a mass of black curls blocking her vision.

"Oh sorry-sorry, sorry-sorry." The weight shifted to their side and they took a deep breath. Grateful that their lungs still worked just fine.

"Why are you so happy?" Prachi asked, sitting up.

"Pika you are finally getting married." Piyush's eyes sparkled with an unknown glint. But Prachi let it pass as another 'It's-Piyush-no-one-understand-him' thing.