Doosra Chance

Chapter 3

Sorry! A little late getting this chapter up, but I'll try to get another chapter up before this week ends!

"Thank you for meeting me on such short notice." "Of course, it's no problem at all. Besides, I was about to go out for lunch anyway." "Main jaanthi hoon ki hum log kuch zyaada hi practical ban rahe hain iss shaadi ko lekar, lekin main ek aur 'clause' add karna chahthi hoon. I hope that we've become friends at this point and you won't mind. Bas kuch hi din baaki hain humari shaadi mein, aur main yeh baat karne mein aur der nahi kar sakthi." Rishi smiled at the innocently pleading expression on Aarohi's face. "All right, hit me. I've got my serious face on." 

"I suppose I didn't bring this up before because kuch zyaada hi personal hain, but it would be unfair of me not to. Main aapse wada karna chahthi hoon, and you should know that I never break my promises. Main yeh wada karna chahthi hoon ki agar aap kabhi bhi mujhse divorce karna chahenge, main aapko rokungi nahi. Should you ever wish to divorce me and marry another, I will not stop you. Should you ever wish to have a relationship with another while still being married to me, I will not stop you. I only ask that you do so with discretion. Main yeh sab aapko insult karne ke liye nahi keh rahi hoon, and I don't assume that you will wish to have a relationship with another woman. But in the case that it ever happens, I will never hold you back. But I do expect that we can come to a reasonable agreement according to the situation at the time."

 Rishi's scowl grew as she spoke, but he stayed silent for several minutes before responding. "It's pretty obvious that I wasn't happy to hear what you had to say, lekin main tumhari point samajhtha hoon aur tumhari conditions ko accept bhi karta hoon. Par tumne apne baare mein kuch nahi kahi, so I assume you are confident that what you said will never apply to you. Nevertheless, I will reciprocate everything you have promised me."

One year later...

"Ours was not a contract marriage, but nevertheless, platonic. I made him a promise that I wholeheartedly meant and intend to fulfill to this day. Even if I did not make that promise, neither my romantic nature, nor my humanity, nor my pride would let me stay married to Rishi. But, that's not the end of the story. My husband, to whom I was platonically married, and who had become my best friend over the past few months, told me that he thought he was falling in love with me. I was beyond shocked. 

Maine yeh socha ki shayad Rishi kabhi kisi aur ke saath rehna chahenge, lekin yeh kabhi nahi socha ki who mujhe chahenge. Maine kuch response nahi diya, naa hi who mujhe kuch expect kar raha tha. Rishi khud kitna confused tha ki kya mujhse pyaar ho raha tha ki nahi. Bas ek weak moment mein umeed aur aadat se mujhe bol diya, ki shayad humesha ki tarah main apni perspective aur advice bata doon. I couldn't handle the idea that our relationship might change, aur maine kuch respond nahi kiya, so we went on as normal. 

His confession just became a loose thread hanging between us, and neither of us tried to go near it. After a few months, because of many events that happened, or perhaps they were simply circumstances I hadn't noticed before, I finally mustered up the courage to acknowledge what Rishi had said. I let it molder in my mind for weeks, and finally, maine apne aap ko sochne diya ki Rishi ke saath kaise rahega mera future. Agar Rishi mujhe sach mein pyaar karne lage, and if I allowed Rishi's love to wear me down, because I don't feel anything beyond friendship now, nor do I think I ever could, maybe it would have led me to developing a contentment and affection for Rishi. Lekin itne saare uncertainties the, agar woh, shayad yeh. Uss 'uncertainties' aur 'maybes' ke pahaad par mein Rishi ko pure zindagi apne saath nahi khaid kar sakthi, aur naa hi mein karna chahthi hoon. 

Now that his childhood love is back, and he's realized that his love for her had never truly changed, it's pointless to fight for something I didn't want in the first place. He has a chance of happiness with someone who loves him and whom he loves. I do not believe that love is necessary in a marriage, but it certainly seems to be the cherry on the top. Please, don't feel bad for me, because I am not really giving anything up. I am genuinely happy that my best friend is going get married to someone who can keep him drowning in happiness for the rest of his life. Please, try to understand."

"Beta, that nalaayak Rishi doesn't deserve such a warm-hearted girl as you in his life. I'm sorry my son wasted a year of your time." Aarohi's and Rishi's father still seemed unconvinced, but Malini and Anu exchanged a resigned look. "We still don't like anything about the situation, but we do understand. And it's your life, not ours. No matter what, we will always support you. And guide you as well if you need us to." Aarohi clasped her mother's hands. "Thank you. Your understanding is all I can ask because it even took me several days to wrap my head around the fact that Rishi had found someone else. I also request that even if you cannot accept what Rishi did, at least...please do not reject him and his fiancée completely."

Thank you to everyone who's following the story so far! So, what do you guys think? I'd welcome any constructive criticism. Also, should I start an Instagram account? Let me know your thoughts.