In my Devil's Arms

Next Morning

Deshmukh House

" Riya I need to talk to you", Manav said seriously. " Its about our engagement ".

Riya sighed. She cannot pretend anymore. Time to end it.

" Okay", she said. " Come to my room".

They both went in.

She opened her bag and returned him the diamond earrings.

" Your mother gave them to me. But I can't wear them Manav", she said.

He was confused.

" You don't like them", he asked.

" Umm no I do but I still can't. "

" Yeah they don't suit you either. Too harsh", he said. " You should wear.. ummm", he was thinking.

" Emerland ", she quoted Vicky.

" Yeah", he agreed.

Then he was serious.

" Did you eat", he asked. He didn't want her faint with shock.

" Yes is there a problem", she asked. Did he happen to find out?

Manav finally decided to rip off the band aid.

" Riya I can't marry you. This engagement is not working for me", he said.

" Really", she asked.

" Are you okay. I don't want to cause you pain. But I love someone else", he said..

" Ohh Manav thats great", she said. " I don't want to marry you either. " I love someone else too". She happily hugged him.

" Really", Manav felt relief.

" Yes", she said. " He proposed me and I said yes".

" WHAT"he was completely surprised.

" You look surprised", she said.

" Surprised I am shocked", he said" pleasantly so".

" A pleasant shock", she giggled.

" Who is he", asked Manav excitedly.

" No first you tell", she asked.

" Sonia", he said.

"Really, Yay", she clapped. " I like her so much. I am so happy for you".

" I plan on proposing her tonight",he said.

She removed their engagement ring and retuurned him.

" There you are free. Go ahead. Say her I send love", said Riya.

" We both are free", he said removing his ring too.

" So who is this lucky guy", he asked..

" Vikram Oberoi ", she said shyly.

" As in my boss", he was surprised.

" Yeah", she said.

He halted for a minute.

" Riya I trust you but Oberoi has a bad reputation with girls", he said.

" Yeah that's what bothered me for a long time", she said.

" Did he hurt you"?

" He proposed me for marriage", said Riya.

" Really", said Manav. " He used to run in opposite direction of marriage."

"I am still gping to grill him as your elder brother", said Manav. " You can grill Sonia if you want", he said defensively.

" Nah I really like her. And I am so happy for you both", she said.

They hugged again.

" Isn't it good to be friends again", he said.

" Yeah without all that baggage", she said.

Soon they were bickering and joking all awkwardness of past year wiped off.

" We do need to tell tour parents", said Riya.

" I might have mentioned it to Baba in passing", he told her.

" And", she queried.

" Well he will help us. He wants us happy", said Manav.

" What about auntie", asked Riya.

" She have to accept it", said an agitated Manav. " I won't be bullied by her anymore".

" Calm down okay. Lets not fight. Try to reason with her", said Riya.

" If she gets the reason I am open for it", said Manav. " If she is hell bent on drama my decision stands final".

" Okay okay relax", she said.

" And I won't let her bully you either", said Manav. " Enough is enough".

" We are going to talk now", said Riya. " Calm down".

But Manav was determined to face all antics of his morher today.

They found his parents in living room.

" I talked to Punditji ", aunty was saying. " We have a good muhuruta soon. Why wait for a long time? Lets bring the wedding dates forward", she said.

" See she is incorrigible ", Manav sneered.

" Sssh. Tackle calmly", warned Riya.

" Suhasini you are hurrying the things up", said Vikasji. " Give them some time to come terms with the idea at least".

" They have had more than a year to come terms with the idea", said Suhasiniji. " I will ask punditji..", she was saying.

" THAT WON'T BE NECESSARY", BELLOWED MANAV. " BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO MARRIAGE ".

" What inauspicious things are you saying", said aunty.

" I think of her as my sister. I won't marry her", said Manav.

" Riya", said aunry.

" I love someone else aunty", said Riya. " We mutually broke up".

" Its Vikram Oberoi isn't he", asked aunty .

" Well you love someone else too", said uncle.

" Too", asked aunty.

" I love Sonia", said Manav bluntly.

" That over forward and blunt girl who wear western clothes", said aunty.

" What's wrong in her clothes", said Manav.

" Well I don't like over forward girls", said aunty.

" Well then its fine. I am marrying her not you and I like her just fine", said Manav.

" Wait you like Ram's son", said Vikasji to Riya.

" Yes uncle".

" Ram is a good man".

" Not so much as his son", said aunty.

" Aunty Vicky asked me to marry him", said Riya.

" Did he", asked uncle.

" He is even giving her that palace", said Manav strengthening their point.

" Suhasini at least consider", said Vikasji.

" I can't", sobbed aunty. " I always dreamed of our family. " But all I get is", she was saying.

" YOU JUST TRY TO CONTROL ALL OF US", screamed Manav. " Your dreams, your ideas, your decisions. Whete is the family here"?

He was on fire today.

" Aunty we tried", Riya tried to control the situation. " It did not work"

" I won't eat or drink", said Aunty.

" Suit yourself", said Manav. " If you threaten me again I will move out", he said.

" Ohh God", aunty faked a headache.

" You are so tactless", chided Riya. " Aunty please", she rushed forward.

" Suhasini enough", said Vikasji. " Our kids are miserable. I will meet Ram soon", he said to Riya.

She shyly ran away.

" And I will meet colonel Pradhan too. I like Sonia", said Vikasji.

" Thank you baba", said Manav. He left too seeking Riya.

" Why am I still here", sulked Suhasiniji.

" To bless our kids", said Vikasji.

In Forbidden Forest

" We have an Intel boss that the police is alerted", said a member of deadly gang to his boss. " They are planning to raid".

" Move to location ZERO ", he ordered.

He knew they were attacked that night.

And that too by a very powerful elemental but who was he?

WELL HE WILL FIND OUT.