#5: Shalini's Struggle and Rhythm's Outburst!
Just then, Rhythm and Shikha knock on her door. “Now I will have to go shopping to buy an unnecessary party dress, ” she thinks with rising frustration and sadness. She forces a smile and opens the door. The three of them head out to shop for Shalini’s dress.
At the mall, Rhythm and Shikha hand Shalini a variety of dresses to try on. Shalini eventually selects a not-so-revealing one-piece dress. During this time, they laugh, argue, comment, and compliment each other. Shalini feels lighter and somewhat happier, but her thoughts and heart keep drifting back to Mohit.
During dinner, Rhythm’s boyfriend Akash joins them. They sit close, practically on top of each other, opposite to Shalini. She observes them closely as they hold hands and caress each other. When the food arrives, they feed each other, laughing loudly, touching each other's faces and lips without hesitation.
“Don't they look cute together?” Shikha asks Shalini pleasantly.
Shalini nods and her thoughts switch back to Mohit. She closes her eyes and pictures him: "Those soft, unruly hair, those deep, kind eyes that hold a world of warmth and understanding, that tranquil face featuring a perfect oval and showcasing his symmetrical features, that strong and defined jawline, and those soft, inviting lips.” She blushes a little in her mind, though it doesn’t show on her face.
She moves on to his athletic body—not too muscular, not too thin—just perfect. His broad chest and perfectly shaped shoulders are exactly as she loves. "His hands, where mine fit so perfectly, make me feel safe. His tall stature, his legs and upper body are almost of the same length, something I hadn't noticed before. And his..." Her thoughts are suddenly interrupted by Rhythm and Akash’s angry arguing voices.
“You’ve spoiled my new dress! Couldn’t you drink your mojito carefully?” Rhythm shouts.
“How could I? You were practically sitting on my lap, blocking my view of the drink,” Akash retorts harshly.
“So now eating is more important than me?” Rhythm asks furiously.
“I was hungry! I just wanted to take a sip. Anyway, you eat so much that I always go back hungry after meeting you,” Akash says sarcastically.
“Unbelievable! You always find a way to insult me,” Rhythm responds incredulously.
“You just don’t know when to stop. You want to keep having fun, not caring or respecting me,” Akash says, frustrated.
“I don’t care about you? You didn’t pick up my calls when I was sick. You only came to see me at the hospital after Shalini had taken care of everything. You weren’t even there when I got discharged. You... you’re only available when I call you home for pleasure,” Rhythm says, tears streaming down her face.
“As if I have all the pleasure? You don’t? You’re pathetic. A little time together and you start creating drama,” Akash yells frantically.
“Guys, we’re in the mall. You’re creating a scene,” Shikha interrupts.
Rhythm grabs her bag in anger and storms off, with Shikha and Shalini following closely, while Aakash watches them leave in rage and frustration, shouting mindlessly.
Shikha books a taxi, and they head home. Rhythm sits in the middle, crying frantically, while the other two hold her hands from each side.
Shalini is deeply disappointed by Akash’s behavior. Unlike Shikha, she won't badmouth him, but she thinks he could have resolved the issue with a simple apology and there was absolutely no need to create a public scene. It was Rhythm’s favorite dress, after all. Instead of blaming her, he could have shown some understanding. Women want men who understand them, not those who shame them.
They reach home. Since none of them has eaten, Shalini orders a quick bite. Meanwhile, they console Rhythm, with Shikha bickering about Akash, filling Rhythm’s head with negativity. This is why Shalini keeps her thoughts about Mohit private, sharing only with her mom to avoid judgment from others.
After dinner, they all retire to their rooms. A while later, the doorbell rings. Shalini opens the door. As she suspected, Akash is standing there with a big bouquet of flowers and chocolates. She steps aside to let him in. He waves at Shalini with a smile, which she returns with a neutral hello. He wishes her good night, which she reciprocates without a smile. He then heads to Rhythm’s room. Shalini returns to her room and picks up her mobile.
“Who was it at this hour?” Shalini's mom asks.
“Akash,” she replies flatly.
“I know you don't like boys like Akash, who think expensive gifts are the way to a woman's heart. But it's about personal preferences. Rhythm might like men who spend money instead of talking to her. It’s her choice,” her mother says gently.
“Yes, you’re right, Mom. Choices must be made. Like in my case with Mohit. I feel he isn’t emotional at all. He doesn’t care about what I do or how I feel. He’s always oriented towards doing the right things. I’m not calling him, and he’s not calling me to check on me. Even my going to ‘clubbing’ hasn’t stirred any emotion in him. He hasn’t asked me anything since morning...” Shalini starts crying.
“Stop crying, beta, or I will start crying too,” her mother says sincerely.
Once Shalini stops crying, her mother Surekha continues, “If you think he is not right for you, you can call off the engagement. Don't worry about the drama; I will talk to your father and stand by you. But remember how you tell me he trusts you and never questions your male friends. He is a man of action, not words. Such men are rare. The rest is up to you. Now, sleep well; you have a long day tomorrow. Good night, beta.”
Shalini wishes her good night and puts the phone down. She starts thinking about Mohit—their interactions on calls and meetings and how he never pushed himself on her physically, emotionally, or mentally. Before sleeping, she decides to go clubbing to have some fun. She also decides to give their relationship a chance, forgiving him for not coming to meet her. At that moment, she realizes she made a mistake by pushing him. He was always clear about his choices. An urge to call him fills her, but she looks at the time—it’s already 1 a.m. She decides to call him after getting drunk tomorrow and falls asleep.
— — —
Shalini does not know that Mohit is coming to meet her. She fears his emotionlessness, while Mohit has nothing more urgent than seeing Shalini. Will this meeting set things right between them? Stay with us to find out more about their journey.
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