Mine, To Hold And Behold

Chapter 15

If looks could kill I'd be dead and buried six feet below the ground. As soon as we reached the table, Pari stumbled on her feet and my arms enveloped her waist and steadied her. A low growl distacted us from having a moment.

When I looked up, Mr. Sharma was not only glaring but he was also growling at me. Imagine the animalistic growl where the canines are full on display and the sound kind of makes you take a step back.

Yup. That kind of growl.

"Papa" Pari sighed and shot him ,what I assumed to be a warning glare.

The father and daughter stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. I don't get it. Am I the only one who doesn't know how to communicate like this. Eye to eye. I must admit, its kinda creepy.

I was still trying to maintain that cool composure and not squirm under his glare when suddenly he got up and stormed out of the hall. His anger was radiating off him because everybody gave him way to pass and the poor waiter who seemed to have lower reflexes, got shoved in his shoulder.

I looked at my dad. He looked down and found a sudden intrest in the drink he was holding.

"Ladies and gentlemen" Mr.Clementon's voice echoed through the microphone. "Please take your seats," he politely asked all his guests who were dancing to get back to their seats. As everbody obliged he again started addressing his guests. I had no interest in listening to the banter, so I turned to my dad.

"Dad!" My dad held up his finger to stop me and pretended to be listening to the host's speech. I rolled my eyes, I knew he had no interest in the speech. He was just avoiding the unavoidable 'talk'.

"Dad!" I pressed and he banged the table and sighed, "what?" His question caught me off gaurd. I expected his reluctance but not his annoyance. I took a deep breath,

"What happened between you two? " I asked.

"Nothing. Like I said. He is getting grumpy old man. Thats it" my dad said. Something was off. My dad threw the truth at my face all the time. He never cared to put it delicately. He just spilled it out. That's why I know that he is actually keeping something from me. He is not used to this and it's making him uncomfortable. I could tell.

"Is it about me?", its a wild guess but I know that it should be about me. My dad's sudden 'love' towards me must be a little annoying to Mr. Sharma, whose daughter I am trying to woo. My dad's silence confirmed my suspicion, "It is about me". And this time it wasn't a question but a statement.

"You know I love you" his head snapped to me. I bet I even heard a gasp from my right. "Yeah! I am perfectly sober and I admit it, I love you dad" I said sincerely. I know its difficult for me, but I gotta do this. Its now or never.

"I love you. As much as I admire you for trying to protect me from getting hurt. I would much appreciate if you just expose me to the truth, bluntly. Like you used to" I held up my hand to stop him from interrupting. "I know, back then, we weren't on great terms but, dad, you used to do me a huge favour by actually exposing to the truth and reality. I can, today, proudly announce to the world that I was never spoon fed. I was never pampered. I was brought up by the best father ever. Who taught me to be practical and showed me the real world. I can say proudly that he prepared me for the battle of life. Its all because you were honeat with me. You never lied, you never tried to sugar coat the things which could hurt me. You made me a better man" I paused for a second to let him process all the words. There was a layer of mist forming in his eyes and I bet mine were the same. "Dad! Don't you ever think that you didnt raise me properly. You were the best father I could aak for. Im lucky to have you. Don't guilt yourself or try to make it your responsibility for my happiness. I will be fine. I can fight the battle of my life on my own. You did well in training me. Stop worrying" I placed a hand on his shoulder.

This was the longest one on one I ever had with my dad. Yeah we argued a lot, but in an emotional level. This is the best conversation I ever had.

My dad cleared his throat after a moment of silence.

"Well that ass-", my dad started but I cleared my throat interrupting his usage of words, since this isn't the time to piss off Pari. "That that Sharma is really pissed at you".

"Because" I prompted

"Because. ... you should better talk with him. You know, just clear things with him. Try to win his confidence and all" my dad shrugged. I nodded. Okay! At least he accepted that something is wrong.

I turned to Pari, just to catch a glimpse of her wiping off a stray tear away. She looked at me and gave a quick smile. Too quick. I smiled at her. Not a smirk but a smile, a genuine one. She alqays wanted me to mend things with my dad. I know it means a lot to her seeing me and my dad bonding. One of the reasons I love her. And her tearing up for me and my father simplt shows how connected she is to us, emotionally.

Though its me and my dad And pari and her dad. But its all four of us, who are a family. We all have been there for each other at one time or another. We grieved together, we laughed together. We even fought together. We are a family and today my family is facing a situation. And I need to make things right.

I decided its time for me to follow a certain pisses off family member and ditch the party. I got up determined but I sat down as I remembered something.

"You" I pointed my finger at Pari. She looked up at me ans raised her eyebrows. "I know something is wrong with you too. And I know its not the same thing that is bothering your dad. We need to talk and we need to do it tonight. Don't go to bed. Wait for my call. We are gonna have a little 'Camp-In' night in my suite".

"Why your suite. Why not mine? "she asked narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"Because mine has a better view than yours" I said.

"Come on, you haven't been in my room yet" she waved her hand dismissively.

"Do you really wanna argue over this?" I asked raising a eyebrow. She sighed.

"Fine. Whatever" she mumbled.

I took the opportunity to leave but before I did, I pected her forehead, which surprised her a little. A short blush crept her cheeks and she looked away from my dad's ammused looks. "Dad! Can you take her back to the hotel. I need to find Mr. Sharma". I buttoned my suit,

"Yea sure. But where are you going to look for him?" My dad asked. I thought for a moment as a thought crossed my mind.

"I know where he will be" I said with a smirk.

********

"Uh huh" I smirked as soon as I spotted the back of a familiar neatly tailored brown suit. I walked up to the bar and and sat beside him. "Brandy. Neat" I ordered the bartender. Mr.Sharma looked at me for a second and returned his attention to the drink.

"You know" his voice made me turn my head to face him, "it doesn't really leave a good impression about you when you are trying to convince your hypothetical father in law, while you're actually nursing a drink" he snorted.

"You know I am not a drunkard. But my gut tells me thia conversation is gonna be a little rough. I could use a drink" I shrugged.

"Who are you trying to convince son? me or yourself?" He asked. I frowned clearly confused.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You know what I mean. Your drinking. Its more than casual" he replied nonchalantly but I know he was implying serious.

I stared at him for a full minute. "I won't touch alcohol ever again if it bothers you so much" I said pushing away the glass of brandy untouched. He snorted, "I swear on Pari" he stopped mid-sip and looked at me, "You know I wouldn't false swear on your daughter, sir" I said completely serious.

I know it was sudden. But its fine. I won't touch alcohol id it provides him a peace of mind. I know my drunken stunts must have got hia boxers in a twist. I don't blame him actually.

He sighed placing his own glass of whiskey on the island, "Raghu" he said my name with such resignation that it almost sped up my heart, "I always thought of you as my son. You know that. But I love my daughter too much. You are... you are a.. reasonable guy and you love her. I know. And she loves you too. More than she will ever love amyone else. But.... I just can't let this happen" he said shaking his head.

" Let what happen, Sir" I balled my fists trying to keep my frustration at bay.

"This. You and my daughter. I don't trust you" he said not looking at me in the eye. I know there was more to it. And like I decided, its now or never. I need to do this. I need to make him spill it all out.

"Really" I said in a mocking tone. "You didn't think so, the other night when you were planning against your daughter's fiancée behind her back with me" I said, "You were the one who actually probed me into approaching her. I'm sorry but I'm kind of getting mixed signals from you which I don't appreciate" I said. He remained silent and I decided to push his buttons, "what? You have no explanation to that? Just tell me what changed your mind? Did you find her a better husband than me?" I mocked to which he snapped his head towards me. I was glad he didnt get a whiplash from that.

"You think its easy for me? I didn't change my mind overnight. I never liked you enough to consider yoy worthy of my daughter. I just tried and tried and tried to look past your mistakes and consider you. For the sake of my daughter's happiness I tried. But no. You amaze me each and every time. Once it's your street fights. Another time you are in jail. You sneak into my daughter's room at night, for fu*ks sake" he face palmed himself. Damn! I never heard him curse before. "And the list goes on. You are never gonna get mature. You will never get serious in life. Why the hell should I trust you with my daughter? Give me one good reason" he banged his fist in the counter.

The few customers who were present near the island looked at us. But he remained passive to them. I sighed and was about to speak up when he held up his hand, "And don't you say you love her and she loves you. Because you very well know that love isnt enough to be happy" he sipped his drink.

"I know. But there is more than love" I said and he looked at me, "there's trust. I can protect her" I supplied my last argument. He remained silent for a minute and twirled his glass balancing it with his fore finger.

"Tell me something Raghu" he asked and I braced myself for the question. "Who are you?" He asked. I leant back and atared at him blankly. What? I silently questioned myself. What is he asking?

"Ugg... who am I?" I asked and as he remained silent, I know I heard him right, "well I am Raghu, your beat friends son and your daughter's future husband, hopefully" I added the last part hesitantly.

"That I know. But what I am asking you is, who are you? What are you? " he asked. I was shocked would be an understatement. I didn't know how to reply to that.

"A doctor? an engineed? lawyer? at least driver? You are nothing. And don't try to answer that you are a businessman. You will just make me laugh. You got that opportunity just because of your dad. Because you are his heir. You didn't earn it. You don't even deserve it. Now tell me, why the hell should I let my daughters hand to a pwrson who is 'nothing'?" He said gulping down the lasts of his drink.

He just got up from there and walked away. Leaving me utterly embarassed and humiliated by myself.

He was right. I am a nobody. I didn't earn the fortune that I am going to inherit. I don't deserve to run the business because I know nothing about it. He is right. I don't deserve Pari.

Though I already knew all these things. Hearing them aloud makes a huge effect. In fact I needed this confrontation. I needed to hear the hard truth. Now I know why my dad was ao persistent in avoiding the unavoidable talk. He didn't want to hurt me. Because he knew that only the truth has the potential to hurt you and what Mr.Sharma just said is nothing but the truth.

Now I know where I stand. Now I know how much I need to work hard. Now I know that I have to become deserving. Now I have a goal in my life.

Suddenly my heart atarted feeling light. I wasn't hurt or depressed anymore because...... now I had a path to follow, a deatination to reach and a goal to achieve.

Now I have a meaning to my life.

ANOTHER UPDATE. YIPPY.

SO ITS NOT EDITED AND ITS MY FIRST CHAPTER THAT I AM POSTING FROM MY MOBILE. SO YUP AN ACHIEVEMENT.

AND I JUST REACHED ONE THOUSAND VIEWS AND THATS ANOTHER ACHIEVEMENT.

THOUGH THE NUMBER EFFECTS ME, I WONT BE DELAYIN THE UPDATES BECAUSE I WANT TO COMPLETE TGIS BOOK AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. BUT I PROMISE TO LIVE UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS.

PLS VOTE AND COMENT.

LOVE YA ALL.

GOOD NIGHT AND SWEET DREAMS.