Five days later...
Priyanka sat on one of the hills, crying. It was the same place she visited with her late father before he died. Whenever she was confused, she would come and sit here. It gave her peace of mind.
"Are you done?" Pintu was tired of waiting. They came about seven hours ago and it was getting dark. "Please don't cry again. You will be sick before the sun rises."
She let out a sigh, before standing up "My father told me he was not going to leave me alone. If I knew life was going to be this rough, I would have followed him."
"Don't say such curse words" He was surprised that she wished to die. If anything happens to her or Krishna, their mother will lose her mind.
Priyanka wiped her tears and took a deep breath. She was going to let go of the negativities and faced the harshness of life.
Today, she made a decision that might ruin her life forever. But it was for the best. If it was the only way to get her brother treated then, she will do it.
"Let's go to the dancing house" she rubbed her palms together. The weather was cold and it seemed there was going to be a storm.
Pintu helped her get down to the road. His scooter was still insight. He sat in front and Priyanka sat at the back with her legs, crossed by the side.
She closed her eyes as they moved closer to her fate. Nobody knew of her plan except for Pintu. He was not in support of it but she had him promise not to tell anyone.
Zara was not aware because she might not keep her mouth shut. She will tell aunt Kamala right away.
"Why do you think this is going to work?" he asked when they got closer to their destination.
She looked at the cars passing and wished Karan seated in on one of them. But that was impossible. He left the country. Nobody heard from him again.
"I love my family very much. This is the little, I can do for them."
"Aunt Kamala is going to be disappointed," Pintu told her. He was wearing the dancing house. "She will kill me for not stopping you."
"Don't act like I'm sixteen, Pintu" Priyanka rolled her eyes up as she spoke, "I will be twenty-one in two months, have that in mind."
"Okay. If you insist" he stopped right in front of the dancing building. On his back was her pack bag.
Priyanka unzipped it and brought out a red veil. She covered her face before coming down from the scooter. No one was supposed to see her before the grand opening.
"Let's go inside" She dragged him into the house. They were lucky enough to find Miss Srita. She was waiting for them.
"I thought you changed your mind" She frowned when her gaze flew to the door. Last week, Priyanka made a foolish decision but she advised her on what to do. It seemed the plan did not work out.
"My brother will die without the operation. I can feel it already" Priyanka told her when they got close. "Is everyone ready?"
"Well, they are more than eager to see you," Miss Srita said, flipping her hair. Her makeup made her look like an ancient Greek goddess.
"Is there no way out?" Pintu asked. "Can you borrow us some money, instead of letting her do this?"
Miss Srita wished she had money to give for Krishna's operation. The dancing house did not belong to her. She was managing it on behalf of an unknown man "I'm sorry, Pintu. There is no money around here. Are you forgetting who we are?"
"No, I didn't" He replied. They were poor people.
Priyanka closed her eyes for a minute. The only picture that kept coming to her mind was Karan. She thought she has gotten rid of him by rejecting his proposal. But it did not work that way. Now that she was making such a decision, it reminded her of his offer.
She took the bag off Pintu's back and went to the changing room. There was a red dress and a veil. She wore them quickly with a little touch of makeup.
Fee minutes later, she was done. A knock came on the door and Priyanka froze. Who was it by this time?
Atharva frightened her last week. She was not hoping to see him, anytime soon. Not when this was yet to happen.
Putting the clothes, she wore earlier in the bag, Priyanka said a short prayer and opened the door. It was Miss Srita.
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Insecurity was the worst feeling, anyone could experience.
"Should I cover the veil?"
"No, Priyanka. Come over. Someone came to see you" She said, walking towards the next door. She turned back and urged.
Priyanka nodded, as she followed her behind. Who was it that wanted to see her? Her heart skipped when she remembered the people, who will come looking for her.
Kamala will stroll from home to this place if she finds out about her decision. Zara and her mother were not any different.
The door opened and Miss Srita entered the room.
A young man was sitting with his face bowed. He wore a long black coat and a pair of trousers to match. His black hair reminded of her someone
"She is here, sir" Miss Srita sat on one of the chairs in the room. Her eyes studied the young man again. She wondered if he was Karan.
Priyanka held the edge of the veil in her hand. She was squeezed tightly as his neck titled to his sides. When his gaze shifted to her, she almost passed out.
"Salem?"