Chapter Three

"Are you serious," Nayan asked, when he heard the news.

"Yes," Gaurav exclaimed. "They want to come the day after tomorrow to see her!"

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe this! I- yes! Of course, the date is settled! I have to tell Sumitra the good news!"

He hung up and went over to his wife and told her the good news. She was beyond happy and excited. They went over to Khushi and told her the news.

Khushi had decided from a long time that she'd get married to whomever her father chose. So after hearing this, she simply smiled lightly.

As planned, Sameer's family and Gaurav arrived on that day. Nayan and Sumitra welcomed them in and led them to the living room. Sumitra went upstairs to get Khushi and then brought her down. She sat down and met everyone. They talked away and finalized the wedding.

While all preparations were being made, Khushi couldn't help but get a feeling that she wasn't okay with this. She didn't think that marrying Abhay was right. She had this feeling running through her all day, thinking that there was someone out there for her, but who it was? Not a clue....

All the decorating and events were being prepared. Kids were playing away outside and were enjoying themselves.

"Give the kids something to eat," Nayan said to Sumitra.

"I would if the cooks had arrived!"

"But-"

"There we go, here they are."

The cook apologized for their tardiness and got to work immediately. Since they had to rush, they weren't thinking properly, and the head cook kept yelling away at them. One of the workers brought in huge barrels filled with oil and set it aside at the rooftop, where all the cooking was being done.

One of the workers were new and very clumsy. He had a tray in his hand filled with rasgolas that still had to be put in the sugary substance and another tray with jalebis in it. There was so much hustle and bustle, that the guy kept stopping every five seconds, afraid he'd drop the trays.

Some kids were up on the rooftop and one of them bumped into the guy. Luckily, none of the sweets fell, but he knocked down the barrel with oil, not even realizing. He walked away with the trays to put them down.

Meanwhile, the oil was spreading across the floor. No one was paying attention to it, and those who saw it thought someone just dropped water and that's all it was.

The oil spread throughout and trickled down the stairs. It kept going along and no one paid attention to it. It even went across the bars that went around the middle of the home. It prevented people from looking upstairs from the middle of the house, giving upstairs some privacy. Nayan wanted the house to be big and open, but Sumitra wanted the privacy, so he put the bar guards for that and for safety.

Up on the rooftop, a cook was being clumsy and couldn't get a match to light up. He eventually did, but someone called him and he dropped the match.

"FIRE!"

Nayan looked up immediately. He was talking to one of the workers and stared at the fire wide eyed. Everyone moved far away from the fire and the fire spread down on the oil. People tried to douse it with water, but it continued to spread.

Downstairs, Sumitra stood with Khushi, Sumitra talking to someone. Ever since the alliance was made, Khushi kept thinking about it.

Is this right? Should I be marrying this guy? Has DM made him for me?

All she kept doing was think these things and kept doubting the relation.

"SUMITRA! KHUSHI!"

They looked up to know why Nayan was yelling and saw the fire spread on the bar guard. It was already loose on a side and was about to fall. Both remained frozen from shock and stared wide eyed at it. It loosened more and was falling.

"Amma," Khushi yelled out and she pushed her out of the way.

Sumitra stumbled and when she looked back at her daughter, she saw the worst sight a mother could ever see.

"KHUSHI!"