Chapter 53: Chapter 53

Riya's POV

" How does it matter if you... what? " I asked.

" Leave me alone!! Go and meet him. " He said with his back turned towards me.

" Dr Parth, what were you saying?? You know, I tried to convince my parents not to come here to meet him but they are adamant that as he invited him, they would come. "

" It's ok that they want to meet him, as it is, you like him too... " He said bitterly.

" I don't want to get married to him. I don't even like him that way. " I said.

" Then tell it to your parents, not me. " He said standing with his back towards me.

"Dr Parth, what were you saying?"

" Nothing! "

" We need to talk... Why did you say that you l.love me? Why did you say that you want to get married to me? " I turned him to look at me.

" What is bothering you?? Is it that I said all those things or that if I really feel that way? " He asked.

" Both. "

" I don't know... I like you and want you in my life. I am going crazy with the thought of you getting married to someone else." He said.

" What? "

" I think, I love you as I have feelings for you and want you to share your life with me." He said looking into my eyes.

" Dr Parth..." I wanted to ask him about Dr Siddharth.

" Excuse me, sir, Dr Riya's parents have come and want to meet her. " A nurse knocked at the door and came in.

" Ok, please make them sit. Dr Riya, you must go and meet them we can talk later. " He said.

" But... "

" Do you want to marry him? "

" NO! "

" Then tell your parents about it. I have already told them that I want to marry you. " He said.

" But dad thinks that he is more eligible than you."

" How??"

" He has a family and is related to Tanvi, our families know each other forever. Plus he seems to be belonging to a well-known business family hence he is financially more sound. My father says that though money can't buy everything still it is very important." I said.

" See, you leave all that to me, just stick to the point that you don't want to marry him. They would not force you. I will not let them. Tell them that you like me. You can't marry him just because he is Tanvi's cousin. What if..." He was saying something but stopped again in the mid of the sentence.

" Hmmm... Ok! " I said and went out to meet them.

Parth's POV

She went to meet her parents. I took a few deep breaths to think of some way to handle this situation. I would not let that Vidyut marry her.

I went out and saw her parents, greeted them again. Her mom smiled at me but her dad was as stern as he was in the morning. Just then Vidyut came and touched their feet. His dad smiled warmly at him.

" Oh, how sweet... You are such a humble man. It shows the good values that your family must have taught you, it comes with living in a family atmosphere. " Her dad said looking at me.

I took a deep breath to keep myself calm and not retort anything.

Being Riya's dad, he was going to be my father-in-law soon when I would marry her. It was okay, to be scolded by him. I just smiled at my thought.

Riya looked at me apologetically but was surprised to see me smiling. She raised her eyebrow asking silently, why was I smiling like that??

I just shook my head. My crazy clumsy girl!

" Uncle, aunty can we please go to my department or the cafeteria, please. Actually, Dr Parth does not like anyone to come to his department. Right, Dr Parth? " He said with a smirk.

" That rule is for people like you, Dr Vidyut. You always come here to disturb others. Riya's parents can come and meet her in the department. I am sure they wanted to see the department, where their daughter is working for the whole day. " I retorted.

" But still since I invited them, I think I should take them to my department or cafeteria so that we can have lunch together. As it is I am not welcomed here. " Vidyut insisted.

" It is ok, today you can sit here since Riya's parents are here too. " I said.

" Uncle, aunty... Please come out, I am not comfortable talking here in front of others. He has nothing to do with this. " He said to them.

" Dr Vidyut, get your facts correct, it is you who is the outsider here. In fact, it has nothing to do with you. You are just wasting your time here. " I retorted with a confident and mocking smile.

" Now what does that mean? " He asked.

" Riya would never get married to you. " I said.

" I am not here to take your permission for that... " He said glaring at me.

" Calm down!! It is lunchtime, I have prepared hot food for all of us. It has been so long since I made Riya's favourite dishes, so I made a few of them. " Her mom said.

" Oh, wow! I was dying to have food made by you. Let's have it. " Riya looked at me and said, I just smiled.

" Can we all please go to the cafeteria? " Vidyut was stuck on the point.

" Yes, it is better. " Her dad also said that and got up to go out.

" Dr Parth, please come and have food with us. " Riya said to me but I shook my head as her parents didn't want that.

They had come here to meet him, so I must stay out of it. But I would make it clear to him that she was off-limits to him as she was only mine.

" Riya, I have to talk to you and your parents privately. " Vidyut said and I clenched my fist.

" Dr Vidyut, I am not interested in whatever you are going to say. " Riya said firmly.

" Riya, please let me at least say what I want to... Please, come with me." He insisted.

" She is not going anywhere with you. She would go with her parents. " I said authoritatively.

" I am not seeking permission from you but her and his family. Stay out of it." He yelled at me.

" I can't stay out of it, even if, I try to do it. I am already up to the neck in it." I said coming to stand beside Riya.

" What does that mean?? " He was losing his fake cool exterior.

" I love her and want to get married to her. " I said loud and clear for him to hear. He looked shocked for a few seconds.

" So?? I love her too and want to get married to her. I have even asked for her hand in marriage from her dad. " He said.

" We both love each other and hence there is no point in you asking for her hand in marriage as she doesn't want to get married to you. " I said with a smile.

" What nonsense!! She doesn't love you," he said.

" I love her and she loves me. " I said placing an arm around her shoulder.

Riya felt a bit awkward as her parents were there.

" How dare you say that she loves you?" He was losing his temper.

" Ask her!!" I said with a smile.

" Riya, do you love him? " He asked her directly. But she was hesitant in saying anything.

" See, she didn't answer to it... That means, she doesn't love you. " He smirked.

" Riya, do you like Dr Vidyut and want to get married to him? " I asked looking into her eyes.

" No! " She said shaking her head.

" Why?? " I asked.

" B.because I like you... " She said and I smiled.

" Like!! She said, she likes you. She likes me too. Don't you like me, Riya? " Dr Vidyut said.

" Riya, please don't be shy, I know you are not saying it because you respect your parents, but you need to tell them and especially Dr Vidyut. Do you love me? " I asked.

" Yes !! I... love you." She said I was happy to hear that even when I knew that she was just acting as I suggested, but why did I see a shadow of a pain in her eyes.

" Riya, please don't lie under his influence. " He said.

" Dr Vidyut, I am sorry, you are a nice man, but I love Dr Parth. " She said.