Siren of Hearts

49. Class(clash) of 2017

As Ishita and Siddharth arrived at the restaurant for their reunion dinner, the LED signboard displayed, 'Reserved - Class of 2017.' This indicated that the entire restaurant had been booked for their batch. Siddharth received a call, so he asked Ishita to go in first. She nodded and walked into the restaurant.

Inside, the ambiance was lively and nostalgic. Ishita spotted many of her classmates engaged in animated conversations around various round tables. Priya, her best friend, noticed her and exclaimed, "Ishita!" Waving enthusiastically, Priya caught everyone's attention. The room fell silent for a moment, and then applause erupted as a welcoming gesture, especially since it was Ishita's first time attending the reunion.

With a happy smile, Ishita joined her friends, who greeted her with warmth and excitement. The air was filled with the buzz of conversations, laughter, and the joy of reconnecting after years.

As Ishita joined her classmates at the table, one of them smiled at her and said, "Oooh, Raichand made it. She is a doctor here." Congratulations and well-wishes followed from others at the table, and Ishita expressed her gratitude with a smile.

The conversation took a turn when another friend inquired, "So, Ishita, any boyfriend or still focusing on your career?" Priya, aware of Ishita's marriage, remained silent, eager to see how the situation unfolded.

 Ishita responded by smiling and proudly showcasing her wedding ring and a sacred plain black-gold necklace, symbols of her married life. The table collectively gasped, and a wave of congratulations filled the atmosphere.

However, the attention soon shifted to the entrance, where Siddharth and Nitya, his superior from the fire station and a classmate from university, made their appearance. Ishita's friends around her fell silent, and a hushed discussion ensued. One friend cautiously asked, "Ishita, will you be okay?" 

Another one wondered, "Is he here because he knows Ishita is here?" Yet another speculated, "So, Nitya finally got him?" 

Ishita couldn't help but hide her laughter, eagerly anticipating their reaction once they discovered who her "husband" was. 

As Ishita spotted Siddharth and waved," Honey! Over here."  the entire restaurant fell into pin-drop silence. The shock on everyone's faces was palpable. However, Siddharth, seemingly unfazed, walked up to Ishita, holding her purse. He handed the purse to her, and Ishita smiled cheekily, adding to the intrigue.

Ishita then turned to her friends and announced, "Meet my husband, girls." The revelation left her friends looking nervously and awkwardly at Siddharth. Deepak and Raj, who were aware of the situation, burst into laughter, while the rest of the group struggled to overcome their shock.

Siddharth simply smiled, acknowledging the surprise, and Nitya took a seat beside Ishita. Siddharth found a place with his old football teammates at another table. The atmosphere at both tables was a mix of fun and curiosity as classmates engaged in conversations, trying to wrap their heads around the unexpected twist. 

As the drinks were served, one of Ishita's friends couldn't resist probing into the rumors they had heard about her parents not liking Siddharth. Ishita, well aware of the potentially unfriendly nature of these acquaintances, casually shrugged off the question, saying, "They still don't."

Shock and confusion spread among her friends as Ishita calmly acknowledged her parents' disapproval of Siddharth. She went on to explain, without delving into too many details, how she had chosen Siddharth over everything else. She narrated the situation as if it were a completely normal decision.

Her matter-of-fact response left her classmates stunned. The revelation about Ishita's unconventional choice and her nonchalant attitude towards her parents' disapproval created an air of intrigue and surprise at the table.