Chapter 2

PART-2

Declaration

The rustling curtains of the open window let some sunlight sneak into the bedroom of Mr. & Mrs. Rao. Pallavi's left arm was stretched over Raghav's torso. Her eyes twitched as the sunlight fell on her face. She slowly opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was the diamond ring, glistening in all its glory in the sunlight. A smile immediately crept on her face as she remembered his proposal last night. With that smile, her eyes landed on a peacefully sleeping Raghav. But it was short-lived because Farhad's yelling could be heard. He was calling for Raghav. 

"Raghav, jaldi uthon!" Pallavi shook him awake from his slumber.

"Kya hua, Pallavi?" Raghav replied in half-sleep.

"Farhad bohot zor zor se tumhe bula raha hain. Kuch problem hua hain shayad. Jaldi chalo."

After getting properly dressed, the pair walked downstairs to find a panic-stricken Farhad standing with Amma and Keerti.

"Subha subha aise shoor kyun raha hain tu, Farhad?" Raghav asked, evidently irritated.

Farhad informed, "Anna, ghar ke bahar media wale aye hain! Aap se aur bhabi se baat karna chahte hain." 

"Lekin baat kya hain?" Pallavi asked.

"Vo log keh rahe hain ki bhabi ke pehle pati zinda hain toh ab aap dono ka rishta najayez hain."

Pallavi and Raghav shared a knowing look because they knew this issue would obviously rise soon but they didn't know how the media got the news of Mandar being back. However, that issue could be dealt with later. Now, they had to face the media no matter what.

"Thik hain, chalo, main dekhta hoon inlogoko." 

Raghav started towards the door but soon felt Pallavi slipping her hand into his as she walked along with him to face the media. They were in this together. 

There was a huge crowd of media personnel trying to get to the front to ask them their questions. Raghav simply raised a hand and the crowd fell silent.

"Aap sab ek ek karke sawal kijiye. Anna aur Bhabi aapke harr sawalon ka jawab denge," Farhad said.

One reporter came forward and asked, "Pallavi-ji, humne suna hain aapke pehle pati zinda hain. Kya yeh sach hain?"

Pallavi calmly answered, "Dekhiye, yeh baat sach hain ki hume ek aadmi mila hain jiski shakal Mandar se milti hain. Lekin abhi DNA report ana baki hain. Iss liye hum surely nehi jante ki woh hi Mandar hain."

Another reporter took turn, "Iss bare mein aapka kya kehna hain, Raghav anna? Kyun ki agar yeh aadmi sach mein Pallavi-ji ke pehle pati huye toh aap dono ki shaadi invalid hojayega."

Pallavi gulped hard just thinking about that moment.

"Aisa kuch nehi hoga! Kyun ki according to Hindu Widow Re-marriage Act of 1856, agar shaadi se pehle pichhle pati ka maut ho chuka ho toh vo shaadi invalid nehi hota. Humara shaadi se pehle Mandar officially dead declared ho chuka tha. Iss liye kanun ke nazron mein humara shaadi...." Raghav trailed off to hold Pallavi's hand in his, "...100% valid hain. Ise koi bhi invalid prove nehi kar sakta!"

They shared a smile and walked back inside the house. Behind them, the reporters tried to ask more questions but Farhad shut them up saying they won't be answering any more questions now.

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Please let me know if I am wrong about the Hindu Widow Re-marriage Act. I have no prior knowledge about it, I got that much information from google.

Nevertheless, hope you all enjoyed this as well!

If you haven't read the previous part yet, click here PART-1

Or else, continue to the next part by clicking here PART-3