Chapter 6

          A LOVE STORY (SAJAN)

 

sometimes.................

Today is the biggest day of my life, i am getting married to him, the one person who i know loves me the most in the world, whom i love the most. Our friends say that we are the best couple anyone cud ever see, the 'Made For Each Other' couple. I, Gunjan Shashi Bhushan, is soon to be Gunjan Samrat Shergill. This name sounds like sweet chocolates to my ears. Every time i speak it, i feel i am in heaven. Samrat and my relation was a matter of denial to my family, Baouji and Bui, even Diya(my cousin) were against us, because of the careless image they'd set of Samrat. They protested us being together in the name of protecting me. Only Nupur, Mayank, Suhaani, Adjhiraj and Benji were with us, trying to help. Finally, Samrat's friendship won over, and, they all, even Diya started convincing baouji. Finally, after lots of drama, with the help from all, baouji agreed to marry me to Samrat. That was the happiest day of my life, exception is today's day.

Preparations started taking a height, and guess what, cupid striked all my friends during this time. Nupur came close to Mayank. Suhaani and Adhiraj got together finally, and Diya who was angry with Benji for siding with Samrat also forgave him, and to be honest, this was the best u cud expect. I am glad she has moved forward, coz after that horrible experience, we all had given hope, but Diya is so Diya, she overcame all that too.

Anyways, right now, i'm all ready, just waiting for her to come and take me. Meanwhile, i decided to check myself out, in the mirror, i saw myself. Dressed in that heavy red lehanga, with whitish work done on it, i wonder how he'd react as i remember our conversation in the mall a few days back.

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"No Gunjan, you are wearing this red dress, and this is final. White is your favourite, moreover, imagine, you'll look like an angel descending from heaven. White represents purity and innocence, white, innocence, innocence, white, get it?"

"Samrat, i can look like an angel even in red, woh bhi pure and innocent wali. Someone's told me that i look like a pari in anything and everything i wear"

"Did he mention about nothing, huh?", he said with a twinkle in his eyes, and i blushed beet root red as i looked down,

"Hayye"

"Anyways, i dont care, i am wearing red for my marriage, red brings out the love and happiness of marriage the best, moreover, my boyfriend loves red, so red it is"

When nothing worked, he went for the last resort, making the cutest puppy face one cud ever imagine, he spoke to me,

"Please, white wala, mere liye"

"All right, white will do, i'll wear it"

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Gunjan smiled thinking how he'd react when he will see her in this red dress, although in her heart she knew he's gonna love it. He'd been adamant that he wear a white sherwaani too, so that they both matched. But keping her plan in mind, she somehow persuaded him to wear red. Mind you, he did look hot in red, she'd just seen from behind the window, when the baraat had arrived. His hair were gelled like always, his first 2-3 buttons open, and surprisingly, Baouji also complimented him this time.

"Haye mera Samrat beta definitely looks hot in this sherwaani, kyun Bhaiya?"

"Haan Ratna, after all, he has to keep himself in form to match my Gunjan", everyone had laughed while Samrat stared at him with an open mouth. Suhaani had come and told all this to Gunjan, she laughed at the fact that Samrat was spreading like some flu in everyone, only, peolpe wud die to have this flu. Yes, she was right, seeing him dance with Mayank, Benji and Suhaani down there, she thanked God for blessing her with his most precious and favourite person.

Lost in her thoughts, Gunjan did not hear Ratna come in and lock the door behind her. She only realised her presence when an upset Ratna shook her. She asked her the reason of why she was so upset, and what Ratna spoke next seemed to take the world away from Gunjan.

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Samrat was sitting amongst his friends as an object of teasing, they all were pulling his leg upto the heights.

"Haan haan, kheench lo, mere baad tum sab ki bhi baari aane wali hai, then i'll see how u all escape", they all laughed even more at this. Samrat was already irritated by the fact that Gunjan and him wud not match in the colour of their dresses, the fact that he was dying to meet her, and all this just piled up his frustration. This was what he thought, but the actual reason was that he knew something was extremely wrong, very very wrong, but he cudnt pin point to it. Or rather, he didnt want to accept the fact was that whatever the matter was, it was related to Gunjan. The vibes he'd received of something bad, came from his heart. But to avoid any scene, he walked off from there, only to be hit into Ratna. One look at her and he knew something was definitely wrong. Was Gunjan alright? Oh God, plz dont let anything happen to her, plz God!

"Bui, kya hua, sab theek to hai na, aur Gunjan......"

"Samrat mere saath chalo, Gunjan wants to meet you", with that both of them rushed off to her room.

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The door to her room opened, and he hurriedly entered, while Ratna stood to close the door. It was when he saw her, she looked like........ he cudnt find words. If he said tht an angel had descended from heaven, it wud be an understatement, rather, an insult to her. OMG, she was dressed in that red lehenga, no wonder she'd been firm he wear white. As his gaze went to her face, he felt something amiss. The spark, the charm which normally used to be on her face was lost, let alone the shine and glow of a bride's face. She seemed to be staring in space, with a hurt expression in her eyes, he knew she was in pain, he'd realised that earlier, and now it only confirmed what he already knew.

"Gunjan, Gunjan, kya hua, plz kuch to bolo na", and when lots of persuasion she didnt speak up, he asked Ratna,

"Bui, aap hi bata dijiye, plz?"

"Samrat, Gunjan does not want to marry you, she's backing from the marriage and......

She was cut in between as an angry Samrat spoke up,

"Shut up, how can you say such a thing, Gunjan, what crap is she talking abt, look, Bui is saying tht u do not want to marry me, its lies i know you want to marry me, right, Gunjan speak up, plz Gunjan, say something..", he continued shaking her vigorously,

"Samrat, grow up, she's said she doesnt wanna marry you, but if we call off the marriage, it will lead to great insult of the families, so, so..... i suggest why dont you marry Diya. You two are great friends, and she's ready to do it, she's ready to sacrifice her career and independence and her goals for the family's name. She's unlike Gunjan, who only cares abt her freaking pre marital nerves, so, is it ok with you now?", Ratna finally completed her speech of how bad Gunjan was and how good Diya was.

"I dont trust you, dont you see her state, she's in pain, so much pain, and you still expect me to believe she's called off the marriage, you really take me to be kid bui, dont you. Moreover, if she refuses to marry me, then why cant she say it to me too, why has she chosen to be silent. Bui, i wanna know the truth, what has happened to Gunjan, tell me now?"

Ratna was quite scared listening to the anger held up in Samrat's voice, but she managed to utter,

"Samrat, i am speaking the truth, trust me....."

"Trust you for what Ratna, trust you for what?", Baouji suddenly emerged inside with a voice as angry as Samrat's,

"Bhaiya, you, here?"

"Yes Ratna, i shouldnt be here, right, it might disturb your so called beautiful plan of ruining Gunjan's life, right?"

"But Bhaiya, what about Diya, she'll...."

"To hell with Diya, i dont care what happens, but i'm not letting you destroy Gunjan"

"To hell with me taiyaji, why to hell with me, u dont care taiyaji, u dont care for me now, like u never did, even after when dad left, u never cared for me like u do for ur adopted daughter, Gunjan"

Samrat saw a  teary eyed Diya standing and shouting at baouji. He was now sure Gunjan had just come to know of her adoption, the shock was visible on her face. But what was all this, Diya crying, Bui baffled, Baouji angry, what was happening, and Gunjan, Gunjan was still indifferent from her surroundings. He knew only one person cud answer him right now,

"Baouji, plz do me a favour and tell me whats going on, plz?", the request and plead in his voice seemed to calm Baouji's anger, and Samrat noticed that.

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"Samrat, remember, Diya had recently gone to attend her friend's party in Delhi, there she met this Ranvijay Singh. She fell in love and went beyond limits with him. Later on, she discovered it was all just fun for him, so she came back with a broken heart, but managed herself due to Gunjan's support. She then decided to move on in life"

So this explained Diya's weird behaviour in those past days, she had been extermely quite and cut off. And Gunjan tried to be with her whenever she cud, n soon Diya was back to normal. Hats off to my dearest Gunjan, he saw her and thought - this is why i love you Gunjan. When he spoke it, she looked at him for a fraction of second, so short look tht Samrat thought he'd just imagined it, but he knew she'd looked, his heart just knew it.

"About today, Diya just discovered that she was pregant, with Ranvijay's child. Ratna came to know of it, and came up with the idea of Diya marrying you, coz according to her, this wud be the best way of saving family's name. As soon as Nupur heard Ratna's plan, she informed me"

"How, i mean, Gunjan is also ur family, right?"

"Well Samrat, Gunjan is actually Diya's step-sister (Armaan noticed Baouji did not say 'Gunjan is not my daughter or adopted daghter'), my younger brother had loved someone deeply and Gunjan was their daughter. Ratna had forcefully married him to her friend, Diya's mom, but later on, they both died in an accident. Gunjan's mom died in the hospital a month later, giving birth to Gunjan. Before her death, she handed off Gunjan to me, Gunjan was unaware of her real identity. But today Ratna revealed it to both Gunjan and Diya. Ratna has always hated this girl from the very beginning. Sheesh (he added spitefully)!!! Now, she wants to revenge her by marrying off Diya, and who better than you. You've a great status, ur family background is amazing, and as a guy, there's no one better than you, so she planned to break this marriage. I am sure her plan is responsible for Gunjan's such state. To be honest Samrat, both Diya and Ratna are envious of Gunjan, the always lovable child. Everyone loves Gunjan more than both of them, including me, and off course you. They both despise the fact that how come this simple girl won over your heart, and how come she gets the privilege of being loved so much by you that you can do everything for you. Diya feels she shud've got someone like you, Ratna thinks tht if her brother despised n dithched her, then why shud Gunjan get her true love. I hate to say this, but her own family hates her, i'm sorry Gunjan, i'm so sorry"

Baouji held the hands of the statue cum Gunjan and cried out,

"Baouji, dont cry, plz", Gunjan finally came out of the trance and wiped away his tears,

"Samrat, u love me, right, no, dont interrupt me, listen, plz marry Diya, i ask u to do this not for her, not for bui, not for me, but for baouji. I wont be able to bear him being insulted, plz Samrat marry her"

"I'll do it for u Gunjan, with all due respects to baouji, but i'll do this only and only for u Baouji, i'll marry Diya, but let me tell you, this will only destroy three lives, urs, mine, and Diya's. I promise to take care of her child, but not Diya, she's even lost the friendship i had for her. And remember, I'll always love you, only you", with that he pulled her in for a hug, probably his last one, and therefore tried putting all that he felt for her in tht onw hug. She too squeezed him as hard as he did, to take in all the warmth he had, which wud be her support for the rest of her life. Finally he parted (not she) and waled off from the room without looking back.

BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The world fell for Gunjan then and there.

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He was already waiting in the mandap as Nupur and Suhaani brought her down. He did not even bother looking up, the ceremony started and all the rituals took place. Samrat did not know when the marriage started and finished off, he was too busy in his own world. Every moment that he'd spent with Gunjan striked his mind every now and then, he just cud not take her out of his mind, thoughts of her floated all over. Gunjan like this, Gunjan like that, Gunjan here, Gunjan there, Gunjan with him, this was the only thing he cud think off. So busy thinking abt her, he came out of this only when his friends shook him. He realised he was in his home, it meant that he'd gone through the marriage like a puppet. But now it was all over, and it was time he had a talk with Diya.

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"Hey Diya, how are you, i bet u're fine, u've got all wht u wanted right?"

He spoke with sarcasm in his voice, as he entered in the room and found her on the bed with the ghoonghat on her face. Hel*, he'd entered the room only to get positive vibes from Gunjan's pictures that hung all over the room and all those gifts which reminded him of her. But now it was time for some action,

"You know what Diya, your child will get everything he should, name, love, care and everything. But wht abt u, how are u gonna live, i'll tell u, i'll make life worse than hell, u'll wish it were better u went to hell. And how will i do that, well, easy, i'll do nothing, simply nothing, except watch u gettin tortured by this new life of urs,welcome to hell Miss Bhushan", he added poisonously,

"I've already met hell 1 year back Mr Samrat Shergill, when i met you"

"What the he**? (he hurried off to pull over the ghoonghat) Gunjan? You, What are u doing here? How come and......"

Without waiting any longer, he took her into a rib crashing hug, and only broke after wht was eternity, but still less for the two lovers (oooops, i meant the newly weds).

"Gunjan, how, i mean when, how, and like what happened....."

She put her hand n his mouth as she saw him get restless, and out of habit, he immediately kissed it. She blushed and he smiled giving his dimpled smile. She knew he was waiting for answers.

"Samrat (the name felt like chocolates to him as she said it), as soon as u pulled me in the hug, i knew my decision was wrong (he gave her THE look), OK, i already knew it was wrong, right from the beginning, but at that moment, i realised i cud not live wth this decision and without you. So i told them what i felt.

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"Baouji, main Samrat se shaadi karoongi, i am not calling off the marriage"

While baouji's face shone up, bui came screaming at me,

"No Gunjan, are u crazy, u cant marry him, he'll marry Diya, think about her, what'll happen when everyone comes to know of her pregnancy, dont do it,do u get it, u wont marry him, for me"

"Bui, even after what baouji has said, i love u and Diya. I love you both, very much, but i love Samrat LOTS MORE than how much i love you all. If Samrat had been ok with this decision, trust me, i'd have immediately backed off. But as you've already heard, my backing out shall completely destroy him, and may whatever happen, i wont let Samrat suffer, not even a bit. I'll go to every end to make him live his life happily, EVERY END mom, he deserves it, he deserves only the best"

If Ratna was scared seeing the emotions boil up in Samrat's eyes, then she did know what she felt now. If looks cud kill, Ratna wud've been dead, for good. Gunjan's eyes spitted the fire tht cud burn everything. She then moved to Diya who had been a silent spectator after that one dialogue to Baouji.

"Diya, i still love u like i used to (Diya saw the sincerity and honesty in her eyes), but i cannot let u marry my Samrat, he's only mine. You marrying him will make life worse for him, and i wont let that happen. I wont let him break down coz of me. Diya, u know i cud've given my life to u, but now, my life is not mine, it's Samrat's, everything i have now, my heart, my soul, my body, my life, everything belongs to him, and his belong to me. Even if i want to give them you, i wont be able to. These things are here, deep in my heart (she said pointing to her heart), and they'll never part with me, even after i die. Its because of him that i'm living. Uske aane se pehle main bus saans le rahi thi, mere dil ne dhadakna aur maine zindagi jeena to Samrat ke saath seekha. So forgive me, but i have to marry Samrat, at every cost, and no one can stop me"

For once, Diya agreed with Gunjan and did not want to argue, she hugged her and Gunjan knew she had to reach out for Samrat soon. Baouji too came and hugged his daughters. Finally, Ratna muttered "I'm sorry beta" as she hugged Gunjan and cried her heart out.

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"So?"

"What so?"

"So am here with you, how do u feel"

"Gunjan, u've no idea, actually, u have a full idea of how do i feel, coz u're feeling the same way, and i know the hug was enf to tell u how badly i missed u in these few hours, i thought i'd lost u, forever. Haan, but tht reminds me, what about Diya?"

"Well, just as u stormed out, Benji came there after a few minutes, when i'd already announced of my decision, he seemed to have heard everything and asked for Diya's hand and surprisingly, it was di who accepted it", seeing a doubt forming on his face, she continued, "Dont worry, she did not do it because of her present condition. She truly respects him. Maybe she does not love him yet, but she does like him more than a friend, she came real close to him recently, and honestly, she wud've married him only, she agreed to u just coz of her grudge towards me. Anyways, i'm sure she'll soon fall in love too, i am sure. Dont look so tensed, i guarantee tht Benji did not take the wrong decision"

How did she understood him so well, obviously the way he understood her. He was ecstatic, maybe becoz Gunjan had gone against her family, for him, and was ready to take the world against her too. Or actually, he was ecstatic knowing the fact that he was married to her, his 'Gunjan Samrat Shergill', the name was so complete.

"I love you Gunjan"

"I love you too Samrat"

With that, they both lost each other into each other.

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Not every love story has a happy ending,

sometimes.................

It is a happy beginning!!!!!!!