Part Two
Curse of Societies Custom
Everything stop the moment my phera came to halt and that person who I've never met or saw filled my mang (forehead0 - claiming me as his wife.
I stood numbly watching my mother crumple on the ground clutching onto her heart. I knew any sort of trauma or stress can be harmful for my mother's health. After Di's death Mumma hasn't been herself anymore and seeing me married brought her happiness than I am willing to sacrifices everything the way I planned it before and now everything is destroyed or nothing has been destroyed. I sprinkle water on Mumma's face trying to wake her up. After some moment Mumma began responding.
She slowly open her eyes.
-
Anuradha saw her daughter holding onto her hand. She free her hand and cupped her face.
-
I felt Mumma holding my face emotionally before taking my hand and placing it on top of my husband's hand. I can hear Mumma quietly speaking to my husband "beta I've heard many things about you through Riya and how your anger challenge Riya to prove herself. She told me that you made her into wonderful cop, but now my Riya isn't with me anymore" "Mumma please" I kept on sobbing while Mumma spoke her fear "I know how the marriage took place its unforgettable, but promise me that you'll take care of my child my Pratiksha. She's the only reason I and her father alive otherwise there isn't anything left for us to live anymore" I could feel many eyes on me while my mother took his promise before closing her eyes in exhaustion.
2hrs later...
I sighed in relief hearing the doctor's words about my father's recovery.
Few hours later...
Pratiksha silently shed her tears inside the vehicle. She heard two people trying to cheer her up by asking many questions, but I wasn't in the mood of answering them. Silently looking outside the window watching myself disappear in the memories of the place I grew up.
Two minutes later...
Pratiksha felt vehicle stopping. She wonder why they stopped and her doubts clear by her husband. She frown at the idea of eating out at road side dabba. She clearly turn down the offer and stayed seated in the vehicle wondering how things changed within a second. She close her eyes and drift into the moment her phera got stop.
Flashback
Compromising with her hope she stood up to take the phera. Slowly completing three phera and when she is about to step forward - pair of hand come between untying the knot connecting me to my groom. He started to drag him, but many voices stopped him than he roared in anger shouting at the guest. Afterwards Pratiksha could feel someone pulling her duppata up revealing her face and smeared sindoor into her mang.
End of Flashback
Pratiksha jerk out of her thoughts by loud hoking sound. She look outside the window watching her husband gulping down hot steaming chai.
Sighing away Pratiksha got down from the vehicle and strode toward her husband.
-
Arjun stood alone drinking his cutting chai remembering the events that took place today. Everything began with murder case of Naina Singh led them to her murder Vikram Mehra who is getting married to someone else after destroying innocent life. He could still hear those words echoing inside his ears...
Flashback
Guest1: Unfortunately, recently Mukherjee family lost their elder daughter.. very sad
Guest 2: I heard that Anuradha's husband and the girl's father is admitted in hospital and now poor girl marriage came has disgrace.
Guest 1: I absolutely agree Mrs. Das. I feel sorry for the bride, but I wonder what's going to happen with that poor soul.
Guest 3: Haan Tanya; I feel extremely sorry for the bride. I wonder how she is going to cope with everything. And I heard once a girl's marriage broken on the day of wedding she remain unmarried her rest of her life.
Guest 2: Poor Anuradha, how is she going cope with everything... first her elder daughter's death than her husband admitted in ICU and now her younger daughter's marriage...
Arjun couldn't hear anymore words and roared in anger "how can you stand here and gossip about misfortune of the bride's future when she isn't at fault"
Guest 1: Beta its easy for you as a guy to state anything, but us girls once our marriage is broken on the day of our wedding everything become a curse. A living curse.
Arjun: Right Auntie, its easy for people to mock others regarding any situation without knowing the facts. Its easy to show sympathy to anyone, but its hard to stay with the people who are going through the situation. I agree our society is full of many custom, but why its becoming barrier in girls' life. Is it her fault that her wedding broke or should she have been married to criminal?
Guest 2: Beta; you are right its hard to know how a family feel when their daughter's marriage broken on the spot. Its easy for you guys to get married without any hustle, but now who is going to marry this poor soul or is she going to remain unmarried throughout her life.
Arjun: Enough Auntie. People like you are responsible for many deaths of innocent girls. If you can't understand the pain than its better to keep quiet or much better leave.
Guest 3: Beta; you may shut us up, but how are you going to shut entire society? If you care about her dignity than why don't you marry her instead of giving us lecture.
Arjun got extremely anger recalling hidden memory (you'll now about it later) that haunted him before Roshini's arrival in his life. He got angry and march toward the bride. Roughly pulling her duppata up and smudge sindoor in her mang. Afterwards he shouted loudly "now onward she is my wife and nobody dares to state anything about my wife. Samjhe Ye Samjhaon Aunties" his eyes glare at them before they left with other guest.
End of Flashback
His eyes are close, but he sense a figure standing in front of him. He open his eyes and saw his wife. He look at her and she look at him with many questions.
Arjun stood up "do you want anything" he asked her. Pratiksha quietly whispering "can you please accompany me toward the washroom its sort of new for me" Arjun just nod his head and led her toward the ladies washroom.
Jhanak
Shiv Shakti
16