|| Tumse meri lagan lagi ||SS Pt 17 updated pg 66 - Page 38

Anindita who had been lying quietly on the floor after the water burst, growled like a cat on seeing her brother. "Bhai, in dono ko chodna mat, jaane mat do inko!"

"Tumne meri behen ke saath dhokha kiya? Is ki sazaa toh tumhe bhugatni padegi Uday" Agastya said. Uday was dumbfounded. "You mean yeh Anindita, tumhari behen hai Agastya?" Uday said in a surprised tone. So it was Agastya who had helped her in carrying out her monstrous plans'

Manyata though having been engaged to Agastya, had never met Anindita before, for the reason that Agastya's parents considered Anindita a disgrace on their family name. They didn't want the world to know that their daughter was a nut case.

Agastya went ahead and suddenly kicked open the kitchen door'Uday rushed to Mona's aid just in time and hoisted her up with both the hands so the noose wouldn't tighten. While doing so he had to leave Manyata's hand because both his hands were full.

Agastya chanced upon the opportunity and grabbed Manyata. He doubled up in laughter. Manyata wasn't out of the trauma yet so she just stared lifelessly. Agastya held a gun to Manyata's head. Uday had never felt so helpless in life. He could just grit his teeth and bear. He prayed for a miracle to save them.

Indian police who never usually arrive on time, decided to change their routine this time. Just when Agastya was about to pull the trigger 5-6 policemen rushed in along with Giriraj and Daima who was very distraught after regaining consciousness. One of the policemen assisted Uday in bringing Mona down and the others got busy in arresting Agastya, a policeman snatched Agastya's gun. The other put shackles to one of his hands. A policewoman picked up Anindita. She was still struggling to get free.

Someone gave a glass of water to Mona and she was sent inside to rest in one of the rooms. Daima took Manyata aside who had gone bone pale with fear.

Uday still couldn't believe it was all over'or was it?

When no one was looking, Agastya picked the revolver of the police constable who had arrested him. He pointed the gun to his own forehead and said "jaane do mujhe, agar kisi ne kuch kiya toh main apne aap ko goli mar loonga" the police had no choice but to let him go. They say that a vile fox shouldn't be trusted. Agastya was of the same kind. He retreated a few steps and started firing blindly in the air. Suddenly the air was rent with a scream. One of the bullets had hit Anindita in head and she bled to death in front of her brother. Agastya wasn't done yet and continued his frenzy. Then everything happened so fast no one could stop what happened next. Mona appeared out of no where and fell on the floor in a heap bleeding badly. Agastya tried firing again and it seemed bullets were over. He threw the gun to the floor in anger and police caught him once again. A constable slapped him across the face and said "chal bahar, doli khadi hai tujhe sasural le jaane ke liye, jaldi chal"

Mona had been shot in her chest. She had receieved the bullet meant for Giriraj. Everything was finally over now and the whole place looked like world war three had just taken place there. Soon the paramedics arrived and carried Mona to the hospital. The police carried Anindita's body to the morgue and others returned to the main house. In the middle of all the mayhem uday had noticed a particular thing; Agastya cared about his sister only as much as he would care for a stray dog lying on the road. Her bleeding to death infront of him so violently hadn't affected him in the least bit. he didn't even wince when she died. Perhaps she was only a play thing to him. Uday felt pity on Anindita for a moment as a human being.

At the house, doctors administered a sedative to Manyata so that she could sleep peacefully. Uday left her in Daima's care and left with Giriraj to the hospital. Despite doctor's endless efforts Mona couldn't be saved.

But before dying she made a confession which was the best deed she had ever done in her life. She held Giriraj's hands in her feeble ones and said in a cracked voice "Mujhe maaf kardo jeeju, maine aap ko kabhi jeeju nahi kaha aaj se pehle, maine apni behen ka ghar ujad diya apne pagal pane se; aur zindagi bhar aap ki beti ko apse dur rakha, usne aap ke liye kitni chitthiyan likhi, maine woh aap tak pohonchne se pehle phaad di, aur aap ke bheje hue tohfe maine anath bachchon me baant diye'kyon ki main chahti thi ki aap ki beti bhi meri tarah pyar se vanchith rahe'"

She paused for breath and continued "main ek aur galati karne jaa rahi thi Manyata ki shaadi Agastya jaise janvar se karva kar, par Uday ne waqt par sambhal liya, maine bohot gunah kiye hai, ummeed hai aap log mujhe-" she breathed her last.

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One month later

It was more than a month since the tragedy and a cold war was going on in the house. Manveer were not on talking terms. The subject of the quarrel was whether to have a traditional Hindu wedding or a church wedding. Uday had once told Manyata that he loved the chapel scene in 'DDLJ' movie and if he ever got married, it would be in a similar place. That time Manyata had mentioned that she would love to have a typical Hindu wedding replete with all the age old rituals. But now Uday wanted to fulfill Manyata's wish and Manyata Uday's.

They were seated for the break fast in morning and Manyata deliberately sat besides her father so that she could shoot daggers at Uday with her eyes. He was seated exactly opposite of her. She extended her legs long to play footsie under the table and suddenly there was sound 'meow, meow,' Manyata was very embarrassed at this. They all looked at her and she went red in the face. Instead of Uday's leg she had accidently stepped on the cat that was asleep under the table! Uday suddenly guffawed and Manyata felt she could strangle him then and there. She decided she would take her revenge when they were alone. Not when there were elders present. Giriraj smiled a knowing smile.

Daima came in announcing that she had found a solution to their problem.

"Tum dono ladai khatam karo aur gale milo, maine tumhari samasya ka hal dhoond liya" she told them.

"woh kya Daima?" Manyata said.

"aasan hai, tum dono doh doh shaadiyan karoge, ek hi insaan se'ek hindu wedding, dusri Christian" Daima said with a twinkle in her eyes.

"baakiyon ka pata nahi, mujhe manzoor hai, Daima you're the best" Manyata said giving her a hug and shooting a sideways look towards her prince.

"Mujhe bhi manzoor hai, im ready'is baar murga ek baar nahi doh doh baar halal hoga" Uday said with feigned sadness.

Now one more problem arose. Which one would take place first? As they fought over it like Tom and Jerry, Daima shook her head. They would never change. They still fought like 5 year olds.

After much debate and consultation with the pandit, it was decided to hold two weddings on same day. Christian wedding in the morning and Hindu wedding in the evening.

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tell me how was it?😳 mujhe joote nahi maarna, sorry i couldn't include the previous chapter's pre-cap here😭 it'll be shown in next chappy 😃

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