So if no one is dreaming.. then the harsh reality is...
"Why did you do this?" -Kalpana asked again, the shattered dreams which she had woven which such delicate affection now reflected in her despair stricken eyes- "Why did you do this Raghav!" - she grasped onto his shirt and shook him with the little strength the was coursing through her weakened body- "Why Raghav!"
Raghav stared at her with dead eyes, his expression stoic. The only sound between them was the steady breathing which left him. She could not tell if her grief ridden state affected him for his eyes beheld her with such cold indifference that she felt as though she was looking at a stranger - "It had to be done..." -came his quiet reply.
The resounding slap echoed around them as Kalpana's hand landed harshly on his cheek, burning the skin with the ferocity of its delivery. For the first time since he had arrived that evening his expression changed, momentary shock flashing across his eyes at her action.
"Kalpana!" - Vitthal approached them, having left momentarily to accompany Pakhi and Kamla. From his understanding it seemed that the girl was oblivious to the engagement between Raghav and Kalpi.
Kalpana staggered back at her father's words, feeling the reality of the situation crashing down upon her. The love of her life had married her best friend?
Instinctively Raghav stepped forward to hold her safely but Vitthal cut across him, his thunderous eyes warning the man to stop. He placed his hand on Kalpi's shoulder's wishing so much that he could take away her sorrow. - "Kalpi.." -he said concerned but Kalpana stared ahead, dazed, a silent anger raging in her blood shot eyes. Vitthal looked away from her and turned to face Raghav. Before the man could say anything, he grasped onto the front of his clothes and led him away from Kalpana and the eyes of the guests before they can see him.
As they rounded the corner, Vitthal pinned Raghav against the wall, his hand grasping the shirt in a death grip- "How dare you, Singhania..." - he whispered threateningly- "How dare you destroy my daughter's life!"
Raghav looked at the man, no answer coming to his lips.
"Kalpana..." - Sammy looked away from where he saw Vitthal leading Raghav away and approached Kalpana quietly, feeling his own anger threatening to explode at his friend's actions- "Kalpana!" - he said more sternly as he touched her arm but she seemed too overcome with shock to notice him.
"What's going on here?" - Manda asked with a sly grin as she and a few other women approached the area where Sammy and Kalpana stood. - "It looks like Kamla's son in law has decided to marry someone within his own class after all..." - she said with a sneer, causing Sammy to look at her with deadly eyes.
"Yes Kamla.." - another woman said just as Kamla and Pakhi joined them, the girl looking confused at the state of Kalpana- "It goes to show, it would have been best to marry Kalpana within her own class. These business men... they are from different worlds. You should have known better than to trust your daughter with him."
A single tear descended Kalpana's cheek, the backlash of the woman's words like a whip against Kalpana's heart.
"What is she talking about Kamla Maa?" - Pakhi asked, looking at Kamla in pure confusion.
"Now who will marry your daughter Kamla?" -the woman said, shaking her head- "Who will want Raghav's Singhania's rejected fiancee?" - she said, glancing at Kalpana disappointedly.
"What?!" - Pakhi shouted but one look at Kamla's expression told her that the woman was not spewing false words.
"Kalpana should have known better... now she has destroyed her life.." -the woman continued.
Sammy felt his hands balling into fists by his side. With a clenched jaw he grabbed hold of Kalpana's hand, pure determination burning in his eyes. At his touch Kalpana looked at him, confused and surprised but he did not answer her unspoken questions. With her hand held firmly in his, he led her to the punditji and made her sit, before taking his place beside her.
"Sammy baba.." - Kamla said, her eyes widening in shock, mirroring those of the guests standing around them.
Kalpana looked at him in paralyzed shock but he stared ahead, not meeting her gaze, his brows furrowed with conviction- "Begin.." -he said, his voice low, a shimmering anger caressing his tone.
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"Leave here. Don't come back.." - a voice spoke up from behind Vittal and Raghav saw Pakhya standing there, his hands trembling by his side- "If you so much as look at my sister..." he trailed off, the threat lingering coldly between them.
Vitthal released him and looked away, feeling his own body shaking with anger- "Leave.." -he said, repeating his son's words- "You have done enough damage already..."
Avoiding their gaze, Raghav walked away from them, making his way to where he had left Kalpana. However when he looked to the spot, he found it empty, only to see that the crowd had gathered around the marriage venue, where two person stood, facing each other.
As he comprehended the image of what he was seeing, his felt his heart constrict in possessive anger, his eyes burning murderously at the man he considered a friend. With ragged breaths he saw Sammy's hand raised above Kalpana's head, his finger leaving a trail of sindoor on her forehead, the brilliant colour stabbing his heart with the realty that Sammy had now made Kalpana, HIS KALPANA , his wife.
"SAMMY!!!" -he shouted venemously and Sammy looked away from Kalpana, his hand falling to his side. Sammy stared at his friend, unshaken by the murderous look in his eyes, his own eyes reflecting pure resolution and acceptance for the step he had taken, no hint of regret in his expression.
Without hesitation, Raghav stormed forward and moved between Sammy and Kalpana before grasping onto the front of Sammy's clothes, his eyes burning red at his friend's betrayal- "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!"- came his thunderous words. Sammy glanced down at Raghav's hands on his clothes before looking at him.
"Release me.." -he said simply but Raghav's grip only tightened on his shirt. Sammy's jaw clenched as he grasped Raghav's hand and swiftly removed it from his shirt causing the man stagger to the side.
"YOU SON OF A---" Raghav moved forward again, his hand ready to deliver the blow to Sammy's face but he stopped, feeling his heart skip a beat when Kalpana moved to stand in front of Sammy, her own eyes burning with an energy of conviction as she divided Raghav from his target.
Raghav stared at her, pure hurt and shock intermingled in his despaired eyes as he saw the resolution in her very own, the adoration and affection which was once there for him now replaced wit distaste and hatred. The words which then left her lips seemed to echo like daggers in his ears, killing him a thousand times over.
"Don't you dare hurt my husband.."