Part 22:
Three Weeks Later:
Bani shook her head in disagreement as the tailor showed her many designer wedding lehengas. They were beautiful dresses, but just not what she's looking for. Bani wanted one that suited her perfectly, and so far she hasn't seen one that did. Her sisters brought many to her, showing bani how beautiful they were, but again bani shook her head. Her sisters sighed.
Bani: I'm sorry you guys, but it's just not me.
Bani sat down miserably onto a stool, tired of searching and not finding a wedding lehenga. Rano also gave up hope and sat down next to her sister. Pia walks away, not wanting to give up hope, continuing to look. Bani fiddles with her engagement ring, moving it around her finger. "Only one more week till the wedding, and I still haven't found my dress," she thinks sadly. Rano hugs her upset sister.
Rano: Don't worry didi, we'll find one.
Bani smiles weakly to Rano. She sees Pia walking back towards them, holding a dress in her hands.
Pia: Di! I think I found the one!
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Vijay continues to stare at the well decorated wedding card in his hands and traces the gold cursive writing with his finger. Jai Walia Weds Bani Dixit, he traced over and over again, sadly. Vijay wipes a tear away and sets the car aside on his working table. He covers his face with his fingers, resting his face in his hands. "Bani….why?," is all that Vijay thought to himself.
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Muskaan, cheerfully glides down the steps of the temple, thinking of Vijay. Today, Muskaan had asked for Vijay's happiness, he seemed so depressed these days, she wanted to see him smile again. She badly wanted to know the reason for his depression, but decided against it, not wanting to bother him. As Muskaan walks down the side of the street, walking back home, she stopped near by a flower cart, admiring the different kinds of beautiful flowers. Instantly, she thinks of Vijay and picks out his favorite flowers. Muskaan quickly pays the man and gladly continues to walk away from the cart as she sniffs the flowers, smiling to herself. Minutes after, a white van comes to halt near an oblivious Muskaan, who continues to admire the flowers in her hands. The car door opens and two strong looking men charge towards her.
Muskaan feels two firms grips on her arms and sees two men on each side of her. She opens her mouth to question them, but they drag her towards the van, while she screams and struggles to get away. One man drains away her screams by wrapping a handkerchief around her mouth. Muskaan looks around her with her teary eyes, looking for help, but there was no one around. The two men throw her into the van and close the door behind them, as they drive off down the street.
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All three sisters hurriedly enter the house, excited about bani's wedding lehenga. They throw their shopping bags on their beds and hand over the dress to bani to wear. Happily, bani takes it and walks into the bathroom. Moments later, bani steps back out, wearing an approval smile, while she models for her stunned sisters. Bani looks absolutely drop dead gorgeous in her lehenga. The lehenga is a nice deep shade of pink net Lehenga Choli with gold embroidery and the duputta nicely draped over her right shoulder. Pia whistles while bani blushes.
Rano: Wow, didi! Jai jeeju won't be able to take his eyes off of you!
Bani giggles in happiness as she walks back into the bathroom to change.
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Vijay enters into his dark home, now looking lonely. "Muskaan?…," he says loudly. He waits for a response by the cheery girl, but gets none. "Muskaan?," he repeats. There is only silence. Vijay switches on the light, seeing no one in sight. He calls out muskaan's name yet again, and receiving silence back. Vijay makes his way around his house, searching for her, but sees that the house is empty. He begins to feel terrified. "Muskaan, ….where are you?…," he asks hopefully for one last time, his voice shaky.
part 23 pg. 37