Part 1
Dressed up in a beautiful, red, bridal lehenga with golden work all over it, giving it a royal look, she stood beside the window as tears cascaded down her soft, rosy cheeks. A newly wedded bride of some hours stood with a tear stained face, yet still managed to look beautiful.
Fate definitely plays strange games. Else, who would've thought that she would be standing here, dressed as a bride to a man whom she didn't want to get married to.
Her mind flew back to a week ago, when her parents had informed her about the alliance and she had rebelled about it.
"Gauri beta, Jhanvi has asked for your hand for her son" Pinky spoke lovingly, caressing her daughter's hair.
"What?" Gauri was flabbergasted, not able to digest this piece of news. "Jhanvi Aunty? And her son...Omkara?
Omkara was the only son of Tej and Jhanvi Singh Oberoi, Saumya being the younger one. Jhanvi and Pinky were best friends. Hence, they knew each other since childhood and met occasionally, where Omkara was the quiet and reserved one; Gauri was the wild and bubbly one. They weren't the best of friends, nor very close because of their contradicting natures, but shared a cordial relation. It was Saumya with whom she gelled up more, and they were always up to some pranks. But with Omkara, there was never such frankness. Moreover, she never had any kind of feelings for him, she had never seen him in that light, and here her parents were setting her up with him?
"Haan Beta...Unhe tum pasand ho. In fact, Jhanvi ka bass chale tou abhi tumhe apne ghar le jaye" Shakti laughed, a little nervous at her over the top reaction.
"But Papa..." Gauri trailed off, "...Omkara?"
"Haan...ussi ne rishta bheja hai tumhare liye...He likes you from a long time" Pinky smiled.
"Hain?" This was another shock for Gauri. He likes her? How was this even possible?
"Wow di... Her sister, Bhavya quipped in, "Who knew the shy Om bhaiyya liked you? She teased her older sister while Gauri shook her head, ignoring her.
"No Mom...I can't" She shook her head negatively, alarming her parents, as the smile wiped off their faces and they stood up.
"What do you mean, you can't?" Pinky asked, "They love you beta...you know them since childhood and we know our child would be secure and happy there" She spoke sweetly, trying to convince her daughter.
"No!" She shouted, "I'll be only happy with Ajay!"
"Ajay?" Shakti stood up, shocked. "You're still in contact with that guy?!" He roared.
"I love him, Papa!" Gauri spoke desperately, with tears in her eyes.
Ajay was Gauri's classmate in college, and like every love story in college, they promised each other to spend a life together and fight against all odds. Even after College was over, they still used to meet and spent time discussing their future. Like every other couple, they had fights and arguments as well but they made up after sometime. When she had told her parents about Ajay, though they were a bit hesitant, they agreed to meet him. Their meeting turned out to be a disaster, because Shakti and Pinky were irked by Ajays ' such carefree and loud behavior. This made them disagree to the alliance but that didn't make Gauri lose hope or something. She still hoped that they'll agree to their relation but they had started a new story, altogether.
"Stop it, Gauri! I told you not to meet him again! Haven't you seen him properly? That boy is not worthy of you! That boy is a walking disaster, and no manners to talk to elders!" Shakti kept listing his flaws while Pinky agreed, but this only made Gauri angrier.
"Enough Papa!" She shouted, and everything came to a standstill. Even though she was loud and bratty as times, she had never raised her voice in front of her parents ever. As a daughter, she was always the obedient one and they were shocked, and hurt, to see the rebellious streak in her, for the first time. She realized the way she spoke in anger, was wrong, but her mind was blinded by anger and didn't stop her from adding further,
"I love Ajay! If I'll marry...it'll be him and him only! No one else!" Saying so, she walked out of the main door, banging it hard.
***
"They're marrying me off, Ajay!" She cried in Ajay's arms as he consoled her. "I don't wanna marry anyone else beside you! Please do something" She sobbed.
"Sshh...it's okay, Gauri. We'll work it out" He spoke softly.
"You keep saying this every time!" She pushed him away angrily, annoyed by his repeated phrases.
"Then what do you want me to do, yaar? I'm trying na!" Ajay turned irritated as well.
How many times have I told you to talk to your parents and send them to my house?
"Gauri, understand my situation. My parents have a lot to be worried about already...I can't keep adding to their problems by such petty issues...
"Petty issues?! She shouted, enraged. "Our issue is petty to you? I'm getting married to someone else and this is PETTY for you?!
"I'm sorry, okay? Ajay apologized but Gauri was still seething. "Hey...let's not fight please?
"So what do we do? She shouted.
"Okay fine...I have a solution" Ajay spoke after a while and Gauri looked at him expectantly. "Let's run away"
"WHAT?!" Gauri was shocked, "Run away? No way, never! " She immediately denied. She'll never leave her family behind in despair. Her parents were everything to her, and she'll never think of hurting them. This reminded her of her behavior today and she immediately regretted speaking to them in such a tone. All she wanted to do now was, go home and apologize to them.
"What? Ajay was irritated now, "This is the only way, Gauri! We either run away and get married or you go back and marry someone else!
"Ajay...
"You want to marry me, or not?" Ajay asked in a final tone.
"Yes I do...but not without the consent of my parents!" She argued.
"Then go marry someone whom your parents give consent to!" Ajay shouted and Gauri flinched. Her eyes were wide; she couldn't just believe Ajay said that.
After a while, she took a deep breath, "If that's the case, then fine. I'll marry the guy of my parents' choice!"
"You're choosing them over me?" Ajay was shocked.
"The people, who are just them' to you, are MY PARENTS, Ajay! And yes, I'm choosing them over you, kyunki pyaar tou kissi se bhi mil jata hai...Maa baap nahi milte" She replied emotionally.
Saying so, she turned around and started to leave, but stopped midway and turned around to look at him one last time, "Good bye, Ajay And he stood there, mum. It was indeed, a final goodbye for them.
Reaching home, all she wanted to do was rush to her father and apologize to him. Bhavya told her he was in his room, unwell. She was shocked and guilt constantly ate her up. She knew she was responsible for her father's condition, as threw a disappointed look to her daughter. When she sat beside her father, she held his hands and sobbed.
"Papa..I'm sorry. I'm soo sorry..meine aapse itni badtameezi ki. Mein bohot buri hun..mujhe please maaf kar dein. Aap jo bolenge mein karungi..." Gauri hiccupped, as tears streamed down her cheeks. She remembered Ajay's words, about going off and marrying someone her parents choose.
If that's the case, then so be it! I'll show him I can live without him' she thought.
She gulped, took a deep breath and spoke, "Mein...Omkara se shaadi ke liye tayyar hun..." She managed to get her words out.
Pinky was surprised to hear that, even Shakti was shocked. But they were happy with her decision; they placed a hand on her head.
"Hum tumhara accha hi chaahte hain beta" Shakti spoke weakly, caressing her daughter's hair.
"Mujhe pata hai" She took hold of his hand and pressed it affectionately.
***
That led her to the position she was in today. Life had been a roller coaster for her the past few months but she managed to get through. All these months, all she kept thinking about was Ajay and their last meeting, not once did she bother to talk to Omkara or discuss anything with him regarding their marriage and she was thankful that he did not push her too much as well.
And now, she was sitting in his room, as his bride, waiting for her husband to come.
***
Index:
Part 1 - Pg. 1
Part 2 - Pg. 4
Part 3 -Pg. 9
Part 4 - Pg.13
Part 5 -Pg. 17
Part 6 - Pg. 20
Part 7 - Pg. 26
Part 8 - Pg. 29
***
Hello all! So, this is my first ever RiKara SS. Oh, and Gauri is not like in the show. Her character is a bit...what can I say? A bit...human. Yes, that's right, she's not a saint here😆
Om's side of the story in the next part! Which I'll post tomorrow, In Sha Allah :)
Tell me how you feel about the start. Also do tell me if you want PMs! Take care <3
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Jodha Akbar
