Part 5
“Are you crazy?” he asked, staring at the girl in front of him, sitting in the middle of the road.
Some bride she was! Hair plastered to her face, make-up in a mess. Clothes splattered with mud, she looked an absolute disaster. No wonder she was here, why would any sane man want to marry her was beyond him. He shook his head in exasperation.
“Hey, are you okay? Should I drop you somewhere?” he asked, but she paid no heed. Her sobs continued at a steady pace and she seemed to have no intention of getting up.
“Look, I am getting late. Tell me where you want to go, I’ll drop you there,” he said impatiently.
“Go away. I don’t need any help.”
Her voice was irritated and she still hadn’t the courtesy to look at him when he was politely offering her help. Cars honked at them as they maneuvered around them through the rain. They were blocking traffic, a puddle of brown water had formed around the girl sitting in front of him.
He spotted a truck in the distance heading their way and sighed. He had no choice. Bending down he lifted the sobbing girl, with her heavy jewelry, sodden lehenga, and all, and shoved her in his car. Her sobs turned into wails as she suddenly realized what was happening.
She struggled to get free, but it was too late. He strapped her in and drove away. He’d somewhere to be urgently. He was getting late for his own engagement.
*****
“Where are you taking me?” Mahek asked in panic as the stranger drove like a maniac.
“Home,” he answered cuttingly.
“Whose home? You don’t even know me!”
“To my would-be fiance's home. It’s my engagement today and I don’t want to be late because of you. You can get fresh there and we’ll discuss your problem later.” he gave her an appraising look from head to toe and wrinkled his nose. Apparently, he didn’t think much of her, that much was clear from his attitude.
She scowled and looked ahead. Her sobs had receded but her heart still ached with Arjun’s betrayal. Closing her eyes, she rested her head on the headrest. She deserved this, all of this was her fault. Her parents had warned her about Arjun but she’d never paid any heed. She was in love, in her own dream world where everything was rosy and people lived happily ever after. And look where that had landed her.
She was supposed to be engaged today. Her parents had found someone of their own choice. That was why she’d taken this extreme step. She was sure Arjun would understand, he was the only one in the world able to understand her mind. But apparently, she had failed to understand him. He had proved an utter coward, cheat, a useless piece of shit. She ground her teeth in annoyance and earned a curious look from her savior. “Why did he ditch you?” he asked, turning his eyes back to the road.
“He’s already married,” she said looking out of the window.
He didn’t comment, but she knew what he must be thinking. A stupid, irresponsible, gullible girl like her deserved this. She was responsible for her own fate.
Chewing her lips she looked out. The rain had receded and she could make out some familiar landmarks. There was the Banyan tree of her childhood and the corner shop where the kids in her colony bought sweets. There was the familiar path lined with Gulmohar trees. It seemed like she was in her own colony. The car came to a halt. She noticed she was in front of her own house.
*****
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani
