SS~Claimed love~Final Part updated Page 90 :D - Page 19

Sunday arrived as usual with its chores and share of fun. Kuvar Arjun singh was in need of a clean up after a victorious war in the slush with a neighborhood tom cat. His white coat had become muddy and he came to her as if a proud soldier comes home to his mother after a successful win at the border.

She picked him and gave him a nice wash at the pond talking to him, scolding him but her mind just wasn't in it. The feel of his lips on her back'

She concentrated hard on holding on to Arjun while he splashed the pond water with his paws. She came home and unlike her usual persona, did not feel like studying. She just needed something to keep herself from thinking about 'Him'.

She cleaned the house, swabbed the floor, and even watered the plants in front yard. Oh but still there was awful lot of time left.

What is Kabir doing now? She wondered. Most probably still on train. Thinking of Kabir reminded her of their conversation yesterday and'and oh god her dance performance was due tomorrow.

What a fool she had been! How can anyone forget such an important thing! She had practiced whole last week but still a final rehearsal was much needed. If Kabir were here, he would have ensured that she practiced well and also he would be at the front row tomorrow to cheer for her.

She lifted Arjun forcibly from where he was aiming at a butterfly. He let out a mew of protest. She carried him inside and put him in his 'bed' that was made of old rags and a wooden box. He lay there quietly like a well fed baby.

She did a vigorous practice till late night and went to sleep dead tired, yet thinking of a certain bad person.

The same scene reappeared in her dream and this time Kabir didn't arrive to disrupt. She was just about to surrender herself to 'Him' when the dream broke. 'aisa kabhi nahi hoga, kabhi nahi' she said aloud.

The next morning dawned with bright sunshine and a call from Kabir to say that he had reached Kashmir safely. "tujhe meri neend kharab karke kya mazaa aaya? Pata hai kal kitni der se soi main?" Manyata told him sleepily.

"mujhe pata hai ki tu practice bhool gayi hogi'aur tujhe sham ko yaad aaya hoga isliye aadhi raat tak lagi rahi hai na?" Kabir said with a know-it-all air.

"Kabir..tu mujhe kitne achche se jaanta hai..dost ho toh tere jaisa'chal bye..mujhe college pohonchna hai..main rakhti hoon" she disconnected.

She dressed herself in a bright blue saree for the college day function and caught a bus to college. The jostle of public transport constantly reminded her of Kabir and her joy ride to college everyday but she could do nothing about it.

The day's event went very nicely than she had expected and she was extremely happy. She danced like a pro on stage leaving all preoccupations aside.

'I could watch her all day..She dances like a dream,' thought a man from the audience who was present there, just to watch her.

She was in green room removing her heavy accessories when somebody entered. All her happy mood vanished as soon she saw 'Him' Oh not again!

"Oh mister, tum yahan andar kaise aaye? Yeh mera college hai..koi park nahi; samjhe..agar tumne phirse kuch kiya toh main chilla kar sab logon ko ikattha karoongi..phir-"

"tum kya sochti ho..duniya tumse shuru hoti hai? haan hum yahan tumhare peeche peeche aaye'and you can't do anything about it..tumhe ek din humare paas aana hi padega" Udayveer said.

"suno mister..ek ladki ki izzat karna tumne seekha hi nahi..pyar kya hota hai, shaadi kya cheez hai..tumne kabhi suna hi nahi hoga'that's it, main yahan se jaa rahi hoon" she turned to leave.

He caught her arm swiftly and pulled her back. "kya kaha tumne, shaadi? Oh come on..shaadi toh bas ek bahana hai..life ko enjoy karo" he smirked.

"tumhare liye bahana hoga..par mere liye pavitra bandhan hai..why am I explaining you this?" she struggled to free his hold. His eyes bored into hers questioningly.

He stared directly into her eyes forcing her to maintain the eye lock. His hold was getting tighter by the second and it seemed he was going to leave an indelible imprint on her.

She had said marriage was sacred for her isn't it? Marriage was just a matter of tying a necklace around the girl's neck and smearing her forehead with vermillion. At least for him.

In a matter of seconds he picked her red lipstick and smeared it on her forehead in a shocking move.

There was a necklace of beads which she had removed just minutes ago; he tied it around her neck like tying a leash around an animal, in a forced manner.

Manyata was beside herself with shock and he released the one hand which still held her arm. "ab maine tumse shaadi karli..ab tumhare paas koi bahana nahi hai" he announced proudly and went out.

What had just happened? Was she in some waking nightmare? She touched her hair parting and the crimson color touched her fingers.

Fright, alarm, embarrassment, disgust, grief, surged through her one by one. She was dirty. What face would she show to the world? The dresser mirror was showing, reflecting her shame back at her. She tossed a bottle at it. The bottle failed its target and fell spilling oil all over the floor.

Her face was red in her reflection and she had a new thought. 'Do you consider this as a true marriage Manyata?'

"No absolutely not" she yelled.

'Then why are you so agitated about it? Wash your face and go home' the reflection told. Her arm still stung.

She rubbed her face with extra care to remove the lipstick and yanked the bead necklace out of her throat. Her mind was still in disarray though she had stopped crying finally.

With great difficulty she collected herself and went home to have a good cry, in her mother's lap perhaps.

"beti, humne tumhari shaadi pakki kardi hai..bohot bade ghar ka rishta hai..Raj pariwarwale humse rishta jod rahe hain..ladka khud aaya tha tumhara haath maangne" Komal, her mother informed her when she reached home from college.

Why did all difficulties have to land themselves in her back yard at same time?

"maa..main bohot thak gayi hoon..hum baad me baat karenge" she ran to her room stifling the potential torrent that was threatening to flow through her eyes.

Precap- "tumne jo college me mere saath kiya uska koi matalab nahi..mere liye bohot achcha rishta aaya hai..aur meri shaadi raj pariwar me hogi" she informed him.

To her surprise he laughed at her like a man possessed.

so tell me lovelies..how did you find the chapter?😃

and one more thing, i picked that lipstick smearing scene from an old serial...hope no one is offended..

Thank you🤗