SS~Claimed love~Final Part updated Page 90 :D - Page 24

All their neighbors left their own business mid way and waited for the farce that was going to take place in next few minutes.

Manyata disengaged her hand and rushed forward towards her mother who was standing still like a rock.

"maa yeh jhoot bol raha hai'humare beech-" her throat could manage only so much.

The next moment a resounding slap rocked her left cheek, then right one. Her mother caressed her brow once then pushed her back. It seemed all her emotions were coming out at same time. Her eyes were pools of tears and she looked unsure of what to do next.

The gathered group of villagers was talking in whispers among themselves.

"inki ladki ne toh poore gaav ki naak katvadi..ab kya hoga?" one woman said to the next one.

"ab woh ladka usse shaadi karta hai toh theek'warna raam raam" one elderly woman appealed to god looking at sky.

Uday heard all that and his only thought was how old fashioned and backward this village and its occupants were. This was 2013 for god sake and they still prescribed to 60's era! Well good for him.

His plan was working brilliantly. These villagers wouldn't rest in peace until he tied an ownership tag- mangal sutra to be precise- on her neck. They were not even ready to hear the truth.

"hum aap se binati karte hain..meri beti se shaadi kar leejiye..warna iska jeevan barbaad ho jaayega" Her father stood with folded hands in front of Uday.

"papa..yeh mat keejiye..mat keejiye" Manyata cried out but he disregarded her.

**********************

In the meanwhile in Shimla, the couple whom Kabir had been playing guide to, had both fallen ill. The hubby had fever and wife had bad cold. But that didn't deter them from celebrating pure love in any manner.

Kabir could often see the woman feeding her husband with soup or juice. One day as Kabir went to their place in morning, the hubby was tying a band to his wife's hand.

"arre aao Kabir'by the way Happy friendship day.." he offered Kabir a hand.

"aaj friendship day hai?" Kabir thought of the girl with whom he spent 20 hours out of 24 almost every day.

"aaj aisa din hai jab tum apne best friend ko batate ho ki woh tumhare liye kya hai.." The woman beamed at her husband.

Kabir gaped at them open mouthed. "par tum log toh-?"

"haan hum pati patni hain..par usse pehle hum 10 saal tak dost the ek dusre ke..jahan pyar hota hai wahan dosti hoti hai..i married my best friend" he said.

Kabir's mind was roaming in unknown lands. A land where a doe eyed beauty danced in rain with her dupatta. As she ran with it flying behind her like a cape, it touched his face and he caught hold of it. She shied away from him covering her face in her flowing hair. He moved her hair behind her ears and she blushed at him. Her smile was heart stopping and he kissed her forehead.

"lagta hai Kabir ko kisi dost ki badi yaad aarahi hai..dekho kaise soch me dooba hai" one of them said and Kabir was only paying half attention.

His mind was still replaying the picture it had conjured up a moment ago. She was his best friend and he was hers. He wondered why he had taken so long to understand a simple fact that he...

The thought was bringing goose bumps to him and how would he feel if she was here now in front of him? He would be totally gagged perhaps. She is Manyata, not any stranger..he told himself but that was what made it even more special.

He mumbled some lame excuse and left them alone to themselves. While on way home, he made plans to go back early to surprise her and Arjun.

Arjun! He could use Arjun to convey his love for her. no wait he'll be a gentleman and ask her parents for her hand in marriage. But one more thought arose which disturbed him. What if Manyata said no? What if their friendship got affected by this sudden development?

After grappling for a substantial amount with his own mind he decided he would propose to Manyata first at a suitable time. Then when (if) she said 'yes' he will immediately talk to her parents. He imagined himself in the bride grooms outfit and her as his bride. Arjun would be a VIP at their wedding and would serve as a best man to the groom. Theirs would be a love story anybody would be proud of.

**********************

In the next three days the wedding preparations took place and the whole village was decorated for her wedding. The villagers were really excited that a prince was marrying a commoner, one among them. Young girls envied her and older woman credited her good fortune to some good deed done in a previous birth.

DS was really happy seeing her grandsons choice and glad that this time his choice was sensible. The kind of a granddaughter in law she had desired.

A huge mandap was erected in the heart of the village for their wedding and it was a kind of ceremony that was unseen in the village before. The groom arrived on the horse and her parents bid him a worthy welcome. She watched in horror as each ritual; each ceremony made her his legally wedded 'wife'. Her brain was frozen and she functioned on auto pilot since three days.

He completed the last ritual and it was over. The ceremony to rob her of her self esteem, her confidence, her everything. She was just a body to him, a challenge to be won at the cost of her soul. From today onwards she won't laugh or smile. She would be just as he wanted a human being only in name.

Her mom was holding 'Kuvar Arjun singh' in her hands and Manyata's heart cried to take him in her arms. She extended her hand and Komal handed him over to her. She had specially asked Uday that if didn't allow her to take Arjun with her, she will not marry him at the cost of death. He had smirked in his usual style and given his permission.

Her mother hugged her and cried at the 'bidaai' ceremony but Manyata's eyes were dry. There was not even a drop of tear. It was like she was a lifeless robot.

Precap: "mujhe haath mat lagao warna main chillaoongi" she raised a finger at him.

"jaaneman, shaadi ki raat toh har dulhan chillati hai..and yeh room sound proof hai" somebody wipe off that smirk off his face.

(see the note in next page😳)