OS- Wicked Game

Wicked Game

Shivani knew it was now or never. She has to run away from the life she would enter in a couple of hour's time. She wanted everything that had happened to her to fade into oblivion, besides her Daju's happiness. She did know the hardships that not only she, but her family has to face at the hands of Abhimanyu. She knew that she had to keep up the honour of her family but she had to keep them away from the deep well they would fall if she gets married to him. She tried her level best to inform her Daju about Abhimanyu but he never believed her.

Raghu halted for a while to take in the scene around and then walked up to Shivani who was walking up and down near the gate of the mansion. Dressed in a red sari, she looked more like a blooming red rose with her hair flowing around her shoulders. She looked breath taking. His heart drummed harder when he saw her dressed as a ready-to-be bride. He shook his head thinking about his foolishness for he has no right even to look at her like that. But his hungry eyes and untamed heart never obeyed the orders of his mind.

'Baby ji, aapne hume bhulaya?' He asked walking behind her.

'Oh! Thank you Raghu!' Shivani said, holding his hands while trying to hide her nervousness. Little did she know that a single touch of her send shock waves throughout his body and soul.

Shivani has no time right now for recriminations. How could she explain everything to Raghu now? Oh! She would become crazy soon. She touched her forehead, still wishing that her Daju would understand the evilness of the double faced man who was keeping him in the dark.

'Raghu! Take me to the Mandir' her voice sounded more like an order to him.

'Ji, babby ji' he followed her order as usual and opened the door of the car for her.

They drove to the Mandir in total silence. Raghu kept on stealing glances at the nervous princess sitting next to him. He even opened his mouth several times trying to ask her what was happening, but he was held tongue-tied by her restlessness.

'Baby ji' Raghu said as Shivani remained unmoved when he opened the door for her.

He outstretched his hands to touch her shoulders, but put his hands down remembering his master's words at him.

'Baby ji' he called her again.

'Baby ji' He called louder this time and with much hesitation he touched her shoulders, bringing her back to senses.

Shocked, Shivani almost jumped out of the car and went into the Mandir, while Raghu followed her.

'Pandit ji' Shivani called out, loud enough even for the people nearby to stare at her. The old Pandit came running to and ask if he could do anything for her. Knowing how close he was to her Daju, she warned him not to inform anything to him unless she finishes her business there. Raghu stood there, amazed at this woman who was so brave to stand up and face the adversity.

'We are getting married' Shivani exclaimed taking Raghu's hands in hers and asked Pandit to arrange everything as soon as possible.

'Lekin...Baby ji?' Raghu tried to speak.

'Lekin wekin kuch nahi...You are doing what I say' Shivani cut off Raghu's words.

'Ji baby ji' Said Raghu, nodding his head obediently. He felt an unknown terror and a feeling of joy running through his nerves at the same time.

'Aaja beti' Pandit called them, and just as a servant obeys his master, Raghu followed Shivani's order and sat on the Mandap. Pandit completed all the rituals and finally declared them as a husband and a wife. Shivani thanked him and stepped out of Mandir, while still holding the tears gathered into her eyes.

'Why? Raghu why is this happening with me?' Shivani let her tears out as she sat in the car and poured out everything she had been keeping with her. Raghu sat there stock-stilled looking at his newly wedded wife who was weeping uncontrollably. He wanted to hold her in his arms and comfort her, but hands never reached her. He was just a helpless man who could do nothing to help his wife when needed.

It was two hours later that they stepped into the Mansion and a servant come running calling out' Baby ji aagaye'.

'What?' Balwant asked, as happiness took over his already worried face.

'Shivani has come' he said to Abhimanyu who was with him.

Just then Shivani appeared to the hall, with a mangal sutra and warmala around her neck and a sindoor on her forehead. Raghu followed her slowly fixing his gaze on the floor.

'See, Dada ji! I told you that Raghu has kidnapped Shivani and now he even married her' Abhimanyu added fuel to the already burning flame of anger within Balwant, who slowly walked to Raghu and slapped across his faced and said get out!'.