FF: Mehboba Updated page 13 - Page 3

Krishna hurried back inside the celebration, looking for Pratigya. One his way, Tunna and Chandu accosted him. "Arree Bhaiya, aap kaha gaye the? Itna maza ayya- sub log dulhen ko dundne ki kosish kar rahe the." Tunna narrated. Chandu smiled and pointed out the girl to Krishna- "Woh dekiye, bahut sunder hain na? Too bad uske shaddi ho rahi he, warne aap use pa sakthe"

Krishna gaped at the bride, dumbfounded- it was Pratigya. He shook his head in anger- No! she could not be anyone elses. No one had ever made him feel like this- she was the only one. Then to find out that she would become someone else's, lost to him forever? Never! Krishna would cut Nitin into pieces, burn them and scatter them to the four corners of the globe before that would happen. The gods had given him this gift, and like hell this weak looking boy would have her. He would not allow Nitin to sully Pratigya with his dirty hands! He took deep breathes, trying to calm himself down before he did something foolish. "Eh Tunna, Chandu," he commanded "Bauji kahan hain?"

"Waha." Tunna pointed out Sajjin Singh, standing with Jagmohan at the side, then went back to admiring Pratigya friend, Rolli. "Mast item hain nain? Bhaiya…" He turned around, but Krishna had already left the meet his father. "Eh, Bhaiya ko itni jaldi kyun hai?" He asked Chandu. Chandu shrugged, bewildered.

Krishna approached his father; "Eh Bauji! Hame apse kuch baat karne he"
"Arre dekh nahi raha ha? Hum es behooda ke saat baat kar rahe hain. Behooda" Sajjin Singh turned back to Jagmohan. "Kya sale? Aur time chahiye? Tumhare baap nahi hain ki waqt de dein ge. Hume hamara paisa chahiye!"

"Thakurji," Jagmohan pleaded, "Humare pass abhi paise nahi hain…humari bte ki shaadi ho rahe he, bahut expensive hai, magar hume zara sa time dejie, tab tak kuch bhi maang dijiye"

"Hume dulhan chahiye" Krishna interrupted the conversation, a sinister gleam in his eyes.

"Ji, kya?!" Jagmohan exclaimed. Sajjin Singh also looked at this son in surprise.

"Aapne hi kaha na, ki app kuch bhi denge. Maujhe dulen ek raat ka liye chahiye." Krishna repeated, glaring at Jagmohan."
"Woh humari hone wali beti hai
Jagmohan stuttered.

"Hone wali hai, abhe hui nahi na? Aagar aap ye kerege, toh bahut time mile ga? Hain na Babuji?" Krishna turned to his father. Sajjin Singh looked at his son, looked at Pratigya and then looked at Jagmohan. "Joh mera beta keh raha he, karo, nahi to acha nahi hoyega."

Now Krishna had no intention of keeping Pratigya just for the night. He planned to "talk" with her, to know her and then take her away to his house, come morning. The ensuring scandal would make sure she could never marry anyone but him. Her family would be at his mercy and he would have his goddess, by hook or crook. He felt a smile curl his lip as Jagmohan nodded, defeated.

XXXXX

"Aapko kuch chahiye? Pratigya asked her soon to be father in law politely. He had pulled her aside, and seemed very nervous.

"Haan, beta. Humara eek bahut accha dost hai aur who apse baat karna chata hai…hume socha, tum bahu ban ne wali ho, to humari business ke bare main janna bauhut important hai."
"Magar, sagai…"

"Arre beta, sagai ka bad. Hume bas haa keh do" Jagmohan pleaded.

Pratigya could not say no to her father in law. "Je, theek hai."

XXXXX

Krishna grit his teeth and clenched his fists as Pratigya and Nitin exchanged rings.

"Kuch nahi hota" He thought. "Sagai hue he, magar shaadi kabhi nahi hoge"

Tunna and Chandu looked at him worried, whereas Sajjin Singh and Shakti looked speculative.

XXXX

"Beta, chale?" Jagmohan told Pratigya. She nodded, distracted. The entire time, she had been thinking of the man who had held her in his arms- Krishna. There was something about him that fascinated her, and repulsed her at the same time. She had never seen a man so handsome, yet so fearsome. A part of her wanted to run away, but another one wanted to stay with him forever. "What are you thinking?!" She thought to herself. "You are a soon to be married woman, and you are thinking of another man. Shame on you! Focus on Nitin, and Nitin only" But she couldn't.

She followed Jagmohan to an isolated room, so lost in her thoughts she did not see where they were going until he led her in.

"Uncle yeh toh…" She turned to him as he backed out of the room.

"Pratigya, hume maaf kar do, magar ye tumhe apne future khandhan ke liye karna hoga. Please" so saying he went out and closed the door behind him.

"Kya karna hoga…" Pratigya's voice trailed away as a soft laugh echoed throughout the room. She turned and Krishna stepped out of the darkness so she could see him.

"Aap?" Her voice said softly "Aap yahe kya kar rahe hain? Yeh kya nautanki hain?"

"Yeh koye nautanki nahi hain Pratigyaji. Aur aapko kay karna hain?" He smiled at her, and she stepped back frightened, yet intrigued at the same time, "Aapko hamare saat yeh raat betani hain."