OS - Amarprem - Chapter 38 part 2 - Page 2

Media thronged the entrance of the Royal ...All who's who of UP were present inside the vast hall ... Shailendra constantly held his false smile while Durjjan kept his eyes at the entrance ... he can't wait to watch Sajjan's face ...he was positive that Sajjan won't approve of this relationship even if Gayatri convinced him or if his son was being stubborn ... he caught Shailendra's eye n leered ... Shailendra too couldn't wait for Sajjan to arrive , while he nodded his head to almost everybody present there... on one hand he was terrified with fear n on the other hand he couldn't suppress that feeling of smugness that they r planning something against Sajjan with inside help ... the fear of getting caught is overruled by his want to secure the files n also the prospect of standing shoulder to shoulder to Thakur Sajjan Singh , as his samdhi , who had humiliated him ...just for being a politician n playing a political game !!!!... Chandu distanced himself from shailendra n durjjan n stood near the entrance , his eyes vacant... Sajjan's lamborgini entered the compound n Chandu stood straight , shaking off his mind of all the sorrow ... Sajjan n krishna got out , followed by Pratap n Gayatri from their BMW... Gayatri carried the traditional jewellery which will be given to Pratigya to be worn on the day of marriage ... the media clicked away , their enthusiasm squashed by the guards n police , as Sajjan family climbed the stairs , servants carrying trays of presents n sweets n all other paraphernalia for engagement rituals ...

Shailendra n Bakshi stood at the entrance waiting to greet them in... Sajjan looked at Shailendra in his eye n all Shailendra could do was try hard not to flinch as he smiled stupidly saying 'aayiye ...come in Thakur Sahab... Chote Thakur ...I mean ... damaad ji ' he bowed low , half mockingly ... he knew that he is in no danger with the whole world present there , but still could not suppress the shudder that went through his spine when Krishna smiled at him , folding his hands in mocking reverence as he said pleasantly 'namaste Sasurji ...' , his eyes cold as death... he nearly lost all his bearings but Gayatri stepped forward n indicated Sajjan to accept the shagun from Shailendra's trembling hands ... Sajjan looked angry , but he forced a smile n turned to Pratap 'Pratap bhai , u r elder ...pls receive it on my behalf ...' Pratap looked at chandu n nodded ... Krishna's smile widened as he saw shailendra flustered n he allowed Pratap to accept the Shagun , stepping sideways ... it is not the father he want to meet ...its the daughter!!!!... his eyes scanned the hall as they entered ... she was no where to be seen ... !

as soon as they reached the center of the hall , Shailendra climbed up the podium n cleared his throat 'Good evening ladies n gentlemen... I am very happy that u have honored me with ur presence at the engagement function of my one n only daughter, Pratigya with the Mr. Krishna singh thakur , the one n only son of Sri. Thakur Sajjan Singh... I must say I am privileged to get the opportunity to be related to the Royal Family as a Samdhi ...' he smiled stupidly at Sajjan, puffing up his chest a bit ... Sajjan gritted his teeth in anger n Gayatri held his hand willing him to calm down ... krishna's eyes continued to scan the hall ... he caught Sakthi's eyes n he smirked lecherously , just to unnerve him ... n Sakthi swore , almost upsetting a waiter who passed by him... Chandu looked at krihna , his eyes painful... how could Krishna smile like this? No! He is not actually smiling ... he is biding his time ... waiting to rip into the prey once the drama is over !! Durjjan glanced at Sajjan , n was happy to see him angry ... Shailendra continued 'Now that things r in order , why waste time ... Bakshi , tell her aunty to bring the bride ...' he beamed at the guests ...

'Aunty? Where ur wife , ? one of the senior politicians asked , who came as a representative of chief minister ... 'ah well' sighed Shailendra dramatically ...'u see, this arrangement was done very quickly n she ... she is not well...the stress u know...so I asked her to take rest...she will have to take care of herself , otherwise she will the marriage too... so...ha ! here we r ' he shouted pleasantly ... 'My daughter ...Pratigya '... Krishna turned sharply to see Pratigya gliding along through one of the side rooms to the hall... n his breath hitched ... he couldn't believe his eyes n in himself ...this is not him!!!! What's happening to him? His breath hitched at the sight of a mere girl!!!... but what a vision ! he found his eyes widening n throat burning n mouth drying at first n then watering at the beauty before him...every feeling of revenge n hatred vanished from his heart n mind n all that remained was ..her...!... ... Pratigya , her eyes downcast , her ample hair bellowing behind her , the heavy lahanga increasing her beauty ten fold , led by her aunty towards the centre , walked in measured steps ... Krishna's eyes roved over her form , lingering over her feminine features , until they came to rest on her downcast eyes... he found himself wishing for her to open them n meet his , to see himself reflected in them... so beautiful... so deep... Krishna closed his eyes in anger n frustration as his mind pulled him out of her ... why was he feeling like this about that bitch?! When he opened them again , his sense of wonder was replaced by anger n hatred ...

Pratigya didn't dare raise her eyes... she wasn't sure if she could control herself if she met the leering faces of the men ... especially him!!!...n her father!!!... they must be happy , celebrating her helplessness ...! no! She won't give them any chance to make her feel even more humiliated ... to make that man who was her father hurt her mother anymore ! if her life n honor is the price for her mother's safety , so be it...! what r u thinking Pratigya ? suicide is the better option than having that devil defile u ! she looked up, startled out of her thoughts as she heard Gayatri Devi announcing the ring exchange ... she found herself being led to the centre of the hall n she could increasingly feel his eyes on her ... how? She couldn't tell... n she could feel an increasing urge to look up n meet his eyes , just for once ...why? to show him that she is not afraid of him, but repulsed by him? ... or to see her reflected in his eyes when he looks at her with that...that mysterious gaze... ? to feel that bizarre feeling that only his eyes remain , n nothing else , to relish that feeling of being held captive , being craved ...the kind of feeling u never wanted to feel ever but was liking it when its in his eyes...for u...No!!! why exactly u want to meet his eyes, Pratigya?

Krishna watched as Pratigya was brought near him n he found he immediately disliked the artificial pink colouring on her cheeks ... he could make her cheeks pink just by one glance n he had seen the real blush on her flesh ...its nothing like this atrocity ... he found that his fingers itched to wipe that horrendous thing off her cheeks n then watch her cheeks turning natural pink under his touch ... ! No! What r u thinking Krishna ? u r going to beat the crap out of her n then watch her skin burning ... she has done such cheap things to secure this marriage n u r contemplating to what?... caress her? This girl is doing things to u! teach her a lesson she won't forget rather than falling under her trap of beauty n...innocence? ...Stop ! u r going out of ur mind Krishna ! don't let this witch charm u? since when did Krishna singh Thakur was wary of getting charmed by things? He shook his head , clearing his mind of all things her ... he looked at her again willing his mind to be in his control ... his face betrayed nothing but his mind was surely coming back to him as he forced himself to remember that sari ... he looked mockingly up n down at Pratigya as they faced each other , her eyes still down cast , looking at his feet , her hands twisting her lahanga along her sides , fighting back her disgust n anger ...

Sajjan looked at Pratigya, his eyes calculating as Pratap n Chandu looked at her in confusion ... she looked every bit innocent as she was when she was at their haveli ... Gayatri n Shailendra stepped forward both offering the rings with a smile to Krishna n Pratigya ... krishna took the ring from the box as her aunty muttered in her ear to extend her left hand 'do it girl! Or ur mother won't be getting any food for tonight ! now!'... Pratigya gulped down her fear n anger n extended her hand , trying not to turn her face away in disgust ... or cry... Krishna who was looking at the ring , looked up at her face , her eyes still downcast ... he then looked at her hand , his eyes taking in her nice smooth fingers , remembering caressing them back at his home ... he gritted his teeth n roughly grasped her hand n heard her gasp ... he looked up immediately to find her eyes gazing up at him to meet his eyes... he smiled crookedly as he put on the ring on her finger tightening his grip on her palm ... applause filled the room, startling them from their gaze ...Pratigya looked away swallowing the anger she felt ... Gayatri cleared her throat to get Krishna's attention n he let go of her hand with not before rubbing his thumb over her palm ... Pratigya felt the all too familiar shiver shoot down her spine n she fought with herself not to show what his touch did to her as she reached over to take the other ring when Shailendra said all too sweetly 'well, Pratigya?'...

Chandu watched in growing concern as he saw Pratigya twisting the pallu of her dupatta over her lahanga in one hand as she slipped in the ring on Krishna's finger , without really touching him... Krishna looked at the ring , his concentration arrested over the ring n her smooth fingers to notice any other thing... Chandu looked up at Pratigya as applause broke out again n saw her closing her eyes for a sec n then opening them , a flash of anger n pain passing through them... Chandu gasped ...he had seen that reaction ... 2 times exactly ... first time when she turned to hit that dirty mouthed gang leader n the sec time ...sec time when he was taking her home after that fateful morning ... what did such a reaction mean here? She was marrying Krishna for revenge n for money n power , wasn't she? ... anger ... ofcourse revenge will warranty such a reaction... but pain!!! Chandu wondered as most of the guests began to congratulate the couple ... he kept his eyes on Pratigya ... her aunt was directly behind her n muttering something in her ear n Chandu saw Pratigya smiling forcefully n immediately at guests ... No! Was she being forced into the marriage?... Chandu's mind reeled in questions...

Gayatri smiled widely n announced to the hall 'Congratulations to our new couple ... now as per our family tradition Krishna will be presenting her with a sari , which she will need to wear during the morning of the wedding on her visit to our family temple ... we will announce the date of marriage shortly ... ' Krishna looked at Pratigya , smirking ... for conflicting reasons of desire n hatred , he found himself wishing the date is nearer ... he took the sari from a thaal held by gayatri n presented to Pratigya , who accepted it , suddenly remembering the other sari she wore that night n the morning ...n that lady ...! where did she keep that sari? she will need to check n find it...oh ! Pratigya clutched at the sari suddenly feeling better ... she was going to hell...ofcourse ... but there was that woman there ...n chandu n that old man , she looked over at Chandu n Pratap , her eyes shimmering in hope ... may be she could find some help there ...

Shailendra was feeling really pleased with himself ... he looked over smugly at his rival politicians n in an insane urge to show them how much powerful he was now, he walked directly at Sajjan, extending his arms as he said 'oh, congratulations Samdhi ji... we r relatives now ...' his smiled flattered n his arms dragged down as Sajjan held in in a look of mockery n anger ...n warning... 'I..' spluttered Shailendra stupidly looking around at Gayatri for support ... Gayatri stepped in immediately as she shook his hand friendly nodding at Sajjan ... Sajjan stepped forward , placing his right hand over Shailendra's shoulder as he said so that only three of them could hear 'don't even think of it, worm... this changes nothing ... ur daughter will be a mere servant in our house ...so don't get ideas to use this for ur election gimmicks ... n tell ur daughter to behave ... or else Krishna will have her packed n send to in pieces ... ' he turned to go, leaving a shocked Shailendra n slightly flustered Gayatri , who looked around them in panic whether anybody heard him ... 'n u will be sending that remaining money u owe me with ur daughter at the day of marriage ...' smirked Sajjan n he turned to Chandu ...'Chandu , manage here ...I am out of this circus ... can't stand the stink ! ...' he smiled at Durjjan n his sons , wrinkling his nose ... Chandu nodded , looking at Pratigya ... Durjjan's face turned the color of puke n he gritted his teeth in humiliation n anger... ' u wait Sajjan...u wait ... i am going to show u ur son's dead face...!' he hissed in anger ...

hope u liked it 😳