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The doomed wedding rituals carry on in a steady pace. All through the ceremonies, a confident Indu looks at his bride with subtle pride. However, the drained Sanchi remains nearly oblivious to the happenings around her.
An announcement for the kanyadaan is quickly made by the priest, following which; the haggard Tarachand is dragged forward by the group of friends. Forced to give away his daughter, he stands back and watches as Indu majestically takes Sanchi's hand in his own. Soon after, the ever-loyal Guddu volunteers to do the 'Ghat-Bandhan' for the odd couple.
When the time for the 'Maang-bharni' arrives, Indu proudly toys with the Sindoor-Daana for a few seconds before clasping a generous amount of vermillion in his fingers and filling his bride's forehead. All through the formalities, Sanchi remains like a lifeless doll, while her father watches on, a trembling helpless spectator.
Just before tying the Mangalsutra; the victorious tyrant feels the delicate chain in his fingers, as though weighing the significance of his actions. Finally; he ties it around Sanchi, gazing at her face all through. The spectators clap in unison as a mark of celebration.
Meanwhile, pacing in her glistening new kitchen, the mother is rightfully worried about the whereabouts of her daughter when a pot of milk spills on the floor - a tell-tale ominous sign!
Back at the dais, only when the couple are required to exchange garlands does Sanchi muster strength to cast a glimpse at Indu. How she must hate him! His face reflected precisely what was going through his mind - the fact that he had finally achieved what he wanted!
As they proceed to complete the rituals with the symbolic 'Saat Phere', Indu reassures himself mentally 'The way you made me suffer in your love, I shall make you suffer due to my hatred...you will hate the very day that you decided to challenge me...every girl dreams of her wedding day... I shall make that very day the worst one of your life...'
With the ceremonies now complete, the friends loosen their grip on the old father, who falls down on the ground - a vanquished man. Soon thereafter, the formalities for registering the marriage also ensue (they seemed to get these points quite right.. my marriage registration looked exactly like this too)
A clueless photographer then arrives and proceeds to carry out his job. Though he doesn't seem to ask many questions; looking at the ashen face of the bride, he is forced to hesitate for a moment.
Quickly realizing the situation, Indu gracefully puts his hand around Sanchi and whispers to her 'Your father is not yet dead so please smile for the photo'.
The bride forces a tearful smile.
As soon as all the extras exit the scene, Indu's demeanour instantly changes. Hurling his turban to the ground, he forcefully pushes Sanchi away. Jolted by the violence, even the lifeless Sanchi is now forced to express shock.
Indu then thunders out the intentions behind his actions, revealing the bottled spite and anger in him 'Sanchi! From today, even if you are my lawfully wedded wife, I'll never let you have the rights of a wife...you might study...pursue your career...become a collector...but, the effects of my anger and revenge will always haunt you...it will always loom around you like a shadow...' he thunders on 'I'll not let you be my own or let you become anyone else's...you are very beautiful...good-looking...etc etc..but no decent man will want to marry you as you already bear marks of my sindoor on your forehead...I shall never allow you to live happily...never have the happiness of marriage...'
Having poured out his wrathful words, Indu stomps out of the grounds, followed by his friends. The anguished daughter and father finally succumb to the harrowing events, sobbing and wailing as they embrace each other in consolation.
The silly mohalla is celebrating with band and baaja (I'm sure they have a weekly contract with the bandmaster!) - the usual faces looking on with their characteristic expressions...
Hearing the fanfare, Veena storms out to finally realize that Sadanand (and Indu) have been released. Just then, the sorry figures of Sanchi and Tarachand emerge, forced to drag themselves through the crowded mohalla lanes in humiliation. Seeing her newly-married form, Veena is shocked and only when Radha/Sadanand tell her the story of Indu-Sanchi's wedding does the mother realize what actually happened.
Eventually, Sadanand renames Sanchi as 'Sanchi Indu Singh' and asks her to pay respects to her new in-laws.
However, the devastated girl continues into her house and walks up to her bathroom.
A few moments of silence later, the exasperated girl launches into a fury, stripping the jewellery off her. Looking at herself in the mirror, she angrily tears the mangalsutra off her neck, flashbacks of the wedding and Indu's words haunting her all through!
Precap is interesting - Indu is in a rage ...breaking all flower pots in the terrace..the friends plotting yet another ploy to stop Sanchi from attending university! I am guessing that Sanchi must have ridden herself of all the wedding symbolisms and trodded off to college as usual...
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