CHAPTER 14
Roli and Siddhant had their eyes popped out of their sockets as they heard Sujatha's decision. Marriage; that was something that they never thought about; not even in the rarest dreams. And marrying each other. At the present situation it was almost like keeping two enemy countries together. Any time one could expect a bomb blast or attack. "What???" asked Sid as he gained some consciousness to speak after that massive shock. "Ya...that is my decision...that only can help to undo all the nonsense that you have did..." said Sujatha. "But ma..." Sid begun. "This marriage can't happen...it won't happen..." said Roli who was silent all the while. She couldn't think of Sid after having so much anger on him. "This marriage would happen...It must happen..." the source of the voice literally left Roli mouth opened. It was her Papa. "Yes...this marriage would happen...Or else, my daughter would see my corpse..." said Jamnalal sternly. "but ji...Roli is still child..." begun Meena. "Child? She is child? Is it the way child behave? It's our misconception that this girl is still that baby who was in our lap...but no...She's grown up, to an extent that we can't even think of..." He completed. "Papa..." Roli rushed to him trying to convince him. "Papa...please believe me Papa...I didn't do anything wrong...Papa..." cried Roli. "Shut up...not a word more...Either you'll listen o my word or you'll better order for my coffin..." said Jamnalal in a coherent note. This really shocked Roli. She couldn't speak up. Her Papa who was her best friend is against her now. It was her biggest failure. She couldn't say anything. "So what's your decision?" asked Jamnalal. "Your decision Papa.." mumbled Roli her voice almost feeble. This really shocked Sid. He wasn't expecting her to agree for this so called marriage. He had only one way now, convince both families that they weren't guilty. "Ma...Uncle...Please try to understand..." Sid begun."Siddhant...upon me I'm telling...marry Roli...And I don't want to hear any of your lies or else forget me...I mean it...I mean what I say..." Said Sujatha keeping Sid's hand on her head as a part of the promise. Sid couldn't t utter any word now. Just like Roli he was tongue tied. "So Jamnalalji...we'll arrange the marriage...right now...there is no need of any grand or posh function...give us an hour...we'll make thins ready and come back for marriage..." said Rajendhar supporting Sujatha's decision. "Okay...we'll also arrange things..." said meena. Roli and Sid stood as if they were statues. They had lot to tell, but they were helpless, in fact bound by love for parents. They were forced to do something that they didn't want in the whole lifetime.
An hour later. In Roli's house. Sid and his family returned to the house after arranging the very few things for marriage. They had made Sid dress as the groom. Jhanvi was shocked by the happenings and even tried to convince their parents but to no avail. At home too, Sid had tried some useless attempts to prove himself but none succeeded. Sujatha was nailed to the decision of solving the issue by rosid marriage. So without another way, Sid silently obeyed his mom.
Same was the situation with Roli. She too had cried and wailed to convince her parents but it went to deaf ears. They had lost their trust in her and nothing could replenish it. Her Mom dressed her up for marriage, not even talking to her. It seemed that she hated her. And her Papa, he said that he was just doing his duty as a father, he truly had lost affection and trust on Roli. This broke Roli further. A day and everything changed. She cried but that tears ignited hatred for Sid in her mind further.
No relatives or friends expect for Sid's and Roli's individual families, panditji and register officer attended the marriage. After all, it wasn't an awaited marriage. It could be called a Dhakka' marriage to be very frank. The function begun quite grimly. There were no smiles in any faces
I n fact Roli's parents were in tears. This wasn't the way they expected their daughter's marriage to happen. But maybe it was fate. Roli's eyes were bloodshot and Sid could sense her state of mind after seeing her dagger looks amongst each offering they submitted together in the fire. The function slowly progressed and panditji asked them to take pheras. Pheras, the seven of them had 7 specific meanings; 7 promise which would bind a couple together for a lifetime. But here, Roli and Sid both considered it as a drama only. In fact during each phera, Roli promised herself that she'd destroy Sid. About Sid, he was neutral. And finally after pheras, came the most important moment. Sid filled Roli's hairline with vermillion. Roli's eyes were all welled up. Sid was really guilty for all these. He couldn't forgive himself for the turning of events. Further, Sid tied mangalsutra around Roli's neck and thereby initiated the togetherness of seven lives. But here they in fact, initiated a new level; of rivalry. A hard core rivalry. But all rivalries don't remain the same. God has some plans which often humans cannot estimate.
