Rishte...

CHAPTER 12

Change is the only constant, This is what Anika felt when she saw herself as a bride in front of the mirror. She was wearing a red saree gifted by her love along with the jewel which she didn't ask for.  Her eyes constantly welled up. Fate changed her life completely upside down in the span of 4 months. She was trashed by her own father in the start and the end, She was immensely in love with a person who also loves her back immensely. 

He planned for a very private wedding in the Durga temple across the city. She never knew his devotional side until this day. When she asked about his family's approval, He simply said he will take her to them after they got married when she asked for the reason, He denied saying it. But she could able to catch his vibe. All he wanted was to get married to her and saying the information to them than giving them any chance to decide for them. Anika was against his idea but she can't say 'no' to marry him. 

She looked at her Mehendi-tattooed-palms wrote his name on her palms. Her roommate applied it. She was invited to their wedding along with shivaay's close friends. She gulped the lump in her throat when her friend arrived at her room and asked if she's ready for her big day or not. Anika was nervous. But in cloud nine for getting married. Finally, she will have someone called 'family'. 

"Yes." Anika heaved out a deep breath. 

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Shivaay was already present in the temple before anika could arrive, He made sure there's no mess up in the arrangement. He never thought the thing he yearned for in the last birth will come true today. He told to his grandmother that he's getting married today, She was silent for a while because of his sudden decision, He knew he might be thinking about his chachu. But congratulated him at the end. She asked him to come to London as soon as they get married. His grandmother is the only soul who truly loves him in his family. In a few minutes, He will have another person in the family whom he truly loves. The excitement of seeing her in the saree which he brought before 100 years was more than getting married to her. He still remembers how he preserved that saree and got remembered every pinch of his past after seeing that saree and the ring he brought for her. 

He walked towards the temple and grouped his hands to the Durga's idol. He had nothing to wish for but a lot for thanking her. He gifted her with a beautiful life and also changed their fate this time. And anika always wished that she didn't want to remember anything from it. And also shivaay didn't want that to happen. She suffered a lot. 

He also smiled at the fact how people still believe that the forest is haunted when he was the one who continued to haunt before he dies in that forest. He brought Thakur back to his haveli and burned him alive which anika left out to do. He sent the letter in the name of the British East India Company and brought him back to the place where he trashed anika's dream and her life. His eyes were close when he died, And he believed it was Anika's soul which killed him on that day, It gave him immense pleasure on that day. 

Also, he didn't stop his hunt, He got to see many injustices happening to the young girls and woman in that forest and mercilessly killed every one of them in the name of thakuraian's soul and the forest became haunted for men, Eventually. They didn't know the forest became haunted for men because of a man who couldn't able to see the injustice happening to the women out there because of his own kind. He still didn't regret it. And he eventually ended his life when he didn't find hope to live. His only wish during that time was to get back to his love and live a peaceful and happy life with her. And after 100 years, It's finally going to happen. 

He turned his head when he heard a car stopping sound from his back. His heart started to beat fast when he finally got to see his old-smiling-carefree-Anika in the saree which he brought for her with all his heart, He tried to imagine her on that day, And now seeing her in real. His legs automatically walked towards her and gave her his palm to hold. Without having any hesitation, She held his palm with a wide smile. 

"After seeing you in this saree, I am speechless." He said with teary eyes. The smile remained constant in her face but tears welled up in her eyes like him. But Anika remained silence looking at him. 

They both sat in front of the bonfire and the priest started chanting and they both took vows that they will keep up till their last breath. Both knew about that. At last, The time has come when the priest asked him to apply sindoor on her hairline. He went clueless in happiness but soon did it. And now, They are bounded in a relationship forever. 

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