My Love Story

Chapter 3

Shweta's point of view (POV)::
I thought they would leave me alone to go home but surprisingly they took me along with them.

Abhay pressed a button on the wall near the door and suddenly, the trunk of the tree had stairs carved on it.

It looked really pretty and it was easy to get down.

All around me were trees.

That's all I remember about my journey to a beautiful mansion.

I was so caught up in my own problems, hope and prayers for the safety of my sister that I didn't pay attention to my surroundings. To the way and both my hosts seemingly aware of my tragic circumstances, left me alone with my thoughts.

"Andar jao aur kapde badal lo." (Go in and get changed)

I abruptly looked at the duo and then in the room. It had beautiful clothes.

I looked at myself. I was still in the clothes from the function yesternight. But I had soiled the clothes with mud and blood.

After changing into something better and comfortable, I came out to see only the girl waiting for me. We again went outdoors. And Abhay was sitting in the car waiting for us.

I turned to the girl to ask if we should get on.

And the girl was looking at me strangely. But when she saw me looking at her, she gave me a small smile and gestured to take the car.

A few minutes later, Abhay handed me an apple.

"Bhuk lagi hogi." (You must be hungry)

I gladly munched on it.

Abhay was driving and both of us girls were sitting in the back seat. It was a silent ride because I didn't know what to say and wasn't really in the mood to talk.

I was nibbling quietly on the apple not because I was hungry but I wanted something to distract my thoughts from.

Few minutes later we were in the familiar neighborhood. The streets I spent my childhood in, the cage i had grown to detest, the toxicity i handled over the years, the people who bullied me were all there.

The girl placed a hand on my shoulder. "Jo kuch bhi ho jaye, aap hum par bharosa rakhiye." (Whatever happens, have faith in us)

I gave her a nod. So far, I was given a bed to rest, medicines to drink, a shoulder to cry on and an apple to munch. None of that speaks harm. So I did trust them to not harm me.

I took a deep breath and entered the house.

The wedding preparations were in full swing. Everyone was too busy with decorations, sweets and gifts to notice me.

That is until Samrat saw me. He was shocked but happy. Ofcourse, he would be. He gets to torture me now. I was ready to bolt but my sister's thought stopped me.

Samrat came in front of me and had the audacity to smile as if it wasn't yesterday when he cursed me, it wasn't yesterday when he hit me.

"Namaste, hum yahan shaadi me haath batane aaye hai." (We are here to help out with the wedding) Abhay said.

And with that, Samrat's eyes turned to him with caution. To understand whether I had brought along a friend for him or a foe. He very cautiously said, "Agar dulhan hi bhaag jaye toh shaadi kaise hogi?" (If the bride runs away, how can the marriage proceed?)

Abhay laughed. A short unhurried laugh.

"Dulhan bina saheliyo k shaadi kaise kar sakti hai? Woh apni saheli ko bulane aayi thi. Aap bura toh nhi manoge agar mai apni behen k saath bin bulaye mehmaan ki tarah aa jao? Kya hai ki meri behen k bhi haath peele karne hai. Ladka dhundna hai" (How can a girl get married without her friends? She came to us to invite her friend. Would you mind if I intrude uninvited? The thing is I also want to get my sister married. I have to find a groom.)

Samrat was quiet but invited us all in. He thinks Abhay is an ally. But even I don't understand who is my ally and who is my enemy.

The girl whose name I still don't know was with me but Abhay was asked to not come in the bridal room. He was taken away by Samrat.

As soon as I opened the door, I was face to face with my sister who was in a bridal lehenga. (Indian wedding outfit)

The outfit was not made for her. It was saddening. The fact that a 14 year old was wearing this should have made them puke. But the worst part was the listlessness in her eyes. As if she has given up.

Her eyes were always the warm part about her. The way she would look would be with inquisitiveness and interest. But not today. Today she had given up.

"Sheetal" and I couldn't bear it anymore. I hugged her crying. I had almost lost her to my family. To their greed.

I with the help of the girl, I dressed Sheetal in some ordinary clothes and the three of us ran from there. The entire house was full of people.

This was both an advantage and a curse.
We could easily mix in the people but they could easily recognise us.

I was doing my best hiding from known and mixing among the unknown. This was one reason I enjoyed weddings.

When we were kids, we would mix among the strangers to have sweets. Those days, we slept on a full stomach. But today, the wedding seems like a curse.

We were down the stairs. Now, we just had to run across the room and then wait for Abhay. Finally, we could escape the jail. At long last.

But I always have the worst luck. Who should I run into?

My own FATHER!!!

All the hope just left me. Everything that I had hoped for a minute ago changed. Now I just wanted my sister to leave unscathed. She should be happy. If not happy, safe.

I didn't know when I grew a spine, but I was shielding both my sister and my newfound friend.

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