Wrecking Ball | 𝒎𝒂𝒂𝒏

chapter 20

Anuj didn't go to the temple.
Mukku had forced him to stay back and watch the wedding. He found it torturous but then he had found his sweet and supportive sister back after so long, he couldn't deny her request.

"Please call the groom.", The Panditji said for the fifth time now. Vanraj's mother seemed to have paled, his father looked fatigued as well.
"Something's wrong, isn't it? How is Mister Vanraj Shah absent in his winning moment?", Anuj asked Mukku.
"Because Mister Shah was doing illegal cocaine business.", She said simply.

Anuj looked at her perplexed.
She sounded very different, as if Vanraj just didn't bother her anymore. 
"You snapped out of him real quick, didn't you?", He asked.
She looked at him and drew in a sharp breath.
"I saw his real face and now I am done.", She said simply.
"You saw his flaw and now you can't accept it. Am I right?", Anuj asked.

He had always known this. He was never too bothered about her crush over him for the very same reason. He knew she would never be able to accept him for who he is.

And that is the same reason that concerned him with regard to Anu.
For him, yes it would hurt to watch Anu with another man, but he'd be okay in his imaginary bubble where both of them lived happily ever after.
But she would be the one suffering.

"I don't want to talk about it.", Mukku said sighing.
Anuj nodded, his gaze fixed on Vanraj's family members, now Anupamaa's mother was having a fierce debate with them over soemthing.
"Bhai you should go and be of some help.", Mukku said.
"I? What-"
"Nobody knows about your split with Vanraj.", She reminded him.

Anuj drew in a deep breath and walked down to them.

"Is everything okay?", He asked.
Vanraj's father looked at him, with hope.

"See if Anu is not married today, no one will marry my daughter! You know how this society works! Nobody will marry a bride left in her own wedding!", Anu's mother said angrily.
"I-I understand but-"
"If your son can't marry her, marry her to someone else! You are elite people, find someone for her right now and marry her!", She said angrily.

Anuj felt his heart leap.

He somehow held back is urge to say "I will marry her" in the most dramatic way.

Hasmukh Shah looked at Anuj.
He took a step towards him and joined his hands before Anuj.
"Arrey what are you doing-"
"Please take Vanraj's place in the wedding. I cannot let another girl's life get destroyed because of my son.", He said pleading.

You were doing just that all this while, uncle.
Anuj thought amused.

Anuj turned towards Mukku. She of course understood how things were taking course.
He turned towards Vanraj's father with a subtle smile, "I will do it. Even I don't want people to taunt her."
"Thank you so much! Thank you!", Hasmukh Shah said overwhelmed, he turned towards Anupamaa's mother, "He is the biggest industrialist, lovely boy, he will keep your daughter happy always."

Anupamaa's mother surveyed Anuj and then nodded. She didn't have much of a choice anyways.
"Go and take Vanraj's place. I will handle the press.", Hasmukh Shah said as Anuj nodded. He went and sat before the holy fire.

A smile appeared on his face, an uncontrollable happiness coursed him. He could have done some dance, hopped around, written some real good happy shayari but he sat silently, unable to keep himself from smiling.
God is definitely kind! Very very kind!

Vanraj stood before the police, fatigued.
"I swear I have nothing to do with drugs for God's sake! Why don't you understand?!", Vanraj shouted desperately, struggling against the steel handcuffs.
"Then what is all this doing this Mister Shah! Why is it here?! Tell us.", The Inspector asked.
"I HAVE NO GODDAMN IDEA! How will-"

"I can help you with it, Inspector.", He heard a feminine voice.

Vanraj knew it too well.
He remembered the voices of his enemies better than anyone else.

She walked up to the police officer from behind him.
"YOU!", He shouted in annoyance.
"Has to be me, isn't it?", She said with a smirk.

Of course, Lady Devil.

"Ma'am how can you help us?", The Inspector asked, mildly enthralled by the gorgeous lady before him. She wore a pink suit over a white shirt, hair left open and an unmissable devilish smirk.

"He does this drugs business for a very long time-"
"STOP LYING FOR GOD'S SAKE RITTIKA!", Vanraj shouted in anguish.
Rittika turned towards him, amused.
"You remember my name? Aww.", She said, having her fun.
"Inspector, she hates me. I am sure she's started this off! She just has some goddamn problem with me-"

"Oh yes. Because Mister Vanraj Shah had casually taken over my father's company by wooing me. I do have a problem with you, sir.", She said pulling his cheek.
He looked at her in loath.
"Inspector, the ACP has called. You need to attend it.", A constable said from behind.
The Inspector nodded, watching the duo closely.

Rittika took a step back to Vanraj.
"Look at how you are in pain. I love it so much.", She said grinning.
"Haha. Very funny! I don't know what happening at my wedding and-"
"I can fill you in with that sexy boy.", She said grinning.

"What? How.. But..", He said perplexed.
She edged close to her ear.
"Anuj Kapadia is a friend of mine.", She said in a whisper.
He looked at her in shock.
"And I couldn't have left the lovesick boy heartbroken could I?", She asked a rhetorical question, unable to stop her victorious smirk.

"It was your plan! His plan to-"
"Aww..", She said, enjoying the sadistic pleasure.
"Anuj is too sweet to plan and plot, but you see I am not. Enjoy your stay at the jail tonight, I will bail you after their wedding is over properly.", She said settling his messy hair.
"What the-"
"Aahaa.. See nobody wants to see you giving heartbroken aashiq or villainous looks in the wedding, you know.", She said.
"You can't be doing this! My reputation-"

"You should have known it earlier.. We often lose the things we love the most.", She said. He knew what she was referring to. He drew in a sharp breath.
"Have fun.", She said before walking back down to the Inspector.

Back there, Anupamaa sat beside Anuj unable to believe her fate.

"How did this happen?", She asked him in a whisper.
"Honestly, I have no idea.", Anuj said grinning away as he whispered back.
"But.. How did Mister Shah leave when he was right at the winning moment?", Anu asked pleasantly perplexed.

Mukku walked down to them and knelt behind them.

"Bhai.. Rittika struck.", She said unable to hold her happiness back.
"OMG! She's too kind!", Anuj said happily.
Anu had no idea who this was, but fate truly grateful.

She drew in a satisfied breath and looked up at the starry clear sky.
She remembered watching the greying sky when she had arrived here, and as she sat below a curtain of stars, nothing felt better.

"Thank you Kanha ji.", She mouthed. Anuj and Mukku were busy giggling in happiness. She looked at them, her new family.
"Bride please place your hand on the grooms'. We shall start the wedding.", The Pandit said. Mukku stepped back, and stood beside the pedestal.

Anuj held his hand out, smiling.
Anu slowly raised her hand, she wasn't sure if all this was right. But this time her conscious didn't question her. She wasn't doing anything wrong, she was right, she knew it at heart.

She smiled from her heart and placed her hand on his.
He glanced at her. He edged closer to her ear,

"Anuj Kapadia is forever yours, Miss Joshi.", He said in a whisper.
"Forever and beyond.", She whispered back smiling at him.

...

YAY!
Kanha ji at his best, isn't it? ;)
Drop in your comments!