Bowled Out

Part - 4

Day of wedding
Lavanya's POV
Here I am at my to be in laws home for my marriage, Swati couldn't come along as something urgent came up. I just took an auto to reach the location, just looking at the apartment I get to know they are abundant with money so can afford this marriage madness. I called aunty and she sent a guard to guide me inside. Though it's an intimate ceremony home is decorated nicely. Guilt crossed my mind for a fraction of second but I can't back out now. Aunty welcomed me and guard shifted my luggages inside. Aunty is superb excited and said"Lavanya you are looking beautiful, J have kept your saree and accessories in the guest room, come I will show you the way, get ready and the muhurata is in 1 hour". She is about to take me to the guest room and Pandithji arrived. So she told me the directions and left to attend the Pandithji.
I followed her direction and locked the room from inside. Saree, accessories everything are placed on the bed. 'I need to go to washroom and then I will start draping the saree' I just opened the bathroom door and get to see it's already occupied.
"I am sorry I didn't know it's occupied. Please continue, I will be outside"
The person "Wait wait, Are you Lavanya? Thank god atleast get to see you before the wedding. I am your fake husband to be. I hope you know my name. Turn around I am not naked"
"Oh good to meet you, not like this though. I am sorry I don't know your name."
I just turned and felt like hit by lighting. 'It's Yash... Oh my God, why him of all the people. Oh no it's impossible to keep it a secret from my family. Thank God, he never saw in any of the gatherings. This is called bad luck. God please help me during these few months. It should never reach my family. Otherwise it will take them a second to turn it into a real one'
Yash- "Hello, where have you teleported to"
"No I can't believe this. Why the famous cricketer wants to get married to a stanger like this. God I can't believe this. But you know the terms right? "
Yash - " Hello, I can say same thing about you. You look more suspicious here, why would a girl agree to marry a boy without even knowing his name. What if I turned out to be a psycho, rapist Or anything. I feel more suspicious about you"
"Please I know your mam and Pandithji, so I agreed to be a part of this charade. And I made my terms clear. Only 8 months and no physical or emotional attachment"
Yash - "Let's see about that. What if you can't control yourself" He stepped closer. I don't understand how to react.
" In that case I have my arrangements but definitely not with you. So rest assured, you are safe. Now if you could excuse me I should get ready. So leave the room"
Yash - " It's my home."
"Ok then enjoy your home. I will go to some other room. This house looks bigger. There may be many unoccupied rooms"
I am about to unlock the door. I heard knock and aunty "Lavanya get ready quickly."
"Ha aunty"
Yash - "Now step out. If anyone knows we are together inside, your agreement will end up at soil" And winked at me.
"Okay you get ready. I will get ready inside. Later you think about how to get out of here. After all your home"
Yash - " I don't mind going together. I enjoy that infact to be locked inside a room with a beautiful girl"
"Whatever. Get ready"
I get ready in 20 minutes and get out the bathroom and Yash has already left. Felt relived and stepped out of the room. Aunty is very happy to see me "Lavanya you are really an angel inside and outside. Can't wait to see you together with my son. He is equally handsome. You are match made in heaven. Come, I will take you"
She took me to the mandap and she is correct. My fake husband is looking like a damper in dhoti and white silk shirt. Pandith ji started the rituals and after around an hour. Its time to tie  the knot. Pandithji - "Yash, now take the mangalsutra and tie three knots"
With the matra and music Yash tied the knot and now I am married to this man beside  me, I don't know what it is a strange feeling erupted in my stomach with lot of butterflies dancing inside. Yash put kumkum to my forehead and put toerings.
Pandithji-"Now it's time for Sapthapadi means both of you take seven oaths together. Both of you will be together in good and bad till your last breath, both of you support each other in all times, both of you protect your children and each other at all the times"
My mind is spinning hearing all those thing, why did I even take this step. Why did I make fun of something so pure and auspicious. But deed is done. Can't do anything about it.
We are done with sapthapadi and I am married to Yash Shastry, the most eligible bachelor.
Yash's POV
'Now I am relived atleast I talked to the girl I am marrying before marriage. But she looked familiar but couldn't recollected where I had seen her.'
Pandithji is chanting mantras. I tied three knots and strange feeling started inside me. She is mine, mine to protect, mine to look after. I am hers to protect, to look after kind of feelings. May be the effect of this mantras, Pandith, family. I thought it will be okay tomorrow. It will be normal.
But at the end of Sapthapadi, I felt so guilt, why am I trying to make fun of something so pure(marriage). But nothing can be done. But one thing for sure it's definitely not for 8 months. She is my wife for lifetime.