Prem Vivah

• Galat Faisla •

Now it was time for the Varat, a Maharashtrian ritual that means farewell of the bride from her parent's home to her new family. Shivangi was genuinely not ready for it, her heart was pounding heavily whilst her eyes were almost watery, making the women present in the hall feel emotional. She couldn't even see anything, everything was blurry for her. She has not been brought up in a rich family or in the presence of a good father. Her childhood was more horrible than the ghost stories people hear. She still shudders at the old memories, her heart breaks a million times when she remembers how her drunkard father used to call them a Burden.

Shivangi tightly embraced her mother, who was crying inconsolably. She didn't know how long she would carry this heaviness in her heart for leaving her mother and younger brother alone. Sameer stood at some distance, silently wiping away his faint drops. It's often said Brothers don't express their pain and feelings on this day, but tears in their eyes speak everything, and it was proved right...He just pretended to smile while weeping hard in his heart, and Naina was not able to endure the separation of a girl from her family. She lifted her handkerchief while erasing the raindrops streaming out of her orbs, and Prashant lightly pressed his sister's shoulder, giving her comfort.

"Aap medicines time par lena aur kuch bhi zarurat lage toh sidha ek call kar lena, ok?" Shivangi told her heartbroken mother in a soft voice and lovingly cupped her chin.

"Tu bhi apna khayal rakhna, aur sasural walo ka dil jeet lena...main nahi chahti jis dukh dard se main guzri hun...us se mere bache bhi guzre," Savitri said in a meek tone while caressing her daughter's cheek, and Shivangi hummed, holding her wrinkles-filled hands.

"Tu ab waha kyu khada hai? Fake drama toh kar upset bhai hone ka meri vidai pe." Shivangi teasingly scolded her brother while crying softly, and Sameer took heavy steps toward his bride sister and old mother. He wrapped his fingers around her wrist, giving a small smile, and said in an almost shattered tone - "Stay Happy Tai."

"You too mera bacha." She kissed his cheek and forehead, closing her dewy eyes in agony, and Sameer placed his palm on her back, patting it gently, looking everywhere but her.

Naina was feeling suffocated now, she rubs her trembling fingers on her chest to console herself, but warm tears appeared explicitly in her eyes while watching the heart-breaking scene. She doesn't know how this pair of three people would live without Shivangi. She was the pillar of their house, she started to earn at the age of 14, by taking tuitions or selling fresh snacks in the evening. She fulfilled all her duties as a daughter and fed her starving brother and mother by shedding sweat day and night under the humid weather. Shivangi was an example of a perfect daughter who just didn't endure the cruel tortures of her father but also gave normal luxury to her mother and brother...She studied hard, she worked hard, she accomplished her dreams of holding a certificate in her hands with a black cap on her head, and she found herself a kind, loving person who, surely will take care of her needs. Naina was so happy for Shivangi for tying the knot with Aryan who was the epitome of a Real Gentleman.

"Main toh tere vidaai par bilkul nahi rone wala," Prashant told his sister with a waggish smile as he wanted to change her gloomy mood and make her smile again.

"Hawwww, waise it's not surprising kyuki tab tak toh meri Vaini aa jayegi na," Naina replied to him in a playful tone while winking at him, and his face flushed in shyness.

"Yes, you are right...agar nahi bhi aati toh bhi main tujhe miss nahi karne wala," Prashant said teasingly.

"Kuch bhi, behen aakhir behen hoti hai aur biwi aakhir biwi...jab bhabhi mayke jayegi tab aap unhe miss karoge ya nahi? Phir main toh humesha humesha ke liye apne sasural chali jaungi...yaad toh aayegi hi na." Naina spoke as a matter of fact, and her elder brother felt a sense of anguish gripping his heart. He may be a very strict and dominating brother, but deep down he cares for his sister more than his life, and nothing matters to him except her happiness.