Prem Vivah

• Mujhe Maaf Kardo •

The DJ stopped, and everyone's attention was drawn toward unconscious Naina, panic, and shock could be seen on their faces as they couldn't fathom why such a young girl fainted out of nowhere. Sameer quickly rushed to hold his girl, and her closed eyes evoked utmost fear in his heart. He gently patted her cheek simultaneously telling Aryan - "Please go and call her baba right now."

Aryan nodded, running upstairs where the elders were having their gala time. He looked at a couple of men and women dancing around on 70s songs, and his restless eyes were searching for Nishikant. He walked through the crowd and spotted his aunt and uncle laughing with another couple. He rushed to them and told him - "Naina behosh hogayi hai, jaldi niche aa kar dekhiye kya hua hai."

"Kya?" Sarita exclaimed unbelievably and both of them dashed out of the room, almost dodging one staircase to reach their daughter as soon as possible.

Nishikant saw the public gathered around his daughter, and he gently pushed aside everyone whilst Sameer was continuously trying to wake her up, but she wasn't responding to any of his words or efforts. He has started to form negative thoughts, what if she catches any lethal disease? What if this isn't a normal faint but something related to her significant health? He couldn't even imagine his devastating state if anything happened to his girl.

Nishikant checked the nerves of his daughter's wrist, and told the young boy sitting next to him - "Go and get a glass of water."

Sameer quickly nodded, hastening towards the food counter. He grabbed a water bottle and came back to his girlfriend's father. Nishikant sprinkled a few drops of water on Naina's face, hoping to see some movements in her body, and Sameer was on the verge of crying out loud. She was in this state only because of him and his tortuous behavior...He shouldn't have intimidated her so much that she stressed herself to this extent. He kept his shivering fingers against his moist lips while blinking his heavy eyes in fright, and Nishikant once again sprayed water on Naina. She gradually started to regain her consciousness, and her head was still aching as if someone was drumming a hammer inside her skull.

"Naina, bala...tum behosh kaise ho gayi?" Sarita asked her daughter in a low voice, shedding tears.

"I don't know, mera sir bahut dukh raha hai," Naina said meekly, clutching her head out of anguish.

The hotel team got back to Nishikant with a medical emergency kit, and He quickly wore the stethoscope, checking his daughter's pulse rate and heartbeats. Naina was still not adjusted to the overcrowded surroundings, their tense looks on hers were increasing her headache. She doesn't like to be in the spotlight. Nishikant did the necessities and informed the worried people - "Naina ka blood pressure bahut low hai." Looking at his weak daughter, he calmly asked her - "What happened beta? Tum kisi baat ka stress le rahi ho?"

Naina didn't utter a word for a few minutes, fiddling with her clammy fingers. Sameer deciphered who could be the reason behind her low blood pressure, and his heart welled up with instant regret.

"Bala jo hai khul kar batao chup mat raho," Sarita asked her in a soft voice.

Prashant already left the venue one hour ago as he needed to study so he wasn't aware of his sister's unpleasant condition. Nishikant glanced at everyone, and their curious eyes somewhat infuriated him. He controlled his anger and told his wife - "Koi mithai wagera le aao naina ke liye."

"Main le aata hoon." Sameer almost stood up, but Nishikant silently warned him to not cross his limits, and Sarita understood the cold war between the two men. She rose on her feet and walked to the food stall, she picked up one bowl of spongy gulab jamun and strolled back to her husband. Nishikant lovingly made his daughter have the juicy sweet, and Naina wasn't able to swallow or enjoy her favorite mithai, a bundle of thoughts was roaming in her mind, and the hatred her father has invented in his heart for Sameer was just adding more fuel to her unstable mental condition.