Shaadi Mubarak|✔

Chapter 15

“Hello?”

“Rati?”

“Sh-Shaurya…”

“What happened? Are you alright? Baby?”

“Is there anyone at home?”

“Huh? No, they’ve gone out to the temple. Reet’s with me, but she’s sleeping. Why do you ask? Are you ok?”

“Will you please open the door?”

“What?”

“Shaurya….”

“Yes, yes. Sorry.”

Shaurya rushes to the main door, worry written all over his face. He opens it.

He doesn’t get to see her, no, because suddenly the said girl is in his arms, hugging his torso, face smushed against his chest, and shoulders heaving up and down with loud, stuttered breaths.

Shaurya is quick to get out of his frozen daze and put her arms around her, closing the door with his back.

“R-Rati, what’s wrong? What happened? Baby, it’s scaring me.” He says as she tightens her hold on him and he mimics the action.

It’s after a whole minute that she answers. “I’m sorry.” She says in the lowest of voice, one that he doesn’t like hearing. “I didn’t mean to scare you and – and I also know that w-we weren’t supposed to see each other before the w-wedding, but I figured that if it’s today it’s o-ok. I just really had to –”

“Hey, hey, relax, love. Don’t bother yourself with those formalities, ok? I know that we weren’t allowed to see each other but I am sure that God won’t mind one bit. Just trust in him and tell me what’s actually worrying you.” He says softly, all the while stroking the back of her head, half her hair inside the hood of the jacket and half outside, he smiles lightly and neats it up.

Rati pulls back slightly at the action and one look at her face, his smile dies on his lips.

“You’re crying?” he asks, concerned, brows furrowing as he wipes the tears of her face, not liking her reddened nose this time. Not when she is clearly sad.

“What’s wrong, love? Tell me please. Is it – is it about the wedding? W-We can reschedule it. It’s ok. I’ll convince everyone. Or did someone say something to you? Tell me, I’ll go and give them a piece of my mind right now. O-Or is it about us… d-do you n-not –”

Rati puts her hand on his mouth before he can complete the sentence and shakes her head, a small, wobbly smile gracing her lips.

“It can n-never be about us. Y-You’ve only ever made me happy.”

Shaurya lets a smile resurface on his lips before he presses them to her temple. “And I plan to do so for the rest of our lives.” He promises and exhales a comforted breath as the girl’s eyes light up.

She yet again finds home in his chest, locking her hands behind his back.

“Actually…” she says, and Shaurya lightly strokes her back in order to encourage her, “Yes?”

Rati sighs. “M-My father came. He’s at our home. He came after twenty years. Twenty Years. I – I couldn’t even recognise him.” She states, her voice low but clear enough for Shaurya to hear how it breaks in between. He tightens his grip around her.

“Ma was so sad. She cried. It is my wedding day today. She was supposed to be happy. All of us were supposed to be happy but that man came and ruined it all. I know you must think how I can say such things about me fa-”