Hidden Hues Of Henna

Kasam ki kasam

"The lady must be the one to put the varmala first." The priest told firmly making him lower the garland he had picked up in his hands.

After several minutes when she made no move to put the garland in her hands around his neck, Raghav decided to once again take things in his own hands.

Putting aside the garland in his hand,he raised her two limp arms up to his face and then put his head into the garland himself, bowing a little as he did so. Next moment as he left her arms,they fell back to her side instantly as if they had no life in them. Raghav's jaw clenched at that but he did not react.

Picking back up the other garland meant for her,he looked at the priest raising an arrogant brow in question to which the latter nodded silently.With permission,he quickly put the garland around her neck making sure to completely avoid looking at her face.

Following was the saptapadi. Raghav, knowing well that she would not willingly walk with him,leaned down a bit and took her soft hand in his grasp.Despite her not pulling away,he felt her eyes bore into the side of his head but decided to remain oblivious.

With the first syllable of the mantra out of the priest's mouth,he took the first step forward making sure to pull the woman in his hold along. The firmness of his grip,the effort of the pull,all remained useless because she posed no resistance.Silently grateful,Raghav kept on moving, making sure that the long white muslin cloth around his neck which was tied to her saree on the other end did not fall off his shoulder.

After four rounds,the priest who looked miffed at him for some reason,again interupted telling that the bride needed to walk ahead for the remaining three rounds.

With a deep breath,Raghav dropped her hand and turned before going to stand behind her. He saw her bowed head in front of him and sighed in exasperation when she refused to step forward despite the priest requesting her to.

Leaning down a bit,he hissed lowly in her ear.

"Walk or else have me make you."

She showed no signs that she had heard him. Her head remained bowed forward,her long hair curtaining her face.The pallu of her white saree was spread across her chest and hung behind till her knees except the one end which was tied to him. Like a rag doll, unmoving and emotionless,she stood there.

Seeing her state,Raghav's anger only simmered further. An ugly feeling was dancing in his gut making him feel nauseous but he was ignoring it. His mother wanted this wedding and he simply wanted to get done with the torture that it was. But this goddamn woman was hell bent on stretching this event making him feel more terrible as moments inched by.

"Remember what I said?" He threatened menacingly."You know what I can do, don't you?"

His words elicited the needed response as Pallavi's head snapped to his. Not leaning an inch away,he stared right into her agonised eyes. There were no tears,they had stopped long ago. All that had remained in those pools of golden and grey was pain, agony, torment of the rawest kind.

Ignoring every bit of him that screamed in fear at her terrorized eyes,he spoke through clenched teeth.

"Walk."

•••

"That little brother of yours wasted no time in running to the media with my name. I must say your whole family seems to know how to milk any situation to serve your purpose. However,that boy is yet to see my wrath. My team,they would rip him apart in public as well as your family. Your sister's recent scandal wouldn't help the whole thing too. Entire India would know about a middle class family out to poach a rich man in anyway they can.You want that,do you saree ka dukaan?"