MUDDLED LIFE (COMPLETED)

Chapter 2

Jai (shocked): Ye possible nahi...

Sarpanch: Abhi pure gaav ke samne aapne haan boli.

Jai: Main ye bol raha tha ke aese ho to phir se padhna badi baat nahi. Ho jayegi pass. Uski umar hi kya hai? Usko padhna chaye. Uski shaadi ke liye layak ladka milega.

Sarpanch: Ye sab bolne wali baate hoti hai. Abhi haa kar abhi aap mana kar rahe ho. Gaav wale koi bhi nahi karege aesi ladki se shaadi. Aapne haan bola. Aapko karni hogi humari beti se shaadi. Ye kya shahar wale rishto ka mazak bana rahe ho.

Abhishek (gritting his teeth): Hum rishto ka mazak bana rahe hai. Beti ki shaadi uske chacha se. Ye rishto ki izzat karna hai? Baap sare aam beti ke sapne tod raha hai, usse beizzat kiye jaa raha hai. Ye rishto ki izzat karna hota hai?

Old groom (angrily): Bas... Humare parivar ke utsav me humne aapko bhulaya khushi baatne ke liye. Jo bhi chal raha tha hum usme khush the. Aa kar vo utsav ko kharab aap logo ne kiya. Sawal aap logo ne uthaye. Hum sab seh. Aap log bade apsar ho isliye sab shanti se suna. Par humare ghar ki beti ki shaadi aese tod di aur upar se hume gyaan de rahe ho. Humare ghar ki izzat uchali. Aap humse umeed kar rahe hum sab chup chap dekhe. Itna hi tha to jaise dusre log mubarak deke, khana kha kar jaa rahe hai. Aap bhi chale jate. Ye kya tarika hai kisi ladki ki sab ke samne shaadi tod uska apman karna.

Jai (raising his eyebrow): Khushi? Aap ek baar apni beti se puchiye vo is shaadi se khush hai? Aaye bade khushi ki baat karne. Puchiye ek baar sab ke samne. Haa bola usne hum yaha se chup chap mubarak deke chale jayege.

Sarpanch: Hum apni beti ki khushi kis me hai jante hai.

Abhishek: Theek hai. Puchiye ek baar usse humare samne.

Sarpanch and his brother looked at each other. They heard murmuring from people who were around. "Sarpanch ne to kaha tha ye sab Aarya ke marzi se ho raha hai" "Aese kaise Sarpanch apni beti ki shaadi kyun karayege uske marzi ke khilaf" "Ye seheri logo ko muh tod jawab dena chaye. Seedha Aarya se haa bhulva de muh par. Kya hi aukaat rahegi phir humare gaav ke mamle me aane se pehle 100 sochege".

Being affected by crowds' words. Sarpanch took the veil from Aarya's face. A teenage girl who was dolled up for her mehendi function. She has tears in her eyes. Tears were rolling on her cheeks it seemed like she was crying silently. Her eyes were red. Jai and Abhishek saw her face.

Old groom: Aarya bol tu humari shaadi se kitni khush ho.

He said with full confidence as if she was dying to marry him. Aarya didn't respond.

Sarpanch (angrily): Haa bol Aarya.

He said holding her arm in grip. She was looking down and sobbing silently.

Sarpanch (shout in anger): Aarya haa bol.

She still didn't respond and her face was down.

The old groom held her arm, pulling her towards him. He raised his hand to slap her. Before he could. Abhishek held his hand.

Abhishek (gritting his teeth): Don't you dare to raise your hand.

Again murmurs were heard. To shut everyone. Sarpanch gestures something to one of his men. The man pointed a gun at Jai's head. This action was shocking for Jai and Abhishek.

Jai (scared): Bhai bachao mujhe.

Sarpanch: Jaan pyaari hai to kal meri beti se shaadi ke liye tayar ho jana. Sarpanch apni beizzati nahi sehne wala pura gaav ke samne.

Abhishek: Jai kisi aur se pyaar karta hai. Shaadi kaise kare aapki beti se?

Sarpanch: Vo hum nahi jante. Haan bolne ke baad piche nahi hat sakte hai.