The Love Voyage

Chapter 2

"If you find tranquility in wrongdoing, then it was never a wrong thing to do."

Adhrit's POV

As I looked vacantly out of the window, I peered at the buoyant frames of minds, how blithesome the domain was. Everyone dancing their hearts out, being jovial.

Totally irreconcilable from my blue-sky thinking, air full of despondency, how the groom himself felt so lamentable, utterly caustic, isn't it?

I just don't know. I tried my best to be as exultant and sanguine as my ambiance, but I just can't bring that vibe in me.

I feel like something so wrong is about to happen. I feel so twitchy and fazed ever since this whole wedding fiasco initiated. God damn it, I need to get myself together.

"Bro, you know you can still back out, right? I have your back, buddy," Nihal, my best friend, kept a hand on my shoulder as he comforted me through his words.

"If you don't want to, then don't do it, 'cause marriage comes with a responsibility. If you're not ready to take the responsibility, it starts to feel like a burden, an unnecessary burden, always starting to ache the shoulders, completely shattering both," he explained with utmost determination.

"I totally get it, but what about that girl, her family, my family, and my parents? What about them? I know it's my sole decision, but the number of people who will face the impact of it is just petrifying."

"But what about you, Adhrit? What about your life? Be cynical for once in your life, choose yourself, your happiness. Do you even know the name of the girl you're getting married to?" Nihal's voice was pitch-sharp as he questioned me.

And damn, it just made me question this entire thing. What the hell am I even doing? I don't know the name of the girl, not because I didn't want to, but I didn't get the chance to. Everything happened so quickly, I still can't proceed with it.

"I just don't-" he cut me off and released a deep sigh.

"See Adi, you're not only ruining your life but also Izna's life. You need time to process it all. Go, just go away for a few days, spend time with yourself, ask yourself what you want, then come back and decide. Just don't play with two lives."

"But where will I go?" I questioned him.

"I've got it all settled. You just need to go from here and switch off from everyone and everything. Just disappear."

"But what will you tell my parents, families, and especially the media?"

"Bol dunga tujhe kidnap kar liya. Ameer logon ki toh firoti bhi bohot lete hai saare paise mere." He proclaimed with such confidence as if he's the director of that show.

("I'll say that someone kidnapped you. Rich people get a huge ransom, and all the money will be mine.")

I looked at him with utter disbelief.

"Seriously kidnapping? Are you for real?"

"Toh kya abla naari ka role dedu tujhe? Garbhvati naari, bechari usko vaishi darindo ne chhed diya? Coming to think of it, yeh plot utna bura bhi nahi hai," he contemplated.

("So, should I give you the role of a helpless woman? A pregnant woman, poor thing, harassed by vile scoundrels? Coming to think of it, this plot isn't that bad after all.")

"Konsi manhus ghadi mein tujhe dost bana diya maine aur kyun," I questioned myself more than him.

("In which cursed moment did I make you my friend, and why?")