A V A L

4

"Tie this thali around the bride's neck" the pandit instructed chandru as I lowered my head in shyness.

Everyone started to throw flowers towards us as a blessing. the loud chanting of pandit and the music of drums made me sigh inwardly as chandru looked at me sincerely, silently asking for the permission.

I smiled, letting him know that I am more than happy to be a wife to him. Only God knows how happy I am.

I looked into his chocolate brown eyes, which held happiness and pure joy as he inches closer to tie the mangalsutra around my neck.

*BANG*

---

Flashback:

"Chandru? Are you ok?"

Nila hurried towards chandru with sweat glistening all over her forehead in worry. She was scanning him from head to toe, scarred that he is hurt.

She took hold of his cheeks and searched for any injury as a lone ter left her cheek.

"Hey, hey, relax. I am alright." He tried to sooth her not knowing what happened. He wiped her tear strikened face with the checked hand kerchief he had in the pant pocket.

"Bu- But you-" she is a whole mess now, a crying mess. She sobbed and weezed as she cried her eyes out.

He didn't like the view he is seeing at all, he don't want her to cry. He want to hold her and say that it's alright, he want to wipe all those sadness away from her mind. He want to kiss the tears away. But he has to wait till the marriage.

"Shhh, Nila, look, look at me. It's alright. Nothing happened to me." He tried again and this time it worked.

He didn't know that his cute fiance would come crying to his in the morning, while he was about to go out. But he is greatfull that she came to him.

"Tell me what happened now."

"There was a accident, and there were blood everywhere, your blood. I screamed for help but no one was there. And then-" she cried again clutching his shirt tightly, thinking about the horrible scenario she saw in her nightmare.

Chandru don't have to hear more to know what happened next. He laughed thinking about his silly fiance. But satisfied that she care about him.

"Why are you laughing?, I am being serious."

He laughed even more.

"Oh my silly fiance, it's just a dream. See, I am perfectly well and alright."

He indeed perfect and alright. Dashing like always.

"But, you left me."

"Shh" he stopped her with his index finger on her mouth. "No buts, and I would never leave you, you silly."

Her heart fluttered. He wiped her cheeks with his hands this time and stroked it tenderly, full of love.

"Promise?" Her eyes, full of emotion.

"Promise." He promised lightly pinching her cheeks with admiration and love.

---

Red

All I see is red.

I cannot breathe, I cannot process anything due to shock and horror.

Screams and cries of people running around are deaf to my ears as I looked at the soul less eyes of his, lying on my lap directly looking at me.

His eyes.

His eyes which once held love and tenderness are now replaced by emptiness.

He is not moving a single inch. I cannot sense his rythmic breath either.

"Chandru"

My pathetic small voice tried to make him sit straight. Cuz I don't want him like this. He should be alive and tying the thali around my neck right now. We should be happily married. No not like this.

I cannot take this.

"Chandru."

I tried again. Shaking him again and again, to make him get up and say that he is ok. Everything will be ok. Will he say that?

"CHANDRU." I cried, wailed, sobbed. But he is not getting up. I tapped his cheeks. But no movement at all. "No no no. It should not be like. P- please get up."

"You should not break your promise. Please don't." I tried again but no response from from him.

"He is long dead, my dear."