KHWAB : A Distant Dream

Chapter 23

The update was supposed to be tomorrow.... but I couldn't hold myself back.... so here you go
Enjoy!
_______________________________________________________________

Anvi was sitting in front of the mirror completely ready and waiting for the pandit to call her. She was wearing a dark red lehenga with heavy golden embroidery. Her hair was tied up in a bun leaving a few strands of hair in front. She was decked in gold jewellery from head to feet, courtesy of her nani. Her dupatta was fixed at the top of her head and her mehendi clad hands were filled with bangles. Abhira was sitting with her and chatting. "You look beautiful, Bhabhi. Bhaiya is going to have a difficult time keeping his focus away." Abhira teased Anvi who blushed and her face turned deep red.

She was saved by Avyansh who had come to escort her to the mandap. "It's time." He said while looking at his sister, dressed up as a bride. Anvi nodded and got up with Abhira's help and moved outside the room. The moment she stepped out, drums started playing and the procession headed towards the Mandap. Avyansh and Vidyut were in the front, holding the ends of the blanket of flowers over Anvi's head, while Advaith and Akash held it from the back. Abhira and Shalini walked beside her.

Rudra who was sitting at the mandap looked up as the noise of drums came near. His eyes found Anvi who was walking towards him slowly with her eyes down and his breath hitched.  He did not take his eyes off her for even a moment, not even when the twins whistled seeing Rudra staring at her unblinking. He slowly got up as she approached the mandap and forwarded his hand to her. Anvi finally looked up and met his eyes and quickly looked away blushing. Rudra smiled and helped her stand besides him and they exchanged garlands.

It was time for the rituals to start and the pandit asked them to sit down and they obliged. "Kanya ke mata pita age ayen Kanya dan ke liye." the pandit said. There was silence for a moment and then Avyansh and Shalini moved forward as Mrs. Khanna nudged them. Avyansh took Anvi's hand and placed it into Rudra's hand as tears clouded his eyes. Anvi also had tears in her eyes and Rudra placed his other hand on top of her's and assured her. Avyansh and Shalini moved back as the pandit chanted rituals and the Kanyadaan ceremony was completed.

"Abh Dulhe ki behan ko bulaye, gathbandhan ke liye." the pandit instructed. Anika got up and was about to move forward when Niharika grabbed her harshly. "Where do you think you are going? The pandit has called for the groom's sister and that's Tanya. You are just an illegitimate child." Niharika said angrily and tightened her grip around Anika's arm. The other relatives heard Niharika's words and started gossiping, as they didnt know who Anika was. The stare's were making Anika uncomfortable and Niharika's grip was bruising, but what hurt her more were her words. "Let her go, Mrs. Goenka. You are hurting her." Advaith said in a cold voice as he stood beside Anika. He was furious at her words and Niharika let go of Anika's hand, taken aback by the coldness of his voice.

Anika quickly took back her arms, rubbing the bruised area. There was a clear imprint of Niharika's finger on her arms. By that time Shivani and Shivansh had also come there and were also furious with her. Niharika quickly came back to her senses and glared at all of them. Before she could say anything, Gayatri came there. She was waiting for Anika to come up to the mandap, and came to check on her when she didn't. "Chalo beta. Yahan kyun ruki ho. Pandit ji bula rahe hain." Gayatri asked, carefully observing the situation. She immediately understood that something had happened but decided to talk about it later as the rituals were the priority. Niharika couldn't take it anymore and turned towards Gayatri.

"Bhabhi, mana ki yeh ladki Ranvijay Bhaiya ki beti hai, par hai to unki najayaz aulad hi na. Aap isse ghar le ayi ye kafi nahi tha jo abh isse sar pe chadha rahe ho. In bhaiyo ki ek lauti bahen Tanya hai, naki yeh vahiyat ladki." Niharika said angrily, as she couldn't stand the fact that a bloody outsider held more importance than her own daughter. "Enough Niharika. Aaj bol diya. Don't you dare to insult my daughter again, varna mujhse bura koi nahi hoga." Gayatri warned. Although her tone was normal, her eyes were blazing with fury. That was the second time in the past few minutes that Niharika was taken aback. She had never seen Gayatri this angry and it scared her.