What if the first...?

CHAPTER - 05

THIRD PERSON P.O.V:-

"What the heck is this game of rules of you villagers! Yes, I broke it! I did it so that I don't force her into something! But you people! Doing the exact opposite by forcing us in this marriage!", Arjun spoke angrily standing in the open maidan in front of the panchayat which was sitting under the huge banyan tree which had spread itself vastly.

"You do not understand what grave sin you're doing by breaking all these rules and finding ways to get away from this marriage, young man!", A man on the left of the mukhiya spoke countering him angrily. "We are older than you! with more than double of your experience in life, we know the best!", the other man from the panch followed up.

"By forcing a marriage? I brought her here to save her life when she was injured and unconscious! I have no relations with her! Even that girl agrees with the fact of not knowing me before! Leave everything related to me! Are you all going to force her too? ruin her life? This is not how our shashtras have taught us to treat women!" Arjun spoke against them. "A woman has whole right over choosing the partner she wants!"

"We want what's good for you and that girl too, young man." Finally, the head of the panchayat spoke. "Tell me, her condition when you had brought her here, with scratches, incomplete clothing, was it not questionable?"

"The missing dupatta makes no sense to your accusations! she was injured, she told she had fallen in the river, it might have been lost-" Arjun reasoned before being interrupted by the head of the panch. "Fine, but do you not think that her family will doubt her after she's missing for two nights? They do not know what happened to her. Don't you think the society will doubt her purity seeing the injuries on her and considering her being missing for two days?"

"I-", Arjun was with no answers for a while and the head of the panch continued. "We both, infact all here know the answers to it. The society tends to doubt everything they see. If you do not accept that girl, the society will not too. and what will happen to her life when that happens? Her life's quality depends on you, young man."

Arjun was left in thoughts and doubts on himself in his mind. Will it be dharma what he does? will he really help her or ruin her life by bringing her with him? He also knew how the society can be, but what about the dangers in his family?

SCENE SHIFT TO WHERE THE BRIDE WAS KEPT:-

She was surrounded by women trying to make her understand what was supposed to be done while she was trying to reason with them. She was worried... worried about the man who had tried to listen to her wishes and help her.

"But this is totally not sensible! Why would you all get me married to him? and what has he done wrong? He saved me!", she spoke up to them.

"When he brought you here, judging by your clothes, you do not belong here do you? You do not understand how our society works. You seem too unknown to the workings of this world young lady. We're doing this to save your reputation. No one here doubts your purity, but when you go out in the world after being missing for two nights, with those scratches... the society will surely doubt your purity. They will question you and will make your life miserable here." An older woman spoke.

"but-", she spoke up but was interrupted with the door opening and someone speaking. "Prepare her for the wedding, the groom's ready. The wedding will be done in two hours from now. The panchayat has made its decision, Get ready all of you too."

.... Silence filled the room....

--------------------------------------------------------------

Word count- 647 words complete

Hey dear cherries! Fifth chapter's here, I hope you all like it. Will be back with the new chapter soon! Love you all!