Samjhota [The Compromise]

1. The Hateful First Encounter

[Warning: Unedited]

"Marriage is that beautiful dream that every girl nurtures in her heart, but what if that very night becomes the most terrifying night of her life?"

The eyes glittering with the pearls of the gloominess shower the tears that roll down her face, beholding the reflection of herself. Never did she ever imagine that the bridal attire that adorns her would only bring hatred with itself drenched in impending doom. The flashes of the moments of bliss she spent with Arya, appear in front of her eyes causing mere suffering to her heart. "No, I can't do this wedding!!!" Vaani utters, the cold metal of the naath (nose ring) brushing against her red lips upon which the tears rolled down akin to a river. She lowers her eyelashes to the tiny bottle enwrapping poison in its glass, whose frostiness struck her mehendi-decked hands, adorned with hath-pool and diamond rings. "Tonight, this wedding will only lead to your downfall, Shaurya Singhania. You're full of ego, aren't you? But tonight, everything will shatter and crumble. The love you took from me, you will never have it too." She swears vengeance but the moment the door swings open her gaze instantly drifts to it. On the notice of her sister Sneha's arrival, the hand grasping the bottle quickly finds its way beneath the solace of the dupatta. Steps taken towards vaani only drop her lips, fading the smile away. "Vaani, today is the most beautiful day of your life, and it's your birthday too. At least today, there should be a smile on these lips."

"You all snatched my smile away, Dee. You took Arya, my love, from me—so what happiness is left?"

"Vaani, now nothing can be done. Now, You just have to go to the mandap and embrace this relationship."

"Dee please" her voice breaks, yet she proceeds with the last attempt to convince her sister to understand her at least for once." Dee, you know what kind of person he is. Please, Dee, I don't want to marry Shaurya. He's an appalling, cruel person. Please, Dee, stop this wedding. I love Arya." her folded hands touch her forehead with the tears breaking down into a sob echoing into the room. Though Sneha felt pity for her sister's state, little was anything in her hands. "Vaani, I've worked hard for my degree, and I won't ruin my career just because of you or let restrictions be placed on my life. It's better if you stop this behaviour and quietly go marry Shaurya. If you dared to love Arya, then you should've thought earlier about the consequences your actions can bring too." Sneha rebukes lifting the heavy beaded dupatta off the bed. "Vaani, don't tell Shaurya about your affair with Arya. Let this new beginning take away the gloominess of the past, If you tell him, there will only be distance and hatred. Wouldn't it be better if this marriage is filled with love instead?" Though her sister made every endeavor to push her to understand but little was vaani willing to let go of the love which consumed her heart.

"Dee, I have my exam the day after tomorrow. Please try to understand me. My dream will shatter; I want to become a nuclear scientist, Dee. This marriage will ruin me, break me apart. Why can't you understand?"

"Vaani shut up!!!" a single yell almost jerks her into silence. The dupatta is placed on her head, having it pulled below her face concealing the fist that shook in rage with eyes drowning in tears which seethed, Vaani determines to destroy everything.

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A few days ago,

The clouds swayed away from the night sky bringing it to be clear, lending the opportunity to glance at the starry sky having its glitter all over. Captivating the excitement and elation in her heart, Vaani walks down the golden light-bathed path whose opening provides the entrance to the lake. With a single desire in her heart to get a single glance of Arya overpowers with the distance declining between her and the lake. The 12th board exams though were ongoing yet the 5 days gap in the last exam lent Vaani and Arya moments to spend together, Never has she been separated from him for such a long time ever.