𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟎'𝐬. 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝟐𝟎 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟐.
♛┈⛧┈┈•༶𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙝 𝙍𝙖𝙜𝙝𝙪𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞༶•┈┈⛧┈♛
He was the son of the sarpanch of the village. Although he had a...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Hum karenge vihaa" Devesh announced, A smile threatened to appear on Maya Devi's face.
As known or unknown, he had to do the things for which he was fighting and the most important problem of this village 'child marriage'. It practiced on daily basis here and Maya Devi sponsored it.
["I will marry her"]
It was irony to see the contrast, a family members fighting against all the wrong norms and on the other side a member was not just supporting but by funding promoting it.
It was not like devesh was not protesting against it but Maya devi had power, she was manipulative, cunning, and appeared as a perfect Villainess.
But Devesh, with the help of his knowledge and determination power had stopped many child marriages, and it was jarring Maya.
So she made him broke his own principles, by manipulating him.
"Hame pta tha hamare Dev kisi ke saath kuch bura nahi hone denge" Maya devi praised him while smiling and hugged her, soon the smile transformed in to smirk.
["I knew my dev will not anything wrong happen in front of himself"]
Meanwhile, Radhika sat in silence during the ride home, her eyes welling up with tears. She pleaded with her father, "What did I do? Why is everyone ignoring me?" But he met her questions with disgust, turning away.
Nirmala's venomous taunts pierced the air, "You're shameless, Radhika. A curse to our family." Radhika's quivering lips and tears only seemed to fuel Nirmala's malice.
As they entered the house, Rampal's anger boiled over. His slap struck Radhika's left cheek with brutal force, sending her crashing to the floor. Her mother emerged from the kitchen, already aware of the situation. The gossip had spread like wildfire, and Radhika's heart sank.
"Where is your decency?" Rampal thundered. "You've brought shame to our family!"
Radhika cowered, her face burning from the slap and the weight of their scorn.
Radhika's mother, Kumkum devi rushed to her side, helping her up "please chhod dijiye bacchi hai galti ho gayi" Her voice trembled while gazing down.
["Please, leave her she is child, and children make mistakes"]
Kumkum's face was half veiled, she was trembling yet protecting her daughter from Rampal's wrath.
"Bacchi? Jab waha chote thakur ke saath rashleela kar rahi thi tab ye bacchapana kaha gya tha" Nirmala spat Venomously.
["Child? When she was having affair with chhote thakur then when the childness went?"]
Kumkum opened her mouth to say something and support her daughter but got cut off by Rampal's voice "kal vihaa hai iska, chhote thakur ke saath" And stranded outside the house in anger.
Nirmala gave them a stink expression and also left from there.
"Maa, kya hua? hamne kuch kia hai kya?" Radhika asked while crying her lips quivering badly.
Kumkum's also started crying seeing her daughter's suffering, she didn't even deserve.
Kumkum shook her head and made her sat on the bed while wiping her tears.
["Maa. what happen? Did I do something wrong?"]
"You haven't done anything wrong but they must have developed their mind in sewage." Kumkum said, seeing and experiencing the villager's cruel behavior and their sick mindset.
Radhika broke down into cries and hugged her mother tightly, finding solace in her mother's warm hug.
It says when you feel low, the only person who make you look at your worth is your mother.
***
Radhika shimmered in her crimson saree, minimal makeup accentuating her natural glow. The handmade red bindi on her forehead seemed to pulsate with her excitement. Kajal-lined eyes sparkled, and rosy cheeks radiated joy.
"Maa, dekh ye kaise khan khan awaj kar rahe hai," Radhika giggled, waving her hands, the red bangles jingling melodiously.
Kumkum's eyes welled up, a lone tear escaping. She saw her innocent daughter's happiness, but fear and sorrow lurked beneath. The bangles' sweet chime masked the suppressed screams of women, victims of societal cruelty.
["Maa, see how they are creating a sound"}
Radhika twirled, anklets singing in harmony, oblivious to the weight they carried for some women - shackles binding dreams, freedom, and aspirations.
"Maa, ab se hum roj ye payal pehnenge aur pure ghar mai dhod lagayenge," Radhika chirped.
Kumkum's gaze fell on the anklets, symbolic fetters for many.
["Maa, I will wear it everyday and ran in the house."]
The village woman's voice pierced the moment"Jaldi laao dulhan ko, muhrat nikla ja raha hai."
Kumkum nodded, adjusting her veil, and together they proceeded toward the Mandap.
["Come fast, the divine time is passing."]
As they walked: The scent of incense and blooming flowers filled the air, the sound of chanting and instruments created a sacred ambiance, Radhika's excitement was palpable, but Kumkum's heart remained heavy.
Meanwhile Devesh was cladded in simple sherwani, his face devoid of any expression, but inner the flood of thoughts making him feel anxious, the thought of marrying a minor developing a hurricane inside him. The man who had sat high morals for himself were now breaking it on its own.
"Vadhu Var ko jaymala pehanaye" the priest announced making him come out of his trance, but he didn't even move from his place.
Radhika was stood there with a boon garland in her hand. She was trying to approach him to put the garland around his neck but her 4 feet 9 inch height was too small in front of 6 feet man.
She jumped little at her place so she could reach at his height but nothing like this happen so she pouted her lips and grabbed some part of her pajama and pulled it to gain his attention.
Devesh again lost in his thoughts didn't respond so Radhika bent down and severely pinch his feet. Devesh hissed and bent his upper body to reach his leg and to rub that area to sooth the pain.
Grabbing the opportunity Radhika put the garland around his neck and started clapping with her small hands excitedly. Devesh still in shock stood there so his badi maa came and helped him on completing the ritual.
With teing the mangalsutra around her neck and filling her mid partition with Vermilion, in whole process he didn't even glance at her.
The last sentence of priest "Vivaha sampann hua" Made them tied in sacred vows.
["Marriage is completed"]
___________________________________________ Hope you loved the chapter:
