Samjhota [The Compromise]

9: The Venom

"What happened to you?" his father, abhimanyu questions arriving just now after having made sure the preparations were to the point. 

"Nothing, it's just that it's my brother's wedding. I got emotional."

"Hmm. The cars are ready; we should leave."

Shaurya awaits everyone to leave while holding Arya's hand who stood there numb, having not even a single emotion reflecting on his face. Once they are isolated from everyone, Shaurya questions him.

"What happened to you?"

"Bhai, the girl I love so much has left me for her family!!!" Tears streamed down his face.

"Bhai, I love her so much!!! I can't live without her! She is my life!! After promising to stand by me, she left me!!!" He hugs him crying on his shoulder for the first time. Shaurya did get a jerk but embraced him.

"Maybe she had some compulsion."

"So, does that mean she will leave me all alone?" his eyes catch the sight of his phone lying atop the file. It shakes with constant vibrations as Ahana desperately attempts to call him. Shaurya pulls him back. His soft gaze only wanted a smile on his brother's face.

"If she left you, so what? The world is still moving!!! Nothing will stop because of her!! But if you let yourself get depressed over her love, you will destroy yourself. Nothing will change for anyone!! So forget her and move forward in your life. Life doesn't stop for anyone!!! Let those who want to leave, leave."

" bhai" Shaurya looks at the threshold of the mansion only to find his sister calling both of them to come. Once Arya departs, Shaurya grabs the phone and not even a second passes before he switches it off into the unconscious state, not wanting to heed to any of Ahana's nonsense.

The entire route Arya's eyes kept returning to his phone desperately hoping for a single text from Vaani at least, which never arrives.

The outdoor wedding venue at the 5-star hotel owned solely by Singhania's glimmers with the decor done to conform to their reputation. At the arrival of the wedding procession, a warm welcome is given by Vaani's family whose presence was already there at the hotel. Standing behind, a despondent Arya had his gaze lowered to the road.

"I wish you were with me, Vaani."

" bhai i am so happy for you" Raina expresses the joy and the excitement that could no longer be held back. She holds Rakhi's arm looking at Shaurya, whose face lacks even a subtle smile. Profound inside even she knew that in the depths of his heart only Ahana resided.

Gearing the car ahead, Ahana races the car down the road veering to its curve. Her mind only knew a single motive: to reach the venue and stop the wedding at any cost and notify Shaurya of her pregnancy. Her eyes widen in shock when the thoughts break and her headlights flash over a girl's face.

" mehak?" The name slips her tongue before the car can change its course to the sharp left.

Her heart thuds rapidly against her chest, with every step the tears that streamed down Vaani's face surged even more with gloominess. Walking beneath phoolon ki chadar, Vaani raises her moist eyelashes only to catch a glimpse of Shaurya through the net dupatta with a heavy border. He sat in the mandap not even paying attention to her. The coldness of the bottle struck her mehendi decked hands, which tightened its grip against the glass.

The jewellery chimes when she sits next to Shaurya and the wedding rituals begin with the pandit ji asking her to place her hand on Shaurya's. Vaani's grip tightens over the bottle in the clutches of her other hand. She swallows hard, feeling fearful of him. Seconds pass and her hand remains in her lap. Her breaths turn shallow. Ria gets to her feet on notice of Shaurya glaring ahead, with his hand already extended. She grabs Vaani's hand and gives it in Shaurya's. At the mere contact, his grip tightens, almost squeezing it. Chills of tremble shake her, aware of the fact that he indeed is dominating, ruthless, arrogant and the newly add on: a rapist and a murderer too. Refusing to abide by the orders of her family, she shoves his hand and gets to her feet. In a single shot the dupatta is pulled back. Tears roll down as her lips touch the bottle gulping it in a single shot. A wave of murmuring resonates throughout. Hit by the shock, Shaurya gets to his feet instantly watching her act. He curls his lips and snatches the bottle off her hold. The remnants of the thrashed bottle lie on the grass and for the first time Vaani stands in confrontation against Shaurya whose handsome face had the intense scowl, and fists shaken.

Never in a dream did she think of her birthday being so torturous. She turned 18 today and love went far from her reach. The person with whom the knot was to be tied to, was standing in front of her glaring at her. A gasp escaped her lips when Shaurya grabbed her wrist, holding it against her back.

"What happened? getting angry??? I was also angry when my marriage was fixed with you!!! I will never marry a person like you!!!!" Vaani yells spewing venom. his brows knit together somehow holding the outbursting anger.

"Let's see how you don't get married." Shaurya snaps.