Tu Jo Mila

Forced marriage

Neil 's Wedding procession arrives at Mitali's house. Mitali's relatives & father welcome them wholeheartedly. Bebe sees DD with them.
Bebe: You are already here! You were supposed to come with us.
DD: I needed to help Joydeep ji, am I right?
DD asks Joydeep and he agrees happily.
Joydeep: Of course. He helped me with a lot of things. Acha beta hei.

Neil mechanically did the rituals performed at their arrival.
Neil in mind: All are happy except me! I don't know what is Mitali's condition. I need to talk to her. Before the function.

Neil signals DD to come over.
DD: yes Mr. Groom.
Neil: I need to talk to Mitali. It's urgent.
DD gulps. DD: can it wait?
Neil: No! I told you. It's urgent. Where is she?
DD: she... she is upstairs. The second room on the left.
Neil: Ok. Listen, you should distract others so that they won't notice me going to see Mitali. If someone asks. Lie to them. Ok?
DD nodes nervously.

In the room, avni was so tensed.
Avni: I hope Mitali reached near Ali safely.
She tries Sunehri's phone but she is not picking up. She tries Ali and Mitali's phone but no one picks up.
Avni: Did something bad happen? Why is everyone not picking their damn phone? I think this was really a stupid idea. It is going to 7:15. It is pointless waiting here. I should go and check on them. But how am I going to leave now? She covers her face with veil opens the door to peek if anybody is present in the corridor. As soon as she opens the door, Neil comes in
front of her. Avni could neither utter a word nor she could move an inch.
Neil: Mitali... I am sorry, if I scared you. Please let me in. I need to talk.
Avni didn't budge. She stood there shocked. Thank God she was covering her face.
Neil: Please Mitali. We need to talk.
Neil got inside the room and Avni moved aside. Neil locked the room.
Neil: Mitali.... I know everything is happening so soon.... are you....
Suddenly Neil feels something strange. Is this Mitali? Why does she looks like Avni? Or is it because Avni always occupies my mind that I feel this?
Neil: Are.. you...
Avni in mind: I can't prolong this drama. Better tell him the truth.
She romoves her vail.
Neil eyes widened in shock. He rubbed his eyes. Is he hallucinating?
Avni: Mitali... is not here.  She left. She..loves..
Neil: What are YOU doing here?
Avni: Look, she was forced for this alliance...
Avni got interrupted by Neil again! He stepped closer to Avni and she stepped back feeling intimidated.
Neil: I am asking you what are you doing in Mitali's room wearing her wedding lehenga  just before our marriage.
Avni lost her words. Her throat went dry. How will she make him understand what is happening?
Neil: I can't believe this.  You were going to cheat me and all others gathered here.
Neil  held Avni's shoulder in anger.
Neil: Answer me, damn it! Sach sach batao, kya kiya tumne mitali ke sath?
Avni: Neil please chodo mujhe. Mene kuch nahi kiya h Mitali ko.
She cringes with pain and humiliation. She , never in her wildest imagination,  thought that she would be in a position like this.
Neil: You are such a shameless girl. How could you cheat me? Leave it, how could you cheat your best friend? You don't even deserve to be called as friend.

That's it. Avni lost her temper. She pushed Neil in anger.
Avni:Stop it! Nahi mein Mitali ko cheat kiya nahi tumhe. She is best friend.  I wouldn't do anything to harm her. I was just helping her. Did you hear what I said. She left with her lover, Ali.
Neil: kya? Mitali... and Ali?
Avni:(gasping) ha. They have been in love. Joydeep uncle was against them and he forced Mitali to marry you.
Neil is lost in thought for a few seconds.  He remembers that Mitali was always sad during the functions.

Neil: Tho Mitali ko pehle hi mujhe sab batadena chahiye tha. Why she didn't tell me anything.  I could have stopped all these.  Everyone is waiting outside for the wedding.  This is unacceptable!  Now, me and my family are also got dragged into this mess and humiliation.
Avni:  Tum ko humiliation ki padi h? You are impossible! Her father was blackmailing her that he will kill Ali if she wouldn't obey him.  She was under house arrest. I am wondering how did you become oblivious to this. Everything was infront you. You couldn't talk to her before marriage openly? Oh, I forgot.  You came to talk very early actually,  minutes before marriage!
Neil averts his gaze and gnushes.
Neil: Fine. I get it. But, I  still don't get what are your intentions. You were here to deceive us. You were going to marry me?
Neil amused.
Avni: I am telling you. I was not here to marry you. I am not crazy to marry an arrogant prick like you.
Neil: What?
Then someone knocks the door. Avneil shocked & looks each other.
A lady calls from out side: mitali beta, darwaza kholo.
Another lady: It's time for the wedding. Open the door dear.
Neil(slowly): Gunghat dalo apna. (Wear you veil.)
Avni: what?
Neil cover Avni's face and head with veil & goes to open the door. Avni stops him and removes the veil. Avni: Hey, what are you doing. I need to escape.
Neil: Do you think it is possible to escape now? With all securities and relatives around? Just go with the flow.
Avni: What the hell are you talking? I will not let this happen.
Neil : Fine. Then go and tell everyone what are you doing here and where is Mitali.
Think what will happen to you, to Ali and Mitali?
Avni sighs in defeat. This can't happen.
Neil: What did you say, you will not marry an arrogant prick like me?  Now you can decide, either you can tell everybody the truth and wait for the aftermath or you can marry this arrogent Neil Khanna silently and save your friends. You were boasting about friendship no? Let's see how far you can go to save your friends.
Avni in anger:  You are a...
Someone again knocks.
Lady outside: Koi problem hei beta? Why is she not opening the door?
Avni is coerced to pull her veil . Neil gives a wicked smile & opens the door.
Lady: arey dulha yaha?
Another lady: This is bad omen Bride and groom can't meet before marriage like this.
Third lady: Leave it no, this is not olden times to think all these. Moreover they know eachother already. So what's the big deal?
She winks at Neil and ask: What were you doing here by the way.  Could not wait till night?
Neil gives a shy smile. 
Neil:Sorry aunty.
Ladies laughs. Avni rolls her eyes under the veil.Neil leaves soon.

Ladies tease bride thinking it is Mitali. Avni has no idea what to do. She just follow the ladies like a robot.

Avni in mind: God.. help me. Why are you putting me in the spot?  If someone comes to know that I am behind the veil, I can't imagine what will happen.  I have no other option than complying with what is going on.  But I am going to get married. This is awful.

Avneil stand face to face on the platform decorated with flowers and lights.  Avni can only see Neil's and her feets because of the veil.  They exchange 'varmala'.  The claps and happy hooting of people made Avni more nervous if it was possible.  Neil made a happy face.  He was relieved that he is not marrying Mitali after all and he enjoyed doing the rituals with Avni.  Avni did the phaire with Neil with wet eyes and shivering steps. She felt that she is disrespecting the marriage vows and the holy pyre before her.
After that Neil ties the Mangalsutra then he feels some thing fell on his hand. He realizes that it was Avni's tears.

She was crying!? 

That thought shook Neil.  He never expected Avni to cry. She was too strong to cry over this.  What is the big deal?  They are just performing the rituals just like actors in films and all.  This is not real.  He was asked to put vermilion on Avni's hairline.  He did it carefully so that no one sees Avni's face. 

Neil looked at his father, bebe and mother.  All are really happy.  Guilt began to crawl into his conscience.  This was his real wedding not some fake scene from a movie. He looked at Avni beside him. He did marry her for real and it was forced upon her.

After the rituals, Swetha was about to
remove the veil from Avni's face but Bebe stoped her.
Bebe: Nahi Swetha abhi nahi. Let's do 'muh dikhayi ki rasam ' at home.
Swetha: Ji bebe.
Avni follows the rituals of her final bidding from home.  She is guilty that she is doing all this with some other family not with her family. She hates her circumstances,  she hates Neil and she hates herself for going through all these.

Avneil enter into Neil's car which is also decorated beautifully.
As soon as the car moves Avni removes her veil. Neil was about to console her but when he looked, Avni's face was red in anger.
Avni: I hate you. You manipulated me to do this. How could you?
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

Neil searches for words that can calm her but couldn't.
Neil: I... I 'm really sorry Avni.. but whatelse we could do.  There were people outside Mitali's room.  How could you escape?Avni: Sorry?  This was not supposed to happen.
Neil: I know Avni, but.. it happened no?Avni: Do you even know what we did? We deceived your parents,  my parents, all people who were present there, even the God!

Neil: Calm down Avni... It was not our fault...completely.   It was because of Joydeep uncle.
Avni: Whatever, but I am the one suffering now.
Neil: You are not alone even I am in this too.  You know... we can.. make this work. We can rectify everything. I will talk to our parents.
Avni: Talk what? For God sake, don't do anything further.  Already your mother hates me and now everyone will hate me. Stop the car.
Avni to driver: Stop the car now please.
Driver stops the car. Avni comes out of the car and began to walk but Neil comes in front of her.
Neil: Avni... please.. let's talk. I am ready to accept this marriage.
Avni: But I am not.  LET ME GO.
Neil hold her hands to console her.
Avni shouts: Don't touch me. I told you I don't accept this marriage and I will never accept it.

To be continued.
Thank you for reading. Please Vote if you like this story. Please comment your opinions.
I update the story weekly.