New Innings

Part 1

She lapped her pleats for the last time before coming out of room. Her mother gasped at the sight whereas her father kept looking at her with admiration, at his daughter's taste.

"Minerva!" Her mom almost yelled. She yet could not believe her fashion designer daughter, who not just designed clothes but also owned a boutique was dressed in a normal 'dhakai' and a bun. Is she going to attend the wedding like this?

"Ma, we are going to attend a wedding. And not my swayambar!" Minerva retorted back. Her mom glared; where as her father gave a hearty laugh. Well, the young 27 years aged girl wasn't very wrong. In fact she was very much near to what her mom intended.

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Minerva shook her head as her mom went on mourning over her failed plans. Oh, their family friends Guptas' eldest son was getting married today. She had dreamed that caring, daring, loving and all the good 'ings' boy would be marrying their daughter someday! But last month when peon handed her the wedding card, the castle broke that she had made in the air. And for this she had only blamed her daughter, who had cared about her lively life. Colourful career, friends, everything but not Dhriti.

Dhritiman Gupta. The eldest son of the Guptas, the groom of the wedding they were going to attend tonight, who had every quality that a girl would love to have in her partner; a mother would love to have in her son; and a lady would love to have in her son-in-law. Mrs. Roy, as in Minerva's mom was not to be blamed. But to her ill luck, her exceptionally good girl was never interested in him.

Roys and Guptas have been friends since their early marital days. Both the families were neighbours during their stay in Amaravathinagar in Tamil Nadu.. Roy and Gupta were colleagues working for Tiruppur District, where the Amaravathi Dam is situated. Being the only Bengalis there they grew close and which with time, became forever. Gupta was already married, and his wife pregnant with Dhriti, when Roy got married. Roy's wife had soon taken this Gupta family into liking, and the plan for getting their kids hitched were instantly planned, as soon as Mrs Roy gave birth to the all lovely-lively Minerva. Even this name was given my Mrs. Gupta, meaning goddess of wisdom in Roman.

But somehow, the kids didn't grow up together. Minerva was brought in the heart of Kolkata, with her cousins at her Uncle's place whereas Dhriti was brought up in Amaravathi only. With time, Minerva became a fashion designer and Dhriti cracked the IPS examination and was now posted in Kolkata. The parents tried to put these two kids together but Minerva never cared, and Dhriti was too busy building up a career, and.....

And some 3 months back Dhriti informed his parents about his relationship with his college friend. Thus, this wedding! It was not that the parents were sad, but they knew, that their kids' dreams were different from theirs, and after all it was Dhriti's life. They could not force him to marry a girl, when he already announced that he was in love with someone else. And moreover, this wedding was not going to hurt anyone.

Minerva chuckled changing the gear, as her mother continued to say the same story of how the mothers had planned. And how her "don't care attitude" spoiled everything. "Aah! Hira.. stop it yr. A gem is there for our Minu too." her father tried another time to stop his wife's nags

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Soon the car pulled up in front of the Gupta mansion. Everyone chirped like anything. The pretty Minerva caught eyes of almost everyone.

Ridhhi or better Riddhiman, younger brother of Dhriti, stopped breathing. That black dhakai, red bindi, wavy locks ending into bun, those golden big jhumkas, simply wow! Ridhi almost decided to make her the next Gupta wife. And why looks? Who knew not about her glamorous career? Oh, what a business woman she has been!

Soon everyone rode the bus, the bus for the 'barati'. The Roys sat with the Guptas. Dhriti sat in the car send by the bride's family, accompanied by Ridhi, Minerva and another cousin, cracking jokes they started their journey.

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The groom's family was welcomed with scowl on their face, tears in their eyes. And the pin drop silent marriage hall, sending the whole Gupta clan out of their wits. What the hell has happened here?

After a lot of hustle bustle a girl, supposedly the bride's sister handed a paper to Dhriti. And few minutes later the whole family saw the smart IPS officer standing stiff, silently shedding tears. Riddhi snatched the paper from his brother and started reading. Minerva joined him...

"

Dhriti,

I know it's very late to take this decision, but better late than never. I always loved you and will always in future. But, I love my career too. I know you never had a problem with my working, but owing to your job, which has so frequent transfers, I can't cope up. To stay with you I had to leave the job, or we had to lead separated lives in different cities. I know, you agreed to that even. I know, you would let me work in a different city and come to meet me on holidays. I know everything, but you know what?? I don't want a life like this. I want a family, where I would stay with my husband, with my kids, and work too. I gave you time, may be you would realise what I actually wanted, but you never did. Amidst of all these our marriage got fixed. In fact you fixed it, without concerning me. So, I am sorry. I can't marry you. Yes, I love you.

Please don't blame my parents they knew nothing of it. I am doing this just for me. For, if I had married you, I would have died of suffocation of either staying away from you, or staying with you as a housewife.

Tiya.

"

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Soon the piece of paper passed hands. Riddhi held his brother who was staring to infinity with tears rolling down. The Gupta relatives got busy cursing and blaming the fled away bride's family. Minerva came forward to hold her Gupta Aunty.

The groom party came back after a couple of hours, yet shocked. Dhriti was not in his self. Five years old relationship and his love left him just like that. No logic worked. Did she ever love him? He went to his room and locked from inside. Everyone banged the door, scared! Soon Ridhi, and another male cousin together broke the door and there was Dhriti, lying on the floor with his wrists slit. Bleeding! Oh shit!

Mrs. Gupta lost her nerve seeing her son like this. The ambulance was called and he was shifted soon. Not much blood had drained, but yet!

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The doctor announced Dhriti was out of danger, it was then when Mr. Gupta joined his hands in front of his oldest friend, begging for his son's life and the hope he could see then!

And in a fort night Minerva Roy became Minerva Dhritiman Gupta!

A/N: THANK YOU SO SO MUCH FOR READING THIS. PLEASE DO DROP YOUR VIEWS AND KINDLY VOTE FOR THIS STORY, AS IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. LOVE LOVE <3 THANKS IN ADVANCE.