Married But...

Chapter - 8

"Amma... I don't want to marry so soon" I protested.

She smiled.

"Anu, we all discussed and finalized this date  and some arrangements have been started. So we can't change it"

"Kani amma.. (but mom) " I stopped.

Mom came to me and planted a kiss on my forehead.

"I have lot of work to do" amma said and went back to kitchen.

My wedding?  Next week? Hmm... my heart is happy but my mind.. um.. my mind has some questions. I think I should talk to him , while I was thinking I got a call. Smile made its way once again.

"Hai Anand" I said.

Ah.. hai!  How are you?"

"Fine"

We fell silent for a minute.

"Um.. ah... Anu  I wanted to tell you something really important" he said .

"What is that?"

" I want to talk to you personally so.."

"So...?"

"Shall we meet?" He asked.

I blushed " sure" I said.

"Ok then let's meet tomorrow at Balaji temple" he said and I agreed.

"Anu , please don't tell anyone about this" he requested.

"Ok but why"

"You will come to know soon"

Again we fell silent.

"Oye! Are you there? " He asked.

I smiled " hmm..."

"See you tomorrow" he said.

Suddenly I remembered something "Anand wait! I have to ask you something"

" Anu can we talk about it tomorrow?" He asked.

Umm... ok bye"

"Bye"

It was evening weather was cool . I sat near window and played my favorite songs. The cold breeze was touching my face gently. I imagined about my marriage with Anand and then Nikki suddenly pushed my room door hard and ran into the room. She was sweating, breathing heavily, her face clearly showed that she was afraid and worried at the same time. Seeing her my legs shivered.

"Aa... a... Anu" 

"Nikki? Is everything ok ? " I asked, quickly got up and placed my both hands on her shoulders.

She remained silent, struggling to breath "

"Nikki? I shaked her.

"Aa.. Anu" her voice was shaking.

Something was wrong I never saw Nikki in this state. I made her to sit and gave he a glass of water. When she finished it I asked her

"Nikki what happened? what's wrong?'

"Anu it's not about me it's about Lavanya"  she said worriedly .

"Lavanya?"

"Yes" she said and continued " you remember Anil?"

"I do"

Anil , Lavanya's  ex boyfriend. Lavanya came from a village for her studies. She stayed in hostel and worked hard.we don't know how she met him and how they fell in love. We never liked him but we used to tolerate him only for lavi ( Lavanya) . She was madly in love with him. There relationship came to an end when lavi found that he was cheating on her. When lavi declared breakup Anil warned that he would spoil lavi's life and then he would kill me and Nikki.

Me and Nikki, because it was us who caught him red handedly. we three got so scared, we took his warning so seriously that three of us stayed at my house together for a month and never dared to step out of the house. Later days and months passed he never came back into our lives.

"He is back!" She said.

"What??" I shouted.

"Nikki stood up  "yes Anu and... and... now he is blackmailing lavi"

"W-H-A-T??"

" He started doing this from last week . He had  all those private photos and messages which we deleted on that day"

" How is that possible? We deleted all of them on the day we caught him .isn't it?

"Yes but somehow he got them back and now" she stopped.

"And now? What? " I asked.

"He is saying if.. if... she don't give the money he demanded to then he would reveal everything to her parents"

I was shocked. I took a deep breath and asked

" How much amount is he demanding?" I asked.

"He asked 5 lakhs first. Lavi and I somehow managed and gave it on the day of your engagement"

I was shocked to hear it "why didn't you tell me?

"Because it was your special day and we don't wanted to spoil it" she said slowly.

That's why they disappeared on that day.

"But still, you should have told me" I said.

"We thought we would handle it but" she took a deep breath and continued "he didn't stop with that now he is demanding 20 lakhs"

"20 lakhs? How can we arrange it? Look Nikki that man is not going to stop his demands I think... I think we should do something" I said.

"No Anu we can do nothing. We don't have a choice, lavi is so scared I'm worried about her . She is facing such a big problem"

"We have to support her Nikki. Let's meet her" I said and I was about to leave the room Nikki stopped me.

"Anu"

"Ha.."

"Before that you have to know something" she said.

"What is left now?" I asked.

"La... lavi attempted for suicide"

A deadly silence occurred in my room.