Love Punishment

||6. Swara Sanskar Maheshwari||

"When there's marriage without love, there will be love without marriage."

- Benjamin Franklin

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The streaks of light through the curtains plummet on Swara's face causing her eyes to flutter open, she found herself lying on the floor. Her eyelids were heavy due to a lack of sleep. Snippets of yesterday's incidents flashed into her mind. Last night was terrible for her. After crying a lot, she did not realize when she slept.

Just a few days ago, she was preparing for her sister's wedding and now she was going to be a bride! Till yesterday running errands, now bride she sits on her knees, whining. "Why me? Why God you have done this to me? Why?" She growls hearing someone knocking on the door.

"Shona open the door and get ready soon. It's an important day in your life." Her mother said from outside. She stares at the door.

Important day?

Indeed, it's an important day. She's going to get married. Like all girls, she also had many dreams about her wedding. One day, just in one day her life twirled chaotically. She's getting married. But not to a person with whom she dreamt of spending her whole life.

Her thought was interrupted by a constant knocking sound. She moved towards the door like a frightened child and opened it making her mother enter the room.

"Wear this Swara. Get ready soon." Her mother hands over her the wedding dress. Then walked out of the room. Swara looked at the dress. It was in red with golden work. A painful smile twitches on her lips, it reminds her of someone whom she's going to deceive.

****

Swara enters the college wearing a red sensuous white netted Anarkali. All boys' eyes are laid on her admiring her beauty whereas her eyes are searching for someone else. She didn't find the person whom she wanted to meet.

While walking near the stairs, the rose petals shower on her like rain. She stood there feeling those rose petals falling on her. Glancing up, she saw familiar eyes staring at her descending stairs with a wide smile.

"Sahil"

Sahil smiles at her and gives a banquet of roses to her. Swara stares at him. Rose petals continue to fall on them while they share a deep eyelock.

Sahil hugs her saying "I love you, Swara."

Swara's lips crept to smile. She reciprocates a hug, "I love you too Sahil."

"You look beautiful in this red suit. Red suits you well. I love to see you always in red." Sahil said.

Swara turns to crimson red hearing it. "Sahil...." Swara said hiding her blushing face by hand.

"Someone is blushing here," Said Sahil, winking at her. Hearing it, Swara hit him playfully.

"Come. We have to go to class." Said Swara, to avoid his teasing.

"No, I'm taking my princess in red to the outing. Come my cutie." Sahil said, interrupting her. He grabs her hand with him. They go for an outing.