True Side

Chapter 1

I sit amongst everybody, girls dancing and men at the bar counter helping themselves with a glass of their own choice. One of my relatives pulls me up to dance with the rest of them. As soon as I stand up people start cheering for me.

Though I have danced in many weddings, dancing in my own wedding is embarrassing. I stand up and start dancing with the others. Just then my phone beeps indicating a message.

I go to my phone and see the message. As expected it is Rishi. 'Come to the backyard where the chairs and tables are piled up. Missing you.'

I smile to myself. I look around to see if anybody is observing me, then I slowly slip away from the function hall. I go outside the guest house towards the backyard searching for Rishi.

Just then someone holds my hand and pulls me. I see Rishi's face, so close to me I could almost feel his breath on me. He moves a bit away and I say "Can't you wait for two more days, you can do these officially."

Rishi smiles and says "No, I hope I can marry you right now."

I push him by his face and say "Shut up."

He smiles. I say "We waited for two years and just in two days we are going to be one."

He nods and says "True. I am really happy. I am counting every minute". Just then I see someone standing there. It is Rishi's elder brother Deva. He is chuckling under his breath. I move away from Rishi.

Deva stops chuckling and says "You guys carry on. I will leave."

Rishi frowns and says "You shameless fellow, can't you understand. I met her yesterday morning and again today night. On name of marriage they are not allowing us to meet. And you came and disturbed everything."

Now Deva starts laughing loudly at his brother's words. He says "I am sorry. I am going and I won't tell anyone about this."

He goes away. Rishi says "So where have we stopped?"

Before I could say anything Rishi gets a message. He checks the message and says "Nitya I need to go. I have a bachelor's party with my friends tonight. It will be late for me."

I fold my arms and say "You will drive the car drunk?"

Rishi pats on my cheek and says "I won't drink much, I promise". He leaves, leaving me there. I go inside. Songs are still playing in the guest house. I go into the guest house ,tiered by today's events. I go into my room.

I remove all the jewelry and change into my night gown. I wash off the make up and go onto the bed to sleep. Before switching off the bed light I text Rishi 'Come home soon and safe.'

He immediately texts back 'Sure'. I put the phone aside and slip into sleep. After few hours, I am woken up by a phone call from an unknown number. The truecaller displays it as Siddharth Varma. I pick up the phone fearing who it must be at the pitch of night.

"Hello, who is it?"I ask in fear.

"Mam I am Siddharth, SI of Jubilee Hills police station. I found a white Swift Desire with registration TS 09 AJ 5788 burnt due to petrol leak and found a corpse burnt in it. When we searched the owner of the car I found your name."

I drop the phone onto the ground, Siddharth's 'hellos' coming out of it. I sit on the floor and pick up the phone and put it to my ear and say "Yes, I am there.'

Siddharth says "I am sorry about it madam but I request you to come here."

I cut the call and rush outside, bumping and throwing almost everything that came in my way. What, Rishi died? No. it is not true, it can't be true.

COMING UP: I go behind him to see what is left of Rishi. I let out a shout looking at the burnt corpse which was supposed to be the man who was going to marry me.