Two Brothers: Shadows of Deception

Chapter 13

Shotgun Serendipity: A Wedding Story at Gunpoint

(Siddharth)

We were sitting inside the police jeep, and the silence was unbearable. The girl across from me looked like she had seen a ghost. I wanted to reassure her, to crack a joke and lighten the mood, but she seemed lost in her own world. I couldn't catch her gaze no matter how hard I tried. She had that "the world is about to end" expression, and I couldn't blame her. We were in a tight spot.

After what felt like an eternity, the jeep finally came to a stop. The policemen got out and exchanged hushed whispers. Then, the inspector approached us, gesturing for us to get out. She hesitantly took my hand, and together, we stepped out of the vehicle.

As I surveyed our surroundings, I realized something was amiss. Instead of a police station, we were standing in front of a building with grand steps leading up to it. The darkness obscured its true form, but the more I squinted, the more it resembled a temple. Wait a minute, why are we in front of a temple instead of a police station?

Confusion etched on my face, I turned to look at her, and to my surprise, she wore the same expression. One of the policemen approached us and guided us inside the temple. We followed, still uncertain of what was going on.

Inside, the inspector was engaged in conversation with an elderly man who appeared to be a priest. They glanced our way and smiled, as if they were privy to some inside joke. I furrowed my brow, trying to make sense of the situation. Why were we being regaled with tales inside a temple? Was the inspector having a midlife crisis? And what did any of this have to do with the police station?

Approaching us with a smile, the inspector said, "Don't worry, relax. We're not going to arrest you. I understand your situation. I've been there too. My wife and I eloped just like you two. We were madly in love, but our families didn't approve. So, we ran away on the eve of her wedding."

I let out a nervous chuckle. "That's quite the adventure you had. But, excuse me, why are we here in a temple instead of the police station?"

The inspector seemed lost in thought for a moment, then snapped back to reality. "Oh, right! Let me explain. I've arranged everything for your wedding here. I'll even give her away as a father, so she won't feel like an orphan on her special day."

My jaw dropped. "Wait, what?!" We both exclaimed simultaneously, shocked by the unexpected turn of events. The inspector seemed a bit taken aback by our reaction. He raised his hand to stop us from saying anything further.

"Marriage is a sacred bond, and it should be based on love and consent. We can't force it upon someone, even if the intentions are good." I tried to talk him out of this situation.

"Yes it is, that is why I am helping you with this." the inspector persisted, a wide grin stretching across his face. "More than that, today is my deceased wife's birthday, and I think she led me to you. So, I can help you with your problems. I think she wants me to be the reason you two are together."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This guy had taken the concept of playing matchmaker to a whole new level, and he seemed dead set on making it happen. Pun intended.

"Sir, I understand you want to fulfill your wife's wish, but let's think about this rationally," I began, my voice filled with a mix of earnestness and empathy.

"I don't want to hear any objections now. You two eloped to get married, right? Well, don't worry about your families. They won't be able to interfere once you're married. Since you don't have all the necessary documents, we'll have to arrange a marriage like this. No worries, you can register for it later. Now, let's get started with the rituals," he declared, a sense of pride and happiness evident on his face.