by Shailly Jain
Dropping her at home, he left to plan the rest. Lying in the bed she thought the moment has passed forever. If she was waiting for him to magically appear, he did. He came to say something and she turned him down. Her life is going to be without him, the thought struck her hard. She broke into sobs in the solitude of her room.
Why doesn’t he walk away like before? She can’t handle the thought of putting both family’s reputation before her own needs. She is going to do right by everyone. Sleep didn’t come easily, but when it did it overtook her sorrow.
********
Rubbing her eyes, she sat up there are so many voices. Vishaka aunty is ordering everyone to keep things in place. Ayushi, Sarah, and Vicky are all smiles. Vicky cheerfully shouted - Hey, see the bride is up, let the celebration begin. Pushing her towards the bathroom smiling, clean up fast you have a long day ahead. Splashing the cold water to reduce swelled eyes. Other than Sarah everyone is leaving for the venue. Kissing Sia, Vishaka aunty ordered - Be quick kids.
Sia knows Something is going on. Sarah’s goofy smile implies the mystery will unfold itself. The dress took her breath away, the white gown is stunning. The white frill of the gowns looks like flowing water. Sia quizzically asks, What’s all this?. Rahul has planned something for you, Sia.
Sit down and let me do my magic, Sia. She doesn’t have the energy or mood to disagree with Sarah over anything. Putting on the dress, she closes her eyes. Sarah is done with makeup, putting on the shoes she is all-ready. Sia clutched the shiva’s necklace, It’s my mothers don’t remove it. Put on these earrings and then you can admire my work.
She cant believe her own eyes seeing the reflection. Sarah has taken her sweet time but turned her into a cinderella. Other than the sadness in her eyes, everything is picture perfect. Hugging Sarah, she is all ready to see the surprise. Let’s get going.
********
The venue looks like somebody has stolen a page from princess diaries. The Teal sea can be seen until the end of the world. White tent and chairs for guests, center stage to take the vows. White roses and lilac flower decoration gate is beyond beautiful. The winds are giving it a mystical view. Enchanted with its beauty she remembered this in her dream décor. She panicked seeing the wedding arrangements. Sarah handed her to her father. She gained strength by just looking at him. She is going to do this because its the honorable thing to do.
Walking down the aisle, she saw Karan at the center stage. Closing her eyes she scolded herself - Accept your reality, daydreaming will not help. Rahul’s love is enough, it should be. Focusing back she clutches necklace. Seeing Rahul in the first row, her shock overtook. What’s happening? Uday took her hand in his, Sia everyone should marry for love. Seeing her confusion, Karan started walking towards her.
She ran away grabbing the hems of her skirt. Karan and Rahul left behind her. Grabbing her in a twirling movement Karan closes her in his arms. Sia don’t walk away, listen to me once love. Last night after you left we both had a discussion. He took her in the flashback-
Sia loves you. I was startled to hear the words from Rahul. He deep down knows I love you back. Any blind man can also see that. Rahul explained you will go with this wedding for both the families
His exact words were - Sia is going to destroy all three lives, propose her for once and all.
I was all confused- If he knows all of this, why is he marrying you?
He recites Rahul’s words. It’s Sia, I am in love with the woman since she walked in my life. She can win anyone’s heart with a smile and, I lost mine every day growing up. If she says no to you, I will be the happiest person. Her smile is missing for the past few days. Seeing, you today it’s clear - she will never be mine fully. I am doing right by her, and it’s killing me.
I can relate to the feeling of doing right by you. In the past days, I thought I was complying with your wish. But if you love me, why are you marrying this fool. The biggest question is - What’s holding you back?
Rahul explained - She can’t say no to my father, he blackmailed her, into marrying me sort of. She is giving you what you want in her way.
Karan smiles, I want you to propose at that time only Sia. But both of us know you deserve a better way and the family guests are still downstairs. So I have to wait all night.
She punched him hard in the gut. All of this is a joke to you. You have the audacity to come here today. Plan to Marry me without even asking me first. Don’t you remember, you ran away without giving a reason? Making plans for your future.
She fiercely moves to Rahul. I know, I feel obliged to your father, but say it once and I Will set you free. If you want to get rid of me, you just have to ask. Believing in you is what I have done since childhood. But it doesn’t give you the right to decide for me. You went behind my back to form an alliance with him.
Grasping her in a hard kiss to calm the rage. The taste of her filled him with intense desire. She moaned with sensual excitement, controlling he moves back. Sia my grandfather died so I left in a hurry. From there it’s all down the hill. The animosity among the villages has taken a dreadful turn. Being the Mehra only living heir I got sucked into all that. Drenched in someone’s blood, I am not sure if it’s right to make you a part of all this. The burden of my past is mine to bear. Then you called, with all my heart, I wanted to say how much I love you. And Love, you declared me One-night stand.
Sia, I have done so many dreadful deeds in the name of Family. For some time, I thought it’s for the best. Sia Bharadwaj there is not a day spent without remembering your eyes, laugh, voice. Separated from you every moment feels like death. The agonizing pain I felt is unbearable. You are right, I should have gone the old way. Sia Bharadwaj here come to your 7 promises-
I will keep your happiness before mine.
I will keep you safe whatever it takes.
I will consider your family as my own.
I will love you and only you, till the end of my life.
I promise that from now on, I will fight for you, not with you.
I will bare your guitar playing with a smile without complaining.
I promise you that your command is mine to carry out. I am offering you myself.
Will you marry me, Sia?
Seeing her slowly moving back, his heart sank. She softly looks down, Karan, You are not on your knees. Where is the ring?
Immense relief took over him. Pulling out the ring, he got on one knee. Will you marry me, my love?
Yes, I will be Mrs. Mehra or Mrs. Singh. Whatever you wish me to be.
Captivating her in a compassionate kiss, to claim her. He lost the sense of place and time. All that matter is in his arms and committed to him for this lifetime.
Rahul doesn’t want to intrude on the lovely couple but it is necessary. Guys, we have a wedding to attend and surprisingly it can’t happen without you two. Sia eyed both of them with a mischievous smile. I have a few wishes before proceeding to festivities. Name them Love it’s your day. Taking Rahul’s hand, I want you as my best man. You are really the best man in my life. I will walk down the aisle with both of our old men.
The ceremony is beautiful but Sia’s heart leaped at the look in his eyes. Karan at the end of the aisle is looking at her in the same way as she has always dreamt of. I pronounce you man and wife. Softly kissing her on the lips he moved back. Khadoos Are you really shy to kiss me properly in front of our elders?. Holding her little closer to whispers, I am not sure I will be able to stop Mrs. Singh. She blushed at the thought of what to come at night. the nights to come.
Their tangle tale with a twist is up with a happy ending.
What lays ahead is a mystery for the coming days…………………..
Epilogue
After a month:-
Sia is happy with the love of her life. The only problem is security outside the room is making her nervous. She has started to feel like a captive sometimes. When she has mentioned it to Karan, he told her about the time he spent in the village.
&nb
sp; He has given her a brief about the situation and enemies. She is worried about Aditya Sir, as is handling all the mess alone.
Rajeev passed by the window, he is the most trusted bodyguard. At least they can send him back to help. Thinking about Rajeev she smiles, he doesn’t things aloud most of the time. But care can be felt in his small gestures.
The first two weeks were fabulous. She still becomes shy remembering all the naughty things, they did to each other. Every day she is becoming more fond of her husband. But somehow she has underestimated his legacy. She hears the whisper among guards about life-threatening attacks. Sometimes she fears for the life of Karan.
She is missing the simple days. Nowadays, so many people are hovering around the house. Most of them are to keep them safe and some of them are there just getting trained.
Karan has sensed her misery and gifted her a laptop. But there is nothing much she can do from here. Still, it keeps her updated about the life of her friends and family.
Mostly she used it to call Rahul, he has visited a few times in last week too. Uncle Vikram has also visited her once and asked her to help with small projects. She is doing it for supreme digital as well as Aditya Sir’s firm.
Aditya Sir or she should start calling him father. As he has pointed it several times during their chats. All of them are trying to keep her happy. But she feels the need to do something productive and challenging. She is tired of being on the sidelines with small projects. Working from home is no way similar to being present at the office.
Sia had a lot of time to catch up on past events during her free time. Sometimes she shares her dilemma with the newly wedded Rajeev and Ayushi. Who were having very different problems from her? They are currently looking for a new home in the city. She helped them with a few suggestions and then thought when she will have such normal problems in her life.
Like deciding drapes, cushions, linens, etc. Right, nowadays she only thinks of ways to get out of here.
She has talked to Gaurav and spent yesterday afternoon at company premises. Its the only place where guards leave her alone, as Karan is present.
She wants to make it a permanent solution, which is not possible. Because Karan thinks when he is not around, she is not safe there. She needs to understand the root of all this paranoia before she becomes a Captivated Bride…..
Karan is taking her to his family home in the village. She is very excited to meet Karan’s side of the family. There is tiny hope that things will be better……………………………………………
