Rahul was looking at his shoes.. slightly flinching as he could see the daggers his parents were throwing at him through their eyes.

His father Mr Lokesh and his mother Mrs Rajeshwari were literally shooting daggers at him because of the news of his current affair with Nishi Agarwal.. Nidhi whom they both don't like since the time she and Rahul became friends though they knew they both are just friends that too because of some other common friends from Bangalore but they have been always very much clear about the thing that that girl should not come home with any relation be it friend and here she is named as their son's rumoured girlfriend.

Rahul: Mom.. Dad..

Rajeshwari: It's better you keep quiet Rahul. Haven't we asked you to stay away from that girl?

Rahul: I didn't know she was there in that party and she was with her boyfriend. Main bas mere friend ko wish karke aa gaya tha. Sirf usko post karne ke liye group pictures Leni thi to bas wahi liye the. Jo pictures leak hui hai woh cropped ki hui hai sach.

He hold his throat to give more impact to his words. It was not like he was telling a lie but he just wanted his parents to believe him.

Lokesh: We know you are telling the truth Rahul but you should know that we don't like such rumours about our son.

Rahul nodded in yes looking down. Lokesh was about to say something but he got a call on the landline and Rahul couldn't thank the almighty more as he knew his father would have grounded him if the distraction of the phone call had not happened.

Rahul (in mind): Yaar.. Yaha pe Dad and waha pe Vi Bhai, B-Ro and Mahi Bhai.. Ground karne ke liye sab ready hi rehte hai. Lekin main badmashi karta hoon tab hi karte hai lekin isme meri kya galati ki kisi ne crop karke mere aur Nidhi ke hi pics dale.. huh.. Lekin yaar at least Dad apne iss 27 saal ke ladke ko ground nahi karenge yahi bahut hai. Haash.. meri bike rides Bach gayi.

Lokesh disconnected the call and let out a sad sigh gaining Rahul and Rajeshwari's attention.

Lokesh: Kannaur se call tha.

Rahul: Gaau se kiska call tha Dad?

Lokesh: Woh Mahesh ka..

Rahul (happily surprised): Mahesh uncle ka.. Are to mujse baat karwani thi na Dad.. Main apki complaints karta unse

Lokesh didn't say anything but Rajeshwari got the seriousness of the situation.

Rajeshwari: Hum log abhi gaau Jane ke liye nikal rahe hai.

Rahul: Are lekin why Mom?

Lokesh went from there.

Rajeshwari: Look Rahul.. apne Dad ko aur pareshan mat karna uss Nidhi ki wajah se. Already Mahesh ko leke kafi pareshan hai

Rahul: Lekin woh to best friend hai Dad ke Mom. Unki wajah se kaisi pareshani?

Rajeshwari sighed.

Rajeshwari: Rahul.. beta.. there is a thing you don't know..

Rahul: And what is it?

Rajeshwari: Actually..

Lokesh came there with his luggage.

Lokesh: Main ready hoon. Raj tum apna samaan kab pack karogi?

Rajeshwari: Ji bas abhi aayi

Lokesh: Rahul Tum jao Mumbai wapas. Hume shayad.. shayad ane me kuchh din lag jayenge

Rahul was feeling weird hearing his parents' talk.

Rahul: Are lekin aap logo ko iss waqt koi bus ya train nahi milegi.

Lokesh: I'll drive

Rahul: Lekin..

Lokesh: Tum jao aur apna samaan leke aao. Main aur tumhari Maa tumhe Mayank ke ghar drop kar denge. Phir tum waha se chale jana ya phir air port drop kar denge next flight Mumbai ki lelo

Rahul went to his room and came back with his luggage after a while.

Rajeshwari: Achchha Rahul.. Mayank ke ghar jana hai ya air port?

Rahul: Kannaur..

Lokesh and Rajeshwari both looked at him.

Rahul: Dad is not habituated to drive in night and unko problem bhi hoti hai. Moreover I know there is some issue. I'll come with you guys

His parents gave him a small greatful smile and then they settled in the car. Rahul was driving towards their village but as he was nearing, his heart was beating faster than it should. A different kind of anxiety was crept over him but he shrugged it. They reached village and directly went to his Mahesh uncle's house. Well he was excited to meet him too. They reached there but Rahul was surprised to see so many people there in the village awake at this hour.

Rahul (in mind): Rat ke 2 baje yaha log jag kaise rahe hai??

Rahul parked the car and Lokesh almost ran inside followed by Rajeshwari. He frowned and his heart beats raised in the anticipation of what if something wrong has happened but he composed himself. He looked here and there and out of nowhere he looked upwards towards the window amd frowned. He felt that someone was there looking at him but then he shrugged off his thoughts and went inside. He could see many familiar faces.. they were his uncles as they were childhood friends of his father but He was looking for Mahesh Uncle who is his father's best friend. One of his father's friend, Satish uncle came to him.

Satish: Are Rahul beta.. tum bhi aaye yeh achchha kiya. Lokesh ko sahara rahega tumhara.

Rahul didn't say anything but was still confused on what was going on and why the hell all of his father's friends were there.

Rajeshwari: Rahul.. Mahesh uncle is calling you

Rahul happily went with her to his uncle's room but was shocked to see him laying on the bed with so lean body. He blinked several times to force himself to believe that the man laying on the bed is the same Mahesh uncle he knew. He went to him.

Rahul: Un.. Uncle..

Mahesh smiled at him weakly. He forwarded his shaky hand towards him and Rahul quickly hold his hand in his firm grip.

Rahul: Uncle yeh.. yeh sab..

Mahesh: Isko chhodo beta.. Tum.. tum yeh batao sab sahi hai na?

Rahul nodded in yes. He could see how much efforts his uncle has to make to even speak.

Rahul: Uncle aap rest karo..

Rahul was about to go but Mahesh hold his hand.

Mahesh: Tia ka dhyan rakhoge na beta..?

Rahul looked at him confusingly. He looked at his parents still confusion plastered over his face.

Rajeshwari: Of course rakhega. Hamari bachchi hai hi itni pyaari ki koi bhi usko pasand kiye bina.. uska dhyan rakhe bina na reh paye

Mahesh looked at Rahul who gave him a small smile. Mahesh smiled widely and so as other village people present in the room.

Rajeshwari: Rahul.. beta ek kam tha chalo..

She took him to another room.

Rahul: Mom what's going on? Aur yeh.. Mahesh uncle ko kya hua? Unki aisi halat? And where is Athiya? Usko abhi uncle ke sath hona chahiye na

Rajeshwari: Yahi hai woh. In fact yahi rehti hai woh. Bas dusare kamre me hai.

Rahul nodded in yes.

Rajeshwari: Rahul woh..

Rahul: Kya baat hai Mom? I could see aap log kuchh chhupa rahe ho. Pehle apne uncle ki health ke bare me chhupaya and now what's the matter Mom?

Rajeshwari: Mahesh wants you to marry Tia

Rahul was shocked hearing this.

Rahul (shocked): What?? Main??

Lokesh: Haan tum..

He came inside and closed the door.

Rahul: No Dad.. aise kaise main kisi se bhi shaadi kar loon

Rajeshwari: You know Tia Rahul

Rahul (sarcastically): Of course I know.. Jisko maine last tab dekha tha jab woh 2 saal ki thi aur main 5 saal ka.. wow.. Of course I know her

Sarcasm was very much evident in his voice. Of course he was not ready to marry Athiya and for that matter he was actually not ready to get married.

Lokesh: Uski last wish hai yeh Rahul.. Uss.. uss insaan ne hamara bahut sath diya hai. Sab kuchh.. sab kuchh chhod ke.. hum sab ko chhod ke ja raha hai woh..

Rahul: Dad.. hum.. hum ilaaj karwayenge na unka. I know how much he matters to you.

Rajeshwari: It's too late Rahul. Mahesh ko Blood Cancer hai.. last stage.. diagnosis bahut late hua. Usko as such koi problems nahi ho rahe the lekin jab pichhale dino tabiyat kharab Hui aur pura body check up karwaya tab pata chala.

Rahul: I am sorry to hear that lekin..

Rajeshwari: Unko bas Tia ki fikar hai Rahul. Doctors ne jawab de diya hai. He won't be able to hold it for longer. Request ki hai unhone humse..

Rahul: Aur aap ne bina mujhe puchhe.. bina meri marzi jane.. you just gave in..

It would be lie if anyone say that he was not hurt. Rahul was hurt and at the same time he was worried for his uncle too.

Lokesh sat with a thud on the chair kept there. Rahul and Rajeshwari almost ran to him. Rajeshwari was rubbing his back. Rahul sat on his knees and hold his father's hands

Rahul (worriedly): Dad you okay?

Rajeshwari: Lokesh.. sambhaliye khud ko..

Lokesh: Kaise sambhalu Raj? Waha Mera jigri dost apni aakhri saanse gin Raha hai aur yaha main uski aakhri khwahish bhi puri nahi kar sakta. Usne.. usne kitni madad ki hai hamari. Aaj Rahul agar Zinda hai to bhi ussi ki wajah se hain.

Rajeshwari: Rahul.. Tum to jante ho na Mahesh ke rishtedaar kaise hai. Tia ko kahi bhi.. kisi se bhi shadi karwake bhej denge Mahesh ke jane ke baad.

Rahul: To usko hum leke chalte hai na hamare ghar.

Rajeshwari: Kis rishte se rahegi woh waha Rahul? Yeh mat bhulo ki hamara khoon ka rishta nahi hai uske sath aur nahi surname ka. Uske rishtedaar ka haq banta hai humse pehle. Agar uska pati ho to baat alag hogi.

Rahul looked at other side.

Rajeshwari: Maan jao Rahul.

Lokesh (broken voice): Maan jao Rahul.. beta.. please..

Tears fell from Lokesh's eyes. Rahul has never seen his father this much broken. He was always standing there all strong. He cannot even imagine him crying. And before he could even realise, he found himself agreeing for the marriage while keeping his head on the hold he had on his father's hands.

Rajeshwari caressed his hair and wiped her own tears which fell when she saw her husband falling weak.

Rajeshwari: Main sab ko bata ke aati hoon.

She almost ran from there and Lokesh too ran from there after a while. Rahul was just sitting there on his knees all numb.

***********************************

It was around 6 AM in the morning when Rajeshwari came there with a sherwani. Rahul frowned.

Rahul: Mom yeh..

Rajeshwari: Abhi ek ghante me shaadi hai Rahul. Time nahi hai. Jaldi se taiyar ho jao.

Rahul: Lekin Mom..

Rajeshwari (quite loudly): We are running out of time Rahul. Mahesh kanyadaan khud karna chahta hai

As she said this much, tears again fell from her eyes but she quickly wiped them and left from there. Rahul couldn't imagine how his mother was holding up everything. He changed and went to the hall where marriage would happen.

He saw Mahesh uncle was there on the wheelchair breathing there with help of oxygen cylinder. He went to him and took his blessings. Mahesh blessed him happily but Rahul could see greatfulness in his eyes. But before he could say anything, he was asked by Pandit ji as the rituals were about to begin. Rahul went to mandap and started doing rituals. Soon enough Athiya was asked. She came there in long veil as per the tradition of their family.

Pandit ji: Var apna hath age kare..

Rahul forwarded his hand.

Pandit ji: Kanya apna hath age kare .

Siya forwarded her hand.

Pandit ji: Ab Kanya ke Pita Kanya ka hath var ke hath me de..

Mahesh with shaky hands hold Athiya's forwarded hand and placed it above Rahul's.

After Kanyadaan, rest rituals like pheras, sindoordaan everything was done in quite hurry.

Pandit ji: Var kanya ke gale me mangalsutra pahnayenge

Rahul tied it around her neck but while taking his hands back, his one hand mistakenly touched her cheek which was all wet. Rahul quickly took his hand back but he could not stop himself from worrying about Athiya. He realised she was silently crying throughout all the rituals.

Pandit ji: Vivah sampann hua. Ab se aap dono pati patni hain. Apno se bado ka aashirwad le lijiye.

They both took blessings of elders but before anyone could say anything more, Mahesh's health worsen and they took him to his room. Rahul and Athiya too went there. Mahesh's breathing was heavier. Lokesh has hold Rajeshwari's hand tightly. She was rubbing his back.

The doctor was called and he asked them to let Mahesh have some rest. Athiya was with her father. And rest all left from there giving her sometime.. some last moments with him..

Rahul was standing at the window in the other room where he could see some people were decorating his car. He was getting angry on them but he composed himself.

The day went like this when Rahul was called as it was time for Bidai. He was surprised hearing this.

Rajeshwari: Beta bas yaha se nikal ke hamare ghar ek baar gruh pravesh karke phir wapas yaha aa jayenge.

Rahul nodded in yes and he and Athiya both were again made stand together. The bidai was done though Athiya didn't cry as if her eyes have been dried out. Then they went to Rahul's house in the village and all the rituals like gruh pravesh and all got completed but by that time it was night. They came back to Mahesh's house. Again some rituals were performed stating they came for the first time after marriage and then after like around an hour Athiya was able to meet her father. Rahul and his family too went there. Rahul was still surprised on how she was managing everything still while being inside that veil. They just stayed there with Mahesh giving him some relief that his loved ones were with him.

It was past midnight when Mahesh's health again deteriorated. He held Rahul's hand tightly. He was looking at Athiya and then at him. The fear and pain visible in his eyes. Rahul kept his hand over Mahesh's hold.

Rahul: Uncle.. I mean Papa.. Aap Athiya ki fikar mat kijiye. She is my responsibility now.

Tears were falling from everyone's eyes except Rahul and Athiya. Mahesh looked at him with greatfulness.

Rahul: I am not doing any favour Papa. Aap bas apna ashirwad dijiye.

Mahesh blessed them both physically for one last time before happily closing his eyes forever.

.....................................................................

Okay so here is the prologue.

Next chapter will take some time as I want to update another book first.

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