She is sitting, dolled up in a bridal dress. Yeah, she’s getting married but she is not happy. She’s gazing at a guy who is talking to her mother figure. She’s trying to gather all her courage; many questions are bubbling in her mind, but things have happened within the blink of an eye. She rises from her seat and walks towards him.

“Hum ek dusre ko thik se jaante bhi nahi hain. Yeh shaadi hume kahan le jaayegi? Kya zaroorat hai iss shadi ki?” She questions rapidly.

“Kuch cheezein haalaaton ki wajah se zaroori ho jaati hain. Iss samay hamare liye, yeh shadi bahut zaroori hain.” He replies firmly.

“Lekin...” she begins to speak but her mother figure shushes her.

“Apne sawal band kar, Rasika. Main jaanti hoon tum dono ajnabi ho aur haalaat bhi kuch thik nahi hai par iss waqt yahi sahi hai ki tum dono shadi kar lo.” The lady, Jaya, speaks.

“Ruhaan, beta, tum jo kar rahe ho, wo toh koi apna bhi nahi karta. Tum apne baare mein bhool ke meri bachchi ke baare mein soch rahe ho, tumhara main jitna shukriya karun kam hoga.” Jaya  speaks tearily.

“Aunty ji, aap mujhe sharminda mat kijiye. Main ek police wala hoon, aap jaise logon ki raksha karna mera kaam hai. I cannot back off my duty. Aur — aur jo kuch hua hai na mere sath, uske baad yahi ek raasta hai jisse main apni begunahi saabit kar sakta hoon aur Rasika bhi safe rahegi.” The guy named Ruhaan speaks.

“Rasika, main jaanta hoon situation sahi nahi hai, aur jo bhi kuch hua uske baad tum shayad mujhpe bharosa nahi karogi, par hum ek dosti ki shuruaat toh kar sakte hain na? “ He glances at her, hopefully.

Rasika is still unsure about the consequences of this wedding, but she also feels that he’s right in his place. She feels that he’s being genuine at the moment and in the next instant, she finds herself agreeing with him. Ruhaan smiles and holds her hand, sealing the promise that he has just made to her.

*****

In Jaipur city, a young guy is arguing with a middle-aged man. He’s not pleased with the things going on around him. He has suddenly denied the wedding that’s about to happen.

“Uncle, jab aapko pata hai ki aapki beti shadi ke liye taiyar nahi hai toh kyun aap ye shaadi karvana chahte hai?” He asks.

“Yeh shaadi hi uske liye behtar hai. Tum uske dost ho, beta. Tumse behtar usey koi aur nahi sambhal sakta. Please, iss shadi ke liye mana mat karo, beta.” The man replies and instead requests him.

“Hum dono achche dost hain, uncle, par vo mujhse pyaar nahi karti, yeh kyun nahi samajhte aap?” He argues further.

“Papa thik keh rahe hain, Vineet. Main tumse shaadi karne ke liye taiyar hoon.” A girl of his age enters the room.

“Ruhana….tum….” Vineet says, but she cuts him.

“Main thik keh rahi hoon, Vineet. Ab mere pas aur koi raasta nahi hai. Han, shayad main vaisi jeevansathi nahi ban paungi jaisi tum chahte ho, lekin hum dost toh hai na? Jab Ruhaan kisi aur ko chun sakta hai toh main kyun nahi? Main tumse zyada aur kisi pe bharosa nahi kar sakti. Isliye main iss shadi ke liye taiyar hoon. Aage tumhari marzi!” Ruhana glances at her friend.

Vineet and Ruhana are childhood friends. Vineet is her dad’s choice for her while Ruhana has been in love with her college friend and colleague. Vineet is perplexed, he knows that she doesn’t love him but now she’s ready to marry him.

He also knows that she’s hurt and will take time to heal. She might not love him but he loves her and he’ll wait until she falls in love with him. His trance breaks with Ruhana’s voice.

“Main jaanti hoon main tumse bahut bada favour maang rahi hoon, lekin isse mere parents bhi khush rahenge, aur jab tum mere sath rahoge toh main bhi thik rahungi. Ab tum batao tum mera sath doge?” She glances at him.

He’s unaware of the consequences of this wedding, but he can’t lose a precious friend like her, so, he holds her hand and takes her to the wedding mandap.

****

KabirsAngel ❤️I hope you like this. ❤️