Ruhana's Pov

I was sleeping beside Manvi tonight, she had held my hand tightly in sleep. My sleep was disturbed when she pressed her hand tightly on my arm. I looked at her, she was sweating profusely. She was panicking in sleep. I was bewildered seeing this. She murmured something which shocked me.

"Nahi.. please rits no" she almost screamed. She stood up with jerk, some kind of fear was visible on her face.

I sat up and cupped her face "mannu kya hua?"

She looked towards me while breathing heavily. I pulled her into my embrace. I had not seen her like this before. I caressed her head...

"Shant ho ja Mannu. Yahan koi nahi hai. " I said.

She hugged me tightly and said "mumma mat jaana please."

"Beta main yahi hun, kahin nahi jaa rahi" I assured her. Soon I found her relaxed. I made her lay down and covered her with blanket properly.

I glanced at her and thought "Rits.. maltab Ritvik, kal subah puchna hoga isse"

I lay down beside her, smearing her head and fell asleep in the same position.

Manvi's Pov

I woke up and sat up straight. I looked at the watch on the side table, the time was 9 am. I stood up and moved to washroom to freshen up. I moved downstairs after half an hour and came to the dining table.

The servant served me breakfast, I questioned "mumma papa kahan hai?"

"Saab toh office gaye hai madam pata nahi" the servant replied.

I nodded and ate the breakfast. Just then I heard my mother voice "Mannu ye Ritvik yahan kya kar raha hai?"

I was shocked hearing his name from her mouth. I looked up and found her staring at me. I smiled lightly and asked "aap kahan mili usse?"

"Ye tu mujhe bata? Kya Delhi mein teri aur uski mulakat hui thi?" she questioned.

I was left surprised at her sudden questions about him. I shook my head in no.

She came and sat beside me on the chair, she held my hand and asked "toh raat ko tune uska naam kyun liya? Darr kyun gayi thi itna haan??"

I recalled and remembered about the nightmare. I sighed and said "nahi wo ajeeb ajeeb sapne aate hai bas aur kuch nhi hai aur aapko toh pata hai na 3 saal se meri usse koi baat nhi hui hai"

My phone rang, it was Ritvik calling. A fear passed down my spine. I picked up the call immediately "haan Aarav.. Thik hai main aati hun yea bye" I said and ended the call.

I smiled looking at Ruhana and said "mumma Aarav ko kuch shopping karni hai mere liye main jau?" I asked.

She looked at me for sometime and permitted "haan jaa"

I kissed her cheek and left the house, tears dropped down from my eyes. I closed my eyes and thought "sorry mumma aapse baar baar jhooth bol rahi hun par himmat nhi hai kuch bhi batane ki"

My phone rang again, I picked up and shouted "aa rahi hun na.. Kuch pal apni maa ke saath shanti se bitane to diya karo" and ended the call. I sighed and took the car towards Ritvik place.

I returned back home. I was hating myself, for I was being used for their dirty desires. I entered inside and saw many people inside the house. They were decorating the house.

I heard two known voices, it seemed they were having argument over something. I walked to them and asked "kya hua? Aap dono kyun jhagda kar rahe ho?"

"Are main kaha jhagda kar raha hun bas kah raha hun ki blue lights andar lagengi aur bahar multi color simple" Vineet said.

"Nahi na Vineet andar green lagengi final hai" Ruhana said adamantly.

I smiled a bit, this is always a stress buster for me. I replied "are simple karo na upar blue neeche green karlo"

"Good idea dekha kitni intelligent hai meri beti" Vineet said proudly.

"Ofcourse hogi apni maa jo gayi hai" Ruhana said winking at him.

I smiled at this, Ruhana said "Acha sun tere dresses aa gaye hai jaake try karle"

I nodded and moved upstairs. I entered inside the room and saw the wedding dresses on bed. I was in no mood to try them. I did not even wanted to marry that evil creature. I sighed and wore one of the attire.

I glanced myself in the mirror, there were marks visible on my neck. The door opened, I immediately covered it with my dupatta. It was Vineet who entered inside.

He came near me and glanced at me in mirror. He smiled "it fits you.. Pata hai bachpan mein tumne school function mein bhi aisi dress peheni thi aur tab tumne kaha tha papa mujhe yeh dress chahiye lekin school walo ne nhi di ghar pe aake kitni royi thi tum"

"Aur phir aapne mujhse promise kiya tha aap mujhe laakar doge lekin mumma ne mana kar diya tha. " I said with a smile and turned around.

"Haan.. toh socha tab na sahi ab ye banwa leta hun tumhare liye" he said.

I hugged him with teary eyes "Papa mujhe shaadi nhi karni hai please nhi jaana hai aap dono ko chod kar" I said.

"Hum kaunsa tumhe bhejna chahte hai kahin par yahi toh reet hai na" he said.

She thought "kaash aapko bata pati iss waqt kitne dard aur takleef mein hun main.."

"Acha chalo baaki dresses bhi dekhlo main zara aata hun neeche kaam hai bahut" he said and left the room.

The day passed by, the next day, I was sitting on the couch and watching a film. My phone buzzed, whenever my phone rings, i get frightened. I looked and it was a message from Aarav. I sighed and closed my eyes recalling the bloody deal between him and Ritvik. I switched off my phone. I didn't want to suffer today.

Ruhana came and sat beside me "mannu ye dekh aur bata kaisa hai?"

She showed me a few designs of jewellery on her phone. I said "Ache hai mumma"

"Haan toh bata kaunsa pasand hai tujhe?" she asked.

"Koisa bhi lelo aap" I replied.

"Kya hai ye? Ek dum apne papa ki tarah baat karti hai tu.. chup chap bata kaunsa pasand hai" she asked.

I pointed towards one, just then I saw someone entering inside the house. I gulped down my throat seeing him.

"Namaste maa.." he said.

Ruhana smiled seeing him "Aarav.. Tum yahan kaise?" she asked.

"Actually aapki beti mera phone nhi utha rahi thi socha khud aake usse baat karlun" he said looking at me.

I rolled my eyes here and there in tension. He said "waise kuch dikhana bhi tha aapko"

I was shocked hearing this, he forwarded some pictures towards her. I shut my eyes in fear.

"Are ye toh engagement ki pictures hai bahut hi achi hai" Ruhana said.

I opened my eyes, I looked towards him, and he was smiling. I had a sigh of relief.

"Maa kya hai na, Aaj hamara farmhouse pe ek party hai aur mere sabhi dost chahte hai ki main apni hone wali biwi ko waha leke aau? Aapki ijazat ho toh main isko le jaa sakta hun?" he asked.

"Haan kyun nahi main mana kaise kar sakti hun tumhe" she said.

"Lekin hume goa jaana hai 2-3 din baad hi lautenge" He said.

I was bewildered thinking about what he is upto. Ruhana thought and said "lekin Aarav sirf kuch hi din bache hai shaadi mein"

"Haan maa janta hun isliye toh ye 2-3 din ka trip plan kiya hai bahut maza aayega maine papa se baat kar li thi unhone ijazat de di hai. kaha iska mood bhi thoda thik ho jayega" he said.

"Vineet ne kah diya hai toh le jao tum" she said.

I sighed, I did not want to go with him anywhere.

"Manvi apna saman le aao main wait kar raha hun" He said.

I stood up and moved to my room. I thought "Goa.. nhi par mana bhi nhi kar sakti mumma papa aapko pata nhi hai ye insan jitna shareef dikhta hai utna hai nhi.."

I stuffed my things into a bag and came downstairs. He held my hand and pulled me out. I glanced towards Ruhana by turning back. I smiled at her lightly.

We reached his car, he asked me to get in. I followed him and he drove off.

"Aarav.. Goa?" I asked with trembling voice.

"How dare you Manvi? Tumne mera phone kaise nhi uthaya?" he shouted at me.

"Ab dekho Goa mein kya kya hota hai.. It will be a memorable trip before the wedding" he said which raised fear in my body. 

........