"Look at you.You look like a king today."Vikrant said while admiring Vihaan who was dressed in a groom attire and looking very dashing and handsome in it.

"Thanks dad."Vihaan blushed.

"I'm very happy for you ,son.Finally your wish coming true.You and Saanjh are becoming together!"Vikrant expressed his happiness but it brought a wistful look on Vihaan's face.

"Dad, you know she doesn't love me.We are getting married but there's a lack of love in our relationship."Vihaan said glumly.

"Who says she doesn't love you?She cares for you and where there is care ,there is love.She just need to realize it,got it?"Vikrant encouraged him.

Vihaan didn't say anything,just hummed absentmindedly .He was lost in another disturbing thought that was making him anxious.

"Dad—"Vihaan spoke"Am I doing right?"

"Huh?"Vikrant looked at his son's worried face.

"Dad,I feel like I'm doing very wrong by hiding the truth from Saanjh."Vihaan said and Vikrant knew which truth was he talking about.

"Vihaan,hiding the truth from her is wrong.But telling her the truth isn't right either."

"But Dad,honesty in a marriage is so important.How can I build a strong relationship on half lies and half truth?It feels like I'm betraying her."

"You're not betraying her.On the contrary ,you're saving her from all the sorrow and pain.Telling the truth and making her suffer is better than hiding the truth and keep her happy."

Vihaan was quiet,trying to convince his heart and mind that his father was right.

Vikrant came closer to him and put his hands around his shoulders as he continued "Vihaan,Whatever you did till now ,you did it for her wellbeing.You don't need to feel guilty about it.Now don't think too much about it and be happy.Today is a big day for you."

Vihaan took a deep breath and nodded with a faint smile on his face.

Eventually he listened to his father's advice and decided to not tell her the secret of their past.But he forgot that no matter how hard one try to hide,the truth will always surface eventually.And in his case ,the consequences was gonna be destructive.

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

Saanjh was dressed as a bride in a heavy bridal lehenga,gold jewelry and accessories , glittering from head to toe.But her face was missing the glow that a bride should've on the day of her wedding .

She was so much consumed with her thoughts and worries that she wasn't able to enjoy this special day of her life.

"Saanjh,Are you ready?"

She saw her tensed expression and held her face in her hands.

"What's wrong,Saanjh?"She asked her.

"I'm really scared,mom "Saanjh whispered.

"It's called pre wedding jitters,dear.It's completely normal to feel anxious as you approach a big life milestone.I was also a nervous wreck for what seemed like months before my wedding day."Suman said and then shared the memories of her wedding.

Saanjh quietly listened to her mother,putting on a smile on her face .She wished if her mother could understand the actual reason of her fear.It wasn't wedding jitters.She was fearing ,thinking of what that evil spirit would do to cause havoc in their marriage ceremony.

"Saanjh !"Suman's warm hands on hers snapped her out of her thoughts.

Saanjh blinked her eyes and focused on her mother's words

"It's the most important day of your life.Enjoy this day to the fullest."Suman advised her.

Saanjh gave her a nod with a smile .She kept all the worries and thoughts to herself as sharing those would do no good .She just prayed that the wedding ceremony would go smooth without any problem.

However her fear came true.They began facing difficulties in every steps . At first, Saanjh's car broke on their way to the wedding venue whereas Vihaan's car almost met with an accident.Saanjh was unaware of that accident ,although.After reaching at the venue,Vihaan didn't tell Saanjh or her family about this accident,even forbade his family from mentioning this as he didn't want to give her unnecessary tension.

Then the weather got bad and started raining cats and dogs.At last the wedding priest who was supposed to preside over their wedding ceremony didn't show up.

"Someone call the priest.Why isn't he coming yet.We're running out of auspicious time."Vikrant said , anxiously.

"I'm calling him since long.But he isn't picking up my calls."Rishi(son of Vikrant's widow sister) replied him.

"What's going on today?At first our car broke,then this unseasonal rain and now the priest is nowhere to be seen."Suman said worriedly.

"Without the priest,how will this marriage take place now?"Avinash wondered, tensed.

"We can't even arrange another priest in this short period of time .This heavy downfall making things worse."Vihaan whispered anxiously.

"I know you're doing all of this to stop our wedding . But I won't let you win.I won't let you stop our wedding."Saanjh whispered under her breath.

She was sure that all the difficulties, they were coming across since the morning was done by that spirit.And her guess was absolutely right.The spirit was trying his best to stop this marriage.

"If the auspicious time pass away,the marriage can't happen today."Sneha mumbled glumly.

"The marriage will definitely take place today."Saanjh spoke up"I have a solution."

Everyone got curious and asked her.She didn't give proper answer,just asked them to follow her.

Having no other choice,they all agreed and followed her in cars.

She took them to the nearest temple which was in a 10 minutes distance from the wedding venue.

"We'll get married here ...in this temple."Saanjh announced when they all reached at the temple.

"Vihaan,Do you have a problem if we get married here?"She asked his would be husband.

"The place doesn't matter to me,Saanjh.What matter is our marriage.And no other place can be better than this temple for our marriage."Vihaan said ,taking her hands into his.

Saanjh smiled at him in pleasure .This man's words touched her heart again.

When the bride and the groom has no problem with it,there was no away others would show objection to it.Infact they were impressed by Saanjh's presence of mind and praised her.

Therefore they went to the priest of the temple and asked him to perform the marriage ceremony.The priest happily agreed and within a short time,they did all the necessary arrangements inside the temple and then Vihaan and Saanjh started performing the marriage rituals under the priest's guidance.

"The marriage is completed.Henceforth ,both of you are husband and wife ."The priest announced when Vihaan filled her hair parting with vermilion and tied the nuptial chain around her neck.

Vihaan and Saanjh looked in eachother's eyes and smiled .Their eyes teared up with countless emotions.

His world was being bright, shining in her light.The moment he had never expected to come true, dreamt every single night for these years , was finally here,before his eyes.

The tension that was storming inside her finally disappeared.The unpleasant feeling that she was having for past fews days finally faded out from her.She was finally relived, thinking that her battle with the spirit was over.

But she was unaware that it wasn't the end.It has just begun .

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

"I'm going out and sending him in ,okay?"Sneha said to the newly bride.

"All the best for your first night."She said teasingly and walked out of the room, closing the door .

After she left,Saanjh sat on the corner of the bed and looked around the luxurious bed room which was adorned with white and red roses and scented candles .It was an exquisite sight.She would've found it romantic in any other context but right then it was suffocating her.

She wasn't ready yet to consummate their marriage .But she didn't know how to say this to him.

When her nauseating stream of thoughts were taking a whole new height,she was interjected by the sound of the door , opening swiftly by Vihaan who has become her husband ,just a few hours ago.

Vihaan slowly came near the bed and sat on bed,facing her.He took her hands and felt how cold and sweaty they were.He knew she was tensed and knew the reason also.

"You don't need to be nervous.I'm not gonna do anything."Vihaan said and she looked up at his face, astonished.

Vihaan cleared his throat and continued"I know you're not ready to consummate our marriage.You need time.And I believe that love making comes naturally, shouldn't be forced.I will wait till you're ready to be mine completely."He gave her an assuring smile.

Saanjh was shocked and pleased at the same time.Hearing those words,her trust and respect for him grew to immense height.

"Thanks."She smiled.

Vihaan returned her smile and took his pillow from the bed.

"What are you doing?"Saanjh asked,surprised.

"I'll sleep on the couch from now on."He replied while arranging the pillow on the couch,near the bed.

"There's no need.You can sleep on the bed,it ain't a problem."She told him.

"Are you sure?"He was hesitant.

"Yeah,As long as you don't put your hands or legs on me , it's completely fine.You're permitted inside my territory."

"But I do snore in sleep,do you think it wouldn't be a problem?"he said , putting on a playful smile .

"I do too.So,It won't be a problem."She replied in an equally playful tone.

And then both of them started laughing like mad people.

After settling everything,they wished good night to eachother and lied down on bed to sleep.

But Saanjh couldn't sleep as her stomach was growling due to hunger .She hadn't eat properly the entire day.She tried to suppress the hunger but it only seemed to increase with passing second.

Being helpless to her hunger ,she got up and called Vihaan who had already fell asleep.

As he didn't respond ,She gently patted his shoulder and called him again"Vihaan?"a bit louder.

He got awake and looked at her alarmed.

"What's wrong?Any problem?"He asked.

"I am hungry."She replied meekly.

"Oh!Okay,Wait.I'll be back in a jiffy."saying this he got out of the bed and left the room.

After a while he returned with a bowl of noddles and two cup of coffee.

"Ta da!Here is your extremely late dinner."He served it like a professional chef.

Her eyes shined with delight.She thanked him and took the bowl in her hand .

"I could only make noddles in this short period of time.So ,you've to manage with this for now."He said,smiling sheepishly.

"That's more than enough."She said, pleased.

He smiled and silently watched her as She twist some noodles in her fork and shoveled into her mouth .

"How is it?Is it okay?"He asked,eagerly.

"It's yum."Saanjh answered and shoveled some more noodles into her mouth.

"You want some?"She offered him.

"No,I'll skip it.I'll just have a cup of coffee."He said and grabbed the coffee cup.

Taking the cup in his hand ,Vihaan got off the bed and went to the balcony to get some fresh air .After finishing off the noodles , Saanjh also joined him and they talked and talked looking at the moon while sharing those warm cups of coffee.

They talked till the morning and enjoyed the wonderful sunrise together.

That's how they started their married life with a hope that their future gonna be bright and shiny like the rising sun.

Only time would tell whether their married life gonna be bright like the rising sun or dark like the night without the moon.