"Nandani!" As soon as I reached home amma's squeak was the first thing which I heard.

She came running to me and hugged me tight.

"What happened amma?" I asked being confused and Amma broke the hug.

She held my palm and made me sit on the sofa beside appa.

"Tera rishta pakka ho gaya hai !" Amma spoke happily and fed me a gulab-jamun which were kept in the sweet box on the table.

I sat there numb,unable to contemplate the sudden disaster which shook my entire frame.

"Aur beta larka bhi bohot acha hai ,haan kamata kam hain lekin tughe hamesha khush rakhega !" Appa spoke while taking me in a side hug and a tear from my eye fell on his palm.

"Tu meri guriya hai , mera dil tou nhi karta tughe kisi aur ko dene ka lekin ab zindagi mout ka koi bharosa nhi ! Isliye chahta hn k tera ghar baste hue dekh ln is se pehle mughe mout aye!"Appa spoke and I looked up at his teary eyes.

"I love you appa!" I cried and he pulled me in his chest,hugging me tightly.

"Tu mera armaan poora karegi na ! Mere pasand kiye hue larke se rishta jodegi na ?" Appa spoke while caressing my hair and I nodded.

Manik ! Main kehti thi na hamari kahani adhuri reh jayegi!

.........

*Next night 9 pm*

I sat on the bench with low head and after five minutes I heard a creaking sound beside me.

Without looking at him I spoke,
"Mera rishta pakka hogya Manik !"

"Ek mahine baad meri shadi hai!"I continued to cry without glancing at him and he sat there still.

"Maa baba ne mere liye bhi larki pasand ki hai!"He whispered and a gasp escaped my mouth.

I turned my face towards him and his teary eyes made my chin wobbled.

"Main mana nhi kar paya unhe !Main maa baba ki baat nhi taal paya!"He cried and palmed his face.

"Main bhi na nhi keh payi!" I whispered and he removed his palms to look at me.

Silence fell as we continued to stare at each other.

"Aaj gulab nhi laoge mere liye!" I smiled amidst my tears,a step to omit the silence from environment.

He nodded with a smile and went towards the bunch of roses , this time he plucked three roses.

He came towards me and I turned.

"I!"He pushed the rose in my bun and uttered.

"Love!" With the second rose his voice got shaky.

I palmed my mouth and before he could complete those three words I turned.

"Ma--hnik !" I cried while hugging him tightly.

"I wouldn't be able to live without you Manik ! Main nhi reh paongi tumhare bina!" I cried and he kissed my hair.

"Ssshhh!"He broke the hug and wiped my tears.

"Hamari kahani adhuri reh gayi na ! Hum ek nhi ho paye Manik ! Hum ek nhi ho paye!" I cried again and he pulled me in his arms.

"Keep faith in God ! Wo milayega hamein ! Wo hamare pyaar ka imtehaan le raha hai sirf !"He tried to calm me down but his incoherent blubs were proving him wrong.

I pushed him and stood up when he held my wrist.

"Abhi na jao!" He cried while standing up from the bench and I shook my head.

"No ! I've to go !" I tried to pull my wrist when he twisted my wrist,pulling me in his chest.

"Thori der aur ! Thori der aur reh lo na mere paas !" He sobbbed and I looked down.

"Jab tum kehte ho k khuda hamein milayega tou phir kyon ye ansoon Manik ? Tumhe bharosa nhi hai hamare pyaar par ?" I looked up at him and wiped his eyes.

"Kahin mere mangne main koi kami na reh gayi ho aur khuda tumhe mughse cheen na le!Ye dar hai mughe!" He whispered with teary eyes and hot fresh tears crawled down from my cheeks.

"Toot-ta tara!" I gasped while catching the sight of shooting star and our eyes shot up at sky as a sparkling star pierced its bluish skin.

A smile embellished our lips and we closed our eyes before glancing at each other once.

"Oh our God ! We know you're there for us ! We know you won't let us fall apart ! If our bond is made in heavens then tie us together in this little world too!Grant us a forever together God !Hamein ek kardo na!Please !" We cried together and a drop from sky fell on our tangled hands.

We opened our teary eyes and another drop fell on our hands.

"Manan is forever!"We whispered together and at the very moment the clouds parted and a shower of mercy started pouring upon us.

We opened our arms and raindrops fell on us beautifully.

We smiled together but not for a moment our tears stop to fall.It was rain which was hiding them.

In these three years of relationship it was the first when I moved back from his arms,I stopped him from kissing me.

"We can't do this !"I muttered with my downcast gaze and removed his arms from my waist.

For the first time he bit his lips to control the urge to kiss me.

He chuckled while crying and nodded.

"Agar taqdeer main likha hoga tou phir milenge!"He turned his back towards me and the third rose fell from his hands.

After closing my eyes tight,clamping my mouth I ran away.

That night rain didn't stop.Maybe it was a hint that we weren't destined together or were we?

Qudrat ke khel hum aur tum nhi jante wo raasta bnata chala jata hai aur hum anjaan ban kar uss raah par chalte jate hain !

.........

*After one month*

I was sitting in my room no to be precise in my husbands room all decked up like a bride,sitting in the middle of the bed,waiting for his arrival.

Manik !

A tear from my eye fell and I wiped it instantly by pushing my palm under my veil.

This was our family custom the bride has to veil herself until the groom pulls it off.

Neither I've seen my husband nor he has seen me.

Our wedding was simple,no rituals just a haldi which came from their house and I applied it and henna which my amma applied on my hands.

Manik pta nhi kese hoga ! Uss raat k baad hum nhi mile ek dusre se ye soch kar k ab khuda milayega hamein lekin shayad hum ne mangne main kuch khta kardi aur hamari dua qubool nhi hui !

Another tear fell from my eye and sudden creaking of door  made my eyes wide.

I wiped my tear hastily and wrapped my arms properly around my legs.

The sound of the door lock made my heart beat wild. 

I've to tell him about Manik ! Main apni zindagi ka sab se bara sach nhi chupa sakti!

I rubbed my clammy palms together when the deep husky voice stopped my movement.

"Relax!"

"You don't need to worry ! Main janta hn k ye shadi hamare maa baba ki wajah se hui hai aur unhi ki izzat karte hue main tumhe meri biwi hone k sare haq bhi deta hn lekin ek cheez nhi de sakta!" He took a pause while I was sitting there idle,motionless.

"Mera dil ! Wo mere paas nhi hai ! Ek larki ko haar betha hn main apna dil ! Hum sath rahenge lekin main pyaar nhi kar paonga tumse!"

My hands automatically moved towards my veil and I removed it,the red chunri slid down my shoulders pooling around me on the bed.

"I am really sor...." His words remain incomplete as he turned after unclasping his wrist watch and his eyes fell upon me.

Ye nhi ho sakta!

......

Yours

New Wanderer