The cold breeze was blowing through the open space unhindered. There was a restlessness in the air. The clouds were gathering their forces to rain upon the earth and its inhabitants heavily. And ignoring the warnings of nature, a man
stood on top of the hillock.

It was Rudra. Rudra Raj Singhaniya. The son of Mira and Raj Singhaniya. A business tycoon by profession, a singer by passion. He was the heart-throb of many girls, the dream man who remained outside their reach.

But unknown to them, this young heart-throb had lost his heart long ago to someone. Someone who took him for granted apparently.

The restlessness outside matched the onslaught of emotions inside him.

***

"How dare you? How dare you come to my house with this proposal?"

"Relax, Navin. I'm here for the happiness of our children. Our children should not suffer because of our enmity." Mr. Raj Singhaniya, Rudra's father said calmly.

"Get out of here before I call the security!" Mr. Navin Mathur warned angrily.

"Navin please! Rudra and Mehek love each other. Think about this for once." He requested again.

"Never! I will rather cut her up then marry her into your family. Get out, you scoundrel!"

***

Rudra closed his eyes as the humiliation his father faced because of him remained fresh in his memory.
Mr. Raj Singhaniya was the person who not only brought him into this life, but taught how to live it too. Rudra respected and loved his father a lot. And so did Raj. For the sake of his son, he had not hesitated to go to the enemy's lair and beg.

Only for him, only for his love and happiness, his father had faced the insults and curses of Navin Mathur. If Rudra knew this would be the result of loving Mehek, would he have avoided loving her?

No.

Because even though it made him angry and frustrated to think, he could not have avoided falling for her.

Mehek Mathur was bound to be the cause of his destruction. Because that's how he felt right now. Destroyed. Destroyed in her love.

It was clear that her father would never agree with their relationship. And after the way his father had been humiliated, he sure wasn't going to beg in front of him for her. So, was this the end? End! Even the thought of it made his breaths labored. How was he supposed to do it?! How could he?!

"Rudra?"

He heard the shaken voice of Mehek from behind. He had not received her calls or texted her back after getting back from her house three days ago. But she found him.

And how could she not? She after all resided in his heart only. Wherever he was, Mehek was there too.

As he stood motionlessly and did not acknowledge her presence, she ran to him. He felt her hugging him from behind. Tears made their way freely from her eyes. Rudra felt his shirt getting wet in the sorrows of a maiden as her sobs got louder.

"Please Rudra! Don't ignore me. I cannot bear this anymore."

"You shouldn't be here." Rudra said in a voice void of all emotions. "It's over Mehek."

"No! Don't say that. It can't be! You and I, we are supposed to spend our whole life together." Mehek objected holding onto him tightly.

"Really?" Rudra forcefully removed her hands from him and turned to her. "Then why were you not with me when your Dad threw me and my Dad out of your house? Why did you remain silent when he demanded an answer from you? Why did you not admit that you want to be with me only? Why Mehek? Why?!"

"I'm sorry. Please. I'm sorry Rudra, but I just couldn't go against Dad."

Rudra snickered as he removed his eyes from her.

"Then why are you here now? Have your Dad agreed to send you here?"

"Rudra please. I know I have hurt you. And I am sorry. But Dad was so angry that I couldn't think of anything. I was afraid of losing him. I didn't want to hurt him. Please understand!"

"You know what? I do understand. And that's why I am telling you to return. Your Dad won't agree for our marriage. So, it's best to forget about this." He said taking a deep breath. Though his voice shook and he had to concentrate on his breathing hard, he said it.

Mehek stared at him helplessly for some time before deciding something in mind. She wiped her tears away before taking his face in between her hands. His eyes met hers just before she joined their lips.

Long minutes passed as the two of them remained immersed in the euphoric essence of love. Finally Mehek drew back only to join their foreheads.

"I can't Rudra. I can't let our love lose. I will marry you. Regardless of whether my father agreed or not. I will not lose you."

***†***

"Are you sure? There's still time." Rudra asked. They sat in his car outside of Mehek's house.

Mehek had called him and brought him to her house this morning to talk to her Dad. To say, Mr. Navin Mathur threw a fit in anger that would be an understatement. But this time Mehek held her ground and told him she would marry only Rudra and no one else.

"I'm surprised that you're saying this to me. I never thought my own daughter would betray me like this one day."

"I'm not betraying you Dad. I really love him. Please accept us."

"I will never! You need to choose Mehek. Him or me."

As Navin Mathur said that with finality, Mehek broke down in tears. But those couldn't melt the heart that had turned deaf to his daughter's pleas

"I apologize to you for not being the daughter you wanted. But I can't live without him in my life Dad." Mehek had said in between her sobs shocking Navin who couldn't believe his ears.

"Fine then. Leave my house right now and do not show me your face again." Navin Mathur had said turning his back on her.

"I am sure Rudra. Dad is angry right now. But I know him. He will accept us soon."
Mehek said calming herself finally.

After Mr. Navin Mathur told Mehek to leave, she had begged for him to accept her love. But all her pleadings of hers and her mother had not been able to move him from his decision. So, Mehek had left her house with Rudra.

After regaining control of her emotions, Mehek had told Rudra, she wanted to marry him as early as possible and also she wanted the whole world to know that the woman who ruled his heart was her only.

Rudra had agreed with a smile. The only reason they hid their affair was because of her Dad. But now that it was out, they wanted to come clean about their relationship in front of the media and the public too.

"As you wish, my love. We will marry on the earliest date possible."

***†***

The Singhaniya mansion was decorated beautifully to celebrate the union of Rudra and Mehek. Journalists waited outside the house along with a lot of commoners who had come to wish their favorite singer on this day. And also the curiosity of knowing who the lucky lady of Rudra Raj was, had forced them there

The wedding was going to take place on the lawn of the house only. A huge and magnificent mandap (altar) had been created. Raj Singhaniya and Mira Singhaniya both were running from one place to another to see if all arrangements were completed. It was their dear son's wedding after all. In between they were also welcoming and chatting with the guests. Their glowing faces reflected their happiness.

"Bhaiya (elder brother)?"

The voice calling Raj was one he had heard after so many years. He turned happily to greet Gauri, his sister and her husband Sudhir.

"Gauri, I can't believe you've really come. After marriage you forget us completely." Mira said while hugging her sister-in-law. "You were only in another state, not in another country. But still we never get to see you."

"Sorry Bhabi (sister-in-law). But Sudhir's business, children's study and all, it seemed we never had the time. But when I heard about Rudra's marriage, I couldn't stop myself. I told them I will not talk to either Sudhir or his daughters until we attend the wedding." Gauri replied with good humor.

"It's true. I'm hearing her voice for the first time in two days." Sudhir said shaking his head. Raj and Mira laughed at them.

Gauri had been adopted by Raj's father when she lost her parents. The Singhaniya family raised her as their own and Raj loved her no less. But after marriage to Sudhir, as the two settled in another state, their visit had eased over time. Now, that Gauri had come after years, Raj and Mira were really delighted.

"By the way, where's your daughters?" Raj asked.

"They were just behind us. But then Sia saw the panipuri (indian snack) counter and dragged Saumya with her." Gauri explained looking around to find her daughters at the same time.

"Dad! Here you are!" Rudra said finally finding his father whom he had been searching for.

"Rudra! See! Your aunt, Gauri has come."

Rudra was genuinely happy to see her and greeted the two of them wholeheartedly before dragging Raj with him.

"Maa?" Saumya called Gauri as she was talking with Mira.

Mira turned to find a girl wearing white salwar suit coming towards them. She understood it was Saumya only, Gauri's elder daughter.

"Where have you been? And where is Sia?"

"She is still at the food court. She dropped chutney on my dress." Saumya replied with a hint of irritation.

"Oh! You should clean it fast. I'm calling someone to show you the way to the washroom." Mira offered.

Saumya looked at her only not replying. Gauri hurriedly introduced her to Mira before her daughter's behavior could offend her. Saumya greeted her shortly before Mira called a servant to take her inside the house.

***†***

"I'm sorry Rudra. But I can't. I just can't go against my Dad."

"What do you mean Mehek? Today is our wedding day! The whole media is outside waiting with thousands of other guests. Where the hell are you?!"

"I'm sorry! I can't! Dad is hospitalized. I can't hurt him more. If anything happens to him, I won't be able to ever forgive myself. Please!"

"What are you exactly saying Mehek?"

"I can't marry you Rudra. Please forgive me. Please!"

The call got disconnected before Rudra could say anything more.

Rudra stared at the phone in disbelief. She could never do this! Mehek could not betray her like this!

He had been worried very much when his mother informed him about Mehek's absence. She was supposed to be in her room getting ready for the wedding which was due in a few hours. But as the beauticians entered the room, it was empty with Mehek nowhere in sight.

He had called her again and again with no response. A slight rumor had started, but Raj and Mira were doing their best to keep it down. Now that after a thousand texts and calls, Mehek finally picked up her phone, she told him that the wedding was not happening.

Rudra sat on the bed holding his head in between his hands. Was it all a joke to her? Was he a joke to her?

How could she do this? It was her who wanted this marriage. It was her who asked for this. And now that he had arranged it all for her, she was telling that she couldn't marry him! All his relatives, friends, media, everyone waited outside to meet the woman of his heart. To meet Mrs. Rudra Singhaniya.
And she was telling him, she couldn't marry him!

He had supported her only to get repaid like this. And what was he supposed to do now? He didn't care about himself. He didn't care if he got mocked and laughed at. But what he cared for was his father's reputation.

Was he going to face another humiliation of his father?

***†***

Hello guys!

Initially I intended for it to be a short story. But then I started writing it as a full length novel.

So, it needed a lot of work. I'm publishing this on another app. So, changed a few things and decided to upload it here too.

Happy reading....

And it may seem boring...but at least read a few chapters before judging.