"What happened? Why have you dragged me here?"
Saumya asked as Gauri closed the door of the room. Gauri took some moments to gather her thoughts before facing her daughter.

"Saumya, you may not know this, but the bride is no longer here. She changed her mind and doesn't want to get married anymore."

Saumya was surprised to hear that. Her mother had been very excited to come here for the wedding. The crowd outside told her so was a thousand other people. And why not? It was Rudra Raj Singhaniya's wedding after all. He was a star. His songs had touched many hearts. Saumya herself had been a fan of him at some point.

"That's unfortunate." Saumya said nonchalantly. "So, I guess we're going back since there'll be no wedding."

"No. We're not going back. And there will be a wedding." Gauri replied impassively confusing her.
"Saumya, you know this family has given me a lot. And today when Raj Bhaiya is in trouble, I can't leave him alone."

Saumya watched her mother with a slight frown marring her face. Gauri took a shaky breath in before completing her thought.

"Bhaiya has asked for your hand for Rudra and I agreed."

Saumya's eyes widened a bit as she stared at her mother in shock. What had she done?!

"Saumya, this family will face humiliation if you refuse. And moreover, I think this is a sign only that you should move on too."

"Do you even hear yourself?" Saumya asked angrily. "What have you done? And that too without asking me?"

"Dear please, listen ----"

"No! You listen to me Maa. Have you forgotten who I am? What my identity is?How could you do this!?"

"I'm your mother! And I have the right to think of your wellbeing Saumya. I have stayed quiet for a long time. But not anymore." Gauri said getting angry too. "I have given my word to bhaiya and if you insult me by refusing, then I will be dead for you from now on."

"Don't try to blackmail me!"

"You know me Saumya. I will never go back on my word. Now you decide what you want to do. Either agree or lose your mother forever!"

"Do they not know about me? Do they not know that---" Saumya couldn't complete the sentence as Gauri stopped her with a raised hand.

"They do know. And in spite of everything they want to accept you. So, don't worry about it."

A short laugh escaped Saumya hearing that.

"I should not worry? You, in spite of knowing everything, want me to marry someone I don't know. You want to force a stranger upon me, in my life and I should not worry? Do you really think it's so easy? Get ready and get married, then lead a happy life. Is that so easy Maa?"

"I know nothing comes easy. I know it's going to be very difficult for you to accept. But at least try! Try to change Saumya. Because seeing you like this, is only hurting us!"

"Hurting you? And what about my pain Maa? How easily you forgot about that? How easily you are telling me to marry your nephew!" Saumya exclaimed as her eyes watered.

"I'm doing this only for your future, Saumya. You need to get out of this phase." Gauri said wiping her own tears.

"Phase?! Is that what you think I am in? A phase?!"

"Please! I don't want to argue with you anymore. I just know that you need to give yourself a chance to live again!" Gauri shouted helplessly before falling on her knees crying loudly. Saumya stared at her mother for a long few minutes before sitting down and hugging her sideways.

"I know I should not force you. But I can no longer watch you being a shadow of your former self. If you want to be mad, stay mad at me. But please don't deny. Just don't!"
Saumya remained silent as Gauri controlled herself and stood up slowly while she sat on the floor only.

"The beauticians will arrive soon to prepare you."

Gauri said stilling herself against her daughter's devastated state and left the room after glancing at her one last time. She had said her part. Now it was in Saumya's hand to either respect her Maa's wish or dwell in the shadows of past.

***†***

Rudra stared at himself in the mirror. He was looking quite handsome in the black sherwani though this was not what he decided to wear initially. But it seemed the right choice at the moment.

***

"Rudra? What is this?" Mehek had asked scrunching her face at the black shirt he wore.

"What? Am I not looking hot?" Rudra asked with an arched brow.

"You know I don't like black. So you are not allowed to wear black when you're with me."

"But black's such a cool color. I like it."

"Black is not cool at all. It's ominous. See, it's making us argue." Mehek replied with a pout.

"It's not making us argue. You're being unreasonable."

"Fine. Wear your black." Mehek said angrily and stood up to leave. But Rudra stopped her by holding her hand. Mehek did not turn to him though. He smiled and hugged her from behind.

"How can I wear something that my love dislikes?" He said keeping his chin on her shoulder. "Should I take the shirt off right now?"

Mehek blushed as a beautiful smile crept up on her lips. She turned and met his eyes. "Do you love me so much that you'll leave something of your liking for me?"

Rudra's eyes sparkled with affection as he replied with an intensity that couldn't be missed.

"There's nothing in this world that I can't leave for you. Except for you."

***

Rudra came out of the memory lane and his heart constricted painfully as he remembered what she had done and what he was going to do. But could he really do it? Could he really marry someone else in her place? Even if he did, how would he fulfill the promises given during the wedding?

No! He could never give Mehek's place to someone else. He would never be able to accept anyone else in his life. There was still time. He had to stop this. He needed to!

Feeling anxious, Rudra took his phone and dialed Mehek's number. He needed to sort this out before it was too late. Mehek would come back for sure. He knew she would. She had to!

But alas! His hope got shattered once more as the number was switched off. He dialed again and again until someone came to call him outside. It was time to start the wedding. But Rudra sent them away without any explanation.

Mr. Raj Singhaniya got worried for his son as words reached him that Rudra had refused to come to the Mandap. So, he himself came to talk to Rudra.

"Do you want me to send everyone away?" He asked his son who had remained silent. Rudra looked at him without answering.
"Say the word and it'll be done."

"Dad---"

"Nothing matters to me more than you. I will not force you. Whatever happens, I'm ready to face. But I will not spoil your life."

Rudra couldn't stood still in front of the unruly emotions that were playing havoc on his consciousness. He stilled himself and gulped down the lodge that had formed in his throat.

"No need. I can't let you down again. This family will not face any humiliation because of me. I am ready to go."

***†***

Sudhir saw his eldest daughter being led to the Mandap in a pure white lehenga with gorgeous stone work. The makeup artist had given her a nice natural look keeping it to minimal. Her jewelry was also light. In short, the wedding guests looked more glamorous than the bride herself. But their was a regal gracefulness in her that couldn't be missed or seen anywhere else.

Sudhir sighed as he watched her sit beside Rudra on the Mandap. He had tried to talk Gauri out of this. But she was undeterred. Raj Singhaniya had done many favors to them. He not only helped Sudhir in setting up his business, but saved his life by donating one kidney when Sudhir was on death's door from kidney failure. But was this really the way to repay him?

Moreover, they did not know Saumya at all. She was not the same girl, they met years ago. She was now a completely different person from who she used to be. And forcing this Saumya into something, was not a good idea.

Saumya was very much adored by her parents and respected them a lot. But this was not something that she would just accept out of the blue. This certainly was a mistake.

"What kind of bride wears pure white lehenga at her wedding!" Someone whispered loudly from behind which reached both Sudhir and Gauri's ears.

"Maybe she's inspired from the western culture of wearing white at weddings." Another voice replied.

"But that's not our culture. White is the color of widows. It's not auspicious to wear white at such occasion."

"Our countryman are in progressive phase. Besides this generation cares for nothing. Auspicious or not, Mrs. Rudra Singhaniya is surely going to set a new trend in motion."

Gauri felt disheartened hearing their talk. Her heart was surrounded by fear. The truth would not remain hidden by any means. People would be curious about Saumya and it was all in open for everyone to know. They would talk and put her under scrutiny. Though Raj had assured her that it wouldn't be taken negatively, still she felt afraid for her daughter. And also for the future that awaited her.

***†***

Ankita, a journalist was waiting outside the Singhaniya mansion for her cameraman. She was irritated beyond limits. What was taking him so long?!

And she was also feeling massively annoyed at these rich privileged people. First, they kept hidden the name or any information of the bride even after announcing the wedding date. Ask someone like her how much trouble the media had gone through to find a single info or photo. But all in vain.

Now, that the wedding day finally arrived, she with hundred other journalists had been waiting the whole day to get a glimpse of the groom and bride. More importantly, they had anticipated the interview that they were promised after the wedding. But suddenly out of nowhere the news came that Singhaniya's were extremely sorry and would not give any interview.
If she didn't care about the salary, she would have left this place long ago. But she couldn't. They were still waiting in the hope of grabbing any scrap of info thrown at their way.

"Why did it take you so long?" She asked in irritation as her cameraman came back.

"Relax. I got a few shots. They didn't let us in, but released a few photographs of the wedding ceremony."

"Thank God! Show me."

Nodding her cameraman handed her the pictures.

"Wait! White?"

"Yeah. Gone are the days of colorful brides. Everyone is going to wear white now."
Her cameraman replied as Ankita scrolled through the photos. "I just hope my sister doesn't change her wedding lehenga to purchase a white one. There's only a few days left before the ceremony."

"This? I have seen this girl somewhere." Ankita said ignoring his rant.

"Really? No one knows anything about her till now except her name. Saumya M. Roy."

"Saumya M. Roy?" Ankita asked to confirm as it rang a warning bell in her mind. As the cameraman nodded, a very much shocked Ankita got her phone out to reconfirm her suspicion.

"OMG! The Singhaniya's has given us GOLD!" Ankita gasped.

"What are you talking about?"

"The most eligible bachelor of India, Rudra Raj Singhaniya has just married Dr. Saumya Mrityunjay Roy,

the widow of the late army officer, Major Mrityunjay Roy."

***†***

Scandalous....

Wait....