" Never ever I thought in my weirdest dreams,
That holding the hand of person can do wonders to my heart."

Jia's POV

"Wake up. Your groom ran away from the wedding." Someone shouted in my ears. I sat up as if an electric current passed through my body.

" What ?" I whisper yelled. My eyes were seering like I washed my eyes with chilly water.

" See, I told you." Someone said and the others started laughing. I was unable to comprehend what kind of joke, they were playing on me. I just wanted to slap them.

I saw my cousins gushing over there on the door. I got up from the bed and reached them, "What are you all doing here?" I asked them calming my anger.

" Aunty asked us to wake you up, but you didn't. So, we thought you would wake up if I say this." Sheena said, stumbling at the last part. I excused myself and went inside my room.

I took a wonderful shower. By the time I came out, the make up artists were seated on their respective places. They made me wear the red coloured heavily embroidered wedding lehenga. The insides of the lehenga having rounds of cream coloured trails made it more heavy and flowy.

They started the make-up from my eye and within two hours, I was looking like a bride. They lauded me with jewelleries and ornaments, they weren't light but the excitement I was holding inside for my marriage, made me more capable of handling these stuffs. I loved the way, they dolled me up.

Suddenly, the venue reverbated with the loud bollywood songs, that heralded the arrival of the baarat.

All my cousins were eagerly peeping out of the window to take a look at my to be husband. I also wanted to jump off the window to see them, but sadly, our customs don't permit me to do.

My moment of self- love broke,when my mom and dad entered my room to get me down to the mandap for marriage. Their eyes were misted with tears yet that stretched smile didn't leave their face. They had a glow that was enticing. I stepped down the stairs with all the grace, I have been gifted with. Every eyes were looking at me. Mishka stood by my side, while Ayushi stood on the other side.

I was so exuberant.When my eyes locked with my man, he being the ridiculous man of the world turned his face. But I bet he was ogling at me like a dying fish a while ago. Let's see Mr. Malik, How long you will resist me?

"You are looking gorgeous. What's your plan?" Rohit whispered in my ears softly.

" What plan?" I asked.

" By whom, do you want to be kidnapped?" He asked me, smirking.

" What kidnap? What are you saying?" I inquired him in a muddled tone. He was laughing. He seemed to me like a zombie these days, he cracks a joke and laughs himself.

" I have my wedding. My groom is waiting for me, make others laugh.Take Ayushi with you." He immediately left with a last teasing dialogue.

He got me out of this huge crowd to be his scapegoat. After Pandit Ji's third call, I reached the mandap guided by Ayushi and Bhabhi. My loaded lehenga was making it difficult for me to walk. Ishaan took my hand and pulled me up the mandap.

We exchanged garlands. The whole venue was hustling and bustling with the noises of the guest and the high pitched verse chantings by the priest. The aroma of the delicacies lifted up every one's mood.

Giggles of the children, chatterings of the women and party of the all men was full of excitement. Our day time wedding, was filled with enthusiasm and ecstacy. My mom and Urmilla aunty weren't present in the ceremony as per our old traditions.

My mom's dance students were gathered at a corner, chatting with Ayushi and the whole time, Rohit was gawking at her as a hawk. There was happiness everywhere, except on the face of the person beside me. He was making disgusting faces, each passing time as if aunty made him drink bitter gourd juice. Our hands were encircled around each other during the Pani Grahan or Hataganthi. Here, our hands were tied with each other by a string of flowers.

My cousin opened the knot and then we stood up for the pheras ( spiritual seven rounds of fire that ensures conjugality of the couple for seven lives).

Hand in hand, we circled the fire vowing our responsibilities towards each other. The last two pheras, I was walking in front of him. This moment is going to be imprinted on my soul forever. My dad did the kanyadaan (offering of the bride to the groom). Our dads were teary eyed, while our friends were looking at us with awe. My happiness had no bound. I was overwhelmed.

At last, he filled my hair partition with vermillion. A line tear dropped my eye as a refreshing thought instilled in my heart. I was officially his wife. Finally, at that intersection of time, I felt complete.

Bhabhi took up my veil and he tied the nuptial chain around my neck. The priest then pronounced us as husband and wife. It felt so ebullient. We offered offerings to the holy fire, who was the witness of our sacred wedding.

With the each ticking time, I grew nervous and excited about the beginning of my new life. It was the time for my bidaai. My parents along with my relatives cried their eyes out. Seeing them weeping, my eyes also started to tear up. Mishka was wailing like a baby and her little one too started crying seeing his mother shedding tears.

"Such a lovely kid!" I uttered unknowingly, looking at their adorable bond.

Mishka smirked at me and said teasingly,"Don't be envious of my son. You will have a cuter one. We want the good news soon." She laughed and everyone gave her are-you-crazy look.

My dad handed my hand to him, now I was not related to my family's clan but to my husband's. I am his and he is mine. I was finally his wife, Mrs. Jia Ishan Mallik.

We were led towards our car, that took us to the Mallik mansion.
Aunty was waiting for us with Bhai, Bhabhi and Uncle at the doorstep. I kicked the rice pot and entered the house as a part of Griha Pravesh ( A ritual of welcoming the bride inside the house and accepting her whole heartedly).

Aunty placed the vermillion platter on the floor. I dipped my feet on it and walked a distance with Ishaan following me behind, closely.

" Sona, take Jia to the guest room." Aunty directed bhabhi.

" Why? Don't worry, I can manage well in Ishaan's room." I said aloud enough for all the faces to turn towards my side. Ishaan was looking at me weirdly, that was when I realised how desperate I sounded.

" Bhabhi, let's go to the guest room." I turned way and whispered, unable to show my embarrassed face to all of them. I didn't miss those chuckles of my in-laws behind my back. Sona left me there after a lot of teasings. I tried to sleep, but the urge to see him didn't let me to sleep.

I surreptiously entered Ishaan's room at night. He was sitting in the balcony, I hugged him from behind.

" What the hell?" He shouted.

" Caught you !" I smiled at him. He was startled to see me in his room. His eyes stated, he would scream any moment. But, I wanted the answers of his behaviour from the past few days.

" What's going on ?" Before I could finish the sentence, he carried me in his arms, walked out the room and placed me in the bed of the guest room.

"It's inappropriate for us to meet at night like this today." He said in a cold voice.

" Ishaan, it will be better if you say the truth. Who would deny husband and wife from meeting each other ? It's actually not inappropriate, but you are making it look like that. " A lone tear escaped my eyes as I saw him moving out.

I cried myself to sleep and the whole day passed in blur with all the after-marriage rituals.

" Curl the hairs of this side." I was styling my hair for our reception. Claded in a long gown, I kept combing my hair.

Bhabhi took me to the stage and I saw all our friends were enjoying the evening. My eyes were scanning the area to figure out that man, whom I married. Bhabhi handed my hand to a man, as I twirled around, I chanced upon him. His hand on by bare waist was creating in me, unknown sensations.

After standing of few hours, collecting gifts from guests and showing up our smiles, the reception ended. At the length, we slumped on the seater placed behind us. We shot some candid photos of us together.

"The picture looks somewhat spacious, isn't it?" Mumma ( Urmilla) said. All others started laughing, but we both stood like a kid, who is asked to solve the most difficult question of physics.

" I suggest, make it a picture of five , then it won't look too spacious. Yes, you also have the options to increase the number, if you wish." Rohit said and winked at me.

I was red as a rose and Ishaan was unaffected. He just left away, leaving me alone.

Sona led me to Ishaan's room, " Now, you don't have to sneak into his room as a thief." she started laughing and I was in pure shock.

" I want to know each and everything that happens tonight. Yes, Don't forget to wear this." Ayushi whispered in my ears and handed me a bag.

I reached inside the room, and opened the bag. As I saw the contents in the bag, I immediately kept it inside the cupboard. I was sitting on the bed, when Ishaan entered the room. My viel was down but I could see his movements partially through the viel. He opened the cupboard and took out a formal suit.

Before I could even question, without even looking at me once, he went out of the room.

I followed him. Mumma was coming down with a jug, and she saw him outside the room. She asked, "Where are you going now, leaving her?"

" Maa, I have a concert now." He told in a hesistating voice.

" You never had a concert at this time, then why today? You know na, it's bad for the bride to be left alone in the first night of the marriage." She tried to convince him.

But, he was adamant, by now everyone gathered in the drawing room.

" What are you doing here?" Bhai asked.

To which, Mumma replied, "See, your brother is ready to go to his concert now."

" Mumma, let him go, it must be important. Work always comes before any other thing, be it your wife." I stated looking at him, warily.

" I am leaving, Maa " He walked past me. They were looking at me. I just smiled, assuring them.

With this I turned back and reached our room. I opened the closet and brought out one of his shirt. I changed into it and slept after begrudgingly, discarding the decors on the bed. The faded scent of his body was still on the shirt, and I felt as if I was in his embrace.

"Why is he doing this?" was the only question, circling my brain after which I slept.

I woke up but I felt something different.

Hey guys,

I am here. I am back home. ❤️

So, how was the chapter, friends ?

Any guesses, where did Ishaan go ? 🤭

I know this was a short chapter, but there would be long chapter next time.😜

Thank you every one for reading it . Don't forget to vote and comment.

Love you all. Tata bye bye. See you soon :)

Love,
Biswa❤️