The atmosphere in the living room was tense. The sangeeth ceremony had been cancelled and the guests were asked to decline politely. Slowly, a few people who had been present left the house and only the family members were left.

"What exactly happened Anu?" Devika was glaring at her niece who looked like she was about to cry.

Anya found it difficult to open her mouth, given the circumstances. There was nothing more to tell; Riya was missing and she was pretty sure her fiancee had something to do with it.

"I told you badi maa!" Anya groaned helplessly "she asked me to wait for her. I tried calling her after sometime but her cell's switched off, I searched for her in the entire mall".

Sarita looked at her daughter in anger "how could you let her go alone? Did she tell you where she was going?"

Anya knew she had to tell the truth, there was no point hiding when Riya was in danger somewhere. "She said she was going to meet Laksh" she said finally.

"What?" Devika burst out "but why?" Anya looked down "I...don't know..she wouldn't tell me". She couldn't tell the truth now. Once her cousin came back, she would probably explain them everything.

"Her phone's still off!" Her uncle Anoop came near them "I asked her close friends, no one knows where she went".

"We should ask Laksh, he would know something" Sarita suggested. "Yeah you're right, if she went to meet him, he would definitely know what happened" Devika said, walking towards her bedroom.

Sarita stayed where she was, still glowering at her daughter "I can't believe you were so irresponsible!" Anya stared at her "you're blaming me?"

Sarita shook her head in despair "I know you're not being honest with us". Anya caught her tears falling out "I just went with her, because she wanted me to, I swear I don't know where she disappeared".

They waited for her aunt who was on the phone with Laksh while her uncle had gone to the police station to file a complaint.

"I called him" Devika was back and her expression showed that it wasn't good news "he said he didn't go out of the house the whole day as he was busy in the preparations".

"What?" Anya felt like she was stabbed and the pain was excruciating "that can't be! Riya said.."

Her words were cut short "shut up Anu!" Devika hissed "I can't take any more lies". Anya looked at her aunt whom she had deep admiration and love, now blaming her for everything that had happened.

"I swear badi maa, he's probably lying!" Anya cried in silence. "His parents said too, do you think everyone is lying?"

Anya shook her head in horror. How was it possible..unless Riya had lied to her. Anya gasped, thinking of the possibility. Riya had her fooled; she was never going to meet him, she wanted to elope or escape from the wedding. She couldn't face the reality of marrying a guy who didn't respect her so she took matters into her own hands.

"There's something I have to tell you" she spoke softly as there was nothing left to tell. They all looked at her in puzzlement.

"Riya...didn't want to marry Laksh" she said slowly as each head turned towards her in amazement. "What the hell?" Blasted her uncle "how's that possible?"

"She confessed to me last night" Anya explained "she said he was...different than what she had expected and she wanted to call it quits. She said he was.."

Devika approached her with a murderous look on her face "Enough is enough Anu!" She yelled "I didn't expect this from you". "I swear I'm telling the.." she didn't let her go on "Laksh was her choice, she chose him, when they met in London after their post graduation, you know that right?"

Anya didn't; in fact she didn't know anything about her cousin, she realized that now. What did you do Riya? She gasped weakly.

"How can you lie so baseless?" Anoop scolded "please tell us what happened, it's our daughter who's in trouble, don't hide anything from us".

Anya could feel her knees getting weaker, she had no strength left "I swear bade papa!" She pleaded him "why would I lie about something serious? I care about her you know that!"

Her uncle stared at her for sometime and then nodded "it's okay, we don't blame you, but we need to know".

"I've called Minakshi, they're coming over" Devika sighed, sitting on the chair "I didn't tell them exactly what happened, I just told them some emergency has come up".

Sarita patted her shoulders "it's better to talk now, rather than getting to know later".

Anya stood in the corner, watching her family. No one seemed to even look at her, everyone thought it was her fault that Riya ran away. There was only one feeling she could cling onto; regret.

Regret for planning to attend the wedding.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

"Mom!" Laksh yelled from upstairs "where the hell's my shaving kit? I can't find it!"

Minakshi looked at him from down "Guru must have kept it in the cabinet while reorganizing the things, I'll ask him".

"Damn!" Came a swear from above "I told you a million times not to anyone touch my things!"

"I'm sure no one will" this was his younger sister Lekha "once your soon to be wife comes over".

"Oh shut up sis!" He murmured, going back to his bedroom. Things were very messy in the house since few days and he wasn't liking it. A guy known for discipline and organising things, he wasn't easily charmed by the randomness of life.

For him, life was as he classified it; it wasn't aimless and unplanned. He hated disruption and chaos.

It was the night of the sangeeth that he particularly didn't look forward to. Some crazy people applying turmeric paste all over him didn't really sit well with him.

Why can't people just tie the knot and get it over with?he could wonder, instead of wasting time and energy on unnecessary customs and traditions.

After getting ready, he stared at the photo which was kept on the show case. He smiled at the memory of it; taken in the chilly weather in London where both had been wearing overcoats and long boots. He could feel her soft skin pressed against him as they smiled at the camera.

"Laksh?" He turned to see his mother looking at him with a worried expression on her face. "Mom what happened?"

"I...don't know..Devika just called.. she sounded...worried..she asked us to go there" Minakshi said, holding the phone in her hands.

"But...what about the haldi?" He asked, wondering what might have happened for them to call like that.

"Let's just go and come back, Lekha will manage here" she said, asking him to hurry up.

"Hopefully everything's fine" he said, as they were seated on the car, and he was driving faster. "Yeah I think so" Minakshi added..

They reached the house after sometime. Laksh was surprised to find the entrance looked dull. There seemed to no nice of celebration at all. His parents must have noticed it too, they hurriedly paced.

"What happened? You scared us!" Minakshi said, as soon as they saw Devika "is everything okay?"

They weren't speaking, he noticed. In the corner, Riya's mother was crying slowly, her sister patting her shoulder. Her father had bent his head down and shaking his head at them. A little far from them stood a girl whom he didn't recognise, probably a cousin he thought.

"We...are so sorry.." Anoop said, his eyes brimming with tears "our daughter is...missing".

"What?" It was Laksh who yelled "what do you mean?" Devika approached them and narrated the entire incident.

When she was done, they looked horrified. "I don't believe this! This has to be a joke!" Minakshi snapped.

"Something must have happened, I.." Devika went to speak when she was silenced "how could you let that happen huh?" Minakshi snarled at her "you!" She looked at Anya who was quiet the entire time "did she tell you anything?"

Anya looked scared "no she didn't! I swear" she was about to cry when her phone beeped. "Who is it?" Sarita asked her.

Anya opened the text message, it was from an unknown number. With trembling hands Anya read the message loudly and clearly 'tell mom and dad I'm sorry. I can't do this'.