Anya looked at the others, their reactions. She dared not look at the guy whom Riya was supposed to marry within a day. How things have changed! She thought in despair.

"I don't believe this! She was perfectly happy, everything was going well" Devika let out a wail, "I'm.. so sorry.. I'm so ashamed".

"You're ashamed!" Minaskhi was shouting "how could you let this happen? If she had plans like this, you could have informed us, we would have cancelled the wedding much ahead in advance. You had no right to destroy my son's life!"

Anya looked at him slowly, she was unable to read his expression; he was gazing at the floor, as if thinking.

"We didn't know, I swear we didn't!" Devika cried much louder "please believe us! She was so happy and excited, we would never have known!"

Anya saw her uncle approach the guy's father, looking downcast "I don't know what to say to make you understand, I hope you have it in your heart to forgive us" there was tears in his eyes and she couldn't help but feel tearful as well.

Laksh's father Prateek was dumbstruck for sometime but he simply nodded, not saying anything. A tense silence followed, and finally Minakshi walked over to her husband "we've invited each and everyone from all corners!" There was anger and disgust in her face "what do you suggest we do now huh?"

It was Laksh who spoke, his voice not conveying any emotion "I think we should go, I think we all had enough!"

Minakshi looked like she was thinking something "no!" She said firmly as everyone stared at her "I've decided something!"

Prateek looked at her questioningly "what are you..?" She stopped him midsentence and stared at Anya for a long time before answering "the wedding will go on like planned".

"What?" Laksh almost yelled, as others just watched in shock "mom! Didn't you really understand what's going on?"

"I do!" Minakshi replied, "you are getting married..to her" she pointed at Anya. There was a collective gasp and stunned responses from everyone.

Anya stood transfixed to the spot, hardly able to move. Surely there had to be a mistake. She expected her mother to say something; anything. But there was none.

"That's...impossible!" Said Laksh, much to her relief, who looked equally appalled and angry at the idea "that's never going to happen!"

"Can I talk to you alone?" His mother asked politely. He looked at her for a moment and then nodded, walking with her to another room.

"I can't believe you're saying this!" He snapped at her, while they were alone "after all that happened, how could you even think I would agree to this?"

"I know!" She patted his shoulder "I... should never have agreed for this, it's partly my fault"there was tear in her eyes. He looked at her "no mom!" He sighed "it's not you, it's me. This is all on me". He didn't even feel anything for her now; she seemed like a long time ago.

"Right" his mother said "but I'm not going to shame myself" she nodded "and you. The wedding will take place as scheduled. You will marry that girl".

"I'm sorry mom!" He shook his head "I won't marry someone just to save my reputation". She blinked back tears "I'm not asking you to live with her forever. Just when the right time comes, leave her". He stared at her in surprise "you mean..divorce?"

"Yeah! They should know what shame feels like. Let's give them the taste of their own medicine". Laksh didn't feel the idea was great, it wasn't. He thought about the consequences, and then he thought about Riya; how she ran  away from him.

"Okay, but I won't have anything to do with her!" He said firmly. She nodded, hugging him "thank you beta".

Anya watched the mother and son walk towards them, they looked like they had decided something. She could feel her heartbeat increasing with every step they took.

"We've decided to let the wedding go on of course" Minakshi was saying "with her" she gave a brief glance at Anya's direction.

No! She wanted to scream. This was not what she had intended to happen. "Maa" she whispered to her mother who was still dumbstruck at the proposal.

"You will marry him Anu" she said before Anya could speak "that's it!" Anya looked at her mother in shock; how could she have been so stone hearted.

"No" she shook her head "please badi maa" she cried to her aunt "please don't do this to me". Devika smiled in a mocking way "you should have thought all that, before conspiring with my daughter".

Anya couldn't believe this! "I didn't.. I swear..please" her words were drowned with tears. "So that settles" said Minakshi when others had given their agreement "we're coming with our guests to take the bride away".

"Shouldn't we allow the children to speak?" Anoop said, feeling slightly sympathetic. Anya was glad he said that; she decided to talk to Laksh and change his mind.

"Of course not!" Minakshi interrupted "we should be on our way". Before either of them could intervene, they were gone.

Anya fell on the floor, crying. "Anu! Stop crying, for God's sake!" Anya looked at her mother who had crouched beside her "you should be lucky they're asking for your hand, Laksh is a succesful, intelligent and smart guy. Instead of thanking the fate, you're crying!"

Anya glared at her mother "seriously maa?how could you speak like this? I haven't even agreed for this marriage and you're on about how lucky I am?" She shook her head "you want to know how I feel? I feel like I'm the most deprived girl in the entire planet!"

"If you want to see yourself like that, I won't stop you" her mother snapped. "Yeah you won't!"shouted Anya "if papa were alive, I wouldn't have to see myself in this situation, he would never force me to be the victim of circumstances!"

Her mother got up, "well he isn't! So don't waste time trying to think the impossible". Anya stared at her in disbelief "how can you be so cold mother? How can anyone get to be so cruel?"

Sarita gave a long hard stare at her daughter "for a single mother who has to see her daughter get settled in life, yes I'm cruel and selfish!" She walked out of the living room, leaving her daughter alone with her tears.