The house of a middle class family is decorated beautifully, but more than the house it is the bride, who shines like a star. She was sitting on her bed waiting for the groom, who will take her along with her.

*knock knock*

"Come in," the melodic voice of her was like the tone of a heavenly instrument, she was a singer by profession, but there wasn't much success for her as a singer.

"Ragini," a woman in her mid 50's entered the room, she was as pretty as her daughter.

"Maa," Ragini comes closer to her, she was holding the veil, "May I?" Her mother asked her and Ragini slowly bend down her head, her mother carefully put the veil over her head.

"Thank you beta, you listened to me." Her mother caresses her cheek and left the room.

Ragini turns to the mirror, "haan Maa I agreed to the wedding on your wish, Papa has left us long time back. You have never moved on in your life because you were having me. I was a burden on your shoulders your youth got ruined because of me. I'm sorry mama."

There was a loud sound of music and drums, a full Bharat {groom family and friends} was waiting, coming their way to take her to her new home.

Ragini was scared, she was taking some deep breaths. Her mind was running and she was lost in her thoughts.

The groom, his name is Laksh, he is from a very big and rich family. I can't believe it that he agreed to marry me. I know it all happens because of his mother.

AP Maheshwari, a very good woman with a kind heart. Her nature is something I can't properly describe. I met her once, I guess that was the moment, when she decided to make me her daughter-in-law.

It wasn't like an usually good movie, when a young woman saved the life of the elder woman. No, our story was different.

I remember the day as if it was yesterday.

Ragini was at the nearby market, she was doing some shoppings for the household.

"Going out for shopping that too without buying anything for yourself, not even a chocolate bar is allowed." She was talking to herself, when she witnessed a fight.

Two women of the age of 30 and 50 were fighting and loudly arguing with each other.

"Uff I hate this, creating a scene in public, I have to stop them." Ragini stamped to them with zeal, she pushed them both with each hand and separated them.

"Shut up! It's a public place and you are fighting openly, go to your place and fight there or somewhere where no one can listen or see you." Ragini said and the younger woman raised her hand.

Ragini saw that with the corner of her eye, she ducked at the right moment and laughed mischievously, "you failed!" She said and heard the sound of a slap.

Ragini felt bad, the elder woman got a slap from the younger one, "oh no!" Ragini stood up, "sorry, but it would have happened anyhow."

Ragini gulped in fear, "one moment." A slap from Ragini and the younger woman lost her balance and land in the mud.

"Aunty now because of you I have created a scene. I don't like it if all eyes are one me. Uff." Ragini irked feeling the gazes of the other's on her.

"Ragini!" A woman from the back called her name.

Ragini blinked with her eyes, she formed a pout on her face, "Maa I wanted to help, but got end up in the fight." She turned with a puppy face, "look I bought everything." She showed the shoppers in her hands and Janki shook her head in disbelief.

"Ragini come, lets go home." Janki callee her and Ragini nodded with her head.

"Bye bye Aunty, sorry." She said in low voice and left from there with Janki, the moment Ragini hugged Janki the face was visible.

"Maa let's go." Ragini said to her, she took the shopper from Janki and hooked her hand in hers.

"Janki?!" The elder woman called her name.

Janki turned to see the woman, "yes?" She asked confused, "I'm Janki, who are you?" She couldn't recognise her own friend.

"AP Maheshwari."

Janki widen her eyes, "Anu?!" She met her friend after ages and asked her to come to her home.

Ragini was carrying everything alone. What is this? Mom has friends, she never met them or she never introduced me to them. How mean!

"Anu how are you and how is your husband?" Janki asked then looked at her daughter, "Ragini go get some snacks and Chai."

Ragini nodded, she placed the shoppers on the table, and went into the kitchen for prepare some snacks.

"Janki all are fine, but what about you? Why didn't you call or meet me in these years?" AP asked and Ragini eavesdropped their conversation.

"After the dead of Shekhar I was trying hard to make it better for Ragini, she is my life I had to work and kept a happy face. I couldn't make her feel bad."

Ragini felt bad. Oh no, Maa I know that you had to sacrifice a lot, but why didn't you told me?

"Janki your daughter isn't a child and I feel like she is mature enough to handle everything by her own. Janki how old is she now?"

Janki looked at her friend, "she is 29 years old."

AP smiled, "you know my son, Laksh. He is 30 years old and I was just looking for a suitable bride for him. Can I ask your daughter's hand?"

Ragini was listening to everything. My previous alliance got cancelled because of dowry, but what does she want?

"Anu, Ragini is an independent woman, I can't force her. She will make her own decision."

"Maa, I'm ready." Ragini said and came with a tray with snacks and tea. "But I will keep working and no dowry."

That was the day I got to know a little bit more about my mom. I agreed to the wedding because I knew Aunty won't harm me and Maa will always know that I'm fine. I got to know that both share a sister like bounding.

*Knock Knock*

The door opens and Janki comes in, she took Ragini to the mandap.

A man was sitting there waiting for the bride, he was having a flower veil over his face. He was looking at her. Oh wow, she is looking gorgeous.

I wonder how she could say yes to marry a stranger. I am having my doubts, how can a stranger become a life partner?

I used to have relationships, but I don't know how much she knows about me. Maa came to me a few weeks ago and asked me to marry the girl of her choice. I had no problems as mom was speaking about her as if she is the angel made for me. Then mom told me about the slap, I wanted to kill her, but mom told me about the reaction wow fast and hard. I was happy she knows what is right and wrong, I hope I can fill her expectations.

The priest was chanting the mantras and asked them to follow the rituals.

Ragini was walking the first rounds in front of him, her mind was driving. Laksh was holding her hand, a current pass through their veins.

Their mind was same, Laksh took her place as now Laksh was taking the last rounds in front of her.

Oh gosh I'm marrying a stranger, but all I want is a life partner, who can go with me through thick and thin. Accept me with all my mistakes and look after me like I'm the last person on earth. The most important human, after the family it's me, we should be able to talk like friends and share our sorrows without hurdles, we need to accept the fact that we have to become the life partner of each other.

The priest announced their completed marriage and both took the blessings of the family members.

Janki cups Ragini's face, "I'm giving you away, but this doesn't mean that I won't be there, whenever you need me I'm here!" Both were crying bitterly.

Laksh was waiting, he looked at his father, "now you are happy you have only a son."

DP glares at him, "No, but now I'm happy to have a daughter like her." He smirks and Laksh frowns at him.

"Very funny, that means you have taken your side?"

"I'm always at the side of a winner, not an idiot like you."

AP shushed them, she went to Ragini and Janki, "Janki you know, whenever you want you can come and meet her, it's your house too."

Janki nodded, she kissed Ragini's forehead and gave her to Laksh.

"Please look after her, she is my everything."

Laksh smiles heartily, "Aunty, ops. Sorry. Janki Maa I will look after her, it's a promise."

Janki caresses his cheek, "Thank you."

Ragini sat in the car next to him and they drove to MM.

AP placed Ragini on the bed, "Ragini if there is anything you know you can share with me. I will always be there to hear your words."

Ragini nodded and AP left the room.

Laksh entered their bedroom...

___