Chandni was finding it hard to keep up with the long strides of Advay, as they reached the outhouse.

Advay entered the room and closed the door behind him. As he turned , Chandni gasped, as she could see the blood still dripping from the side of his forehead.

"Tumhara khoon bah raha hai.. you are still bleeding." She offered her handkerchief, but he strode towards her in such fury saying

"Badon ko Aap Kehte Hai"

Chandni wanted to reply back  "Lekin Apnon ko tum kehte hai!"

But something in his furious gaze towards her stopped her from saying it aloud.

"Sorry Aap... Aap theek to hai?" She asked him nervously, still not feeling sure, why she can't but feel concerned for him. He fought all those goons just to get to her, to marry her...why? Does he love her? Surely not.

Then why does she always get all these mixed feelings towards him? Anyway this was not the time to dwell over these things. She had been forcibly taken away from her wedding mandap by Advay.

"Advay please tell me why have you brought me here, away from my family? I have said this before and I am saying it again. I can't marry you. I am going to marry PPji as per my Maa's wishes. I...."

"So, in short, you will marry any ass chosen by your Mom over me, is that right?" He spat at her.

"Don't say such rude words about him, he comes from a respectable family, and that's why my mother chose him for me, and I trust her judgement. And I have seen with my own eyes, how he came to our family's rescue sometime ago. I am not blindly marrying anyone." she snapped back finally, unable to take his taunts anymore.

But as she noticed that her outburst only made him more furious, she quickly changed her tone again.

" I can't let my Maa or my family's name down. Please take me back." She pleaded with him.

As Advay looked at her, all his pent up frustration and fury sprang out. Neither the fact that she was looking like a beautiful bride, or pleading with him with tearful eyes made any impact on him. Any chance of feeling kind or tender towards her was way past him now.

Despite his best laid plans, Indrani still managed to steal Chandni away from him, and was going to get her married off, and Chandni went along with it, much against his wishes. There was only one way left to make her agree to this marriage now, however distasteful it was, even for him.

"Oh yes, family name. I was coming to that actually Chandni. Your mum was always proud of your family name and her well-disciplined girls' right? How would she feel, if she comes to know that her daughter had become a mother out of wedlock?" He spelt every word deliberately slow, and was not disappointed to see all the life leave her eyes, to be replaced by fear and anguish.

"What do you mean?" she whispered, fearful of what she was about to hear.

"I know everything about that little baby in Suvidha orphanage home that you secretly meet, even at your own home, and the lady who brought that baby along....Yes I know everything, even though you tried to your best to mislead me.

Now tell me this once and for all... whose baby is that?" As his voice roared, Chandni flinched and shut her eyes tightly.

"Is that baby yours?" His face was full of anguish, desperate to hear a no from her, but Chandni had her eyes cast down and didn't notice this.

"I ... I can't talk about it right now. That's all I can say." Chandni's voice shook, as she tried to gather her wits, and think of a way to get over this new crisis.

Why can't she deny the baby is hers? Does this really mean his doubts were baseless and the baby was indeed hers? How can it be? Advay's blood boiled at Chandni's stubbornness and duplicity. She doesn't deserve even an iota of his goodwill now. She is going to face the consequences of her choice. He steeled himself before giving her the ultimatum.

"Oh is that so? Well no problem, then I will ask your mom this question directly, or perhaps PPji's mom can give her own thoughts on this. What do you say?" He mocked at her.

"No!!! Please don't do that. Please don't say anything about the baby to my Maa. She will be heartbroken." Chandni implored him, as tears rolled on her cheeks.

"You literally make me feel... You know what Chandni, just forget it." Advay's gaze was so full of contempt that Chandni looked away, unable to give an answer to him or justify her actions.

"The great Chandni Yash Narayan Vashisht, the one who never lies...now is begging me not to reveal the truth to her family. I had to see this to believe it!! Remember how  you were demanding to know what lies you ever told me? What do you call this? You are nothing but a liar and you have been a liar all your life!!! For now no one but me knows about this. But if you don't want this "Truth" to reach anyone's ears, then all you have to do is marry me. Tell your Maa that you want to get married to me and not PP." Advay demanded hoarsely, trying hard to suppress the anguish and fury in his voice.

"So this is what your plan was all this time, to blackmail me into marrying you!! All that time you were trying to charm or woo me... that was just fake. Why are you so against me marrying PPji? You still haven't told me why you are so hell bent on marrying me." She demanded, her voice mingled with desperation and fury.

"Chandni, for someone like you, trying to take a moral high ground and criticising me doesn't really go well. So please stop all these pretences right now. As for the reason why I want to marry you, I will tell you everything after marriage Bhagyawaan, you don't have to wait too long to know, trust me." He replied to her cynically.

Chandni looked at his determined and stern face and nodded her head silently, drinking back all the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes, even at the slightest push. Was he the same man who was fighting the goons to reach her and marry her?

She had just began to develop tenderness and concern towards him, but all this while he had this vicious plan to blackmail her, and bring disrepute to her family. She rued to herself how she had been fooled again by the great Mr Advay Singh Raizada.

Her face steeled with the inevitability of things she was about to face. She knew her fate is sealed now, but she had no choice. She can't reveal to Advay or anyone about Meghu's baby. Especially when even Meghu didn't know about it. If this marriage is the cost she had to pay to bury the baby's existence, then she was ready for it.

Advay stretched his hand and she held it silently and they both walked back to the mandap, but in neither of their hearts, this was a moment of joy or pride.

As they approached the mandap, Indrani stopped them, and commanded Advay sternly to leave her daughter alone, as he can't force her to marry him.

"Saasu Maa!!  I am not forcing anyone. Please ask Chandni, she has willingly agreed to marry me." Advay mocked at her.

"Chandni, what is he saying? How can this be? What did you tell him?" Indrani demanded and Chandni had no choice but to declare that she indeed wanted to marry Advay Singh Raizada.

As Indrani looked in shock at her daughter, who never did anything against her wishes, Advay started to slowly pull Chandni towards the mandap, but a small gentle hand grabbed his arm from the back, and he turned around.

His Nani was standing there, her face in such fury, that he was completely startled. Before he could react any further, she slapped him hard on his face. Chandni looked in shock at the elderly lady, who held such command over Advay.

"Cheeku! Come with me." She demanded furiously, grabbed Advay's arm, and pulled him away from Chandni and the rest of her family. Murli and Yash Narayan Vashisht were standing behind Nani. Advay didn't know who brought Nani to the Mandap, but that was beside the point now.

"Advay! We knew that only your Nani could stop you from forcing yourself into a wedlock with my daughter, so we called her here." Indrani looked at him triumphantly,  relieved that finally, they succeeded in stopping Advay and his plans, as he was dragged away from the Mandap by Nani.

But for Chandni, this made no difference, for she knew that just like her Maa, Nani too wouldn't know what new lows Advay had gone now, with his blackmail plans. From whatever little she knew of him, he would go ahead and reveal everything if she doesn't comply with his demands.

Chandni approached her Maa with trepidation.

"Maa please try to understand, I can't marry PPJi, and I have agreed to marry Advay" Chandni's voice trembled, as she gazed into the stern face of her Maa.

"What will happen to PP then?" Indrani demanded furiously, unable to believe that Chandni is still bent on going against her command to marry PP. Just when she thought she mastered over Advay, her daughter had to come and ruin all her plans.

Chandni pleaded with her, her voice hoarse and her lips parched. She was feeling quite weak and dizzy, as she had been in distress and crying all day.

"Maa! I know you are angry with me for breaking your trust like this, but believe me when I say this... whatever I am doing, it is for our family honour. I will marry Advay and live happily." Tears poured out of her eyes, even as she tried to lie to her mother in vain.

*****

Meanwhile, in the outhouse, Nani was furiously admonishing Advay for his rash decision to force Chandni into marrying him.

"Do you have any idea what you were about to do there Cheeku? How can your hatred lead you to such desperate measures, that you were ready to break an innocent girls' heart, just to seek your revenge?"

"Nani! Chandni is not as innocent as you might think. You don't know her." Advay tried to argue.

"I don't think I don't know you anymore Cheeku." Nani said this in such anguish that he didn't know how to respond to her.

"Cheeku, please listen to me. You are under the misapprehension that you are binding Chandni to you in hatred, but the holy bond of marriage is beyond all this. It's a bond of love, and it will bind you two forever, even without your knowledge. You are going to marry her in front of the holy fire as per our traditions and our families as witness, you will be bound by this relationship in eternity, and you have to fulfil the vows you take today for the rest of your life." Nani tried to make her grandson come to terms with the consequences of his actions.

Advay promised inwardly. Yes, I will take my vows today and I will fulfil them, but those would be vows of hatred and not love.

Aloud he said to his Nani "I promise you Nani, whatever promises I make today, or the vows I take in front of the holy fire, I will fulfil them for the rest of my life."

******

Pratham (PP) was furious with the sudden turn of events and he took out his ire on Chandni.

"So this was your plan! You colluded with that Advay, and kept me guessing till the last moment, so you can marry him. All this time you were acting like such Sanskari girl with me, while you were carrying a secret affair with Advay. Do you take me for a fool? I spent two crores on you. Do you think I am going to let you get away from me so easily... No way!!! You are going to marry me and no one else." Chandni looked helplessly at her mother as PP caught her hand, and dragged her towards the Mandap.

She tried to pull her arm away from him , pleading "PPji please leave me" which made him more furious. He pulled her so hard that she fell down on the ground, shrieking.

"I won't leave you at any cost." He pulled a long and heavy mud pot, and pushed it onto her feet, crushing her toes. In his maddened fury, he completely forgot that Advay was still in the same premises with his Nani.

As Advay heard Chandni's shriek, all thoughts vanished from his mind, and he rushed out to see what happened to her.

Nani smiled inwardly. No matter how much her grandson denies it, he still cares for his Chandu, and will continue to do so for the rest of his life. May be they were destined to marry each other, but just that the current circumstances made it look like it was a forced reunion.

She prayed to god silently and called out to Murli, to take her back to the Mandap.

As Advay ran towards the mandap, he could see Chandni crying in pain, as the heavy pot crushed her feet.

PP looked terrified at the sight of Advay. Holding PP in his gaze Advay quickly removed the pot away from Chandni, and helped her sit up.

How dare PP hurt his Chandni, let alone touch her!!! All the protectiveness that he always felt for Chandni sapped his mind, as he proceeded to beat PP bit by bit, blow by blow, that by the end of it, PP was left begging him for mercy. But his fury wouldn't go away, and as he continued to raise his hand to give one more blow on him, till his Nani's deterrent voice stopped him.

PP's mother rushed to him crying, as he collapsed on to the floor.

"This was the groom that your Mom had chosen for you, you must be so proud of your Maa and her judgement now Chandni!!" Advay mocked at her as he helped to her feet and took her towards the mandap.

Chandni was feeling shattered, her life went upside down in a single moment. She looked questioningly at her Maa who averted her gaze. Was she wrong in trusting her Maa so blindly? Her heart didn't agree. She loved her Maa. May be her Maa was misled too.

But she felt finally at peace that she was not going to marry PPji. May be Advay was the groom destined for her. But she felt no joy, as she remembered how Advay made her agree to the marriage in the first place.

What proceeded was the most important even in their lives, their marriage.... but it was performed in such brief and solemn manner, reflecting both Advay and Chandni's state of mind.

Chandni felt completely empty, devoid of any emotions as she followed Panditji's instructions to perform the rituals of the marriage. Advay thought he will finally feel some relief, or even a triumph but he felt empty too, as he proceeded to tie the mangalsutra and then fill Chandni's parting with Sindhoor. Chandni's Mama Niranjan came forward to tie the robes of the bride to the groom in GatBandhan as Indrani looked stonily away.

Then it was time for the Saat Pheras around the holy fire, but Chandni's feet were still in lot of pain and she couldn't get up. And she was already feeling very exhausted and dizzy . What was supposed to be a moment of pure joy and happiness in every girls life felt like a moment of endurance, that sapped all the energy out of her.

Advay noticed this and did the only thing that came to his mind. He lifted her gently in his arms and took the Saat Pheras around the fire, carrying her. As he looked at his new bride, watching him with vulnerable and forlorn eyes, he had to gulp down his sympathies and steel his mind. He had to avenge his parents' death, and finally his path was now cleared for that. He cannot be fooled by Chandni's sad face anymore.

As instructed by PanditJi, it was time to take the vows, as he walked around the fire with his bride secure in his arms.

As he took the first round, Advay vowed to himself; the way Chandni separated me from my family I will separate her from her family.

Secondly, as her lie destroyed my whole life, I will make sure that her life will get destroyed too. As he looked at his wife again, he promised himself, I will walk every step of the way with you, so I can destroy your life at every step Chandni!!

As he took the turn for the third time, Advay vowed, Just like the way Chandni brought disgrace to my family's name, I will make sure Chandni's family name becomes a disgrace too.

Let Chandni be fooled by his concern towards her, Advay vowed, the right to give her pain rests solely with me, I will not let anyone else give pain to her.

Most people are possessive about their love, they don't want to share is with anyone. But I am possessive about my hatred, I will never share my hatred with anyone. I am not like others who need someone to love. But I need you for my hatred, Chandni...

How much ever you try, my hatred will never let you far away from me, and I will make sure you are bound to me. Chandni, I don't hate just you, but  every person that you love.

If you feel happy even for one moment when you are with me, then I would consider that as a failure, and I will never forgive myself for that.

As Advay completed his vows, he locked his gaze with Chandni, who looked  at him in shock and fear, trying to read his emotions. And she wondered what sins she did, to deserve  such hatred in her husband's eyes. But whatever it was, she was prepared for it. She was bound to him for life now, and as his wife, she will do everything in her capacity to fight for her marriage, for herself and for their holy bonding.

Chandni too vowed to herself and her husband; I have seen nothing but hatred towards me in your eyes. I swear that I will find courage within me to fight that hatred, and the reason behind that hatred. I will not let your hatred win.

^------------^

On a day that was supposed to be filled with joy and happiness, Advay Chandni were left feeling angry, contempt and even despair. For these two childhood sweethearts, their wedding was as unconventional as their love for each other, and that's what makes this story so interesting.

Each were justified in their actions to some extent, because neither of them would reveal their true selves. So how would such marriage actually work? we will find out in the next chapter.

Please post all your comments and opinions on how you found this chapter and the story so far.

I have tried to explain the internal conflicts of both characters as much as I could, within this short story. I can write pages and pages on it but that would defeat the purpose.

Lots of love

Sesi