Chapter-3

shdi aaj hi hogi, abhii hogi, isi mandap me hogi” he said, his eyes narrowing toward Shritika, who was trying to console the women.

As she said that, everyone turned towards him. Neil's eyebrows raised in question. "What do you mean?" Neil asked Shivansh.

"Means ye shaadi aaj hi hogi. Mandap bhi wahi hoga aur dulha bhi, lekin dulhan wo hogi," he said, pointing his finger towards Shritika.

Shritika gasped in shock, her mouth wide open. "Ye aap kya keh rahe Rana Sa?" Shritika asked.

"Jo aapne suna," Shivansh replied.

"We need time to think and discuss about it," Neil said.

"Aapke paas baat karne ka samay hai, lekin sochne ka vikalp nahi. Ye shaadi hogi," Shivansh replied in a deep voice. "I am sending new bridal clothes and jewellery. You have only one hour," he said, leaving the room with no space for argument.

Shritika's eyes filled with tears. "Papa," she said while looking at Neil.

"Please beta, please... for our dignity, please accept this relation. Please marry him, bacche," he said, joining his hands.

"Yes beta, please... for us ko, for our dignity," Manoj also said, joining his hands.

A tear dropped from her eye as she listened to every word. At the same time, Atulya entered the room.

"Shri," she whispered as she saw Shritika's tear-filled eyes.

Atulya hugged Shritika. Shritika burst into tears.

"Shh, I’m here… shh," she consoled her.

"How can I marry someone whom I don't know?" she cried.

"Atulya, please use samjhao. Use bolo wo shaadi kar le," Manoj requested while leaving the room. Some employees brought the clothes and jewellery.

"You don't need to wear th—" Atulya started, but Shritika cut her off.

"I have to. For my family, for their dignity. I can't accept if anyone disrespects them," Shritika said with a cold face.

"Shri," Atulya whispered and hugged her.

She got ready in a maroon bridal lehenga and matching jewellery, with long earrings and a matha-patti. She looked ethereal, but her cold eyes took the charm away.

She entered the hall with Atulya beside her and four men holding the chadar.

Shivansh didn't look up and stayed seated. She stepped into the mandap and sat beside him.

"Pandit ji, shaadi shuru kijiye," he said coldly.

Pandit ji began the wedding.

"Var-vadhu varmala ke liye khade ho jaayein," Pandit ji said.

Both stood and exchanged garlands, then sat again. Neil and Mena came to do kanyadaan. They took Shritika’s hand and placed it on Shivansh’s. Both were looking at a distant point. Neil and Mena looked at each other before continuing the ritual. They took some flowers, put them on their hands, and poured milk over them. After doing everything, they finally touched the feet of both the bride and groom.

"Gathbandhan ke liye var ki behen aage aaye," Pandit ji said. Shubhi came forward and did the gathbandhan tightly.

They stood up and took seven rounds around the fire, with seven promises that didn’t matter to them.

"Ab var vadhu ko sindoor pehnaye," Pandit ji said. Shivansh took a pinch of vermilion and turned towards her to fill her hair parting. For the first time in the last few hours, he looked at her. As he looked at her, his heart skipped a beat. His breath stopped for a second. He continued looking at her before realizing what he was doing. He filled her hairline, and some of the vermilion fell on her nose.

"Ab var vadhu ko mangalsutra pehnaye," Pandit ji said. Shivansh tied the mangalsutra around her neck.

"Vivah sampann hua," Pandit ji declared.

After an hour, the media started clicking their pictures, and they were faking their smiles. After the media finished clicking photos, they moved toward the room where everyone was seated.

They both entered the room. Atulya was the first to see them and ran towards Shritika.

"Shri, are you okay?" she asked.

"Hmm," she replied with a cold face.

Neil and Mena approached her.

"I’m sorry beta," Mena said, stroking her cheek.

Without a word, Shritika removed her hand.

"It’s okay Maa," she said, without looking at her.

Mena hugged her, but she didn’t respond. Then Neil hugged her, and after that, Manoj and Kajal hugged her together.

"Thank you beta," they said. She nodded.

Lastly, Atulya hugged her.

"You know na, I’m always here for you," she said with a soft but sad smile.

Shritika looked at her and forced a small smile.

Shivansh called Aryan.

"Aryan."

"Ji Bhai," he replied.

Shivansh took some money from him, as he wasn’t carrying his wallet, and handed it to Atulya.

"Aapka nek."

Atulya raised her eyebrows.

"Sali ho aap humari," he said.

"Agar aapko humein hamara nek dena hai, toh humein wada kijiye ki aap hamari dost ka hamesha dhyaan rakhenge," she said, directly looking into his eyes.