The Rejection

11

Wedding Like never before

“When I was asked to pack my bags I was not given any option to not do so. Manan, packed our bags and he took me here with himself”. - Aakriti wanted to continue but could not as her throat was filled with emotions and words were not coming out… She started crying again and Sam again did not feel any pity for her, he was seeing her cry for the 100th time and by then he was used to it.  But Sia stood up from the couch and got near her and wiped her tears with her hand and hugged her to calm her down from fear and emotions. “Then what happened”- Sameer questioned Aakriti, although he was not emotional from her tears, he did wait till she was ok to speak up. She continued, “After coming here, it was all changed. Manan did not do anything for some time but then he went all covetous about those Diamonds. He would go to the village every week and would torture my brother and father for the information. He would starve them. He would beat them. There were four of them but no one could do anything because he had tied them up and all of them were on the third floor but in different places and none of the rest knew that the rest was also inside the third floor. 

As it was a huge cave and widely spacious, no one knew where the rest was. He then started to give them food and water after the death of my father due to starvation. He knew if they all die, he would not be getting any information about Diamonds. They were all unbreakable and did not give any information to Manan. They all did not break but Manan did, he breaks his pact to not torture me. He came one day home with frustration as he was not able to get any information. He then took out all his rage on me. He started beating me with anything that could reach his hands. He threw kitchen utensils at me. I got hit and was bleeding but he did not care. He then dragged me by pulling my hair and was almost going to knock my head with a bathroom wall. But then he gained some senses and stopped himself from doing so. He started to yell at me that I know everything about Diamonds and I am on my brother’s side and I am not telling him anything because I want to protect my family’s legacy. At first, I cried a lot for him to accuse me of something like that. I could not understand where the Manan, who I had married too, was. I still remember, Manan forcing me not to open Aarav’s diary by respecting his privacy, and now he was complete stranger to me who was beating me and held my brothers in darkness. He was ready to kill them if needed just in order to get those Diamonds. Since that day it was his daily routine to beam me up and yell at me and abused my family. He did not have enough money to travel to the village every time and ask them and torture them for information.  So he stopped going to the village. But he still has not forgotten about those Diamonds. He would lock me in a room, would not let me go anywhere where I might have chances to ask people for help. He would starve me for days, would not let me change my clothes for months, and would not let me cleanse myself. He has turned into a complete maniac. He had created a situation for me that was completely unbearable. 

One day I was able to escape from that hell where I was kept without any life. I was kept without getting in contact with anyone or could not go to see my family members. I was counting every day and was waiting for them to end soon. I was blaming myself for falling in love with Manan, if I had never fallen for him, I would not have gotten into that situation of hell. He was turned into a complete nerd and I had to think clearly about everything. As he forgot to lock the door one day, I slipped out of the bedroom to the hall crawling, I could not walk on my legs as my knees were badly broken by him for the last six days. I was in a lot of pain as I did not get any treatment and was not able to walk. I crawled through stairs but was not very comfortable to crawl on stairs, I gulped the pain for some time and dared to walk on my feet and passed the stairs. I started to run on roads like I was being chased by a cruel animal. Some people did notice me, some did not. Those who did not bother trying to stop me. I was also not bothered by them. I had no idea where I was running or who I would meet. Or who might help me? Then Sia found me and that was how I am here.” Aakriti sighed and taunted Sameer that she was then over with her story. Sameer and Sia were dazed by hearing her story and did not know what to do next. It was dead silence for several minutes. Aakriti broke that silence by saying, “I want your help. I want you guys to take me to the village and I want to see if my brother is alive by any luck or they have successfully escaped from that cave and have survived.” Sameer said it was not possible as they have their wedding lined up and she should be more thankful enough for what they have done for her so far and shamed enough to ask for more. Sameer was as straight forward as he was. Aakriti got upset by hearing that but she did know what Sameer was saying was exactly the truth. But she did not lose hope and again asked them if she could stay till the wedding and after that, they might help her to reach the village. Sameer could not find any excuses to refuse that demand of hers. They agreed on it. They said they would help her but till their wedding, she would not ask for anything or would not create any more trouble for them. Aakriti was happy after a long long time. She was smiling in hope and under consent that she was under great hands. Sia then introduced Aakriti to her family as a friend of Sameer and tell them Aakriti would be staying with them till the wedding. All welcomed her and started to ask her about her family and her marriage and everything. She did not much reply but just smile. One cousin of Sia tried to tease Sia and told Aakriti that she was so beautiful that she should not attend a wedding as she would catch everybody’s attention and no one would keep attention on Sia. Everyone laughed but Sia. Sia started the feeling of insecurity again, that Aakriti might catch Sameer’s attention and she would leave behind alone. She did not put much effort into that thought and comforted herself that Sam was not like others and he would never do such an act. Aakriti started to live a normal life; she was getting all care and love from Sia’s family. All were very nice to her. She started to feel like it was her own home. She was participating in duties to be performed for the wedding. She was very polite to everyone. Sia took her shopping one day; she wanted to have her beautiful dresses to wear at wedding and other functions as well. She bought so many dresses for her; some of them were so expensive. Those expensive dresses, Aakriti had never worn such expensive dresses nor had she seen like that before. She was very overwhelmed by that gesture of hers. Sia really was innocent even though she knew, Aakriti was praised for her beauty, she did not back out even for a second for buying those beautiful dresses in which she might look even better.

The wedding was coming near day by day and almost all the preparation was done. Sameer and Sia’s waited days were coming and they were so excited about it. Sia had made sure already that Sam had everything, she was in charge of Sam’s clothes and everything. All the wedding rituals were lined up. From Mehandi to Sangeet to Haldi, everything was waiting to be celebrated. As Sam had no family they had decided to do all the functions together and her. Sia’s grandmother did not believe in any old rituals, that groom and bride should not see each other before the wedding, she was open-minded and for her, Sam was a part of the family already and she had no problems if all the functions were going to be celebrated by both of them together. Sam had the most bride by his side, not by outside beauty but Sia was so beautiful from inside as well. She did not care about her wedding; her most awaited days and let Aakriti stay with her and took care of her. Sia never had a sister nor did Aakriti have any sister.

The sangeet ceremony was the first one, to be celebrated by Sia and Sameer and their family... All of their family members and friends attended. Best of dance professionals were invited to perform. Some of Sia’s cousins and Sam’s friends had prepared a dance to follow with the latest trends. Sam and Sia themselves performed one dance. A special choreographer was hired by them to learn a dance. Thankfully all dance learning and preparation was almost done before they met Aakriti and got stuck up with her story.  In dancing, Sam was very shy and did not know how to dance and was thinking that he was just humiliating himself but Sia had got Sam’s back. She was enjoying their dance and was supporting him too and she did not care if the steps of Sam were not right, she had a perfect partner she could manage with some not so perfect steps. After their dance, the flash mob started. Everyone was enjoying it. Aakriti too had forgotten about her dark past and was completely relishing. All were enjoying and dancing but at the point, everyone was tired and had to stop. All were sitting together in the open garden venue and were enjoying beverages and remembering the last family wedding they attended and how much fun they had, how great the venue was, how an NRI had so many bucks in his pocket though threw a cheap wedding and saved money to fly at their favorite destination. Aakriti was mixed with all the guests and was enjoying herself, she never had such a happy family, she never had gotten any respect and love in her own family which she was getting in Sia’s family. 

One of Sia’s cousins suggested that they should play some game and Sia come up with the unique idea for the game- Dumb Dance Charade. In which two teams were formed and based on iconic dance steps of movies, one team had to perform quietly without uttering a word and other members had to guess about that movie. Sia was a Bollywood maniac; she nailed in that game and won with a huge margin of points. Sam or any other member of Sia’s team did not get a single chance to guess any movie's steps. Sia was a leader of all. After the game, Sam had arranged a special secret performance for Sia. He asked to dim the lights of the stage and hopped on stage with a guitar. He started to play one of Sia’s favorite songs on guitar and he sang himself too- Song, “You are the reason.” He could not finish the entire song as he saw Sia crying, neither tears of sadness nor happiness, it was tears of love. He could not complete the song so he decided to tell his feelings without music and guitar.  “There are many ways to be happy in this life, but all I really need is you. I can't imagine growing old with anyone else, nor do I want to. When I think about you, I know that no one else will ever hold my heart the way you do.” After hearing that Sia could not stop crying and blushing and smiling all mixed up emotions she was feeling. She still rememberered that Sam who was so shy to even talk to her and was jealous of other boys who’d got a chance to talk to  Sia, and now he was standing in front of her family and her and shared what he felt for Sia openly, without being shied away from anyone. After Sangeet got finished, who would not enjoy late-night snacks? Those who were tired of dancing sure needed snacks and those who were just sitting any enjoying though they needed snacks so that they could spend the rest evening talking with relatives. 

After a day of Sangeet, the Mehandi ceremony was in line. Everything was going according to plan. Some women were singing traditional songs for Mehandi. Best in class Mehandi artists were waiting for a bride. Sia’s mother was yelling at her because she was not yet ready and she had to start putting Mehandi on her hand during an auspicious time. But Sia was busy finding her matching earring. Sisters and friends of Sia were waiting for traditional songs to get stop so that they could play some Bollywood music and dance alongside it. As the bride arrived in her off-shoulder dusty pink net blouse paired with a beautifully embroidered dark brown lehenga which brought out her vibrant and peppy personality. Simple, yet glamorous lehenga she was wearing which had caught many eyes on her. Mehandi started at on auspicious time as Sia’s mother wanted.  Tradition songs were put an end to. Sia’s friends and Sisters had put on music of their choice and were dancing on it. Some new learner Mehandi artists were also there and were engaged in Mehandi competition with each other as they were all applying Mehandi to all ladies present in the ceremony. To the venue look more beautiful, flower decoration was arranged. And all guests were decorating as per their capability and innovative ideas. Sia had four professionals around her who were putting Mehandi on her hands and legs. Different props for weddings were arranged. Girls were gathered around those props and were clicking selfies and groupies. Photographer was waiting for his turn to click those girls as they were so busy clicking their own pictures. Sia wanted to get up and click herself and Sam with props set up by photographers. She wanted to flaunt as it was all her day and ceremony. She clicked thousands on pictures alone and with Sam. She used all kinds of props to tease Sam, how happy she was as a bachelor, and how badly she was going to miss it. Sam also teased her by saying how in his bachelorette party he was going to enjoy without her.