Arjun was standing by the small window of the hotel room he was staying in , the white curtains were fluttering in the wind and was gently brushing across his face and arms while he was in deep thinking.
He was thinking about the events that had happened today.
His mind was reeling all the incidents , seeing Maithili crying at the waterfall , saving her from jumping into the river and then the punishment village people had decided for them.
A strange fear settled in his heart , not for himself .... but for her .
He just couldn't forget her.
He didn't know what to do ? He was confused , how can he marry a person he barely knows?
But one thing was certain that he would not let her bear anything alone when she did nothing wrong.
His thoughts were interrupted by a gentle knock on the door. He opened it and there stood Mr. Gupta . Arjun stepped aside and let him enter , he knew that he would come.
For a moment both said nothing and then Mr. Gupta broke the silence " Did you decide ?" Mr. Gupta asked while adjusting his spectacles.
Arjun just shook his head .
Mr. Gupta cleared his throat and said " They will demand your answer tomorrow . Think but carefully , your whole future depends on it " he paused and said again " and that girl's too. "
That caught Arjun's attention , he looked up , their eyes met " I don't know what to do ?" Arjun sighed.
Mr Gupta nodded in understanding " I don't have any right to interfere in your life , but if you leave Arjun then villagers will make her life hell . So think wisely for yourself and her ." He replied while pating Arjun's shoulder and left quietly not wanting to intervene much.
He came so that Arjun doesn't feel he is alone .
After returning from panchayat Arjun had told Mr. Gupta everything . The old man had listened carefully and had said just one line " she is innocent Arjun don't let these people decide for her , if either of you has to decide , you do it ."
Arjun stared out of the window at the dark sky and again all filthy names and words villagers had used for her echoed in his ears .
Her tear streakened face flashed in front of his eyes .
And he too felt that if he left , he wouldn't be able to live in peace leaving an innocent soul bearing for mistake she didn't do.
He didn't know her , not properly.
He didn't know if she wanted this marriage or not .
He didn't know if he liked her or not .
But when her eyes met his , those eyes said everything that her mouth didn't , they were pleading him to save her from this cruelty , from these people.
So now if a decision has to be made , he will decide for them.
And he had decided now.
_____
The sun rose beneath the clouds casting a golden hue all over the village , full of beauty and magic and filled with promises of new beginnings.
The air was the same , the beauty of dawn was the same yet nothing was same for Maithili.
She was sitting on the chair in front of the mirror like a doll draped in a crimson saree and a few girls were around her , getting her ready for her wedding.
She looked beautiful and soft yet her face lacked the glow that any new bride has .
After getting her ready those girls left leaving her alone to fight with her thoughts .
She was not happy nor sad , she was just breathing .
Because either way it was her who had to go through their sick demands .
_____
The temple of the village which always remains quiet , but today it was filled with noise , not of music or dhol but hushed whispers of people .
The village people were gathered at the nearby village temple for the wedding which has been arranged in haste but with exactness .
The priest was sitting at the centre with all the necessary things required for the rituals kept beside him .
Arjun was sitting beside him dressed in a plain white shirt and pant , no expensive clothes , no joy , doing the rituals which the priest was guiding him through.
Arjun was following the steps carefully , his face had no expression but inside his heart was beating wildly.
And then he heard her before she came , her loud anklets rang in the temple along with her bangles .
He looked up and saw her , she was wearing a red saree , a chunri draped across her head , hiding her face .Her head was down , her steps hesitant , hands tightly grasped at the fabric of her saree .
She came and sat beside him , he glanced at her slightly , her eyes down , teeth biting her lips to stop her cries and hands trembling in her lap.
She looked so fragile and small that his heart ached and burned at the same time.
His heart burned at Villagers for this cruelty and ached because she is too young for all this .
The priests made them exchange the fresh flowers garland and then he began chanting the holy mantras that echoed in the air and lit the hawan kund .
They performed the rituals together in line and when her uncle and aunt were performing her kanyadan , Maithili cried quietly remembering her parents.
And then came the saat phere .
Seven rounds around the sacred fire , with each round representing a different vow that bounds two different people together.
And after that came the moment to tie the mangalsutra around her neck , Maithili stilled at her place and Arjun leaned slightly to tie the black and gold beads around her neck but still careful not to touch her .
But as he was hooking it , his cold fingers grazed her warm skin making current pass through both their bodies.
And then came the final step which will tie them together.
Sindoor ( vermillion).
Her Aunt came and lifted her veil , still Maithili didn't lift her eyes up and Arjun took a handful sindoor in his trembling hands , he stared at her for a moment , his expression unreadable and then filled it from her nose to her partition all while her eyes were closed tightly .
And then the priest declared them husband and wife in front of the world.
Together.
Forever.
The villagers nodded in satisfaction , their smiles hollow , as if they had achieved something after binding two lives forcefully.
Arjun and Maithili become husband and wife , but only they know what havoc this new relation had created inside them.
_____
In UP and Bihar the sindoor is filled from nose to forehead. It is a sacred ritual , it is believed that the longer the sindoor is , the longer the life of the husband.
I thought many of you will not understand so here is the explanation.
And do tell me in the comments how the chapter was?
Thank you
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