Yukti was sitting on the bed covered with rose petals looking around the room with a nervous expression. Why was it decorated so tastefully? Nothing was going to happen.

Yet she couldn't help but feel nervousness and clutched her bridal lehanga. She couldn't get herself to believe what all had transpired in her life in the span of mere week.

She got indirectly abandoned by the man she thought loved her, her parents hate her thanks to the said man, she got married to another man almost a decade older than her, and she is still not going to live as his wife but the mother of his six month old son.

She wasn't forced. She had consented to the marriage. She didn't want a husband and he didn't want a wife.

Yukti couldn't hold back her tears remembering everything that happened in the past week.

Yukti was back home from her college. She was in the final year of her BBA course. She hadn't planned about what she's going to do with her degree yet.

She knew she didn't want to do a job. She'll take up tuitions maybe?

She entered the house bouncing in happiness. She just went on a mini date with her boyfriend. It's been an year that the two have been dating and Yukti has been reluctant and hesitant to even hold hands with him because she knew her parents were very orthodox.

She didn't even want a relationship. But Krish had been very persistent with her. And finally after 5 months of him trying to pursue her, she agreed but on the condition that she won't do all the rowdy and rebellious things girlfriends do.

She loved her parents and respected them. Krish had understood her position but recently he had been giving hints that he wanted something more out of their relationship. Not getting physical but atleast kisses.

And today, it finally happened. She wouldn't call it a kiss. It was more like a peck. They were on their date in the mall and were returning back home.

Yukti had to take the metro and Krish was accompanying her till the gate. She turned around with a shy smile and pecked his lips with the speed of lightning.

He had stood there frozen while she ran inside the station. When he realised what she had done a few seconds later, he yelled her name making her turn around and everyone look at them. And he blew her a flying kiss.

Yukti had giggled like a teenager and rushed to her metro. But her smile vanished seeing her parents sitting in the living room with not go good expressions on their faces.

No so good? Her father looked furious while her mother was angry yet scared of something.

"Maa? Papa? Kya hua? Aise kyu baithe ho?"

Their eyes snapped to their daughter and her mother got up with a jerk and glared at her.

"Aur kre bhi kya? Hamari beti hume kahi ka chhodna hi nhi chahti."

Her mother spat and Yukti looked at her shocked.

"Kya keh rhe ho maa? Kya baat hai?"

"Kya baat hai? Tujhe sharam lihaaj reh gaya hai ya sab uss ladke ke saath bech aayi hai?"

Yukti gulped and looked at her mother with nervous eyes?

"K-kaunsa ladka maa?"

"Kaunsa ladka? Wahi ladka jiske saath milkar hamari izzat khule bazar mai uchhal rhi hai."

"M-maa?"

"Koi andaza hai tujhe kya beet ti hai ek maa baap pr jab unka koi rishtedaar unse phone krke ye kahe ki aapko pata hai aapki beti kiske saath hai aur kya kr rhi hai? Aur uske baad unhe photo bheje unhi ki beti ki kisi anjaan ladke ko kiss krte huye?"

Yukti looked at her mother shocked. She didn't know what to say to this.

"Kaun hai wo ladka Yukti?"

This time it was her father. Yukti gulped and slowly told them about who Krish was and how she met him.

"Achha ladka hai papa. P-pyaar krta hai mujhse."

Her father chuckled and looked into her eyes.

"Pyaar? Chalo dekhte hai kitna pyaar krta hai. Call kro usse aur bulao ghar pr. Agar wo sach jaane ke baad bhi aa gaya toh kabhi tumhare rishte ke liye kuch nhi kahunga. Lekin agar nhi aaya toh tum wahi krogi jo mai kahunga."

"Wo aayega papa. Mai jaanti hu."

Only if she knew how badly he was going to let her down.

"Speaker pr rakhio call."

Her mother said and Yukti immediately called Krish.

"Hi baby!"

She heard his voice and smiled before taking a deep breath and saying.

"Krish! Ek problem ho gyi."

She then proceeded to tell him everything.

"Tum please yaha aa jaao. Maa papa meri baat hi nhi maan rhe. Tum aaoge na Krish?"

"Umm-mai-Yukti mai-"

"Krish? Aaoge na?"

"Umm-haan mai aata hu."

With that he disconnected the call and Yukti sat back with a smile. Although a part of her was scared. Why did he sound reluctant? Well, he'd be nervous too.

"Kaha rehta hai ye romeo?"

Her mother asked and she told her in a slow voice.

"Adha ghanta lagna chahiye phir to isse. Dekhte hai."

Only she knew how she sat there with her parents' looking at her that day. Her eyes were constantly on her phone and the entrance. When an hour passed and there was no trace of him, her father asked her to call him again.

She did so with shaking hands.

The number you're calling is not answering. Please try again later.

The first two times it gave the same message. By the third time his phone showed switched off and Yukti felt the betrayal set in her stomach.

"Dekh lia pyaar? De gaya dhoka? Chhod dia akele? Aise hi hote hai aaj kal ke mard. Inhe jab tak maza mil rha hai jab tak saath hai. Lekin jab responsibility leni pade toh sabse pehle gayab hote hai. Maza khatam rishta khatam. Aur inke kuch minuton (minutes) ke maze chakkar mai ladkio ko lifetime ki saza bhugatni padti hai. Tere saath toh kuch aisa waise nhi kia na isne?"

Her mother asked, holding her arm and Yukti shook her head violently. How was she ever going to show her parents her face?

"Aaj se tumhara college band. Ghar mai raho. Aur tumhare liye ladke dekhna shuru kr rha hu mai. Koi sawaal jawab nhi chahiye mujhe."

Her father declared and left to his room while she sat there sobbing.

Why did Krish do this to her? Why would he abandon her like this when she needed him? Was he actually what her mother told he was?

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