The day Adhya was dreading was finally here.

Today is Kiaan's wedding. Adhya looked at herself in the mirror one last time as she went towards his room to see whether he was ready or not.

On the way she saw Arpita's parents coming out of her room looking very worried.

Adhya forwned and went towards them.

"Aunty? Kya hua? Aap itni pareshaan kyu hai?"

(What happened? Why are you so worried?)

Her parents looked at each other and her mother said.

"Beta wo Arpita apne room mai nhi hai."

(Arpita is not in her room.)

Adhya looked at parents and asked.

"Kya matlab room mai nhi hai?"

(What do you mean not in her room?)

Arpita's mother gave her a letter and Adhya started reading it.

I am sorry Kiaan. I can't do this. Mai khudko aur tumhe aur dhoka nhi de skti. Mai hamesha tumhare andar Dev ko dhundti aayi hu. Tumhari baatein mujhe uski yaad dilati thi. Mere dil mai aaj bhi Dev hai Kiaan. Aur ye jaante huye bhi mai tumhe ye dhoka nhi de skti. I am sorry for hurting you and your family. 

Mummy papa aap meri chinta mat karna mai Dev ke saath jaa rhi hu. Aap dono apna khayal rakhna aur ho sake toh mujhe maaf kr dena.

Arpita

Adhya was shocked to read the letter. 

'How could she? Kiaan? He'll be so hurt.'

She looked at her parents who were standing with their heads hung low. 

Before she could say something she saw her parents along with Kiaan's coming her way. 

"Kya hua beta?"

(What happened?)

They asked looking at her face. She gave Sakshi the letter and it was passed among everyone and their expressions changed drastically.

Kiaan too came out probably looking for Adhya but frowned when he saw everyone outside looking confused and worried.

"Kis cheez ki meeting chal rhi hai bhai?"

(What meeting is going on?)

He joked but turned serious when he saw Adhya's face. She gave him the letter and his mood changed.

"Kya hai ye sab? Arpita kaha hai? Aur ye Dev kaun hai?"

(What is all this? Where is Arpita? And who is this Dev?)

He asked her parents who still had their head bowed in shame.

"Dev Arpita ka boyfriend tha. Engagement hui thi dono ki ek saal pehle lekin kisi reason se toot gyi thi. Do hafte pehle wapas aaya tha ghar aur maafi maang rha tha Arpita se. Usne uss waqt ye keh kr mana kr dia ki wo shaadi kar rhi hai."

(He was Arpita's boyfriend. They were engaged an year ago but due to some reason it broke. He came back two weeks ago and apologized. She denied saying she was getting married.)

Her mother replied without looking at him. Kiaan gave her a look of disbelief.

"Itni badi baat. Aur aapne ek baar bataya bhi nhi. Agar nhi karni thi shaadi toh mana kr deti."

(Such a big thing. And you did not tell us. She could have denied if she didn't want to get married.)

Her mother joined her hands in front of him.

"Hume maaf krdo beta. Hume pata nhi tha wo aisa kuch kr degi."

(Please forgive us. We didn't know she would do something like this.)

Kiaan joined his hands and said very politely.

"Isme aapki galti nhi hai aunty. Aap log jaaiye hum sambhal lenge."

(You are not at fault aunty. You can leave we will handle.)

Everyone looked at him shocked whereas Adhya was worried for him.

When they left Adarsh asked Kiaan.

"Kya karna hai ab? Guests sab bahar hai. Shaadi cancel ki announcement krwa du kya?"

(What do we do now? All the guests are out there. Should i announce the wedding cancel?)

"Nhi papa! Itne log hai bahar. Aaplogo ki saalon ki banayi hui izzat aur reputation sab ek minute mai kharab ho jaayegi."

(No papa! There are so many people outside. You reputation will be at stake.)

"Toh krna kya hai? Shaadi toh ab hogi nhi bina dulhan ke."

(So what do we do? There cannot be a marriage without the bride.)

Kiaan looked at Adhya. She was already looking at him. He held her hand and said.

"Hum abhi aate hai."

(We will come.)

He said and took her in his room and locked it.

"Kya hua?"

(What happened?)

She asked and he held her shoulders and asked her very cautiously.

"Marry me Adhya."

She looked at him wide eyed. She pulled back slightly maintaining a little distance.

"What!?"

"Please Adhya! Aaj agar ye shaadi nhi hui aur family ki reputation par baat aayi toh mai khudko kabhi maaf nhi kr paaunga."

(If this marriage does not happen and my family's reputation gets spoiled i could never forgive myself.)

"Kiaan-"

"Please Adhya i beg you. Meri family ki reputation ka sawal hai."

(Its about my family's reputation.)

He said holding her hands. She looked at him trying to process what was happening.

She looked at him and held his hands.

"Kiaan listen to me. Jaldbaazi mai ek decision le chuka hai aur result kya aaya. Please cool mind se soch kuch aur rasta nikal aayega-"

(You already took one decision hastily and this is the result. Think coolly and we will find something-)

"Kya Adhya? Kya karu?"

(What Adhya? What should i do?)

She opened her mouth to say something but couldn't think of anything.

"See! Aur koi raasta nhi hai iss waqt."

(There is no other way right now.)

Adhya felt so helpless right now and a few tears escaped her eyes which she didn't bother wiping.

He cupped her face and wiped her tears and said softly.

"Please! Help me na yaar. I promise iske baad tera jo decision hoga i'll accept it. Tu agar alag hona chahegi toh mujhe koi problem nhi hai."

(I promise whatever your decision will be after this i'll accept. If you want to separate we will separate.)

She looked at him and shook her head.

"Tujhe pata hai na shaadi ke mere liye kya maaine hai-"

(You know the importance of marriage to me-)

"Haan toh mere liye bhi hai na. We'll figure it out na."

(Yes and its for me too.)

She shook her head as tears continuously fell from her eyes.

"I can't Kiaan. Mai nhi kar skti."

(I can't do it.)

"Adhya please! Mere paas koi aur option hota toh mai kabhi iss cheez ke liye nhi bolta. Iss waqt shaadi cancel krna matlab puri family ki reputation ko khatre mai daalna aur meri wajah se papa aur dadu auro ki itne saalon ki mehnat kharab ho wo mai nhi chahta."

(If i had another option i would never have done this. Ifthe marriage gets cancelled right now my whole family's reputation will be destroyed and i don't want that.)

She looked at him and they shared an intense eyelock. Kiaan too had tears in his eyes which clearly indicated that he was hating himself for doing this but they had no other way.

She closed her eyes and gulped. Opening her eyes she nodded.

"Fine. Agar tu sure hai toh thik hai. Mai ready hu."

(If you are so sure. I am ready.)

He sighed in relief and wiped his tears.

"Thank-"

"Lekin. Mere liye ye shaadi just for reputation sake nhi hogi. Meri taraf se iss rishte mai 100% jaayega and i expect the same from you."

(But. For me this marriage is not just for reputation. I will give my 100% to it and expect the same from you.)

She said looking into his eyes and he nodded immediately. He held her hands and kissed her palms.

"I promise!"

She took a deep breath and said.

"Mai papa se baat krti hu."

(I'll talk to papa.)

He nodded and she left. Everyone was waiting outside for them. Kiaan too came out and they told everyone what they had decided. To say that they were shocked was an understatement.

"What nonsense! Kya bewakoofi hai ye?"

(What is this bullshit?)

Adarsh said to Kiaan but before he could say something Adhya spoke up.

"Uncle! Iss waqt aur koi tarika nhi hai. Ek baar sab guest se free ho jaaye phir discuss karenge. Abhi jo ho rha hai please hone dijiye."

(There is no other way right now. Let the guests leave and then we will discuss. Let whatever is happening for the time.)

Adarsh was reluctant but agreed. Adhya somehow convinced her parents too. Convincing her brother was a tough task though.

Adhya was sent in her room and informed that she would get her wedding dress that Sakshi had got for her daughter in law.

She settled on the bed and took a deep breath.

She was getting married in a few hours.
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