Author POV

"Who the hell could get ready to sacrifice his daughter, for this rascal son of yours?"

Aradhya bawled, and Jaswant ignored her, as usual.

"Pappa, Ma is asking something...you can't ruin a girl's life like that!"

Jairaj exclaimed, his eyebrows arched in a line.

"Tum apna muh band rakho Jai...jara sa hai abhi...bada aya saar apne mahatari ki tareef kare...badka launda hamaar aisane paglaya hai, saara ek tho laundiya ke piche paglaan hai. Arre aisi pachaas laundiyaa milengi usse par nahi...raja beta ko to eke chahiye. Kam se Kam manjla ladka to nipte...ese pahile ki uu puri tarah hath se nikal jaye"

"Shut your mouth up, Jai..you are a little one...and every now and then, you find ways to praise your mom. Our eldest son has gone mad after a woman. He could get numerous such women on his bed, but no! The man wants only one woman. At least let Dhanraj get married, before he gets spoiled completely."

Jaswant bellowed at Jai, and he lowered his infuriated gaze. Aradhya knew that she couldn't handle this situation without Balraj, but her eldest son was already suffering from mental anxiety.

"Mai Prem ka pyala pi aya, ek pal me sadiya jee aya."

"*Sings a song*"

Dhanraj came downstairs, humming a song, in an intoxicated state. Everyone's gaze turned to him, and they frowned, noticing his clumsy walk, and tipsy condition.

"Aye betwa...aye. Jyada udo na satve asman pe. Agle hafta tumhaar byaah hai. Tai kar aye hai gaav me. Badi bholi bhali masoom ladki hai."

"Hey son! Don't enjoy it so much. Next week, your wedding is taking place. I've arranged it in the village. The girl is quite naive."

Jaswant proclaimed, but Dhanraj didn't seem to listen to his words, as he was busy strolling to the dining table. Jaswant clutched his shoulders and made him look into his eyes.

"Sun re gadaha...dhyan rakhna uska. Mare Peete na, warna kantaap lagake thikane layenge tumhaar dimag."

"Listen, idiot! Take care of her. Don't strike her, otherwise I would thrash you."

Jaswant declared, shaking his shoulders, to acquire his attention.

"Hum kauno shaadi waadi nahi kar rahe hai. SAMJHE AAP LOG?"

"I'm not going to marry anyone, UNDERSTOOD ALL OF YOU?"

Dhanraj bawled, making everyone flinch, by virtue of his heavy and dominating voice.

Jaswant slapped his cheek, harshly enough to tilt his face to a side, and he came back to his senses. Realising the depth of the situation, he preferred running back to his room.

Aradhya knew that he was hungry, and had come here to eat something, so she asked a servant to carry a plate of food to his room, but she didn't prefer going there herself, something that could have healed Dhanraj to some extent.

Nobody could question Jaswant Singh Thakur's decision, so everything happened as it was planned. The day of Dhanraj's marriage arrived, and the mansion was bedecked like a new bride.

Jaswant and Jairaj, along with Dhanraj, who was dressed as a groom, advanced to Ragini's village, seated in the Fortuner. The documents that held the information regarding the land, that was being gifted to Guddu Singh, had already been given to him.

Many of their men, also followed them, with rifles and guns in their hands, seated comfortably in their respective cars and jeeps.

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Ragini POV

Finally, the day that I never wanted to face, had arrived. After a week, I was visiting the Narayan temple, but this time, it was different. I did not sing any bhajan for Him.

My tear filled eyes were gazing at Him, with inscrutable countenance, and dull gloomy face. I wanted Him to embrace me, in person, but that was quite impossible right now.

"Ragini!"

A feminine voice impeded my pondering, and I recognised it immediately. She was my Masi (aunt), the only one I could rely on, whenever I felt broken.

She sat beside me, and hugged me tightly. Warm tears started flowing off my eyes, realising how my Narayan just listened to my prayers. I wanted to embrace Him, and He sent my Masi for that.

"Dekha Masi, Narayan humse pyaar karte hai warna itni jaldi kaise sunte hamari. Phir hamari zindagi barbad hoti kaise dekh rahe hai wo? Kya unhe humpe daya nahi ati? Wo to sab par daya karte hai, phir humare sath aisa kyu?"

"Did you see, Masi? Narayan loves me, that's why He listened to me. Then how is He witnessing the destruction of my life? Why does not He show mercy at me? He is merciful for everyone, then why is He doing this to me?"

I muttered to my Masi, sobbing in her arms, and sniffing in between my words. She kept caressing my back, lovingly.

"Beti, Narayan ki leela badi jatil hoti hai. Hari anant Hari katha ananta..unki maya ko samajhna itna saral nahi. Kya pata jisse tum apna durbhagya samajh rahi ho, wo tumhara saubhagya ban jaye."

"Daughter, Narayan's games are quite arduous to comprehend. Hari anant Hari katha ananta..His Illusions are complicated. Who knows, what you consider an your ill-fate, may turn turn out to be a blessing."

She curred to me, rubbing my back gently. I broke the hug to face her, and shook my head.

"Masi, he is the mad bull of Thakur family. Expecting even an ounce of morality from him, would be so much for us."

I grumbled to her, thinning my brows in a line, and sniffing continuously.

"Trust Narayan! He never upsets His devotees."

She mumbled, casting her buoyant gaze at His idol. My gaze followed her, and a deep sense of trust soothed the fraught waves, that were surfing through my mind.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Ragini POV

It was evening already, and a few ladies from the village had arrived to my Masi's place. I did not have a proper place, that could be termed as a house. It was just a small hut, with a kitchen and one room, that was allotted to my father and brother.

My Masi's place was our neighbourhood, and that was the best thing that could happen to me, as her bathroom was my saviour. My hut did not have a bathroom, and my father never bothered to construct one for his daughter. Infact he was not even concerned about my safety or comfort.

I was seated on a stool, with unimpassioned face, and a few ladies were singing some traditional wedding songs, while embellishing me as a bride.

I was bedecked with so many gold ornaments that I hadn't even witnessed till now. All of them, along with my wedding lehenga, were sent to us by the Thakurs.

I was no more seen as my father's daughter, instead I was judged as the daughter-in-law of the Thakurs, so they could take no chance with their reputation.

My Masi entered the room, and signalled the women to leave us alone, and they did so. She strolled to me, holding something in her grip.

Sitting beside me, she forwarded her hand, and I saw her carrying a bright red cloth. She unfolded it, showing me a few gold ornaments, that seemed quite antiquated.

"They belonged to your mother. She knew how gluttonous your father is, so she gave them to me, to keep it safely until you get married. She wanted her daughter to wear them, as her blessings."

Tears amassed at the edge of my Kohl filled eyes, as I held those ornaments in my hands. They were not much in quantity, but for me, they were far more precious than anything else. I paid salutations to my mother by touching them to my forehead, and a few tears escaped my eyes.

"Don't shed them right now, daughter! Save them for your bidai."

My Masi muttered, in a heavy and throaty voice, as tears had accumulated in her eyes too. I burst into cries more severely, after listening to her words.

"Bada kathin samay hota hai ye. Tera baap bada abhaga hai re bitiya jo tujh jaise guni, Lakshmi si bacchi ko itna sataya. Tu meri Jaan thi re, tere Jane ke baad mere dard kon sunega?"

"This is a very tough time for the family. Your father is quite unlucky to not love you the way you deserve to have been loved. You were my life, who would listen to my sufferings, after you leave?"

She sobbed, placing my head on her chest. I was busy calming both of us down, when we heard gunshots at our entrance. We both flinched, and she muttered

"They have arrived."

She straightened herself up, in a hurry and ran to the main door. I stole a glance of myself on the mirror, and trembled a little, realising what kind of family was I getting married into.

This is how they celebrate - by shooting and killing. I sniffed, and wiped off my tears, as my father would kill me, if I don't look presentable before them.

Some minutes passed, and my Masi came to take me outside, to the mandap. She covered my face under the veil, and I started strolling to the mandap.

I could see a translucent image of him sitting before the holy fire, and he stood up when I went closer to him. The priest gave us garlands, and we exchanged it. He also seemed disinterested in this marriage, and why wouldn't he be? I was a poor girl, daughter of a common farmer, who was not at all suitable for him. I hope he doesn't ever touch me!

We sat before the holy fire, and one after the other, all rituals were performed, without any hindrance. Something unexpected happened, when a small amount of vermillion fell on my nose, while he was filling it in the partition of my hairline. That was considered as a good omen, but nothing 'good' could be expected from this marriage.

My father gave my hand into his, for the kanyadan ritual, and I got a little startled with the touch of his rough and strong hands. I glanced at my dark shaded mehendi, and smirked unnoticeably, realising the myth that dark mehendi represents husband's love. My mehendi was definitely dark, but my future with him, was going to be darker.

"You both are husband and wife now."

The priest declared, and I felt heavy at my heart, discerning my reality, that was unchangeable now. We touched his feet, and he blessed us.

We advanced to Bade Thakur saheb, and he blessed us too. My father held him midway, when he tried to bend down, as son-in-laws are not supposed to touch the feet, as per my father.

I was expecting a warm hug from my father, but all my hopes shattered the moment he maffled the most embittered words to me

"Dekh ladki..tu ja to rahi hai lekin ye mat samajhna ke doli pe ja rahi hai, aisa samajh le ke aaj tu arthi pe ja rahi hai...kabhi mud ke hamari or mat dekhna. Mar Jana par wapas mat ana."

"Listen girl..you are leaving today, but don't feel like you are in a palanquin (to your in laws), feel like you are leaving on your deathbed....you'll never come back to us, no matter whatever happens, you are not coming back."

He didn't even cast a glance at me. Chhuttan wasn't there too, he was lying drunk somewhere. Only my Masi cried, embracing me tightly, and I sat inside the Fortuner, beside the mad bull of the Thakur family, to proceed towards the most uncertain journey of my life.

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