"All set?"

Arjun asked, lurching into my room. I inhaled sharply, gazing myself in the mirror. Will she like me? Well, she won't for now.

The white kurta embraced my body gracefully, and the dark mauve koti enhanced my bodily features in a quite exquisite way. I had not put on the shades yet, but I would do it once I step out of the mansion.

"I think, I'm ready now."

I replied, casting a glance at him through the mirror. He was smiling at me, but his countenance seemed dull.

"What happened, bro?"

I asked, sliding the drawer and bringing out the diamond studded mangalsutra that I had specially got designed for her. It had finally arrived, and it looked enchanting. It will glow more once it adorns my Inayat's neck.

"I don't think she will wear it."

Arjun asserted from behind. I pivoted my head into his direction and raised a brow, asking him the reason behind those words through my body language.

"She is a Muslim. Why would she wear it?"

He exclaimed, biting on his lower lip. I chuckled a little before muttering

"She will be a Hindu once she marries me. She will have to wear this!"

The words slipped out of my tongue extemporaneously.

"Do you really love her, or it's just an infatuation?"

Arjun enquired, his words pierced my heart slightly. I do love her. Is there any doubt in that?

"I do love her."

I exclaimed, thinning my brows.

"True love never tries to force something on the lover. If she wears it out of love, that's okay, but forcing her to follow our customs would be torturous for her. This is not what love is!"

He elucidated to me, and to be honest I understood it instantly. He was right. I should not force her to follow my Rituals and ideologies. It should be her choice.

"You understand 'love' so beautifully, Arjun. Preeti bhabhi would be lucky."

I winked at him, muttering these words in a teasing tone and he inhaled sharply, forcing his lips to smile, but the tears that pooled up on his eyes bespoke otherwise.

"What happened, bro?"

I held his shoulders instantly. I just can't see him broken. He is more like a brother to me than a friend.

"Preeti isn't mine anymore."

He sniffed and grunted, a lone tear fell off his eyes.

"What? But everything was okay between you two, right?"

I asked, as I knew that they had started seeing each other once again, though it wasn't so frequent, but their relationship was improving.

"Her parents are not agreeing for our marriage because we don't belong to the same caste."

He asserted, brushing off that thick tear that had travelled down his cheeks.

"Come on, man. Me and Inayat belong to different religions and we are getting married. What the hell is this 'caste' stuff?"

I blurted out, patting his shoulder. He didn't respond this time.

"Bhai tu ek baar bol, mai uthwa leta hu Preeti ko. Mast shaadi karwayenge Teri. Dekhte hai kon bhaiya ke khilaf bolta hai."

"Allow me to kidnap her for you. I will do that willingly, and both of you will get married. Let's see who speaks against bhaiya."

I vociferated, but he glared at me.

"I am not a politician like you guys. I wear a uniform, and my duty is to protect people, women and children. I can't set an example of kidnapping women and forcing them into marriage like you. I am a saviour. I can't be the molester, Jai."

He declared, his voice made it evident that he was having a surge of exasperation within him.

"Fine, my man. Relax! Let this marriage get over. I will do something about you guys."

I explained to him, but he glared at me again.

"Lawfully."

I completed my statement, and that is when he sighed.

"Let's go. Everyone is waiting."

He grunted, looking away. I nodded and we began striding to the main hall of the mansion.

Sitting before the dressing table, I was being embellished in the finest of clothes and ornaments since today was a special day. My in-laws, who are unfortunately Hindu, were coming to my place to fix up this unwanted alliance.

The green sharara looked phenomenal on my milky white skin, the ornaments were enhancing my beauty in all ways possible, the little mirrors engrossed in my dress reflected the lights of chandelier falling upon it. The huge neckpiece and jhumkas added cherry to the cake, alongwith the gold bangles that Ammi had bought especially for me, and now they seemed better because Hindus believe that gold is auspicious, and Ammi wanted them to be happy.

A green and golden Islamic mang teeka adorned my forehead graciously. Everything was perfect except for the most needed jewellery that a woman could wear - a smile.

No matter how much I try, I couldn't smile at all. The dullness of face was overshadowing all these ornaments, shimmers and colours that had wrapped me in them.

"They are on the way!"

Ammi informed me, and my heart skipped a beat deciphering how everything was turning upside down within a few days.

I exhaled sharply, accepting my fate that had terribly gone wrong, but who has won in the battle of destiny? No one!

"Ammi, they are here."

Armaan bhai jaan unlocked the door to inform Ammi about their arrival. He glanced at me for a moment, but couldn't maintain his gaze at me. I could feel that his eyes had turned weepy, but both of us were compelled in different ways to do whatever we were doing right now.

Ammi pecked the side of my forehead, and placed a little amount of Kohl behind my earlobe before leaving me all alone in the room.

Armaan and Nafisa walked downstairs to welcome the Thakurs in their Haveli. Jairaj, Arjun, Dhanraj, Balraj and Ragini had gone there. Baby Mandira was also playing in Ragini's arms lovingly.

She was about to turn one within a month.

"Welcome! Please come inside."

Nafisa greeted them, raising her palm a little before her face. The thakur brothers and Ragini joined their hands to greet Nafisa.

She signalled them to come inside, so they began walking inside. Dhanraj strolled with Ragini to the sofa, and they took their seats there after Balraj perched on it.

Jairaj and Arjun were still gazing here and there, when Jai's eyes met with Armaan, who was staring at him with utmost disgust.

Jairaj cleared his throat, and Armaan rolled his eyes before taking slow steps towards him.

"Agar meri behen ko chhune ki zurrat bhi ki na to hath kaat ke phek dunga."

"Dare you touch my sister, and I'll chop off your hands."

Armaan threatened Jairaj, but he broke into chuckles.

"She is going to be my wife. I'll touch her, hug her, kiss her, fu-"

Jairaj blurted out, but the moment he was about to utter that word, Armaan held his collar tightly.

"Mind your fucking language!"

Armaan growled in a low voice, his eyes had already turned red. He was flaring angrily.

"Guys! Stop grappling like this. Inayat bhabhi is coming."

Armaan left Jairaj's collar with a jolt, turning back to walk where everyone was sitting, waiting for Inayat's arrival, who was taking mini steps on the stairs, gradually coming to everyone.

Jairaj brushed off his collar, rolling his eyes. Arjun signalled him to walk, and began following him, but he stumbled upon his feet after a few steps.

"Abe ruk kyu Gaya?"

"Hey, why did you stop?"

Arjun groaned, rubbing his forehead lightly, that had banged into Jairaj's head. He glanced at him when Jai didn't respond.

Jairaj was gaping at Inayat, who was slowly climbing down the stairs. Her gaze was low, her steps delicate, her skin glowing under the chandelier lights. Jairaj felt surreal, so heavenly that he couldn't even blink anymore.

"Harami, puri zindagi hai ka unhe taadne ke liye. Sharam karle thodi."

"Bastard, you have a lifetime to gawk at her. Have some shame."

Arjun reminded Jai, jerking him a little. Jairaj cleared his throat, as if his senses came back out of a sudden.

"She is a damsel."

Jairaj muttered, striding to the area where everyone was waiting for Inayat.

"Have a seat, son!"

Nafisa asked Jairaj to sit quite politely. He nodded, before taking his seat, but his notorious gaze was still fixed at Inayat, who was standing right before him now, her eyes still low.

I had never seen her like this ever before. The first time I had glanced at her, only those amber green eyes were visible to me. The second time, she was standing before me in a messed up state.

And today, she was bedecked for me. I never knew that green held the potential to enchant me so badly. I've always been obsessed with her beauty, but today was different. It felt as if she was more than her physical appearance - those lowered eyes bespoke timidity, her fidgeting fingers made it obvious that she was nervous about the new beginning of her life.

Oh my Baby Begum!

Is she really thinking like that? Has she seen me? Does she hate me? Fuck! I can't force her. She is just too cute and delicate to be forced or tormented. All my obsession seemed to be draining away before that lowered gaze. She was enchanting me without even trying.

I had been wondering to win over her, but I felt like losing before her, and look at the irony that she hasn't even started playing yet. Mahadev knows what will happen once she looks at me.

My little death note!

My brothers were busy talking to Armaan. Arjun was indulged in stuffing the snacks and sweets in his mouth. Bhabhi and her mother had started mingling up. Little Mandiru was leaping towards her, squealing and chirping enthusiastically, but she was unaffected by all of this, exactly like me, but our reasons were different.

I was immersed in ogling her divinity, meanwhile she must be cursing her fate because of the religious boundaries between us.

Trust me my baby Begum, I'm going to crumble down all these boundaries betwixt us.

His mother offered some sweets to me, that I accepted willingly with a smile.

"Please have the snacks."

Nafisa offered the dishes that were kept on the table to the guests.

"Is it veg? I mean I don't eat non-vegetarian food."

Ragini mumbled, in her sweet melodious voice. Nafisa smiled at her, shaking her head in a 'no'.

"Everything is veg here. Actually, Inu doesn't eat non-veg either."

Ragini raised her brow at this information. Since childhood she has known that Muslims have eaten non-vegetarian food, but this information surprised her.

"Oh! That's weird."

She responded. Nafisa leaned close to her ears to mutter.

"She never liked its smell."

She informed Ragini. Both of them seemed to be liking each other a lot during these conversations. Inayat was sitting beside Nafisa, but neither did she utter a word, nor did she want to lift up her gaze. She had become a silent puppet amidst all this drama.

Baby Mandira tried to leap at Inayat a few times. Her baby shrieks were distracting everyone, and that is when Inayat glanced at her. This was the first time she smiled. Mandira tried to jump at her. Ragini giggled at her actions, Nafisa also chuckled. She was gaining everyone's attention with her squeals.

"Lagta hai isse apni chhoti ma pasand aa gayi."

"Feels like she likes her aunt (Inayat)."

Ragini mumbled, and Inayat's smile faded away instantly, pondering upon the future that was waiting for her.

"You want to go to her lap?"

Ragini cooed Mandira, and she shrieked again, hopping towards Inayat.

"You will definitely get a chance to play with her, on her lap, but let your Chachu have some conversations with her in the private."

Nafisa cooed Mandira. Armaan's eyes widened listening to her words. He didn't want Jairaj to visit Inayat in private.

"Ammi! This is imposs-" Armaan exclaimed

"Yeah sure, Inayat ji, let's talk."

Jairaj cut him off in the mid, raising up from his seat, adjusting his collar sexily.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

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