Marriage?

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh!

At Rajput’s Mansion…

The next day, at night, inside the Rajput family estate, an aura of royal opulence emanates from all corners, the golden fixtures gleaming with regal authority. The interior, adorned with beige glitter and blue-cream hues, provides a vibrant backdrop to the environment. Yet, despite the colourful facade, the atmosphere within the mansion is heavy with tension, a stark contrast to the joyous setting surrounding it.

Yashna was ready to go to bed.

A sudden crash opening of Yashna's room door jolted her to death.

The person who entered has a wide plastered smirk on her face as she was taught how to make one after seeing the reaction on Yashna’s face.

“Getting ready for bed, you sinful brat?” Nandini, her mother, directed while sitting on the couch like she was the nation's first citizen.

“Maa.” Yashna greeted her mother by touching her feet.

Pat.

Nandini slapped Yashna with more than the her strength when Yashna stood up after the greeting, yet, her slap pierced her heart more than Yashna’s cheek.

Yashna’s cheek was burned by the slap.

“How many times do I need to tell you that call me ‘MOTHER’? You ungrateful thing!” Nandini yelled at Yashna, yet she felt the pain inside her.

“Sor–Sorry. MO–MOTHER.” Yashna stammered on her words.

“When will you change this ugly habit of stammering, you sinful brat?” Nandini gripped Yashna’s throat and flared at her. However, Nandini felt choked with each word she unleashed upon Yashna.

When Yashna was choking too hard, Nandini took her hand back with a force that made Yashna stumble on her feet. 

“Huh…. What a waste you are. With your stammering and jinx, who will marry you?” Nandini directed this at Yashna, who was catching her breath while rubbing her throat and coughing due to the effect of the choke.

“But don't worry, I found you a good match. For whom I don't need to give a single cent. You are sold for free.” Nandini announced while slowly releasing the ceramic vase, which she held loosely with her left hand. 

What no one noticed was that Nandini’s hands were trembling and her eyes were darting towards the door, silently pleading to stop all this. Receiving nothing but a smirk, she killed her heart to do the next thing.

Crash 

Crash

Crash 

Yashna was retrieving things backward whenever her mother threw ceramic vases or glass things over her feet. 

“Mother, please.” Yashna appealed to Nandini.

After glancing at the door, Nandini threw one more glass piece over Yashna's head, which she dodged. However, her forehead was hit, and a huge, wide cut was left there.

Nandini's face filled with an awkward grin. A false facade.

When Nandini was about to leave the room, she turned and informed Yashna, “By the way, tomorrow is your marriage. Be prepared.” With that information, Nandini turned and walked away.

The hidden meaning was clear to Yashna: Don't try to escape, or else you will face the worst circumstances ever.

Outside, she didn’t glance at the person. “I have done what you have taught me. As per our agreement it’s the last one.” With that she went directly to the kitchen with tears spilling rapidly from her eyes.

Yashna was numb. 

She was anchored to the floor where she had been standing before.

She felt deadened by the information that was revealed by her mother.

A bomb blasted into her whole body.

She was bleeding, but she felt no pain as her heart was ripped and buried under the deepest part of the earth.

A maid entered the room and asked, “Ma'am, shall I enter?” 

The maid, Sindhu, was new to work, so she didn't know how Yashna was treated in her house, and no one asked for permission to enter her room.

Sindhu knocks on the door, which brings Yashna slightly to the real world.

Yashna only told her, “Please close the door and leave.”

“Ok, ma’am”, Sindhu, the maid, replied with courtesy.

The maid walked towards a room and knocked to hear a come in. “Madam, young ma'am told me not to treat her. So, I returned to inform you.” Sindhu answered Nandini.

“Ok, you can go.” Nandini dismissed her.

“Madam, you too are bleeding on the forehead. I will bring first aid.” Sindhu said and was about to turn when Nandini refused.

“No need, it will heal on its own,” Nandini said and asked to leave her alone, which Sindhu followed.

“I'm sorry, my sweetheart.” Nandini broke into sobs as her hands circled around her knees and hid her face between them.

After an hour!

knock…. knock…

No response from Yashna’s room.

“Yashi, I have brought you your favourite ice cream.” Her brother tried to tempt Yashna from outside her room when she was not responding to the knocks on her door.

“I'll come in then if you don’t answer.” Hriday opened the door with a light push.

When he entered the room, he froze for a second at seeing the scenario in front of him.

The room is a mess. The floor is full of shattered pieces of ceramics and glass.

He searched for her sister. 

Yasha crumbled to the floor like a piece of paper at one corner of the room. 

She sat there hugging her knees and her head buried between her legs, and her hands were hugging her knees. 

Hriday rushed to her, and the ice cream fell to the floor.

“Yashi, what happened? Look at me, please.” Hriday pleads with the softest voice and picks her head up by cupping her face.

Hriday's heart sank to the deepest part of the ocean when he saw Yashna’s face.

Eyes were like blood, and eyelids were puffed like water balls, which was the symbol of crying for a long time. 

A cut on her forehead, which was now reddish-purple, means the injury happened sometime long time ago, and the bleeding stopped and became pale.

Yashna hugged her brother, wrapping her hands around his neck, her head buried on his shoulder and started crying like the sudden opening of the damn gates.

“Who?” Hriday only asked one word, while patting Yashna in a consoling way, yet it displayed the most dangerous tone, which can cut one's throat in a single blow.

Yashna understood the meaning of that word. Whoever it was would be found in the casket. The next second, the name rolled off her tongue.

Yashna didn’t utter a word. 

“Yashi, did she do it again?” Hriday enquired, his tone soft for Yashna, but the undercurrent was still fuming.

Yashna backed off slowly from holding her brother.

Hriday observed Yashna for some time; she was still crying and silent. He took the silence as a yes. 

“Tell me. What did she do?” Hriday urged Yashna to tell him.

Yashna doesn't want to say anything to her brother that will affect their relationship again, which will affect their relationship with their parents. But her brother's eyes, which were like red blood with anger, shook her to the core, indicating that if she didn't tell, it would be more dangerous than revealing the truth.

Yashna told Hriday everything that had happened.

“What do you mean, marriage tomorrow?” Hriday flared with bubbling anger and frustration in his voice.

Hriday stood up and was ready to leave to settle the matter with their parents.

“Bhai, please don’t fight with father or mother for me. I'm ok with the marriage.” Yasha said in a low voice, which could only be heard by her brother, while slowly pulling backwards the frustrated Hriday, gripping his arm with her hand.

“No, Yashna. You are not ok. I'm going to talk about this with that bullshit.” Hriday riled up but calmed by looking at his pitiful sister.

Yashna’s eyes immediately welled up with tears at Hriday’s rage.

She immediately retrieved her hand from his brother’s arm.

She had never faced her brother with this rage.

He never shouted at her.

He was always the solace and peace for her.

But now he was angry at her.

“I…I… ” She tried to say, but her voice became hoarse due to the emotion that was building up in her.

“Please, Yashi, this is the most important decision in your life. You shouldn't agree to some bullshit orders and bind your life to God-knows-who.” Hriday drawled.

Yes, marriage is the most important decision in a woman's life.

But can the man in the world be believed? Even if we, women, loved them with our whole hearts? Aren't there people who are cheating on their girlfriends or wives?

Aren't there good people who love their wives after Marriage?

A few questions were lingering in her mind. 

“Bhai, if I don't agree, do you think there will be a day for me? You know, mother and father, and this is a prestige matter to them. If—if I disagree, then—” Yashna left the question incomplete, but both Hriday and Yashna know what will happen.

Yashna will be found dead with some stupid concept of suicide or whatever drama Nandini will put forward to convince the ugly ears of society.

“Did she at least tell you who he is?” Hriday asked with a sigh and realization when he saw the fear and emotions in his sister's eyes.

Yashna nodded in a ‘yes’ manner.

“Give me the name, and I will sort this out. You don’t worry, alright?” Hriday consoles Yashna even though they both know it won’t work out as they had expected.

Before he urged her further, she spoke, shifting the conversation. “Don’t call her like that, bhaiya.”

Hriday's brows furrowed in confusion at her say. He didn’t get quite the good picture of what she was portraying. Sensing his questions, Yashna sighed softly and revealed what she had overheard in the conversation between her parents before her mother came to spit out the disclosure on her face.

“Give me an oath that you will remain as if you don’t know anything. This will be a threat to everyone.” She took an oath from him to keep this secret as secret till it burst out in front of everyone naturally.

As Hriday nodded in agreement, knowing his sister was stubborn than him in some aspects if she decided once. Later, he came out with his clenched fists and banged on the wall to let out his frustration, to keep silent when he knew who he should kill.

Hriday shifted his focus to the positive aspects of the situation, allowing his mind to dwell on the silver linings and hopeful outcomes.

Meanwhile, in the room, Yahsna wondered about her marriage. 

‘Does he remember me? What if he is changed?’

‘Even though it’s worth a try.’

With that thought, she hopped onto the bed and slept.

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