"It's like in that moment, the whole universe existed just to bring us together." - Serendipity
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The wedding Hall echoed with the sound of Shehnai and traditional music. Lights, cameras, guests hovering around, the aroma of different foods spread allover.
And their stood the now very happy newly wed couple, performing the rituals.
But something felt different. It was different.
"'isn't he Advik..? The one on stage"the crowd gossiped 'the cards said it was Aditya's wedding '
The family members put on a smile. Trying to not bother from the guests comments.
~A A R O H I~
It was my wedding day. A day i had waited for all my life.
It's a dream of every girl to be married someday, to someone she loves with all her heart.
Where both the partners respect eachother. Where families unite. Elders bless.
Love stays .
Promises are made.
To fully knowing each other.
For me , it was my dream coming true. A perfect alliance, a perfect family and the perfect guy.
Arrange Marriage's seemed scary to me, but with Aditya . It felt easy, bearable.
He wasn't arrogant, he was sweet. Kind. He listened . Remembered.
Made me feel seen.
Put efforts into me.
I knew I would fall for him. He made it so easy, to fall in love.
.
A new chapter of my life, with the man of every girl's dream.
A new beginning.
A new birth of a woman , as they say.
The ceremonies happened.
I got henna of his name on my hands. Dark, symbolising love.
I was tinted yellow , marked his.
With the haldi.
And then , it happened.
Our wedding day.
I tossed and turned all night .
I will be his..? His wife..? Forever...?
Aarohi Aditya Oberoi
The name tasted sweet on my tongue, it lingered. Something I had waited my entire life.
And then, it happened.
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.
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Sometime ago...
I was getting ready in my room.
The hairstylist working on my hairs, flowers tucked in. White. JASMINES, peonies.
My friends teased me about the wedding and wedding night .
About us. And didn't offend. Made my heart warm. My stomach churn.
"Aditya doesn't seem someone innocent though" Puja, grinned.
Aditya was the heir of his family buisness. The heir of Oberoi Constructions .
Rich. Not just by money, but by heart . By actions. By power.
"I swear you are going to be parents before expected" Rupali teases, a sheepish grin on her lips.
"I would definitely bet on a daughter" Priya chimes in.
*"You are not betting on our future kids!!"* I almost say louder than intended.
But the idea gave a light flush on my cheeks.
I was drifted into my imaginations, as the makeup artist did her job. When the sudden sharp voice came from down
It was my Uncle.
"How dare that Son of A-!!!..??"--
He was never loud. Uncle Rajeev was supposedly the most calm person in our family, so hearing his rage, my heart sank in.
Something had happened. Something bad. I had this feeling in my gut, the knot forming inside me.
And then my parents, my uncle and few relatives barged inside. Before i could process i saw my mother, desperate not to break down. It gave me chills allover.
My mother was a strong woman, she never cried. Never showed weakness. Seeing her on verge of a breakdown indicated something inauspicious.
"Aruu-" she let out a muffled sound.
I gazed towards my father. Then at uncle. They had this guilt on their face.
"What happened..?" I asked, my voice lower, " what's happening here...? Why is Maa like this..? Why are you tensed.."
I asked . Anticipating something bad, but nothing stung more than when my uncle said.
"He left"
Voh chala gaya...
Who..? I asked again, hoping it's not what
I am getting a feeling about.
Then one single name, it shattered me in pieces.
"Aditya". My father says, almost a whisper. A plea.
Then I saw it, a letter. Clutched tightly in my father's hand.
I think I have seen this film before, and i didn't like the ending
My mother grabs me before I could process the implication. Left ..? Where..? A meeting....? This world..? Or the marriage..?
"Maa. You are just trying to mess with me right..?" I ask, my breath shaky, voice breaking, a sob upcoming. I can feel it.
My heart clutches as no one answered that question. The knot in my gut, tighter now.
"You must read this baccha...." My uncle says as he hands the paper in my palm. A letter. From...Aditya..?
I hasten to read it, memorizing the entire letter.
Aarohi, i am sorry I lied to you when I said that I do not have eyes on anyone else.
But i had. Sneha, the love of my life. You know her, my PA.
I tried to forget her, marrying you for families happyness. But i was never happy. At all the dinners and all the ceremonies, Sneha was the only one in my mind.
But i still tried to forget her. Called off us. Broke us. And then, I found out. She's pregnant.
With my child.
My brain froze. I could not believe but the reality sank in.
Being a father has always been my dream. I was too afraid to fight for my love. But now I am willing to do anything for the sake of the woman I love and my child.
Am sorry.
Am abandoning you.
But I do not have a choice.
I can't be a coward now .
Aditya
Unknowingly, a tear rolls down my eye. Why. Why. Why me..?
What about my feelings, my love..?
I wanted to scream and rip this lehenga of my body. To cry my heart out and mourn about it all.
But the moment I saw my father, so helpless, so desperate. I couldn't move.
It was not just about me anymore, it was about whole Malhotra family. My family.
If this gets out, it will ruin the company my parents worked their ass off to build.
And it broke my heart further. My father's eyes were dark, he never cried. Never once. but he could cry anytime now.
Then came the knock on door .
My supposed to be In laws barged inside.
Dadaji, the head of Oberoi Family
Dadiji, the back pillar of it all
Mummy Ji, Mrs Aradhna Oberoi
Papa Ji, Mr Vivek Oberoi.
Chacha ji, Mr Vishal Oberoi
And Chachi ji, Mrs Swarna Oberoi.
The entire Oberoi Family.
Their heads hung low, from shame. The eyes which carried warmth for me, admiration. Now just stood their, gazing upon me with no other emotions other than guilt. Pity. Sympathy.
I hated it.
Dadaji broke the long streched silence
"Beta, Aarohi beta. I am sorry -" someone cut him off "don't. Don't apologise Mr Oberoi. The apology won't fix anything!!" My uncle burst in. His voice was harsh, striking.
"You have wronged our child. How are we supposed to accept an apology when it won't fix a thing" My mother adds in, her voice was shaky.
"No apologies could fix this . Aditya has broken something so fragile. Trust. And am ashamed" Now, Aditya's Father said.
"But. We can still fix it" Dadiji adds now. Her voice calmer then others .
"How..???" I ask finally.
"Advik. My son. He can take the place of Aditya. " Chachaji, Mr Vishal Oberoi says.
And my entire family and His wife shoot him a glance. Like he had committed a crime.
"Vishal you can't say that. Our son-" Chachi ji tries to ask but is cut by Chachaji again.
"That is the only way it can be fixed. My son will replace it. He will marry you"
"Are you Insane..? my daughter is not a doll who could be passed down to any-"
My father was cut by Dadaji.
"We know. But it's the only way to save her honour. To save this family image. And mostly to save her from the hell which will haunt her entire life if this comes out." Dadaji sounds calm. Composed.
"'A woman left on alter ', the society won't accept her. Her life will be ruined. With torment. No matter what. The society will blame her. " Mr Vivek Oberoi says.
Determined to prove his point.
"I know Aditya has wronged you, but I can assure you Advik is nothing like Him. He is more calm. young. sensible" Dadaji adds on.
I do not even know who the hell is this Advik. All i know is that he is Aditya's cousin. How could I just marry off to anyone!
I could combust anytime now.
Present
And even after everything, i stood next to him. Advik Oberoi, now my wedded husband. I had tried to protest, but the reality soon sank in. The realisation that this wedding was no more about love and affection, it was now about saving one's honour. My honour. My dignity.
My place in society.
Because no matter what a man did, it was always a womans blame.
'she must have lacked something'
'its her fault '
The notion made me gag.
And the biggest part, it was about the image of company. The businesses both families had built. It was about that too.
And as I stood near him, someone about whom I had only heard in some conversations.
He looks nothing like Aditya. Grey eyes which bore straight into your soul. Lethal. Which make you question your self.
But they never met mine
In the entire ceremony, they were darted away .
I had failed him too. He was also just as messed up as me. As wronged as me.
And yet I felt that my sorrow w
as bigger than his.
In all ways ,that was only fair.
And now he was my husband. His mangalsutra around my neck. His named joined with mine now. Forever..? I don't know.
Now I was,
Aarohi Advik Oberoi
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