CHAPTER -2

SAMEER

I knocked on my Parent's room door.

Just then I heard the click sound of the door knob. My Maa sa opened the door and she was looking at me with question-filled eyes.

"Can I come in?" I asked her meekly. And she gave me a side to step inside the room

I went inside and saw my Pitaji was sitting on the balcony very tense. I can't see him like this.

I looked at Maa sa and she blinked her eyes and gestured for me to call him inside. And I did so.

"Pitaji." I went to the balcony and called him. He turned his gaze on me with an angry look. I know he is offended by me. And he knew also that I can't stay offended with him much longer.

As I love him more than myself. And he is taking advantage of that.

"What?" He asked me turning his gaze to the other side. I bend down on my knees and sat near his chair.

"Pitaji, you know I love you more than myself. I never denied you for anything. You wanted to send me to America, for higher studies. I agreed without my consent. And went there away from you all."

I hold his hand and continue.

"Today you have taken such a big decision in my life. That too without my consent. You have not come to meet me to talk about this. You have come to announce your decision to me."

I took a deep breath and said.

"I have not disagreed with any decision of yours ever. Nor will I today."

"Even if I do not want to, I agree to this relationship. Just for your sake Pitaji. Just for your sake." I told him and stood up from the floor and stand on my feet to go. But he caught my hand and stop me.

"Sameer. Listen." He was saying but I cut his sentence in mid.

"No Pitaji. Don't say anything further.

If you did then it will be very tough for me to handle myself. I'm giving you my consent for the marriage. What else do you want from me now?"

I was broken from the inside but I tried my best to hide it from them. I don't want to show my weak and broken side to them. They will feel bad. But I think what I said sometimes before they understood my feelings and my condition too.

He let me go and I also start going towards the door to go out but stopped in middle.

"Maa sa. I don't want any pompous wedding. The wedding will take place in the temple. And only, family members will be joining." I also announced my decision to them.

"What?" Maa sa exclaimed.

"Are you out of your mind?" Maa sa shouted at me in rage. But it doesn't affect me. And I ignore that. What do they want from my side?

I released a cold sigh and said in sarcasm.

"What else do you guys expect from me?"

"We're Rajputs. And You are saying that we will hold your marriage in our house that too in a simple way. In the temple?" She said in amazement.

"Your mind is in this skull, or you had left it in the office. That brother, you rest here. I will go home and see you tomorrow." She said poking my head with her finger.

"Maa sa. Sorry. It's your fault, not mine. If you asked my consent about this matter or you marry me off with that girl whom I love then your wishes will be full-filled." I said looking down. I know, I was talking with her harshly but they provoke me to do that.

"Sameer. Behave yourself. She is your Mother. You can't talk to her like this. I won't tolerate this. I'm warning you. This is the last time. Don't repeat this." Pitaji warned me. First time. Huhh!

"Sorry, Pitaji." I apologized and turn towards Maa sa.

"Maa sa, You had done a pompous marriage in Brother Vikram's time. What will go wrong if you don't do it on my time. And I don't have time either. The advice I have given is good for all of us. Don't worry, whatever you want will happen. I"ll be on time. But only one day. I can't stay any longer. You know how much busy I'm."

"It's so busy that you can't find time for your marriage. If you had now got this marriage done with your favorite girl, would you still suggest the same thing?"

Maa said in a mocking tone.

"I am not in a hurry to get married. And not her. So we would have got married at the right time. If you suddenly say that you have a wedding in 1 week, then how can I handle everything? , It takes time for all this. Have to prepare. You know this much, don't you Pitaji?

I said to Maa sa and then asked Pitaji.

"We understand. If this is your decision, then we will not argue with you anymore. We will inform you when all the preparation had been done. Both of us will leave for Udaipur tomorrow. Now you go and sleep" I nodded and looked at my Maa sa. She was sad and upset. Sorry, Maa sa.

"Why you guys are in such a hurry?

Can't do it after this month? What disaster has come that you guys have to marry me in this week itself?"

I asked Pitaji.

"Beta she is in great trouble. There is no other way left for me to save her."

What? Really. She is in trouble and they are saying that she is in trouble. I want to laugh at this.

"Good night." I wished them and left the room after closing the door behind me.

I went back to my room and change my attire then lay down on the bed.

All of a sudden a storm came into my life and made my life upside down.

Everything was fine till afternoon. But now everything has changed. What answer will I give to Siya?" I was talking with myself when I slipped into slumber I don't know.

NAINA

"Bai said. Naina bai saa. Where are you?"

I was sitting near the river when I heard Masi sa's voice.

"Masi sa. I'm here." I shouted and she came towards me and gave me my Phone.

"Why're you giving me my phone?" I asked her in confusion. And she shook her head and smacked my head.

"How many times should I say that keep your phone with you? But who would listen to me? Got a call from Udaipur. They have an important matter to talk about with you. Maharaaj asked you to call him. Call him immediately. I have lots of work to do."

Masi sa told me and scoot from there.

She cared for me. She is not my relative. She is my friend Rukmani's mother and my Maa sa's friend. She took care of me from that time when my Maa sa left me in this world alone after giving me birth. My bapu sa also left me when I was only 2 years old.

When my Bapu sa left me I got another family. Pitaji Jai Pratap Singh and Maa sa Mayura Jai Pratap Singh.

They took care of me like I'm their children.

I dialed Pitaji's number and he received my call after 2 rings.

I greeted him in our traditional way and he also greet me back.

"You have called at this time, was there any important thing to talk about?"

"Yes, that We have talked to Sameer about the marriage of both of you."

He said and my cheeks started burning due to shyness. I know my cheeks turned into red tomatoes after hearing his name.

"What did Kunwar sa say?" I asked him excitedly.

"He has given his consent. And the marriage will be held this week. I have talked to Rukmani's mother about this. Now you don't worry anymore. Everything will be fine. And he will not be able to trouble you anymore. You just take care of yourself till tomorrow. I will come to take you to Udaipur tomorrow."

I nodded as he was seeing me.

"Okey, Pitaji."

"Have something to say?"

I shook my head and said, "No, Pitaji."

"Instead of sitting near the river bank, you should go back home. It's not safe for you to stay outside. Listen to me and go home immediately."

I was kinda shocked, How did he know that I'm standing near the river bank? I looked here and there to confirm that, He's not around here, is he?

"Pitaji, are you here?"

"No, But I know you very well that when you are restless then where did you go? I'm your Pitaji. I know you this much."

"That's the thing. Okay, I'm heading home. You don't need to worry so much about me. Your health will deteriorate."

"You also do not worry so much for me, my Grandma."

"Pitaji, I'm your would-be daughter-in-law, not your Grandma."

"Yes, yes. I know. Now go home."

"Okey, Then I'll hang up. Give my respects to Maa Sa."

I told him and cut the call.

"Because of that son of Thakur I have to marry this early. He has made my life like hell. The bastard doesn't see anyone else? Why me? What he has seen in me that he became crazy about me?"

I was going back to my house and talking with myself.

"Naina." I heard a loud voice. My Rukmani.

I turned and saw Rukmani running toward me like she has to win the marathon.

I stopped in my track and she reached.

"What happened? Why are you running like this?"

I asked her placing my hands on my hip.

"That.....That......." She was huffing and puffing due to running like that.

"Come down. come down. Take breath. What was the need to run like this? Was I running off somewhere?

No right? I was going back home only." I told her while passing my water bottle to her.

She gulps down the whole water in one great gulp "Did you hear. Maa sa was saying that your hear your marriage will be done in this week only. And that too in the Temple. In a simple way. Not in a pompous way." She told me in an amazed tone that pompoussays the last line in a sad tone.

"Yes, so. They have done a lot for me since my childhood. After my father's dismissal, he has taken up all my father's responsibilities. My all expenses. They love me just like their own child. What else do I need? I'm happy with what I have got so far."

"They are from such a big family and they are doing marriage in such a plain way?" She asked me.

"What else would they do in such a hurry? And I also wanted to get married this way. I don't like pompous marriage. He has taken the right decision." I said to her and start walking she also followed me.

"So this decision is taken by Chote Kunwar Sa?" She asks.

"Yes."

I was 16 years old when Pitaji told me that they fixed my alliance with his son in our childhood. When my Bapu sa sacrificed his life for Kunwar sa at that time Pitaji promised him that he will marry me off with his son.

Now he is going to fulfill his promise. When they show me his photo for the first time I fall for him. He made a place in my heart. With time my love started to increase for him. Now I'm madly in love with him without seeing him in reality. Till this time I didn't see him. I just saw his photo.

"See, She is blushing thinking about chote Kunwar Sa." Rukmani starts teasing me. And I started running.

"Wait Naina. I can't run more." She was shouting from behind.

"Tomorrow Pitaji is coming to take me with him. Run fast. You're coming with me."

I also shouted while running.

"Won't you take Maa sa along?" She asked a silly question.

"Oh, my Kanha! Did you forget to put her brain, into her head? I think she was sleeping that time when you were distributing brain." I said to Kanha ji.

"There is no doubt that you have no brain inside your head. Idiot, If I would not take her then whom I'll take with me? Her Ghost?" I scold her.

"Ohh! Sorry. My mistake." She apologizes while biting her tongue.

"Keep your apologies aside and run. We are getting late."

I dragged her with me.

"A new chapter of my life is about to begin," I told in my heart and a smile crept, on my lips.