Chapter 7

~Heer Mehta~

The buzzing house was now stilled and quiet as everyone rested after the maiyan, the ceremony had been perfect as made sure by Reva

After that Heer was made bathe with milk and water along with rose petals everyone seemed happy even Shyam ji, his smile had been endless seeing his daughter finally getting settled

Heer's parents were happy thinking that their daughter is going a good house and even after their deaths, she will be happy

But what the future holds, no one can depict

As every relative in the house rested as they have to wake up whole night for the Jaggo ritual but someone couldn't rest

Shyam ji in his room had been restless ever since he came back from his daughter's maiyan, now he was regretting his decision of getting his daughter married

His heart was refusing to believe that the little girl he raised in his arms with so much love and care was now going to be someone's wife

Letting his dearly daughter leave them and go with a completely strange family was eating him up from inside as he suddenly realized what he was losing

Just a few days ago she was born and he took her in his arms like the most precious gem of his life and she was, she became so much responsible with time that now even the thought of her absence scared him

Raising a daughter in not so easy especially in middle class families, when a daughter takes birth the whole family criticizes the pure soul like everything

They refuse to accept her and some even throw them in garbage or bury them alive. Some people who accept their daughters as the goddess Lakshmi of their houses they also face criticism by the society

They have to deal with society who raises question on treating a daughter like sons, they hide their daughters from the eyes of eager vultures on the every corner of every street waiting to devour them alive

They endure everything for that one girl and why?, just so they could hand over their daughter to a person they don't know about

Shyam ji was pacing around the room, caring more about his daughter's departure than his own health and he decided to go and meet her in her room

Meanwhile Heer in her room was wiping her hair with a white towel, her body now tired with the rituals going on from last four days

She sighed letting the towel fall on her lap and closed her eyes taking in the silence of the room, her skin cold from shower absorbing the warmth of her room

She opened her eyes and looked around, her inner thoughts stilled for a moment as she took is the beauty of the very room she decorated with her own hands

The thought of leaving the room, the house she grew up in, the warmth of her room she built herself

She sighed before getting up and hang the towel to dry, she turned around when the door to her room opened and Shyam ji entered

Heer immediately looked behind only to see her father entering, Shyam ji closed the door behind him before looking at his daughter with a small smile

His smile was calm but sad looking at his daughter who will be someone's wife in two days, these days will not matter much to someone else but to him these two days were blessing

Heer smiled back softly at her father though the grief of her departure didn't fade. Shyam ji walked towards her as she asked

"What happened Papa? Do you need something?"

Shyam ji's smile widened as he shook his head keeping his hand on Heer's head lovingly like he used to do back then every evening after coming home from office

The father- daughter sat on the edge of the bed quietly as Shyam ji chose the words to explain why he was here

"Forgive me my child, forgive me for everything....."

Shyam ji spoke with guilt filled eyes holding Heer's hands in his while Heer's eyes widen at the sight of her father apologizing like this to her

"Papa-"

She tried to speak but Shyam ji cut her off but showing his palm asking her to let him speak and let out all the guilt and grief he had

"No Heer, let me speak today. I have been a cruel father to you always..."

Shyam ji stopped Heer and accepted his mistake, his low voice heavy with the unspoken mistakes he had made, the mistakes Heer didn't complain about

Heer shook her head, her brows forming a crease trying to stop him but today he was adamant on speaking

"The day you were born I was very happy and you were so precious to me, you still are but as you started to grow up I distanced myself from you because you are a girl and I wanted to escape the pain that comes on daughter's departure"

Heer listened to him opening up to her for the first time, remembering the days she used to be a small child who saw her father getting distant with each day

Shyam ji sighed as a bitter smile appeared on his face remembering the days he tried to be so cold to not even look at his daughter properly

"You know I still couldn't escape it, it still hurts, it hurts to know that the daughter I raised is now going to leave me and see how much stone hearted I am that even after knowing that I am going to die in few months and still I am sending you away from me"

Shyam ji said accepting his defeat from his health conditions. He spoke with so much courage trying to hide the tears that were forming in his eyes

When he mentioned his death, he couldn't stop himself from crying and burst into tears hugging Heer like his life

Heer was already in tears till now, she hugged Shyam ji back tightly the strong wall between them was torn by them

They cried until the time to be separated came and Shyam ji left for the Jaggo ceremony ahead in the following evening

~Vedh Singh Oberoi~

Vedh's eyes got stuck on the picture, a small picture of his to be wife but what it was doing there when he didn't keep it

The picture was beautiful, it wasn't an intentional pic it was candid, natural just like her and was taken out in the need of passport size photo

Her eyes were looking at him from the photo like saying something and that soft twitch of her lips was enough to captivate anyone, anyone

Vedh wasn't angry, never angry after seeing her face but he was confused that how come that picture came there in the exact first compartment of his wallet

A soft sound of giggles fell in his ears from behind the pillar and suddenly he knew who did it. Behind the pillar was the trio- Smita, Chhavi and Saket

Vedh sighed keeping back his wallet giving his card to Aashrit, without looking back he measured his cousins' moves and ordered

"Stop"

Smita, Chhavi and Saket who were walking back quietly stopped at the stern order, fear filling their nerves

Vedh turned around and looking at their backs he again ordered slipping his hands in his pockets

"Come here"

All three of them looked at each other and turned around with sheepish smiles before they walked in front of Vedh with lowered heads

Smita and Chhavi pouted softly but Vedh's gaze didn't waver for once and before he could even ask Saket spoke up

"Bhaiya this was all Chhavi's idea"

Vedh rose his brow at his little brother before turning to his baby sister who immediately gasped ready with the explanation already

"Bhaiya actually I saw a reel where a guy keeps his wife's picture in his wallet so I thought......."

Vedh nodded his head as if acknowledging their explanations but then he asked something they weren't ready for

"Where did you get the photo from?"

Saket's eyes widen as he blinked at the unexpected question, Vedh's brows rose again while both the girls with lowered heads took a step back and pointed at Saket, their movements syncing perfectly

Saket gasped looking at the traitors who left him alone in front of Vedh, Saket glanced up at Vedh and without thinking again he told

"Bhaiya I went to give turmeric to bhabhi's house and took it from her"

Vedh's eyes narrowed hearing her name, he knew that they wouldn't have mentioned that why they want her photo then how came she gave it

The thought clinked in his mind and he asked again while Aashrit walked near him looking at the poor victim Saket

"And what did you say to her that she gave you her photograph?"

Vedh was so sure that his cousins wouldn't have told her that they need it to keep in his wallet otherwise she would never give it

Saket's eyes almost came out of the socket upon hearing the sureness in Vedh's tone and he knew he was doomed now

Saket gulped, his throat bobbing up as the sweat beads formed on his forehead and he spoke, his words trembling

"Bh...bhaiya ac..actually I said that you have as..asked for bhabhi's photo and she gave it at once"

Vedh was a very disciplined man who never liked someone using his name for anything but this time he was not angry because he didn't focus on the part where Saket used his name

Vedh's entire focus was on the part when Heer gave her picture at once after hearing his name and something in his heart twisted

Saket who was looking for an opportunity to run now got it as he saw Vedh getting lost somewhere, he ran away with the girls standing behind

Aashrit seeing Vedh lost smiled to himself and shook him by shoulders speaking in his ears knowing he won't like it

"Sapno ki duniya se bahar aayo maharaj tumhare sasural wale aate honge"

("Come out of your dream world King your in laws must be arriving")

Vedh covered his ears at the loud sound while Aashrit ran out of the house with a laugh, his mind filling with the excitement of the house

Vedh was left back thinking about the woman who was about to own him in two days and the thought of her respecting the mere mention of his name was tingling him from inside

Vedh slowly took out his wallet and opened her picture looking at it with soft eyes before he sighed, fighting back a smile which had no reason

Why he felt that, why his heart twisted, why he felt tingled?

Nobody knows......

~

HEER'S POV:

I entered the Oberoi mansion behind my parents the other relatives were behind me. The large mansion buzzed with the same excitement Mehta house had for past four days

I did not look up, like always but I felt the cool air touching my earring, ruffling my hair at the end, I shivered at the contact

I wasn't habitual of these big houses and accepting that I was about be a part of it in a few days was unbelievable

I gulped, the heavy green suit clinging to my skin with every movement and the dupatta walked like a fan of mine clinging to me

Though I don't have any fans...yet

The image of my father crying for me was still fresh in my mind and seeing him like that was difficult but he was apologizing

He apologized for everything I was hurt about, the regret of sending me far away was visible in his eyes but I can't help it now

What is done, is done but I will surely ask Vedh ji to let me stay for a few days at my house and I am sure he will let me

My trust in my to be husband is increasing day by day and I don't know why??

Let it be.

I walked behind my parents, Reva and Saanchi beside me and the others behind us. The hall was silent nearly empty as I glanced up for once

We moved to the garden as a servant told us to, the arrangements for Jaggo were made in the garden

We alongside entered a large garden, the cold air of winters hit my senses sending a strong shiver through my spine ruffling the golden parandi attached to my braid

I walked with Reva and Saanchi who were talking something to themselves, they don't tell me anything these days

Ignoring the gossips and giggles of my sisters I huffed and walked quietly again looking down as always when I heard a voice from far, low but excited

"Bhabhi has arrived"

I knew that voice, it was the enthusiastic Chhavi hearing her I tried to put on a soft smile but couldn't because all my courage vanished once I felt an intense gaze on me, his gaze

Maybe glaring this time because his cousins is giving more attention to me than him these days, I gulped down when all two of the girls rushed to me

"Hi bhabhi"

Smita said holding my hands while Chhavi giggled, I looked up with a soft twitch of lips and nodded at them only to freeze when my eyes landed behind, on him

My lips dried and I quickly looked down licking them, his gaze was piercing but not a glare but why? well let it be

Reva, Saanchi, Chhavi and Smita said something which I didn't hear and giggled while I could only look down at the wet grass of garden

POV ends.

~Vedh Singh Oberoi X Heer Mehta~

As soon as Heer entered the garden, Vedh had been standing between his cousins and his best friend who talked about Bella who was about to arrive on the wedding day

Vedh was annoyed at her name but was just standing because his heart had stopped him to see someone, maybe

Vedh took out his phone and was just about to open a message from Harshit when Chhavi's shrill voice echoed in his eardrums freezing him

"Bhabhi has arrived"

Vedh immediately looked up from his phone only to see Heer standing in a Starbucks green color suit with her dupatta properly pinned on both her shoulders

Her hairstyle was decent, tied in a braid with golden hanging parandi who was ruffling along the cold wind with grace

Her covered Choora chiming every time she adjusted her dupatta making Vedh's mind go senseless leaving nothing but the soft sound in his mind

The platinum engagement ring with a diamond on it was shining brightly with arrogance, sitting on her ring finger as the soft lights fell on it

Her jhumkas matching the color of her traditional juttis he noticed as she took baby steps. Her make up was minimal and her eyes, they were lowered like always

Her lowered eyes were troubling Vedh beyond he wanted to accept, his intense gaze was struck on her like she would disappear if he looked away

Her lowered eyes were troubling Vedh beyond he wanted to accept, his intense gaze was struck on her like she would disappear if he looked away

And exactly when he thought why her eyes were lowered and not at him, Smita and Chhavi walked to Heer and greeted her which made her glance up

For a moment she looked at him and that was enough to accelerate his already fast beating heart which he declared as dead a long ago

Heer's heart beat increase too as she looked down, not daring to glance up even as anyone praised her

Vedh noticed when she licked her lipstick painted lips, he even noticed when she gulped down her saliva through her dried throat

But Vedh didn't understand why she feared him so much?

Vedh looked away seeing her reaction and sighed before he noticed the absence of Aashrit beside him though he felt grateful that Aashrit didn't see him probably ogling at his own fiance or he would have teased him

Heer family settled and the traditional ritual started, the ladies carrying earthen pots on their heads and the elders- Sudha ji, Sumitra ji and others, they distributed sweets to the neighbors telling about Vedh's marriage

~Aashrit Thakur X Reva Arora~

Mehta family forwarded a large plate filled with fruits, sweets, clothes and some other stuff to Oberois and they took it with gratefulness

The plate was way too large to keep in the garden as it would take too much space so keeping this in mind Sudha ji called out to Aashrit who was typing something on his mobile and said

"Beta Aashrit can you please keep it inside the mansion"

Aashrit nodded and tried to take the plate but it was way too big and heavy that he couldn't handle it alone

Seeing Aashrit struggling alone, Meena ji immediately looked at Reva who was whispering something to Chhavi and Saanchi and said

"Reva beta go help Aashrit handle the plate"

Reva who had been smiling till now, her smile vanished as her eyes shot up to Aashrit who was standing frozen without any expression

Reva sighed with a nod and walked up to help him out, she held the plate from beneath and their fingers brushed making her heart go mad while a shiver ran down Aashrit's spine

They together carried the plate inside the mansion while Aashrit trying catch Reva's gaze and Reva avoiding meeting his gaze

About a few steps in the mansion, they kept the plate on carpet spread and Reva immediately pulled back her hands

Her indifferent behavior was hurting Aashrit in ways he feared to admit, he knew he was about to marry Bella but his heart didn't understand

Whenever Reva was in front of his eyes, his heart seemed to forget that he has a fiance to deal with and it could only admire her, Reva

Reva also felt something whenever he was near her but she refused to confess it even to her own self taking him as a forbidden fruit knowing he is engaged

Reva, without even glancing up at Aashrit once turned around to leave only to feel sharp tug on her dupatta

Her eyes widen but she knew Aashrit wouldn't do something like that, he is a decent man so she turned around to take out her dupatta from where it was stuck

She saw that her dupatta was stuck with Aashrit's cuff link, the shiny metal stretched out with Aashrit's hand

Aashrit glanced at her dupatta then at her who was trying her best to avoid seeing him, he immediately removed her dupatta from his cuff

Reva without saying anything, turned again to leave but this time Aashrit's hand shot up and caught the hold of her wrist stopping her in the tracks

Reva's eyes widen before snapping up to Aashrit with fury but it melted when she saw hurt in his eyes, because of her

"Did I make a mistake for which you are upset?"

His hurt filled voice twisted something in Reva's chest painfully but she remained frozen at the choice of his question

She came out of her trance and shook her head before slowly murmuring like a secret she barely spoke to someone about

"No, it's just.........I am an ambivert"

Aashrit looked at her lowered face for a moment more before letting go of her hand and she almost ran out of the mansion towards the garden

Aashrit chuckled, a smile forming on his face as her words echoed in his brain again and again telling him, she isn't upset

~Author~

The Jaggo night passed by with a lot of fun, traditions and dancing people everyone enjoyed the night giving blessings to the couple

Heer sat in the corner hiding from Vedh's intense gaze while Vedh looked for excuses to see her, finding her everytime making her nervous with his eyes

Reva and Aashrit talked a little coming out of the tension between of last few days, the few spoken words changed a lot

Day after tomorrow was the marriage but who knows what tomorrow might bring, who knows.......

~Heer Mehta~

Next Day

The night was long, fun and joyful but tiring as well. Mehta family came back home after the Jaggo and having their breakfasts after freshening up everyone slept

Heer also slept and woke up in mid morning with the loud knock on her room's door. Getting up and rubbing her eyes she opened the door only to see Reva and Saanchi who barged in as soon as the door opened

Her sleepy narrowed eyes filled with annoyance and confusion seeing her sisters sitting on her bed without speaking anything

She went back and yawning softly she asked

"What happened?"

Her sleepy voice coming out as a whisper. Saanchi looked up while Reva didn't even move looking out of the window with a sad face

"Reva is also getting married tomorrow"

Heer's lazy and sleepy eyes widened immediately with shock and confusion looking at Reva for confirmation who didn't even react

"What? With whom?"

Heer's voice was now completely woke up and filled with disbelief glancing between Saanchi and Reva

Saanchi looked at Reva with a soft, sad pout giving no response just staring at Reva who eventually sighed and turned to Heer

"Aashrit"

Just a word, the name that echoed in the silent room making it tense, the air turning thick with the unspoken pain and hurt

Heer seemed dumbfound for a moment not understanding how come this can happen and till she know, Aashrit was about to marry someone else

"How? I mean wasn't he marrying someone else?"

Heer asked, not to Reva, not to Saanchi but to herself. Reva glanced at Saanchi then Heer before she spoke, explaining

"They said that the girl backed out at the last moment and the most suitable they could look for was me so to escape the humiliation they requested uncle and aunty to get me married to Aashrit"

Disbelief flashed in Heer's eyes as she stared at Reva then Saanchi before asking without any hesitation or second thought

"And ma, papa agreed"

Reva seemed annoyed, her expressions changing finally from cold to something else as she irritated

"No they asked me and I agreed"

Heer looked at her with disbelief before she glanced at Saanchi who nodded with a small pout and lowered her head

Heer sighed throwing her hands up in air not believing that Reva could take such a decision, a decision in hurry just like this

~

Heer and Reva talked a lot, Heer explained Reva but she remained standing on her decision saying she couldn't deny because of their polite request

But Heer knew well that why she was doing this. They didn't talk more about it and right now all the girls sat talking about random stuff trying to forget everything

Their father's health, the decision, the chaos, the marriage, the pain and now this one more marriage- everything

They sat like before talking like they used to as a child but they knew better that nothing was same anymore tomorrow everyone will leave

Heer, Reva and all the relatives leaving the Mehta house all empty with no life

The girls were talking, gossiping, laughing, giggling when suddenly the door of the room creaked open and Meena ji entered

Her face had a small smile, a smile that hides all the pain behind it. Meena ji walked in and looking at Saanchi she said

"Saanchi, you go I have to talk to them about something"

She said referring to Heer and Reva, Saanchi frowned but left without questioning while the other two looked at Meena ji for the thing she wanted to talk about

Saanchi left, closing the door behind and Heer & Reva sat waiting for Meena ji to talk further about the whatever thing

Meena ji walked to the bed and sat down, the soft mattress dipping under her weight as a sigh left her lips

"You two will leave tomorrow......"

After a moment of silence Meena ji spoke, her tone serious and her eyes not looking at them knowing they would betray her made up strength if she looked

Meena ji paused taking a sharp breath not knowing how to accept her dearly daughters' departure and somewhere she feared that how will she let them go tomorrow

"This house will be silent but right now I want you to know a few things"

Meena ji looked at the house from up to down as she spoke and then wiping the tears that had reserved the corner of her eyes she turned to them

Heer and Reva frowned, over these years Meena ji taught everything to Heer and even Reva, considering her as her own daughter then what was left to teach

"Beta you two will be someone's wives tomorrow and when you marry someone you give them your whole existence completely, your heart, mind, soul.....,body"

Meena Ji finally spoke the point she was hesitating to speak about because of course the girls she saved half of their lives now she had to teach them this

Heer and Reva's frown eased and they heard the last word, they knew what she was trying to say and why

Heer was quiet trying to understand why it was like this but Reva the ever rebel one argued back, fury filling her demeanour

"But aunty how is this fair? When you don't love someone then how can you be devoted to them"

Meena Ji sighed, she had expected this reaction from Reva and she was prepared for this already obviously she had known Reva for years now

Meera ji turned to Heer knowing she is the sensible one and won't argue, she cupped Heer's left cheek and with explaining and helpless eyes she said

"Heer beta I know you will understand. when you marry someone its no more about your own choice, your partner has rights over you"

Meena ji's helpless tone didn't set well with Heer but she couldn't help it. The words her mother was trying to explain were way too difficult to accept

While Meena ji was trying to pass on the legacy of sacrifices her mother gave her, and now she was giving it to Heer and Reva thinking it is the only way

Heer didn't look at her mother even for once no reply, no response just the lingering silence of confusion and unacceptability

Reva looked pissed off Meena ji's words, disgust running in her whole body with blood as she opened her mouth to speak, to argue further

"But aunty-"

Meena ji cut her words off abruptly, her face turning cold as she spoke sharply, directly with no emotions at all, addressing them both

"It would be better if you two understand it. Let your husband do whatever he wants, he has rights over you and your body"

Her were words were piercingly straight to the point, hiding a cruel warning behind them which they both understood well

Neither Heer nor Reva looked at Meena ji as stood up and left immediately leaving behind the two girls in regret of their own decisions

The misery that they have to be submissive to the men they don't even know properly, let alone love and neither of them knew how to do this, how to wipe off their own existence for a stranger, how to let down their own dignity for someone who came just a few days ago

The words Meena ji spoke had carved themselves in Heer's mind but Reva, she knew what she has to do now, the fire of feminism burning visibly inside her

~Vedh Singh Oberoi~

Morning time

"What? How can she do this?"

Sudha ji exclaimed loudly standing in the middle of Vedh's study beside a frozen Shakti ji who was trying to get up with a solution

In front stood Aashrit leaning back on the edge of the large wooden table with his mind processing something, calculating

Near the window stood Vedh with crossed hands and no expressions at all as if he saw that coming already

"I knew it"

Vedh muttered it but it was heard by everyone in the room. Sudha ji and Shakti ji's eyes snapped up at Vedh who was looking straight at Aashrit

Aashrit was too emotionless like trying to understand something but couldn't, his voice wasn't heard from past twenty minutes

"She said she never loved me"

Aashrit sighed and looked up Sudha ji telling what Bella said, disbelief etched on everyone's face except Vedh who just took in a long breath

It was hard to believe because they were so much in love for last four years and anyone never heard a single word of complaint about Bella from Aashrit

"She even said that I am undeserving and not capable of being a husband let alone make a family also no girl would ever marry me"

Aashrit explained what explanation Bella gave him, his red angry eyes were now quiet as if accepting her words but Vedh would never

Whatever Bella said about Aashrit triggered Vedh and that was the moment Vedh straightened up standing right in front of Sudha ji, his back towards Aashrit

"Chachi if you have any girl in mind then tell because Aashrit is getting married tomorrow"

Sudha ji's eyes widen while Shakti ji's gaze snapped up to his face but Aashrit didn't flinch because he was aware this is going to be Vedh's reaction

Sudha ji shook her head in no but before any voice could come out from her mouth, Aashrit's spoke freezing everyone

"Reva"

Vedh looked at him with no expression and then in sudden hurry they all went to Mehta house to ask for Reva's hand in this alliance

This time Vedh was the one who talked, Shyam ji didn't want to deny directly to his to be son in law because it might ruin their relation so he asked Reva

Reva observing the situation couldn't deny the alliance because she didn't want to risk Heer's married life for any reasons

Reva agreed and fixing the marriage Oberois left, satisfied

Now next day was the wedding, both the couples were restless unable to sleep thinking what more tomorrow holds