~Mr. & Mrs. Aashrit Thakur~

Both Aashrit and Reva sat side wise in another decorated range rover, Reva was also shedding silent tears since the farewell she has not glanced at Aashrit even for once

She was not sobbing, not letting out a single sound but the tears were still there which couldn't be neglected by Aashrit

He hesitated, confused he should comfort her or not but then a thought crossed his mind blowing out all the confusion he had

'She is your wife now'

Only the mention of Reva as his wife was enough to fill his whole body with warmth but somewhere he was scared, scared that Reva might leave him later because somewhere deep down in his heart he knew she had married him just for Heer's sake

With all the courage Aashrit had, he forwarded his handkerchief to Reva. At first Reva didn't see it but as soon as her eyes fell on his handkerchief, her eyes lifted

Now those amber eyes stared deeply into his charcoal black ones, looking for the hint of some kind of betrayal but there was none

Reva silently took the handkerchief from his hand and then wiping her tears she whispered in a very low voice, even he could barely hear her

"Can you please get my stuff picked up from my PG?"

Her question was more like a request, like a soft plea but Aashrit frowned because he thought Reva was Heer's sister so why would she live in a PG

"PG? Don't you live with your family?"

Aashrit's question was simple according to him but to Reva it was a string that hurts the most, a single tear slipped past her eyes as she answered

"They are Heer's family not mine I am an orphan"

Aashrit's eyes darkened, something deep taking place in them but he shrugged of her words thinking she is just angry with her family

~Mr. & Mrs. Vedh Singh Oberoi~

The decorated cars halted in front of the grand door of Oberoi Mansion shining with the fairy off white lights, colorful clothes used to decorate it

The mansion itself seemed like a new bride ready to welcome the new members, it was dark outside which increased the shine, the glow of mansion

Inside the car, Vedh finally lifted his palm off Heer's, the warmth getting lost in the air turning her palm cold, Heer was not crying anymore but her heart was still heavy with the harsh turns of her life

Vedh reached for the door without saying anything and got out before he circled the car to open Heer's side door, while Heer sat waiting for the further instructions

Vedh opened the door for Heer and forwarded his palm to help her out, this was the same palm where Heer's name was stained with henna

As soon as Heer saw her name on his palm, the stain so dark that it could fail a girl's henna, girls would die to get that stain and he got that without any efforts

But Heer's henna stain was no less it was also giving competition to Vedh's stain, Heer eyes glanced up at his cold face before she lowered them again and thought to herself

'He must have been forced'

What Heer didn't know was that Vedh was definitely forced but just for show, it was not that difficult to make up Vedh for getting her name written on his palm because- it was her name

Heer finally stretched out her small henna stained palm hesitantly and kept it on her name written beautifully and elegantly

She stepped out and the cool air hit her, ruffling the chunni on her head so slightly as if wind was maintaining the aesthetics

Aashrit and Reva also stood outside but before they could enter the premises Smita and Chhavi came running halting their steps

And then started the show, the sky bloomed with fireworks of different colors some forming small flowers while some forming large ones

It seemed as if the sky itself was shining on their big day, all the eyes were lifted upwards at the sky even Heer was looking up, mesmerized by those elegant and beautiful fireworks but Vedh....

Well Vedh was just looking at his new bride, clad in his mother's suit without any hesitation looking at the sky with mesmerized eyes, the same eyes that had been shedding tears for last two hours

Vedh's eyes were not moving from her face as if this was sight to see, no one noticed as everyone was busy staring in the sky

After sometime the couples stood on the doorway of the mansion for 'Grihapravesh'

First stood Heer and Vedh along side, the height difference clearly visible, Sudha ji applied tilak to both before she kept a kalash filled with rice in front of Heer

Heer knew the assignment, hit the kalash softly with right feet and move forward. Heer kicked the kalash softly and still holding onto Vedh's palla they together entered the house

Then she was made stand in a thaal filled with alta and her footprints were taken on a white cloth, same rituals were repeated with Reva

And now the couples sat across each other, the husbands on one side while the wives on other, two huge brass container filled with milk in between each couple

This was the game to find ring and whoever wins will be the one with upper hand in marriage, maybe this was just a ritual but right now it was more than just a ritual

The atmosphere was warm with the excitement and thrill of who would win, some stood on the side of husbands while some on the side of wives

The game started gold rings were thrown in the milk adorned with soft rose petals and the metal immediately drowned, settling at the surface

Heer hesitated before dipping her hand while Vedh dipped his after Heer, they were finding the ring not to win the game but the end this quickly

Their tired hands trying to find the ring when suddenly Heer's fingers brushed against the cold metal, just as she wrapped her fingers around the metal another hand brushed against her and she froze

Meanwhile Vedh was trying to find the ring but unintentionally his hand brushed against Heer's and he also froze immediately, his eyes fixing on Heer who had turned red

Her heart beat were louder against her ribs as she pulled her hand back and showed the ring, an applause rang at her win but she was still stuck at the soft brush of their hands

~Mr. & Mrs. Aashrit Thakur~

Meanwhile beside Heer and Vedh, Aashrit and Reva's encounter was also intense. As soon as the ring was thrown Aashrit dipped his hand in the milk

Reva internally rolled her eyes because she was not at all interested but seeing Aashrit so eager to win, her eyes narrowed and she dipped her palm in the milk finding the ring

Reva was trying to find the ring with all her power and so was Aashrit, Reva's palm moved in sync to Aashrit's trying to win the game but then she froze

Something brushed against her finger, a hand?

Aashrit's hand which was now holding the ring but was still into the milk brushed against hers freezing her on the point before he simply pushed the ring in her palm staring intensely in those amber orbs

Reva gripped the ring before it could slip back into the bowl but her eyes stuck on Aashrit's face, her mind thinking about his action which conveyed only one message

Reva wanted to win while Aashrit also wanted her to win!!

The reason? Neither of them knew

Reva blinked looking at Aashrit then pulling back her palm she showed the ring and once again the applause echoed in the hall before Sudha ji spoke

"Okay now all of you go rest, couples also need rest"

~Author~

As soon as the couples got up and started leaving, Sudha ji slowly slapped her forehead and with a small smile she said

"Are wait, I forgot something"

The couples froze on their place and Sudha ji left towards the temple of the house and came back holding two small golden containers and two red velvet jewellery boxes before she forwarded it to them

Vedh and Aashrit held the golden box and the jewellery box with care but the frown on their faces deepening at they stared at Sudha ji and she explained with smile

"Arre this is sindoor (vermilion) and mangalsutra (nuptial chain) go ahead make them wear this"

She didn't need to explain the importance of both the things because both the men were enough grown up to understand this much

With the slow utmost care Vedh opened the lid of golden box and taking a pinch of sindoor he filled Heer's partition without any hesitation

Heer closed her eyes as if feeling no absorbing the moment with all her heart before taking the sindoor container Vedh forwarded towards her

Vedh then took out the nuptial chain and he closed his eyes for a moment as if acknowledging it's important and sacredness

And then Vedh tied it around Heer's neck, both their heart beating loudly at the closeness and the proximity while Heer shivered with the pureness of the metal tied around her neck

Now Aashrit's turn, he did the same first he filled Reva's partition and then with every right he has on her, he tied the nuptial chain around her neck while she just stared at the small stone of mangalsutra

~Mr. & Mrs. Vedh Singh Oberoi~

The room was silent, utterly quiet but not empty Heer was there in the well decorated room, her choora made small sounds occasionally

The room was filled with the fragrance of flowers and burning vanilla candles, and there in the middle of bed between the rose petals sat her, Heer

She sat on his bed in his room dolled up in maroon as his bride with no trace of him around. She was ready for their wedding night- According to her

Her inner turmoil had been killing her since the day before yesterday but today she made the decision though she was nervous as hell, she couldn't back off

Her mother had convinced her that she was ready for whatever lay ahead, her mother had filled her mind with only one line-

"Let your husband do whatever he wanted, he has right over you and your body"

And somehow after her internal struggle she finally made her mind to let him do whatever he wanted but he was nowhere to be seen

Her eyes traced every corner of his room searching for a single hint of his presence but nothing helped

And as she was hell tired because of endless crying and the stretching rituals in past days so her eyes became heavy with sleep, her lashes fluttering

Finally her eyes got tired of looking for him she gave up and slept wearing that same suit and as soon as she did

He entered the room

There he was, Vedh Singh Oberoi, he had just entered and immediately his eyes fell on the flowers decorating his room

The room which was always so dark, silent and simple was now smelling with the fragrance of those flower petals and the vanilla smell of those burning candles

Then his eyes fell on her, his now wife- Heer

And in that exact moment he wished his eyes never fell on her because he was getting lost in her now, again

She was curled up on the mattress, her milky skin glowing under the dim light of candles casting shadow over her whole being

She felt so peaceful while sleeping that for a moment Vedh could feel that peace in himself, he remained standing at the doorway, eyes locked on her small curled up figure

There was something in his gaze the way he looked at her, maybe admiration or maybe.........Love?

Vedh came back when Heer stirred in her sleep and her bangles jingled taking him out of that imaginary world no one has ever seen

Vedh sighed and looked away from Heer before walking towards the cupboard, no he didn't go to change instead he took out a black bag and started packing his stuff

He filled the bag with all his necessary things and just as he was zipping the bag, his phone vibrated in his pocket

He took the phone out and picked it up as it was the call of his assistant, picking it up he held it on his ear and asked

"Hmm?"

He was intentionally not making any sound because Heer was sleeping and he didn't want to disturb her sleep

"Sir everything is ready for your departure to Italy"

Harshit said from the other side and Vedh let out a breath, something didn't feel right to him from inside as if he was doing something wrong

Though he had been to business trips for months before as well but he never had this feeling ever, a feeling of leaving a part of him behind

Vedh sighed and again hummed before hanging up

"Hmm"

Vedh closed his eyes for a moment trying to let that feeling slip but the emotion was so strong, so stubborn that it wouldn't leave

He zipped up the bag and holding it he entered the room again, his eyes again finding the person they have been loving to see since they met

Her outfit was practically all over the bed as she laid quietly sleeping without any hint of turmoil she stirred in Vedh

Vedh's gaze was on her without any hesitation as if it belong to her, only to her that too since always

For a moment Vedh's cold heart starting feeling a warmth and an urge of telling Heer that he was leaving stirred in him but he resisted knowing how much she had cried today, Vedh didn't wake Heer up and left with one last glance

And that was his mistake, he should have woken her up

Vedh walked out of the quiet mansion and no one saw him leaving except...........Sumitra ji, Vedh's paternal aunt

Upon seeing Vedh leave the house with a bag in hand, Sumitra ji's lips curled in an evil smirk and her eyes filled with the fire of revenge

~Mr. & Mrs. Aashrit Thakur~

Meanwhile Aashrit and Reva had already left the mansion for New York because of the sudden call from his office

They had bid a bye to all the family but Reva couldn't say bye to Heer because she didn't want to disturb her but she left a letter for her

Right now they were on their way to airport, Reva's stuff had been brought quickly and now they were leaving

Reva didn't want to go, she wanted to stay and even Sudha ji offered Aashrit to leave Reva here but Aashrit said

"Aunty she is my wife, my responsibility and don't when I will return so I can't leave her"

Aashrit was not ready to leave his wife behind for some stupid reasons specially when he didn't even know when he might return

The silence in the car stretched through out the whole ride until Aashrit broke it asking Reva in low voice

"At least tell your family"

Reva's head snapped to him and she looked at him in disbelief like how could again ask her something like this when she already told him that she was an orphan

"I already told you I am orphan"

Aashrit again thought that she was just being sarcastic and was very much angry at her family that's why she is speaking like this though Reva's tone was genuine

Aashrit stared at her for a moment and then turned back before asking for her passport which she gave him without looking at him

~

At the Airport

Aashrit showed his and Reva's passport for boarding and that's when his eyes fell on her name written on the passport

'Reva Arora'

But isn't her surname Mehta, that's what Vedh had told him, if Heer's surname is Mehta then Reva's surname should also be Mehta

Aashrit didn't ask it immediately at that place rather he waited until they were sitting in his private plane and no one was around

"Reva why is your Arora in the passport, isn't is supposed to be Mehta?"

His voice was genuinely confused as he stared at Reva who was looking out of the window but as soon as his voice fell in her ears

Reva sighed in annoyance closing her eyes for a moment before she snapped at him, her voice low but sharp, irritated

"Is there any problem with your ears? How many times do I have to tell you they are not my family I am an orphan"

Aashrit remained looking at her for a moment, acknowledging her words before he came back to the reality and asked once again

"You are really an orphan?"

Reva sighed looking here and there as her frustration started bubbling up, she tried to control her anger

Seeing her struggle with her actions like this Aashrit immediately said what he thought her relation was with Heer

"I thought you were Heer bhabhi's sister"

Upon hearing Heer's mention as her sister, Reva's eyes softened and she looked out of the window before looking back at Aashrit and replying

"Heer is my childhood best friend"

Aashrit's mouth curved in 'Oh' as he heard her, though he was confused the way her demeanor completely changed at the mention of Heer

For a moment their was a silence between them before Reva's head again snapped to him and she suspiciously asked

"Wait but why didn't you ask me the other two times?"

Aashrit frowned before he let out a small laugh and told her what he understood when she called herself an orphan two times

"Arre actually I thought you were just angry with your family"

Disbelief crossed in Reva's eyes and she stared at him weirdly as if seen the eighth wonder before snapped

"And why would someone call themselves an orphan?"

Aashrit smiled and shrugged like it was an obvious thing and Reva was asking something natural

"Not everyone but girls do this generally"

Reva's eyes narrowed at the those words before she threw a sarcasm in hindi turning his eyes wide

"Kitni ladkiyon ke saath rahe hain aap?"

("How many girls you have lived with?")

She asked him, but he thought she was acknowledging the word 'girls' and not getting the sarcasm he replied

"Kitni bhi nahi, kyu?"

("None, why?")

He replied casually and Reva put a tight smile on her lips before throwing another sarcasm at his face like slap but he didn't feel it

"Aapko itna experience jo hai ladkiyon ke baare mein"

("You have so much experience about girls na")

Again Aashrit didn't understood the sarcasm and replied with a proud smile, shrugging off his shoulders like just got a nobel prize

"Arre nahi nahi, tum pehli hogi"

("Oh no no, you will be the one")

Hearing this from Aashrit's mouth, Reva's jaw dropped, her eyes widening as she snapped at Aashrit with loud voice scaring him for a moment

"Matlab mere baad bhi hongi"

("That means after me more will be there")

And saying this she started crying like a child, fake as if her favorite chocolate has been just denied to her

Aashrit's eyes widen at her crying face, he didn't expect this reaction at all and now he regretted the moment he let out those words

Aashrit was not understanding at the moment what is he supposed to do or how is he supposed to handle such a situation

"Mujhe pata tha aap mujhse shaadi kar hi isliye rahe ho"

("I knew it that you are marrying me for this reason only")

She cried again but now Aashrit stilled, his thoughts, his panic everything stilled and he just stared at her before asking in a low but deep voice

"Kis liye?"

("What reason?")

He genuinely didn't know what Reva was trying to say but just as she replied his question, his charcoal black eyes darkened indicating danger

"So you could meet other girls"

Reva wasn't really crying but the thought of her husband roaming outside with other girls twisted something painfully in her, filling her eyes with tears

"Shut up Reva"

Aashrit's voice rang in the cabin of jet as he scolded Reva who now sat quietly with tears in her eyes looking at her husband whom she married few hours ago

"Reva listen, I am not the type of husband who would cheat on his wife because I would never, those words.....they just came out without me knowing okay so just be quiet because I am never leaving you now"

His voice softened as he said those words and Reva felt that softness but what she didn't understand was his words and before she could even realise the question slipped out

"And why did you marry me?"

That was it, Aashrit's mind went in haze with just that one question 'Why?' because he himself didn't know the answer

Why he took only her name as suggestion?

Why was he so desperate to see her as his wife?

Why he cannot take his eyes off her?

Why?

And the reason to all those whys were nowhere

Aashrit who had been speaking, explaining till now went utterly quiet and then without saying a word he left from there

He left and Reva broke down like a child, she was now sobbing, she didn't even cry at her Vidai but now she was sobbing, crying with her face in her knees

~Heer Vedh Singh Oberoi~

The room was silent just like always but today instead of Vedh, Heer was there. She was still sleeping not comfortably but peacefully

Her eyes were shut and her posture was messy as she was sleeping so unconsciously after so many days, without any care, without any disturbance but it short lived

The bright sunlight filtered in the room from the white curtains and fell directly on Heer's face interrupting her sleep

She stirred and sat up yawning before stretching her arms when her choora made sound and realisation dawned over her being

Her eyes widen as the information of her now being someone's wife came in her mind like a silent slap

She looked at herself from head to toe and realised she had not even changed her outfit in wait of Vedh, but he didn't come

She looked at the time and gasping she immediately got out of the bed and almost ran to bathroom in the haze of sleep

After sometime she came out of the bathroom ready in a fresh suit smelling like caramel with a hint of coffee, her hair wet as she ran to her stuff and took out her hair dryer

Heer quickly dried her hair and combed them perfectly before she draped the red dupatta of her red suit around her shoulder

She had almost forgotten and walked out of the room but near doorway she suddenly remembered and came back to put of her sindoor

Her nuptial chain was already around her neck and with that she walked out of the room, hesitated but then rushed out closing the door leaving behind the messy room

Heer walked downstairs where all the family was sitting, Sudha ji, Shakti ji, Chhavi, Saket, Smita and Sumitra ji sipping their tea

Heer looked down, guilt crashing down on her as she realised she was late relatives had already left and now their were only family members and Sumitra ji

Heer stepped down and walked slowly when Sudha ji smiled and keeping her cup on the table she stood up and went to Heer

"Heer Beta, you look gorgeous today"

Sudha ji complimented and Heer gave her a small smile, Heer eyes then wandered for Reva Sudha ji understood and with a soft tap on her shoulder she gave her a letter

Heer frowned but then slowly unfolded the white paper with such softness like fearing it might tear with much pressure

"Heer, I know you must have looked for me even before you looked for jiju but didn't find me, that's because I have left in the night itself, left for New York. I didn't want to go but Aashrit had some work there and he denied on leaving me behind so I had to go with him, and yes I know I might have told you about this earlier itself but considering how much you endured in these past few days I thought to let you rest for sometime before umhm you get involved with jiju so I didn't tell you but don't worry I will call you after reaching and please also inform uncle and aunty about my departure.

Your bestie

Reva"

The letter read, even in the letter Reva didn't forget to mention things to tease Heer because she knew that until Heer will reach the end of the letter, she will start shedding tears and that's exactly what happened

Even after reading such things Heer's eyes filled with tears as she saw the letter again and again not believing that her best friend has left

Then understanding Reva's condition, Heer clutched her letter in her palm like it was grounding her at this moment

"Um Heer, where is Vedh?"

Sudha ji then asked softly looking behind her for any trace of Vedh but there was none, while hearing the question Heer also glanced back and replied with a frown

"I don't know"

Sudha ji frowned behind her Shakti ji also stood up hearing Heer's reply before Sudha ji again asked

"Wasn't he in the room?"

Heer's frown deepened as she stared at Sudha ji and other family members and shook her head expecting them to know about his whereabouts but they knew nothing

Sudha ji's face flashed with concern and she glanced back at her husband who was just as shocked as her

All the siblings also stood up from their seat frowning at their missing brother who just got married yesterday

Sumitra ji sat on the sofa, sipping her tea with silence, quietly observing the exchange with a small smirk on her face and satisfaction in her heart

"Vedh won't come back"

Sumitra ji exclaimed loudly getting up from the sofa and walking towards the other with patience as if she knew everything

Everyone looked at her, half shocked half confused of her words, how did she know where Vedh was when Vedh didn't even talk to her

Heer also looked shocked when Sumitra ji's evil gaze landed on Heer's innocent one making her blink out of her trance

Sudha ji glanced between Heer and Sumitra ji who stood face to face, Sumitra ji's face flashed with rage and something far more dangerous before she breathed out

"Heer, did Vedh come last night?"

Heer who was looking at the floor looked up at her with wide eyes as if a sudden realisation crashing over her before she whispered

"I...I don't know, I was wai...waiting and then I sle...slept"

Heer confessed her eyes filling with tears as if she has made a huge mistake without even realising it

Sudha ji's eyes widen as she heard Heer's whisper, her eyes lowering in shame of something that wasn't even a big deal

"But I know"

Sumitra ji said, letting her words hanging in the air as everyone's attention shifted to her again, the tension in the air increasing with each spoken word

Shakti ji who had been standing neutral till now understood where this was going, his body moved on reflex as he yelled out

"What do you know didi?"

His question was not left unanswered, hearing him yelling like that Sumitra ji turned to him with a glare and yelled back

"I know that this wife of yours has made a huge mistake in her stupidity, I know that she has brought a girl home who could not even keep her husband for even one night, I know that this girl is not Lakshmi but destruction, I know that this Sudha has ruined my Vedh's life by marrying him to this wretched girl"

Sumitra ji's breath turned heavy as she spat the venom against Heer pointing at her again and again making her flinch

Sumitra ji's voice was filled with evil and poison for Heer which made Heer cry in an instant, she was sobbing silently not letting out a single sound

Heer's hot tears were streaming down continuously as Sumitra ji's words echoed in her head continuously like lyrics on repeat

"And let me be more clear, Vedh went to his room at night and just because he got a little late this girl who is also his wife, she slept very soundly without caring about her husband and then seeing this Vedh got angry and he left with his clothes at night itself"

Heer was crying badly till now, Sumitra ji's words weren't pleasing her rather they were piercing something she didn't know she will have to feel

Sumitra ji's words were enough to make any girl feel her worst and that exactly happened with Heer

While Sumitra ji's eyes filled with a strange satisfaction upon seeing Heer cry like that in front of her, fulfilling the wish of revenge she had but the game was not over

Smita, Chhavi and Saket's blood boiled and they lunged forward to defend Heer, Smita opened her mouth to speak but Sumitra ji cut her off

"Bua ji-"

"Ask your daughter not to mess with me Shakti"

Sumitra ji glared at all three of them who glared back before Shakti ji shouted as Sudha ji was already crying as if accepting Heer as a mistake

"Go to your rooms"

"But papa-"

Saket took a step forward to say something but it only fueled Shakti ji's anger and he screamed this time, his loud voice echoing in the hall like a roar

"I said just GET OUT OF HERE!!!!"

Sumitra ji smirked in satisfaction as all of them left including Shakti ji and Sudha ji, now only Heer and Sumitra ji were left

Sumitra ji's eyes fell again on the weeping Heer who looked vulnerable, helpless like an innocent infant which made Sumitra ji's evil smirk widen before she yelled at her

"Now go and prepare for lunch and complete all the household work before I throw you out of this house"

Sumitra ji yelled angrily at already sobbing Heer, making her tremble like hell but it were her words which hit Heer more

'Before I throw you out of this house'

That only sentence echoed on the walls of her cerebrum making the picture of her happy family flash before her eyes

Her happily dying father, her smiling mother, her naughty and teasing sister all of that flashed before her eyes at once

If Sumitra ji threw Heer out then her father won't be able to die peacefully, her mother's life will go all in tension and then her sister's childhood will be drowned out because of her

Heer didn't want it, Heer never wants it so wiping the tears she said

"I will....I will do whatever you say"

And a victorious smile made it's way to Sumitra ji's lips reaching her eyes, proud at the way she just made Heer so helpless