A girl clad in a blue lehenga ran with some gifts in her hands. She almost slipped because of her dress, but still, she was not giving any importance to how her dupatta was almost falling from the way it came across her shoulder.
" Just one more turn then this will be done." She said to herself while keeping the gifts in the car's backseat, parked at her doorsteps.
This is Prachi Singhaniya, 25 years old, a very simple and innocent girl. She was the kind of girl every parent would be proud to have. She was beautiful and intelligent, and just completed her graduation. She is a doctor.
Well, not everyone was happy with this in her family. They were still not. But she always tried to make her family happy. She did everything as per orders, so she didn't get pissed.
She has a sister, named Sarika , who is 27 years old . It's her wedding today. Her parents and the family were so happy when this alliance happened.
The whole house was decorated, everyone celebrated the occasion for 3 days with Sangeet, Haldi and Mehandi functions. Many relatives and neighbours came to congratulate the bride and brought some gifts for her.
The music was being played at one corner of the party centre. Some friends of the bride were also dancing. The food services included some of the best catering from the town who would cook various kinds of delicious dishes to make the wedding ceremony even more memorable.
And it should be. It was the marriage of the country's one of the richest family's son.
The RAJPUT were the most respectful people, their ancestors were the zamindars and later they started doing their business outside the town. Now, their grandson, YUVRAJ RAJPUT is expanding the business all over India even in other countries.
Prachi went to her room to get ready to welcome the wedding procession. Just then, her sister Sarika entered the room.
Prachi sees Sarika and her friends coming into her room. She stands quietly at her place.
As soon as Sarika sees Prachi standing ready, she makes fun of Prachi in front of her friends, bitter words for Prachi start coming out of her mouth, "hey, look at this whore, it seems she is ready for someone again, whom are you planning to trap in your trap today Prachi"
All her friends started laughing at Sarika's words. Prachi is just standing there with her head bowed. Her heart feel very sad whenever her elder sister say such things but she could not stand up for herself.
Sarika came towards Prachi and asked, there was a smile on her face seeing Prachi like this, "What happened to you, why are you standing like this, answer me, for whom have you decorated yourself so much today, with whom do you want to spend the night today?"
Prachi had tears in her eyes, all the things her elder sister said were hurting her heart but she did not try to stop her even once. Whatever dirty things her elder sister was saying about her, she's just listening to them silently.
Sarika's words were piercing her heart like a thorn but she stood quietly and kept listening to all her dirty talk. Sarika's friend Alia said ""Sarika, she has made even your brother's friend crazy for her."
Prachi feels disgusted when Alia takes Akash's name.
One more friend of Sarika asks Riya "I mean Prachi, how do you make so many boys crazy behind you, please give me some tips. Will you alone make the whole world crazy behind you" Everyone started laughing even louder at Riya's words.
Tears were not stopping from Prachi's eyes. She was crying with her head bowed when Divya ji called from below. She called Prachi downstairs.
Sarika told Prachi, "Now go and do the household work along with being a whore."
Prachi runs away from there.
After sometime Prachi goes to Sarika room but she doesn't open the door.
"SarikaDi, baraat has arrived." She said while knocking on the door. But she got no reply. She got a little tense. She heard the sound of something falling. (Di is the salutation used for older sister)
"Di, everything okay?" She asked with concern. Still, she got no reply.
She couldn't take it anymore, she was getting worried about her. She opened the door to get shocked. No one was there.
Sarika's bridal dress and jewellery were lying on the bed. The room was all messed up, the cupboards and windows were wide open. She saw a note on the table.
Prachi could not believe her eyes. The note stated, "I can't do this. I'm sorry, I'm leaving. I love someone else and will marry him"
The note fell from her trembling hand. She was scared. She has no idea of the upcoming storm that is going to change her life completely.
"I have to tell mom and dad" she turned to go, only to find them standing there with a confused look on their faces.
"Where is Sarika?" Divya asked, roaming her eyes around the room, only to find her daughter's wedding dress on the bed and messed up the room with no presence of her daughter.
Her dad, Amar Singh, widened his eyes on realising the situation. He looked towards his wife, who also had a horrified expression.
"This can't be happening, no this can't be possible," her dad said in a trembling voice.
His whole frame shook and was about to fall but Prachi and his wife held him and made him sit on a nearby couch. His heart was beating fast. His face turned pale and his body turned cold.
"Her number is switched off," Her mother stated, trying Sarika's number, again and again, tears streaming down her face.
Of course, she had switched off her mobile, no one could contact her. Her eyes brimmed with fresh tears watching them vulnerable like this.
"Why did you do this, Di?" Prachi screamed in her mind.
"Why did you leave her alone? I told you to be with her. You useless girl!" Amar yelled at her.
Prachi looked at him with an unknown expression. How was it her fault? But she kept quiet, not wanting to have a screaming match with him at this time.
"What will I say to them? How will I face those people? Oh, God!" Amar whispered in a low voice. His eyes brimmed with tears. He always tried to maintain a good reputation in society, always worked hard.
"What do we do now? Yuvraj's family is Royal and he is a businessman, they won't think twice to ruin us because the bride ran away" Papa sat on the floor, keeping a hand on his head. I took a step towards him but stopped after realising that maybe I did wrong.
"I have one idea" Bhai said and my father who was on the ground looked at him.
"We can replace the bride. Prachi will marry Yuvraj" I looked at Bhai, giving him a deadly glare.
My relatives are long cobras.. No one spoke anything. "You are crazy, Bhai" I said and walked towards the exit of the Room.
"Prachi" I did stop on my steps, my back facing them.
"Don't involve me in these things. Since the wedding is cancelled..I am leaving for the Jaipur" I said and rushed out.
I don't know but this silence is an indication of the storm coming in my life. I removed the neck piece from my neck. "I need to head home first and then pack my stuff and leave as soon as possible" Even though my ticket was in Waiting, there is no way I am going to be at Home.
Apart from the music playing I heard a familiar voice from the opposite side of the Door "Prachi?" It was papa.
I sighed. "If you are planning to make me take her place, there is no way I am opening the door" I said putting the AC on 16°C.
It's weird but that's how I try to calm myself when I am stressed, I simply lower the Temperature of my Room.
I believe it calms my brain. "Prachi, I need to talk to you so Open the Door" I sighed and lifted my skirt walking towards the door and opened it.
Papa stepped inside the Room. He looked at the AC and then at me. "You know there are media outside and if they get to know that the bride ran away, everything will be ruined. Our reputation even their families reputation"
I chuckled. "So?" ,"So, I want you to marry Yuvraj. Be his replaced wife" .
I ran my hand in my hair. "just because Di ran away..you want me to marry someone I barely know? If you think that I will be a good daughter and happily ruin my career for your reputation. Then you are. Wrong"
"Papa, either you or maa were ever close to Di..ask maa not m--" He cut me off by showing his palm.
"I don't want to hear anything, get ready you are getting married to Yuvraj"
"And you really think, I will marry him?" I chuckled and walked towards the door.
I knew my family would make a fuss but I didn't know they would use me for the sake of their reputation. The more I will stay here, the more annoyed I will feel.
I held the knob of the door "Your Dadi's plot.." I felt as if my breath was stuck and so was I frozen at my place. "I will give you the plot-if you are willing to marry Yuvraj"
A tear rolled down my cheek. He knows-My father knows my Weakness, he knows how connected I am with my Dadi's plot because that's the last thing I have which reminds me of her.
"Indeed you are stubborn, but think about this. We are running out of time so I will give you 10 minutes to think about the offer" He added.
"And how can I trust you? What if you step back from your words?" I knew my father was a man of his words. "50% of the plot will be given to you once the wedding is done and next 50% on your first wedding anniversary"
Well played. So when I thought to divorce that guy, he wants me to be in this relationship for one year. "I will be back in 10 minutes" he said and walked outside.
I heard the click sound of the door, hence he left the room. I walked towards the bed and sat on it.. folding my legs while the cool air from the AC was hitting me on the back, giving me goosebumps.
What fate I got, I have to marry my sister's fiancé because of dadi.