THE MARRIAGE--Part 2. contd
He saw her, the woman he was supposed to marry..
Ayesha was her name..
A young woman slightly heavy set, with an air of indifference about her..
Her eyes seemed dull and life less and she hardly spoke a word to him. Her impression was one of forced agreement..Always his mom was with her and he could hardly get a word in private..It seemed her parents were somewhere and weren't keen on attending this function..
No amount of proding or cajoling yieled anything more about her background... He felt insular with everything shut out and secreted from him.
Giving in to exasperation he resigned himself to marry this mystery woman..Well,he had to settle someday; let it be now, he thought..
The sharp ringing of the bell rudely awoke his reverie to the present..He gathered his wits and looked forward for the wedding..
Niharika was smiling. Her smile belying the hatred and cunningness inside..
Ram's accident was Godsend.. In one stroke, she had created a masterpiece..
She remembered that fateful day.Priya took the blame and was arrested for all those deaths due to the spurious drugs manufactured'
Good riddance she had thought!. But the idiot Ram soon found that Sid was the cause of all misery and in setting things right had driven rashly to get his Priya freed and acquitted..
Then the accident happened and Ram's amnesia was a blessing in disguise..
She had thrown out all Priya's belongings and wiped away even the slightest trace of her presence from the Kapoor mansion..With Sid absconding, she took an Iron hand bringing everyone under her control.
Her tight leash and blackmail ,sometimes even physical torture made Dadi, Rishabh, Nutz and her husband tow her line..
Priya's parents had shifted base to Indore and were constantly monitored and prevented from contacting Ram..
Her only solace and support was Ishika and her brother..
The obedient servants simply followed her orders..
Ayesha was tough to handle..
But she was in such a mess and had no choice but to take up her offer.. Sid's child will be born as Ram's child and will be the heir apparent of Kapoor industries..
Niharika's prestige, money and the Kapoor name was all safeguarded and will never be tarnished again..
Priya was the sole exception..She was freed after an iron clad contract that she will divorce Ram and will never see him again.. A small ransom was paid to shut tight the mouths of law, police, media and the families of the victims concerned..Priya was given an alimony and sent off with KK..Both were now out of Ram's life forever.
The pandit's incessant chants of the mantras brought her back to the present..Soon Ayesha will wed Ram and Priya will become a history..
Ram sat, doing the pooja with an anticipation and piety..
His body seemed at peace; his face serene.
But his mind was restless. He couldn't fathom what was wrong, but something deep inside troubled him..
Everything seemed familiar yet everything was new,..An hazy and nebulously vague picture of undergoing all these rights and rituals previously flashed in his inner mind..Try as he mnight he couldn't put his finger on it..
'Kanya ko bhulayiye" said the pandit..
Niharika nodded towards Ishika..
The milling crowd of the invitees and guests looked forward for the bride to make her entry.. After all they knew that Ram's second marriage was something not to be missed..
The laughter and the gaiety associated with marriage was missing here, but that was never a concern..All that mattered was Ram marrying Ayesha..
Ram sat like the Buddha..
He will see his bride in close quarters, for the first time... Will look for some sign or something else to give him the clue about this sudden and rushed decision of hers..
His heart was beating faster in tandem with the drums drowning any unwanted(asubh) sounds that will be rendered.It didn't sound right to him..But he felt helpless and bounded by the promise given to his mom..
Lost in thoughts he didn't notice the perceptible change in the atmosphere..The murmers and whispers among the crowd suddenly turned loud and clear..
"Look ! Oh look there!" someone shouted..
Fingers were pointed at the front door of the hall. All eyes automatically turned towards it..
The sudden commotion died out. Instead there was a stunned silence..The air was heavy and the crowd seemed wait with bated breath at the sight before them..
Unbelievable eyes didn't want to miss or leave out anything.. Strained neck tried to catch each and every movement'
Niharika and mama were rooted to the spot and speechless..Dadi couldn't believe her eyes.. Nutz and karthik were shocked..
Ram slowly looked up..His eyes slightly moist from the havan's smoke and fumes, couldn't make out the hazy scene in front him..
Wiping away the tears and clearing his vision, he was totally caught offguard..
His heart seemed to beat in a normal manner.. His mind at peace and the soul less tortured.. A sudden wave of tranquility and immense satisfaction coursed through his body.. He almost swooned in that relaxed calm state..Tears of joy seemed to flow uncontrollably over his face..
Images of something stronger flashed across his blank mind.. Soon everything will clear and the realization of all that happened will hit him..
The brain started working overtime to kick out the amnesiac state it was in..Memory loss was slowly getting lost.. Ram was at a loss for words.. The sight before him was the harbinger of good tidings and good times ahead..
Getting up to his feet, he almost stumbled. Balancing himself, he gingerly got down from the stage..Striding purposefully forward, he beckoned at the sight in front of him..Nodding his head he opened his arms in welcome..
In walked Ayesha and Rishabh in all splendor and richness of a newly married couple..
The marriage happened!!!!!.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The End , for a new beginning!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Edited by maris08 - 13 years ago
Anupamaa
