FF: Arranged Marriage : Part 8-10, Page 5 [Updated on 07/08] - Page 5

Amazing update

Enjoyed reading it but sad for abhira

I hope armaan tries to understand her and helps her feel better

Excited to read more

PART 8 - The Wedding Night

It was close to 11 PM that night, when Abhira was ushered into the Wedding Night Room which was in Armaan's Bungalow in Mussoorie, some distance away from Sharma House. As Muskaan, Kiara and some other women had laboriously decorated Abhira, 'preparing' her for the 'Suhaag Raat' to much giggling and lewd remarks, Abhira felt she could have gladly died this very moment, than face anything remotely to what the women were describing.

As Muskaan adjusted Abhira's Sari, after placing her on the flower-decked Bed, she bent down to look at her sister-in-law and smiling affectionately, took some Manisha out of her eyes and placed it behind Abhira's ears. "You look beautiful tonight. Do you know that? Our Damadji won't be able to take his eyes off you…" and then later added mischievously, "Or maybe he will be too busy even looking at you."

Abhira kept quiet as Muskaan kissed her tenderly on the forehead and said wistfully, "Do you know why women look especially beautiful on their Wedding Night?"

Before Muskaan could answer her own question, Abhira replied bitterly, "To get raped by some stranger with a social sanction."

Muskaan was so stunned at her words, that for a moment, she could not react and then closing her eyes in anger, held Abhira fiercely and muttered with clenched teeth, "For God sake Abhira, don't start this again. I thought you were done with it."

As Abhira gave no reaction, Muskaan said desperately, "You are married now, Abhira. Married! Do you understand that? You are someone's wife now. There is another life linked with you."

Muskaan took a deep breath and now said pleadingly, "Abhira, please don't do or say anything to jeopardize your marriage. Armaan is a wonderful man, he will keep you very happy. I know that, we all know that. Please Abhira, give this marriage one chance, give your husband one chance…and give yourself another chance."

Before Abhira could say anything, there was a knock on the door and they both looked startled. It was Charu who smiled and said that Armaan Bhaiyya was coming to the room. As Muskaan got up to leave, Abhira held back her arm and with tears welling in her eyes said, "Don't leave me alone Bhabhi. Please. I am scared. I don't want to be with him in this room."

Muskaan smiled and just shrugged her head saying, "Don't worry, just let things happen the way they do. Everything will be fine."

As soon as Muskaan left, shutting the door behind her, Abhira at once got up from the Bed and darted around like a hunted deer, went and found a dark corner in the room and stood huddled there. After a moment or so, there was the sound of the door opening and as Abhira looked up, shivering and frightened out of her life, Armaan came in and his eyes fell on her at some distance where she was standing. He did not say anything but just turned and closed the door and bolted it, Abhira felt her legs wobbling and she was feeling faint. Armaan came quietly inside the dimly lit room and sat on the bed, which smelled unbelievably sweet because of all the flowers decorated on it.

Armaan kept looking at Abhira, who had her eyes firmly planted on the floor and he could sense that she was shivering in spite of the fact that Mussoorie in April was pleasantly warm. Abhira was dressed in a red and green colored silk Sari wrapped in a manner, which brought out her feminine curves to perfection. All that ornate jewelry that she had been wearing during the Wedding Ceremony were off her body and only the black and gold Mangalsutra adorned her slender neck, falling seductively all the way down to her bosom. Her hands which were filled with dark maroon Mehendi uptil her elbows had a few dozen glass bangles in red on both her arms. Her hair had been tied in a loose plait which came winding down up to her lower waist and was adorned with a sprig of jasmine flowers. She had no makeup on, except a red bindi dotting her forehead and the dark vermillion in the parting of her forehead. Armaan had never seen anyone look more beautiful than Abhira looked to him just now.

Smiling at her, he called out softly, "Come here."

Abhira lifted her eyes and looked at him, he looked very serene and not at all like a potential rapist that she had been imagining till now. Abhira had never really noticed Armaan till date but from what she had heard from Aryan, Kiara and the rest of the Sharma clan, he was supposedly quite a looker. Not that it affected her in any case. Armaan was dressed simply in a pair of blue jeans and a stark white Kurta, the sleeves of which were rolled three fourths, showing off strong, dark arms. His seven o'clock stubble was still very much in place. It was his very masculine yet tranquil presence that filled Abhira with so much dread.

Slowly she made her way across to him and stood near the bed, her heartbeat was almost audible to her and when he took her bangle filled hands in his own and seated her on the bed, she felt as if her Heart had just stopped beating. As he kept holding her hands, she slowly wriggled them off his grip and to her surprise he let them go. There was silence for some time as Abhira edged towards the end of the Bed, holding on the wooden support as Armaan kept gazing at her and then placed a hand on her shoulder, Abhira buried her head in her neck as much as it was possible, her breath seemed to be lodged in her throat. Gathering her by the shoulders from his one arm, he brought her close to himself and since her head was still facing down towards one side of her body, he placed a sensual kiss on her bare shoulders, sending shivers down her spine. Abhira was too petrified to move, as she shivered and tried to hold herself as apart from him as was possible. Armaan now took her immobile face in his one palm and bringing her close to his face, kissed her with aching softness on her cheeks. Abhira closed her eyes tight, as Armaan made her come closer to him and kissed her on the next cheek and as he proceeded to plant a kiss on her lips, his hands had gone down to her slim waist, which he ended up holding a bit tightly.

And then suddenly, he heard her sobbing. Startled, he let her go instantly and moved back to see her face, gone red and her eyes full of tears as she placed her head down again and cried softly. Armaan asked in a bewildered and concerned tone, "What happened?" Abhira kept sobbing till she blurted out, looking at him in a child-like manner, "I want to sleep."

Armaan was so taken aback at the statement that for some time he kept sitting, reacting less and then smiling quietly at her and said in a casual tone, "Then sleep."

Abhira kept looking at him, not really believing what she had heard, as she lifted herself up on the bed and gave him a frightened rabbit type of look, huddled towards the corner most part of the Bed and shrank her body like a child does while asleep and closed her eyes shut.

Armaan kept sitting where he was, looking at her with a smile in his eyes and after some time, when sleep overtook him, he pulled a duvet over the now deep in slumber Abhira and went to the Couch nearby to catch forty winks for the remaining part of his Wedding Night.

PART 9

The entire extended Sharma Family came to see off Armaan and Abhira alongside Rohit, Charu, Dev and Aarav off to Udaipur.

Muskaan had been the first one to knock on their door in the morning, tensed to the core about what would have transpired, but after Armaan had greeted her warmly, she had eased down, even though she could see only part of the bed crumpled, where Abhira was still sleeping soundly, dressed in the same set of clothes she had been made to wear yesterday night. Muskaan had been too embarrassed to even look at Armaan in his eyes and had hoped that being the more mature of the two, he would be willing to give some time to Abhira.

Abhira had taken a bath and came out wearing the simplest looking Sari that Muskaan had packed amongst her clothes. She had no jewelry on her, not even her Mangalsutra and her forehead was wiped clean of any trace of Vermillion. Muskaan had given one sharp look at Abhira and dragged her back inside the room, forcing her to wear something more suitable for a new bride and then handed over the Mangalsutra to her to put around her neck. Abhira had sat in front of the mirror, sullen faced and expressionless, as Muskaan had combed her wet hair, like she always did before Abhira left for College and then given her the small enameled box of Vermillion and said shortly, "Put it."

Abhira had stared back at Muskaan and then in a resigned manner, taken some of the red color and filled her forehead parting with it. Muskaan sat beside Abhira and looking into her eyes said with emotion, "Abhira, come what, never ever disrespect your marriage or your husband. If you don't have any love to give, then don't force yourself, it will come on its own, but don't forget that you are someone's wife now and this Mangalsutra and this Sindoor are proof of that. These are the symbols of your marriage and your married life and whether you like it or not, you have to honor it till your death."

Saying that Muskaan had left Abhira, sitting morosely with no hope, no happiness and nothing to look forward to. Later she had been besieged by Armaan's family and friends to really think over anything and even though she had maintained a sullen silence all through their chatter, Armaan did not say a single word regarding that and quietly kept by her side.

Akshara cried her heart out as she hugged her daughter goodbye and blessed her for her new life, alongside Abhinav who could not even cry openly like his wife. Kairav maintained a stoic silence but his heart was broken to see his kid sister leaving home forever and Kiara and Aryan sobbed copiously, clinging on to Abhira. Muskaan just stood quietly at a corner, wiping off her own tears as Rohan clung to her, in tears, not understanding why everyone in the family was crying suddenly!

As Abhira made her way to the departure lounge alongside Armaan, she stood and turned back to see her family with tearful eyes and wondered why is it only expected of a girl to forget and leave the family that she was born and brought up into? Why is she expected to embrace a complete stranger as her 'husband' and be accepted into his family like her own? Why is that one fine day, everything including her Father's name is taken away from her and she ceases to become the person she was and just becomes someone's wife? How can society expect someone to forget 20 years of love and care that a Parent had showered upon you and leave all that to be with someone whom she hadn't even known for the past 20 hours? How could she leave behind the joy and sadness shared with her siblings and find her happiness and sorrow in someone whom she barely knew in person?

Abhira was filled with a bitter hatred and resentment towards Armaan as he put his arm protectively around her and led her to the Security check. He had not only taken away from what had been all her life but was now lording over her like she was his personal property. Abhira gently but firmly shrugged off Armaan's arms and walked on her own towards the Security Check. Armaan stood for a while wondering about her action and then just smiled at himself and did not ponder on it!

PART 10

Kajal Chachi alongside Manisha had arranged for the 'Grah Pravesh' for the new daughter in law of the House and Poddar Mansion was decorated beautifully! As the Car drew up the winding driveway of the house, Abhira looked out of the window of the plush Car in which she was seated and saw the looming mansion in front of her eyes. It looked just like Armaan to her, colossal, impersonal and intimidating, with not a trace of warmth or homeliness in it. Abhira decided to hate the house as much as she hated her husband.

Born and brought up in a traditional atmosphere, she behaved as docile as possible when Kajal Maasi went through all the formalities of the Pooja. After having a hearty lunch prepared by Massi, everyone decided that it was time to leave the newly married couple to be on their own and spend as much time with each other as possible. As she touched Massi's feet before she left, all Abhira wanted was to take the next available train back to Mussoorie and never see Armaan's face again.

Most of the servants had been given their day off and only Armaan and Abhira were left alone in the huge mansion, till Caesar came bounding along and wagged his tail affectionately at Abhira, after being petted by Armaan.

"This is our Dog, Caesar. He is almost like family to me, has been around for 5 years now. Say hello to Abhira, Caesar."

As the Retriever wagged his tail at Abhira, she had an impulse to bend down and pat him; she loved Dogs, but giving one petulant look at Armaan, said shortly, "I hate Dogs." Armaan could only keep staring at his wife till he patted Caesar to go back to his Kennel.

Armaan started going up to his room and as he began climbing the winding staircase, he looked at Abhira to indicate her to come with him. She kept her head bent down and followed him upstairs and was led into a spacious and aesthetically designed room, a huge glass window covering almost one part of the wall and overlooked the Lake Pichola at a distance. The entire room was done up in Cream and had minimal furnishing, except a few beautiful paintings hanging on the walls and lots and lots of books kept tidily in their place. Abhira stood near the door of the room and looked around with apparent lack of interest till her eyes fell on the King Sized double bed gracing the room. Abhira stiffened immediately, as Armaan drew the curtains and the room was submerged in semi-darkness.

Armaan walked across to her slowly, not taking his eyes off her face, and holding her gently by her arms pulled her inside the room, closing the door shut. Abhira shuddered and wondered if anyone would hear if she screamed loud enough.

"Why are you standing like this? Come and sit down."

Armaan's voice came out deeply as Abhira did not have the courage to look into his eyes and sat down nervously on the Bed almost losing balance, as the soft mattress sank below. Her breath was caught in her throat as Armaan came in front of her and sitting beside her on the Bed, took her face tenderly in both his palms and drew it close to his face. Abhira thought miserably to herself that there was no other way out and everything would be quickly over and maybe Armaan will find her really unattractive and wooden and hopefully never come near her again. Abhira felt the rough brush of his lips on her own soft ones and she felt bruised as he pressed them, at first gently and then with an unyielding force, as he gathered her passionately in his arms, almost crushing her body with his strength. The force of the kiss made her fall backwards on the Bed and as she found her heart pounding away like a flour mill, she lifted her eyes to see Armaan who had left her body and was undoing the buttons of his shirt, not taking his intense eyes off Abhira, which she felt had nothing but naked, physical lust in them. When he took off his shirt and let it fall on the thickly carpeted floor below, she shivered to see his bare torso, he looked at least twice as broad as she was and the fear that had crept coldly into her heart, seemed to encompass her whole body turning it rigid and stiff.

As he lay by her side, she did not even have the courage to turn the other side, but just lay like a log of wood, waiting to be brutally chopped by a vandal. Armaan put his arm around Abhira's waist as her skin burned with his touch and he pulled her a little forcibly towards him, pushing her legs further down onto the already plunging mattress with his own leg and taking her face in his other hand, closed onto to her face, kissing at with passionate ferocity, his hand moving upwards from her waist and unclasping the buttons of her blouse, bringing all his body weight on to her.

"NOOOOO…", screamed Abhira as she pushed aside Armaan with all her might, almost falling down the bed herself as she did that.

As Armaan looked back, utterly stunned and shocked out of his life, Abhira jumped out of the bed, gathering her disheveled Sari and went and bumped into the wall behind her and sobbed her heart out as she kept saying in a broken, frightened voice, "Don't do this to me. Please don't do this to me." Armaan kept sitting on the Bed, still not grasping what exactly had gone wrong, as he saw Abhira shivering and racking with sobs, huddled into herself, her hands folded as she pleaded with Armaan.

After composing himself a bit, Armaan waited for a second and putting his unbuttoned shirt on, went near Abhira, who seemed as if she had a severe nervous breakdown. Still bewildered and stunned, he bent down to be at her level and asked quietly, "What happened Abhira? What is wrong with you?"

Abhira kept crying like a child as she pulled herself more and more back, as if dreading even Armaan's shadow on her. Armaan wanted to keep his hands on her shoulders and console her but could more than sense that he was the reason for her emotional and frightened state and just said gently, "Don't you like it when I touch you?"

Abhira stopped crying and looked up at him, teary eyed and red in the face and with a repulsive look said bitterly, "It feels as if someone has left bugs all over my body. Your touch makes my skin crawl."

If Armaan was shocked till now, this statement certainly shook him to the core of his heart as he kept kneeling beside his wife, unable to understand or comprehend what exactly was going wrong here.

Armaan just got up from there and buttoned his shirt back, stood for a while to take a look at Abhira, who had buried her head in her folded knees and was crying again. He walked out of the door, closing it behind him and spent the remainder of the moonless night in the Portico which overlooked the lake.

Enjoyed reading it, very well written

Feel sad for both abhira and armaan

I hope armaan will try to understand abhira reaction

Excited to read more

thanks for the updates

I'm disappointed that Armaan didnt sense immediately that Abhira wasnt ready for physical intimacy when she started crying first time and tried again.

I hope he will realize that she may have a past thats scary and support her

And I think its crazy that he jumped straight to be intimate with her when its an arranged marriage and he knows nothing about her. surely he should have felt the need to build up some comfort with her before having sex.

hopefully you will be able to tweak the story a bit compared to the OG one on Jai-Bani

As a reader, I'd like to see some touches of Abhira and Armaan we know from the show added to the alternate univ plot of this story

hopefully Abhira will also learn to give Armaan a chance- they need emotional intimacy before physical and she needs to stop seeing him as an enemy. Armaan doesnt know she was pressured to marry and its unfair to take it out on him

Muskaan just throwing Abhira into this despite knowing some of these aspects of Abhiras past is irresponsible. she should have tried to speak to Armaan in a subtle way about this

It would be nice if Abhira tells Armaan that even though he is older and her husband, she wants her own space, would like to work , make her own decisions and not just stay in his mansion all day long doing house chores. I'd love to see her get comfortable enough to have nok jhoks and banters with him and someday build it up to the point of being able to talk about each others pasts and moving on for good.