Originally Published :: August 3rd, 2017

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"Stop!"

My heartbeat skips for a second listening to the word.

Wait, what? Stop? Did I hear it properly?

Of course I did, that voice sounded so stern that everyone around me stood frozen in their places. But I'm still staring at my Mehandi coated hands, just like I am staring at the beautiful redish-brown design from past few minutes. My head is still tucked down, a laugh bubbles in my throat. Is this some kind of a movie? Because I never expected that someone would interrupt my marriage, right before my fiancé is about to tie Mangalasuthram* around my neck.

"Who's that?" I hear my father's voice asking the guests in front of Mandapa*.

"Who the hell is that?" mutters my fiancé turning around to look at the people in front of us. Who the heck is attempting to sabotage my marriage?!

"Me."

That cold voice echoes through the hall, silencing everybody who are murmuring in hushed voices. I tilt my head up to see the owner of that voice but couldn't, as my fiancé, Sandeep's legs are blocking my view.

"Ayya, Muhurtham ki samayam minchipotundi (Sir, we are crossing auspicious Time for the ceremony)." Pandit beside me reminds my father.

"Asthma."

F**k. I suck in sharp breath and my eyes goes wide when I remember who he is. He is the one made fun of my name!

With a little slap on my fiancé's calf, he moves out of my way and my gaze collides with Him. One and only him.

My lips parted, my throat feels dry like a sand paper suddenly. Standing there, three feet away from me is a Guy; whom I mistook him as a Model. He is looking so different now, with stubble jaws and over grown hair but his eyes are still the same. I was mistaken them to be warm and charming but no, there are sharp and calculating. There is a glint of evilness in that face now.

I clench my jaw coming to my sense, my heart beat picks up as I stare at him. Who the hell does he think he is to stop my marriage?

"Aastha? Do you know him?" my mother asks, squeezing my shoulder tightly. Panic evident in her voice. I blink rapidly and shake my head looking at him. No, he can't do this.

"What do you want, man? You are interrupting a ceremony, can you please take a se-" Sandeep stops in mid-sentence when the man holds up his right hand with stony look. Like, he wants to kill Sandeep for even opening his mouth.

Dad is stumbling towards him, "Son, please take a seat and you are making a scene. If you are a friend of my daughter, please be my guest." my father is requesting him to move but His gaze is still on me. Panic strikes on Dad's face looking around the guests, everyone is standing with question mark hanging above their heads. Oh no.

The man turns his head towards my Dad with cold face and cocks his head, "I'm here for your daughter." Oh my god.

Hundred pair of eyes turns to me, waiting for unquestioned answer. My heart is about to jump out of my chest and my whole body begin to tremble from nervousness. What is happening? What does he want?! I want to yell but my mouth is shut by an invisible glue! He looks at me and smiles devilishly; I know this is a game for him!

He moves his gaze to Sandeep, who is still standing, "Move!" he orders him like a Boss.

Next thing I know is, my brother and some of my cousins coming forward to take him out but he didn't bulge an inch. Instead he pulls out something from his jacket pocket and aims directly at Sandeep.

Oh my freaking god! It's a gun! There are loud gasps from people around us, and all of them starts running away like ants from function hall by this commotion.

"No!"

I hear myself scream and stand up to stop him. Sandeep turns to me angrily.

"Do you know him?" he snaps at me with disgust look. I shake my head immediately, I don't know him! There is a devilishly laugh from my side.

"Of course, she knows me, man!" the Man shouts with a proud smirk on his face.

"Aastha? Who is he?" my mother demands again, turning me to her rashly.

I swallow looking at her scared face but her gaze moves past me before I can answer, and she strolling down the mandapa. I see her hurrying towards my Dad, who is talking to Sandeep's possessive parents and they are arguing. I want to do something but all I am doing is stand frozen like a fish in frozen lake. Barely breathing, can see everything but can't move an inch.

Sandeep turns to me furiously, clenching his jaws and points a finger at me. "This is over." Oh no! Just like that he is walking down the Mandapa too.

"Sandeep?! Stop, I don't know him." I start pleading, descending the steps after him.

He joins his parents and pulls them away from my family's argument. I couldn't see my parents like this; praying Groom's family to marry me, who are already walking towards the exit like celebrities running away from paparazzi.

"Son, please put the gun down. Why are you stopping my daughter's marriage? Please," my Dad is pleading the Man now, I can't see my Dad in this state! He turns his gun around aiming it at everyone and starts shouting, "Out! All of you! Out!" he orders.

Few people who remained to know what is happening are also starts to leave. No! Now I realize that I started crying minutes ago, tears are flowing down my cheeks. My brother and cousin goes after groom's family to stop them and resume the marriage ceremony. I shake my head, I have watched enough!

"Stop it!" I scream.

Why is this happening?! I focus on the Man with moist eyes and my blood begin to boil from rage, and there is a loud ringing sound echoes through the hall when I smack hard on his cheek.

"What do you want?!" I yell through my blurred vision. His head is hanging low with my smacking impact, he slowly looks up from floor to me.

I clear my tears and glare at him, wishing I could kill him with my fierce look. He exhales looking at me and smirks, "I will keep this in my mind too, Aasthama..." he says simply referring to my marks on his cheek. His looks at the main door, where Sandeep's family gone few seconds ago and clicks his tongue.

"Tsk tsk tsk, what a loser." He chuckles at me.

My mouth hung open in shock, how can he laugh like this? My chin trembles looking at him with a mix of anger, shock, hurt and embarrassment. His face hardens seeing my tears but then again he smirks like he won something. He cocks his head to side, his Raven colored strand of hair tumbles slightly too.

"My job is over here, I will go now."

With that he turn around but not before my brother's punches him in gut.

"Aadi!" I shout in panic when He smacks my brother's head with Pistol. My Dad launch towards Him with so much pain and grips his collar in tight fists, "You bastard!" He shouts but all He does is stare at me. He could take down my Dad in swift moment with his height but he is not doing anything. Dad starts cursing him, "Who will marry my daughter now?! What do you want from her? Who are you?!"

"Ask your daughter!" the Man roars removing my Dad's fists from his shirt. My Dad turns to me with rage and my stomach drops to my foot.

I barely know him! I met him twice in different circumstances! He is crazy!

"Is my life a joke to you, Mr.Nayan Anand?" I ask bitterly. He looks surprised for a second but covers it immediately.

"Oh? You remember my name then!" he chuckles to himself, "I'm glad to hear that and... Good bye, Aastha."

He winks and turns away to leave but my brother grabs his shirt again, "Where do you think you are going?" Aadi yells, pushing him back.

"What's happening here?" we turn around to the new voice. Police are here. Good, because I want this man to be dead!

**

Police took Nayan into custody, my stomach boiled looking at him because there is no bit of regret in his eyes when they are taking him away.

My tears won't stop from half an hour, "Mom, I really don't know him. Please believe me." I sob. She is been crying too but now, she is staring straight ahead but not really looking at anything. Dad is sitting down on floor where he fought with Him, more tears spills from eyes when I look at Dad's desolated state. He was so happy that his only daughter was getting married. Now everything is gone.

We are still in function hall but there is nobody in here, except few of our close relatives. It is still dark outside but my auspicious time aka, early morning 2 am is gone long ago. It's over, my life is over now. Everyone is believing that I has some past with him! Everybody is thinking that he is my Ex-boyfriend. I never had a boyfriend!

My life is busted because of his girlfriend! I want to do something! But I have done nothing so far but to defend myself for this situation. My parents are not believing me, I cried and begged them to listen to me but they are not in a state to listen to my pleas.

"Prakash!" my mom screams suddenly. I sit up straight to see my Dad, clutching his chest. No!

"Dad!" I scream, getting up.

No. No. I can't let him ruin us like this!

V o t e

&

T a g

p l e a s e!