AFFLICTED

The Mehra mansion was all hustle and bustle in the late afternoon. A time that most of the people usually spend lazing around, the Mehra matriarch was busy preparing snacks and checking everything last minute. Why shouldn't she be? After all, today is a really big day for both of her daughters.

Pragya ordered Shahana to call all the Mehra's to the living room and asked Aryan to do the similar to the Kohli's. They are going to be family soon and it would be appropriate if they take part.

She (Pragya) spotted Dasi coming and quickly made her way to her. Taking the aarti thal from her she led her to one of the couches and offered her a glass of water.

"When is the Panditji coming Dasi?" Pragya asked impatiently.

"Look how excited she is," Abhi commented as he stepped down the stairs.

"Of course, today my Prachi's wedding date will be fixed. I've imagined this day a thousand times in my head, and I can't believe it is Aarav that is going to be there with her." Pragya gushed, making the other two laugh.

"Pragya, here, the kundalis of both children. I've had them blessed in the temple." Dida informed, handing them to the mother of the bride.

Pragya took them, smiling slightly, trying to believe that her tiny girl is all grown up.

The others came, talking among themselves just as Aryan returned with the Kohli's. A sullen-looking Ranbir walking slowly at the back of the group, totally uninterested and a dark cloud looming over his head.

"Oh, good thing you all are here, I thought that since you are also our family, and will be officially soon too, you should be here too, the Panditji should be here any moment." And as if at the clue, the house helper came, asking for permission to get the priest in the house.

"Yes, of course, John." Abhi said and John left to lead the guests in.

"Who is the priest, by the way?" Vikram asked.

"The guruji that was the head priest at the Kuldevta's temple." Dasi answered and Dida's eyes widened.

"The same to whom we showed Ranbir and Rhea's kundalis?" She asked, thinking that it might be someone else, but her hopes were crushed.

"Yeah, the same one." Abhi confirmed.

"What happened mummyji? You seem tensed." Pallavi asked as she took in her M.I.L's disturbed expression.

But before she could get an answer, an old-looking man, probably in his late seventies, entered clad in white attire. The singles, who had not seen him as they were stripped of the chance to visit because of their unmarried status, were quite shocked to see him.

The reason being his appearance. From the description the elders had given them about how wise he was, they had painted a vivid image in their heads. Though differently imagined, they all had one thing in common, being long dreadlocks, corpse-ash covering every inch of skin, saffron or orange clothes with lots of rudraksha mala's worn on arms, neck, and even in the hair.

But the vision they met seemed quite...... empty?

The person that stood before them was nothing like the ones they saw in Hindi mythology serials or movies. With his simple white kurta-pajama, neatly cut hair, and next to no beard, he looked like any other neighbor's grandfather.

"Namaste Panditji." everyone greeted him respectfully.

"Pranam." He replied with a soft peaceful smile. "I see you have sought an alliance for your daughter after all."

"Yes, panditji." Dasi replied and gestured for Prachi to come forward.

Prachi, who was standing to the side, did as said and was about to bend down to touch the older man's feet as a gesture of respect but was stopped to do so by the man, saying that the respect should be in the heart not to show others and she has it, then there is no need to do all the formalities, causing everyone's eyebrows to shot up.

Prachi got back to her former place, ignoring the stare she could practically feel on herself since she entered, smiling at Aarav who stood next to her.

"Panditji, we were thinking if Prachi and Aarav's marriage could be fixed along with Rhea and Ranbir's. I mean if both the weddings could be held on the same day." Aliya asked and shot a glance at the parents of the brides for approval of her offer. They nodded in agreement, unaware of her selfish motto behind it.

She may have accepted Pragya, but she still wanted to have all the money and business control in her own hands. She knew that if it was up to her brother, he would most probably have two different weddings on two different days. Each more costly and lavish than the other. So, it was all she could do to save the money by convincing everyone to hold both marriages at the same time. She knew that Rhea would do all in her power to make sure that the wedding happen as soon as possible, be it by throwing a tantrum or emotional blackmail.

It is also made clear by Aarav that after marriage, both Prachi and Piyush will go to London with him, and she could always do something or another to ship Shahana with them, doing the ultimate good to her by making Prachi go away from the business and Shahana from her son. Hitting two birds with one stone.

"Yes of course." Pragya agreed and Pallavi too added, "That would be good." in support.

"Wha- What good will it be?" Abhi asked, frowning. "You lot are planning on taking both my daughters away from me on the same day." He whined.

Though wanting to say a lot of things, Prachi stayed silent, for the best. She knew that leaving this toxic environment is what will be best for her and everyone else. The earlier she leaves, the better.

And for it, she had been ignoring not one but two people. One was obviously Ranbir, the second was Shahana. She had been trying to talk to her since all the 'I accept the wedding proposal' scene, but Prachi had been ignoring any kind of interaction that may lead to bringing up the topic of this acceptance.

Prachi was scared to tell Shahana that the motive she had behind this marriage was selfish. That she wanted this marriage only because she wanted to get away from here.

"I don't have any problem," Rhea said, looking around at everyone.

"Me neither." Aarav responded.

"I don't object," Prachi said in a firm tone.

"I- I accept." Ranbir answered with a thick throat. If she is okay, (He knows she is definitely not happy) then so can he act to be.

"Great, then let me bring the other two kundalis." Pragya left to retrieve the said.

They waited for her to return. Chating among themselves, not noticing the way Panditji was looking at Prachi. The way his brows were furrowed in deep thoughts not seen by anyone.

Pragya returned, bringing attention to themselves, and placed all four horoscopes on the table, in two neat stacks, one had Prachi and Aarav's, that Dasi just brought, and the other of Rhea and Ranbir.

The priest picked the latter's first, opening the desired pages in both booklets and counting some planetary alignments on his fingers. His calm expression turned to that of disapproval and everyone looked at each other in confusion.

"I've already told you that this alliance is not good." He stated making everyone shocked. They all shared a befuddled look and turned to him again.

"Already told? to whom?" Purab asked.

"To me," answered Dida, eyes cast down.

"Mummyji?"

"Dida?"

"Beeji?" 

Everyone elder and Rhea chorus.

"Yes. I knew. Ever since they told me the first time at the temple." Dida accepted.

"But what is the problem?" Aaliya asked the priest. 

"They are not compatible." The devotee man explained. "The planetary positions and the alignments of the related stars are not peaceful. The personalities of the bride and groom are clashing. According to that, the marriage won't happen. Even if the marriage is completed by any chance, the more it will go on the more hatred will increase."

Everyone were theft of words at the explanation provided. Prachi was neutral, she knew it already. Arhana had an expression that screamed 'Duh' in capitals while Ranbir raised a challenging eyebrow at his mother. Rhea was feeling offended.

"How can that happen? It is a love marriage. We are getting married because we love each other." Rhea countered.

"Yeah, they both love each other Panditji, that's why they want to marry each other. They have been friends since childhood. There is no hatred between them." Abhi supported and Ranbir wanted to bang his head in the nearby wall.

"There are some boundaries in every relation, the moment they are crossed, things start to mess up, leading to differences." Vikram said and for the first time in days, Ranbir saw a tiny ray of hope.

"Isn't there something that we can do?" Pallavi asked, ignoring her husband's comment.

"Yes, there should be some way," Aliya said to no one in particular. "Some puja-havan, anything."

"What is the problem Panditji?" Abhi asked again, "Is there some wayward problem that could be fixed?"

"No, we really want for people to lead a prosperous life together. If there was any problem that could be resolved, we would have tried our best to sort it out." Guruji explained, "The problem is not in any one of the kundalis, it is when they are compared. When they are put together then the problem arises. The girl's timing of birth is all that is wrong."

"What does that mean?" Pragya asked.

"You all know kundalis are made on the basis of the birthplace, date, and timing. The birth date and place are okay but the timing is not." Guruji elaborated again, simplifying it to make the unknown to astrology understand.

"In fact, the place and date are perfect for the marriage, only if the girl was born one minute earlier. I am telling, in my long experience, this could have been the most perfect match. Only if everything was the same and just the girl was born a minute before."

"Prachi is a minute older, and everything else is the same." Piyush uttered and every eye turned to him, making him gulp nervously.

"I mean," he stuttered, "You know, she IS."

"Yes, she is." Shahana supported.

"And everything else is same." Aryan added, nodding at Shahana.

"They are twins?" asked one of the two helpers of the priest that stood behind him. Mute till yet.

"Yes, yes they are." Piyush answered. 

"Then why don't you marry the boy to her?" asked the other.

Ranbir was estetic, at least this revelation ought to do something good. May be this could be the blow that clear the 'Rhea is great' fog out of his mother's head. Prachi on the other hand was having some fuzzy feeling in her stomach, her heart, even after her solid attempt of not doing so, hoped for the unseeming to happen.

And how could the reincarnation of Tarka let the poor couple hope for anything that provide them happieness. "NO," Rhea bellowed, "How- Why will Ranbir marry Prachi when he is to wed me? What kind of nonsense is this? If you don't know anything then better be quiet."

If it were six months earlier, no one would have said anything to her, but now there was a mother who will definately not support her misbehaving with anyone.

"RHEA!" Pragya scolded, not caring when half the house gave her odd, surprised look, and continued in a lighter yet strong tone. "He didn't know that didn't mean that you speak such rudly. He is elder than you. And everyone have a right to voice their opinions. Apologise."

"Mom why are you asking me to apologise?" Rhea asked in disbelief. "You heared what he said-"

"I heared what he said Rhea. Still, you can not be rude to anyone. Say sorry." Pragya crossed her arms.

"Pragya do you even know what you are saying." Aliya took a step forward.

"I think I know what I am saying to my daughter, Aliya." Pragya turned to her, fixing her with a tight smile. "Rhea?"

"I- I'm sorry." She muttered, but continued when Pragya kept sending her a stern look. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that."

"Panditji, I'm really sorry" Pragya said polietly. "Actually she is quite short tempered."

"It's okay," He replied with a smile.

"Panditji check the other Kundalis," Abhi gestured to the other two booklets that were placed on the table. "Our elder daughter Prachi's."

"Sure." the priest said, picking up th kundalis and repeating the same procedures of finger counting as earlier.

He placed the kundalis down, and looked up with a smile. "The star signs match. The horoscopes are quite compatible too. Their married life may seem quite tensed in the beginning, but slowly they will smooth things out." Everyone smiled at that. "But-" That, wiped the smile off.

"But? But what?" Dasi asked.

"But there might be lack of something that will always be there." He said and everyone frowned. Prachi's eyes darted to Ranbir for a quick second and she saw clear recognision in his eyes.

She knew that he knew that the lack will be of love. If he is not in her life, there will never be love in her life. Never ever.

"What date will be good for their marriage?" Pragya asked.

"For both marriages." Pallavi added amd the little hope that Ranbir had died in an instant.

"Pallavi-" Dida reached for her arm but she shook her head at her.

"If you want both the marriages to happent he same day," Priest started taking a heavy roll of parchment from one of his helpers. "Then the next wednesday could be proved as a really auspicious day. But make sure that your elder daughter's ceremonies should start before the younger's." He completed as he skimmed throught the pages.

"The rest is in the God's hands." His eyes darted between Prachi and Ranbir. "The universe always lead true souls to each other. A single second can make drastic changes in lives. Either destroying them or healing the wounds that may seem to run deep."

A/N:- Hey Munchkins, how are you all? Well here is another update of your beloved FF. The Cvs makers are trying their best to lead us to insanity. Yup, the only hope we have now are our own imaginations. If you liked the small flec of my imagination, make sure to Vote and Comment. Take care of yourself, physically as well as mentally.

Lots of Love,

Simran