Marriage!

The word itself is more than enough to understand what it means and how much it holds the importance in one's life.

Once you are tied to someone you start to imagine your future with them.
why not?

Because of the person you are going to spend your further life with.with whom you fascinate to love and in return get loved by them and much more.

Even Preeta who is at present laying her head on her mother's lap while wailing had dreamt much more about her marriage and married life.

Who won't?

She was an engineering graduate working in an IT company.Simple yet elegant, beautiful from outside and a sweet soul from inside.An obedient daughter of their parents and a studios girl since childhood.

Her life was good and perfect.She was happy with her parents and her younger sister.

It had been more than six months since she was working and her parents got a marriage proposal for her.They had said that they had once saw her in an marriage function and their son had liked her.

Preeta's father was happy to know that.He informed Preeta and her mother.But she still wasn't ready for the marriage.She had just started working and the thought of marriage was not in her mind yet.

She is just 24.

But when her parents insisted her saying the family was good and even the boy was working in an IT company just like her with a handsome salary per month.They too wanted the best for her daughter and when they checked the background they wanted to give it a chance.

Even though Preeta didn't have any interest in meeting the boy but for the sake of her parents she showed up and met the family when they had come to her home.

She met the guy who said that he liked her when he saw her in a marriage function and decided to send a proposal.He said she wore a pink lehenga and Preeta got to know it was her uncle's son's marriage which she had attended two weeks ago.A family marriage.

Preeta was surprised.He was handsome and disciplined.There wasn't any particular reason for her to reject him.To be honest she too had liked him.

But still the thought of marriage seemed a big decision for her.So she had informed her parents that she wanted some more time to decide and her parents agreed with her decision.

When the days started passing with them talking on phone, meeting on every weekends.She got habitual to it and life seemed beautiful to her with him.She started to like spending time with him.

Aahan!

It was his name.

It had been more than three months and when her parents asked her whether she wanted to go ahead with this relationship she agreed without any hesitation.She was already seeing her future with him.It felt beautiful to her.

Why not?

He was sweet, caring and lovable which every girl wants her life partner to be.Even she always liked the person like she was.She didn't believe in the opposite attracts and always dreamt of a simple yet caring man.

Soon followed by the next fifteen days they were engaged with a grand function and their marriage was fixed after another three months.

She was happy yet excited.Her parents were so happy to see her happily getting married.

After another three months with every rituals and functions they finally got married sealing the promise of togetherness and everything seemed so perfect and happy at that moment.

But who knew about the disaster which happened after two day of their marriage.

God had just snatched everything from her just after two days of her marriage.She had to remove the nuptial chain which her husband had adorned her neck as a sign of their marriage.The sindoor which was filled in her hairline was ruined just like she was at that moment.

She became lifeless after Aahan's death.It happened so sudden that she didn't even get any time to swallow whatever happened with her.She was in chaos of functions and their marriage and it felt like someone came and snatched everything from her in a spec of second.

The memories of their marriage was still running in her mind but everything got destroyed the moment he died and lost his life in accident.She couldn't believe fate had decided this in her life.

She became lost and vulnerable.

"Preeta bas karo.kab tak aise roti rahogi? Kitne din tak?hum nahi dekh sakte tujhe aise "Her mother said caressing Preeta's head with tears seeing her daughter's broken self.

It has been more than fifteen days since that day and she was not ready to come out of the trauma.How can she when it seemed like nothing was left in her life.

Preeta clutched her mother's hand as drop of tears cascade down her cheeks like a river.She shut her eyes feeling pain in her heart.She was feeling worst each passing day.

"Ky..kyu? Ma! Mein hi kyu?"She whispered in her broken voice.

A tear drop rolled down her mother's eyes listening to the same word unumerable times for the last fifteen days.She had been questioning herself and everyone who tries to console her.

Why me?

But no one had any answer for her and she wanted to know it badly.What mistake she had done that she had to suffer this never ending pain till her death.

"Preeta bas kar.Please Jo hota hum usse rok nahi sakte.Abb bas tumhe aage badne ka sochna chahiye naki usse baar baar yad karke aise rote raho.Tumhare saath hum bhi tut jayenge preeta"her mother said and Preeta lifted her head and looked at her mother numbly.

"Mein kuch bhi bhul nahi pa rahi hu ma.Mujhse ye dard nahi saha jayega ma.Mei..mein kya karungi abb"She broke down in tears and hugged her mother shaking her head in no.

The thought of her being a widow was ruining the state of her mind.Making her more weak and devastated.Remembering her husband on his death bed was shattering her.She was not ready to come out of that.

The pain she was bearing was unexplainable.Everyone came to her and consoled her saying that it was meant to be and she should move on.But only she knew that consoling others with soothing words is easy but the one going through the pain only can understand that.No one's words will heal the broken heart.

"Mujhe pata hai meri.Mein samjh sakti hu.Lekin tumhe hosla rakhna hai tumhare liye,hum sab Keliye, tumhare aage ki zindagi keliye"Veena.Her mother consoled her while wiping her daughter's tear stained face.

Preeta shook her head and lifted her hand.She wiped her mother's tear which rolled down.

"Na..nahi ma.Aap please ro mat.Mere liye.I know ye meri kismat mein tha aur ho gaya.Please aap rona mat"Preeta whispered in her broken voice.

"Uske liye tumhe nahi rona chahiye.agar tumhe aise rote dekhenge toh kaise thik reh sakte hai.Ek hi din mein sab thik nahi hoga.Mein janti hu wakt lagta hai.Lekin hum tumhe kabhi rote nahi dekha chahte.Sab accha hoga"Her mother said cupping her cheeks.

Even though she knew nothing right could happen in her life she just lowered her head controlling her tears.

Her family was shattered and she realised that she shouldn't keep crying like this all day and night making their condition vulnerable.

She has to hide her emotions to herself.She can't see tears in her mother's eyes because of her.It was her fate and she has believed and accepted now.she was not ready to make her parents suffer because of her.

"Atleast I can do that"She nodded to herself and looked at her mother painfully.

She didn't knew how she was going to spend her further life.She was just 24 and some of her friends weren't married even.But she already lost her husband in this small age.Life seemed dark and colourless to her right now.

"Mein tumhare liye khana leke aati hu haa baitho.Bhook lagi hogi tumhe"her mother said gloomily and stood up to go.

Preeta just gulped her tears shaking her head in no.But her mother was already out of the room.

She closed her eyes clutching the bedsheet as drop of tears rolled down her eyes.

Sitting with a plate in her hands her mother sat in front of her and forwarded her the morsel.

"Agar tum nahi khaogi toh mein bhi nahi kahungi preeta"her mother said.

"Aur mein bhi nahi di"Her sister entered the room and Preeta left a sob twitching her lips downwards.

"Kao"Her mother said and preeta opened her mouth still crying from inside.

Drishti.Her yelder sister came and sat beside her on the bed.Preeta looked at her with tears as drishti held her hand.

Preeta swallowed her food and the next bite came from her sister's hand.

"Hm"drishti made her eat with a smile.

Preeta wanted to smile and laugh with her like they used to do before.but it seemed like words weren't forming in her mouth to speak or say something.She was speechless.

"Abb mujhe bhi khilao na di.bhook lagi hai"her sister pleaded sadly.

Preeta smiled with tears and lifted her hand to take a piece of chapati and filled it with a bhaji before forwarding it towards drishti.

Her sister smiled with tears and ate with her hands.whereas her mother was smiling looking at Preeta's move.

"Please abb kabhi rona mat di"drishti said feeling bad for her sister and hugged her.

Preeta hummed and hugged her back while wiping her tears.

"Papa"Preeta whispered asking about her father.

"Woh bahar hai di.Tumhe rote hue nahi dekh sakte.Isliye room mein nahi ana chahte"Her sister said gloomily.

Her tears welled up again hearing that.She knew her father would be sad looking her like this.But how can she smile and talk like before when she was not even able to open her mouth to talk.

She started crying again this time clutching her 22 years old sister arms cursing her fate and making her loved ones cry.

It was night when Preeta was laying on the bed staring at the ceiling feeling numb and suddenly startled as Drishti came and hoped on the bed beside her.

"Di ankhen band karke so jao.Neend aa jayega.Mein hu aapke paas"Drishti said laying close to her sister.

"Mujhe neend nahi aati Drish.Sirf woh sab yaad aate hai.Shaadi aur Aaha.."she couldn't continue as her heart felt heavy and a sob erupted from her mouth.

"I know di.Please don't remember it.Usse chod ke ye sochiye ki aap pehle kaise the.Aapki pehle life ke bare mein sochiye.happy moments ko yaad kariye nak.."preeta cut her off and whispered.

"Abb happy moments hi sab sad mein badle hai toh mere paas kuch bhi hai hi nahi ki mein sab bhul jau!Mein kabhi bhul hi nahi sakti.In..In fact abb aage ke life toh aur bhi mushkil hai"she sighed taking a sharp breath and wiped her tears as they slipped from her eyes.

How can she think about her happy past when he was also a part of that.She was not able to think about neither past nor her future.She was just living in the present that too like a living dead soul without any dreams or expectations from her life.

"Di please aise mat kaho.Sab thik ho Jayega.Abb aap pehle ankhein band karke so jao.Neend aayegi"Drishti said while covering her with blanket.

Preeta closed her eyes shaking her head and sobbed clutching the sheet.

Only she knew it was not that easy to forget or not to recall whatever happened.

"Mein tumhe bohot pasand karta hu Preeta.I am so lucky to have you"

"Can we meet today?"

"Mujhe na tum traditional dress mein zyada acchi lagti ho"

"I am jealousy of your straight nose! I don't have a sharp one"

"You look beautiful in pink"

"I am so happy, we are getting married in another two weeks"

"I love you preeta.I really do"

"Thanks for coming into my life"

"waise aaj ghar aa hi rahi ho na.Can't wait to see you! love you dear wife bye"

Tears cascade down her eyes remembering his last words.Her breathing got ragged and she twitched her lips while crying hard.

"Aahan!"she breathed calling him and kept sobbing till her eyes felt heavy and head ached.

~

"Preeta"hearing her mother's voice Preeta startled and looked at her mother standing near the door.

She looked around and realised that she was sitting on the bed.

"Thik se so jao preeta"Veena said walking towards her and held her shoulder.

Preeta looked upto her and surrounded her hands around her mom's waist and hugged closing her eyes.

"Soyi thi na thik se kal raat?"Veena asked caressing her hair in concern.

Preeta nodded and moved back.

"Drishti?"Preeta asked.

"College gayi hai.Tum chaho toh aur so jao"Her mother said knowing that she didn't slept well at night.She can catch her daughter's lie which she had been saying

"Nahi ma"Preeta said with a gulp and shifted her hair behind her ear.

"Toh Fresh up hoke aa jao.Papa ke saath nashta karne okay!"Her mother said with a slight smile.

"Hm"Preeta nodded her head absent minded and lowered her eyes placing the blanket aside.

After taking a warm bath she came outside the room after for breakfast after many days and her father heart felt heavy looking at his pale and broken daughter.

"Preeta"Raghuveer,her father called her with a smile.

Preeta nodded with teary eyes and sat beside her father on the dining table.

"Sab thik hoga Preeta.Mujhe tumhare aankhon mein aansu nahi chahiye"Her father said holding her head.

She simply nodded her head in yes and held the plate.

"Lo khao abb"her mother said sitting on her other side.

"Kaise hua hai?"Veena asked wanting to initiate the talk but preeta just hummed in return while playing with the spoon.

She was trying but nothing was coming in action.Again she was getting back to square one whenever she felt like taking a step ahead.Life seemed blank and scary for her.

Still wanted to smile for her parents and sister even though it may be a fake one.She wanted to make them happy at least like before.She cannot steal their happiness because of her situation.

°°°

So was it good? Feeling sad at the first chapter itself? Ik but trust me you all will like it further 😊

Hope you all will give it a chance ❤️✨.

An emotional one.I know 🤧💔.and also your writer loves emotional stories like anything✨.