Bela's POV:

Passing through the green and yellow sunflower fields his car stopped by the Nuggikeri lake...

It was around 11am in morning and we could still hear the Nuggikeri Hanuman temple bells...wind was blowing carelessly, sun shining brightly on a cool Sunday morning...

We got down from the car and sat on a small seat by the banks of the lake...

Only temple bells, winds and pin drop silence...

I heard Mahir clear his throat while I looked at him...

'You are good?' he asked and I nodded my head...

Again there was pin drop silence...

He ruffled his hair and turned towards me and said ...

'Look Bela... I don't beat around the bush...I don't do round and round ringa roses!

Straight and crisp!

Yes...I have sent the proposal for marriage which you are free to reject but as much as I think your father will not let you do that.
He cancelled your wedding with Rehaan because I said yes to this wedding!'

'And you think that makes you my almighty Mr Mahir Sehgal?' I asked while tears spilled out of my eyes while I was looking at the deep bluish green water of Nuggikeri lake...

He turned around and said...
'No Bela...I don't want to be anyone's god..I just want you to be happy'

'And what makes you think I'll be happy with this Mahir??

Aapko koi zarurat nahi thi itna mahaan banne ki... (You need not have done this great favour)

Mere liye mera bhagwan banne ki... (You need not have been my almighty)'

And I tried hard but couldn't control my tears...

They kept flowing non stop!!

While next second I saw a hand offering me a handkerchief...

Mahir nodded and took my hand and kept the kerchief in my hand...

I soaked my tears in that little handkerchief...

'Im not trying to be your god here Bela...

Neither am I the god types!!!

I'm a simple man who has faced his own struggles, had his own share of problems, failures and rejections... I know how it feels being forced to get married just because your bride rejects you and runs away a night before your wedding... And your family forces you to get married to her sister who has her own dreams and ambitions!!!'

I am shocked by this reveal...I'm confused too...I look at his face...

While I see a faraway look in his eyes which were brimming with tears...

'Yes Bela... Ruhi rejected me just one night before wedding because she said she was not sure!!!

Yup!!! Not sure after 7 years of relationship! She said... I'm not giving her time and probably romance has died between us and she doesn't feel like dragging this body without soul relationship any further!!

And she doesn't have the audacity to tell it onto my face... she shoves me a stupid letter on the dressing table keeping our engagement ring and leaves to Toronto!

I was shattered!

Her parents were beyond excellence!

Like a tv serial they asked me to marry Juhi! Ruhi's younger sister. That little kid still doing her 12th not even 18... Oh God that disaster!!!

Only I know how I took help of my friend ACP Aly and threatened them not to do this...They were scared of society, family name and what not!

So I announced to everyone that it's mutual. We don't want to continue this...Where as Ruhi was someone I loved whole heartedly all my life. The only one woman in my life!

The first and probably the last Bela!

I tried hard! I still try!

But I can't hate her...

It's tough! It's impossible!

I can't promise you love in this marriage. But yes...you will get immense respect in this marriage.

I know you want to do your post graduation and I just don't want to get married.

With this setup you can easily do your post grads in Bangalore without any cross questions as after marriage I will be your legal guardian and you will be a free bird ..

I also wouldn't have to get tortured by my parents every other day regarding my marriage and shit!

Here in Dharwad we would visit once in a month where we pretend like husband and wife. Rest in Bangalore no one would come to see where we stay... with whom we stay... what we do...we can stay in the same building in different apartments as strangers!

When mom dad would come to Bangalore...let's shift together... Otherwise you and I can live our respective independent lives!!!

It's....

It's just a compromise!!!'

He said and I kept blinking...

There was silence...

Again only wind blowing... temple bells...

I swallowed hard...

'I have never stayed alone!!!' I announce...

He looks at me...

'If you don't have a problem I'll go for a 2bhk apartment...we can be housemates... But I am a system programmer..I have crazy working hours... If there is an on-call issue ... something breaks in the system..there are high severity issues I will be on a conference call suddenly any time anywhere!

You will have a nuisance life!!!' he said..

'Im also a doctor... I will be doing PG alongside I serve in the hospital..I will have terrible working hours too... I can get paged anytime...I can manage' I said...

While he looked at my face and asked...

'You...you mean..you are fine with this marriage thing?'

I nodded a yes!

We both sat for sometime on the same seat looking at the lake while he said...

'Bela... You are brave you know..  you are a warrior... I used to always think you are nothing but a joker but... I'm proud of you buddy' he said...

While remembering last night teared up 🥺 my eyes again...

I swallowed hard and said...
'Mahir if you find the love of your life please tell me honestly any time... I will walk out of this marriage without second question!' I said...

And he looked at me and smiled...
'This heart was already given to one woman Bela...
Which she shattered real bad into pieces like a mirror!
Broken...
Devastated people don't fall in love Bela...
I don't have a heart Bela...
It's all mechanical...
My life is only...
My work...
Biking...
Photography...
And road trips...

I just want to travel...

I want to keep going on and on!

I don't want to stop!

My career and this hippy life is fun!

I don't drink regularly... I drink while necessary..in cold regions or a few parties...

I don't smoke...

I eat anything except human beings 🤣

So...

That's me !!!

But yup... You are a young girl...

You may fall in love...

You may like someone...

Tell me without hesitation...

I will get you married to him!'

While I smiled and looked at his dark brown eyes...

'Love doesn't exist for me!' I said...

'Shutup Bela...I know you were a book worm...I have heard Ruhi's friends talk about you... Ruhi used to hate you for god alone knows what...

But even then don't tell me you didn't have someone whom you liked...found attractive.. atleast a fling yaar' he said..

To which I chuckled and said...
'No... Too busy for flings' I said...

Covering my shoulders more with my dupatta...

'Atleast a little tini mini crush' he asked ..

I smiled and looked into his eyes and said...

'Hmmm... There was a certain crush! But he never knew..I never told... He was actually way too hot for me...I was a nerdy who was always into books...no style sense no good looks...so he never noticed...I never told!

And honestly!

No regrets!' I said

'Welllll...then I hope you meet the man of your dreams in future!' he said while I looked elsewhere and stood up in one go...

'Its getting late...can we leave?'

He nodded his head.

We reached home and the news was announced.

Everyone was happy.

Mahir insisted of a simple marriage.

And requested it be in Sehgal Mansion in Dharwad.

My parents didn't have any objections.

Wedding was announced of next Sunday.

As requested by Mahir...

No other rituals were conducted.

No Haldi...No Mehndi ...No Sangeet

It was a simple marriage.

Only 20 of our family members and close relatives...

Mahir tied nuptial chain onto my neck and filled my hair partition with vermilion.

And I was declared from Dr Bela Sharma to...

Dr Bela Mahir Sehgal.

Life took a 360' turn in mere few minutes!

But then...

It was all a Compromise!

This wedding!

This relationship!

Us!!! Was all a Compromise!