"Parishay please dont embarass me more than I already am, just agree to marry Raoul. What ever you have done, noe bear the consequences and be thankful that raouls parents agreee to get you both married." Opening her eyes Parishay saw her father knelt beside her with tears in his eyes, saying this and she sighed.

"Papa, trust me, Raoul is a  fraud, he schemed all this. Why would I lie to you?" She felt vulnerable. No one was trusting her.

"I dont care what so ever happened, for my sake just agree  to it." Mr Ali said folding his hands in front of her and suppressing a sob she noddee her head. She agreed, she sacrified her happiness, her ego, her pride, her dignity ,just for her father.
...

The rings were exchanged, she was engaged to Raoul, the nikkah was to take place in ten days after Raoul returned from the car racing tournament he was participating in.

Leaving Everything behind everyone was congratulating her but she seemed dead inside.

"Congratulations parishay!" Armaghan had come to her before leaving for his station.
His voice was blank, void of all emotions, his eyes dark and sharp holding many questions.

"Armaghan, this, this all is a lie, I am forced, raoul trapped me, I swear."
She didnt need to but she felt like giving a justification to him.
Her voice came cracked up and unable to see her breading down he left from there silently, little did he know his silence killed her from inside.

After haroon and neelums ruksati armaghan was called to the headquarters in Peshawer for some work and had left so he had not witnessed the incident but heard everything and all seemed unbelievable for him. It did feel schemed. He knew raoul too well and somehow felt parishay to be too pure to pull up an act of this kind. But her agreeing for the engagement enraged him and he did not know why.
Who was she even to him?.
.....

Days passed and the preparations for her nikkah had started. Everyone seemed ecstatic but she felt dead inside. Life was never that miserble like it was now.

And just  six days before her nikkah news came that Raoul had met with a deadly accident in the race tournament. He was immediately taken to the hospital with very severe injuries. A new tention took place in the haveli. Everyone was praying for his well being while she was silent. Her eyes now dry from excessive crying.
She was again being accused and blamed. She was being called badluck, a curse.

"My son is in the hospiatl fighting for his life and its all because of you. You are such a badluck. I am doomed because of you." Raouls mother came in barging into her room and slapped Parishay right across her face.

She was tortured,  accused of the things she did not know or were not her fault. She was being held responsible of thw things which were not in her power. All these well educated people were acting like illetrates

And after two  days she had heard raoul passed away, he could not survive, his injuries were severe, despite having a surgery and coming into the private room in his hospital and gaining concsiousness. His days were only this much. He was gone.

Crys and wails were heard in thr haveli. A very young and a beloved person had passed away. His parents were not in their senses. This was heart breaking for them. Raoul was their only child.
Raouls mother had lost her mental state. She was getting fits and deep down it hurt Parishay.
She had never wanted this. Locked up in her room she cried her hearts out.  Her being honest, her truth was now buried with raouls body. He being alive  atleast had chances of him telling everyone that she was right. She was a woman full of character.
She wailed and she cried. Her cries were heard by everyone but everyone ignored her.
...

The time was very hard but like always it passed. All the silence on her matter was scaring her and it felt like  quite before the storm. And she was right. Just after a month of raouls demise the elders thought of marrying Parishay. Mr Ali had to return back to canada and he wanted his daughter married. Her character was at stake and now he couldent risk leaving her single. She sighed. She was helpless. She felt angry at everyone. She also felt raged at Raoul who had put her in this condition but she had forgived him for the sake of Almighty.

"Parishay tommorow is your nikkah with Armaghan, be prepared. His parents themselves asked for it sensing my worries."
Mr Ali came and burst a bomb on her head.

"Papa,No, never! I cant, I cant marry him. I am not marrying anyone. Thats final!. If I am a characterless woman as you all say then kindly do not ruin any innocent mans life!"
She had gone mad listening to this. She yelled hysterically. By no chance she was going to marry the guy she had loved with all her pure heart while he was also thinking about her the way others were neither she wanted to be an unwanted force bride of anyone.

"Enough parishay!" A hard slap left imprints on her cheaks. She looked at her father unbelievably. This was the first time he raised his hands on her.

"You have done enough, do not ruin my image more." He said sternly and nearly all the residents of the haveli by now had gathered in her room to see her ruins.

"Wah, akar nahi gai abhi bhi. Jesi behen wesi ye, mere bete kay peeche pargai thee, uski jaan leke rahi ye larki.( wow, her ego hasent waved off, she is just like her sister. She went after my son and also took his life.) "
Raouls mothers venomous words were heard and tears rolled down her cheaks.

"Just because I was bold and my sister ran away, you guys got a certifucate to call me characterless. Wow!.
Apne bete ko koi nahi bola jisne mujhe iss sab main phasaya. mai  uski pohunch se bahar thee to usne ye game khela tha. Lekin mera yakeen koi nahi karega kiunke tab kisi ne bolne ka mauka nahi diya  or ab to main bolne ki position main nahi hoon because he is no more alive. Usko mene maaf kia. Ap sabko kabhi nahi karungi. "
( you did not say a word to your son who trapped me  into all this, i was out of his league so he played this game but no one will belive me because back then no one let me speak and noe I am not in the position to speak as he is mo more. I have forgiven him but I will never forgive you all.)"
Saying this loud and clear she was out of her room leaving everyone dumbfounded
..

She had agreed for her nikkah with armaghan because obviously she had no way out but before that she asked that she wanted to speak with him.
...

"Please Trust me armaghan all those were blames on me. They are just forcing you to marry me.
I was never with raoul. He trapped me and now they are asking you to sacrifice for your uncles daughters honour."
Meeting him in the balcony she said truthfully. She did not wanted him to marry her out of sympathy.

"I trust you parishay, I know this is hard for you but let this nikkah happen. Its for the betterment.
I wont force you for anything if you wont be ready."
He said but his voice seemed weak, as if he was not trusting her either and marrying her for pity only.

A lone tear fell from her eye and she laughed sarcasticly.

"No one believes me..wow! But guess what I do not need your pity and sacrifice." Saying this she tried walking away but was stopped midway because he had held her wrist.
"Parishay when I say I trust you I mean it!." He said with serious expressions and voice but before she could say anything she heard footsteps on the stairs and quickly pulling her hand out of his grip ran away downstairs.
..

Their nikkah took place the following day in the haveli. It was a very simple event with many less guest invites.
Not a single person seemed happy. Her own mind and heart was gloomy.
Armaghans mother had taken her to his room. She was the only person that was kind to her.
Sitting on his bed she felt miserable. Her heart clenching. Having had enough she pulled her duppata in rage from her head and threw it away breaking down in tears.

_______________________________

She woke up to a bright sunny day. It was saturday and Armghans off.
Groaning she sat up, her state discheveled. Remebering the previous night she sighed. Shutting her eyes she let out a breath and covering herself she went into the bathroom. It was moist from a recent shower. His after shave's smell lingering.
Turning the shower on she relaxed her nerves under hot water. Shampooing thoroughly she applied good amount of her favourite showergel.
Drying herself she wore a embroidered shalwar kameez and blow drying her hair she went into the lounge.
It was quite around in the house but the main door was open. Coming outside she saw abid and armaghan busy washing his car. Both in their casuals. Armghan was wearing a vest with trousers and fully engrossed in cleaning his car.
She chuckled leaning against the wall.

"Bhabi ajayen, ap bhi dekhen sahab jee ki laadli ki dhulai horahi hai.( come and see bhabi, sirs favourite is getting a wash.) "
Panting abid said and she bit her lip suppressing her chuckles.
Armaghan eyed her from head to toe.

"Nashta bana doon bhabi, sir ne bhi nahi kiya or subah subah iss kaam per laga diya?"( shall I make breakfast ? Even sir has not eaten anything and made me do this early morning.)"
Putting the sponge on the side and washing his hands abid said.

"No need abid, we both will go and have brunch at the mess kitchen, but thanks buddy."
Throwing the cleaning cloth at abid armaghan said and rushed inside.
After a good ten minutes he was out ready.

"Chalen, the mess is only on five minutes walk?" ( lets go...)"
Armaghan came outside seeing her rooted to her spot and she nodded smiling.

"You feeling alright?" He asked holding her hand and she smiled.
The walk to the mess was beautiful. She had still not seen  the whole place where they were living. It was scenic with large pine trees around, wooden fence at the endge of cliffs, little bricked pavements and snow around was making the whole area mesmerizing.

The mess was beautiful, an old architecture building screaming history. It was made by the britishers. It was all oak wood. She smiled looking around. Many officers with families were seen there having breakfast.
"Fresh halwa puri and cholay breakfast scene was on!"
Seeing poori's being fried outside her stomach grumbled.
Meeting some ladies from the mess tea she had good time interacting.
Later they had their breakfast in one of the open corridors. Having tea they were good to go home.

"Do  they make this breakfast daily?" She questioned on their way back home.

"Nope, only on weekends." Smiling he replied.

"Can we come here every weekend and tommorow also?" She asked and he chuckled.

"Yeah why not?" Holding onto her cold hands he said and she smiled content but her smile died down seeing two monkeys coming towards them from the other side. She looked at armaghan who seemed really relaxed as if it was normal for him.
Swallowing hard she clung to him with all her might shutting her eyes and his steps halted.

"You okay?" Touching her head he asked and she shook it in a no, her head resting on his chest and her arms around his waist.

"Bandar!( monkeys)" came her muffled reply and he laughed.

"Utha kay le jatay hain apko. Isme kiya harj hai? ( i will carry you and take you home.) " he said and before she could protest he had carried her already  and she felt extremely embarassed.

"Shukriyaaa bandro!" (Thanks monkeys)" he whistled crossing the monkeys and she hid her head in his chest again.

"Put me down, someone will see." Seeing the monkeys run away she said and smiling he gently pu her down.

"Ainda jab kabhi dar lagay, bata dena.( when ever you feel scared ,let me know.)" Winking he said and she blushed under his gaze.
By now they had reached home.

_________________

Hey guysss, , another update!!!!

The secret is all out... how they got married is up now!

I felt sad writing this chapter... I felt bad for Parishay! She beared alot...

And raoul...uff...i do not havw words now... what can I say.??
Did u guys expect this turn????

.....

Anyways I loved armaghan and Parishays weekend brunch scene...
And the monkey scene was love...

Enjoyyy u all...

And dont forget to leave votes and comments....