Sorry for any error, mistakes and inconveniences 🌹.

Chapter 22: Just About On Time

"You would never stay happy. I curse you! May you loose all your happiness and pay for your deeds!" Sujata exclaimed in disgust while gritting her teeth and Jayant yawned on purpose.

"Do I care?"

"You're ruining her life. How much would that poor girl need to suffer?" Sujata questioned and tears slide down her eyes. "I feel bad for her, she's been through so much. Do you not see her pain!"

"You don't need to worry, once she marries me, I'll give her all the happiness she deserves."

"She doesn't want to marry you, you psycho!" Sheesh shouted with a bruised jaw, fuming in anger and disgust.

"And her happiness isn't with you! If you do want her to happy then leave her alone!" Kavita exclaimed in a cracky tone as she blinked at Jayant. 

"I didn't ask for your opinion!" He replied, not interested to hear their 'nonsense', to him, their words were no less than a dog barking.

As he continued to ignore them, he heard a sound and instantly cocked his head to the side, smiling as he watched his would-to-be bride Swara walking out in a bridal attire, which he selected.

"You look beautiful!" He exclaimed and she lowered her gazes, staring at the floor as she moved closer to him.

"You lied!" Shekhar exclaimed as he stormed in. "The property was never on your name!" He added, gritting his teeth while stopping in front of Swara and Jayant, who look at him.

"What do you mean?" Jayant questioned as Sheesh, Sujata and Kavita crease their eye-brow after hearing Shekhar.

"She. . ." He sighed, feeling frustrated yet not angry and stared at Jayant. "I don't know if I should be angry at her for deceiving me or pleased about her not naming the property on her name."

"Who's name is the property on?"

"She transferred the whole property to Sameer and didn't take a single bit of it for herself." Shekhar revealed and Kavita and Sheesh look on.

Yet his frustration was visible one his face. Despite being glad to know the property wasn't on her name, it still troubled him to wonder why she didn't take a single penny for herself.

"Why would you do that? Why didn't you steal my property like you claimed to?"

"Because I didn't need it. . ." She replied with honesty and swallowed her spit. "And this property was the reason why my mother was taken away from me, why would I keep such an ominous thing for myself?"

"I was never after your property, all I ever needed was for you to confess and pay for what you did. But that also seems impossible now, nothing ever turns out to be the way I want it to turn out. I never complained to you once, with the way you treated me but now, I beg you, please let Sujata Aunty, Kavita and Sheesh go. I'm willing to do anything you and Jayant want." She pressed both of her palms together, raising them in front of Shekhar with watery eyes. "Please."

It was merely five seconds, that Shekhar considered Swara's words, but he was distracted soon enough and looked at Jayant.

"Get this over and done with so I can leave." Her plea meant nothing to him, as he heartlessly and indirectly let her know he wasn't going to listen and she dropped her hands, lowering her gazes. Not even surprised to see her so called father turn his back on her, again.

"Sure." Jayant smiled and held Swara by the shoulder, "this way my love. . ." He moved with her towards the mandap and Shekhar followed, while the men dragged Kavita, Sheesh and Sujata, following behind them.

XX

Sameer was driving as fast as he could, while Nayonika worriedly stared out of the window, sat in the back seat with Sahil, who tapped his foot anxiously.

"Turn a right from the next exit." Sanskaar revealed, sat in the passengers seat as he gave the direction to Sameer.

'I hope you're safe Swara.' His heart felt bad for Swara, praying for her welfare. He acknowledge the pain Swara had endured from a young age, imagining how painful it must be for her to keep being drawn to troubles, heartbreaks and torture. Despite not being in her shoes, he could merely sense the small amount of agony she must be in.

"Left from here."

Nayonika was lost in her own thoughts while staring out of the window, 'please don't do anything stupid Shekhar. Please don't be behind this kidnapping. This will be the last straw for me. . .'

As the car zoomed through, worry and tension was in the air for the passengers, who were eager to reach the destination as fast as they could to rescue Swara and Sheesh.

XX

"Do you not have any self-conscious?" Sujata questioned as loud as she could while looking at Shekhar, who was sat doing the kanyadaan of a tired and numb Swara.

Sujata continued, hoping it would change his heart though she knew it was impossible, she wanted to try at least, to save Swara. "She's your daughter and you're doing this to her. First you killed your wife and now you're pushing your daughter into a living hell, is that how much you hated Sharmishta Bhabhisa?"

Shekhar continued with the rituals, proudly ignoring Sujata who wasn't willing to give up.

"What has this poor soul done to you to receive such a punishment from you? She didn't even take your property, she in fact named it on your beloved son and this is what you give her in return? She never complaint a single bit about how awful you treated her and once she did, you're forcing her to marry an unfit man? Doesn't your souls tremble knowing your daughter is going to marry such a monster?"

Her words were slowly affecting Shekhar, yet he decided to ignore her though his mind was distracted with Sujata's questions.

"If she wanted to, she would've actually named the whole property on her name and would've stripped you, your wife and son alive, keeping it all for herself but she didn't do that. She let your son have all of it and didn't take a single penny."

Jayant sighed, tired of hearing Sujata's melo-drama and faced the men behind her. "Shut her mouth."

Though her words were being ignored, they were creating an impact on Shekhar and Jayant knew this. It was better for him to hush Sujata rather than seeing Shekhar change his mind about letting him marry Swara.

"Mumma would. . . Be so disappointed." After Sujata, Sheesh continued to distract Jayant. "How can you feel satisfied doing such a thing? Doesn't it hurt your self-conscious to see what type of man you've become? I never thought you could change to this extent. It disgusts me to be your blood. Do you know how much I regretted to be your blood and how much I was thankful to have stayed with Mumma and be raised by her. Don't you ever go around and say you're Mumma's son, otherwise people would spit on Mumma, being his son suits you more!" Sheesh added and scoffed afterwards.

Shekhar looked on, "he's your brother?"

"Unfortunately, yes. . ."

"But he also likes Swara, did you know that?"

"Yes."

Shekhar scoffed, "but his love for Swara was fake." He looked at Sheesh as he remembered, "you must be disappointed to find out the property isn't on Swara's name right! Now what will you do?"

Sheesh sternly uttered, "I will watch the police arrest you two."

Shekhar chuckled and so did Jayant, as they continued with the wedding rituals, with the pandit timidly reading the holy words.

"What's so funny?" Sheesh asked and scoffed afterwards, "I should be chuckling. After all, you two are gone."

"How are you so certain?"

"Because I have friends. . . Who would realise I'm missing and won't sit hand in hand. My phones off and I'm out of their sights, what else could that mean?"

"And you think they'll be able to find you here?"

"You don't know how smart they are. Forget my dumb friends, but your family must be smart to find out the location right?" He replied to Shekhar with a question, now curving a small smile after seeing his expressions change.

Jayant looked at Shekhar, "did you switch your phone off?"

"Yes I did."

"Did you have it off the whole time?"

"I. . ." Shekhar trailed off and Jayant realised, looking on. "I told you to have it off when you come here!" Jayant yelled while gritting his teeth.

"I'm sorry, I got impatient and phoned the lawyer." Shekhar apologised and Jayant sighed, touching his forehead with pure irritation, controlling his anger towards Shekhar.

"Pandit Ji, speed up. We don't have time." He uttered and blinked at the Pandit who timidly fastened the mantra's.

Sheesh began to laugh, which pricked Jayant's ears, acting like a sharp knife. He clenched his fists and stood up for the pehre's. Swara wasn't reacting, neither concentrating. Her thoughts were disrupted after Jayant yanked her up by her arm, making sure she stood.

"Hurry up." He firmly held her hand, starting to walk around the fire while dragging her with force.

"They couldn't have tracked me. . ." Shekhar mumbled to himself while giving it a deep thought. He wouldn't expect anyone to show up, his call was not even a minute long, he'd be exaggerating if he said 2 minutes, when I reality he must've at least spoken to the lawyer for about 1 minute 20 seconds. "Or did they?" He further muttered and stood up, realising 1 minute 20 seconds is more than enough for them to accurately locate him.

A sigh escaped his mouth and he rubbed his temples in stress, feeling absolutely dumb and stupid.

"Now the bride needs to lead the way." The pandit uttered and Jayant stopped, pushing Swara in front of him, forcing her to move around.

As she took the first round, Sujata, Kavita and Sheesh felt an uneasy shiver pass down their spines, it was too unreal for them to imagine Jayant succeeding in his evil plans.

Few men fall onto the floor while grunting. Jayant and Swara stop, facing the direction while Sujata, Kavita and Sheesh cock their heads to the side to see. Shekhar widened his eyes, surprised to see Sameer, Sanskaar and Sahil kicking and punching their way inside.

"What is this!" Sameer exclaimed, burning in anger while glaring at Shekhar and Jayant.

"Sameer. . ." Swara whispered his name and her watery eyes began leaking. "Sameer!" Her hopes that had died were slowly raising once again and she smiled through her painful expressions.

Before she could move forward, Jayant grabs onto her hand as tightly as he could. "Block them!" He shouted and all his men came forward, blocking Sameer, Sanskaar and Sahil.

"Mom!" Sanskaar gasped after his eyes fell on Sujata, who was sat on the floor. Shekhar narrowed his eyebrows, now recalling the incident at the temple, finally realising that he was the same Sanskaar that defended his mother in the temple against him.

"How, did I not remember?" He wondered and creased his forehead, however it wasn't the same for Nayonika, after walking inside, she wasn't surprised to see Sanskaar rushing to Sujata. She figured out the day he stepped in the house, that he was Sujata's son and then certainly knew that Swara and the kids have planned something against Shekhar.

"Sheesh!" Sahil ran towards Sheesh, and instantly moved his hands towards the ropes. Untying it with determination.

Sheesh scoffed, "I knew you'd make it."

"Mom, are you okay?" He concernedly asked and Sujata lowered her gazes while crying, relieved to see them turn up.

He felt emotional and pulled Sujata into a hug, so tight after so long.

Ignoring their 'drama', Jayant forcefully pushes Swara around the fire to make her take another round and signalled the Pandit to continue.

The mantra's reached Sameer's ears and he glanced at Jayant and Swara, moving forward but gets pushed back by the men. Swara struggled to free herself and continued pushing him off, halting her steps while Jayant tried dragging her with full force.

"Stop, just leave me. . ." She begged and moved her head closer, biting his hand as hard as she could.

"Ahhh!" He left her grip and she ran without wasting a single second.

Jayant grit his teeth in anger and fumed, taking big steps forward. Swara managed to reach Kavita and bent down, untying her hands quickly.

"Are you okay?" She asked and Kavita exhaled, "you shouldn't have came to me. Run Swara, go!"

Swara shakes her head negatively, refusing to leave her friend and continued to pull on the rope to untie her hands.

Jayant charged towards Swara but Sahil stood in front, pushing him away.

"Move out of the way!" Jayant angrily roared and soon his face was pushed to the side with a sudden blow.

He touched his cheek and cocked his head to the side, watching an angry Sheesh standing in front of him and next to Sahil with pure anger.

"Not this time." Sheesh warned and Jayant walked forward again, being held by the two.

Swara successfully untied Kavita's hand and helped her sit it, Kavita hugged Swara and then broke it as the two mange to stand on their feet.

"Don't just stand there! Help me!" Jayant exclaimed as he stared at his men, who nod and start heading towards Jayant.

Sameer followed, holding one man's shoulder and turning him. He punched him afterwards and then kicked him.

Sanskaar made Sujata stand and rushed to the side with her, hiding her in a corner. "Stay here and don't move until I say so."

Sujata nodded her head and Sanskaar turned around, rushing toward his friends to help them out.

Nayonika ran towards Shekhar, who rolled his eyes to see the fight that was happening. Sheesh, Sahil, Sameer and Sanskaar vs Jayant and his men.

"Please stop this Shekhar. Enough is enough now. . ."

"What am I doing?" He questioned and crossed his arms across his chest, "I'm silently stood here, they're the one that are creating ruckus, can't Swara just marry him without creating a drama?"

"Swara isn't your toy Shekhar, you can't keep throwing her around!" Nayonika raised her tone as she argued with Shekhar, with anger running over her head.

"We don't need her!" Shekhar exclaimed and stared at Nayonika in disbelief.

"How can you be so ungrateful?" Nayonika snapped back, "she transferred the whole property to our sons name and didn't keep a single penny for herself! Still, you're treating her like this! Why?"

"So you knew and let them torture me?"

"Not everything is about you Shekhar! And I found this out today, after the lawyer called me to inform me about your call!" She argued, gritting her teeth "if she wanted, she could've stole the whole property, and actually name everything in her name. She would've stole Sameer's right and threw all of us out, but she didn't! All she ever wanted was your honest confession and your love!"

Shekhar stayed quiet, having no words to argue back and against Swara after hearing her. She was right, if Swara wanted to, she could've taken everything but she didn't.

"You can't keep treating her like this! How can you sell her off to someone else? How can you let this happen to her?" Nayonika questioned with anger, frustration and disappointment, grabbing everyone's attention despite the boys fighting the men.

"Just. . ."

"No!" Nayonika had enough and clenched her fist, "if this is how you're going to behave then I'm going to tell her the truth!"

Shekhar stared at Nayonika and exhaled, "tell her. . . She means nothing to us anyways."

Swara felt hurt as she stared at the duo arguing, holding onto Kavita's hand. Sahil was punched and he fell onto the floor, kicking the man that was coming for him.

"I will even confess to the police." Nayonika warned and Shekhar's face fell, he clenched his fist and sighed.

"I can't believe you're threatening me. Out of them, you Nayonika. . ."

"You crosses all your limits." She replied and he frustratedly faced Jayant. "Stop this Jayant, stop all this. . . If she doesn't want to marry you then don't force her."

Jayant was shocked while the rest were surprised to hear Shekhar.

"Why?" Jayant questioned and Shekhar looked at Nayonika with anger, "no ones happy with this marriage."

"But, you promised you would help me, how can you back off from your words?" Jayant questioned, sounding annoyed and Shekhar glanced back at him.

"I can't do anything, if Swara doesn't want to marry you then she doesn't have to. Stop and go home."

Jayant scoffed as he touched his mouth, "you think all of this is a joke?"

Shekhar watched Jayant's expressions turn bitter while his eyes were fixed on him, "do you think I did all of this just to let her go!" His tone was louder and filled with anger.

Shekhar was surprised to see the tone he had used towards him. "Why are you raising your tone?"

"All of this happened because of you! It was going perfectly until you ruined it! Who TOLD YOU TO TURN YOUR PHONE ON!" Jayant was angry, so angry that he could actually kill someone, "you're the reason why they're here and creating a scene!" He added, clenching his fists with immense anger visible on his face. "I was dumb enough to let a cold, greedy, selfish man like you here!"

"Jayant!" Shekhar exclaimed, gritting his teeth while Jayant merely stared at him with anger, "lower your tone! Be lucky I didn't hit you!"

Shekhar couldn't believe his ears, "you're forgetting that Swara is my. . ."

"Daughter?" Jayant mocked as he questioned with a scoff "is this how a man treats his daughter?"

"Mind your tone!" Shekhar roared back, "this marriage is over, it's cancelled! I will not let her marry a spineless and ungrateful man like you!"

"Try stopping me!" Jayant challenged and Shekhar grit his teeth, "I would die but not let you be her husband." Shekhar challenged, shocking everyone by his sudden word.

"Bring it on." Jayant uttered dangerously while staring into Shekhar's eyes.

"All my deals with you would be cancelled." Shekhar uttered and Jayant ignored him, facing Swara again.

Shekhar stepped forward, picking up an empty platter on his way towards him. He smashed it on his head fiercely, shocking everyone and Jayant falls onto his knees weakly, touching his stinging head. His vision slightly blurred and Shekhar continued slamming his head with the platter with all his strength.

"You challenged the wrong guy. . ." He shouted aggressively and stopped, staring at the platter which had bent and dis-formed. He threw it with bitter expressions and Jayant fell onto the ground unconsciously as blood oozed down his head.

Everyone stared at Shekhar with wide eyes, shocked and stunned to see the way he attacked Jayant and stood there with no guilt or regret, continuing to merely glare at an unconscious Jayant with hatred. It was drop dead silence, as their hearts fluttered in fear and Nayonika palmed her forehead, with tears sliding down her cheeks.

To Be Continued. . .

__________________

Okay, I know I sound so crazy but I laughed real hard after writing the last scene to close this chapter 😂🤧

Thank you so much for supporting, encouraging and loving this story ♥️😘😘

Drop down your precious views and press the star button if you liked the chapter ♥️✨🌸.