"Kantilal... O Kantilal.. Kantilal.."

Kantilal comes out of his house.

Kantilal: Jai Shri Krishna, Mota bhai. Avo Avo {welcome} (He folds his hands).

Ramnik: Jai Shri Krishna. No, I am fine here itself. You borrowed money from me to expand your business as you didn't wanted to break your investment in Hoteliers Bank. Have you seen the news today? All those who made investment in the bank have lost their money as the manager did fraud. I want my money back now.

Kantilal: What? My hard earned money!! (Shocked and collapses on the ground)

Shantiben and Sana runs and holds him. Ramnik looks at them.

Sana: Baapu, what happened? Baapu (shakes him)

Kantilal: I am fine, Dikri.

Ramnik: (sighs) Kantilal, I want my money back. Even I have kids to look after and it's my hard earned money as well.

Kantilal: Mota bhai, I have already invested it in business. It will take sometime to get money. My investment was due to mature next month. I was supposed to give you that money but now I don't have anything. I am destroyed completely. (Cries)

Ramnik: (Thinks for a while) I will forgo your loan on one condition. You know I am a widower and have my own three kids and family to look after. I was searching for a bride. Marry off your daughter Shehnaaz to me.

Kantilal: (shocked) What? But she is very young and is of your elder son's age.

Ramnik: I need a bride and she is above 18 years. Who will marry her looking at her size? You are in profit in all the ways. You don't have to repay the loan nor you have tension of searching for a groom for her. I am a well to do businessman. She will be happy with me. Talk to your wife, I'll give you 30 minutes. Either repay your loan now or get her married to me tomorrow evening. I'll be back after collecting my interest money from another customer.

Ramnik goes away and Kantilal sits down on the ground holding his head in his hand.

Shantiben: What do we do now Sana's baapu?

Kantilal: I don't know Shanti. I can't even think of drinking poison because y'all will have to suffer after I die.

Sana: Baapu, what are you talking? Don't say such things. Shall we approach the bank for loan?

Kantilal: Dikri, I don't have any guarantor or security with me to get a loan, besides he is asking me to repay right now.

Shantiben: Agree to his second condition Sana's Baapu.

Kantilal: What are you saying Shanti? Ramnik is a year older than me. How can I marry off my daughter to him?

Shantiben: He is asking her in marriage, not buying her for pleasure. Besides he is a well to do person, she won't have any difficulties. We have been searching for a groom since past 1 year for her. None have agreed to even see her after looking at the photo itself.

Kantilal: No! I can't let this happen to my Dikri.

Shantiben: We don't have any other option. Wait, there is one more. Get some poison we shall all consume it together.

Sana: Baapu, Hu teni saathe lagna karavaa taiyaara chu {I am ready to get married to him.}

Kantilal: No Dikri. He isn't a match for you.

Sana: This is not a fairy tale Baapu, no prince charming is coming to marry me. Besides, I ain't any perfect girl like a princess either. I am an imperfect and a fat girl, who doesn't deserve a perfect man. Infact, not even an average man.  This is better than all three of us consuming poison.

Kantilal was heartbroken and helpless. He hugged her dearest daughter and sulked. Shantiben was also heartbroken from inside but she had accepted the harsh reality of the society. She wanted the best for her daughter but she had accepted that it was out of reach for them. All three sulked hugging each other until Ramnik returned and called Kantilal again.

Kantilal wiped his tears and walked out again with heavy heart and stood infront of Ramnik.

Ramnik: Yes, Kantilal. What's your decision?

Kantilal: We.. we.. we are ready for the.. (he ran his tongue over his dry lips as words weren't forming) ..the marriage.

Ramnik: Oh! I am so happy, Sasurji. I will arrange for the marriage immediately. Will send Shehnaaz the bridal wear in the evening with the tailor.

Kantilal couldn't speak anything. He just stood there as a thunderbolt struck statue. Ramnik hugged him. He saw Shantiben standing near the door.

Ramnik: Jai Shri Krishna Saasumaa. See you all at the wedding venue tomorrow evening.
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Sidharth took up a mechanic job with the help of Ajay in the same garage where Ajay was working.

Ajay: You were a brilliant student in school and college. I stopped my schooling after 10th since I wasn't so good at studies. But look at the fate, we are working at same level again. Sometimes, I feel education is useless.

Sidharth had no answer since Ajay was right in his place. If his fate was favourable then he would have been working in some MNC earning a decent salary but everything had changed.

Ajay: Sidharth, don't take me wrong but I want to ask something.

Sidharth: We are best friends right, say it.

Ajay: Since we were kids, I had been liking Shobha. I was scared of telling you this and losing our friendship. The difference in status also stopped me from approaching you. But after her husband divorced her, I feel an ache looking at her sad face everyday. If you and Amma don't have any objection, then I will like to marry her.

Sidharth: What? But she is 2 years elder to you.

Ajay: How does it matter Sidharth? Only thing which should matter is her opinion. Ask her the opinion and talk to Amma as well. If everyone agrees then let me know your decision.

Sidharth: Ajay, I will be the happiest person if she agrees. You came to our help when the whole world turned their back to us. Well let you know their opinion soon.

Ajay: Thank you very much Sidharth. (Hugs him)

Sidharth goes home and discusses with his mother and sister about the proposal. Sarojini and Shobha agree for the proposal.

Ajay and Shobha get married in the evening in a temple since they didn't have any relatives or friends to invite. Sidharth was happy to find his sister getting settled after facing so much hardship.
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Sana dressed up in a bridal wear. The beautician sent by Ramnik did her makeup. Her face nowhere showed even an ounce of happiness on it which every bride has on her wedding day. It was like accepting a death sentence for her.

The pandal was full of guests from Ramnik's side and very few were Sana's relatives.

Ramnik's daughters came to Sana and looked at her from top to bottom. The elder daughter was 17 and younger one was 15.

They both laughed.

"You are so fat! How much do you eat?", The younger one asked.

"Hush, don't forget that she is going to be our step mother, I wonder if she would give us anything to eat. She has the capacity to eat our food as well.", Elder one said.

Sana's heart sinked, she was getting married to a man whose daughters were going to taunt her for her lifetime.

She overheard the conversation as she walked to pandal. It was Ramnik's eldest son and his friends.

"Isn't it your marriage age and your father is getting married himself!" First Friend said.

"Yeah, he is getting married to a girl of your age. You are getting a young mom haan!", Another friend said

"Arey, she isn't a girl. She is a bulldozer", the third one says and they all laugh.

"This is so humiliating. I can never call her my mom" Ramnik's son yelled in anger.

Sana thought
No one in his family wants me but he seems to be getting married for his pleasure. Plus there is no young kids, they are all big enough to look after themself. Do I deserve all this?

She walked to the pandal and sat beside him. The priest started reciting the mantras and Sana's heart cried from inside. With every step she took forward during the saath pheras her hate for every so called perfect person in the world grew stronger and stronger. She cursed her faith and the perfect people who bullied her.

The priest ordered to tie the mangalsutra which made her feel like a dog being chained by the owner. He then filled the vermilion in the partition of her crop of hair.

Kantilal and Shantiben's eyes were flowing like an unstoppable flood. The priest declared them as married.
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Sidharth moved into a seperate hut with his mother as he was earning enough for himself and his mother.

One day his mother collapsed on the ground unconcious. He rushed her to the hospital and found that she needs an immediate heart surgery. He was in need of money.

Ajay: What happened Sidharth, why are you so tensed?

Sidharth's eyes welled up. From childhood Ajay was the only friend with whom he shared all his sorrows.

Sidharth: Ajay, don't tell this to Shobha. Amma has been admitted into the hospital and she needs to be operated immediately else.. else.. we will lose her forever. I am in urgent need of 2 lakhs.

He cried like a child hugging Ajay. Ajay patted his back.

"Excuse me!", a voice came from behind.

They both look into the direction and she a fat girl standing infront of them. Her eyes were red and full of tears.

"Please accept this. I hope your mother gets well soon", she says and pushes a paper in Sidharth's hand before walking away.

Ajay looks at the paper she had given to Sidharth, who was still looking at her departing.

Ajay: What the hell? She gave you a cheque of 2 lakh rupees without specifying any name on it and she just went away.

He looks at Sidharth who was still looking into the direction she went, though she was already gone. He shook him to bring him back into the present.

Ajay: She left a cheque of Rs. 2 lakh. Who is she? Do you know her?
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To be continued.. ❤️❤️