***long chapter ahead
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Preparations for the marriage were going in full swing as only fifteen days were left for their marriage. After their small intimate engagement ceremony, the families often started spending time with each other. That's another thing Mahir would drag Bela with him when he thought nobody was looking at them but the reality everyone just acted to be busy in themselves their whole focus was on both of them. They never left a chance to spill water on Mahir's plans. And with Gracious being their special and most trustable agent it was more flexible.

Bela's mother was busy selecting the dresses for the ceremonies to be held.
She kept her finger on one of the dresses to which Gracious shook her head, sitting just beside the booklet containing various dress designs on the table. Radha turned over to the next page. Gracious again examined the color, the design and finally tapped the picture with her tail. Even Radha liked the dress, she instantly shortlisted it.

"My baby is working so much and see that lazy girl still sleeping. I mean okay it's fine she completed a project two days ago and is now on leave till her marriage but can't she wake up early in the morning? Wake up, brush her teeth, have breakfast, and again sleep, who is stopping her? But she... Lazy pig " Radha patted Gracious's head and huffed while talking about Bela.

Gracy put her tail before her mouth trying to hide her laugh from Radha. Of course, she was enjoying thinking Bela would get scolded later. Oh! She loved it.

They were engaged in work when suddenly the doorbell rang. Radha got up thinking it to be one of the workers, she opened the door. The floor beneath her feet seemed to be disappeared as she saw the person before her. When for the whole year she didn't see him creating any more problems she was relieved. But now looking at his fuming form, she was sacred, scared what if he create a problem in her daughter's marriage? She didn't want him to spoil Bela's happiness.

She tried to close the door but he forcefully entered inside using his physical strength.

He was glaring at her with hate. Behind him entered Ridhi's Mother with an innocent face.

Seeing the situation getting heated up Gracious ran and stood on Radha's shoulder glaring and blaring at the duo before her. Bela had told her to never let any stranger enter inside and Gracy already didn't like Ridhi's mother.

Ridhi's mother took three steps back looking at angry gracious but the Man was too busy in glaring Radha that he didn't even took notice of Gracious.

"What have you taught my daughter? You have made her just like you. Isn't it? Getting dolled up and trapping Rich guys? How shameless of you. I knew my daughter wouldn't be in safe hands. This is what happens when you take the child away from Father's shadow when you give them the right to do anything they want. See what a chaos you have made of my daughter. Disgusting! " He spat, gritting his teeth at Radha.

Radha stood there with a broken heart yet again. She just looked at his face and loathed herself that she loved this man once. She respected this man who never valued her? What a fool she made of her heart by loving a person who never deserved it. She closed her eyes, scolding the hurtful tears to move back. She didn't want to cry in front of him at least. She wouldn't give him that sadistic pleasure.

She put Gracious down asking her to go inside. Gracious was confused, she didn't want to leave her alone with two strangers but when told again she ran inside.

"Really? And who told you that? A woman who never taught her daughter to never eye someone else's man. Should I tell him what Ridhi did with Mahir even after knowing he was engaged to Bela? " Radha dryly chuckled looking at Ridhi's mother who was rubbing his arm, showing her fake support and sympathy, "No brother it's not her fault. Bela is my child too, I should have taught her some manners".
She instantly stopped listening to Radha. She was shocked. She thought she would keep playing her tricks from both sides and nobody will know but little did she know Radha was already aware of all her Dramas.

"W... W... What are you saying? She was frightened, she knew Ridhi did not do right by wearing an inappropriate dress and sitting on Mahir's lap, trying to kiss him right in front of his parents. She was glad that Ridhi's father didn't know about it but now she was frightened. Her all goody -two shoe image would get spoiled in front of Ridhi's and Bela's father.

"Who so ever told me but you can't change the fact that you are an incapable Mother. You are as disgusting as your face. And you have made my daughter characterle.... "

"Shut up! " Radha screamed with fire in her eyes. "Not a word against my daughter! I listened to all your bull shit but I won't listen to anything against my daughter" She yelled warning him.

"You are shouting at me? How dare you? " He raised his hand moving closer to Radha.

But before he could hit her, she held his hand in the mid-air. He looked at her shocked. "Y... Y... You dared to s... Stop me? " He fumbled looking at the fire in her eyes.

"Wish I could have done it earlier" Radha jerked his hand away and slapped tightly right on his cheek, force was such strong that he stumbled on the floor. Ridhi's mother gasped looking at fuming Radha. She never saw her this angry.

"You too want one? " Radha asked passing a death glare to her, she quickly took three steps back shaking her head left and right vigorously.

"I loved you... My innocent 17 years old heart fell for you when I came to know you were my husband. I was allowed to fall for you and I did. I tried to fulfill all my wife's duties, from cleaning your house, making food for you, fulfilling your desires, waking before you, sleeping after you, making your clothes ready, making you wear your clothes and then shoes. Cleaning each and every dirty cloth of yours. I tried to do everything that would make you happy and let me tell you, I did all happily, out of love. I never felt burdened, thinking it all to be my duty... My responsibility I did it all... What did I expect from you? Just a little love... Just a little attention...just a little care...but what did you?... Slapped me if the food got extra or less salt? Called my body ugly? Humiliated me in front of your friends?... Trusted everyone except me? Listened to all the rubbish she said about me? Didn't even let me defend myself? Did you ever took a stand for me before anyone?... You let her break our house? " Radha burst loud, controlling her tears. She said all want she wanted to say in all these years. The buried memories resurfaced all over again. She would never forgive him.

He was numb, realization dawned upon the Man, he could not believe that she loved him. The pictures of him slapping her at the smallest mistakes came in front of his eyes. How did he fail to notice her small efforts trying to make him happy? In the process of being an alpha male, a dominating husband when did he cross the line and it became DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? His ears burned with the truth. His heart knew what all Radha said was true. The truth was he was an incapable husband and an incapable father too.

"You called me characterless ha? The one who devoted herself to you? Who was blind in your love? What are you?... You let this woman come in between us... You didn't have any relation with her right? What did she do that you trusted her? Tell me? What I could not give you that she did? " Radha's words poured acid on their ears.

"Stop it" Ridhi's mother screamed at her.

"Why? Does it hurt you? But you still can't imagine how much it hurted me when my husband called me characterless, he abused me and you very well know who was the reason behind it. I have just one question for you, I treated you like my sister. You are my elder brother's wife. I always respected you, always wanted to build a healthy relationship with you. Why did you do this? " Radha whispered heartbrokenly. It hurts when the person who you always loved and admired backstabs you.

She kept quiet with her head hung low.

Radha shook her shoulder" Tell me. What did I ever do to you? " She yelled hiccuping.

"You! just because of you I never got my husband's love. Your brother was always behind you. My sister this! My sister that! He loved you more than me. How could he? " She hissed glaring at Radha like a psycho.

Radha gasped at her. Did she think all the rubbish?

"Did you got the love now? You were so busing ruining my life, planning revenge on me that you never noticed your own life. Are you happy now?" Radha asked crying hysterically.

Radha's words brought chills down her spine. Yes! It was true that she was so engrossed in ruining other's life that she never noticed her life. She got the love of her husband, care of his husband. He followed what she said with a smile. But what did she do? Took all his love for granted?

They heard the breaking of the vase, turning their head at the source they notice Ridhi's Father with stumbling steps. The look in his eyes told that he heard everything. His eyes were turning misty. Ridhi's mother ran to him but he stopped her showing his palm.

He came to Radha, made her stand on her feet. "I... I... I am... S... Sorry... Little... sister" Anyone could draw that he was trying hard to form words. Kissing his sister's forehead, he wiped his tears. He made her sit on the couch again and came to Bela's father "you have... D... Destroyed my sister's life enough. Please do not show us your face ever" He joined his hands in front of him indicating him to leave as soon as possible which he followed. Nothing was left to say.

Glancing at his little sister, he too left. He was ashamed that his wife had a role in her broken life. Ridhi's mother ran behind him to stop him but he didn't even glance in her direction.

When they reached home they found Ridhi trying to slice her wrist with the knife.

They ran to her horrified, trying to stop her but it seemed like she was in another zone.

"I would get a better guy, richer, more handsome than that Bela's Mahir. I am beautiful than her I will get the best. I deserve the best" She kept on slapping herself laughing like a maniac.

Her mother was completely shocked looking at her. This was what she had filled her mind with. Now looking at her teachings she was scared. She was numb. The poison she inflicted in her brain, she could now see that clearly.

Her hate, her ill thinking destroyed her in the end. The one whom she claimed to love the most, her daughter fell prey to her disgusting thoughts.

She sat on the floor holding her head in her hands realizing her unjustified hate, her venomous thoughts lead the way to her self-destruction only while Ridhi's father kept trying to console Ridhi. He too realized that just earning a lot of money, fulfilling each and every wish of his child was not enough. Ridhi was not the responsibility of her mother alone. He wished to get back to the old-time and live life again. Alas! Time never repeats itself.

******
Bela looked at her mother silently crying, sitting on the couch. She too saw it all.

Sighing sadly, she sat beside her. Gracious who was on Bela's shoulder jumped on her shoulder quickly, wiping her tear with her tail.

Radha pulled both of them closer. Bela kissed her forehead and Gracious kissed her on her cheek. She smiled through her tears and kissed them back on their foreheads.

****
It was the day of the Mehendi Ceremony. One of the pre-wedding ceremonies of Hindu marriage.

The green-colored henna is applied on the bride's hands and feet in different beautiful patterns, little henna is applied on the groom's hands and feet too as the cooling effect of henna is believed to relieve stress and anxiety.

It is also believed that the darker the color of the henna deeper will the love between the couple.

Henna was being applied on both of Bela's hands but her mind was somewhere else. Today Mahir did not call her in the morning nor did he message her a 'good morning' as per his usual habit. She was worried thinking about what happened suddenly.

"Write Mahir in big letters" Her Mumma nudged her teasingly, she couldn't help but blush looking down.

As told, the henna artist writes 'Mahir' on her hand making Bela's heart flutter ten times more but again her eyes drift back to her phone.

What happened to him suddenly? Doesn't he love me anymore? He didn't drop the wedding plan, right? I will break his oh-so-handsome face if he even shook his head in a no. Let him meet me I will pinch him such that he won't forget to call me.

Bela's thought was disturbed as soon as her phone rang but with Vish's call.
Bela's instant smile died down at that very second. Not that she didn't like Vish but she expected someone else. Bela sign Gracious to pick up the call who was swinging on her tail beside her draped in a green handkerchief, looking at her henna keenly.

When she saw Bela dressed in an embroidered Green lehenga looking heavenly gorgeous, she jumped on her kissing her face. Bela chuckled at her and let her sit on her shoulder.

Later when she looked at everyone in the house in the green dress she examined herself ALL WHITE!

She was in a cranky mood since then blaring at every other person who came near to play with her. She whined looking at Bela's mother and that's when she draped her up in a green handkerchief, she melted looking at herself in a new dress.

She ran in a circle around Bela's mother happily, after which she picked her up and put her beside Bela.

At Bela's command, Gracious picked up the call on speaker mode.

"Hello, Bela! " Bela's heart skipped a beat as she heard Mahir on the call.

"M.. Mahir? " She was surprised.

"Oh my god! Bela, I missed you so much. Finally, I am relieved to hear your voice. Do you know what all these duffers did? They have kept my phone with them and said that they will give it after our marriage. These sneaky pigs didn't give me their phone too. I stole Vish's phone while she was working in the kitchen and now talking to you" He said everything in one breath making Bela chuckle.

Gracious too squeal listening to his voice.

"Hello, Gracious Baby!" He said making Gracious dance in happiness.

"And you Bela has lo has lo! You are enjoying my misery right? I will tell you after our marriage"
The artists who were applying henna on her hands chuckled listening to him which made Bela's cheeks crimson.

"Shut up Mahir Ji! You are on speaker " She shushed him with a blush on her cheeks

"Is it? Then let the whole world know how much I love you" He copy-pasted the cheesy line he saw somewhere making Bela shake her head at him but she could not ignore the havoc his words created in her stomach.

"Don't know about the whole world but we have discovered a new habit of yours. Any guesses? STEALING. You have stolen my wife's phone. Now as punishment, your wife after marriage that means my sister will stay with Vish for two days without you getting to see her " Bela heard Ajitabh's voice. She could imagine his smirk.

"My little brother... " Mahir tried to coo him but Ajitabh snatched the mobile from his hands.

"Hello, sister! I hope you are doing well. Let me show you what Aarav did... " Ajitabh went away with the phone.

Mahir banged his head on the wall regretting his actions of not letting Ajitabh and Vish meet during their wedding.

He slouched on the bed sulking.

*****
Bela came to her room after the ceremony. She kept adoring the henna on her hand especially where it was written 'Mahir'.

She was dreaming about their life with him

I will wake up in his strong arms every day? He will never stop loving me right? Will I be a good companion?

Bela looked at Mahir's picture on the side table.
"I love you Mahir Ji but I am also nervous. You won't stop loving me right? " She was looking at the picture so keenly as if it will start speaking.

"Never" Her eyes popped out of their socket listening to Mahir's voice. How can a photo frame talk? Was she imagining him? She tapped the photo frame in her hand to check if it was really talking and that's when she heard someone chuckle behind her.

She turned around to find Mahir standing there in a dark green kurta and white pajama pants.

Am I dreaming?

She asked herself, huffing that she won't be able to pinch herself to know if he was really here.

Mahir smiled at her confused expressions, moving forward he cupped her cheeks, "you are looking breathtaking my princess" His one statement made her heartbeat rise, her cheeks heated up and Mahir could feel her warm cheeks beneath his hand.

He slid down his hand to her bare waist, she shivered at the contact of his cold hands on her waist. He pulled her closer, gazing into her eyes. Their body crashed making their heart run like never before. "Bewitching" He whispered moving closer to her face, his hot breath fanning on her face. It was too much for her. She was shy to meet his intense gaze. She wanted to hide somewhere at that moment knowing well about her beetroot cheeks. But her henna-filled hand didn't allow her to push him even a little.
She was melting like ice, it felt like he held the strings of her heart. As closer he moved the faster it shimmered.
Bela turned around to calm down her heart.

Mahir noticed her hands. He hugged her from behind, keeping his chin on her shoulder, admiring his name on her hands. "Beautiful but not more than you" He whispered again rubbing his nose on her shoulder.

Bela tried to remove his hold, feeling too shy but he only tightened his hold on her. "Why do you want to leave me huh? " He pulled her closer.

She kept mum looking another side with her crimson cheeks already telling her helpless state.

"Okay, You don't want me. Fine! I am going to someone else " He loosed his hold on her waist.

"No, you are mine " She immediately yelled fearing he would leave her.

Her eyes turned glassy. Mahir instantly regretted saying those words to her. He didn't want to see even a single tear in her enchanting eyes.

"I have always been yours, sweetheart! I am yours. I am yours, Since forever" He huskily whispered looking straight into her eyes.

She felt relaxed, she smiled looking at him.

She put her head on his chest and he kissed her hair, wrapping his hands around her.
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Hehe... 🐒 actually I was clearing off a popped up notification but ended up clicking on the publish button by mistake in the afternoon😅.

Wasn't planning to write an epilogue thought to end the story with this part only (of course after inserting their marriage scene) but got to know that a few people are expecting me to write till their children.
Your wish my command!

The epilogue will be out soon

Please ignore grammatical mistakes.

Thanks for reading❤