A bond bound by compulsion

Mumbai...

Night time...

A grand temple of Mahadev in the stormy heavy rain from which only the sound of bells ringing and Pandit ji chanting mantras could be heard.

There were some people standing in that temple, who had only trouble and worry on their faces. There was a pavilion in the middle of the temple. In front of the Havan Kund, two people dressed as bride and groom were doing as per the instructions of Pandit ji.

Rishabh Shergill, wearing white sherwani, red turban and hiding his face under the scarf, was looking at the fire with his stern eyes.

Rishabh Shergill was the uncrowned king of both the worlds. To the outside world, he was the owner of RS Empire, with whom even the biggest businessman could do anything to work, and in the underworld world, he was a mafia king, who would not even hesitate to kill anyone for a small mistake. That mafia king was getting married today, which was happening against his will, that too with an unknown girl. And the reason for all this was his father, whom he hates the most in the world.

Pandit ji was reciting the mantra and Rishabh was just looking at the burning fire without any emotion. He did not even take a look of the unknown girl sitting next to himn with whom he was going to enter into a sacred bond like marriage.

His family standing in front of him would sometimes look at him and Sometimes look at Rishabh's father Alok Shergill standing near them.

Alok Shergill was a middle aged man

whose lines of age had appeared on his face. His face resembled that of Rishabh to some extent, but he still had that glow and determination on his face which was capable of telling how harsh and mysterious his nature was. Perhaps Rishabh has inherited this harsh nature from his father.

Then a woman of approximately his age came to him. This is Rishabh's mother Shobha Shergill. Shobha is as simple and sweet as her name. A simple Banarasi saree, a string of pearls around the neck, hair tied up and no makeup on the face. Shobha's beauty had not diminished even today, but at this time her beauty has faded a bit. Because her son, whom she loves very much, is marrying under some compulsion.

Shobha said to her husband Alok, "You did not do right at all, Alok. What do you want from my son? You had already ruined his childhood, now do you want to ruin his future life also? Why are you doing this? Why are you forcing him to marry this unknown girl? whom we have neither seen normet. Leave alone her face, we don'teven know her name. Who is she,where has she Come from and what did you do with Rishabh that Did he agree to this marriage?"

Alok took one look at his wife and then looked at Rishabh and said without any emotion, "If your son is getting married and that too quietly, then it means that he must have got something which he wants from his heart. And despite his best efforts he is not able to achieve it, so he has to pay the price for it and that price is marriage."

Hearing Alok's words, Shobha's eyes became wide with surprise. The rest of the family members of Rishabh standing in front started talking among themselves.

Rishabh's grandfather Rishidhar Shergill looked at his son indifferently and said, "I don't know what sin we had committed that he was born as my son and took away the happiness of my daughter-in-law as well as my grandson and the entire family. What he did years ago did not satisfy him and today he is ruining my grandson's

life again."

Standing next to Rishidhar, his younger son Ajay Shergill, Rishabh's uncle, placed his hand on Rishidhar's hand and said, "Papa, please calm down. You know that whatever Rishabh does, he does it after thinking. If Rishabh has said yes to the marriage, then he must have thought something. even though brother is Rishabh's father, but you also know that no one can force Rishabh."

" But if Rishabh is not helpless thenwhy is he getting married? What is the reason for this? Does he already know this girl? After all, who is this girl whom brother-in-law has brought? I swear on the diamond, Papa ji, I don't like this girl at all. Surely brother-in-law is sending her to our house for some purpose or the other.", When Ajay's wife Surekha interrupted, Ajay looked at her and signaled her to remain silent.

The two people who were listening to those three conversations were just silently looking at Rishabh. Although Rishabh was wearing Sehra on his facenat this time, but still both of them were able to imagine how Rishabh's face would be in anger at this time?

A 26-year-old boy, said, "No one knows how angry brother will be at this time? I am surprised as to how brother is so calm. Otherwise, as is his nature, the tsunami would have arrived here much earlier."

This is Rishabh's younger brother, Rohit Shergill, son of Ajay and Surekha. Rohit is quite handsome in appearance, with fair face, brown eyes and round face cut which gave him the look of a chocolate boy and his behavior was also similar. Just as people become happy when they have chocolate, similarly people also become happy with Rohit, his words and his actions.

Listening to Rohit, Rishabh's younger sister Riya Shergill said, "Maybe Rohit brother, this peace is the peace before the arrival of tsunami. I am feeling Scared inside, I don't know who the girl is, Where has she come from and why is she marrying brother? Does she wants to die who has come to brother on her own? Doesn't she know that brother is a mafia king? It will take the brother even 2 minutes to take her life and she is marrying him against his will."

Riya was everyone's darling in the house. A 23-year-old bubbly girl witha round face, big eyes, short hair reaching up to her shoulders, she looked like a doll. She is everyone's life in the house, everyone's beloved.

Then Pandit ji's voice came, putting an end to their conversation, "Call the girl's parents for Kanyadaan." Hearing this, everyone started looking at the bride and when Shobha looked at Alok, Alok looked at the Pandit without any emotion and said, "Pandit ji, there will be no Kanyadaan ritual. This girl has no one, so the marriage will take place without this ritual. So Get it done."

Pandit ji took one look at Alok and then started carrying on with the wedding rituals. The girl closed her eyes tightly inside the veil and the tears that came out of her eyes fell on her hands, which she closed in her fist.

(You all must be wondering who am I? Like everyone else, you too must be having the same questions in your mind that where have I come from? Why am I marrying this mafia and why don't I have a family? Come on, Let me tell you about myself, because I don't think anyone here will tell you all about me.

My name is Anokhi. Today I have turned 18 years old. Now you all must be thinking that what am I doing in the wedding hall at the young age of 18, the reason is my family. Yes, I have my entire family, I mean. My father, my two elder brothers, my mother, but till date no one has considered me as their family except my mother. For them, I was a wretched person, an unlucky person, whom they threw out of their house today. Today Mr. Alok signed a contract with them which was very beneficial for my family. But in return Mr. Alok wanted me, which my family happily gave and thern Mr. Alok asked me to marry his son, whose name I had heard but never seen. AllI know is that he is a mafia and also a big businessman and he gives death to his enemies in such a way that even their souls tremble and my heart is breaking just thinking that my own family has sold me to such a beast. Now you people must be wondering who is my family, so I will tell you about my family some other time, currently Pandit ji is going to get the most important ritual of my marriage done, that is the ceremony of Phere, Sindoor and Mangalsutra. So come on, enjoy my wedding.)

Then Pandit ji said, "Now let the bride and groom stand for the saat-fere."

On Pandit ji's request, Rishabh stood up from his place, but Anokhi remained sitting lost in her own thoughts. She had no idea what Pandit ji was saying.

When Rishabh saw that the girl was not standing for the fere, his anger became unbearable. He clenched his fists tightly and looked at the veiled girl with his head down. In the next moment he suddenly lifted Anokhi in his hand and started circling.

Anokhi, who was not conscious till now, came to her senses after being lifted in Rishabh's hand and when she found herself in the air, she held Rishabh's sherwani tightly with both her hands.

After seven rounds, Rishabh did not put Anokhi back in her place but threw her down lightly, due to which Aarohi held her waist and closed her eyes tightly.

Pandit ji further said, "Wear Mangalsutra around the neck of the Bride."

Rishabh very rudely picked up the mangalsutra from the plate and put it around Anokhi's neck. While putting it, Rishabh's nails badly pricked Anokhi's neck, due to which Anokhi feel the pain, but she started to bear the pain by closing her eyes.

Then Pandit ji said, "Now fill vermillion in the bride's parting."

Instead of taking a pinch of vermillion, Rishabh angrily took a handful of vermillion and filled Anokhi's parting.

Rishabh did this in such a way that the vermilion got applied on Anokhi's entire face along with her parting. Everyone could sense Rishabh's anger from his actions.

Pandit ji said, "Now the marriage is over, from today you both are husband and wife."

Everyone was shocked to see him doing this. At this time everyone's attention was only on Rishabh and Alok. No one noticed that the stole had caught fire due to being thrown into the fire and that fire was about to reach the alliance.

Seeing this Pandit ji shouted, "o Ram." and poured the water from the pot directly on the alliance.

When Pandit ji shouted, everyone looked in that direction. Seeing that the alliance and Anokhi's chunri is saved from fire, everyone heaved a sigh of relief.

To be continue...

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