18 ~ Mukti Eloped
Chahat's POV.
That night, sleep refused to come easily.
I lay on the mattress, staring blankly at the ceiling while Ina and Ishika chatted beside me.
No matter how hard I tried...My mind kept drifting back to the backyard.
To Kartik.
To the way he'd grabbed Rivan's collar without a second thought. The anger in his eyes. The way he'd completely lost control.
I knew why he'd done it.
He was jealous.
Jealous of Rivan.
There was no point denying it anymore but that didn't make it right.
No matter what he thought...No matter how much he disliked Rivan. He had no right to hit him.
No right to decide whom I could be friends with.
No right to question my character.
A tired sigh escaped my lips.
Eventually, exhaustion overpowered my thoughts.
Since it was Mukti's wedding, Ina, Ishika, were staying over at the house.
Mukti slept in her own room while the three of us settled into the guest room, too tired to continue talking.
Within minutes, the room fell silent.
One by one...we drifted off to sleep.
The next morning began with noise.
Voices echoed through the house from every direction.
Relatives hurried up and down the stairs carrying trays, flower baskets, and gift boxes while decorators rushed around hanging strings of lights across the courtyard and entrance.
Fresh marigold garlands covered every doorway.
The scent of flowers mixed with incense filled the air.
Someone called for the caterer.
Someone else shouted for the makeup artist.
Children ran around laughing while the elders tried to keep everything on schedule.
The entire house buzzed with excitement and panic.
After all tonight was the wedding.
I sat up slowly, pressing my fingers against my temples, trying to shake off the heaviness in my chest. I don't know why... but since the moment I opened my eyes, something felt... off.
Not wrong. Just... uneasy. Like my heart knew something my mind didn't.
I stood up and went to the room and glanced at Mukti di.
She was already awake. Her clothes, gifts and jewellery was scattered all over the bed.
By late afternoon, the entire house had transformed into a whirlwind of chaos.
Ina and Ishika were getting ready, both looking beautiful in their colourful Rajasthani lehengas, laughing as they admired each other's jewellery in the mirror.
Fresh flowers adorned their hair, their bangles chiming softly every time they moved.
Mukti had just stepped out after her shower, her damp hair falling over her shoulders as one of the aunties handed her a glass of juice.
Every room buzzed with excitement.
Someone was searching for safety pins. Someone else was looking for a missing earring.
The wedding was only a few hours away.
Everyone was running out of time.
I didn't even had the time to eat.
I quickly took my shower and changed into a simple, lightweight suit.
There was no point wearing my lehenga yet.
My makeup would ruin it anyway.
Once the beauticians arrived, Mumma escorted them upstairs.
"Tum dulhan ko taiyaar karo," She told one of them.
(You get the bride ready.)
And asked other beauticians to help us.
"Apna makeup main khud kar lungi."
(I'll do my own makeup.)
The beautician looked at me in surprise before nodding. "Theek hai."
(Alright.)
Instead, they began helping Ina and Ishika.
Nearly an hour later...
I finally changed into my own outfit.
An elegant purple lehenga. It shimmered every time I moved beneath the lights.
After finishing my hair and adjusting my dupatta over one shoulder, I quietly walked back toward Mukti's room.
The moment I entered...
I stopped. She wasn't ready. Not even close. She was still wearing her casual clothes, pacing restlessly across the room with her phone clutched tightly in one hand.
My brows knitted together.
"Di... aap abhi tak taiyaar nahi hui?"
(Sis... you're still not ready?)
She looked at me for a second...Something flickered across her face.
"Haan... main bas taiyaar hi ho rahi hoon." She forced a smile. "Wo actually na... mera jo shaadi ka joda Kartik ke ghar se aaya hai na...wo bahut tight tha. Isiliye urgent alteration ke liye bheja tha. Abhi tak wapas nahi aaya. Main bas wahi lekar aati hoon. Tab tak tu yahin rehna."
(Yes... I'm just getting ready. Actually... the bridal outfit that came from Kartik's house was too tight, so I sent it for urgent alterations. It hasn't come back yet. I'll go get it. Until then, you stay here.)
I frowned. "Main le aati hoon na aapka joda."
(I'll go bring your outfit.)
"Nahi." Her answer came too quickly. "I'll go."
(No.)
She walked toward the dressing table before pointing at the jewellery spread neatly across it.
"Dekh...Saari jewellery yahin padi hai. Main ise aise chhod kar nahi ja sakti."
(Look... all the jewellery is lying here. I can't leave it unattended.)
I looked at the expensive bridal jewellery covering the table.
She wasn't wrong.
Still...Something felt strange.
"Main Maa ko bol deti hoon..."
(I'll tell Mom...)
"Chahat!" I flinched. She had almost shouted.
My eyes widened.
Her breathing had grown uneven. "Dimag kharab kar rahi hai kabse."
(You've been getting on my nerves for so long.)
She immediately looked toward the door as though afraid someone had heard her.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Bas. Tu yahin ruk. Theek hai? Aur koi mere baare mein puche to bolna main washroom mein hoon."
(Just stay here. Okay? And if anyone asks about me, tell them I'm in the washroom.)
I stared at her.
"Di...Kyun?"
(Sis... why?)
She didn't answer. Instead...She turned toward the balcony.
My heart skipped.
"Di...?" She climbed onto the small ledge. My eyes widened. "What are you doing?"
For the first time since entering the room...
She looked at me. There was guilt in her eyes and relief.
"I'm sorry Chahat."
She whispered it so softly I almost didn't hear.
The next second...She climbed over the railing.
My breath caught in my throat.
By the time I reached the balcony...She had already jumped down.
She hid her face from the duppata she was wearing. There were less people and nobody noticed her.
A car was waiting for her at the back gate.
A man quickly stepped out and opened the passenger door for her.
Without looking back...Mukti got inside and the car started moving.
"No..." I whispered.
Within seconds...It disappeared beyond the gate.
My heartbeat thundered inside my ears.
She...She had left.
My trembling gaze slowly shifted back toward the room.
Lying neatly across the bed...was the bridal lehenga.
The one that had supposedly gone for alterations.
I stared at it.
My mind refused to understand what my eyes were seeing.
It had all been a lie.
A cold shiver ran through my body.
My sister...had just run away from her own wedding.
Soon the distant sounds of the baraat slowly reached the house...
The beat of the dhol, the cheers and the music.
My heart refused to slow down.
Instead...It pounded harder with every passing second.
I stood rooted to my place, my eyes fixed on the empty balcony through which Mukti had disappeared.
Minutes crawled by.
I didn't know how long I stood there in complete shock before the bedroom door suddenly flew open.
Mumma hurried inside, her saree pallu gathered in one hand as she spoke without even looking at me.
"Chahat, jaldi Mukti ko bolo taiyaar ho jaaye. Baraat aa chuki hai."
(Hurry and tell Mukti to get ready. The groom's procession has arrived.)
She was still talking while adjusting the jewellery tray in her hands.
"Pandit ji bhi pooch rahe..."
(The priest is asking as well...)
She stopped. Her brows furrowed. Slowly, she looked around the room then at me.
"Chahat..." Her voice softened. "Mukti kahan hai?"
(Chahat... where is Mukti?)
I opened my mouth. Nothing came out. "Mumma..." My throat felt painfully dry. "Di..."
She frowned. "Usko bolo jaldi taiyaar hone ko."
(Tell her to get ready quickly.)
My hands began trembling. "Wo... Di..."
(She...)
I couldn't even complete the sentence. For the first time, Mumma actually looked at me.
She noticed my pale face. My trembling lips. The tears threatening to spill from my eyes.
Then her gaze swept across the room once again.
The untouched bridal jewellery. The bridal lehenga lying on the bed.
The empty balcony door and...no Mukti.
Her expression slowly changed. Confusion then concern and then fear.
"Chahat..." She whispered. "Kahan hai Mukti?"
(Where is Mukti?)
I lowered my eyes.
The words barely escaped my lips. "Di...chali gayi."
(She... has left.)
Everything went still.
"Kyaa?" She took a step toward me. "Chahat, ye agar mazaak hua na...to mujhse bura koi nahi hoga."
(What? If this is a joke, you'll regret it.)
I immediately shook my head.
"Main mazaak nahi kar rahi hoon. Mukti di jaa chuki hain."
(I'm not joking. Mukti has left.)
For a second..she simply stared at me.
As though refusing to believe what she had just heard.
Then her eyes slowly filled with tears.
"Ye kya kar diya is ladki ne." She whispered. "Nahi..."
(What has that girl done? No...)
With trembling fingers, she pulled out her phone and immediately called Papa.
Within moments, he rushed into the room, breathing heavily.
"Kya hua?" He looked from Mumma to me in confusion. "Itni urgently kyun bulaya? Neeche baraat aa chuki hai."
(What happened? Why did you call me so urgently? The groom's procession has already arrived downstairs.)
Mumma looked at him with tear-filled eyes.
Her lips trembled. "Woh...Mukti shadi chhod kar chali gayi."
(Mukti... left the wedding.)
The words hit the room like a thunderclap.
Papa stood frozen.
His face drained every ounce of colour. "What...?"
He looked at the empty room then at the untouched bridal lehenga then at me.
Papa stood frozen.
The color had completely drained from his face.
His lips parted, but no words came out.
His vacant eyes drifted toward the window where the distant sounds of the baraat echoed through the air.