Ch6 A Bride Against Her Will
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Hearing my father, I felt the world tilt beneath me. I knew Alisha was a fallen woman-greedy, flashily enamored with her future husband's wealth-but running away just hours before the wedding? What did that mean?
Snapped out of my head, I saw Samita whispering something to Papa; he stood there, trembling, trying to respond.
I stepped forward. "What happened, Papa? Is there something you want to tell me?"
He fell silent for a while. Then, with a voice that broke my heart, he said, "Look, Rivanya... I know I've done terrible things to you and your mother in my life..."
The moment he said those words, I had to fight hard not to cry. I could feel a lump rising in my throat.
He took my hands in his, voice thin with plea. "Rivanya, I've come to ask you something-one last time. Don't disappoint me, daughter..."
My chest tightened. I looked him in the eyes and answered, voice raw, "When have I ever defied you? Even without a mother I've come here for you. I've endured shame for you, and still I remained-refused to break ties with the house that belongs to me, to my mother-because you asked it of me.
You treated that home like a burden because of her, and yet I said nothing..."
Tears streamed down my face. Papa lowered his eyes in shame.
I forced the words out, the hurt burning me as I spoke.
"You know I could have-at a single gesture-driven your second wife and stepdaughter out. This house still stands in my mother's name; it is rightfully mine, and yet I endured everything. I stayed a dutiful daughter and obeyed you-why? Because my mother respected you. Even as she died,
she believed in your honour, even after you betrayed her with your secretary. She still thought you would never deceive her."
I remembered the hospital bed-the last breath-my mother's trembling hand holding mine as she whispered, "Rivu beta, never dishonour your father..."
My breath hitched. Tears choked me and my voice cracked; even my father sat there with his eyes wet, ashamed.
"I ask you-what more do you want from me?" I said through a sob.
Then, to my utter disbelief, Papa fell to his knees before me and wept. "Please... preserve my honour. Marry Rudraksh instead of Alisha... Become my bride, daughter. Please-be the bride."
Those words shattered the floor beneath me. I stood there, stunned and crying, unable to believe my ears. "What are you saying, Papa? I can't- I won't do that."
It was surreal. How could he be so selfish? After ruining half my life, now he demanded the rest of it too-asking me to sacrifice my future for his reputation.
I took a step back, my voice trembling as I said,
"I can't do this marriage, Papa... I will never ruin my life."
Tears streamed down my face as I turned to leave, desperate to escape, to run as far away from this house, from these people, as possible. I just needed to get out-away from the chaos, away from their expectations, away from everything.
I had walked only a few steps when a piercing scream tore through the air behind me:
"Naresh...!"
The sound froze me in my tracks. Heart hammering, I turned around, and the sight made my chest tighten in shock.
My father had collapsed onto the floor, clutching his chest, his face pale and stricken.
Samita was standing over him, shrieking in terror, her body trembling as though the world itself had crumbled beneath her.
Fear coursed through me. I ran to him, my knees almost giving way, and fell to my father's side. Tears blurred my vision as I reached out, placing my hands on his arms. "Papa! Papa, what happened? Are you okay?"
He tried to speak, his lips trembling, but only a hoarse gasp came out.
My heart clenched at the sight of him so vulnerable, so helpless.
Around us, the room erupted in chaos-servants rushing in, relatives shouting, someone calling for water, another phoning for a doctor.
But all I could see was my father lying there, struggling for breath, and the terror that gripped me was unlike anything I had felt before.
He tried, with great effort, to bring his hands together in a prayer, and through a choked whisper he begged, "Save my honor, beta... please save it..."
I sat there, helpless, only able to cry. I had no answer for his plea.
-Time passes-
Later, my father lay unconscious on the bed.
The doctor knelt over him, checking for signs, while I stayed by his side, clutching his hand.
Tears would not stop; they kept welling up no matter how much I tried to blink them away.
I had watched my mother take her last breath in front of me once how could I now bear to see my father like this?
Samita stood at the bedside too, playing her part crying, or pretending to cry I could never tell which.
Her brother had arrived just a short while ago as we were carrying Papa into the room; he hovered nearby, soothing her when needed.
Word had already spread through the house: the bride had run away, and the groom's procession had apparently already left. The atmosphere was thick with anxiety.
I overheard people whispering that the groom's family were powerful and dangerous.
Some even murmured that the groom had underworld connections.
Listening to all of that, I felt disgusted: my own family how greedy they were, and how low Alisha must be, ready to marry such a man for wealth.
But why would she run away now? Why so suddenly, when everything was set?
For the moment, all my worry funneled into one place: my father, lying pale on that bed.
"Doctor what happened? Is Papa going to be all right? Has anything serious occurred?" I pleaded.
The doctor took a long breath. "Right now he is stable, but there is a risk of a heart attack. Has he not had a previous episode?"
"He did about six months ago," I answered. The memory hit me like a blow. The doctor had assured us back then that after surgery he would be fine. So how could this happen now?
The doctor's face was grave. "He suffered a severe shock more than his heart could take. For now he's okay, but you must make sure he experiences no more stress. One more shock could be fatal."
I nodded, tears slipping down my cheeks as the doctor left.
Samita's voice cut through the quiet like acid. "You call yourself his daughter can't you do anything for him? After all, that man is rich. What else could you possibly want?"
My fists clenched with fury. Forcing my voice steady, I said, "Do you think I view you and your daughter as anything but greedy? Your kind of behavior suits neither a mother nor a daughter."
Samita's face twisted. "What did you say? How dare you speak to me like that!"
I stood up, anger flaring. "You have no idea what courage is. I won't waste another word on you. Right now, only my father matters."
Before she could reply, her brother leaned in and whispered something to her. Samita swallowed her words, forcing down the outrage. I watched her saw the panic beneath her bravado and it only confirmed my suspicion that she and her family were the architects of much of this misery.
As I was thinking, my father opened his eyes and whispered my name. I rushed to his side. He struggled to sit; I helped him gently. He still held his hand to his chest, as if to soothe some inner pain.
"Papa... are you all right?" I asked, voice breaking.
He answered with bitter resignation, "How can I be okay when my honor has been trampled? Alisha has shamed me beyond repair. What am I to do?"
"Please," I implored, "the doctor said no stress. Please be calm."
My father's face darkened with fear. "How can I be calm? This marriage was to powerful people men with names that move nations. If this alliance collapses, our family will be ruined."
Hearing him speak like that made my stomach drop. The weight of his worry pressed into me, heavy and suffocating, but beneath it all I felt something else a burning, bitter clarity about what people would sacrifice in the name of honor and power.
I took a deep breath, wiped away my tears, and said firmly,
"Papa, I will marry him..."
My father froze his eyes filled with both shock and relief. He clutched my hand tightly, his voice trembling as tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Beta... how will I ever repay you? You don't know what a sacrifice you are making for me today."
I swallowed my pain, holding back more tears, and whispered,
"Papa, I have just one condition for this marriage."
His gaze softened instantly.
"Anything, beta... say it. I promise, I'll do whatever you want."
With my heart turning heavy like stone, I forced the words out,
"Once I am married... I will have no ties left with the Bedi family. Every bond will end."
My father's face went pale, shaken to the core. His lips trembled as he begged,
"You may cut ties with anyone, but not with me, beti. If you leave me, I will die."
My tears finally spilled as I shook my head.
"No, Papa... please don't say such things. I have already lost Maa once I cannot lose you too. How can I ever break my bond with you? You are my father, my janmdata. That tie will never end, no matter what happens. I may not step into this house again, but I will always remain your daughter."
Hearing this, Papa broke down and pulled me into his arms.
"Yes, beti... you will always be my pride, my daughter. I have wronged you in the past, listening to others instead of trusting you. But now I realize my mistake..."
We were so lost in each other's words that we didn't notice the devilish smirk forming on Samita's and her brother's faces.
Papa finally composed himself and said,
"Come, beta. I'll have your wedding attire arranged immediately. The groom's procession must be arriving soon. Go sit in your Maa's old room. It will bring you some comfort... and get ready there."