I was coming back home from the library, having lost track of time while solving assignments. When I checked the clock, it was already 10:30 PM. Panic set in as I realized how late it was. I quickly packed up my things and left the library, hoping to get home before it was too late.
I tried to book a cab, but the app showed "No cabs available." Just then, someone snatched my phone from my hand and jumped into a car. I ran after him, but the vehicle disappeared into the distance. Breathless and disoriented, I stopped and looked around. I was alone on a deserted highway, having accidentally run in the wrong direction from home.
The surroundings felt increasingly unsafe, and I started walking aimlessly, hoping to find a telephone booth or some help. After what felt like an eternity, I came upon a building with a watchman stationed outside. Desperate, I approached him, hoping he could assist me.
The watchman was visibly drunk, and his gaze made me uncomfortable. His eyes were filled with a disturbing mixture of lust and hunger. Despite my unease, I had no other option. I needed to contact my family and explain my situation.
“Excuse me, sir,” I said, my voice trembling. “Could I please use your phone? I’ve had a really rough night and need to call my family.”
The watchman, still eyeing me with a predatory look, slurred, “I don’t believe you. At this hour, a respectable girl wouldn’t be wandering around here, especially near the highway.”
I was shocked by his dismissive attitude. I tried to explain my predicament, but he remained unmoved. His enjoyment of my distress was evident, and my fear grew.
“But where will I go at this late hour? Please, just help me,” I pleaded, my voice quivering.
“No,” the watchman said with a leering smile, “Tonight, you’ll stay at my place. I’m sure no one will find out.”
His intentions were clear, and fear gripped me as he grabbed my arm and began to touch me inappropriately. Tears streamed down my face as I begged him, “Please, let me go. I’m begging you. I swear I’ll leave right after this.”
Despite my desperate attempts to free myself, his grip was unyielding. He began to touch my neck and shoulders, his hands roaming over my back. I felt helpless and terrified. He lifted me onto his shoulder, intending to take me to his house.
In a burst of panic, I bit his shoulder. The sudden pain made him drop me, giving me a brief moment to escape. I kicked him hard, my fear fueling my strength. As he crumpled to his knees in agony, I ran as fast as I could, my heart racing and tears blurring my vision.
As I sprinted down the road, headlights appeared in the distance. In my panic, I barely noticed the car speeding towards me. In a split second, the vehicle swerved to avoid me, crashing into a nearby tree. The deafening crash and blinding light made me flinch.
When I finally dared to look, I saw the car’s driver, badly injured and bleeding from his head. My heart sank as I saw the severity of his wounds. Without hesitation, I ran to the car, pulling open the door to find the driver in pain, struggling to move.
Gasping, I carefully helped him out of the car and laid him on a nearby bench. His condition was dire, with blood pouring from his head wound. “Hey Shiv Ji, what has happened because of me?” I whispered, tears falling freely. “He’s hurt badly. Please shiv ji help us.”
I spoke to the injured man, “Are you okay? Please, don’t close your eyes. I’ll try to help you.”
The man groaned in pain, barely conscious. Acting quickly, I tore a piece of my dupatta and wrapped it around his head to staunch the bleeding. The makeshift bandage seemed to help, but the urgency of the situation remained. I glanced around desperately for help, but the road was empty. It was past 2 AM, and no vehicles were in sight.
Crying and overwhelmed, I felt a surge of hopelessness. I couldn’t take him to the hospital because I didn’t know where I was and had no way to call for help. Then, a thought struck me. I checked the injured man’s pockets and found his phone. It had a fingerprint lock, but I managed to use his finger to unlock it.
Quickly, I dialed the first contact in his phone, praying for a miracle as I waited for someone to answer.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
"Hello," someone answered the call, and it sounded like a lady's voice.
"Hel-lo, he met with an accident, please come," I said while crying badly.
"Who are you, and what are you talking about?" she asked being worried.
"I don't have time to explain... but please come quickly... he is badly injured," I said.
"Okay, okay, I am sending someone. Send me your location and also call an ambulance," she said.
"Okay... please come fast," I said and then ended the call. I sent our location to that number and called an ambulance as well.
I looked at him. He was in so much pain that it was becoming difficult for him to open his eyes.
I said to myself, "Inki halat kharab hoti ja rahi hai... agar kuch nahi kiya to kahi inhe kuch ho na jaye... hey Shiv ji raksha karna inki... ye sab meri vajah se hua."
I sat on the ground, cupped his cheeks, and said, "Please don't close your eyes. I have called for help... aapko kuch nahi hoga," I sobbed, holding his cheeks with both my hands.
After 15 minutes, I saw the ambulance coming, and it stopped. Soon they took him inside, and I sat beside him. All the while, I was just praying to God to save him. After only 10-12 minutes, we arrived at the hospital. They took him with them, and I followed all the while. But just when they took him inside the room, they said, "You wait outside." I nodded and sat on the chair.
After some time, I went to the washroom and saw that my hairline was filled with his blood and my clothes were stained with his blood. I said while touching my hairline, "Hey Shiv ji, ye kya hua... unhone hamaari maang bhar di anjaane mein."
But I shrugged off that thought and said, "It happened by mistake, and I should not take it this seriously." I cleaned my face but didn't wash my hairline as I thought my hair would get wet. Also, I don't know why, but it didn't seem right to wash my hairline.
After that, I left the washroom and went outside the room where his treatment was going on. I then thought to call my parents, so I asked someone for their phone, and she gave it to me. I was about to call my parents when some men arrived, and one of them asked me how it happened. I explained everything and asked him, "Aap kaun hai? Aur unke kya lagte hai?"
He replied, "I am his friend and business partner."
I nodded and sat down. He sat beside me, maintaining a good distance, and noticed my hairline. He asked, "Are you married?"
I said, "Ji nahi."
But then he frowned and asked, "Then why have you applied vermilion on your hairline?"
I said, "I was helping your friend out of the car... and by mistake, he filled..."
But then he shockingly asked, "He filled your hairline ?"
I replied, "Ji... par anjaane mein."
He didn't say anything and remained quiet.
While sitting there, some flashback came to my mind.
Flashback
"Ma, why do you always fill your hairline with that red thing?" 5-year-old Divya asked her mother when she was getting ready.
Her mother replied, "Because I am married to your father."
Divya asked again, "But what does that mean?"
Her mother said, "It means that the woman is now married to the man who filled her hairline."Divya said, "But Ma, why is it necessary?"
Her mother replied, "When a man fills the hairline of a woman, then only she gets married and is considered his wife."
Flashback ends
After that flashback, I realized that I had just got married to him, and he was unfortunately my husband. I didn't know what to do. Should I tell him or not?
After some time, a nurse came and said, "He is fine now... you can meet him... and if you want, you can take him back home as it wasn't a major injury." When she said he was fine, I felt relieved, but then a thought crossed my mind about how I would tell him that we got married accidentally.
Then his friend said, "Come, let's go inside. He is up now. You should meet him and tell him about your marriage with him."
I was shocked. I thought they would not take this matter seriously as it was just an accident. I replied, "But how... he filled my hairline accidentally... how can I claim this as a marriage?"
He didn't say anything and asked me to follow him with a gesture of his hand. I went with him inside and saw that he was up and looking toward us. I didn't know what to say or ask.
I just went and asked him, "How are you now?"
He coldly said, "I am good... but who are you?"
I said, "I am the girl because of whom you got into this accident."
Then his friend came and asked him, "How are you? Aur itni laparwahi se car kaun chalata hai?"He didn't say anything and just glared at him angrily.
He then said, "Who informed you about me and how come you are in Delhi?"
His friend said, "I got a call from Aunty, and she said that someone called her and informed her about your accident... and I was in Delhi due to some business work."
He then glared at me and said angrily, "Why are you still here? You can go now... thanks for helping."
I didn't say anything and was about to leave when his friend said, "She is your wife now... you married her by filling her partition with your own blood."
"What are you saying? And who said that I filled her hairline? I got into an accident, and you are talking about marriage... have you lost your mind?" he said loudly.
I flinched hearing his voice and was about to step back when I heard a voice, "How can you deny this... can't you see that her maang is filled?"
I turned my head, hearing the voice, and saw an old lady standing at the door and staring at us.
He asked that lady, "Who are you, and why are you interfering in our matter? I request you to leave right now."
"I am here because I heard some noise coming from this room, and I just came to check and saw that despite filling her maang, you are denying this marriage," she answered back.
I said, "Maaji... but this happened accidentally... how can we marry without all the mantras, pheras, and mangalsutra?"
She replied, "Beta, shaadi mein sabse jaruri sindoor hota hai aur usne tumhare maang bhar di hai... bhale anjaane mein sahi lekin tum pati-patni ban chuke ho."
"What the hell are you saying? Please get out right now... you are older than me, that's why till now you are standing here. Otherwise, nobody dares to interfere in my matters... and you are no one to tell me whether I am married or not," he shouted angrily.
His friend said, "Bhai shant ho ja... hum aaram se baat karte hai... tera thodi der pehle hi accident hua hai... bhool gaya kya?"
"I know you are not ready to accept this marriage because you think that filling the hairline of a girl is not a big deal, but it is a big deal for this girl," she said, pointing toward me. She came to me and asked, "Do you accept this marriage?"
"I don't know... but my maa says that a woman gets married once a man fills her hairline... but if he is not ready to accept this marriage, then I will not force him, and I should go back as it's very late now, and my parents must be worried for me," I said.
I turned to leave, but then he asked, "But how will you go at this late hour?"
I stopped hearing his voice and turned toward him, "I don't know... but I will manage," I said.
He didn't say anything for a moment. He then turned his head toward his friend and said, "Avyaan, hame is se akele mein kuch baat karni hai."
His friend nodded and left, and the old lady also left with him.
.
.
He turned towards me and called me "come here ....let's talk about this"
I went and sat beside him
He first stared my face then my hairline and said " tell me honestly...do you believe all this?"I didn't said anything and was quite.
He again asked loudly but this time in dangerous voice " will you speak or not ?....I am asking you something "
I flinched hearing his voice and just nodded
" Are you mad or what? You are telling me that I married you and that too accidentally and you are accepting this marriage"
I gathered a lot of courage and said " I know you will not believe this marriage and it's difficult for me too to believe...and I am not going to force you for this ... whatever decision you will take I will respect that "
He stared me for some time and said "okay...I accept this marriage but you have to marry me again with all the rituals and that too right now "
I wasn't able to believe my ears after listening his words ...I asked again him "you want me to marry you that too now ?..."
"Yes, you are saying na that you believe this so let's get marry with all the rituals " he said angrily...it seemed that he is controlling his anger
"Lekin abhi kaise abhi to aap hospital mai hai " I said
Then suddenly he stood up and grabbed my wrist and started dragging me and in no time we came outside the hospital...
He called his friend and said " Avyaan come here right now ....I am standing outside the hospital"
Saying this he ended the call
And after 2 min his friend came and asked him
" are you mad? Kahi sar par choot aane se dimag to kharab nahi hogaya ...abhi tumhari halat thek nahi hai aur tum aaise hi hospital se chal diye"
" Give me your car keys..." He said
"But why ... where are you going and why are taking her with you?"
He shouted " give me the keys right now .. otherwise I will go on my own"
His friend gave him his car keys without questioning again
He dragged me and opened car door and asked me to sit ...I sat quietly because he was looking damn angry right now ...his eyes were red and it was difficult to understand that it is because of pain or anger
He started the car and was driving at very high speed ...
I was quite all the while and after 8-10 min he stopped the car and opened the door..
He stepped out and then came to my side and opened the door and grabbed my hand ..
I was blankly looking at him not knowing what he is doing...
I neither protested nor tried to free my self...my brain stopped working that time ...
Then I saw that he was walking towards Durga maa's temple and climbed the stairs
After reaching inside the temple... I saw that pandit ji(priest) was sitting nearby durga maa's murti and was doing something..He shouted looking towards pandit ji and said " we want to marry ...right now"
Pandit ji turned towards us and said
" you can come tomorrow..it's very late right now"
He then took out his gun from his pant and pointed towards pandit ji ...
Without any delay pandit ji said "o_kay I agre_e ..b_ut pls keep this gun down"
Saying this pandit ji quickly went somewhere and returned with some puja samagri
I looked at him and thought "Why has he suddenly become obsessed with marriage? He had just refused the marriage in the hospital, and now he's threatening the priest to go through with it. Oh Shiv Ji, what have you written in my destiny? I don’t even know his name, and I don’t understand what kind of work he does that he has a gun with him."
Then pandit ji told us to sit ...
We sat and soon he started chanting mantra and then asked us to stand up for phere ..we did as he said and at last he asked him to tie mangalsutra and fill sindoor...when he touched my neck while tying mangalsutra (nuptial chain) I felt his cold hands and shiver ran down my whole body and then he took pinch of sindoor (vermilion) and filled my maang and I noticed that some sindoor fell on my nose ...I closed my eyes feeling his fingers on my hairline...
Then pandit ji said "aapke shaadi sampann Hui aur aaj se aap dono pati patni huye ....maa durga aap par apna ashirwad banaya rakhe "
He stood up and nodded to pandit ji ..then grabbed my wrist and took me inside the car ...I was hell scared and due to which some tears rolled down my cheeks. His eyes softened seeing me crying but he quickly masked up his emotions and maintained his cold aura.
He looked at me and asked "what's you name and age ?"
I replied " I am Divya singh aur ham 18 saal ke hai"
He seemed little bit shock after I said my age..
I asked him " aapka kya naam hai aur aap kitne saal ke hai?"
" Mera naam Aarav Singh Rajput hai and i am 24 years old...aur tum hame ye batao ki aadhi raat ko beech sadak par kya kar rahi thi??"
I told him everything from starting and he listened me quietly without saying anything. I completed and he just nodded.
And he asked me for my address I told him my address & he started Google map and then car started moving..
Many questions were coming in my mind like
What is he planning to do ?
Should I tell my parents or not?
How will they react?
Will he consider me as his wife ?
After some minutes of silence I said
"Suniyee"
He hummed then I further asked
" kya aap hame apni patni mante hai ya phir aapne gusse me shaadi ki"
He looked at me for a second and then diverted his gaze towards road ...
Then said " I accept you as my wife but for now I don't want to talk about this"
I asked " are you planning to leave me?"
He said angrily "No ..I am not going to leave you ..but for now i don't want you to disclose this marriage to anyone...I need some time and I assure you that I will come to talk to your parents "
I Just said " ji "
He said " where are you from ? "
"Ji?" I said
"I mean from which place are you originally from.. " he said
"I am originally from Banaras but I am living in Delhi with my family since last 6 years for studies "
He just hummed..
Then I asked " aap kaha rehte hai ? Aur aisa kya kaam karte hai jo aapko gun rakhni padti hai?"I finally asked this question after gathering a lot of courage
He looked at me and chuckled " Mai Lucknow se hu aur hamara business hai isliye safety ke liye gun rakhte hai"
I just hummed because I didn't had courage to speak further as I got scared that what type of business he does that he needs safety...
After that I looked outside the window and there was complete silence....
After 30 mins I noticed that I came near my house and he stopped the car
And asked "where is your house?"
I pointed towards my home and said
"This one"
I was about to open the car door but he suddenly grabbed my wrist and gave me a card saying
"here, take this...this is my card ..my number is written on it and.......I think you should see yourself once before leaving"
I looked at myself in mirror and found that sindoor was scattered on my hairline and some were on my nose and my mangalsutra was clearly visible giving me a feeling of wedded bride....I understood his intention behind saying that ....I quickly cleaned my nose and covered my maang (hairline) with my hair ..then I covered my mangalsutra under my kurti and properly covered it with dupatta...
He was staring at me all this while and asked me for my number
I said "I don't give my number to strangers"
He gave me an "are you serious" look and said, "I am not a stranger. I just got married to you, and for your kind information, I am your husband. So, give me your number so that I can contact you."
I thought for a while and gave him my number and said "don't call me without texting me because this number is of my brother's phone as someone stole my phone "
He said "fine"
And I stepped out from car and told him "pls take care of yourself...you are injured"
and said bye to him ...he didn't said anything and just nodded.
I waited for him to go but he didn't then he asked me to go inside the house with his eyes ...I nodded and went inside my house and pressed bell .
My mom immediately opened the door and hugged me while crying...my whole attention went to my family and I didn't realised when he left from there .....
Write a comment ...