Chapter-1

SAMEER PRATAP SINGH

Marriage is the pure bond between two individuals formed with love, care, and respect but not based on a promise.

Here I'm at the mandap (Where the marriage ceremony takes place in Hindu culture). I'm marrying a total stranger whom I've never seen nor met.

Apparently my parents wanted to keep it traditionally, which means the bride and groom can't meet before marriage and blah! Blah! Blah!

I'm glad. I don't want to face the girl who has destroyed my happy love life. I can't marry my love because of her. Because of my Father's promise.

I still remember clearly what happened that day when my parents pay a sudden visit to my place.

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Today suddenly Father called me in the morning and said he is coming to Delhi. but Why? All of a sudden. Maybe they are missing me that's why they are coming here.

I also miss them a lot. They lived in Udaipur and I in Delhi. I couldn't able to draw out some time for travel in my parent's home. I'm always busy with my work.

I was making a draft when Rasiya came into my cabin. She is my girl. She is the HR department's head.

"Hey, Sam. You're getting late. As you told me that your parents are coming so you should go home now."

Ohh! No!! I almost forgot about that.

"Thanks, Siya. I had almost forgotten about that." I thanked her and started gathering my things which were spreading all over my table.

"I have to make you remind. Right?" She said raising her one eyebrow while folding her arms, Holding a mischievous smile on her face.

"Very funny."

"Listen." She called me and I asked her with my eyes. What's the matter?

"Umm. Today your parents are coming so, you may talk to them about us." She said in a very low tone. Like a shy new wedded bride.

Is she feeling shy?

I beckoned her to come over to me, and she came. When she came I pulled her in my arms and hold her by her waist.

She was breathing heavily. Her warm breathing was falling on my face which was driving me crazy.

I couldn't control myself and captured her lips and start kissing her like there is no tomorrow. She was also kissing me with the same passion as me. That's why I like this girl.

We stopped when we felt breathless.

We were panting heavily due to the kiss. I cupped her face in my palms and looked into her eyes. Which were filled with full of desire.

"I'll talk to them. You don't have to worry about this." I assured her.

"Okey!" she nodded.

"Let me take you home back," I asked her. But she says no to me.

"No. I have some work to do. I will go home after finishing that. Please. And sorry." She holds her one ear and says sorry to me with so many cute expressions which melt my heart.

"And don't worry about me. I have my car. Which you gave me some day before. So chill." She said to me cupping my face by my side.

"Okey." I nodded and pecked her lips one more time.

"Bye!" Waving my hand I said bye to her and went outside.

I reached home before them. When I was in the office I had already told Reshma to arrange my parent's room. And cook some Rajasthani dishes for them.

I lived in an apartment. Which is big enough for a family. I love my home a lot. Reshma is my housekeeper.

I was resting in my room after getting freshened up. Then I heard the doorbell.

They've arrived.

I ran towards the door and open it. And found my Pitaji and my Maa sa standing right there at the doorstep.

I love my parent's a lot. At first, I touched their feet and then hugged them.

Though I was away from my family, I didn't forget about my morals.

My Pitaji and Maa sa were very happy to see me after so many times. And me too.

"Come. Come inside. And give me your bags." I told them and took their bags inside. I kept them and gave them lemonade to have.

"You guy has juice. I'm coming back after putting your bags in your room."

I scoot from there and came back after placing their bags in their room.

"After so many days you guys remembered that you have one younger son too?"I said in a teasing way narrowing my eyes.

"You're saying this?" She asked me raising her eyebrows.

"Did you come to see us? Whole year. After one year later I'm seeing you. The craving of my eyes to savor the shine of your face was breaking all the boundaries to see you. I couldn't able to control myself more so I came to see you with your Father." Maa sa told me and I smiled at that. They love me most.

"After meeting your Maa sa you forgot about your Pitaji? Hun!" Pitaji spoke being offended.

"Yes, who're you?" I asked him pretending he was an unknown person to me.

I looked at my Maa sa and asked her.

"Maa sa, who's this guy came along with you?"

"Did you find him on the way while coming here?" I again asked her. And Maa sa burst into guffaw which she was controlling till this time.

Pitaji smacked on my head.

"You don't know me? Now you have remembered who am I to you or should I hit you one more time so that you lose your all memory." He said in an angry tone. Which was fully fake. He was just showing me his anger.

"Ohh! I remembered. Aren't you that man who had kidnapped my Maa sa from her marriage? Right?" I said with a smirk.

"Sameer." He pronounced my name in a warning tone and started running behind me.

"Sameer, how dare you say this nonsense?" He was shouting at me. And I was laughing.

"You can do such things and I even can't mention this. That's not fair." I said while running.

"Not fair Pitaji. That's not fair." I said dramatically.

"Sameer, your Pitaji is not been young like before. So don't make him run in this old age. If he gets a fracture on his leg then I'm the one, who has to take care of him. So it's better, you surrender yourself to him for the betterment."

Maa sa told me.

And I laugh at her words.

"Maa sa, now you're mocking him. Who said he had become old. My Pitaji looked younger than me." I stopped on my track and turn towards my Pitaji and asked. I know how to change his mood.

He also stopped and smiled at my praising

"See. That's my boy. Mayura now you don't love me that's why you're mocking me. Did you hear what my son has said? I'm still young." He said proudly while patting on my shoulder.

Honesty I love my Pitaji more than Maa sa.

"Yes, he would say like this cause he loves you more than me."

She said raising her eyebrows.

"So what? Your elder son loves you a lot. And My younger son loves me. So now it's equal. Happy?" Pitaji told my Maa sa. And looked at me.

"Didn't I say right?" He asked me and I smiled.

"Yes, now you guy's go and get freshen up. You guys have come after such a long journey. I have to go to arrange the dinner on the table." I told them.

"Aww, my babe! You have to do the house chores alone?" Maa sa asked me in a pitying tone.

"No, I have a housekeeper. Who does all the house chores? And I don't stay home much. Sometimes came at night to have some rest." I replied.

"it would be nice if there was someone by your side. You don't have to go through all this." Maa sa told me.

"Mayura come. You must be tired. Come and get freshen up." Pitaji dragged her with him by holding her arm. Still, their love for each other never changed.

Will our love also remain the same as it is now???

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We're now having our dinner. Pitaji liked the food. But Maa sa didn't.

"Son, I have to talk with you about some important matter." Suddenly Pitaji said in a serious tone. What happened now? Is everything fine? What does he want to say?

"Yes, tell me what's the matter," I respond.

"Umm, After dinner." Pitaji dropped the topic. But Why?

"If you don't want to tell about this then why even mention it? You could talk about having dinner." Maa sa scold him.

"It was becoming difficult for me to control," Pitaji told her.

"What you want to sa......" I was saying but he didn't let me say further.

"Son, let's talk after dinner." He said and again started eating.

"After giving me a headache, you're saying we'll talk about it later? Now I would not be able to eat anything."

I said in my heart.

We finished our meal and sat in the living room.

"At least now tell me what's the matter? I'm going mad thinking about this." I told him sitting on the sofa. He was sitting in front of me.

Pitaji looked at Maa sa. After seeing her expressions I can say that something is fishy. This matter is something serious.

Pitaji left out a cold sigh and start.

"Son, Do you remember your Ram uncle?" He asked me about someone. But I didn't recall something about this name. Who is he?

"No."

"What're you saying Jai? How can he remember him? He was only 6 then." Maa sa told him. Yes, she is right.

"Okey! He was our Saviour.

Bodyguard. By the way, once one of our enemies kidnapped you. We left no stone unturned to find you. But we couldn't able to find you. Then you know who was able to find you?"

"Ram."

"He was the one to find out where were you kept? Then we went to rescue you. When we reached there, we fought the two rivals."

"All of a sudden Tejawat shouted taking my name. When I turned, I saw he was going to stab you with his sword. I screamed taking your name. But in meantime, Ram came in front of you."

"It was so fast that we couldn't do anything and instead of you Tejawat stab him. Ram sacrificed his life to save your life. He didn't give a second thought before going forward to save you."

"He even didn't give a second thought about his daughter. He was so loyal to our family that he didn't hesitate to sacrifice his life. After that, I shooted Tejawat on the spot and ran towards Ram."

"He was breathing heavily. I take his hand in mine. His wife died, when she was giving birth to their child. So his only family was his daughter."

"Even while taking his last breath, he was worried about his daughter. So I gave him my words that we will make his daughter ours by getting married to my son."

"What?" I shouted. Just one word came from my throat after listening to his all explanation. How can he say that?

"With whom?" I know his answer beyond I asked him to confirm my doubt.

"With you."

What the hell!!

"You had lost your mind then? How can you decide without thinking?" I couldn't control myself after listening to his all nonsense. And I burst out on him.

"Sameer." Maa sa shouted at me.

Really. For what? That I raised my voice on my Pitaji for his wrong decision.

"He has lost his life for you. If he wanted, he could have let you die. But no! He kept you over his own life and saved you. Who sacrifices his life to save you. You even can't marry his daughter!"

"So ungrateful you're Sameer. You made me down. We're only telling you to marry her not to jump into the well." Pitaji also shouted at me. But I'm not in the backseat so I also told him in an angry voice.

"If you had asked me to go and jump into the well, I would have happily done it for you. But I do not agree with your decision. You could have adopted her. You could have promised him to get her married to a nice guy. Why did you decide to make her my wife?"

"I think you are forgetting that a hasty decision is always wrong," I told him in a calm voice.

"I also want to say the same for you. Why are you deciding in hurry?"

"You even haven't met her. Nor do you know anything about her. Then how can you turn her down without knowing her? I'm telling you Sameer. She's a nice girl. You'll like her even if you meet her once."

Now Maa sa started. What do they want from me? I don't wanna accept this girl as my wife. My life partner. I always imagined Rasiya as my partner.

"Maa sa, I love someone else. Then how can I marry another girl? I can't Maa sa. I can't." I kneeled in front of her. I was helpless. Now I don't have any other way except to beg.

"Sameer, what're you doing? Get up." Maa sa hold me and made me stand on my feet.

"Beta we would never wish you bad. The decision taken by your father is not wrong at all. She's just perfect for you."

Maa sa was trying her best to convince me.

"Mayura, There's no need to explain so much to him. He is not a child. Neither we are his enemies." Pitaji told Maa sa and came towards me.

"Look Sameer. I love you the most. You know this too. Then why would I make some wrong decision for you?"

He tried to convince me in a calm tone.

"But Pitaji....." I was saying but he didn't let me say anything and now his mood also changed.

"We were trying to make you understand lovingly. But you don't have to understand it. You just have to do what you want."

"So listen to one thing with open ears. We are Rajput and Rajputs are the men of words. If you don't want to listen to us then we won't waste our time on you uncontiguously."

"Listen carefully, Next Monday has been decided for your marriage. Be on time. It's my order.

Or else I'll cut all our ties with you."

"Pitaji!!" Just one word came from my throat. I was shocked by what he just said.

He'll end the relationship with me forever!

For whom?

For that girl?

Really?

"Come Mayura." Pitaji took Maa sa with him to their room.

I fell onto the sofa holding my head in my hands.

"Pitaji, why're you doing this with me? Destiny has been doing gameplay with me. And now, I'm at a crossroad."

"On one side is my love and on the other side my family. My Pitaji. What do I do?"I was talking to myself in dilemma.