Prologue

Aasha....

A young girl who gave dreams in her life..... 

An epitome of beauty....

Her gracefulness cooing in her silence.....

Daydreaming about being a dancer...... 

But suddenly was dragged back to the reality....

The small chirpings were heard at how beautiful she is. 

The ladies in the room admired the BRIDE. 

Yes, a bride. 

She sat in the chair like a sculptured statue as her eyes looked aimlessly at nothing in particular which looked almost lifeless. 

From head to toe. She looked drop-dead gorgeous. 

The beauticians behind her took continuous glances at her filling their eyes content with her beauty. 

One of them had her mouth closed looking at the bride as she leaned to her side and chirped how beautiful she is and the other lady nodded in approval looking at her image in the mirror. 

The other lady walked forward and bent down to the bride's level and opened the red lipstick. She was about to apply it when her gaze fell on her face. Her hand stopped in mid-air as she gazed at them. The lady was sure she wasn't a lesbian as she have a child and was love in with her husband and his manliness. But the bride's beauty took her attention to the fullest as she wondered how more beautiful can anyone be. That face can seduce any man. She doubts it could also seduce any woman. 

Shaking her head she switched the lipstick color to pink and coated her plump lips with decent pink color as it matched the theme of her makeup though her saree is red. 

As her makeup is done the last part was to be completed with the veil over her head. 

Another lady with a huge red veil in her hands stepped forward and set it on her head gracefully as she adored her look with a complete costume. 

"You look, beautiful mam". Said the lady who failed to reach her ear and earn some reaction from her. She looked blankly at the reflection. 

"Just Beautiful? I bet she is the most beautiful woman in the world. I swear I never saw anyone as beautiful as you madam". Said another girl as she looked at her dreamily. 

"Indeed she is beautiful. No wonder the richest and a powerful man want to marry her. Who would turn a blind eye to her". 

" I'm sure those whoever came to offer a blessing to them will ogle her and regret that why they weren't the first ones to see her". 

" Pss. I think she is thinking that we are exaggerating too much". Whispered the other women to another lady and hastily that one woman spoke to clear her sincerity. 

"Oh no mam. We aren't bluffing. We are appreciating you sincerely". 

Said the maid as they have smiles on their face with a pleasant atmosphere around them except for the bride where grievance is oozing out of her silent tears. 

"I was sold by my father". 

Her small heavy voice took their attention as their smiles little by little shrank registering her words. 

"He sold me for his addiction". 

Said Aasha. This time her silent voice echoed in the deadly silent room as she made it clear that her drunkard father had sold her for his addiction. 

Their smiles were sealed as the gravity of the situation was digested. The situation turned awkward as they looked at each other and hesitated with forming words that could help to comfort her. They debated how to console her but nothing looked applicable to the situation. But an elderly woman spoke.  

"Uh-umm, d-dear. There will be a reason for every happening. You both are meant for each other. One or another way you both are destined to meet. But sometimes circumstances are bad. But that doesn't mean your father's choice is wrong. Give it a chance dear. Don't mourn on your marriage day". 

" It is supposed to be the most auspicious day of the girl". 

Said the elderly with her utmost maturity and comforting words but the bride stayed still as her hands fisted the veil a thin layer of mistiness formed in her eyes as it slowly gained weight and the tear shone like a pearl in her eye. 

The younger one, probably a teenager looked at the reflection in the mirror as the bride's tear shone in her eye, and mesmerized she opened her mouth in awe at the beauty. 

" She is still beautiful ". 

Said the teenager unable to control the fondness. To the little girl, even the bride's cry looked beautiful as her face shone in sadness adding that red glow to her face but that only fascinated the young girl along with others. But others weren't blunt like her. 

The elderly woman elbowed her and motioned her to keep quiet as the teenager pouted at her warning and looked at the bride when the tear fell. The teenager sighed dreamily looking at her eyes. 

They are so expressable. 

The crew stayed silent fiddling with their hands looking at the poor woman who is weeping silently as the tears fell from her heavy lashes. 

All the enjoyment and happiness faded into thin air as they looked at her with concern and wondered how they ignored her giveaway sadness. But guessing she was just nervous they didn't bother to ask her raw feelings and assumed the deceiving thoughts. 

Everyone stayed silent trying to give her space when out of nowhere the door was banged as if asking the positive permission to get in. She immediately wiped away her tears and sniffled a little bit and cooled her expressions.  The crew became alert and exchanged glances before walking up to the door and opening it cautiously. 

Once they saw that it is the groom they acknowledged him look and let him enter the room as all the crew still stood there. He walked into the center of the room with his hands locked back as he looked at her in the mirror who has her eyes cast down.  

"Leave". 

Was his one-word command and the crew left the room without a word. Walking back to the door he bolted it up and her body stiffen as her throat bobbed in tension. 

His heels clicked on the ground making the sound as he reached her and she stood up sensing his presence near to her. No words were exchanged as they stood silent and she dared to peek a glance from the mirror. Hesitantly she lifted her lashes only to find him staring at her intensely, his eyes speaking as if he is evil and she isn't going to be spared in his evil. 

Her inners churned as she immediately dropped her gaze. Again the footsteps echoed as he walked around her in a circle while looking at her from top to bottom in every angle nodding at himself satisfactorily. 

She was in a red saree with jewelry from tip to toe and a red veil on the top of her head. The costume fitted well to her neutral personality as she reached to his shoulder. 

Stopping right in front of her with no distance between them he gazed down at her while she didn't dare to lift her eyes to look at him. Out of a sudden, his hand gripped her arm and jerked her forward resulting in her hand landing on his chest avoiding falling on him as she tilted her head away from his chest looking at the ground as tears swirled in her eyes.  

"More than the marriage, I'm much invested in today's wedding night". He rasped in his husky voice which shook her to the core.

"Just look at yourself. How ravishing you look..... I had the heart to squeeze the life out of you and have my way and you my bitch,... you should spread your legs wide like a whore you are". 

He whispered in her ear as she shut her eyes tightly squeezing out tears as she cried listening to him as her chin wobbled. 

"You'll take me all as much as I want. And believe me, if you aren't a virgin, I might bring my friends to you too". 

He said and her eyes snapped at him in shock while he smirked at her reaction. She looked at him in disbelief as her hands shook in nervousness as more tears spilled out of her eyes.

" So tell me cunt. Are you even a virgin"? 

Her inner body jolted at the choice of his words which he is calling on her. Her instant thoughts are what will her future with him be like.  Her insides churned at the possibility of her worst days. She wonders, how he is going to treat her in the future if just in the present he is going to the extent of talking such vile words with her.  More tears jammed as they leaked from the side of her eyes. 

" Tell me bitch. Are you a virgin. Or are you not. If not, tell me ahead. So I'll have them prepared in our room and have you--". 

"I am, I am a v-virgin". 

She stuttered and he with a satisfying grunting hum left her arm as a satisfied smile stretched on his lips. 

"Be prepared for today's horrific night. Your scream will echo in your ears and no one will help you gold digger ".  

He spoke and her body visibly shook as she averted her eyes away from him. Her eyes moved frantically, particularly at nowhere as his words started to sink in deeply. Her body became rigid as she suck a sharp breath only to realize she paused her breathing. 

"Now be ready for the marriage". 

With that saying he walked out of the room still looking at her with his hands locked at his back. 

*****

On the huge stage of the wedding pavilion there sat the bride and groom side to side and the whole wedding was set on elate enjoying the grand wedding. 

Many people were invited to witness the marriage and every guest seemed to be wealthy fat people while others gave not-so-good vibes. There is a smile on everyone's face talking to each other and at the same time witnessing the grand marriage.

Every nook and corner of the marriage hall screamed richness and nothing looked less in there. Servants were busy serving drinks and snacks while the elders of the marriage stood by the side of the bride and groom helping with the marriage.  

There is no hint of sadness in her eyes as she looked like a puppet played by the strings while he sat with his chest spread in proudness as that smug smile played on his lips with his manly mustache proudly standing on either side of his lips. 

He glanced at her side and snickered at how robotic she is but can guess how afraid she is.  

The time came when he was handed a nuptial chain to hook around her neck. He got up from his seat and bent forward to tie the knot and every second of her happy moments flashed in front of her eyes as she blankly stared at the sacred fire of their marriage. She saw her freedom, her happiness, her choices, her graceful dance burning in the fire as the nuptial chain fell on her neck and she just stared blankly. The nuptial chain was hooked around her neck and the tears fell. 

Then he was handed the vermilion. Instantly her eyes teared up as she blocked them in her eyelids. But they flowed free when he filled her hair partition with vermilion as she closed her eyes in repent of her fate. 

As soon as he filled the vermilion on her partition he was about to sit when suddenly a shot was heard making her eyes snap open as a huge uproar of scream were heard and the scattered crimson blood came into her vision as some fell on her as well. Her eyes widen at the scene and with dread filling in her heart, she looked up to her side only to see her husband spitting out blood from his mouth as his hand covered the bullet hole near his left chest where the blood is flowing.  

"Harahan". 

Some women screamed from behind particularly the groom's mother as she cupped her mouth looking at him. 

Another shot was heard and she visibly flinched looking at her husband again getting a shot to his right chest as he staggered back. She looked at him with wide horrified eyes as he was again shot in his body and then other and then other and the last one was shot in his head as his body jerked back. 

Everyone began to run screaming for their lives while the elders who were most particularly ladies cowered back looking at their son's death as they bawled their eyes out. 

Her breathing staggered as she looked forward wondering who shot the gun but then her eyes collided with grey pair of stranger's eyes his eyes stared back at her coldly while he sat there royally with one leg on another and his one hand on his knee while the other held gun resting on the sofa. 

Surrounding him four guards are standing like a wall with huge snippers in their hands dressed in black while he sat there in the front seat with all his glory in his grey suit. 

He didn't take his eyes off her as he stared at her while she looked at the man in shock who killed her husband. She looked to her side where her husband was laying on the ground unconscious while the ladies mourned surrounding him. 

One of them screamed for help and took out the phone to call the ambulance only to be snatched away from her hand with the gun pointing at her head daring her to either lift the body or call the ambulance so their heads will be busted out. 

Too afraid for their life they did nothing except for crying as the newly wedded bride looked at the scene running on her side as now a tear leaked down from her eye. 

She again looked forward to where he is sitting and there is a satisfied evil glint smirk on his face as he looked at the scene where women are crying and laughed victoriously and then looked back at her with his eyes squinted at her. That smirk spread a little more as he saw another tear leaking out of her wide fearful eye as it slides down and now he is more particularly interested in her as he found the beauty in her tears. He found the beauty in her whole form.  No wonder she was beautiful according to unheard rumours. His body vibrated with a scoff as he continued looking at her and then mouthed at her. 

All were busy mourning while she is still digesting the fact that the unknown person in front of her killed her husband right in front of everyone and there are no one to help.  

"I'll come back again". 

Was his last words before he got up and stridden out leaving the newly wedded bride to mourn at her new husband's death right on their marriage day. 

The irony of the day is that ... 

She became a widow right at the moment she was married.