THREE

Karma is a bitch! But still it never forgets the address. She quickly packed some of her clothes and packed her bag.

At the moment, all she cared about was him and his answers for the sudden disappearance. When her eyes noticed the decorated home, she remembered about her marriage. But her responsibility was more than her happiness. With tears, she walked out of the home knowing that she put her family prestige and reputation at stake for her life and responsibilities.

"I am coming back."

Divya flew London catching the soon available plane. Tears were rolling on her cheeks when she switched off her mobile.

It was 4 in the morning when she grabbed the plane. Finally, the day was her. All her questions will be answered today.

That's the only thing which was stopping her from breakdown to cry for the things she put at stake for one life. The flight landed in the Heathrow Airport, London at half past two in the afternoon.

Aaryan was waiting for her arrival. She waved at him and he smiled in return.

"To where?" She asked after they got into the local car.

"First to a hotel. You have to freshen up and then we can go to the university."

She nodded in return and switched on her mobile with a local sim card.

There in India,

As the morning kicked in, Sujatha and Saritha went to Divya's room. They knocked on the door but the response was nill.

Panick arose in them, they knocked the door a bit loud and the pace was increased but the response was still the same.

"Divya, it's not time for any childish prank! Open the door right now." Sujatha warned her daughter.

"Sujatha, I will call to her phone maybe she's in the bathroom." Saritha dialled to her number but the number was unreachable.

They knew what was happening and had happened but the little hope was the things that keeps the things sorted out ever.

"Dev, Damodhar, Gautham," Saritha called everyone's names. The three men came there keeping aside their works.

"What happened?" Three of them asked at the same time seeing their panicked and trembling postures.

"Dev, Divya is not opening the door and even her phone is not reachable. I think, I think she left the home." Sujatha replied meekly but it could be heard by them because of the beckoning silence.

"What?"

They knocked on the door for the last time but the answer was still the same

"Gautham, break the door." Dev ordered his son and Gautham did it.

The room was a mess with splattered clothes and things. This clearly explained what had happened to them. Roshini came inside the room hearing the yells of her mother.

"Amma, where is Divya? And why this room is like a mess?" Her questions were ignored by their preoccupied minds.

"Amma," Roshini nudged her shoulders and Saritha looked at her in a snap.

"Roshu, Divya has gone away from the marriage." Sujatha cried hugging Roshini who was slowly observing and absorbing the situation.

"Pinni, you all might have mistaken, search in the house." Roshini tried to convince and suppress the expectating accusations.

"I have searched everywhere in the home. Divya is not there." Gautham left no space for objections and Roshini sighed in disbelief.

"Annayya, her phone?"

"Not reachable." Gautham answered in a dejected tone. The whole family reputation is at stake.

"What happened?" The cold voice of Harikrishna made all of them tremble in fear.

"Nanna, Divya left the home." Damodhar spit out the words like poison.

"What?" Harikrishna felt like the floor beneath him has jerked. But their trembling forms and tearful faces told him it's the truth.

"But why?" Roshini questioned after gaining her composure. Her sister was always the one who cared about family, they had been bought up like that.

Family comes first!

"She was happy in the whole rituals, then why did she take this drastic step? Nanna it can be like someone has kidnapped her?" Her words just increased the fear inside them.

"Roshu, I would have believed you if I didn't get to see this letter. Read this, she left the home with her will." Gautham thrusted the letter into her hands.

Amma, Nanna,

I know you are not happy with my decision but this is the best. I have to go. I'm sorry for giving up on my responsibilities as the daughter of this home and to be daughter in law of another home. But I didn't have any other choice as well. I was compelled to take this step. I'm ready for any kind of punishment you give me when I come back.

Divya.

The letter slipped from her hands when she read it. A servant came and informed them about the arrival of the groom and his family.

Ayaan and his family were waiting at the threshold with smiles and happiness. Ayaan had the brightest smile on his face which others mistook as happiness but it was grim.

It was early in the morning when one of his men told him that the bride ran away from the home with tears. Ayaan was delighted to know that and decided to put up an act to get some entertainment.

It has been quite a while since he had a funny drama in front of him. With her, his every day was funny and happy and she took his everything with her.

Gayatri Devi came inside the decorated house to call the elders but seeing them in that form, she knew something was off.

"What happened, Hari?" Harikrishna bowed down his head in shame and guilt.

"Divya left the home." He disclosed the bitter truth and the elder lady gasped in shock.

"What?"

Her question was ignored as they were pooled by shame and guilt.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't keep my promise." Harikrishna fell down on his knees in apology.

"Hari, get up." Gayatri held his shoulders.

Even Dev and Damodhar apologized for the mistake of their daughter as they couldn't see their father in that condition.

"The wedding will take place." Kaushalya said in a final tone. The grim which Ayaan had till now dropped into a frown.

"Maa," He looked at her while her gaze was fixed on someone.

"Babai garu, I said I want a daughter from your home but never specifically said that I want Divya. Now, I want your elder granddaughter for my son." Kaushalya concluded and Dev's heart dropped hearing her words.

"What? No, not her." Dev immediately denied the proposal.

"Kaushalya, I know you're firm on your decision. But she isn't the one for Ayaan." Harikrishna pleaded her because of his own reasons.

"I thought you live on your words," Kaushalya spat again. Vasudev tried to stop her but his mother spoke in her favour.

"Hari, I and our family don't care about the looks and what others think if that's what bothering you." Gayatri Devi declared their decision.

"Ayaan, I hope there will be no objections from your side." Ayaan motioned his head from left to right in a slow manner.

Roshini and Dhanya were trying to control the crying Amal when the ladies came into the room. Kaushalya looked at Roshini and cupped her face. For sure, she preferred Roshini for her son but Harikrishna wasn't favourable in response.

She gave the saree to Kaushalya while Thara took Amal from Dhanya. Being engulfed in his favourite cocoon, Amal giggled slightly.

Roshini was confused by their non verbal gestures which she did notice.

"Amma, what's happening?"

"Roshini, they asked your hand for the wedding." Roshini's heart dropped hearing her.

"Amma, how can I? I'm not the one for him." The accident had affected her a lot both mentally and physically. The flicks on her face and the scars on her body reminded her of that every second.

"Roshu, I know it's difficult to step in your sister's shoes. If you doesn't want this wedding, you can deny. I don't want to lose my another daughter for family reputation. Your happiness is more important for me."

Roshini thought of what her doctor suggested. After waking up from an induced coma, she has the nightmares of that brutal accident which completely shattered her.

Doctor Shyamala suggested her to change the place or better get married to welcome new things and divert the thoughts.

‹A/N: Times when you should see it only as a fiction and do not compare with the reality.›

Her thoughts were jerked off by her father and brother. Their apologetic faces told her to accept the proposal.

"Nanna, what should I do?" She chuckled sadly.

Life never gives us any options rather do or die situations.

"Thalli, I know, I always forced my decisions on you, but this time I'm asking you to do what you want, what you think is the best for you. I won't force you this time." Dev held her hands in his. She was healing, how can he force into new relations?

"Nanna, I will marry Ayaan." She decided.

"Roshu," Gautham whispered with tears. It's not how he wanted to get her married.

Saritha came inside the room and looked at her daughter. It's not how they wanted, but there wasn't any choice as well.

Roshni closed her eyes and the accident played in front of her. It's like she is reliving in another nightmare and wants to get out of it.

Only if she knew how much wrong she was!

Divya went to London! But why? Any guess regarding the person she is in search of?

Roshini agreed for the marriage. It sounds like a cliche. Even I didn't want to write it but I don't want it entirely fictional so adding a bit reality. I will explain the reason for this though!

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