sangeet

Nikita POV:

I woke up the next day ready for the sangeet. It felt so weird to be around his family when I know I'm indirectly a part of it. I've tried to stay away from his parents after he claimed that I'm trying to impress them. I don't want him thinking that. He's just teasing me and just treats me like a burden.

Why is he helping you face your fears then?

Anyone would do that, it's basic human nature. Doesn't mean that he considers me as his...

He's been calling you 'wife' for so long now.

To annoy me. He just teases me and he's been doing that since school. Nothing new.

I got up, showered and tried to put on the pink saree but my body ditched me. I felt goosebumps and I wasn't able to do this. I needed him. I needed someone. I decided to ask Esha for help. Sighing deeply, I took my phone and called her. She picked up in the second ring.

Hello?

Esha, Hi.

Nikita? Are you okay?

Are you here?

At home?

yes.

I'm downstairs, what happened?

I... I need help.

I'll be home in 1 min. Don't worry.

O..okay.

I cut the call and decided to styling my hair till she came. I finished within 5 minutes and by then, Mayukh had entered my room and closed the door and stood in front of me.

I turned around in shock, "Wha...what are you doing here? Where is Esha?"

"She got busy, Mom gave her some work so she sent me. What happened?" He came and stood next to me, checking around if anything happened.

"N...Nothing." I tried to avoid the topic.

He came closer, "Can you tell what happened?"

"I... I couldn't..." I looked at the saree and he realized it.

I then realised my own state. I was only in my blouse and the petticoat of the saree but I had not draped it. My blouse wasn't tied and my whole back was visible, along with my stomach. Yet I didn't feel like hiding it from him. He had seen me in my worst state.

"Come here." He said and I followed him quietly. He placed my hair to the side in front and started tying the knot of the blouse. I felt shivers whenever his hands touched my skin. I tried looking at him but my eyes were displaying my current shyness. After a while, he had managed to tie my blouse and he turned me around. I looked at him.

"Don't worry. I'm here. Give me the saree."

I gave it to him.

"Do... do you know how to... tie?" I asked.

"Nope, that's where you need to help me." He said and I started guiding him to put the saree around me. Once he did, he went on his knees while plating the saree together. I looked down and saw him look into my eyes. I felt so safe and relaxed and I knew this was wrong. He came up and put the pallu on my shoulder and turned me around to face the mirror.

"All good?" He asked, his eyes not leaving mine.

I gulped and nodded.

"Give me that." He pointed to the jewelry. I walked over and handed it to him and watched him adorn the necklace on me along with the earrings.

"Thank... thank you." I said slowly. I was about to continue finishing my makeup when he pulled my hand and brought me towards him and made me sit on the bed.

"What are you—"

"I want you to wear this." He said and pulled out a small anklet from his pocket. It was a silver anklet with a unique pendent I hadn't seen before.

"What? Why?"

By now he was already moving my saree a little up and was on his knees, with my left leg on his knee. He unlocked the anklet and placed it on my ankle and tied it. Then, he put my saree down and looked at me.

"Don't remove this." He said and I couldn't help but nod.

He got up and lifted me up too. He then took a scan of me and said, "You look, exactly like that day."

I looked down in guilt.

"Only one thing is missing."

"What?" I said and I saw him looking at my hairline. My eyes widened, "N..no, nothing is missing."

"Hmm. Anyway, come out, Esha and Sid have left with Ruyash Bhai, Mom and Dad are waiting for us."

I nodded and he left the room. I finished my makeup. Kajal on my eyes, my small nose ring and pink lipgloss with a bindi and my hair open but tied with flowers and clips. He was right, exactly like that day.

Mayukh POV:

When I was going to drive Mom and Dad to the hotel, Esha said that Mom was calling her and that Nikita also needed help and she couldn't say not to Mom so she told me to go help her. I walked in and was in awe by what I saw. She looked beautiful. Her saree wasn't worn properly but her hair was beautifully done and her makeup was also almost done.

I realized she couldn't wear the saree and so she needed someone to help her do it. I didn't want to make her cry so I decided to make her wear it myself, rather than making her do it. I pulled her to myself and tied the knots of her blouse and her strawberry and jasmine smell radiated and drove me insane. She was breathing heavily and I could feel myself losing control around her. I don't know how I was supposed to control. I helped her wear her saree and got her ready.

I recalled my conversation with Mom yesterday, while I watched her get ready:

"Mom."

"Haan Mayukh, tell."

"I wanted to ask you something."

"Yes tell."

"You know that baba we had, the one who would provide remedies for anything."

"Yes, what about him? All okay?"

"I needed you to find a remedy for Nikita."

"What? What happened to her?"

I narrated the whole story to her, about how she was forced into marriage with someone thrice her age, how she was burnt by her aunt, how she was now scared of even the smallest things; I didn't mention that I had to marry her to save her. She doesn't know she's talking about her daughter-in-law.

"Oh my God. Poor girl." Mom said, "I will get in touch with him right away. Do one thing. Here," She got her phone and called the baba and told me to tell him about Nikita in detail so he can find a cure. I did so and he mentioned an ankelt which I can come pick up within a few hours. So, early morning, I went to the baba and got the anklet. I had mentioned it to Mom to not bring it up to her.

I realised I had it in my pocket so I placed her on the bed and made her wear it without her complaining. This will help her from her fears. I really hope it does.

I was about to leave when I caught her hand again and said, "Suno".

She turned, "Ji."

"Keep that anklet on, it's for your safety."

She nodded and I walked out.

I was in the hall when I heard her walk in after 10 minutes. She looked exactly like she did that day and I tried my best to not hear her screams in my mind. I smiled at her and she met Mom and Dad, who both appreciated her looks. We locked the door and sat in the car.

Dad and Mom sat in front and Nikita and I sat at the back. I watched her sit uncomfortably. Is she okay?

"Nikita..." Mom asked and she replied,

"Ji aunty?"

"That saree is looking really pretty, where did you get it from?"

"Um, Aunty it's from Indore. I'm from Indore."

"Oh you're from Indore? That's wow! My best friend is from Indore too!"

"Oh really? Have you been there?"

"Yes yes, a few times, but we've lost touch after marriage now."

"Oh!"

"Are your parents here or in Indore?"

"They're in Indore. They're planning to come here in a few weeks."

"Oh how come?"

"My brother is studying in the UK, so he is coming back and is stopping at Dubai first, so Aai Baba will join too for a few days."

"Arrey that's cute!"

Mom and Nikita continued talking until we reached the venue. Then, Mom Dad got busy, leaving Nikita and me. I felt Nikita stiffen. Was she really uncomfortable? Did I make her wear the saree in a wrong way?

Nikita POV:

I walked away from Mayukh and found Esha. I neeed to stay away from him as much as possible. I sat with Esha and we helped Aunty arrange all the stuff for the wedding. Soon, the bride and groom walked in and the festivities began.

I watched in awe but suddenly felt the whole trauma hitting in. A month ago I was placed in the same situation, but with a very different motive. I felt myself feeling unsafe and scared as I tried to escape and go into any room I found.

I walked everyone being busy with singing, dancing and dinner hence I ran into some room to avoid everyone. I sat there in silence until I heard the door open and close.

"Nikita?" It's him.Mayukh walked in and rushed towards me and sat. "What happened to you?"

"N...Nothing."

"Can you tell me?"

"I... I don't know." Truth is, I really didn't. I didn't know what was bothering me. I felt like Masi would come back any day and come haunt met. She knows that Mayukh and I aren't together.

"Is it your aunt?"

"N....no"

"She's in jail. She got a life sentence for the crimes she's done. You don't need to worry about her."

"Yeah."

We sat in silence for a few minutes until I decided to get up and leave. I headed towards the door only to be pulled back by Mayukh, right into his arms. His hands wrapped around my waist tightly and he buried his face in the crook of my neck.

"What...what are you doing?"

"I'm hugging my wife." His hand playing with my hair.

"N...No."

It then hit me. He was my husband. This is wrong. He does this to annoy me. It's wrong. He doesn't care or even feel the same way.

I pushed him away and ran out of the room, ignoring him calling out my name.

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