chapter 2

Finally happiest day of my life arrived for which my family and I  was preparing for years. The day of my marriage....But the time when I should go for marriage rituals everything became silent. The music stopped and the guests went back to their home  before marriage. There was no one beside me to inform anything, so I thought to went out myself. I was restricted to see groom's face before marriage so they told me not to come outside before anyone calls me but I couldn't bear the silence of a marriage house and no one also came to call me.The hall and every room across my room were empty and walked forward towards the place where I feel other's presence.As soon as I entered in to the mandap area I saw everyone seating and standing there by making gloomy face."Gauri I knew you are a slut who seduced my son for his money but today you proved it, how could you do this to my son?" My would be mother in law screamed at me as soon as she saw me entering there."What are you talking about!" I was confused thinking about what was going on at my house at that time.The situation was very confusing and I who was wearing bridal costume and was waiting for my groom having a bad omen about that situation.Why everyone gathered there leaving marriage rituals! why suddenly all music stopped!  instead of marriage house it feels like a house of mourning.I saw both my family and my groom's family there, My mother was crying and my younger sister was comforting her. My father seems to be waiting for someone. My groom's family were seating while gossiping among them. My would be father in law was seating while putting his left hand on his heart while my sister in law trying to take care of my father in law. "What happened why everyone is here at this time?" I asked with a confuse tone. I was anxious after seeing all of them like that. Did something bad happened! What happened! Where is Omm! Omm is my groom and the person with whom I was in love for five years. That day was very important for us,  that day was our most awaited marriage day but why everything feels off!"Do you have a face to ask what happened! You are really shameless..." My mother in law said and was about to slap me but my brother in law Sourav stopped her."Mom, don't do this... We are still not sure about anything. Let them confirm it first" Sourav said.My mind wondered in negative thoughts. Everyone suddenly gathered here and  no one was saying anything except my going to be mother in law, who was continuously scolding and blaming me.Omm's mom was unhappy about this relationship from the beginning. She always tried to make excuses to deny this marriage between us. I know her nature and also the fact that she disliked me but on that day she was openly saying rude things to me.Omm was her favourite son so she couldn't stop his son from marrying me but she was not happy with me. I also didn't know why she hated me so much, was it because his rich handsome son was crazy after a middle class girl like me or I did something wrong that upset her! I just took all that a typical mother in law not liking her daughter in law but she was openly insulting me at that time infront of everyone but no one was objecting.She was not the only one, at that time who had hatred towards me, I could see disdain in everyone's eyes towards me.Why my happiest night turning into something else. What actually happened? A bad thought suddenly stroke my mind ...Did something happened to Omm?No that can't be....I tried not to make any bad assumption.Thinking that I walked towards my father and asked him by holding his hand"what happened father! Why everyone is here like this! What about my marriage and where is Omm?" I asked him many question at a time without even looking at his face. But when I looked at his face with an expectation of getting an answer I saw a different emotion on my father's face which was a mixture of shame, guilt and anger towards me. He just stared at me for a second then shook his hand out of my grip like he was disgusted with my touch.I have never experienced such treatment from my father before but why he treated me like that at that time was making me feel more anxious and worried.I was thinking what could be the reason for all to treat me like this! Then suddenly Omm came in. Omm my fiancee and my would be husband was wearing groom's attire but it was wrinkled. His hair were messed up, his eyes were red and it was full of sorrow and anger. After he came inside my father and his mom ran towards him"what is the result?" My father asked."Can't you guess the result just looking at his face!"his mom said in a sarcastic tone. "Stop it Mrs Birla, don't talk nonsense. I know you are not happy with my daughter from the beginning but don't blame her before any clarification"  my father said. "You just shook her hand doesn't that mean somehow you also accepted it as truth" His mom said. "Mrs Birla don't check my patience otherwise I will forget our relationship" my father said. "Then I will be pleased if you do that, because I don't think there will be anything between us from now on. I'm ending this marriage here" his mom shouted.I was shocked when they argued like that. I was getting more and more confused with the situation. It take a lot of time for me to convince his mother for this marriage why suddenly she saying to broke it and the more shocking thing was Omm was silent. He was not saying anything to stop his mom. Before he always took my side and made his mother agree to our marriage. But he was standing there  like a big mountain without any expression. Why ? What the hell is happening?"Omm you said it to them on their face, I don't think they will believe it until you say it on their face" His mom said. "Ya, I also want to know it from you... Omm speak" My father said. Omm was silently  staring at me with painful eyes. His eyes were asking a lot to me but his tongue was unable pronounce anything.Finally I couldn't keep my sanity and shouted "can anyone explain, what's happening here?""I'm standing here for an hour and everyone is in there own zone, so can anyone explain what actually going on. And don't you think it's getting late and sacred time will pass.Let it be, let's talk about this after marriage".I went ahead and grabbed Omm's hand and said "let's go to the mandap, we are getting late. I don't know what's the problem here but we can discuss that later".I pulled Omm's hand but he didn't move from his position like a stone block.I was shocked... Did Omm not want to get married to me?"Omm!" I called his name with a questionable tone. Suddenly someone slapped very hard on my cheek that a sound rang on my ear and head repeatedly, my eyes became blurr and I fell on the ground. After controlling myself I saw it was my mother in law who slapped me."You slut how dare you to touch my son with your dirty hands. This marriage is not going to happen...  Let alone my son I doubt if anyone will agree to marry you in this life after seeing this"she said and pulled the red envelope from Omm's hand and threw it on me. "Your secrets are caught so stop playing innocent here ..... I'm fed up with this innocent act of yours" she said.I was still confused and didn't knew anything. I looked at others at that time they were looking at me with disgust. My own family also didn't want to look at me.I also wanted to know what did I do to them that they are treating me like this! So I slowly opened the envelope that Omm's mom threw at me.My whole body started to tremble after seeing what was in that envelope. I couldn't believe my own eyes and tears fell from my eyes .All I said "this is not true, it's not me..."Is this the happiest day of my life I waited excitedly?