Chapter 21 :: An Accord

After hearing what was written in that diary .... Rahat left the room!

"are you done moulvi sahab" Amarendra Raichand walked out of his study directly to the living area and asked the Moulvi

"ji, baas... ye thode se kuch kagjad thik kar loon---- " Moulvi nodded and started sorting some final papers just before starting the ceremony

[ yes! sir, there is these last few papers i needed to sort out ]

*****

"tum abhi jaakar baba ko mana kar dogi....." Rahat demanded

[ You'll go to baba and say no ]

"I- i c-can't" A timid answer of Ruthba Rahil came in return

"What.....what do you mean you can't!"

"zindagi bhar unhone humare,....hum sabka itna khayal rakha, badle me aj humse kuch manga hain" She said looking down

[ He has been with us throughout my life,...we have taken care of everyone, in return today he asked for something today ]

"Aur isiliye tum meri zindagi ke sath khilwar karogi"

[ And that's why you will mess with my life ]

"jo aap samjhe, main na nahi keh sakti"

[ Whatever you may think of it, i can't say no to him ]

"main kabhi tumse pyaar ni kar sakoongi, tum pehle jaise the wese hi rahoge"

[ I will never be able to love you, your life will remain the same as it were before ]

"Qubool hai" She sucked a deep breath and said looking down

[ I accept ]

"Maine hamesha tumhare behen se pyaar kiya hai, uski jagah tum kabhi ni le sakti,....agar aaj ye nikha ho bhi jaati hai phir bhi apni patni hone ka haq kabhi ni jataogi tum mujh par"

[ i've alway loved your sister, You can not take her place and will not enforce your right as wife on me...even if we go out and marry infront those people today ]

"Qubool hai"

[ I accept ]

"Zindagi bhar iss faisle ke liye tumhe pachtana padega...." Rahat growled angrily at her indifference

[ You'll regret this decision of yours throughout your entire life ]

for the once last time her body trembled as she let out a shuddering breath and said...

"Qubool hai"

[ I accept ]

Rahat was remembering all his and Ruthba's conversation while Moulvi carried on with his ranting

"before the witnesses, Amarendra Raichand, Shawkat Raichand,

Alok Singh Rathod and all those present here, you Rahat Raichand are given Ruthba Rahil, daughter of Akhter Rahil 51 lakh as wife per marriage agreement,....Do you consent ?" Moulvi asked.....

"qubool hai"

[ I do ]

"I repeat do you consent ?" Moulvi asked the second time

"qubool hai"

[ I do ]

Moulvi asked for the 3rd and last time in front of everyone....."I ask again.....do you consent ?"

"q-ubool hai"

[ I---do ]

Everytime Rahat said those something inside him died....

what was he doing ? Instead of looking for Rushda, he was already marrying somebody else ?

his hands trembled!

He wanted to destroy everything....

Moulvi repeated the same proceedings with Ruthba and nikkha was done no time,.....

after that dinner happened!

and everyone who came with Moulvi, left for home,.....everyone except Ranaji Alok Singh Rathod and Gyan Singh, they'd stay the night since Bikaner was 5 hours away and the atmosphere at Havelli was very serious!

Rahat hadn't said a word since reprimanding he got from Baba except the time he had to say "qubool hai" 3 times loudly enough

he was seething in anger by then...

they were all still very much awake...after all a human being had missing, Shawkat was still out on phone, talking to men he sent out to look for Rushda

Ruthba was sitting beside her newly acquired husband who still hadn't said a word...not even a ''salaam''

his silence was quite bothering

though she remember their privet conversation... but surely it couldn't go that bad, they can co-exist respectfully, right ?

She cleared her throat...."Rahat, aap ne khana bhi nahi khaya thik se, mein k-kuch aur banake laau"

[ Rahat you hadn't even ate anything properly.....should i make something for you ]

And silence broke...like a dam

"Sir, you'd address me as Sir....that nikkhanama means nothing to me, i do not accept you as my wife, i.would.never, so don't ever forget your place" with that Rahat stormed out of the Havelli.

everyone else just sat there in shock of his sudden outburst

************

almost 5 months have passed, things carried on, on their own speed, search for Rushda Rahil was still on and yet police found nothing on her,....but Rahat kept looking for her tirelessly!

Each and every day was a torture for him.....and everyone who witnessed him

until that fateful day...

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