12 Chapter 12

"Mr Yadav. Your father's condition is worsening. We have managed to stabilise him for the moment. But we are not sure how long we can wait. It will be better if we perform the surgery today itself" Naira Kamat, the oncologist said

"Let's proceed with the surgery, Dr Kamat. The neurosurgeons had flown over a day before. I believe they have already been in touch with you" Mithran said

"Yes, Mr Yadav. Infact, they are on their way to the hospital. The OT is being prepared. But your father is adamant on not going into the surgery" the doctor said

Mithran groaned in annoyance.

"Leave that to me, Dr Kamat. I will handle it" Mithran said and walked towards the private room where his father is admitted.

As he entered the room, he saw Chaahat sitting next to his father.

"Appa. This is not a child's play anymore. You need to be operated on immediately. Please understand, Appa" Mithran said

"I will. Now that Ram is here, he will conduct your marriage quickly. I can go into the surgery without any fear." Madan said, referring to his friend who is a sub registrar.

"Fine. Let's get it done and over with" Mithran snapped angrily.

"Ram? Did you arrange for the things I asked you?" Madan asked his friend.

"Yes, Madan. Everything is ready"

"What are you talking about?" Mithran asked in confusion.

"I would have preferred for your wedding to take place in a temple, my son. But my health doesn't provide me with that luxury. Neither does it let me arrange your wedding in a grand way. But rest assured, if I come out of this surgery, hale and healthy, I will arrange for a grand reception to be held in our hometown" Madan said

"Ofcourse, you are going to come out of this surgery hale and healthy. We could still wait until the surgery is over and conduct the marriage in a grand way then" Mithran said, attempting a final try to change his father's mind.

"There is no hundred percent surety for anything, Mithran. If something happens to me during the surgery, I can close my eyes with the knowledge that I have settled the lives of my two children" Madan said

Indian parents and their weird logic!! Mithran thought in annoyance.

They only think about marrying off their kids when time comes. They don't even stop to think if their kids would be happy in the marriage.

There was a knock on the door. Mithran opened it to find a confused Shravan and Abhay standing next to an attender boy, who was wheeling a Lord Krishna sculpture into the room.

"What are you doing?" Mithran asked in confusion.

"Mithran. Let him in. I arranged for it" Madan said and the boy wheeled in the sculpture.

"What is this, Appa?" Mithran asked

"I want you to get married in the presence of God," Madan said with a smile.

Mithran's lips thinned in annoyance, but he didn't say anything as he didn't want to offend his son.

"You should have arranged for a priest too" Mithran mumbled under his breath, but unfortunately, his father heard that.

"The priest couldn't come. But technology has advanced a lot. He agreed to conduct the wedding through a video call" Madan said

"You gotta be kidding me" Mithran stared at his father in disbelief.

Soon everything was arranged and Ram took out the nuptial chain he bought as instructed by Madan.

The priest conducted the wedding online.

All the traditional wedding rituals were done, except the seven pheres around the sacred fire.

Once all that was done, Ram brought the register book for signing.

"Please sign here" Ram said

Both Mithran and Chaahat signed.

Shravan and Abhay signed as the witnesses.

"Now you are man and wife. Congratulations to both of you. Wish you a very long and happy married life" Ram wished the newly wedded couple

Madan had tears in his eyes

All through the rituals, Chaahat felt numb.

She felt as if things happening around had nothing to do with her.

She was consumed with the thoughts of her past.

Flashes of a laughing man, with wicked blue green eyes.

Flashes of his huge smile, when he got on his knees in front of her.

Flashes of the dreams they weaved together.

Dreams of a family!

And the day all those dreams shattered in front of her.

Life had never been easy on her!

And for the past two years, she has been trying to pick up the pieces of her life.

And today, she is a married woman!

How did that happen?

"Now that we got married as per your wish, can we proceed with your treatment, Appa?" Mithran asked and he couldn't hide his bitterness.

"I know you must be angry with me, Mithran. But you will realise one day that what I did was for the best" Madan said

Ofcourse! Parents always thinks that they knows the best!

Who could argue with them on that?

"Yeah. Sure. Leg me talk to Dr Naira. I will be back in a moment" Mithran said and walked out of the room, followed by Shravan and Abhay.

"Man! That was weird!" Shravan said

"What was?" Abhay asked

"A priest conducting a wedding through a video call" Shravan said, still in disbelief.

"Maybe not as weird as not knowing who you are marrying" Mithran said dryly

"We are not talking about my marriage here" Shravan said and Mithran just shrugged.

Mithran informed the doctors that his father is ready for the surgery.

"Mr Yadav" Mithran looked towards the voice to see his legal team head standing there.

"Oh great. Are the papers ready?" Mithran asked

"Yes, Mr Yadav" the man said and took out a few documents from his briefcase

"Thank you, Mr Roy. I will get these papers signed and submit them back the next day." Mithran said

"Sure, Mr Yadav. Shall I take my leave now?" The other man asked and left once he got the go ahead.

"Pre nup?" Shravan asked

"Yes. Let me go and get them signed" Mithran said and left his friends there.

He called Chaahat aside

"Yes, Mr Yadav?" Chaahat asked

"Here's the pre nup. Sign them" Mithran said and placed it in front of her.

Chaahat stared at the offending piece of paper for a moment, before looking up at Mithran.

"I won't sign it"