Episode 2
Hearing Saransh's name from Sangeeta Ji's lips, Arjun Ji turned towards her and asked, "What happened, Sangeeta?"
Sangeeta Ji couldn't utter a single word. Her hands were trembling, and tears glistened in her eyes. Arjun Ji gently took the letter from her hands and began reading it. As he went through its contents, his expressions shifted with every word. Finally, he looked up at Sangeeta Ji. Their faces mirrored the same emotion—a mix of confusion and heaviness. Observing them, it was impossible to decipher what thoughts were running through their minds.
Meanwhile, at Mathur Mansion.
Ibadat sat on the couch with a sulking expression. Sitting beside her, Shreya asked tenderly, "What's wrong?"
Ibadat, her large eyes filled with mock indignation, replied, "You tell me—don't I look beautiful? If I wasn't beautiful, why would Saransh faint just by looking at me?"
Hearing this, Shreya closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and held Ibadat's hands in hers. "Ibadat, my dear, you're not a child anymore. You're about to get married. Start behaving a little maturely. Looking at you, no one would believe your wedding is around the corner. Listen to me, there's still time. Call off the wedding. We'll find you someone better."
The moment Ibadat heard this, she pushed Shreya away in frustration and said, "How can you even say that? You know how much I love Saransh! He's going to be my husband. You have no right to talk about him like that, or I swear, I'll stop talking to you!"
Shreya smirked and replied, "Alright, alright, I won't say anything anymore. But honestly, you don't look all that stunning. I doubt Saransh will even notice you."
Her words made Ibadat's face fall. Just then, a group of girls rushed into the room, brimming with excitement. "The procession is here!" they announced.
Hearing this, Ibadat leapt to her feet in delight, but her enthusiasm nearly got the better of her as she almost tripped over her lehenga. Before she could fall, Shreya and two other girls steadied her.
"Ibadat!"
Ibadat looked up with an apologetic pout. "Sorry."
Shreya couldn't help but smile at her innocent expression. "So, the grand moment is here. Your prince charming—sorry, the great Saransh Goenka—is here to steal you away from me."
Her smile faltered slightly as she said the last words.
Ibadat looked at her with her big, innocent eyes and made a cute face as she said, "But I'm yours, right?"
Saying this, she planted a kiss on Shreya's cheek and ran off to the balcony of her room.
Outside, the decorations were breathtaking. It was early evening, and the warm glow of the setting sun added to the charm. Ibadat looked toward the wedding procession with a curious expression and asked, "Where's my Saransh?"
All she could see were the guests from the groom's side—no horse, no groom.
Shreya and the other girls followed her to the balcony.
Laughing, Shreya teased, "What if he ran away before the wedding even started?"
Hearing this, Ibadat turned to her with a pout and said in a sad voice, "Don't say that."
Seeing the tears welling up in Ibadat's eyes, Shreya pulled her into a hug and said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I was just joking. I want you both to be happy together, always. Even though I don't like him much, your happiness matters the most to me."
Hearing this, Ibadat's face lit up as she said in a cheerful voice, "Today, my Saransh will finally be mine forever."
Her excitement was palpable, and Shreya couldn't help but smile, though her heart whispered, I hope what I'm thinking doesn't come true.
Shreya looked outside and finally spotted the groom on a white mare, wearing a traditional sehra. She took a deep breath, then kissed Ibadat on the forehead.
Outside, Ibadat's parents, Anuj Mathur and Kaveri Mathur, stood ready to welcome the wedding procession. Along with them was Ibadat's cousin, two years older than her, who stood quietly observing the scene. At the front were Arjun Ji, Sangeeta Ji, and the head of the Goenka family, Vishambhar Goenka. Vishambhar Goenka's face exuded a regal pride and confidence that commanded attention.
Anuj Mathur stepped forward, bent down to touch his feet, and said, "Welcome, Mr. Goenka."
With a faint smile, Vishambhar Goenka replied, "The arrangements may not match our standards, but they're decent enough."
Anuj Mathur glanced at him with a polite smile. Though Anuj Mathur ran a modest business compared to the powerful and highly respected Goenka family, he felt proud that his daughter was about to become the daughter-in-law of such a prestigious household.
Meanwhile, the expressions on Arjun Ji and Sangeeta Ji's faces were unreadable. It was hard to tell what they were feeling at that moment.
The guests danced enthusiastically around the horse, where the groom sat—a man with an impressive presence. His face was hidden behind the traditional sehra, adding an air of mystery to the scene.
On the other side, deep in a dense forest…
Agonizing screams of a man echoed through the jungle, so terrifying that anyone who heard them would shudder. In the heart of the forest stood a beautiful cottage, surrounded by tight security. Even from inside the cottage, those horrifying cries could be heard.
Inside the cottage stood an incredibly handsome man, radiating an aura of power and danger. But his face held no trace of humanity. His hand gripped a blood-stained sword, and his expression was chillingly sinister. Before him lay two men, mutilated and barely alive. Their arms and legs had been severed, leaving only fragments of their bodies trembling in agony.
With a twisted smile, the man said, "I despise those who betray me. I gave you a chance for an easy death, but you wasted it. And in my court, there's no tradition of second chances."
As he finished speaking, he tilted his head slightly and glanced at the man standing behind him. The subordinate immediately rushed out of the room and returned moments later, carrying a handful of chili powder. Behind him, a bodyguard stood holding a container of salt.
The man turned to them with a cruel smirk and said, "Treat them well. I want to hear their screams. If I don't, then you two won't be left with the ability to make a sound yourselves."
With that sinister smile still on his face, the man stepped out of the cottage and settled onto a wooden chair, exuding the aura of a king. His terrifying grin remained intact as the agonizing screams from inside reached his ears, deepening his twisted satisfaction.
After a while, the screams stopped. Noticing the silence, he slowly opened his eyes. They glinted with a dangerous light, cold and menacing. Tilting his head slightly, he glanced at the bodyguard standing behind him.
The bodyguard hesitated before saying softly, "Boss, your grandfather is on the line."
Hearing this, the man's expression shifted, darkening instantly. He snapped angrily, "I don't care. I have no interest in talking to anyone. Cut the call."
Without a word, the bodyguard, Rahul, ended the call and began following closely behind his boss, who had risen from his seat. He wore a crisp white shirt stained with blood, making him look like a dangerous predator, a creature that thrived on destruction.
As they walked further, they approached a group of 10–12 men tied up with thick ropes. Their condition was pitiable; bruises and wounds covered their bodies, a clear sign of relentless torture.
The man's lips curled into a twisted smile as he surveyed them. "Good work, Sikandar," he said in a low, chilling voice.
At that moment, a strikingly handsome boy, no older than 18 or 19, stepped forward. Bowing his head respectfully, Sikandar replied, "If you give me any task, I'll carry it out without question, no matter if it's right or wrong."
Hearing this, the boss let out a frightening smile and said, "You're perfect for the job I've chosen you for."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sudden, loud ring of a phone, echoing in the room. Hearing it, Rahul froze in panic. He hurriedly picked up the phone, trying to silence the call, but before he could, he heard his boss's chilling voice, "It seems you don't understand what I say. I told you I don't want to talk to anyone, so why didn't you put the phone on silent?"
Rahul stammered nervously, "Boss, it's a call from Madam."
The moment the boss heard the word "Madam," a faint smile appeared on his lips. Without hesitation, he turned and snatched the phone from Rahul's hand, striding off with quick steps to a quieter corner.
Placing the phone to his ear, he closed his eyes and waited for the voice on the other end. For a while, there was only silence. Finally, he exhaled deeply and asked softly, "Why did you call?" His tone was not angry at all but filled with affection.
As soon as he spoke, a sweet voice came from the other end, "You never miss me, so I thought I'd remind you of my existence. Anyway, what are you doing? Do you really never think about me? Sometimes it feels like you've completely forgotten that there's someone in your life. Honestly, it feels like I'm forcing myself into your life. Is that true? If it is, I'll leave you."
Hearing this, the grip on the phone in his hand tightened. The next moment, he spoke in an angry voice, "If you ever say such nonsense again, you won't like what happens."
Hearing his anger, the girl on the other end chuckled softly and said, "There's no need to get so angry. Where would I go, leaving you? You're the reason I live."
The girl began to smile as she spoke. Noticing that the man on the other side was silent, she softly said with a gentle smile, "Why aren't you saying anything? Are you upset with me?" Closing her eyes, she spoke in a quiet, tender voice:
"I can hear the words in your silence,
I catch every whisper of your emotions.
Even if you choose not to speak, I understand,
I can read the gestures of your unspoken thoughts.
I beat in the rhythm of your breath,
I sense the sorrow hidden behind your smile.
Every dream of yours is a part of my prayers,
Even without you, I feel your presence every moment.
Even if you can't express your love in words,
I can decipher the depths of your heart through your silence."
The man listened quietly, her poetry weaving through the air, his eyes closed. A faint smile graced his lips as her words sank in, touching something deep within him.
After finishing her poetry, the girl fell silent. Her eyes remained closed, and her breaths quickened. In a soft voice, she said, "I know you'll never say it aloud, but you love me deeply. Remember, one day you'll admit it yourself. But say it soon, or it might be too late." With that, she ended the call.
Meanwhile, the man stared at his phone, where a name flashed on the screen—"Esha"—alongside a picture of an incredibly beautiful girl. She wore a simple Patiala suit, her face bare of makeup, adorned only with a pure and graceful smile. Looking at her photo, the man whispered softly:
"You think I've never confessed my love,
But know this—my love for you knows no bounds.
What's written in my eyes is no secret, not even from God.
I am someone who has made you mine without uttering a word.
Be it silence or anger, deep in my heart, it's always been you.
Only you, Esha, only you."
His words had barely left his lips when his phone rang again. This time, it was an unknown number. He stared at the number for a moment before finally answering the call. Whatever he heard on the other end made his expression turn completely dark. He yelled sharply, "I'm on my way!" and stormed out of the room with determined steps.
Mathur Mansion
The groom's welcome had already been completed, and he was now seated in the mandap. The hall was filled with guests, buzzing with activity. Vishambhar Ji sat in a corner, his expression tense and intimidating. Standing beside him were his elder son, Arjun, and his younger son, Adhiraj. Both of their faces mirrored the same unsettling grimness.
Vishambhar Ji spoke in a loud, commanding voice, "If he doesn't show up, then..."
Before he could finish, a notification popped up on his phone. He glanced at it, and the corners of his lips twisted into a crooked smirk. With a sharp look, he signaled toward Arjun. Arjun gave a slight nod and immediately made his way toward Anuj Ji, his steps purposeful and firm.
Anuj Ji and Kaveri Ji were struggling to understand why the Goenka family hadn't started the wedding ceremony, even though the auspicious time had already passed. It had been half an hour since the wedding muhurat, but the Goenka family had insisted that they were waiting for a very important guest who had not yet arrived.
As Anuj Ji and Kaveri Ji stood there, Arjun approached them and said, "Please ask Ibadat to come downstairs. The person we were waiting for has arrived. We can now begin the wedding rituals."
Hearing this, Anuj Ji sighed in relief and looked at Kaveri Ji, whose eyes shimmered with faint moisture. Without delay, the two made their way upstairs to Ibadat's room.
As soon as they opened the door, their gaze fell on Ibadat, who was sitting quietly with an innocent expression on her face. The moment she saw her parents, she quickly stood up and, in a soft, forlorn voice, asked, "Mama, why hasn't the wedding started yet? The muhurat has passed, hasn't it? Does that mean my wedding won't happen now?"
Her innocent face began to crumble, her expression turning into one of near tears as she spoke.
Hearing her words, Anuj Ji walked up to her, kissed her forehead, and said, "No, my princess. There was a little problem, but everything is fine now. Today, our princess will become someone else's queen."
As he spoke, tears rolled down his cheeks and fell onto his face.
Ibadat, with her adorable expression, kissed him on the cheek and said, "But Daddy, I'll always be your princess."
She looked up at her father with her big, innocent eyes. Hearing her, both Anuj Ji and Kaveri Ji couldn't help but smile. They embraced Ibadat tightly together before taking her out of the room.
Kaveri Ji and Arjun each held one of her hands as they descended the stairs. Ibadat looked no less than an angel who had descended from the heavens. A sweet smile adorned her lips, and her radiance made her the center of attention. As the three walked down the staircase, every guest's eyes were fixed on Ibadat's face.
Until now, everyone had been wondering why such a prominent family was marrying their son to the daughter of a small businessman. But as soon as they saw Ibadat's beauty, they understood. The younger son of the Goenka family, known for his flirtatious reputation, must have fallen deeply in love with this girl. That explained why the daughter of such a modest businessman was about to become the daughter-in-law of such a prestigious family.
The groom, sitting in the mandap, remained silent, his eyes fixed on the sacred fire burning in the havan kund. His face was hidden behind a floral sehra, concealing any expressions he might have had.
As Ibadat descended the stairs, her heartbeat quickened, though a sweet smile played on her lips. By now, Kaveri Ji and Anuj Ji had brought her near the stage.
All eyes were on the groom, who remained seated quietly. Noticing this, Ibadat pouted slightly and said, "Why isn't Saransh coming to take me?"
Just then, her cousin brother approached her. Taking her hand gently in his, he said, "Because today, your brother will have the honor of escorting you to your future husband."
With those words, he held her hand and led her to the mandap.
A radiant smile spread across Ibadat's face. Her brother guided her to sit beside the groom. As soon as she sat down next to Saransh, her happiness was evident, her smile growing wider.
She looked at the floral sehra covering Saransh's face with her wide, sparkling eyes and said softly, "Saransh, finally, it's our wedding day. From now on, I'll be yours forever. Ibadat will belong to Saransh."
She waited for him to respond, but Saransh remained silent. Seeing his lack of reaction, her cheerful expression faltered slightly.
At that moment, the priest looked at Ibadat and said, "Dear, please look forward."
That's all for today! How did you like this episode? Don't forget to share your thoughts and opinions in the comment box!