C3 O N E

'Did you think of something?'

Anahita typed with urgency and left a message for Mukund before joining her family in the intensive work of finalizing invites for the wedding. She was past the phase where she would beg her father to meet Mukund or at least try to get to know him. Her eyes caught the glimpse of square shaped Royal blue coloured invite which was simple and elegant. It had a peacock painting on the back and was customized with the satin ribbon and a crest of their initials on the top.

Only three weeks have left. Please save me, Mukund. Anahita prayed mentally and plopped on the buttoned U shaped, cream coloured couch that went well with the off white coloured walls of the drawing room that were stroked with chocolate brown.

Her eyes were flapping on her cell phone every now and then but Mukund never replied back. She was lost in her world, zoning out her family - extended family of bua-phoopha, chacha-chachi, mama-mami, taya-tayi and their kids - who had decided to adorn her abode with their precocious present. She brought her knees closer to her chest and cringed at their excitement of selecting an invite. She curbed the urge to gag and point out that these invites were useless since she wouldn't marry Yuvraaj.

It reminded her of him, Yuvraaj Chaitanya Prakash - the guy claimed to have the most handsome face in her acquaintance and who never gave up on any opportunity to make her feel inferior. He was engaged to her since she opened her eyes for the first time in the world. She could've forgotten her age or her name but not the fact that she was fated to get married to Yuvraaj owing to some stupid promises their parents' had made to each other. Her parents adored him and he clearly took advantage of it. He always bossed her, his dominance made him prick in her eyes. Anahita couldn't forget the marriage thing because the sadist buffoon was always there to remind her. He intruded her life without her permission and kept buzzing in her ear that she was his prospective wife.

Anahita was always against it but the trumpet of rejection fell in deaf ears, for everyone was very pleased with this alliance, including Yuvraaj's parents and the devil himself but deep down, she had faith in her stars that one day she would be able to untethered herself from his claws.

On a relative note, her sanguinity fell into a bottomless pit when her dad announced her official engagement with Yuvraaj a month back and she was engaged. Woeful, she rubbed the throbbing nerve on her forehead and rested her head against the headrest, seeking peace. She closed her eyes and steeled herself for the ensuing torture - strictly mental and emotional - from the 'most eligible bachelor' as her family had tagged Yuvraaj.

Most eligible! My foot. She fleered, I will die but I will never marry him. I refuse to be a slave.

She screwed up face as the annoying buzz of her cellphone reached her earshot. Still having her eyes closed, she flattened out her palm.

"Aai, hand me my cell phone!"

"Here!" Her cousin thrusted the cellphone in her palm and she opened one eye to peek at the screen and rolled her eyes as she noticed it was not Mukund but Yuvraaj. Without waiting for a heartbeat, she slid the phone icon to red and cut the call, tossing the cellphone leisurely back on the sofa. She resumed her previous position. Her cell phone beeped again. This time it was a message from Yuvraaj. She opened the inbox and clicked on the unread text.

'Don't choose a tacky invite like you and send me a snap as soon as you're done selecting.'

Her jaw clenched and she typed furiously, 'Die before getting married to me.' She was tempted to incorporate a few slangs but she knew better of it. As soon as her thumb pressed the send option, she was greeted with a reply in less than a minute.

'Then my ghost will marry you and torture you for whole life. Trust me, mou, it's more painful to live with a ghost.'

"Moron!" Anahita screamed, gathering attention from her family.

"I'm heading to my room already." She announced rising to her feet and her mom impeded. "Woah...but cards? Don't you wish to choose one?"

"Mom, you've chosen my groom with my consent and it's just a card." Anahita scoffed, receiving glares from her mother.

"Choose whichever you like. I'm fine with it." She gave a small shrug and padded to the staircase that led to her room after a narrow corridor.

'I was expecting a reply.' Her cell phone beeped with Yuvraaj's text.

'Does my suffering provide you oxygen?' She typed.

'Your scrunched up face provides me satisfaction.' His shameless reply came. Kicking the floor in agitation, she slumped down on the plush rug spread neatly in her room and rested her head on the mattress, staring at the cream white ceiling.

Her hands shot up to cover her face, "I wish you could understand me, dad."

And the farrago slides of the past spined before her eyes.

"Dad, please please meet him. Just once please!" Anahita followed her father to his study which was an eight by eight room comprising three display cabinets of books, a Chesterfield sofa, a set of wooden chairs and a glass table installed before the sofa. It was given a touch of early nineties with a golden colored gramophone situated proudly near the window.

"Stop playing like a broken record, Anu. Once I said no, it meant no." Mr. Maurya said sternly.

"But why?" She whined, "Dad, how can you determine that Mukund is not a good guy without meeting him?"

"Same goes for you." Mr. Maurya glanced at her before producing himself with the copy of 'War as I saw it' and made himself comfortable on the sofa. "How can you determine that Yuvraaj is not good for you?"

"Because I know him." She rolled her eyes, "Even better than you do. I have known him since my childhood."

Mr. Maurya hid a smile. Yuvraaj was mischievous and dominating in childhood, always running after his little girl and that made Anahita conclude that he would-be grownup graduating not only in academics but also in his arrogance.

"I also have known you both since your childhood. That's why I know he's the best guy."

Anahita knew it was totally waste to argue with her baba regarding Yuvraaj because apparently, Mr. Maurya had a shine for this boy since he was four and if it was not the way it was, Anahita wouldn't be cuffed with someone as arrogant, as manipulative, as teasing and as unapologetic as Yuvraaj.

"Okay fine! He is the best guy but why ain't you meeting Mukund? What's wrong with him?" She whined.

"I don't want that boy to nurture the thought of being with you when I am not all going to consider him for you." Mr. Maurya said casually, including a shrug.

"Dad, it's totally wrong." She rapped out. "You're imposing your decisions on me. I agree that you like Yuvraaj and he's the best guy out there but I don't like him. I don't fancy him. I like Mukund and you're not being considerate to my wish at all."

Mr. Maurya frowned, beginning to get irked with this. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to meet Mukund. Just once dad. I'm sure you will like him, he is a good guy." Anahita urged, dropping to her knees and annexed her father's hand in hers, acknowledging him with sanguine eyes.

"Anahita.." Mr. Maurya began, redeeming his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. "What is this? You already know that Yuvraaj is the one I've selected for you. Then why do you have to involve yourself in a relationship that has no future. Yuvraaj is the best match for you, I know it. Don't you have faith in me?"

"Dad, I've faith in you but," Her lips quivered as she lowered her glossy vision to the carpet. "Don't you have faith in me?"

"Look at me, Anu!" Mr. Maurya tipped her chin to raise her face and fondled her, smiling softly. "I've full faith in you and that's why I know that you will never defy my decision. Trust me with this, Anu, Yuvraaj is a good guy. He will keep you happy. I've seen him growing, I know how he is nurtured and I trust him with you."

"But, I don't like him, dad." She mumbled, resting her head in her father's lap, like old days and sniffed, "He is arrogant, snobbish, unapologetic and bossy. He...he is a jerk, dad. He's a control freak."

"You're judging him wrong, baby." Mr. Maurya stroked her hair.

"I don't care. All I know is that I will never be happy with him. How can you promise me to someone without asking my consent, dad?" She asked in a low voice, unable to keep the disappointment off her voice.

"Chaitanya also didn't ask Yuvraaj but the boy is taking it nicely unlike you. You're making me ashamed." Mr. Maurya chided.

"Dad..."

"I am doing what all fathers do, Anahita. You will get married to Yuvraaj and that's final."

"But..."

"No more discussion. You're getting engaged to him in a week and next month, it's your wedding. It will be nice if you prepare yourself for this because I'm not considering breaking this marriage off." Mr. Maurya said sternly and Anahita watched her world collapsing with each word he said. It was evident that she would never be able to get herself out of this alliance which was forced upon her.

Without a word, Anahita stepped out of the room with tears in her eyes. More than Yuvraaj, it was her family and their obstinacy that made her so reluctant to accept this relationship.

Anahita rubbed her forehead and broke the string of flashbacks. Her gaze flickered on her ring finger where her engagement ring was twinkling proudly. A big diamond carved in hexagon, studded in a plain platinum band, fitted in her ring finger perfectly. "I hate you, Yuvraaj. I will never be your puppet. I will never be your customized doll."

"I've to do something." She bit her lip anxiously and rose to her feet, grabbed her cellphone and impatiently punched Mukund's digits. Her supple lips turned red as she chewed on them and her trimmed eyebrows inclined. The nasty habit of biting her nails hit her like a thunderbolt.

"Pick up the call, Mukund." She chanted, restlessly pacing in the room.

"Did you think of something?" It was the first sentence that left her mouth when Mukund picked up her call after the tenth ring.

He hushed, "Anu. I am busy."

"Mukund, do something. You're my only hope." She whined desperately.

"Anahita please. I am busy yaar." He stressed every word. "I will call you later and please don't disturb me. Bye!" He hung up without waiting for her reply. Annoying beeps of disconnected calls poured into her ear.

"Hello! Hello! Mukund." Anahita blankly stared at the screen and stomped her feet. "Argh! All fucking men are same."

"I'm different from those you're talking about." A deep raspy voice interrupted her and Anahita sighed, correctly recognising whom that very voice belonged to. She turned to witness Yuvraaj leaning against her door languidly, donned in a V neck t-shirt and jeans.

"Manners!" She breathed in annoyance.

"Tsk! This green and red dress is not suiting you at all. Are you colour blind?" Yuvraaj mocked, coming inside and Anahita rolled her eyes, acknowledging him with a tight lipped smile. "I presume you're not my personal couturiere."

Yuvraaj took a full glance of her from head to toe and twitched his lips. "But you badly need one."

"Yeah. As if you're a Greek God!" She muttered under her breath and Yuvraaj chuckled, winking at her. "That I am."

She watched him getting comfortable on her bed. Yuvraaj rolled up his sleeves up to his elbows and swept his hair back, weaving his fingers through the thick mass. Anahita frowned at herself for noticing him, she immediately turned away, indulging herself in the task of tidying her room. This was a bane - his acclaimed male beauty. Blessed with six feet height with well proportioned limbs and delicious amount of flesh in his frame, Yuvraaj was quite popular amongst her cousins. His athletic physique, recently sported textured Pompadour cut and notorious smouldering brown eyes only marked up his following. Every female relative of hers envied Anahita for getting lucky enough to secure an Adonis for her and Anahita would always scream inwardly, allowing them gleefully to take Yuvraaj with them as soon as possible. His eminent beauty contributed zero in her interest for him.

"What's this?" Yuvraaj asked, picking up her shirt from the side table. "Green. Seriously?"

"What exactly are you doing in my room?" Anahita growled, snatching back her shirt.

"I phoned you up. Why didn't you pick it?"

"I got your message anyways." She shrugged, "As you've made yourself pretty clear in the text itself. I don't think you should be here."

"I called you to inform that Aai wanted you to accompany her in the shopping and I'm here to take you with me." Yuvraaj made her known, juggling with his cellphone.

"I am not going anywhere with you." Anahita denied it.

"Even I don't want to take you there. I'm not your chauffeur but I can't say no to Aai." He slowly smirked at her. "And since we are getting married, I have to make sure you don't wear such ratty clothes."

"Listen...." Anahita began pointing index finger at him and Yuvraaj kissed her finger, before getting up. His shadow blanketed her completely. Anahita suddenly felt so small before him.

"I'm waiting downstairs for you. Get ready decently and come out." Yuvraaj said, shoving his hands in pockets and staggered out. He halted at the door, "Oh, and don't be late"

"What if I am?" Anahita challenged, feeling surged with disobedience.

Yuvraaj's lips stretched in sneer and his fingers tapped the wooden door as he peeked at her. "Then I will come upstairs, scoop you up in my arms and take you to the car before Aai and Baba."

"Get lost!" Anahita sniffed in disgust.

"This lovely attitude of yours is determining your happy married life." Yuvraaj smiled, mischievously and winked at her. "Come down in five minutes."

He strolled out of her room and Anahita pulled her hair in frustration.

"I'll knock that smile down your face, Yuvraaj." She yelled and a fruity laugh fell in her ears, followed by.

"Try your best, manni mou."