"What..."

I splittered my eyes for a fraction of second before darting them back to the old man.Did he really ask me to marry his grandson or it just the misheard of my ears.

"I am not getting you Sir..I think you thought me of someone else..."I said to confirm whether he was suffering from short term memory loss as mostly people started having such problem with aging.

"I know to whom I am talking.. Sanyukta.. and what I am talking about .Yes I want you to marry my grandson..as I can see a perfect bride in you..so innocent , selfless and pure..."he said.

"But Sir..it's insane..I mean we are stranger to each other moreover it is the first time we are having a proper conversation..then how can you so sure about me..how much you know about me..my family background... nothing"I said.

The old man faintly smiled at me and then again darted his eyes on particular nowhere.His silence was making me anxious.I held the gold locket around my neck.I do it whenever get nervous.

"You know..I and my wife had an arrange marriage almost fifty five years ago..we didn't meet nor interact before our marriage and that time I was the most successful billionaire of the country.No one dare to compete with me in the corporate field.I have everything,a caring father,devoted mother,money , vast empire built by my great grandfather,success and.. women ready to through themselves on me if I could only ask them..but still there was a hollowness somewhere inside my heart...."his eyes beamed up when he was telling me those secret of his love life.

I,like an obedient listner,forgot about our previous talks,my full attention was on his face,I was keen for the secrets a stranger was unfolding to another stranger.

"It was the year sixty one,I came to India for a business purpose,I was in our ancestral village those days.An evening my hosts asked me to visit the ancient temple of the village,they used to gather there for evening prayer .I accompanied them without any kind of curiosity or excitement but there,when everybody had their eyes closed even me.I heard a melodious voice ever which left it's imprints on my heart the very second.I find out about her through my sources...and on the seventh day of that evening we tied the holy knot together..."he paused .I saw moisture rolling down from his eyes.He didn't wipe them as if he himself wanted to shed them.

"And she got agree to marry you.

.even without knowing about you..?"

I asked him .I was curious to know his wife's reaction.

"I thought the same.."he said remembering something with wet eyelashes.I poured some water in the glass and forwarded it to him.

He took sips and continued,"After marriage she behaved totally ignorant towards me though she did all her duties as a daughter in law...I was hurt not cause she didn't want to keep any kind of interaction with me but forcing her into that unwill bond...she used to shiver in my presence.."

"Ohh..but her reaction was obvious..she married to a stranger without her acknowledgement."I defended his wife's behavior.

"I must say our thoughts are alike young lady.."he laughed.

"Huh.."I confused.

"One fine day my dam of patience broke and I confronted her but what she told me..left me taken off gourd.."he said.

I leaned forward on my chair unable to hold my curiousness.

"She said she avoids to come in front of me because she feels extremely shy and my presence make her heart churn..she confessed her feelings to me that day saying she fell for me when she first saw me on our marriage alter..."the old man took a deep breath and then looked at me in the anticipation for the first question he asked me.

"I am not sure Sir..it's worked in your marriage but it is not necessary that the same theory works in every relationship's aspect..time has changed Sir..our priorities and point of views as well..."I tried to

explain him.

My mind and heart was going through a inner battle.Marriage was a far off thing for me as my priorities were my mother and brother.Starting a new relationship at the time when they needed me the most sounded selfish.

I was fiddling with my fingers while the old man kept watching my changing expressions.He was calm .

"Sanyukta I know you're hurt and confused at this moment . This is going to work out best one day..I know it..and think about your sick mother and brother..we'll provide the best medical help for your mother .Her surgery will be done by the best doctors of the world..and your brother..I will admit him in the top most high school of United Kingdom..you don't need to worry about their future.."he said thus making me to widen my eyes on him.

"Are you trying to bribe me to marry the money minded ruthless grandson of yours..who think that poverty is someone's choice.."I screamed tears started rolling down from my eyes.

"No my child..I am not trying to bribe you..the decision will be all yours.It just I can see a successful relationship between you two..."he said.

I looked away being hurt.

"Successful marriage with a person who thinks I helped you to excavate money from your family.."I smiled .My words dropping sarcasm as I remembered the mysterious eyed man 's words.

"I agree he is rude,arrogant and money minded but he is as pure as a child at heart..I know him since he came into this world.My wife's up bringing is nourishing in him.He is just mislead.I know you will prove the person who has the capability to guide him through thicks and thins of life. please say yes to this marriage..I am begging you.."he joined his palms in front of me with pleading eyes.

He left me with nothing to speak.I could see myself on the verge of two ways between the two ,one might lead me to the way where all my worries would turn into biggest happiness of my life but it cost my own freedom to choose a perfect life partner who can give me the respect and love a woman desires from her man.

"Umm..I..I need to tell my parents

first as I can't take such a huge decision on my own..Sir.."I said getting up from my chair.

"I will be waiting for your answer whatever it would be.."he chipped but I could see an unknown fear in his eyes .

I nodded my head pressing my

lips into a thin line,I came out of

the room .

×××××××××

I entered in my house fully exhausted mentally as well as physically.But what was the more shocking for me that my father was sitting in the living room along with my step brother and my ...mother.It seemed they were waiting for my arrival.

I could sense something which I was not gonna like .I decided to ignore their constant glare on me and made my way to my room when my dad's voice echoed into my ears.

"Stop right there..you shit of a bitch.."

I balled my fist in anger.If I had given an opportunity to strangle him,it won't take me another second to do so.Calming my raging breath for the sake of my mother,I turned to him.

"We need to talk to you.. Sanyukta.."my steo brother mouthed in a drunken slurry voice.

How can a person on earth drown himself in the liquor all the time except the two guys one is mine brother and another one who supposed to be that mysterious eyed one's.

I said nothing and sat across them.

A victorious smirk spread on those devil's lips while my mother was looking at me with sorrow filled eyes regretting her decision for umpteenth time.

"Sanyukta..as you know..I am facing a loss in the business from last few months due to which I have to mortgaged our house.Now only you can help us or else we all will come on the streets .."my dad spoke.

I looked at him intently thus trying to get what was cooking in his evil mind.Which only could process shit out of it.

"And what is it?Is it something related to me..?"I asked him.

"Sweetheart I spent a lot of money to brought you and your brother up,from your clothing,food to your education and now it's your turn to do something for your father.."my dad said with no emotion on his face.

"I am keeping in my mind every penny you spent on us which you have earned with hard work.."I laughed mockingly.

"Be in your limit you ugly toddler.You're talking to Dad.."my step brother yelled on me.

"I know he is going to spit something nonsense.."I retorted but for my surprise dad didn't utter anything

bad for me.

"Sanyukta all you have to do is.."he paused,"To give away yourself for the nights in return we'll get the desired money.."he completed this draining off the blood from my body.

My veins popped out with fury.Getting up from my seat I grabbed his collar in my fists.He was taken aback by my sudden reaction.

"How dare you son of a whore to think that I will sell my body to satisfy your personal commodities..tell me how dare you.."I yelled on his face.

My step brother somehow freed him from my dangerous grip.

"Sanyukta Agrawal don't you ever talk to me in this way again.I am still your father and I can make you three rot in living hell..for the rest of your life.."he hissed in anger.

"In your dreams Mr. Agrawal because we are going far away from your filthy sight.."I clapped my hands laughing hard on him.

"And how may I know..?"he cocked his brows at me.

"

I stated thus their faces went stiff in bewilderment.