The Marriage

Tara glanced sidewise before she signed her name.

TARA CHOWDHURY.

She signed as the small group clapped in glee.

Since they arrived at the Registrar Office, the paparazzi went crazy for a bite. But moving with security always has its own perks.

As her sister nudged her to Garland Sushant, she looked at him for the first time.

The man showed signs of stress and he no longer looked that young and vibrant as he used to. But it was not the signs of aging that bothered her.

His eyes did.

He stared back at her with a stone cold gaze as he gracefully threw a big fat Garland across her neck. Tara reciprocated his motion and in the process as their fingers brushed, she cringed in an unknown fear....

Was she doing things right?

Will he ever give her the place she wanted to secure?

Can she run away right now?

Tara's mind was a mess. And she robotically exchanged the ring as the people around clapped even more cheerfully.

As the formalities ended, Sushant wrapped an arm around her and stepped out boldly to give the media THE FIRST LOOK.

FLASH... FLASH.... FLASH....

The shutters clicked from everywhere.

Questions flew from every direction to which none of them answered and her dad maintained his king like expression giving people the most proud smile she had ever seen on his face.

As Tara felt a rough tug on her elbow , her trance like state broke and she found herself being dragged by Sushant roughly.

Being a public figure was often merciful. Like right now.

Tara struggled silently so that Sushant loosened his grip. But all in vain. Finally she pasted a fake smile on her face and dragged herself along to avoid any suspicion.

Soon she was sitting at the back seat of a car that was too lavishly decorated and Sushant tightened his grip on her shoulder to give the paparazzi something to gossip upon for days to come.

Since they were outside audible zone, Tara hissed, "Let go, you are hurting me"

Sushant simply ignored her.

"Let go Sushant", Tara toughened her tone.

But Sushant simply tightened his grip.

The car started and as they left the mad crowd disappeared behind, Tara tried to wring out of Sushant's grip. But the stubborn man would simply not budge.

Finally he removed his hand and gazed outside.

" What was that Saxena?", Tara snapped.

Sushant glared at her and pointed silently to the driver.

Tara was bursting from within. She wanted to talk to Sushant, seek answers. But no moment was good enough to start any conversation.

In exasperation, Tara banged her left hand on the window glass and then everything happened way too quickly.

First she heard the noise of cracking glass bangles and the next moment she felt a shooting pain, not on her hand but somewhere between her left shoulder and her chest. And then she felt her world going dark.

The last thing she remembered before losing sense was Sushant's wild hiss,

" Dont you dare to die on me girl, I have big scores to settle with you"

And then everything went completely dark.