“During the entire meeting, my whole mind was occupied with Nandana’s thoughts. She is all alone in the farmhouse. My mind is clouded with restless notions. Did I do the right to leave her alone in the farmhouse? She is ill and vulnerable. What if she faints…what if she needs something…what if she gets scared? Ufff…my mind gathers all the negative thoughts. Eventually, I end the meeting abruptly and get ready to go back to her. I instruct Ayan for the brief of the meeting so that I can work at night on the project and come out of the office premises. As I am about to get into my car, a middle-aged man blocks my way.”

Aditya looks at him with a frown. The person looks not very well to do. His cheap attire and the lines of stress on his forehead are proving that. But more of that his eyes; they are panic-stricken and pain-ridden.

“Sir, my… my daughter Nandana. She is missing for almost one month. I …I came to know that you met her in school. Sir, can you help me? I mean…police…no I mean…if you know where she is…I think I am not being able to make you understand…my mind…my mind is not working properly.”

The elderly person keeps on ranting but his words stiffen Aditya’s nerves.

“He is Mr Basu…Nandana's father. At last, he reached you. Or maybe the police reached you.”

Aditya’s mind alarms him. With hard jaws, he observes the man minutely. If any soft-hearted person observes him, he must have felt pity for him but a heartless person like Aditya Oberoi only can think to dodge his query.

“Sorry to hear that but I don’t know anything about your daughter. I might meet her in school but I visit so many places in a day. So, it’s not possible for me to recollect everyone. If you need any other help, I mean money or something then I can surely help you.”

Aditya tries to normalise his tone. Maybe money can lessen his pain. A money-minded man only can think like this. Mr Basu looks at him with sheer surprise. He can’t say anything. Aditya waits for his reply but when Vivek Basu doesn’t open his mouth, he gets in his car.

“Driver, start…”

Aditya orders authoritatively. Suddenly Vivek Basu slams on the window glass. Aditya turns at him without rolling down the tinted glass.

“I won’t spare you, Aditya Oberoi. You can’t keep my daughter hidden for a long time. I will find her out. You can’t buy me with your money. My daughter will come back to me…..do you hear that?.....”

Aditya hears Mr Basu’s relentless growl. With fuming eyes and clenched jaws, he shouts at his driver,

“What are you waiting for, you moron? Start the car and get hell out of here.”

The driver immediately starts the engine and pushes the accelerator. With no second, it whizzes out of the place leaving behind the lamenting father. Vivek tries to follow the car for a while by running but he doesn’t know his feeble legs are not enough to compete with Audi’s powerful wheels. He stops, clutching his stomach. He is panting like a patient. Amidst his gasp, he mutters,

“I won’t...let you go,...Aditya Oberoi.”

.................................

Aditya bails in the farmhouse. His mind is burning like a furnace.

“NANDITA….”

He shouts.

“NANDITAAAAA…..”

He is searching for her like a prowling lion. Nandana was lying on the bed, listening to music on the i-pod. Needless to say, she couldn’t hear his call. Aditya barges into the room. His eyes fall on Nandana who is swaying her head to the beat of the music. Aditya rushes to her and grabs her shoulders, pulling her to sit. The intensity was so wild and abrupt that Nandana flinches and a garble escapes her mouth,

“Auuuu….”

She immediately pulls out the hands-free and meets his fuming face.

“What happened, Aditya? You were supposed to come around 3 pm.”

Her voice has surprise and tension. Aditya keeps staring at her for a while and suddenly yanks her into his chest. He encircles her in a bone-crushing hug. Nandana is taken aback but automatically reciprocates his reaction.

“What happened, Aditya? I am alright. I was just listing to music that’s why I couldn’t realise your presence.”

She tries to pacify his agitation. Satisfying himself with her presence, Aditya withdraws himself with a sigh of relief. He cups her face and looks deep into her eyes. Nandana’s curious orbs are trying to fathom the reason for his restlessness. But his next words form deep lines of confusion on her forehead.

“Will you marry me?”

Aditya’s unexpected question startles Nandana.

“What kind of question is this, Aditya? We are already engaged…of curse I will marry…”

Her words get cut by his next question,

“Now?...”

Nandana’s frown gets deeper. She stammers a bit,

“Aditya…but..”

“Are you ready to marry me…today…right now?”

Aditya sounds determined and rigid.

“Yeah, but why suddenly? I mean you said you need time when I asked you for the same.”

She still is not believing her ears.

“No, I don’t have time. Today I realised that. I can’t wait for the proper time. Now or never. Let’s get ready. We will get married today only. Come…get ready.”

Aditya says in haste while pulling her hand to get her stand. With a perplexed mind, Nandana rises from the bed. This man is really a puzzle for her. Aditya connects Ayan’s number.

“Hello…Ayan…listen to me very carefully. I am coming to the nearest temple to my farmhouse. You arrange a pandit (Priest) and get all the necessary things needed for marriage. Yeah, don’t question me…I don’t have time. Just do what I said. And make sure the pandit is reliable. Now, do it fast. I am coming there within half an hour.”

Aditya cuts the call. Nandana is still standing there with a confused face.

“You are still waiting. Go and get ready….okay, wear the red and golden border saree which we bought that day from the mall and don’t forget to wear a bindi (A colour mark between eyebrows).”

Aditya says enthusiastically while pushing Nandana lightly to make it hurry. Nandana widens her eyes in disbelief. Bindi?....Really? Her brute is instructing her how to dress up and get ready! Aditya groks the surprise in her eyes and tries to explain himself in an awkward tone,

“Oh…I mean…it’s our marriage…and you should wear red. And bindi…it should be…I mean a bride should have a bindi…right?”

Nandana giggles at his unusual cuteness and agrees,

“Right…Mr cute perfectionist. Today you acquire another name. Okay, I am going to get ready like a perfect bride but what about you? I think you also need to wear a kurta at least. Or else this suit won’t go with my perfect Indian bridal attire.”

She giggles again and heads to the cupboard to take out a kurta for him. Aditya scratches his nape in embarrassment. With a sheepish smile, he starts to get rid of his corporate clothes.

.................................

Aditya fills the hair partition of Nandana with sindoor (vermilion). Nandana closes her eyes with contentment.

“The marriage is completed. You both are now husband and wife.”

The pandit announces with satisfaction. Aditya takes out a bundle of notes from his pocket and places them on the palm of the priest.

“Ayan, please get Nandita and make her sit in the car. I am just coming.”

Aditya orders Ayan. Nandana follows him in a slow gait. After getting them disappeared from the place, Aditya turns to the priest. The soft and coolness of his face and eyes have now vanished.

“Panditji, I think Ayan has told you everything about me and this marriage. Still, I want to repeat. Don’t try to open your mouth anywhere or else you won’t be able to talk anymore. Wipe out this day from your memory. You don’t know me or my wife. You have got your payment. Now, leave this place and never ever come back again. I think I can make it clear to you.”

Aditya’s arctic tone dries up the priest’s throat. He licks his lips to moisten them and tilts his head in positive. Aditya gestures for him to leave and he exits with numb limbs.

“Now, Mr Basu; I have bounded your daughter with me by a ritual called marriage. Now, you can’t take her away from me, even if you find her. And on the other hand, the police can’t even do anything against me. Now, she is my wife. I have right on her. Nobody can snatch her from me. Not now….not ever. Nandana…you are mine and will remain mine forever. You are the angel of this brute and you will remain caged for the entire life in my world.”

Aditya murmurs. His eyes are beaming with the joy of triumph. He rushes to the car.