She stood lifeless. The moment when the door of the ambulance opened. She saw her parents. Wrapped in white. The earth moved under her feets. Her little eyes welled up with tears. Why did they leave her alone in this world?

"Amma...Nanna... please wake up. Please open your eyes and look at me. Ammmaa.. wake up..."

Saakshi woke up from the sleep. Covered in sweat. Her heart was pounding out of her chest. She wiped her tears and realised that it was a dream again. Her parents were dead. A long ago. It haunted her still. She had this feeling. As if she will soon loose everyone in life. For others she was ill fated and he took her out of it.

She felt her throat going dry and looked around for some water. That's when reality dawned upon her. Today was supposed to be her marriage day. The day they all had been waiting for. Her dreams were coming true. She was getting married to her man. Who owned her heart

"Siddhant?"she looked around for him and found the other side of the bed empty.

Slowly last night's memories came back to her. She let him claim her by all means. She surrended her desires. Her body and soul. Both belonged to him. Slowly a blush crept over her face when she found herself in his long , loose shirt. Hitting her forehead , she gathered sheets around her and walked upto the table to drink water. After gulping it down , she noticed her phone in couch. Her eyes widened when she found numerous missed calls from Subha , Anirudh and Lakshmi.

It started ringing again and she picked it up quickly.

"Hello Subha?"

"Saakshi? Where are you? Where did you disappear from yesterday night? Do you know how many times I tried calling you over the phone. Even Siddhant wasn't picking up my calls and..."

"Subha. Relax. I'm completely fine. I'm here in the guest house"

"What? Are you serious? I thought you went back home yesterday night. Lakshmi aunty is so worried about you. She's calling me for the nth time. Even Siddhant wasn't picking up her calls I was told"

"Oh no"Saakshi hit her forehead. How can she be so dumb?

"Erm... I stayed back here with Siddhant yesterday night"Saakshi said and she heard Subhas gasp from the other end

"You both spent the entire night together? Don't tell me that you both.."

"Keep aside your dirty thoughts. We were sleepy so we slept"Saakshi lied. She couldn't stop blushing.

"Phew and there's nothing dirty about it. You're going to be his wife in few hours. No worries. It's your marriage day"Subha giggled.

"It's 'our' marriage day darling. Even you're getting married to your prince charming right?"

"Yeah"Subha blushed.

"Okay I will meet you there. Have to check for Siddhant. Must be somewhere around"Saakshi said

"Wait..call Anirudh first and tell him that you're here"

"Okay. Bye"

"Bye"

She disconnected the call and took her clothes from the floor. She wore it in a hurry and looked around for Siddhant. He was nowhere to be seen. She checked for him in the washroom , living room , garden , kitchen and the whole house. She couldn't find him anywhere.

Suddenly an unwanted fear crept Inside him. Did he leave her? She gave herself him to him yesterday night. Is that all he wanted from her?

"How can I think like this? He won't leave me. He loves me"she pacified her heart.

She dialled his number and it was switched off. That was enough to make her tensed. A drop of tear escaped her eyes. She became restless and this time she called Anirudh. He didn't pick it up firstly. She called him again and this time , to her relief he took her call.

"Hello Anirudh?

"Saakshi? Where are you and why didnt you.."

"Is Siddhant there?"she asked intruppting him. There was silence. Anirudh didn't respond.

"Anirudh please tell me. Is Siddhant there?"her eyes teared up.

"Ye..Yes.. Saakshi. He is..here"he said while his voice broke a little.

Saakshi sighed in relief.

"Give the phone to him. I want to talk with him Anirudh"she said.

"Not now Saakshi. I think he's in his room. Where are you now? Amma is so worried about you"he said diverting the topic.

"I'm here in the guest house Anirudh. I don't know why Siddhant left without uttering a word to me"

"I will come to pick you up"he said

"No you don't need to. You are supposed to be there Anirudh"

"I will send the driver then. Come soon"

"Okay"she disconnected the call and sighed. And then wondered why Siddhant left all of a sudden without taking her along. That's when it struck her. They both were in unconscious state of mind yesterday. Probably he's feeling guilty for what he had done. Claiming her without her consent. But she didn't regret. She loved him immensely and let herself loose in his arms.

"Siddhant. You and your stupid insecurities. I will kill you today. How can you just leave me alone here and go? That too on our marriage day?"

10 minutes later , the car arrived and she left to his house.
.
.
Lakshmi had been going mad from the morning. Running from one place to another. She had a tough time. Taking care of all the things. It was a big day for her. Both her sons were getting married. Nothing can make her more happier in life. But she had been only tensed from the morning.

"I look handsome isn't it?"Bharat appeared from nowhere. Making her glare

"Bharat? Both your son's are getting married for God's sake. Let me remind you"she shouted

"What happened? Why are you shouting now?"

"Did you see Siddhant and Saakshi? Today is their marriage and I don't know where these two disappeared"she said worriedly.

"Must be here somewhere around"he said.

"No Bharat. I've checked the whole house. Nandu came back home so late and Siddhant and Saakshi was not there with him. I told them not to party till late night. But who listens.."

"Did you try calling them?"

"I did. Siddhus phone is switched off. Saakshis was ringing but she didn't pick it up. I asked nandu and subha to enquire about them"

"You're getting tensed unnecessarily. Probably they went somewhere together"

"On their marriage day?"

"Lakshmi. Kids these days will do such things. They view everything in a different perspective. Let's give them some privacy"

Lakshmi nodded. In half agreement.

"Amma..did you see my lehenga?"Anandita descended from the stairs with a pout.

"Designers delivered them yesterday itself Ana. Go and check them in your room"Lakshmi said.

"I can't find them Amma. Please come with me"

"God this girl! Still behaving like a kid. Have to blame your brothers for this. Did you see Siddhant and Saakshi?"

"Nope. I think they stayed back in the guest house. After the party"Ana walked back to her room.

Saakshi walked inside the mansion. Tensed as ever. She knew that Lakshmi would be definitely angry with her. She found her in the living room and hesitated.

"Saakshi?"

"Good morning Aunty"she said lowering her eyes to the ground.

"Where were you till now?"

"I'm sorry aunty. Yesterday after the party we were sleepy. So we stayed back in the guest house"she said playing with her stole.

"And Siddhant?"

"Anirudh told me that he is here"

"What? He left you alone there and came here?"

Saakshi nodded.

"Okay. We will teach him a lesson"she smiled leaving Saakshi surprised.

"Aunty I'm sorry. I should have informed you but I.."

"Sh..it's all okay. I don't want to make you sad. It's your marriage day. You should be happy. The stylists will arrive in an hour. Go to your room and take rest for a while okay?"Lakshmi asked and Saakshi nodded with tears. She thanked all her stars for sending this mother into her life.

She went to her room. She wanted to meet Siddhant but decided to have a talk with him. Once the marriage is over. She was exhausted as well. After a warm shower when she stepped out she found the saree and her ornaments kept ready in the bed. She smiled inwardly. Today is going to change her life forever.
.
.

Both the brides looked extremely beautiful in their bridal attires. Saakshi looked at herself through the mirror and smiled. Never ever she thought that she'll deserve this happiness in life. She was glowing.

"Okay I'm jealous because you both look more beautiful than me"Ana pouted.

"Awe my darling. You're beautiful than us"Subha said pulling Ana's cheeks.

"I won't believe.. I have a tough competition back in the house once this marriage is over"she giggled

"We will make you more beautiful on your wedding day. Agreed?"

"Wow. I love you both"

"Let's take a selfie"Subha said.

"Okay"Ana shouted and they clicked selfies.
Saakshi smiled at them and then grabbed her phone.

Siddant is offline.

She sighed and left him a message.

Saakshi : Still angry on u :( Won't let you touch me tonight.

She giggled and hit her forehead. When did she started behaving like this? He changed her. And she loved this side of hers.

"Come Saakshi. Selfie"Subha said pulling her along and they clicked some.

On the other side. Anirudh felt like a fish out of water. He couldn't Breath. He knew that this marriage won't happen. Yet he was there. As a groom. Letting it happen. He slid his palm inside the pocket and looked at the slip. Which siddant left for him.

Nandu ,

I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm running away from here. I did a big mistake. I regret for what I did to Saakshi. I regret for walking out of her life like this but I have to. Nandu , please make sure that she get what she deserves in life. Someone better than me. Don't let anyone know about this. I trust you and I believe that you won't break it. I feel guilty for breaking your marriage too. God is playing a cruel joke on me Nandu. Take care of Amma..Nanna. Never let them miss me. Take care of Ana. Take care of Subha too. I wish your happiness Nandu. I love you always.

Don't come in search of me. I won't come back.

Lots of love and Hugs.
Siddant.

Anirudh clenched his fist to prevent himself from crying.

"Why? Why did you do this?"

Lakshmi stormed inside his room. Found him sitting , lifelessly.

"Nandu..Siddhu is not here. Where's he? You told me that he's here. It's time for muhurtam and that boy is nowhere to be seen"

He sat silently. A drop of tear escaped his eyes.

"Nandu?"

"He won't come back Amma. He left"

Lakshmi stood numb. Trying to register in her mind. What he said

"What do you mean?"

"He doesn't like this marriage. So he went away"

In a moment. Everything turned upside down. The marriage was stopped in between. The guest's exited the venue. One by one. Lakshmi was weeping in Bharat's shoulder. Siddant himself chose Saakshi for him and now he left. Without uttering a word to them. Anirudh stood silently. Watching Subha who consoled his parents. Ana was sobbing silently.

"He should have told this earlier. Why did he left all of a sudden without saying anything? If he didn't like her anymore , we would have broken this marriage earlier"Lakshmi sobbed harder.

Anirudh couldn't take it anymore. He ran to an empty corner and bursted into tears. Soon to be disturbed by another sob. Saakshi was standing lifelessly near the window. Crying her heart out. She couldn't believe that her silly fear came true. Siddant left her after using her. He broke the marriage and stated a reason. He didn't love Saakshi anymore.

Anirudh walked upto her and stood besides her.

"Be strong Saakshi. I don't know what else to say. How to console you. I don't know"he said and she faced him.

"Do you think I believe you Anirudh? Siddant broke this marriage and left just because he don't love me. In other words he was just using me. I'm I right?"

"No Saakshi..He.."

"I know. I trusted him a lot. And this is what he did to me. I deserve it for trusting him"

He stood without uttering a word. She broke into tears again.

"He won't leave me. I know. There must be some reason. Anirudh.. please tell me what has happened to him. Where did he go and why did he leave me. There must be a sole reason. And I know that you know. I consider you as my brother. Please tell me. What happened to my Siddhant?"

"Saakshi"

"Where's he?"

"I don't know where he is. He won't come back Saakshi"

"That's why I asked you Anirudh. WHY?"she shouted.

"He's dying Saakshi. He will leave this world soon"he broke into tears.

In that moment. Her world turned dark again.

*****

Precap - 6 months ago..

Hello Darlings..😁Well this time I've tried something different. Hope you all liked it. The story is going to be an emotional ride for my readers. I hope you all will love it.

I've completed all my others works but will soon come up with a sequel of my story ( When a fan met her Star ) and a five shots story.

Take care Darlings. Love you all. Muahxx😘

♡ Nila ♡