Tainted Love by Maniah (english novels to read .TXT) 📕

Vani on the other hand felt uncomfortable with her company. It was like she was trying to pretend to be someone else. 

Vani was sitting silently while Mrityunjay was talking to someone over the phone. Mr and Mrs Gill were sitting in front of her. She needed to tell them about her decision as well. 

When she finished telling them, Mr Gill only nodded while Mrs Gill touched her hand softly.

"I am happy for Granth. I understand your situation, Vani. But always remember you are not alone. We are always with you. But now that you are getting married tomorrow, we need to perform the pre-wedding rituals."

Vani frowned "Mrs Gill, it's just an arrangement…" she said but Mrs Gill shook her head, "I don't care, the main thing is you are getting married. Even if it's an arrangement you will become a bride tomorrow and today we are doing every ritual. Even if we have to do this here with only us." 

Mr Gill nodded and walked to Mrityunjay, he waited till he finished his phone call and once it ended, He cleared his throat. 

Mrityunjay turned towards the sound and found Mr Gill standing there, "Yes?" He asked. 

Mr Gill sighed, "Mr Sehgal, Vani told me that you proposed to her and you both are getting married tomorrow," he asked, raising his chin. 

Mrityunjay inclined his head, "Yes, we are." 

"Mr Sehgal, Vani has faced a lot here but she didn't give up. She faced every challenge strongly. She is like a sister to me and I want you to respect her. As her brother, you must know that she is not alone in this world. I am with her always and I won't tolerate anything wrong with her. I am not scared of you or anyone else for my sister. I can fight with anyone." 

Mrityunjay Stared at Mr Gill. The man has earned his respect once again. In this world, only a few people dared to talk in front of him and this man had just warned him for Vanya.

Mrityunjay only nodded and Mr Gill nodded at him as well and walked back to Vani. Mrs Gill was still trying to persuade Vani for the pre-wedding Rituals. "Mrs Gill please…" she tried again but Mr Gill didn't listen.

Mr Gill sat close to her "I couldn't see my Manpreet in a wedding dress but I want to see you. Please give me this gift as a sister Vani." 

Vani gulped, tears pooled in her eyes. Yes, she had suffered a lot but Mr and Mrs Gill were the only people she could trust blindly. "I will...I will." 

Mrs Gill hugged her and went to the kitchen. She prepared the Turmeric paste for The Haldi ceremony (turmeric Ceremony). After the paste was prepared she asked Vani to change into a yellow dress. 

Vani went to change her dress, While Mrs Gill set up the sitting stool in the living room. She did everything which could be arranged. Granth and Khush were asked to bring the flowers for Vani. 

"But why Aunty?" Granth asked Mrs Gill. "Because your Mumma and Daddy are getting married. Now go and call you Daddy for the ceremony."

Granth didn't need to be told twice he ran to Mrityunjay. "Daddy, Aunty is calling you for Haldi." 

Mrityunjay Frowned but went with him. He performed every ceremony, Vani too. They both were doing this for their son, who was smiling throughout every ceremony.

 At the end of the day, Granth tired himself so much that he fell asleep in Mrityunjay's lap. Vani who was sitting with Mrs Gill with a henna tattoo over her hands and feet was tired as well. 

Mrityunjay stayed at Vani's house that day, Dhigraj bought his clothes and the dresses which they both were going to wear for the wedding ceremony. Vani didn't care what she wore but Mrityunjay had arranged a beautiful Banarsi Saree for her. Everything was settled.

 Vani was anxious, she looked at the henna in her hand and tears gathered in her eyes.  There was a day when it was her dream to be Mritunjay's bride and today when she was going to be his bride she could only hear the word Whore! She closed her eyes and waited for the night to be over so that she could get it over with. 

Indrani Sehgal came to Vani's house, No one knew about the ceremony, except for Mr and Mrs Gill, Indrani Sehgal and Triveni Raichand and Dhigraj. 

Today Vani wore the Bridal Dress, she was looking like a princess. She looked at herself in the mirror. Today she missed her mother, her sister. Chuckling at the fate she gulped the heaviness in her throat.

Today, once again I am sacrificing myself. This time forever.

Mrs Gill kissed Vani's forehead "you are looking like a goddess, Be happy Vani. Don't let the world change your purity, the world is filthy and cruel but you shine like a pearl in this filth." 

Mr Gill knocked on the door and entered inside "Vani…" Mr Gill cleared his throat. His eyes blurred with tears. 

He held her hand and said, "I don't care who Mrityunjay Sehgal is but if anyone hurts you, remember that your brother is always standing behind you. I am with you Vani. You and Granth both." He whispered and Vani nodded, tears rolled down her cheek, Mrs Gill wiped them.

"Don't cry today," Mrs Gill said and then wiped her own tears. Mr and Mrs Gill looked at each other and then Mr Gill pulled out a cheque from her pocket. 

"This is from your brother." 

Vani looked at the cheque in his hand, "Eleven Lakh rupee….Mr Gill, I can't take this. This is too much." 

"It's not, This is for your future, if you ever think of me as your family then accept it." 

"No, this is for Manpreet…" Vani shook her head. 

"You are my sister as well, accept it Vani. If you think of me as your brother." 

For the first time in almost five years, Vani hugged Mr Gill. "You both are the true example that there are still good people in this world." She whispered.

She sniffed and broke the hug, "I want you to perform every ritual a father should perform during the ceremony. Mr Gill." 

Mrityunjay was sitting in front of the holy fire. Waiting for Vani, he didn't believe in these ceremonies but still, he was ready to perform them. Today, he stepped on his beliefs and moulded one of his views for the sake of Granth. The Priest was chanting Mantras for the wedding.