Imaginative Reality

I always wanted that kind of love I read about in novels. Rough yet caring, hard still soft. That kind of love which puts me on cloud nine, but also keeps me in reality at the same time. That kind of love which is always found in form of novels and poetry but never in real life.

I was a common city girl who was living with her parents. I always had great expectations from my life which I always tried to fulfil. But the fantasies, I had in my mind been over the board. These fantasies mostly caused by the novels I had always read. These were kind of next to impossible to convert into reality

I was doing job in a college as math's lecturer. I loved my life in a small town of Punjab. Above of all, I loved my job. I always wanted to be math's teacher. I had always loved number since my childhood. A simple life living with my most loving parents, soon to be married to perfect person who was actually chosen by my parents. No doubt Gaurav was very good person. He was perfect. But he never gives me the goosebumps. My heart never raced while talking to him even never felt stupidly shy or have stupid grin on my face while talking to him. It felt so normal like strangers talking to each other. No connection NOTHING.

I thought it is normal when you are going to have arranged marriage to a completely stranger.

"Hey Amayra, wassup girl." My colleague Sahar cheerfully greeted me. Sahar had very jolly nature. Sahar was actually from very affluent family. Her father was a successful businessman in Mumbai. But Sahar wanted to be independent on her own. So she accepted the job from this college and we instantly become friends. We actually have same interest. We never judged each other for our dirtiest fantasies or secret. So we shared almost everything with each other. We were kind of soul mates.

"Hey Sahar, How are you?" I hugged her

"Still having problem with class kids?" I smirked. Her class was giving her problem from day one. She had got the hardest batch of the year.

Sahar gave me one hard look. God, if looks can kill. I must be dead by now. She groaned and left the room.

"All the Best "I whimpered.

She made funny face and smiled. I smiled back. I love her so much. She never made my day less interesting.

I had a free lecture before my class so I was sitting in staff room to relax for some time. Staff room was on the second floor at the extreme corner which gives the exquisite view of outside roads and trees. I always prefer to look outside the window whenever I need "me" time.

I was admiring the view when I saw a black SUV without number plate. It was strange. I had seen this car a day before in market now there. It can't be a co-incidence. I had uneasy feeling. I rushed towards my phone and dialled the number of college's security to report about the SUV. The movement in security room was visible from staff room. The time security was going to reach to car, the car had left. My heart started to race by thinking possibilities.

The whole incidence was kind of scary enough that principal of the college went to security area to get the information about the whole incidence. I also told them that I had seen this car before. The principal solaced me till the Sahar arrived. She must be known about the incidence as worrying lines were visible on her face. We took some time off and spent some time together.

Although the atmosphere had lighted but the uneasy feeling never left my mind.

After college I was on my way to my home. I always went by bus alone and after that little walk to my home. It was my common routine. But when I got in the bus, the bus was silent in spite of many passengers. I looked around and I found a seat beside an old lady. I sat there.

I tried to find any familiar face in bus to decrease the uneasy feeling in my mind. But I found none. The bus had started and it was on road after sometime. I thought to call Sahar so that I can feel something good. I was about to get my mobile from my purse when I felt a sharp sting on my neck. I tried to open my eyes but I failed. I fell into deep dark sleep.

I tried to open my eyes. The light seemed too bright that it was hard to open my eyes. My head was throbbing. Somehow I opened my eyes. I tried to move but I couldn't. My limbs were numb but I could feel the soft mattress beneath me.

It was good, I guess. At least I am not on cold floor of any dungeon. I could feel the warm rays of sun on my body. But I was having hard time to move my body. I didn't understand that what the hell had happened with me?

After struggling for so long, I finally gather enough strength to get up and sit. But my head was badly pounding which causes my head fall back. When I finally steady myself, I started to scan the room.

The room was large and clean. Walls were painted with off white colour. Two chairs with a centre table at the one corner of the room, a dressing table having different type of makeup boxes and perfumes on it and an almirah. I was sitting on the large bed in the center of the room.

Was I dreaming or what??? I don't know that but the place was unfamiliar. But it was not looking any kind of prisoner. Was it??? Where the hall was?

I started to pace in the room. I tried to open the door but it was locked. There was a big window. I looked outside from the window. But all I can see was big garden with colourful flowers.

I was trying to seek where I was when I heard the clink of the door. The door was unlocked and two women entered into the room with some dresses and boxes in their hands.

I recognized one woman. I sat beside her in bus. At that time she was in Punjabi suit but she was in completely different look. She had worn Rajasthani attire. I was completely surprised.

"Who are you? Where am I?" I asked to the women.

But none of them answered; instead she looked at me angrily. "Wear these clothes and jewellery and get ready. Madam will see you shortly." She said bitterly.

"What do you mean? Who is going to meet me? Where I am?" I asked in one breath. Hot tears started to burn into my eyes.

Woman was about to leave without answering my question when I picked up the tray and threw it on the floor with full of anger.

Both women looked back. fine lines appeared on her forehead." You have to wear these clothes if you want to get out of this room until then you will remain here". She said frustrated and left.

I had got warning loud and clear. "Wear these or not out of room." It was scary. The door was locked and I was left alone in the room. I looked outside the window as my safe escape. From the outside view, it was clear that I was on second or third floor of the building. If I'll try to escape from window, I will definitely broke my bones or most likely to kill myself.

I was in dilemma. After thinking hard for some time, I put up the clothes and jewellery. It was lehnga and cholli. I had never worn them. The clothes were little uncomfortable and the jewellery was very heavy. It was like I had worn iron as my clothes and jewellery.

After waiting for some, the door was opened again and same women appeared from the door. They looked at me. Then a woman went towards the dressing table and picked some makeup articles. After brushing my face with makeup, she had satisfaction on her face. I was full of confusion. I had no idea why they were doing this to me.

Women took me out of the room. The corridor was painted with pale mustard colour and expensive paintings were decorating the walls.

Finally, we reached in a large room which seems like centre area. A woman was sitting on the sofa. She had very strong aura around her. Her presence was raising my adrenaline giving me negative vibes. Her skin was dark whitish and eyes were large and brown in colour. She had large and thick silky hairs which were set in a low braid. Her satin silk saree was improving her personality.

Women brought me in front of her. She stood up and looked at me like she was trying to study me. Then she carefully caressed my cheeks. I flinched with her touch but didn't go back.

Panic had replaced with fear. My guts were telling me to run far away from here. But I had no power. She guided me towards sofa and sat me up on it. Then she sat beside me on sofa. She held my hand in her hands and started to caress it carefully.

My whole body was shaking by her this kind of behaviour. Who was she? And what she wanted from me? I had never seen her before but still she was looking familiar somehow.

"Amayra, it's so good to finally meet you. I wanted to meet you for a long time. But I had to wait to see if you are the one I wanted or not." She said while caressing my hairs and cheeks.

Her voice was low and very soft but full of domination. Who was this woman and why she wanted to meet me? Above of all what was she wanted from me? My mind was full of questions.

I took some deep breaths to calm my nerves. When my mind was calmer I asked "who are you and why I am here?"

"Well Amayra, My name is Malvika Chauhan." She started to introduce herself. "I am the sovereign of this Chandela Village of Rajasthan. And you are sitting beside me in my territory." She stated.

After hearing her last sentence I was in utter shock. Rajasthan, the place was far away from my hometown. "But I was in bus going to my home. How can I be here? Who are you people?" I started to be scared a little.

She grabbed my hand "you don't need to be scared from us. We... "

She was in middle of her sentence when I cut her what am I doing here? Where is my family?" I said in panic.

She tightened her grip around my wrist. She was looking at me furiously. "Don't say anything until I finished." She said angrily. My wrist started to ache so I tried to free my hand but failed. Her expressions remain same.

After some seconds she put on her calm mask again and lightened her grip and said "I want you to marry Yug Prajapati."

"What" I nearly screamed and jolted away my hand to free myself from her grip. "Who the hell are you to tell me that you wanted me to marry someone of your choice? In what world I would do this?" I stood up and continue "are you out of your fucking mind?" I hardly cursed but whenever I feel that the situation is out of my control I instantly switched to normal girl to ragging bitch.

And right now it was about my life. Some strangers were taking important decision of my life.

She stood before me and grabbed my left forearm tightly. It was too tight to leave marks on the spot. "Don't try to insult me, young lady" she stated. "This is the decision I have made for you. You will marry Yug prajapatI else all person, you have ever cared, will die. Either it's you or your family, friends or colleagues."

I froze at the spot when she threatened my family. I couldn't bare the pain to lose them not even in my nightmares.

"Why do you want me to marry him? What will you get? I don't have any wealth. I am just a common girl from a small town." I asked her as tears were shimmering in my eyes.

She freed my forearm and crossed her arms. "Because you are from the family who not only have perfect cultural values but also have intelligent genes. Your mother is professor in psychology. Your father, he is on topmost position in bank. He has a great knowledge of finance and you..." she pointed a finger at me. "You are master in numbers."

"How do you know all this? Were you stalking at me and my family?" I asked shockingly.

After soothing myself I said," you can get number of girls who can have above qualities. In fact they will willingly agree to marry Yug Prajapati, then why me?"

She looked at me like I was a precious gem in her eyes and I didn't know my worth. She placed her hand on my cheeks and said," that's not attracted us towards you."

Then she paused and sighed," Well you are manglik and Yug has to marry a manglik girl and above of all you are untouched."

"WHAT" I was more shocked than before. "How do you know this? These kinds of things are personal and how can you find out this."

"You are engaged" she stated instead of answering me and quirked her one eyebrow.

"You know I am engaged and you still want me to marry other person? Why?" I asked in confusion. This conversation was getting more and more confused. But I had to remain sane. I couldn't afford to lose my temper. So I tried to provoke her.

"Well, if you know that I am engaged and I have fiancée then maybe we have done something. You know the 'intimacy' as we have been alone for plenty of times." I pressurized the word intimacy so that she can hear it loud and clear.

Her facial expressions changed and she frowned. I continued, "It can be possible that I am not virgin." I finished my sentence with satisfied grin on my face.

By look at her face I knew that I was finally going somewhere and now I can employ her.