As they were falling, they clutched on to each other tightly and instead of fear on the face of death, they were smiling and were at peace knowing that they were with each other even in their "last moments". They fell, piercing the cold wind and soon got lost somewhere in the silence of that long cold night.
" And they lived happily ever after" was a line both of them had read since they were young which they believed was the only happy ending but that day they got to know about another happy ending
" And they died peacefully in each other's embrace".

• ───────•••─────── •

Both of them fell sharply into the ice-cold river flowing under the cliff immediately alarming everyone who were waiting there already to rescue them.
Both of them had already considered this possibility and indeed had a plan ready which was however risky. According to the plan they had stationed people on either sides of the river who tightly held ropes at a few metres to each other so that both of them could hold onto the ropes and be pulled to shore with it's help. Multiple ropes were placed so that they could grab the one ahead of it if accidentally they missed the previous rope. But the risk was that, there was a waterfall at a distance and in case they were to miss all the ropes, they would be swept away by the waterfall and would directly fall into the claws of death.

Even though the risks seemed low, it appeared as if luck had abandoned them. Because of falling from such a height, both of them lost consciousness after hitting the surface of the water. Everyone was alerted waiting for them to tug the first rope. The anticipation increased and their gazes couldn't leave the rope waiting to pull samaina the moment they tug it. Their bodies came up soon due to the currents but they were still underwater, everyone could see the tip of their heads peeking out of the water but they weren't coming out, soon they reached extremely near the rope but instead of holding onto it, they swiftly passed the first one, then the second one and even the third one. By now everyone had got the idea that they must have lost their consciousness and becoming restless from this, preeti tried to jump into the water to save her family yet was caught back by pandit.

Pandit - Preeti kaha ja rahi ho tum? Abhi paani mein aise hi kood gayi toh beh jaogi tum...paagal ho gayi ho kya?

Preeti - Pandit chhoddo mujhe...I need to save them! I don't care ki mujhe kya hoga kya nahi...abhi wo dono zyaada important hainn!! Leave me!

Pandit - Think practically preeti! This is not the time to loose your mind like this!

Preeti - How can I think practically??! Jab meri family khud khatre mein hai? Do you really expect me to sit back and just do nothing? Leave me I need to save them!

Pandit - Preeti ruko I swear un dono ko kuch nahi hoga. Last rope baaki hai abhi and if they don't pull even the last one I will be the one to jump and bring them back!

Preeti - Par...

Pandit - ( *interrupting her* ) Preeti please...bhabhi ne jaane se pehle mujhse wada liya tha ki main tumhara dhyaan rakhu...she knows how much you love her aur agar kuch problem hui then tum aisa kuch zaroor karogi...so please let me do it...please...

They both stood there with tears in their eyes praying from the bottom of their hearts for samaina to return. And soon they seemed to approach the last rope, everyone was extremely agitated and scared about what would happen if they would miss even this one. Preedit were trembling and to their utter horror, samaina almost passed the last rope but their prayers got answered fortunately and at the very last moment they felt someone strongly pulling the rope and immediately from underwater samaina rose and a wave of relief washed over everyone present there.

They were pulled up instantly. Preeti hugged her sister tightly, as if she was afraid of loosing her again, she cried into her shoulder and even pandit was on the verge of crying out of relief.
Sameer-Naina calmed them down and after hugging each other gave the command.

Sameer - Chalo sab it's time for the final show...

All of them made their way up towards where the family members were held hostage and by now Naina was not being able to control herself after finally seeing herself standing so close to her revenge.

Sameer looked at her and kept his hand on top of hers to calm her down a little.

Sameer - We're not done yet...abhi se itni restless ho jaogi then galtiyan toh hogi...stay calm, atleast jab tak you don't feel like you've achieved what you wanted to.

Naina smiled at him proudly and squeezed his hand. Even though both of them were still a little unsure of how exactly the plan went on the other side, they felt a little sense of confidence seeing their better half safe.

Other side :

A little after Samaina jumped down from the cliff, sunaina went crazy. She started laughing like a complete psychopath and couldn't seem to calm down. Even all her gang members suddenly seemed so relaxed seeing her and taking advantage of this Munna along with the police force attacked them catching them off-gaurd. Firing started and sameer's henchmen untied all the family members and instantly escorted them to a safe place. After a while, finally they managed to overpower sunaina and held them captive.

"You are under arrest miss Candle Rosaline D'Souza for kidnapping and murder"

Sunaina - Huh? ( *Starts laughing* ) Ah, What a nostalgic line... seriously Naina ne yeh plan kiya tha? Getting me arrested was her way of taking revenge? Hah! Use kya lagta hai? Agar main arrest ho gayi toh wapas nahi aa sakti? C'mon? Ok fir officer arrest me... it's so fun ( *starts laughing* )

Sunaina - But wait you know what the best part is? She is dead...mar gayi wo ( *chuckles* ) and I...am still alive

Sunaina was locked in the police van and was taken away. She was elated on Naina's death, so much that one couldn't call her sane at the moment. A few kilometres later, on a less used road, the van was suddenly obstructed and as soon as everyone except sunaina came down to check they were attacked. In the midst of the attack, a few people approached sunaina and took her away with them.

"Mam hum apko police se bhaagne mein madad karne ke liye yaha aye hain"
"Jaldi utriye aur chaliye hamare saath, hum apko ek surakshit jagah pe chhodd denge aur ek baar nigrani kam ho jaye, aap Russia ke liye nikal sakti hain "

Sunaina - Zaroorat nahi thi mujhe kisi madad ki, main akele hi kaafi hun par koi baat nahi.

All of them escaped the police and ran towards the forest.

Sunaina - Kya fayda Naina ki kurbani ka? Jail tak bhi nahi pahuncha pai mujhe...us se pehle hi police ki nazro se ho gayi na main choo? Kaha tha...

Crossing the forest, they entered someone's property that looked shabby and abandoned. Sunaina slowly entered the place.

Sunaina - Itna andhera kyun hai yaha? Light nahi hai kya? How dare you try to keep me in a place like this?! Light lagao immediately!

"Lagate hain mam"

But as soon as the lights were turned on, Sunaina's eyes looked as if they were about to fall off their socket.

Naina - Surprise, surprise! ( *Evil smile* )

Sunaina - Tu? Tu toh mar gayi thi na?

Naina - Hmm? Itni jaldi? Itna underestimate karegi mujhe yeh socha nahi tha maine ( *smirk* ).

Sunaina - Huh? Toh yeh log? ( *Pointing towards the ones who escorted her* )

Naina - Mere hi log hain

Before sunaina could do anything else, they captured her and she started to struggle to get out of their hold.

Sunaina - Choddo mujhe!! Naina tu yeh theek nahi kar rahi! I'll kill you!

Naina - But to do that sweetie, you need to stay alive ( *evil smile* )

Sunaina - Kya matlab hai tera?!

Naina didn't answer her but commanded them to follow and sunaina was dragged along.

Upon entering a room, she spotted a deep tub filled with water with green colour added to it. Seeing that, sunaina started thrashing harder.

Naina - I was a little unsure ki kahi tera darr itne saalo baad chala na gaya ho but it's so satisfying seeing you get so nervous.

Just at that moment, Sameer entered the room.

Sameer - Mujhe nahi pata tha ki sunaina ko paani se darr lagta hai...

Naina - Not just any water, ek baar bachpan mein she nearly died from choking underwater, tab se use deep waters jo clear na ho, us se darr lagta hai...kyu sahi kaha na Su-nai-na?

Sunaina - How dare you? HOW DARE YOU?!!!!! I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU BOTH! JAISE TERE PARENTS KO MAARA THA WAISE TUJHE BHI MAAR DINGI MAIN!!!

Naina's blood started to boil on the mention of their parents' death and darting towards her, she grabbed her head and immersed it in water. Sunaina started struggling and thrashing around even more but Naina's force just kept increasing and after a point, sunaina stopped struggling.

Naina lifted her head up and laid her down. She had fallen unconscious but was still alive. Smiling at her unconscious body, Naina ordered her henchmen to seal the body in a deep freezer and transport it to Russia.

( After a little while, the police officers realized that the bullets were fake and they were just getting bluffed, they immediately ran towards sunaina, but by the time they reached, they had fled the place already. )

• ───────•••─────── •

( Naina and Sameer informed the police how lucky they were to survive it and sunaina was getting searched everywhere to be arrested for kidnapping and attempted murder. )

Sameer - Tumhe regret nahi ho raha?

Naina - Hmm? Kis baat ka?

Sameer - Ki you had the chance to give her a worse death but you didn't?

Naina - Na. Coz I wanted to see her hopes getting high ki woh bach gayi firse aur main marr gayi and then crush them altogether. I wanted to see her getting arrested and know that ki woh ab kabhi bhaag nahi paegi waha se.
Aur rahi rahi way of death ki toh instead of killing her with just a single bullet, I enjoyed seeing her struggle so much aur abhi toh woh bas unconscious hai, jab use hosh aega aur wo khudko us freezer mein paegi aur use khayal aega ki she can never get out of there aur ki woh marne wali hai, I would love to see her reaction on her dead body. ( *Smirked* )

Suddenly the smirk left Naina's face and turning towards Sameer she hugged him tightly.

Sameer - Achanak se kya hua?

Naina - Thanks for everything...and thanks for staying alive aur meri bhi jaan bachane ke liye...I can't believe hum still saath hai...itni jaldi mein banaye gaye plan ke saath mujhe darr tha ki kahi hum harr na jaye, but you gave me confidence and became my strength.

Sameer - I just supported you and we could do this only because you trusted me and were brave enough to do this. N also thanks for coming to my life...my sunshine... ( *Tightened his hug and kisses her head* ).

• ───────•••─────── •

Finally the last chapter of " reluctantly married " is here 💞

Epilogue coming in a few hours...

Don't forget to mention it in the comment section if you liked this chapter or not and do suggest me if you want any changes to be done. Also don't forget to vote me.
I'll be back again with another chapter.
Bye.