INTRODUCTION

He paused, and the ticking of her heels on the polished floor followed. The music of the nightclub beneath thumped ghostly against them. He turned to look at her and his cold gaze swept her once; from head to toe and back up; until he stopped at her large espresso colored eyes. She shivered Involuntarily, knowing what he noted with that gaze; the blue highlights in her hair, the black ink on her shoulder, the piercing on her nose and that thigh length black dress that fitted like a glove.

“I can never harbor any feelings for a girl like you.” That word was directed at everything she knew he saw, and nothing she knew he felt.

“Well, nobody asked you to love me,” She shrugged her shoulders,  her tone of indifference never faltering. He would never hear the sound of her heart breaking, or the swish of her last hope vanishing.  He would not see that extra shine in her eyes as she blinked a tear away.

Gauri Kumari Sharma never begged. Not even from the man who had taken the possession of her heart, even against her better judgement. So she went, brushing past him, her head held high and hair flying with her steps.

She raced the corridor until she was out of his sight and picked up the call that was vibrating for so long.

“Yes Uncle. I'm ready to get married; to whomever you want me to.” She sighed listening to the other side and added.

“Let's go to Baraily.”

**

Zakam sab ko dhikta hai, lekin dhard kissi ko nahi dhikta...