"Innocence and Intrigue"

Part 6

Nitya's perspective:

Jaise hi maine use pehli baar dekha, ek bhay ki kiran mere ridh ki haddi tak daud gayi. Main ummeed karta tha ki uska jhalak bhara hoga, uske shabd gussa se bhare honge, lekin mere hairani ke liye, vah chup raha, uska vyaktitva anuprekshit tha. Kisi bhi shabd ka adan-pradan karne se pahle, ek goli ki karahat ne chuppi tod di. Ghabrahat ne mujhe ghera jab hamara car jor se pichha kiya gaya, engine ki garaj mere tez dhadkan ko duba deti thi. Har palat aur jhatke ke saath, maine aisa lagta tha ki bhay ka gras mere seene ko sikud raha hai.

(As I caught my first glimpse of him, a shiver of fear raced down my spine. I anticipated his gaze to be filled with reproach, his words laced with anger, but to my surprise, he remained silent, his expression unreadable. Before either of us could exchange a word, the piercing echo of a gunshot shattered the silence. Panic seized me as our car was violently pursued, the roar of the engine drowning out my racing heartbeat. With each swerve and jolt, I felt the grip of terror tightening around my chest.)

Loha ke khadde se lakdi par khadakne ki gandi satah se ghoomti hui avaz hawa mein goonj uthi jab hamara car sadak se hatkar, ek jatil ped ke saath takra gaya. Us dilchasp lamhe mein, galti ka bhawar meri indriyon ko ek sailaab ki tarah bhigoyi. Main is ahsaas ko hila nahi sakta tha ki yah sab kuch mere kasoor tha, ki meri upasthiti ne hamare upar kuch bhi achha nahi laayi thi.

(The sickening crunch of metal against wood reverberated through the air as our car careened off the road, crashing into a gnarled tree. In that heart-stopping moment of impact, guilt flooded my senses like a tidal wave. I couldn't shake the feeling that this chaos was all my fault, that my presence had brought nothing but misfortune upon us.)

Jaise hi dhool baith gayi aur vyastata shant ho gayi, maine apne aapko chaukne wala chhavi mein paya, soch raha tha ki kya ve mujhe avashya bhool gaye honge vichlit kandar mein. Lekin jab maine bhi yah samajhne ka prayas kiya ki kya hua tha, ek pakka haath bahar badh gaya, mere saath atyant avashyakta se pakad liya. Bina kisi shabd ke, main vriksharohi ke ghane gale mein khich gaya, mere kanon mein mere dhadkane ki tarah dholak ki tarah dhak-dhak.

(As the dust settled and the chaos subsided, I found myself frozen in shock, wondering if they had forgotten about me in the wreckage. But before I could even begin to process what had happened, a firm hand reached out, grasping mine with urgency. Without a word, I was pulled from the wreckage and into the dense embrace of the forest, my heart pounding in my ears like a drumbeat of panic.)

Jo bhi lagta tha ki ghana bhoj padne tak, hum vriksharoopi andheron mein ek khuli jagah par takra gaye jahan lalten ke halki roshni mein bhaarat hai. Ek aaram ki bhavna mujhe is roshni aur suraksha mein sthapit hui jab ham us samaaroh mein garmi aur suraksha mein pravesh kiya. Lekin hamara avsaan chhota tha jab ham kuch se dhyaan dene wale drishtiyon se milne gaye.

(After what felt like an eternity of stumbling through the underbrush, we stumbled upon a clearing bathed in the soft glow of lantern light. A sense of relief washed over me as we stepped into the warmth and safety of the gathering. But our respite was short-lived as we were met with questioning stares from the curious stranger.)

"Kyun itni jaldi?" koi awaz nikali, uske shabd chinta se bhare the.

("Why the rush?" someone called out, their voice laced with concern.)

"Hum apne hi ghar se bhag rahe hain," kisi ne uttar diya, uska shabd katu tha. "Vah use ek vivah mein majboor karne ki koshish kar rahe hain jo usko kisi bhi tarah ka hissa nahi banna hai."

("We're fleeing from my own home," my companion friend replied, his voice tinged with bitterness. "They're trying to force me into a marriage I want no part of.")

Jab sachai saamne aayi, maine apne seene mein ek tanav ke gaanth ko kam hone ka ahsaas kiya. Mere sathi ka pyaar aur samarpan mujhe punah ashvasan diya, uske shabd sankat ke beech ek jeevan rekha ban gayi.

(As the truth spilled out, I felt a knot of tension loosening in my chest. My companion's declaration of love and commitment filled me with a sense of reassurance, his words a lifeline in the midst of chaos.)

Samaachaarak ke shabd hamein ek shaantikunj ke roop mein dhoya jaise ki ek shaantikunj ke roop mein dhoya, asurakshitata ke beech suraksha aur sthaayitva ko vaada karte hue. "Yahan, aap surakshit honge," usne hamen ashvasan diya, uska awaz vishvaas se bhara hua tha. "Hum samadhan prastut karte hain - samuhik vivah."(The organizer's words washed over us like a soothing balm, promising safety and sanctuary in the midst of uncertainty. "Here, you'll be safe," he assured us, his voice filled with conviction. "We offer a solution - group marriages.")