"Mangetar hai meri." The words left Ranbir's mouth before he could settle the debate going on between him and his inner self.

She's my fiancée.

The girl wasn't wearing any sindhoor or mangalsutra. There were no signs of her being a married woman. In a small town like theirs, women didn't miss wearing those things. He couldn't have said she was his wife so the next best thing that he could think of was fiancée.

Vermilion, Nuptial necklace.

His sentence caused another round of whispers to break out of the crowd. They still weren't convinced weather the relation between them was anything acceptable.

The crowd wasn't wrong in their judgment either. The two of them did just spend a night alone in an abandoned place which is far away from their home. Everyone knew of Ranbir. He was not only a politician but also a landlord and although the man was clean by character, rumours fly high. People often assume him to be a cheat, casanova, liar and what not just because of his profession. They would talk ill not only about him but also about the girl standing behind him who was already going through a lot.

"Mangni hona koi those rishta nahi hota, sarpanch ji." A man from the crowd said.

Engagement isn't a concrete relationship, sir.

"Aaj hai, kal nahi. Jagirdar ho ya nahi, in logo ne galat kiya hai." Another voice said from the large crowd.

It's on today, might get called off tomorrow. Landlord or not, they've done a wrong deed.

"Zaaban sambhal kar baat karna. Ek lafz bardash nahi karunga mai iske khilaf." Ranbir warned, looking towards the crowd. He felt her hand's grip on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down. He felt a jolt of electricity at her touch.

Watch your mouth. I won't tolerant a single word against her.

"Maaf kariye Randhawa Sahab par inki baat galat nahi hai." Sarpanch said with his hands clasped together.

I'm sorry Mr. Randhawa but they aren't wrong.

"Aap ye kya baat kar rahein hai. Hum mere ghar jaa rahe the. Raaste mei gaadi kharab ho gayi aur upar se ye baarish. Hame panah lene yahan aana pada." Ranbir said giving an explanation to him.

What are you saying? We were going to my place. The car broke down in the middle of the road and the rain added to our troubles. We had to come here to seek shelter.

God knows he has never had to explain his actions to anyone. He has always been doing what he wants and has always been so correct in his decisions, people stopped questioning his actions. He couldn't understand how in just a couple of hours, he had landed himself in this position. He was not only protecting a stranger but also fighting for her respect.

"Mai aapki baat jhutla nahi raha. Magar masla to wahi hai na k aap dono ne ek raat akele yaha beetayi hai bina kisi those riste ke." The Sarpanch calmly explained him.

I'm not trying to prove you wrong. But the problem is the same that you guys have spent a night here alone without any concrete relationship.

Tears filled Harleen's eyes.

Ae mere Rab, ik tujhpe bharosa karke iss anjan shaksh ke saath mai chali aayi hu. Ab iss musibat se mujhe bahar nikal mere rab. Mere liye koi rasta bana jisse hamari izzat par anch na aaye. Harleen prayed in her mind.

Oh my God, trusting only you, I've come here with this unknown person. Now get me out of this trouble, my Lord. Please find a way for me, which results in our respect staying untarnished.

"Aapki mangni ho chuki hai to matlab aap shaadi bhi karenge. Kyu na abhi hi gurudwara mai karlein." Someone from the crowd shouted. Both Ranbir and Harleen went still at the idea.

Since you guys are engaged, you'll eventually get married as well. Why not get married now in the gurudwara nearby.

People shouted in agreement to the statement. The best way to solve the problem, in their opinion was to get the two of them married. This way they won't have to live with the fact that such a "sin" was committed in their area. They were anyways engaged so they shouldn't have any problem in getting married.

"Ye aap kya bol rahein hai? Thoda samajhiye hamare halat." Ranbir requested again.

What are you saying? Please try to understand our situation.

"Mai majboor ho. Shaadi to aap dono ko karni hi padegi. Beshaak aap apne time par bada jalsa rakh le par abhi saadgi se phere lene mei hi sabke liye accha hai." The Sarpanch said.

I'm helpless. You two will have to get married. No doubt you may have a grand celebration later on but for now, take simple pheras. This is the best solution for all.

Ranbir looked back at Harleen whose grip was now tighter on his hand. Her other hand was wrapped around his bicep and her eyes were tightly shut. Her lips were moving continuously, taking God's name in desperation. The fear and helplessness on her face made him take a decision in an instance.

"Theek hai. Aap taiyaariyan kare, hum abhi hi saadgi se shaadi karlenge." He said and Harleen opened her eyes in an instance.

Ok then. You start doing all the preparations, we'll get married right away.

"Jaisa aap kahein. Aapka faisla galat nahi sabit hoga. Sarpanch Angad ka wada hai." The Sarpanch reassured him with a smile.

As you say. Your decision won't prove to be a wrong one. It's the promise of Head Angad.

Harleen smiled internally.

Ab to Guru Angad ka naam bhi aa gaya. Ye zaroor mere rab ka ishara hai. She thought to herself.

The name of Guru Angad has been uttered now. This is definitely a sign from my God.

"Kya mai 2 minute apni mangeter se akele mai baat karsakta hu?" Ranbir asked the Sarpanch.

May I talk to my fiancée in private for a moment please?

"Jee Zaroor." He replied and one-by-one people started exiting the small space.

Yeah sure.

Once everyone was out of the place, Ranbir closed the door and turned towards a silent Harleen.

"Mujhe maaf karna maine tumhari marzi puche bina hi," Ranbir started but was cut off by Harleen.

Forgive me, I've not asked for your consent,

"Mujhe aapse shaadi karne mai koi masla nahi hai. Ye faisla mere rab ne mere liye kiya hai." She shyly said as she looked down towards her feet as if they were the most interesting thing in the world.

I don't have any problem in marrying you. This decision has been made by my God for me.

Her sentence shocked him. He didn't expect such an answer from her. He expected her to cry or at least lash out at him for fixing this marriage without her consent but guess he was wrong. The girl was way smarter than what he had perceived of her.

"Aapko koi problem nahi hai?" She asked in a hushed manner.

You don't have a problem with it?

"Nahi. Mai apni zimmedari bana kar laya hu tumhe yahan aur agar hamare rab yehi chahta hai to mai kon hota hu aitraz karne wala." Ranbir said emphasising 'hamara'.

No. I've bought you here as my responsibility and if our God wants this to happen then who am I to object.

Harleen's heart fluttered t his words and she nodded her head with a small smile growing on her face.