We were sitting inside the police jeep, silence was killing me. The girl was sitting opposite me like a zombie. There was no expression on her face. I wanted to tell her that it will be alright, that I will take care of it. Even if it gets a little messier, we won’t be going into the jail. I at least want to give her a reassurance glance but she was not looking at me. She looked like the world is about to end.

After felt like an eternity the jeep stopped. The policemen got out and spoke something in whisper. Then the inspector came to towards us and gestured to get down. She was shaking and fears all over her face. I got down first and gave my hand to her to get down. She took it hesitantly and got down.

Just then I looked around to see the police station. So that, I can make a call to my attorney. And give an overview of the situation. I tried calling him before leaving the motel but the battery died before the call gets connected.

Sighing I looked to my right and saw a building. It was still dark outside. There might be still time to dawn.

I looked at building in front of me again. But it doesn’t looks like a police station. It has many large steps in front of it. The more my eyes adjusted to the darkness the more clearly the building become. The steps lead to a monumental tower. That’s when it struck my mind. The building in front of us is a temple. And why are we in front of a temple rather than a police station?

I looked at her with confusion written all over my face. Our eyes met and she too had the same reaction as mine. One of the policemen came near us and led us inside the temple. With a questioning look we followed him.

Inside the temple the inspector was speaking with an old man who looked like a priest. He was wearing an off white dhoti around his waist and a white shawl draping his torso. They both looked at us while we approach and smiled. I was totally confused and looked at them.

The inspector came towards us smiling. “Don’t worry. Relax ok. We are not going to arrest you. I understood your situation. I have been through the same. I and my wife also eloped like you people. We too were in very much love. But our families didn’t agree for our relation. Then her family arranged another alliance for her. So we eloped on the night before her wedding.” He said with a proud and playful smile.

“We came to this town. We were living happily. And we were on cloud nine when we found out that we were expecting after trying and taking treatment for two years. But life doesn’t always go as we planned. I lost both of them during delivery. There were too many complications. She didn’t want an abortion. She wanted to keep the baby. But god didn’t want them with me. He took both of them away from me. It was a baby girl. Just like her mother.” He said while wiping his tears.

Okay. Fine. I get it. He had a terrible history. And I understand how it feels. I felt it when I lost my father. But I didn’t get the point why he is telling me this depressing story standing inside this temple, instead of taking us to the police station. Is he having any mental break down? What is the use of telling his biography to us? I didn’t know what expression I should put on my face. She too was having this doubtful expression on her face.

“Sir, what do you mean? Like what is the point of telling this to us and why are we in this temple?” I tried my maximum to hide my confused look and give a sympathetic smile.

He looked at us with a sad face and said. “This is same temple were we got married.”

I am damn sure he is a psycho. Who else could bring the delinquents to a temple and tell them his life story.

“It’s been 20 years and I am still living in their memories.” The inspector said.

Yeah, yeah I get it you dump head. Now please explain why we are here. I shouted in my head while giving him a sympathetic smile. I have to reach Mumbai by today evening. Ved will kill me if I skip the executive meeting tomorrow. Who knows my driver called me or not. And this psycho is wasting my time with his life story.

“Sir.” I called the inspector again who was lost in his thoughts.

He shook his head a came to reality. “Aha yes, what I am trying to say is I have arranged everything I could in a short time to get you both married here. And I will give her hand to you as a father. She will not feel like a orphan during her wedding.” He said with a proud and happy smile.

“What?!!!” We both shouted shocked at the same time. The inspector was a little startled because of our sudden reaction. He looked at us and said “What? You both eloped to get married right. So don’t worry about your relatives. They can’t do anything after you get married. Since you both don’t have all documents we have to arrange the marriage like this. No worries, you can register it later on. Now come on. Let’s start the rituals.” He finished talking and started to walk towards the priest.

I was stupefied. It took me a few minutes to register the things I just heard. She was looking at me with a shocked, scared and what to tell, every unreadable expression. I was too shocked to think what to do with this nonsense. I never thought my brilliant idea of escaping the cops would back fire at me like this.

I ran behind the inspector. She was right behind me. “Sir, sir, please listen for once. Our friends have arranged everything for the register marriage once we reach the city. So you don’t have to go through all of this.” I said willing he would listen. She nodded her head in agreement.

“No, no this is not at all a problem. More of that, today is my deceased wife’s birthday and I think she led me to you. So that, I can help you with your problems. I think she wants me to be the reason you are together.” He said with a huge smile.

What I want at that moment was that the earth to rip apart and take me inside. “But sir, it’s not like that. We can’t...” She was trying to stop this somehow. But the raised his hand stopping her from saying further. “Shhh... I don’t want to hear anything now. You both are getting married in this temple right now. It’s my wife’s wish. You will not leave here without fulfilling her wish.” He said while taking out his gun.

Fuck. I know I shouldn’t say such words inside a temple. But our situation is really complicated. We suddenly became hostages from delinquents. And a total lunatic wearing police uniform is pointing a gun at us and threatening us to get married. What a day to start with? We looked at the other policemen and the priest. They were also looking terrified.

“Now come here and sit before the sacred fire so that the priest can start the rituals.” He yelled.

We both looked each other with terror in eyes. I cursed that moment when I came up with idea of eloping. Shit. Going to police station was way better than this.

“Don’t make me repeat you idiots. Come here this instant.” He said pointing the gun towards us.

We walked inside the temple with shaking legs. The priest gave us a sympathetic look. With the fear for our life we both sat in front of the scared fire. The priest started the rituals by saying the spells loudly. My heart was beating like it will come out of my chest. What the hell is happening in my life?

I am going to get married with a girl whom I barely know. Fuck, I don’t even know her name. How am I going to escape the situation? The inspector was still pointing the gun at us. I turned my head and saw a terrified face with tears running down her cheeks and her hands were shaking like anything. I don’t know what made me do this? I slowly reached to her fingers and gave a little squeeze. She looked at me with a miserable face.

“Tell me your names.” The priest’s voice brought us back from trance. “Sid.” I said with a defeated voice. Yes. The Siddharth Aryan is defeated and is getting married at gun point to a tiny little cute girl, who looks adorable. I don’t know why but that thought gave me a little easiness inside me.

The priest looked at the girl. “Ah- uh, Aami.” She said in a weak but sweet voice.

Aami. Her name is Aami. Wow it is a cute name, for such a cute girl. I thought. Weirdly, the drastic thought of me getting married was turning into something new. A new feeling of happiness and warmth was filling inside my head. And a cute, adorable face with the name 'Aami' was starting to engrave in my mind.