The Imperfect Bride

CHAPTER-4

The morning sun cast long shadows as the village gathered under the colossal banyan tree, its ancient branches providing a sprawling canopy of shade. The air was thick with tension, and the hum of anticipation echoed through the assembled crowd.

Its sprawling branches cast a mosaic of shadows, creating a dappled pattern on the ground where the seats for the mukhiya, sarpanch, and prominent members of the village were arranged.

Vrishabh, with a visage etched in anger, reluctantly took his seat during the meeting. His eyes betraying the anger he felt about the proposition made by Vidur. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but he knew there was no choice but to follow through. On the other hand, Vidur stood with an air of confidence, his conviction unshaken by the brewing storm around him.

In the heart of the assembly, the victim's father stood with folded hands, a portrait of helplessness. A few steps behind him, two veiled ladies from the family lowered their heads, their presence marked by silent anguish. The rest of the village sat in anticipation, their collective curiosity palpable as they awaited the unfolding drama.

Given the strained interaction between Binodini and Vrishabh, the family hesitated to let her participate in the panchayat. However, faced with Binodini's unwavering determination, they reluctantly accepted her presence, bowing to the inevitability of the situation.

The air buzzed with tension as the murmurs of the village mingled with the rustling leaves overhead. For the first time in the village's history, such a vast crowd had gathered for a nyaya panchayat session, a testament to the gravity of the impending decisions that would shape the destinies of many lives.

The dialogues echoed under the banyan tree, weaving a tapestry of arguments, emotions, and the quest for justice.

Amidst the dusty village square, the biased panch deliberated for a mere few minutes before rendering a predetermined verdict, dismissing Binodini's impassioned plea for justice. The air hung heavy with tension as the villagers awaited the pronouncement.

The sarpanch, a wrinkled figure of authority, with a stern expression, declared a verdict that had already been etched in prejudice. Binodini, with desperation in her eyes, pleaded for justice, but her words seemed to dissipate into the oppressive silence.

He, fixed his gaze on Vrishabh, a man of influence in the village. "Apologize on behalf of your son, and offer ₹1000 as compensation," he commanded.

Binodini's eyes widened with disbelief, and before she could voice her opposition, Vrishabh interjected with an air of false benevolence.

Vrishabh, towering with a sense of entitlement, nodded solemnly. "I accept all the terms. I apologize and am willing to compensate," he declared, his voice carrying a tone of condescension. "Furthermore, I will take responsibility for Binodini's remarriage. She's still young and childless."

Her voice trembled with fury as she shouted, "I won't accept this injustice!"

But her protest was like a whisper in the wind, drowned by the rising cheers from the crowd.

Vrishabh's calculated words had struck a chord with the villagers, and their elation echoed through the square. Slogans praising Vrishabh and the panch reverberated, drowning out any remnants of Binodini's cry for justice.

They hailed Vrishabh as a hero, a savior, and the panch as the dispenser of long-denied justice.

While Binodini stood alone, her protest echoing unheard in the background. The injustice weighed heavily on her shoulders, drowned out by the jubilation of the crowd.

The once-muted voices of the oppressed found an unexpected champion in Vrishabh, who had unwittingly become the beacon of change, uplifting the spirits of the oppressed and offering a glimmer of hope for a better future. That's why the villagers celebrated the apparent redemption of their grievances.

The village, draped in a deceptive veil of justice, continued its celebration, oblivious to the real pain hidden beneath the surface.

Under the blanket of the moonlit night, Vrishabh's contemplative gaze met the expanse of the village. The shadows played on his face as he absorbed Vidur's words, a conflicted dance of power and morality.

Vidur's voice sliced through the night air, "If it's very easy to manipulate the minds of villagers. But the only difficulty is Binodini."

Vrishabh, still wrestling with the weight of the impending decisions, spoke with concern, "Letting her roam free is risky. As far as I know about her, she will now definitely try to approach the court."

"Knowing your ticket is not yet confirmed, you have to take calculative steps. Neither can you harm her nor make her disappear. Give them justice, but on our terms," Vidur advised, confidence dripping from his words.

Vrishabh, caught in a web of uncertainty, looked confused and reluctant.

"Remarriage in their eyes would look as a generous step from your side, and it will gradually divert the villagers' attention from this incident." Vidur, sipping his tea calmly, assured.

"Any of my men will easily agree to marry her when offered money. Then she can be in our control until the elections."

"Agreed," Vidur replied, his composure unwavering as he looked out at the scenic view of the night sky through the window.

Vrishabh, seeking answers, asked, "Then why Abhyudaya? It is not at all wise to displease our community."

Disturbed, unlike Vidur's calm demeanor, he pondered the implications of the plan.

"Trust me, jijaji," Vidur reassured, "tomorrow after the verdict, when you hear loud slogans of your name from the same people who were once bitter to you, you will realize what I am trying to do."

Vidur continued, "Everyone bows to money and power. And you have both. Noone will dare to displease you."

A proud smile crept onto Vrishabh's face as Vidur outlined the strategy, "Moreover, Abhyudaya and his mother are already outcasts. So it would not change anything for us. But consider what the lower people of the village are going to say. Generous Vrishabh got a girl from a low caste to marry a man of the same caste as his. It will make an undeniable powerful effect. You will be projected as a hero for them, who can bring a reform in society and bring them respect and equality. Majority is what we need right now."