It’s been two weeks since the Rajvansh family came with the proposal. They were kind and respectful, agreeing to the marriage without asking for dowry.
I was relieved. Unlike the families in my village, who see marriage as nothing more than getting a maid along with dowry, they seemed different.
But who knows? Trusting someone after just one meeting isn’t easy.
Dadi has been so happy since that day. A few days after our meeting, they sent us the wedding date. I was excited, but Dadi was even happier than me.
I didn’t have much money to afford all the preparations. So, along with teaching dance, I took up two more jobs.
Somehow, I managed to save enough—just enough—to afford a small ceremony and my lehenga. I even bought a new saree for Dadi.
She looks beautiful today. So beautiful that for a moment, I forget all my worries.
I didn’t have to worry much about the wedding preparations because they said they would send an event planner for it.I didn’t disagree because, no matter how much I tried, my arrangements would still look simple in comparison.
Sitting in-front of the mirror, I looked at myself in the mirror.
Dressed as a bride, in a red lehenga sparkles under the soft lights, and the heavy duppata rests over my head.
My hands shake as I look at the dark mehendi on my palms. They say the darker it is, the more love a husband gives. I wonder if that is true.
My lips curve into a smile, but my eyes sting with tears. Today is the most special day of my life. I am going to start a new journey, a new life. A life where I will be someone’s wife, someone’s daughter-in-law. The thought makes my heart race.
I turn my head and see my grandmother watching me. Her old eyes shine with unshed tears, yet she smiles. She is my only family, the only one I have in this world. She raised me, loved me, and gave me everything. And today, I will leave her behind.
A lump forms in my throat. How will she live alone? Who will make her morning tea just the way she likes? Who will remind her to take medicines?
She walks closer, placing her wrinkled hand on my head. "You look beautiful, beta," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion.
I hug her, my tears finally falling. "Dadi, I don’t want to leave you."
She strokes my hair. "You are not leaving me, child. You are starting a new life, and I will always be with you in your heart."
I close my eyes, trying to be strong. I have dreamed of this day since childhood. The excitement of being a bride, the happiness of marrying the one I love. But no one told me that happiness and pain come together.
The last two days were full of laughter, music, and colors. The mehendi, sangeet, and haldi—everything passed in the blink of an eye. I danced, laughed, and lived every moment.
We don’t have many relatives, so I invited my dance class students and Priya to celebrate with us. The ceremonies weren’t grand, but they were filled with love and masti. That’s what mattered.
I didn’t think about anything except enjoying the moment. But now, as I sit here in my bridal attire, the realisation finally hits me. I am leaving Dadi.
My heart sinks. The happiness of the past two days suddenly feels distant.
I wipe my tears, take a deep breath, and look at myself again. I am a bride today, and a new life awaits me.
My chain of thoughts broke as a loud, excited voice echoed through the room. Dadi and I turned toward the door.
"Dadi, neeche chaliye! Baraat aa gayi!!" she squealed with excitement. [Grandmother, go down! The groom's family is here.]
"I'm coming," Dadi said, giving me a small smile before leaving.
"Kainaat! Are you excited?" she asked, walking towards me.
"Mhmm," I murmured, shifting my gaze toward the mirror.
"Ye 'mhmm' kya hai? You are getting married to India's most famous and rich surgeon! You should be excited, na?" she scoffed, shaking her head in disappointment. [What is this 'mhmm'? ]
I smiled at her words, but before she could continue, she suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes widened as she stepped closer.
"Tu ro rahi hai?" she asked with concern. [You are crying?]
I quickly wiped my tears and forced a smile. "Nahi toh." [No.]
She cupped my face and bent down in front of me. "You’re worried because of Dadi, right?"
I couldn't hold back anymore. I leaned forward and hugged her tightly. She hugged me back, gently patting my head.
"Tension kyun leti hai? She will move to her village after some days. She will have so many people around her; she won’t be alone." [Why are taking so much tension?]
Her words were meant to comfort me, but deep down, I knew nothing could fill the emptiness I would leave behind in Dadi’s life.
I nodded against her shoulder, trying to believe her words.
She pulled back and wiped my tears with her thumb. "Kainaat, today is your big day. You should be glowing, not crying."
I forced a smile. "I know... It's just—" My voice cracked, and I looked away.
She sighed, holding my hands. "Look, I understand. But trust me, Dadi will be fine. She’s strong, and she wants you to be happy."
I took a deep breath and nodded. Maybe she was right. Maybe I was overthinking.
Just then, another voice called from outside. "Kainaat, are you ready? The groom’s family is waiting!"
She grinned. "Come on, dulhan, let's not keep your surgeon sayiaan waiting!"
My dulha is waiting! Everyone outside is waiting for me. I can't show them my sad face. After all this is my big day and it should be my happiest day.
I laughed softly at her teasing and stood up, adjusting my dupatta. My heart still felt heavy, but I pushed my worries aside. Today, I had to be happy—for Dadi, for myself, and for this new journey ahead.
••
Yuvraj Pov
"What the hell, Maa? You’re telling me this now?!" I groaned in frustration, running my fingers through my hair.
"Raj, we had to keep this a secret from you. Last time, when a proposal came, you broke it. This time, we can’t afford that," Papa said, irritation clear in his voice.
I clenched my jaw. "But why don’t you all understand? When I say no, it means no! I don’t want to get married!" My voice came out hoarse.
Dadi’s sharp gaze met mine. "We don’t want to listen to your dos and don’ts. The shaadi ka joda is there. Wear it and be ready in one hour."
I exhaled sharply, my fists tightening. "Fine. I’ll get married. But if she gets hurt because of this marriage, the responsibility will be yours." My tone left no room for arguments.
With a final glance at me, they all left.
And I stood there, trapped in a decision I never made.
My family loves to put me in problems.
I had already told them clearly that I didn’t want to get married, but they refused to listen. Instead, they went ahead and fixed my marriage without even asking me or informing me.
And now, just five hours before the wedding, I’m finally getting to know about it.A very nice game has been played with me.
The most interesting part? I don’t even know who the girl is, what she looks like, or anything about her.
Yet, in a few hours, she will be my wife.
I can’t help myself with this.There’s no other option left for me at this last moment.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, I walked toward my bed. The shaadi joda was already lying there, waiting for me.
I stared at it for a moment, then cursed under my breath at my fate.
Grabbing it, I headed toward my walk-in wardrobe to change.
--
I stood in front of the mirror, fully dressed as a groom, yet my mind was far from the present. Memories—dark, haunting, and unwelcome—rushed back, clouding my thoughts. No matter what I do, my demons always return, refusing to let me breathe in peace.
I’ve tried—tried so hard—to forget those awful memories, to move past them, but I always end up trapped in the same dark slumber of my past. It clings to me like a shadow, never truly leaving.
I have changed. I have built myself into a man who doesn’t care, a man who has learned to survive without emotions. I am someone who would risk his life in a heartbeat if it meant protecting my family. But beyond that, I have nothing.
I have built barriers around myself—strong, unyielding, and impenetrable. No one is allowed in, and I make sure of that.
There was a time when marriage meant something to me, a time when I had dreamed of a life filled with love and warmth. But that was before my heart was broken beyond repair, before I learned that emotions only bring pain. Now, marriage is nothing but a responsibility, a duty I cannot escape.
Giving myself one last glance, I took a deep breath and walked downstairs, where my family was already waiting for me.
•••
We arrived at my bride’s place, where everything was perfectly decorated, and guests kept arriving one after another. The air buzzed with excitement, but I felt nothing.
As the car came to a stop, my brother, Vedansh, wasted no time in pulling open the door for me. And as expected, a wide grin was already plastered on his face.
"Kaisa laga shaadi ka jhatka, bro?" He burst into laughter like a maniac, clearly enjoying my situation. [How was the wedding shock, bro?]
I rolled my eyes, ignoring him, and stepped out of the car. My entire family gathered around, and together, we made our way toward the mandap.
We arrived at the wedding venue, where a group of young girls eagerly welcomed us. Before I could react, they surrounded me, giggling and whispering, and led me toward the mandap.
From their appearances, they all seemed to be under twenty, their eyes filled with excitement. As I sat on the couch in-front of the sacred fire which was not yet lightened, their hushed murmurs reached my ears.
"Kitna handsome hai na Jija ji?" one of them squealed, her voice filled with admiration. [Brother-in-law is so handsome, isn't he?]
"Pata hai, maine na inko TV par dekha tha ek baar..." another girl chimed in, making a small smirk form on my lips. [You know, I once saw him on TV..]
And at that moment, they all gasped, probably surprised at my identity maybe.
"Waise, Kainaat Didi aur inki jodi mast jamegi!" a girl in a pink lehenga said, and the rest burst into laughter before running off. [By the way, Kainaat Didi and he will make a great pair!]
Kainaat.
So, her name is Kainaat. Not bad. Sounds... good.
I sighed, pushing away the unnecessary thoughts.
There weren’t too many guests—just a decent crowd. Our side had only invited close relatives, keeping the event small and manageable. Thankfully, the paparazzi hadn’t caught wind of this. If they had, it would have been another mess to deal with.
The wedding hall was alive with golden lights, it wasn't fancy but elegantly decorated with red and pink roses.
The air was thick with the scent of fresh flowers, yet none of it meant anything to me. My fingers tapped idly against the armrest.
This marriage is nothing but a useless decision of my family—one I had no interest in. Love? A foolish illusion. I had learned my lesson the hard way.
And then… the music began breaking my chain of thoughts.
The whispers in the hall died down, replaced by an unspoken anticipation. I didn't look up at first. I didn’t need to. What difference would it make?
But then… I felt it. A shift in the air.
Curiosity won. My eyes lifted—just for a second.
And everything stopped.
There she was.
She was looking shy, but not hesitant. She was smiling and looking everywhere around like she was enjoying.
The intricate embroidery of her lehenga shimmered under the glowing lights, each step making the tiny bells on her dupatta jingle softly. The veil, sheer enough to tease yet not reveal, framed her face in a way that made her look almost ethereal.
My jaw clenched. My breath slowed.
She wasn’t just walking towards me; she was making a statement with every step. The soft glow of the lamps reflected against her skin, making her seem almost untouchable.
I exhaled sharply, forcing my gaze away.
Damn it.
I wasn’t supposed to feel anything. I wasn’t supposed to care. Yet, the sight of her sent an unfamiliar stir through me—one I neither recognized nor welcomed.
She was beautiful, but I had seen beauty before. This was something else. I couldn't name.
She reached the edge of the mandap stage and lifted her gaze to meet mine. Her eyes, shimmering with innocence. My throat went dry. I swallowed hard.
A faint blush was covered on her cheeks making her look more beautiful.
"Bhai, Help Bhabi to get onto the stage." Riya shouted from the back. And next I heard everyone was laughing. [ Bhai- Brother, Bhabi- Sister-in-law ]
Maybe I am staring at her too much. It's just a mere attraction as she is just a little beautiful.
She lowered her graze. And forwarded her hand which I took into mine and helped her getting up the stage, as she slowly gathering her lehenga in her hand.
I held her hand, my fingers wrapping around hers. It felt… different. Strange, even. Maybe I was just overthinking. Pushing the thought aside, I focused on the moment and helped her climb the stairs.
And a realization suddenly hit me. She is the same girl whom I saved from falling that day.
𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚
A/N How was the chapter? Next chapter will be very exciting..So, complete the vote and comments target.
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