1. MARRIAGE

VRINDA'S POV

"Vivah sampann hua."

The words echoed in my ears, sealing my fate. A lone tear escaped, tracing a silent path down my cheek as the memories of the past few days flooded my mind. My life had taken a complete 360-degree turn, and now, here I was—married.

My thoughts shattered when a cold, emotionless voice pulled me back to reality. "Get up, or are you planning to spend the night here?"

I looked up to see my brand-new husband standing before me. His gaze held no warmth, only anger and resentment. But it wasn't just him—his entire family wore the same expression. All except his grandmother, whose eyes alone carried something different, something softer.

Pushing aside the growing ache in my chest, I slowly stood up. It was time to take blessings, an obligation rather than a heartfelt tradition.

We approached his grandmother first. As I bent to touch her feet, he didn't bother. "God bless you," she said, pulling us into a warm hug.

Then came his father and uncle. I bent to seek their blessings, but he stood still, unmoving, like a lifeless statue. They barely acknowledged me, their hands resting on my head for the sake of formality, yet their disdain was written all over their faces.

And then, my so-called family.

I bent, hesitantly, to touch my mama and mami's feet, knowing well what was coming. As expected, they stopped me midway.

"Bhagwan kare kabhi khush na raho... Aur ab kabhi apna muh mat dikhana," mami spat, before pulling me into a forced hug.

Her words pierced through me like daggers, but I refused to let them see my pain. Instead, I smiled, leaned in, and whispered,

"Aap log baar-baar bhool kyun jaate hain? Bhagwan shaitaano ki baat nahi sunte. Aur umeed hai ki dharti maa ka bhoj jaldi kam ho, taki aapko phir kabhi meri nahi, kisi ki bhi shakal dekhni na pade."

The look on their faces was priceless. They thought they could control me, break me, but I was not their puppet. I had agreed to this marriage for one reason only—because they held something dear to me. Something I had to protect at any cost. And I would fulfill my promise.

The time to leave arrived. We settled in the car, and silence wrapped around us like an unspoken agreement. He was engrossed in his phone, as if I didn't even exist, while my mind raced with endless thoughts.

I already had a feeling that things would only get worse from here. Bhagwan ji, please give me strength to face whatever comes next.

I knew this marriage was a compulsion for him as much as it was for me. I didn't expect love or even acceptance, but at the very least, I hoped for some respect.

The car screeched to a halt. Without a word, he got out and slammed the door shut, the loud thud making me flinch.

Sighing, I struggled to open my door, the weight of my heavy lehenga making even that a challenge. Of course, no one was there to help.

I stepped out and followed him towards the grand entrance. His grandmother stood there, aarti ki thali in her hands, a warm smile on her face. The rest of the family stood behind her, their expressions unreadable.

"Welcome, beta," she said gently, performing the aarti before applying tilak on my forehead and showering me with flower petals.

"Gently kick the rice pot with your right foot, dip your feet in the alta thal, and enter inside," she instructed.

I did as she said, my heart hammering in my chest. After the ritual, Dadi sa turned to Ishaani and said "Take her to his room."

Ishaani's face twisted in displeasure. She was about to protest, but one sharp look from Dadi sa had her nodding reluctantly.

I followed her through the grand corridors, my steps slow, hesitant. My fingers curled around the edge of my lehenga, trying to suppress the nervous energy bubbling within me. Finally, we stopped in front of a large door.

My new world.

I swallowed hard, placing my trembling hand on the handle. With a deep breath, I pushed the door open.

I entered the room, and the sheer extravagance of it took my breath away. The black and grey furniture exuded power and sophistication, every inch of the space screaming luxury. A king-sized bed dominated one side, while a walk-in closet led to a magnificent attached bathroom. On the other side, a sleek kitchen stood—not small by any means, at least not for someone like me who had never known such opulence. Beside it, a cozy sitting area completed the space, designed for comfort yet dripping with grandeur.

I let out a slow breath, taking in every detail before heading to the closet to change. My fingers worked through the countless pins in my hair, frustration bubbling as each one seemed determined to stay put. When the last pin finally slipped free, I sighed in relief, feeling a lightness I desperately needed.

I changed into a soft t-shirt and lower, the comfortable fabric a welcome contrast to the heavy attire I had endured all day. Removing my makeup was another battle, my tired hands struggling to wipe away every trace of the carefully applied mask. When I finally washed my face, the cool water grounding me, I let out another sigh. My skin could finally breathe.

Stepping back into the room, I hesitated. Would my brand-new husband make an appearance tonight? A part of me dreaded it—facing him, dealing with whatever this marriage meant. But another part of me thought it was better if he didn't come. At least not tonight. I needed time. Time to process, to prepare myself, or I would end up frustrated and, worse, crying if things went even a decibel wrong.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I grabbed a blanket and pillow, dragging them to the couch. The bed felt too intimidating, too... unfamiliar. Curling up on the plush cushions, I surrendered to the exhaustion weighing on me. Sleep was about to consume me when a sudden shattering sound jolted me awake........

TO BE CONTINUED........

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