Simran

******

"Simran, the makeup artist will be here in five minutes, okay?" I nodded when I heard Anvi as I kept staring at the darkest shade of henna I had ever witnessed on anyone's hands. I did not want to think about the superstition that was associated with henna's colour, but I could not stop my mind from racing through its course. It just did not make sense how the colour of it was so deep, as if it was not natural. Perhaps that was the case. I guess there was something in that henna that turned its shade darker than usual. But if that had been the case, every woman who had kept henna on for hours longer than me should have had that rich colour. Some of my relatives, who did not remove it until the next morning and applied God knows some XYZ products to darken the shade, had the lightest shade of henna on their hands.

"Simmi, go wear the lehenga's blouse at least," Adya Bhabhi said while arranging my stuff on the bed, from my bangles to my jewellery. She, along with Sonia was making sure all those things I needed to wear were in the same place, so I did not have to face any trouble to find it.

Even then, instead of wearing the blouse, I was still in my pajamas, sitting on the lotus chair beside the bed, staring at my palms. My room felt like a madhouse, more like a bridal suite in complete chaos.

Adya Bhabhi and Sonia were the first to get ready and had already begun arranging my stuff. Di and Saavi were almost done, too, struggling with the pins as they tried to secure the veils of their sarees. Anvi was busy setting her hair, while Niharika and Niti fussed over their jewellery. Niti, multitasking, was also helping Shruti, who acted like a stubborn child refusing to wear her bangles.

Those bangles looked so beautiful on her, but she insisted they felt out of character. Still, with everyone's encouragement, she finally agreed to go with the golden ones.

"Hey, what are you staring at?" Niti rushed over to me once she was finally done.

"It's too dark," I replied, still lost in the shade of my henna.

"Believing that superstition, I see."

I looked up at her, horrified, my eyes wide.

"What? No. I don't believe all of that," I replied instantly, shaking my head vigorously. But she wore that familiar smirk that told me she knew exactly what I was thinking.

"This is too dark," I heard Anvi say, standing on the other side of me, smiling as she looked at my mehndi-covered hands.

Shruti had joined us by then and added, "Well, it's supposed to be. The man who doesn't express his feelings usually feels very strongly about her and even expresses that without shying away. And the proof is in her hands."

While Niti stayed beside me, the others got busy with the wedding chores. Another reminder came from Bhabhi to wear my blouse, and I struggled to let go of my thoughts about him and even the conversation I overheard last night.

Niti took a seat on the chair beside me and whispered, "If you want to run away, I'm here to help. It'll be a little hard, but all you have to do is say the word. Just tell me what you want right now."

I looked at my best friend, and she wasn't kidding. She was completely serious about what she said, and I knew she would help me, no matter what. Even if the plan failed, she'd still try.
I knew what I wanted, so I told her, "I need to see Kiaan."

She looked a little shocked. Of course, she wasn't expecting me to ask to see my fiancé just a few hours before the wedding. She seemed momentarily muddled, then murmured, "Escaping would've been easier than this."

I understood exactly how hard it would be to get a bride and groom to meet before the wedding, especially with all the traditionalist relatives hovering around. But after a second, she gave me a nod and dialed someone's number.

"Hello, Jun. I need your help," she said resolutely, calling her husband and making the impossible possible for me.

******

Author

******

"Is it necessary?" Kiaan nagged, staring at the thread Dhriti was tying around his right wrist. She tied three knots as part of the ritual that a sister performs before the wedding. Kiaan looked confused. He wasn't there when Dhriti had done similar rituals for Dhruv at his wedding, so he wasn't aware of all these traditions. Besides, he wasn't a firm believer in everything that was going on.

"Stop cribbing..." Dhriti said before she touched the sandalwood paste with her ring finger and dabbed it onto the knots of the thread, making Kiaan's confusion grow.

"What's this now?" he asked, his brows raised in utter confusion. He was suspicious that his sister was up to one of her usual pranks.

"A bird's poop," Arjun commented before laughing. Kiaan grabbed a cushion from the bed he was sitting on and threw it at Arjun, who caught it gracefully, still laughing.

Dhriti was annoyed by then. Her brother wasn't letting her perform the rituals properly and was acting like a child. She wondered what would happen when he found out the rituals wouldn't stop after the wedding, either. There were some rituals that would go on for weeks, not to mention the endless dinner parties at several relatives' houses. She didn't want to scare her brother yet, so she had avoided telling him what was coming after the wedding.

Dhriti took the same sandalwood paste and tried to apply it behind his ear, but he bent backward to avoid her.

"Gosh, Kiaan! Don't be a baby," she said sternly, grabbing his arm to steady him before applying a small dot of paste there.

"I'm not being a baby. You are," he said irritably.

"Guys, please, don't fuss over the rituals," Dhruv said, watching his siblings in the mirror, shaking his head at their childishness while fixing his hair. He was already ready, just like everyone else.

"I'm not, he is," Dhriti said, placing the plate she was carrying (with all the threads and sandalwood paste) on the bedside table, then crossing her arms as she stood in front of Kiaan.

"Yeah, right," Kiaan muttered and added, "says the one who was almost in tears over Cassata."

Dhriti gaped at him in shock. She had a sudden craving for Cassata cake right before getting ready, and she hadn't done a thing until Namit ordered it for her and fed her himself.

"I wish I could hit you. What's wrong with you today?" she complained.

"I know what's wrong," Arjun said, lounging comfortably on a recliner with a mocking look aimed at his friend.

"Yeah? What is it, mighty lawyer?" Kiaan asked, frustrated.

"He's hungry," Arjun replied.

Dhriti and Dhruv looked at him in disbelief and shook their heads, assuming Arjun was joking, as usual.

"Guys, I'm serious," Arjun said confidently, before launching into his theory.

"Come on, don't you all think the same? He hasn't eaten anything, couldn't have his protein shake, and has to stay like this till the wedding. Even after the wedding, his food choices will be limited."

Kiaan sighed, gritted his teeth, shot daggers at his friend, and seethed, "I'm not you."
But Arjun was right. Kiaan was actually hungry, and it was starting to show, making him lose his temper now and then.

"See? He's acting differently. All because of food," Arjun said, shaking his head with mock pity as he took a bite of the corn cheese hot dog a staff member had just brought him. Kiaan stared at the hot dog, his face turning red, not just with anger, but with pure jealousy. He couldn't have what his friend was eating.

"I agree..." Dhruv said, noting his brother's reaction.

"Makes sense..." Dhriti murmured. Then she pulled out a small, packed box from the carry bag placed on the bed and asked Kiaan to extend his palm. When he did, she placed the box in his hand with a smile and said, "This is the last part of the ritual."

Arjun's phone rang at the same time Kiaan started opening his sister's gift. It was a small, square black box with the initials of a famous jewellery brand printed on it. He opened the box to find a gold pair of cufflinks. They weren't conventional cufflinks, but had the logo of his favorite car brand printed on them. Dhriti had had them customised for him, and he couldn't hold back the small smile that appeared on his face. Dhriti's smile broadened too. She was relieved her brother liked the gift.

Arjun was still talking to his wife, and he seemed a little serious too, only replying in one-syllable answers. Dhruv and Kiaan both noticed it. The call ended after Dhriti left the room.

Arjun waited until she left and then turned to Kiaan and informed him, "Simran wants to meet you..."

Kiaan nodded and continued admiring the cufflinks his sister had left.

"...Right now."

Kiaan got up, after putting the cufflinks box in his Kurta pocket, ready to leave, when Dhruv asked, "Where do you think you are going?"

"To see my fiancé. Isn't that obvious?"

"Yeah lover boy, if you want your and specifically Simran's ears chopped off with the scolding you guys would get to meet before the wedding, then surely go ahead," Arjun warned him. 

Kiaan did not seem bothered for even a second. So Dhruv advised, "Not for yourself, of course, everyone is scared of you, think of Simran at least. She would have to face unnecessary humiliation. You very well know how these strong-headed traditionalist relatives are."

"You guys have tons of advice to share. Surely you've already woven a plan. If not, I won't mind going to meet her myself and silencing anyone who dares to spew venom at her."

"I do have a plan," Arjun suggested the idea of Kiaan leaving through the back door located in the gym. That door opened out toward the woods behind the property. From there, Kiaan would head to a vacant room in the other mansion. Since going to Simran's room was too risky, Kiaan would wait there, while Simran would visit a specific room on the ground floor of her mansion, a small space that was once used as an office. The only drawback was that the room had two doors: one made of wood, which could be opened easily, and another made of iron with a perforated design, which was jammed. So they could not see each other, but could talk well, sure.

Kiaan did not like the idea and headed out of his room to openly meet Simran, but his steps halted when he noticed the rush of people he had to cross to get to meet her. Of course, he would not mind doing that, but then there would be unnecessary humiliation targeted towards Simran, just like Dhruv mentioned. While he could handle it, he wondered why should he even let things slide out of his hands.

He walked back inside his room, sighing with annoyance as he said, "Fine, I will heed to your plan."

Arjun smiled triumphantly, as he expected this was going to happen.

"I will text Niti to send Simran there, you go."

"We will distract the relatives here," Dhruv added.

Kiaan nodded before he headed to the gym. After Kiaan stepped out, a few minutes later, Jai and Nikhil came to the room.

"Where is Kiaan?" Nikhil asked, looking around.

"Kiaan...." Then came the voice of one of their annoying relatives. A middle-aged woman who loved sneaking here and there always was coming to the room.

Dhruv and Arjun shared a stern look. Before the lady could come looking for Kiaan, Dhruv hurriedly pushed Jai inside the washroom as he was closer to it and locked it from outside. Nikhil was shocked and confused as to what had happened and why. Before he could ask, the relative entered the room.

"Where is Kiaan?" She asked as she glanced around and could not find him.

"In the washroom," Dhruv said calmly, smiling.

"Yes, Kiaan is in the washroom," Arjun said in a high-pitched voice so that Jai could hear too.

Nikhil raised his brows in question, looking at Dhruv. Dhruv walked up to him and murmured, "He's gone to see Simran."

"Oh..." Nikhil smiled slightly and nodded in acknowledgment.

The relative kept walking to the washroom. Arjun stood firmly in front of the door.

"What are you doing, Aunty? You can't go in. You cannot sneak in; he is not a kid anymore." He said playfully. Blushing, that woman patted Arjun's arm as she said, "I am not going in, silly."

Arjun's charm worked a little, but she was yet to leave. She knocked on the washroom's door and said, "Kiaan, come out fast. I have got you something." She was holding a bag, and Arjun tried taking a peek to see if there was something to eat, but he could not see much.

"I don't think I can come out yet," Jai replied from inside, with his voice changed, but he failed to match Kiaan's. Of course, that would not have been possible.

"What happened to his voice?" She got concerned and then looked at Arjun.

"Kiaan, are you okay? What's wrong?" She knocked on the door again.

Arjun, Dhruv, and Nikhil shared a glance and then Nikhil instantly came up with, "He is sick, aunty..."

"What happened to him... that it even changed the way he speaks?"

"You won't like to hear, Aunty..." Dhruv said, smiling sadly. None of them were good with such lies, and Arjun was simply staring at his friends, wondering how he was friends with them who still had not learned from him how to lie effortlessly. He knew he would have to come to the rescue, otherwise they both would mess up with their not-so-confident lies and suspicious expressions.

"Kiaan has loose motions," Arjun said confidently, his concerned expression making him look genuinely convincing. To make it even more believable, he added, "And since he's putting too much pressure inside, it's messing with his voice. Other than that, everything's fine."

"Yeah... everything is fine...." Dhruv mumbled, wondering how effortlessly his best friend sounded convincing. Perhaps that was the perk of being an admirable criminal lawyer, he presumed.

"Oh, my poor boy. I'm sure someone put their evil eye on my lovely boy," the relative said, her face gloomy with concern.

"Take your time, beta. I'll come back after some time," she added, just before Arjun walked her to the door, throwing in a few cheesy compliments that made her blush, and making sure she wouldn't return too soon.

When he came back inside and closed the door, he found Jai standing outside the washroom, arms crossed, casting piercing glares at him.

"I have loose motions?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

"Kiaan has loose motions, dummy. Kiaan was in the washroom, not you, remember?" Arjun replied, winking at him.

Jai blinked, realizing he was pretending to be Kiaan, and finally looked relieved.

"Oh... yeah," he replied with a sheepish smile.

Dhruv, Nikhil, Jai, and Arjun exchanged a knowing look. They were definitely going to make Kiaan's wedding day unforgettable.

******

Simran

******

Niti and I headed to the empty room on the ground floor.

"I will wait here, go." She chose to guard the room, and I headed inside. I could see a figure wearing a vibrant yellow Kurta standing on the other side of the unlocked perforated door. I stood on this side of the door, and the moment he noticed I was there, he asked, "A little desperate to see me?"

Of course, that was expected from him. He always thought of him as some mighty God. Not sure when he would get rid of that God complex.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself, I just needed to ask you something before it's too late."

"You keep telling yourself that, sweetheart. But showing up in secret before the wedding? Feels a little like an obsession."

Sweetheart? Really?

Even though he did not mean it, my heart skipped a beat. But I was not going to fall into his trap and fight with him. He was riling me up, but I had an important question to ask, so I ignored his statement, unlike other times. And I was not obsessed with him like he claimed.

Getting straight to the point, I fired my question, "What should I expect from this marriage?"

"Isn't it a little too early to ask that?"

I just needed an honest answer, but as expected, he did not seem in the mood to give me one. But I was desperate to know.

"I am serious. I want to know what I should expect from this marriage..." Unable to keep my desperation hidden, I pleaded, ".... please...."

I heard him exhale, closer. I did not notice when he stood next to me. He was not there before. Even with this door separating us, I could not trust him. I knew if he wanted, he could break the barrier of this door and come to where I was. All he needed was his will. That's how he was.

"Why?" It felt like his voice touched my eardrum softly. His voice was low, as if his words were meant only for me to hear.

I held the bar on the door as I replied, "Just so I know whether I should be prepared for any..."

"Betrayal. Disappointment." He did not ask, but rather stated. He knew beforehand what I would have said.

"Yes," I agreed.

"I want to know whether I am just your wife on paper or..." I paused and took a deep breath, and then looked at the door where Niti was. She was scrolling through her phone, and since no one had come to the room so we were in the clear.

I stared at my hand gripping the bar as I said, "I need to know what we are going to be. For sure, there is nothing more than hatred in this weird connection type of thing we have. This is marriage we are talking about here, a lifetime partnership and not some random party which we have to attend as a couple for the night, and then it's morning and everything is over."

Then it struck me. Perhaps that was it. It was a wedding only meant to last for a few months until things got settled.

"Wait! Is this temporary? Of course, it is... Why didn't I think it that way...I..." I couldn't stop myself from saying out loud what was on my mind. Now that my mind painted a picture different from the others, everything made sense.

"Now I know, to silence those reporters, you weaved this plan," I claimed confidently, even as the puzzle pieces in my mind began falling into place, fitting perfectly into their blocks. But that assumption was short-lived. I realized I was wrong presuming all of that when he asked, "You actually believe that?"

"No one can ever compel me to do what I don't want to." He was right. No one could force Kiaan Chauhan to do anything. He would not have been marrying me if he did not want to. Yet I still could not understand why he was marrying me. The reasons for marrying me he gave till now were difficult to believe.

"Then why are you doing this? Is this your way of revenge? Are you still upset about your car I burned?" Perhaps he still wanted revenge as I burnt his garage and his new car. I realized I had never actually apologized to him for what I did. What I did was a reaction to what he did to me, but then it was wrong of me to react that strongly. I should not have done that. I thought maybe by apologizing, I would be able to put it behind us.

"I am sorry about that. I know I should not have..." All of a sudden, he cut me off mid-sentence, and his words knocked the breath out of me.

"Marry me...." What made things worse for me was when he put his hand over mine over the bar. I did not notice there was space for his hand to reach me.

"You should expect from this marriage what anyone else would." I would have believed that if it were someone else talking and not him.

I remembered everything I had suffered, and with a pained voice, I said, "Other people have normal marriages. They know who they're marrying. They don't lie about dating for two years. They don't hide motives. And they're not... you."

"Hinged. Beast. Monster," He said.

I couldn't say it. And now that I had heard him say those words himself, I felt terrible. I didn't like that he believed I saw him as a beast. It was the truth... and yet, somehow, it made me feel even worse.

"Difficult. You're just... impossible. Why can't you, for once, answer me like a normal person without twisting everything?" I was frustrated by then. All I needed was an honest answer, and as always, all I got were his twisted words wrapped in unsolvable mysteries.

"Can you please be honest with me for once?" My frustration was evident in my words as well.

"I will be honest with you, but only after I am sure the truth won't ruin you."

"What does that even mean? That's not an answer, Kiaan."

What more was left in me to be ruined? 

Wasn't I already wrecked? 

Wasn't my life already a mess?

"You're asking for clarity. But clarity has a cost. And you're not ready to pay for it yet. And if I told you everything now, you'd try to run. And I won't let you run, firefly."

It wasn't just a statement, it was a promise, a vow he swore to both of us. I could feel his gaze on me, and when I turned to my right, he was standing there, his hand still on mine. His dark, unreadable eyes stared at me with unwavering determination.

He wanted me as his wife, and I knew nothing could stop him.

Nothing had ever stopped him from getting what he wanted.

It felt like someone had pressed pause on my breathing.

I almost got lost in those dark orbs.

His thumb stroked the back of my palm, and my throat ached from being unable to breathe.

"Be ready, Simran. The clock's ticking." He traced a pattern on the back of my palm, then said, "I'll be waiting for you."

He withdrew his hand, leaving me craving his touch.

It was only after he walked away that I could finally breathe, realizing I was already too deep in the abyss, and the only way out... was to give in.

******

It was time, time to turn to the mirror and look at myself. I hadn’t seen myself ever since I put on the wedding lehenga and the makeup artist started dolling me up. Not that I didn’t want to, but every time I looked into the mirror, I kept seeing Kiaan. He was everywhere—in the room, in the mirror, and even in my thoughts. I simply lessened his presence by closing my eyes. And now, with everything done, I was finally going to see how I looked.

I wore a yellow and red lehenga. The blouse was entirely red, but the skirt was yellow at the top and red at the bottom. There were two veils: one yellow, draped gracefully from one shoulder to the opposite waist, and the red one, pinned into my hair bun. I wore gold jewelry, some passed down from my mother, and some gifted by Kiaan’s side as part of the tradition.
I looked different, beautiful, in fact, like the bride I had always imagined myself to be. I could hardly believe it was me.

"I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a beautiful bride in yellow," I heard Di say. She stood beside me, smiling, holding my arm as she stared at my reflection in the mirror.

"True. Yellow seems like her color," Saavi added, looking at me lovingly before she went out to join Kiaan. She was meant to be on the baraat’s side. Di was about to leave too.

I looked prettier than I had ever imagined myself to be.

"Mom would’ve been so happy today," Di said, her eyes slightly clouded and her voice heavy.
A lump formed in my throat as I turned to her and hugged her tightly.

"I miss her," I confessed, trying to hold back my tears.

Di stroked my back gently as she whispered, "Me too."

Once she pulled back, she smiled widely and said, "Let’s get you married, Simmi."

******

Kiaan

******

"What's this?"

"Shhh...."

"Dhri..." I called her name, a little confused and mildly irritated.

"Shhh..." She shushed me again for the second time.

After I was ready, she made me sit and was now moving her hand in a clockwise direction, covering me from top to bottom while holding red chillies in her hand. She kept murmuring something as if chanting some mantra, and then put it on a pan.

I swear I would not let her make me eat that stuff. She then added some paper and lit a fire with the lighter.

"Woah! What's this now...." I wondered if this was another weird prank of hers.

"Can't you keep quiet for a moment?" She was peeved, looked serious, and then she put her hands over the flames and then over me, just like one takes blessings from the flame of a diya.

Once she was done, she called a staff member and had him take away the pan with the burning chillies. I stared at her, worried and confused, wondering what was wrong with her. I did not understand what it all was until she clarified, "I was warding off all evil eyes from my brother."

"I am getting married, not going to war." She rolled her eyes, completely ignoring my statement.

"Yeah, right! Namit snorted, not even bothering to hide his sarcasm.

"What?" I asked seriously, trying to decipher what he meant.

"Well, you and Simran are two inflammable people. Of course, this is no normal pair, so you will need the evil eyes off your back."

"This man is gonna be deep in a swamp," Nikhil commented.

"As if he is not already." Arjun joked and high-fived Nikhil. My sister was simply enjoying the teasing session. Ready in a purple lehenga-style saree, Dhri looked adorable. I pulled her nose, trying to stop her laugh, and she did not even wait a second to swat my hand away.

"Don't ruin my makeup." She scrunched her nose and turned to the mirror to see if I ruined anything. She still looked perfect, though.

"Even the makeup could not make you look prettier." I joked. She scoffed at me, and then Namit came to her side, held her close to him.

"Ignore him, baby, he is just nervous. The wedding jitters, you know." It was my time to roll my eyes at them. As if I had ever been nervous. Heck, I did not know how being anxious feels. Dhriti chuckled while I shook my head.

"The nervousness that had him sick." I glared at Jai, for I knew he was in the washroom pretending to be sick when one of my aunts came to call me for a ritual. He simply glared back at me funnily like I was some clown.

To stop everyone from continuing with their bullshit, I resolutely said, "I have never been nervous in my life. Might I remind you guys in case any one of you forgot?"

"Agreed... You're not nervous, just boring."

I glared at Hredhaan, who was standing a foot away, leaning against the wall and reading the same book from last night. His glasses were still on, and his eyes were glued to the page.
I wouldn't have minded that statement from anyone else, but his calling me boring was ironic. At least I had a life, even if it was all for show. That man's every move was painfully predictable.

"Don't worry, Hredhaan. That little fiery woman is gonna set his boring life on fire," Dhruv commented, laughing along with the others.

"Just like the fire in his garage..." Arjun added with a smirk.

He knew.

There was only one way for him to know about the fire. Simran might have eventually told Nitya, who definitely would have shared it with him. Nitya and Arjun shared everything with each other. But I did not have a problem with him knowing. Actually, I did not have a problem with anyone knowing, but no one ever asked me if I knew who was behind it, so I did not tell anyone either.

Simran Kashyap had committed many crimes. Some known, some buried, some forgotten. But her first punishment was not in the court of justice and law... it was me. For her to be mine forever. To be my wife, not just in this life, but for every other life there was.

I was her only truth, her only punishment, and her only redemption.

"Okay, guys, leaving my brother to you all till the wedding. Then he will belong to someone else forever." Dhriti said before she left and the asshole friends of mine continued to be a pain in the ass.

******

Simran

******

I could not sit quietly for long hours. That was never my trait. Especially in times when my body is acting differently like the wires of it were tied unnaturally, like I was standing at a cliff trying to escape demons and in order to do that I would have to keep faith and jump without knowing what lies beneath the darkness which was the only thing visible from the cliff.

The Baraat had come. I could hear the blaring music, the pounding drum beats, and people cheering, laughing. I could hear it all. Every beat, every sound got louder.... and my heart raced faster as if trying to escape to its safety net. The net, which was hidden beneath the darkness of the cliff I was standing on. But whether there was a safety net or a betrayal waiting for me was still unclear.

There was one thing, though, that surely could have made me feel at peace, even if only temporarily: my dance. Dancing to the tunes I loved would have helped me, but ballet steps don't flow gracefully when you're dolled up in heavy bridal attire that makes you look like a queen. On top of that, I was famished. I really needed something to eat. My tastebuds craved flavour: something spicy, tangy, sour. But all I could offer them were sweet, sugary fruits.

Suddenly, I heard the clinking of heels. I turned toward the door and saw Niti, dressed in a magenta-colored saree adorned with heavy crystal work, walking toward me. A radiant smile lit up her face, making her look like a delicate porcelain doll. The way she carried the heavy saree so gracefully made it seem as if she were wearing something as light as feathers.

"It's time." She seemed excited and then held my hands, her smile going wide now.

"Already?" I asked, confused.

Wasn't it just a moment ago that I heard the Baraat arriving? 

Wasn't it only a few seconds back that I heard everyone urging the groom to dance? 

Wasn't it just moments ago that my heart raced faster with the blaring music as the Baraat entered?

What about the rituals that were supposed to follow the Baraat's arrival, the ones involving only the groom?

Did all of that really happen so quickly... or did I lose track of time?

"Are you scared?" Niti asked, concerned.

"I am hungry," I replied honestly.

Yeah, the lack of different flavours was making me lose track of time, and perhaps the slight anxiety was because of that. Maybe I needed tangy golgappas. Or maybe I needed spicy momo. Maybe if I had those, I would have run and danced in my own Baraat.

It was the lack of flavourful food that was making me lose my mind.

"Brace yourself, darling, you won't get anything until the wedding is over," Niti replied solemnly.

"Are you sure about this wedding? About Kiaan?" I shook my head.

"Then why are you doing this?" Her concern grew more.

I exhaled slowly, eyes locked on the floor like the answer might be buried there.

Then I looked up, not trembling, not broken, just... decided.

"Because sometimes, the only way to survive the storm... is to embrace it."

Either I had to walk into the fire, or I would have been consumed by the constant betrayals. And I chose to walk in the fire.

Kiaan Chauhan was the darkness visible from the cliff, and what lay beneath that darkness would only be known once I took the leap of faith. He was the storm that came unannounced, and now, I had two choices: let the demons take me... or embrace the storm that waited for me.
And I had decided to choose the latter.

Until it was revealed what lay beneath the darkness, I chose to believe this:

He didn't love me, and I wasn't sure how I felt either. This marriage was about fixing his image, and mine, too. It wasn't about love or destiny. It was an agreement made in business meetings, not in hearts. Yet it was my heart thumping like crazy as I decided to walk toward him.
That stupid organ always betrayed me.

******

Hi Lovelies,

I hope you all are doing well. 🤗

Kiaan and Simran are finally getting married. 🥹

Will the wedding proceed just fine, or will there be some drama? 🤔

Do share your views about the chapter. It would mean a lot. ❤️

Thanks, 
Shrishtee