The Marriage
They brought the dress in a glass box.
Like it was sacred. Untouched. A relic of a life I would never have.
I stared at it. White silk, hand-stitched pearls, a veil as thin as mist and felt… nothing.
Not rage. Not sorrow. Just cold.
Suman aunty hovered behind me, her hands twitching at the hem of her sari.
Suman Aunty
“Madam… shall I help you change?”
Inaya Mahajan(FL)
“No.”My voice cut the air like a blade.
I turned toward the mirror. The girl staring back didn’t look like a bride.
She looked like a prisoner wrapped in lace.
A ghost in satin.
I turned, finally breathing again. In these past seven hours every minute felt like eternity.
He burst into the room, his shirt rumpled, his eyes wide with panic and concern.
Vivaan Mahajan
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
His eyes scanned me head to toe, searching for damage.
Inaya Mahajan(FL)
“I’m fine.” I rushed to him, thankfully he wasn't hurt. “Are you okay?"
Vivaan Mahajan
Shook his head. “No. Just locked me in a room with two guards. But… Di, what is all this?”
Inaya Mahajan(FL)
“You don’t have to worry about it,” I said, tapping his shoulder in reassurance. “I’ve got everything planned.”
Vivaan Mahajan
“I know he’s using me to control you. Di… you’ve done so much for me. How can someone love a evidence of their mother’s sin so much?”
I stepped back, stared at him.
Inaya Mahajan(FL)
"I'm helping you just to piss father off. And stop crying, you're not a baby anymore."
Vivaan Mahajan
Eyes filled with tears, but nodded. "Just say it, I can't see you crying."
The door swung open with a slam.
Devendra Mahajan
“If you’re done with your melodrama, let’s."
Devendra Mahajan
“Your husband is waiting.”
Inaya Mahajan(FL)
“I’m not walking with you."
Inaya Mahajan(FL)
Turning my back on him. “Vivaan will take me.”
He stared at us, my defiance, Vivaan’s loyalty. And without a word, turned on his heel and stormed off, letting his fury crash against the door.
I held out my arm to Vivaan.
Inaya Mahajan(FL)
“Let’s go.”
He hooked his arm through mine, chin raised, proud and protective.
We stepped into the hall. Grand. Opulent. Cold.
Filled with monsters in designer suits.
When I was young, I used to dream of a wedding with marigolds, music, and mehendi. A celebration of love.
That girl is dead.
I don’t dream anymore. I don’t wish on stars.
I sharpen them.
A thousand eyes turned to me.
But mine were fixed on one person.
The man at the altar.
A stranger. A pawn. A boy who, like me, had been dragged into this spectacle
And soon… I would use that pawn to bring my father to his knees.
As we approached, he stood frozen, barely breathing.
His hands clenched at his sides.
There was something wrong with my stomach. Probably because I hadn’t eaten all day.
Or maybe it was the weight of my fate pressing down.
He offered me his hand.
The priest began chanting the vows.
We repeated them like robots. Two actors reading from a cursed script.
I could feel his eyes flicker toward me, but I didn’t look back.
Then came the rings.
The priest held them out.
???
“Exchange your vows through these symbols of union.”
Inaya Mahajan(FL)
“Give me your hand,” I said flatly.
He did.
I slid the ring onto his finger, my hands steady even as my heart burned.
His turn.
He looked at me for the first time. Really looked.
As if searching for a signal. A reason.
There was none.
He slid the ring onto my finger. Cold metal. Heavy.
???
“You may now kiss the bride.”
My breath caught.
Ruhan leaned in, just enough for tradition. Just enough to end this.
Our lips touched. Barely.
It wasn’t love. It wasn’t even hate.
The room erupted in applause.
And in that moment, I made myself a silent promise:
One day, I will burn down everything that put me in this dress.
Comments