Nishika POV:

I sat in front of the mirror, staring back at my reflection.

"Kisi ki nazar na lage" the stylist whispers, smiling as she adjusts the delicate fall of the cloth over my hair. I manage a weak smile in return, but the weight of everything that's happening sinks deeper into my chest.

Just then, Amma enters the room, "Nishu it's time,padha Amma " she says softly like she's afraid I might break if she speaks too loudly. She holds out her hand and I take it feeling her fingers tremble just as much as mine.

(Let's go)

I stand up. The pallu feels like a veil of burden now, a reminder of the weight I'm about to carry. As we walk out of the room, my heart begins to race.

I sit in the car, numb while my brother Daksh was driving.The drive to Siddhivinayak Temple is short, but it feels like an eternity. I stare out the window, my mind a blur, unable to grasp the fact that in a few minutes, my life will change again. As the car stops, I see the temple entrance, its towering gates decorated with flowers and lights. It looks beautiful, almost festive, but all I feel is emptiness.

As I step out of the car, my eyes land on the sign: "Nishika weds Kabir." The words glare back at me like a cruel joke.

Kabir.

I barely even remember his name. I haven't met him, haven't spoken to him, and yet, here I am, about to marry him.

"Let's go, Kanna" Amma says, holding my arm as she guides me towards the entrance. Nanna walks silently by my side holding my other hand, his face unreadable, but I can feel the tension radiating from him. This isn't the wedding they wanted for me, but after everything that happened, maybe they believe this is what I deserve.

As we walk through the temple's aisle, I can't stop my mind from drifting back to my first wedding. It had been so different then—so full of joy, laughter, hope. I was over the moon, in love with the man I thought I'd spend my life with. I remember the excitement bubbling inside me as I walked towards the mandap that day, smiling at everyone, my heart so full of happiness that it hurt.

How naive I was.

That day, I walked into what I thought was my dream, only to realize later that I had walked into a nightmare.

How blind I had been.

The closer I get to the mandap, the more suffocating the reality becomes.

We reach the mandap, and my body goes cold.I saw Kabir standing there, tall and composed. He's dressed in an ivory sherwani, and from the corner of my eye, I can tell he looks serious, focused. There's no joy in his face, no excitement. I wonder if he feels as trapped as I do.

I'm made to stand in front of him and for a moment, I can't look at him directly. My hands tremble as I stand there, the priest's chants echoing in the background.

The garlands are brought out, bright of lotus and jasmine.The priest signals that it's time for me to put the garland around Kabir's neck. I hold the garland in my hands and step forward. I lift it over his head, my heart pounding in my chest and gently place it around his neck.

Then it's his turn.

He picks up the garland and I stand still, waiting for him to place it around my neck. But he doesn't. He just holds it in his hands, staring at me, his expression serious. I blink in confusion, not understanding what's happening. His eyes lock with mine, and for a moment, it feels like he's searching for something, like he's trying to figure out what kind of person I am. The moment stretches uncomfortably and I feel the eyes of everyone around us watching.

What is he doing?

Before I can react, a few of his friends or relatives rush forward, laughing and shouting something. They grab me by my arms and lift me into the air, carrying me above the ground. I let out a surprised gasp, feeling my feet leave the floor as they hoist me up, making it impossible for Kabir to reach me with the garland.

"Higher, higher!" one of his friends laughs, and I can't help but let out a small laugh myself, despite the awkwardness. The girls on his side join in, standing beside Kabir, nudging him playfully, urging him to put the garland around my neck.

"Kabir, come on! What are you waiting for?" one of the girls teases him.

Kabir looks down at the garland in his hands, still holding it as though he's hesitating. The people around us cheer, encouraging him, and I feel my face flush with embarrassment. Why is he just standing there? Doesn't he want to marry me either? Is he trying to make some kind of point?

I glance down at him from where his friends are holding me up, feeling a strange mix of emotions—confusion, embarrassment, and maybe a bit of curiosity. Kabir's lips press into a thin line, and for a moment, I think he might refuse. But then, with a sigh, he steps closer, his eyes still on me.

The girls around him start to tease him more loudly now. "Kabir, are you going to let her win like this? Put the garland on!"

He finally lifts his hand, the garland still dangling from his fingers, and reaches up. His friends lower me slightly, just enough for him to reach. I watch as he brings the garland over my head, his movements slow and deliberate. Our eyes meet again, and for a second, everything else fades away—the noise, the laughter, the cheers. It's just us, standing there, locked in this strange moment.

As he places the garland around my neck, the crowd hardly 50 people bursts into cheers and applause. His friends set me back down on the ground, and I feel my feet touch the floor again, steady but unsure of what just happened.

Kabir steps back, and I don't know what to make of him. He's still unreadable, his face calm, his eyes holding back something I can't quite figure out. I wonder what's going through his mind. Was this just a game to him? Or was it something more?

The rest of the ceremony continues, but I can't shake the strange feeling from that moment the way he hesitated, the way he stared at me as if he was trying to see through me.

I sit down beside him, my heart pounding in my chest. My hands rest in my lap, clenched tightly together. The priest begins chanting, his voice steady, as though this is just another routine for him. For me though it feels like the end of something. Or maybe the beginning of something I'm not ready for.

As the rituals continue, I focus on the fire in front of me . The fire burns brightly in the center, its flames dancing like they have no care in the world trying to drown out the noise in my head.

The priest calls for the gathbandhan, where the corner of my saree will be tied to Kabir's dupatta.Mrs.Shravani Oberoi ,my soon to be mother-in-law steps forward to help.

The priest explains that we'll now take the pheras, the sacred seven rounds around the fire.We begin the pheras. With each step, the priest chants blessings and mantras, his voice echoing around us. Kabir walks ahead of me for the first few rounds, leading the way as is tradition. I follow, feeling the pull of the gathbandhan tying us together.

I can't help but think about my first wedding, about how happy and hopeful I had been. Back then, I had believed in every word, every promise. But now, as I walk around the fire with Kabir, the weight of my past hangs over me. Can I believe in this again? Can I trust that this time will be different?

After the first few rounds, it's my turn to walk ahead of Kabir. As I step forward, I feel the weight of everyone's eyes on me—my family, his family, the guests. I wonder what Kabir is thinking as he follows behind me. Does he feel the same uncertainty? The same fear?

Finally, the pheras are over, and we return to our spots in front of the fire. The priest blesses us, and his cousin sister Sameeksha steps forward this time holding a small silver tray with the sindoor. The next part of the ceremony feels even more significant—the moment when Kabir will apply sindoor to the parting of my hair, marking me as his wife.

I lower my head slightly, feeling my heart race as Kabir takes the pinch of vermilion powder. For a brief second, I wonder if his hands are trembling too. As he places the sindoor in my hair, I close my eyes because I can't let tears drop down.

"Nishika" Mrs.Shravani Oberoi calls me soft but urging. "It's time for the mangalsutra."

I freeze for a moment, my breath catching in my throat. My eyes flicker down to my lap, and I feel Kabir shift beside me. I can't bring myself to look at him, can't bring myself to meet his gaze. I hear the priest instructing Kabir to tie the mangalsutra, and I feel my chest tighten with each passing second.

Kabir's face remains stoic throughout, his emotions hidden beneath a mask. I wonder what he's thinking.

The priest finishes the chant, and the ceremony moves forward, but I feel disconnected, as if I'm watching my own life from a distance. As Kabir ties the mangalsutra around my neck, a lone tear slips down my cheek. I quickly blink it away, not wanting anyone to see. I don't know if the tear is from sadness, fear, or something else maybe a mixture of everything. I didn't expect to feel so emotional, but here I am, standing in front of this man I barely know, tied to him in more ways than one.now, another mark of this union, another reminder that I'm no longer just Nishika Reddy. I'm Nishika Singh Oberoi now.

I lower my gaze, unsure of what lies ahead, but one thing is certain: this is the start of something I never expected.

the priest's voice echoed through the mandap. "You are now husband and wife," he announced.

I barely noticed when the priest told us to stand for the blessings. It was my mother's gentle nudge that brought me back to the present. Kabir and I stood up, side by side, our bodies stiff and awkward.

One by one, we went each elders standing.Kabir's grandparents I guess,his grandmother seemed really happy and didn't let us bend down and engulfed us into a hug.his grandafther blessed with a happy married life.

Kabir's parents came next. His mother smiled at me warmly as she pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Welcome to the family, Nishika," she said softly like she was trying too hard to make this feel normal and his father took us into his embrace.

Daksh took me into a tight hug and smiled at Kabir

Nanna(Father), silent as always, placed his hand on my head, giving me a firm nod. I saw the tension in his jaw, the unsaid words in his eyes. He wasn't good with emotions, but I knew he was feeling just as heavy-hearted as I was.

Every time someone placed their hand on my head or said something nice, I felt the weight of their expectations growing heavier on my shoulders. Everyone wanted this to work. Everyone wanted me to be happy.

But what about me? Did I want this? Could I ever be happy in a marriage like this?

Amma held me close as I stood by the temple's entrance, the car waiting nearby to take me to Kabir's house. "You'll be fine, Nishika," she whispered "You're strong. You've always been strong."

But I didn't feel strong. I felt fragile, like I could shatter at any moment.

I hugged them both tightly, feeling the tears burn in my eyes. "Take care of yourself"Amma said softly. "And... take care of Kabir too." Her voice wavered on his name, as though she wasn't sure what to make of him yet. I wasn't sure either.

It was time to go. I stepped into the car, my heart heavy, and Kabir followed. The door closed, sealing me inside this new reality. I watched through the window as the car pulled away from the temple, my parents waving until they disappeared from view.

The ride was silent. Kabir sat beside me, his hands resting on his lap, his eyes staring out the window. We were alone now, for the first time since becoming husband and wife, but neither of us spoke. I didn't know what to say, and judging by his silence, neither did he.

As the car came to a stop in front of Kabir's house, I felt the tension between us grow even thicker. Without saying a word, Kabir untied the gathbandhan, the sacred thread that had symbolized our bond during the wedding and stepped out of the car, leaving me behind. I watched him walk away, disappearing into the house without so much as a glance in my direction.

For a moment, I just sat there, frozen. My mind was racing with confusion, hurt, and anger. Was this how it was going to be? Was this how our life together would start? I had expected awkwardness, maybe even silence, but I hadn't expected to feel this abandoned on the very first day of our marriage.

Chapter Aesthetics:

Hey everyone!! 💖

This is the first chapter of my second book, and I am sooo excited to share it with you all! ✨

What do you think about Nishika and Kabir so far? I'm really curious to know your thoughts on their characters and their story! 🤔 Your feedback means so much to me, so don't be shy! 😊

I would love to hear everything—your favorite moments, what surprised you, and what you're excited about.

Also, don't forget to vote and leave your comments, lovelies! Your support really helps motivate me to keep writing and bring you the best chapters possible. Let's make this journey together! 🌸

Enjoy and thank you so much for being part of this story! 💕