Nishika POV:

I took a deep breath and forced myself to get out of the car. As I stepped onto the driveway, Kabir's family was waiting for me by the entrance. His mother smiled warmly, but there was a noticeable awkwardness in the air, as if they were unsure of what to do next.

I walked toward the house, my feet feeling heavier with each step. I glanced at the door, hoping Kabir would at least be waiting inside, but there was no sign of him. He had already disappeared into the house, leaving his family to welcome me alone.

When I reached the doorstep, his mother took a small silver pot filled with rice and placed it at my feet. "For your grahpravesh," she said softly.

I lifted my foot and gently kicked the pot over, watching as the rice scattered on the floor. It felt symbolic in a way, as though the scattered grains mirrored the state of my heart shattered and lost and almost on the verge of crying

"Welcome home, beta" his chachi said, placing her hand on my head for blessings. I smiled weakly, though the warmth I had hoped for was missing.

"Nishika, I know this isn't easy for you," she said,
"But don't worry, beta. Everything will be fine with time. These things take time, and slowly, you both will get to know each other."

I nodded, offering her a small smile, though I wasn't sure how true her words would turn out to be. My heart still felt heavy from the way Kabir had left me alone in the car. But I didn't want to seem rude, so I simply smiled

She smiled back, patting my hand. " Now, get some rest. Sameeksha will take you to your room."

"Come on, bhabhi," she said, gesturing for me to follow her. "I'll show you to your room."

We reached the room, and as Sameeksha pushed open the door, my breath caught in my throat. The room was beautifully decorated rose petals were scattered all over the bed, candles were placed on the side tables, and the soft glow of fairy lights created a romantic atmosphere. It was clear this room had been prepared for our wedding night.But the sight of it only made me feel more uncomfortable.

She smiled one last time before leaving the room, gently closing the door behind her. I stood there for a moment, taking in the scene around me the flickering candlelight, the soft scent of roses in the air. It should have been romantic, but instead, it felt hollow.

I walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge, staring at the rose petals scattered across the sheets.

As I lay down on the bed, the rose petals crinkling softly beneath me, I stared up at the ceiling. The decorations, the lights, the flowers—they all seemed to blur together as my thoughts swirled. I had no answers, only uncertainty.

But one thing was clear: this was my life now, and I would have to find a way to navigate through it, step by step, even if it meant walking this path alone for now or for entire life

As I stood in the room, unsure of what to do,Should I wait for Kabir? Should I just go to sleep? My heart was heavy with uncertainty, and I felt utterly alone in this new chapter of my life.

The room, meant to celebrate the beginning of a marriage, only reminded me of the hollowness I felt. The atmosphere, though romantic, seemed to mock me with its false promises. I was lost in my thoughts, unsure of what the future held.

Then, like a wave crashing over me, memories of my first night with Akash, my first husband flooded my mind. It had been the same feeling back then—an overwhelming sense of confusion and hurt. I had believed in love back then. I had been naïve.

Flashback:

I walked into the room that night, a glass of milk in my hands, as was the custom for a bride on her first night. My heart was racing with nervous excitement. I had married Akash, the man I thought I would spend the rest of my life with. My heart fluttered with hope, with the expectation of love and companionship.

As I entered the room, I saw Akash already in bed, his back turned towards me. He had changed into his nightclothes

I hesitated at the doorway, unsure of what to do. Should I wake him? Should I let him sleep?

"Akash?" I called out softly, my voice trembling slightly with nerves.

There was no response. He didn't move, didn't turn to look at me. I placed the glass of milk on the table beside the bed, hoping that maybe he was just tired from the long day. Maybe he wasn't feeling well.

Concerned, I stepped closer. What if he had a fever? What if something was wrong? My worry for him overtook my hesitation, and I gently placed my hand on his back, trying to feel if he was warm.

But before I could even fully place my hand on his face , Akash grabbed my wrist harshly and pushed my hand away.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Let me sleep!" His voice was sharp, cold, completely devoid of the tenderness I had expected.The tenderness which was there before. It was as if he was a different person.

I stood there, frozen, unable to process his words. The warmth and excitement I had felt just moments ago were replaced by confusion and fear.

"I-I just thought... maybe you weren't feeling well," I stammered, my voice small.

He sighed heavily, still not turning to face me. "There's nothing wrong with me. Just leave me alone."

"But Akash," I started, my voice breaking. "This is our first night. We... we're supposed to—"

He interrupted me, his voice filled with frustration. "You think this is some fairytale, don't you? That we're supposed to be in love or something? Wake up, Nishika. This marriage—" He finally turned to face me, his expression hard and emotionless. "This marriage isn't real. It's just something my father forced me into."

I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. My heart, which had been full of hope and love, shattered into a million pieces. "What do you mean?" I whispered, tears filling my eyes.

Akash sat up, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "You don't get it, do you? My father wanted this marriage for business reasons. He threatened to cut me off if I didn't marry you. So I did. But don't think for a second that I'm happy about it."

His words hit me like a slap to the face. This marriage, the one I had entered with so much love and excitement, was nothing but a transaction to him. My hands trembled, and I could feel the tears slipping down my cheeks.

"But... why didn't you say anything before?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "I... I thought you loved me...you acted like you love me"

He laughed bitterly. "Love? You think I married you for love? You were convenient, Nishika. That's all. I needed to get my father off my back, and you were there. End of story."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Every word felt like a dagger being driven deeper into my chest. "So... everything you said, everything you did—it was all fake?"

He didn't answer right away, but the silence was answer enough. I sank down onto the bed, feeling completely lost. How had I been so blind? How had I not seen the truth?

"Why... why would you marry me if you didn't want to?" I asked, my voice broken, desperate for some kind of explanation.

Akash leaned back against the headboard, looking away from me. "Like I said, my father forced me into it. He threatened to take away everything I had—my job, my money, my entire future. He told me if I didn't marry you, I'd be left with nothing."

I wiped away my tears, trying to make sense of it all. "But... I thought we were happy. I thought you cared about me."

"I don't," he said bluntly, his voice devoid of emotion. "I never did. I just did what I had to do."

I couldn't breathe. The man I had thought was my partner, my love, was nothing more than a stranger now. I wanted to scream, to yell at him, to make him see how much he had hurt me. But the words wouldn't come.

Instead, I just sat there, staring at the man who had taken my dreams and crushed them without a second thought.

"but maybe you can give this marriage a chance?"I asked teras dropping down my face

Akash, seeing my tears, sighed again, this time softer. "Look, Nishika, I'm sorry, okay? But this is just how things are. You'll get used to it.We can soon divorce each other "

"Get used to it?" I repeated, my voice shaking. "Get used to being married to someone who doesn't care about me?"

He didn't respond. The silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. I couldn't stay in the room any longer. Without another word, I stood up and left, closing the door behind me softly.

I came back to the present, the memory of that night fading away as I lay on the bed in Kabir's room. My heart ached at the thought of how much I had hoped back then, how I had wanted so desperately to believe in love.

This marriage, just like my first, was nothing more than an obligation a duty to be fulfilled. And no matter how beautifully the room was decorated, no matter how many roses were scattered across the bed, it didn't change the emptiness I felt inside.

This was my life now. A life I would have to live, step by step, just as I had before.

Alone.

Kabir POV:

As soon as I untied the gathbandhan and stepped out of the car, I didn't look back.I rushed into the house, my heart pounding with a mix of frustration and anger. Part of me felt a sharp pang of regret for the way things had unfolded for leaving her behind, but another part of me was too wrapped up in my own turmoil to care.

I flung open the door to the lawn area and stepped outside, needing space to clear my head.

I was angry at the situation, at myself.

Why did this have to happen? Why did I have to be stuck in this marriage with someone I didn't even know? The entire thing felt like a cruel joke, and I was the punchline.is this why I came to India again after 2 years

I walked to a quiet corner of the garden, where I could be alone with my thoughts. I sank down onto a stone bench and tilted my face up toward the sky, closing my eyes as I let the breeze wash over me.

The night sky, dotted with stars, was eerily beautiful. It reminded me of how things used to be. I thought about Sejal, my late wife. Memories of her came flooding back, vivid and painful. Her laughter, the way she used to look at me with that warm, loving gaze—it all felt so distant now, like a dream I could barely reach.

Sejal had been everything to me. We had shared so many wonderful moments together, moments that seemed so perfect at the time. But now, they were tinged with regret and sorrow. I missed her more than I could put into words. The emptiness left by her death felt like a void that no one else could fill. Even though it had been some time since her passing, the pain was still fresh.

But she was gone, and I was left alone with my regrets and my anger. I had lost her, and now I was being forced into a new life with someone else—someone I didn't want and didn't know.

The weight of the day's events was pressing down on me. I was furious at myself for being so weak, for letting my emotions get the best of me. I had tried to avoid thinking about Sejal's death for so long, but now, it all came crashing back. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of grief and anger.

I remembered the day of Sejal's accident—the snow, the driver, the crash. It was all so clear in my mind and losing my unborn baby.

The guilt was overwhelming. I blamed myself for not being there, for not protecting her. Every day felt like a punishment for that mistake.

I wished I could turn back time, undo everything that had happened. I wished I could be with Sejal again, to hold her close and tell her how much I loved her.

I am sure now I am excepted to move on live a happily ever after with someone I have no idea about. but I can't

The truth was, I wasn't ready to move on. Not really. I had agreed to this marriage out of obligation and pressure from my family.

I couldn't stay here any longer.I needed to get out. I needed to return to the US, to the familiar surroundings of my life there. Even if it was tainted by my memories of Sejal.

I had no intention of explaining myself to anyone. I didn't want to engage in any conversations about my sudden departure. I just needed to leave

As I reached the door to my room, I paused. I knew Nishika would be there, in the room that had been prepared for us. The thought of facing her, of trying to be someone I wasn't, was unbearable. The idea of pretending to be a husband when all I could think about was Sejal seemed impossible.

I took a deep breath and opened the door slowly. The room was quiet, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting a warm light over everything. There, on the bed, Nishika lay sleeping.

I walked over to the dresser where I had left my passport earlier. As I picked it up and quietly I walked out of the room and made my way to the exit.

Chapter Aesthetics:

Hey everyone!!

I am back with the next chapter!!

How did you all like it?

Tell me what do you feel about the story till now? do you all like it?

Can anyone of y'all relate to Nishika's brain voices?😂😂