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Happy Reading

Author's POV

There was a sad and angry environment filled in the whole room.

"How she ran away like this. You know that it may affect our reputation." Mrs Singhania said while burning in anger and shock still can't believe that Avni ran away.

Nobody knew why Avni ran away from her marriage because she loved Reyansh so much.

"I am sorry Mrs Singhania but what we can do?" Anjali Ji said sadly and helplessly.

"Your first daughter ran away from her marriage, then your second daughter has to pay for this. SHE WILL BE HIS BRIDE." Mrs Singhania said. Everyone is in utter shock after hearing her words.

Sania can't able to process her words in my mind. My whole body turned numb.

"Wh..what are you saying? We can't do this." Anand says.

"We can't afford this scandal. The wedding must go on, with or without Avni." Mrs Singhania thundered.

"But why are you including my sister in this" Vansh stepped forward. He had been quietly listening, his face set in determination.

"Because your other sister ran away from her marriage, don't know for what" Mrs Singhania is so angry.

"No, this isn't right," Vansh says, getting frustrated from all this "We can't punish Sania for all this"

Mrs Sharma added, "Sania is not prepared for this. She is just eighteen years old. "

"Yeah, she is legally an adult," Mrs Singhania said sarcastically.

"This isn't fair to her or to Reyansh." Mr Sharma says.

Mrs. Singhania's face hardened. "Fair? And what about what's fair to our family? Your daughter has humiliated us. The wedding must happen today, and she must step in." she said the last sentence while looking towards Sania making her heartbeat fasten.

"This is not Sania's responsibility," Vansh said firmly. "She shouldn't have to pay for Avni's deed."

Mrs Singhania's patience worn thin, snapped, "We have invited guests from all over. Do you want everyone to know that your sister ran away on her wedding day? The scandal will ruin both our families!"

"We can find another way to handle this." Mr. Singhania says as he thinks that the situation getting out of control.

Mrs. Singhania glared at him. "And what other way is there? The guests are here, and the ceremony is ready. Are you suggesting we call off the wedding and face the humiliation?". Vikram trying to calm her down.

Silence takes place in the whole room for a moment. Everyone knows the gravity of the situation.

Vikram takes steps towards Sania and stands in front of her making her aware of his presence. "You must take Avni's place. Our families' honour depends on it." in a pleading voice making her to think about it.

Sania knows that now, this is the only way to escape from the situation. But the thought of marrying the man with whom her sister going to marry is stopping her. She is in dilemma. What about her career.

"If you refuse, the shame will be unbearable. Think of the community, the gossip. Our reputations are at stake." Mrs.Singania says in cold and demanding voice.

Sania, feeling the weight of her family's support and the Singhania family's demands, was torn. She looked at her parents and brother, their love and concern evident.

Her parents have tears in their eyes, her brother is shaking his head in denying, then her eyes move toward the person who was silent in the whole conversation. His clenched fists and rigid posture signaled a readiness for violence, while his furrowed brows and narrowed eyes indicates that he is controlling his anger.

"if it means saving our family's honour, I will," she says while looking down. And that's it Reyansh stormed out of the room.

Vansh shook his head. "No, Sania. This isn't your burden to bear."

Mrs Singhania's patience finally snapped. "Enough! The wedding will go on. She will take Avni's place." she says and leaves the room followed by every member of Singhania's.

As everyone leaves the room, Vansh cupped her face between his hands "Why, why do you agree on this marriage?"

"Yes Beta, we will find another way to handle the issue" Anand says while her mother takes her in her embrace.

"Now, she don't have faith in her brother. She thinks that I'll let anyone hurt her, right?" Vansh said making her break the hug and face him.

She held her brother's hand and said while crying "It's not that bhai, I trust you but we all know that it is the only way." Vansh hugs her tightly as he don't want to let her go making their parents to join them. They got emotional.

𓆩⚝𓆪

Sania is sitting in the room, beautiful dressed in a bride's outfit. But she is not happy. This is not how she imagine her life. It feels like her dreams are shattering. She knew that she is the only one who agree on this but it is not her choice.

Her mother entered in the room and come closer to her daughter. Anjali place her hands on her daughter's shoulders who is lost in her thoughts making her to come in reality.

"Pandit ji is calling the bride" Anjali Ji said while looking at her daughter through mirror making a tear escape from Sania's eyes, still she stand up to go.

Anjali Ji cupped her face in her hands " I never get to know that when you grew this much" and she embrace her daughter. After a moment they break the hug and leave the room.

Sania walks down the stairs with her mother while looking down. She can't believe that half an hour ago her life was so simple and joyful but now she is in the wedding clothes of her sister who is missing from her marriage.

Now she filling the space which is created by her sister. She is someone's second choice, she is not even a choice.

A drop of tears fell from her eyes when her mother made her sit beside Reyansh.

They both are sitting beside each other in front of a sacred fire ritual that marked their vows before the divine.

After that, Pandit ji asked them to stand up for pheras. Reyansh and Sania circled the holy fire seven times, which meant a promise of their lifelong commitment, but in their hearts, they didn't want this. The ritual culminated with Reyansh applying sindoor to Sania's hairline, some of it fell on her nose. In last, he donning the mangalsutra around her neck, signifying their eternal bond.

With some courage, she looks upward but immediately regrets her decision when her eyes meet his, which are red due to anger and something that she can't understand.

"I pronounce you both as husband and wife." Pandit ji said

He leans closer to her and whispers.

"Welcome to the hell Mrs Singhania. I make sure that your beautiful life becomes a living hell"

Sania felt a shiver run down her spine as Reyansh's words echoed in her ears. She couldn't comprehend the depth of animosity in his tone. Was this marriage a punishment for her sister's actions? She stole a glance at Reyansh, whose eyes were still burning with an intense fire that sent chills down her spine.

Sania couldn't shake off the feeling of being trapped in a nightmare. She glanced at her family, their eyes filled with a mixture of concern and helplessness. The weight of the situation settled heavily on her young shoulders.

Both of their hearts are restless. Their life takes a whole new turn.

Now it's time for vidai. The courtyard, usually a place of celebration, felt unusually subdued. Sania stood nervously by the entrance, her eyes darting to her anxious family. The wedding had been a whirlwind of events.

This so hard for her to leave her house and her family. She is not ready for this.

Sania makes her way towards her parents. She stands in front of her mother.

Her mother, eyes glistening with unshed tears, adjusted Sania's dupatta one last time, as if trying to etch the memory of this moment into her heart. "You'll always be my little girl," she whispered, her voice cracking making her nod her head "I know mumma"

She hugs her mother tightly " I will miss you all" a sob escape from her mouth.

Saina's father stepped forward and held her hand firmly. "You are my pride, my strength," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Remember, no matter where you go, this will always be your home."

It is so emotional and too much for Sania to handle. She squeezed his hand, feeling the weight of his love and the significance of the journey she was about to embark upon.

The time had come. Sania took slow, deliberate steps towards the decorated car that awaited her, her hand tightly gripping her father's. With each step, memories of her childhood flashed before her eyes - the times she had played in the courtyard, the nights spent under the stars, dreaming about the future.

Suddenly she stop in mid way. She turns to her father and asks" Where is bhaiya?" Everyone turns their head towards her brother who is standing near a pillar with his head down.

Sania made her way towards her brother and stood in front of him.

"Bhai, please look at me."

Lifting his head, eyes filled with sorrow and anger "How can I, when I know you're being forced into this?"

She sighs and says when tears are threatening to fall " Bhaiya, please don't blame yourself,"

His voice shaking "I wish I could do something to change this. I feel so helpless."

"Bhai, please don't blame yourself. You know that I don't like to see you like this"

"I'm always here for you. And if things get too tough, just tell me. I'll be there in a heartbeat." Embracing her tightly. She starts crying in his arms. "Just take of yourself, bacha and remember I'm always with you" With that he kiss her forehead.

They heard the horn of the car indicating that now she had to leave. They made their way towards the car and he made her sit inside with heavy heart.

Reyansh is sitting beside her with a stern face. He didn't talk to anyone. He is betrayed by his love and now this marriage.

Anand ji, Sania's father joined his hand in front of him in respect.

"Please, take care of her" he said

"we will, don't worry about that" with the same respect and bid their leave.

Sania rolls down the window glass of the car and looks outside for the last time. A sob escapes when the sight of the house disappears.

She is slowly crying, which is irritating Reyansh.

"Can you stop crying for God's sake?" Reyansh said with an irritating and slightly high voice, which scared her. She composed herself.

There is an utter silence in the car. Reyansh can't able to believe that he has been betrayed by his love. He wants answers to his questions, which only one person can give, but that person is not here.

He is angry with his mother also, but he understands why she did this. More than his mother, he is angry at the person beside him.

Why does she have to agree? He thinks in his mind. He sighs as he drops his head back against the seat and closes his eyes.

Sania, who is sitting beside Reyansh, moves her eyes to look outside the window. She is in the same position as she doesn't want Reyansh to get angry. She doesn't know what will happen once they reach Singhania's mansion.

God, please help me. She thinks in her mind.

After half an hour, they finally reach Singhania's mansion which only makes Sania's heart beat fast. She flinches when she hears the loud sound of the car's door which is shut by none other than Reyansh.

He didn't wait for her and started moving towards the entrance and after seeing him, she also exited the car and started walking behind him.

Reyansh is about to enter inside but a voice stops him at the threshold. The voice belongs to his father.

His father comes ahead and first looks at Sania who is behind her husband, and then says "You both married recently and it's the first time that our daughter-in-law is making her entry, so it should be according to rituals, right?"

"Dad," Reyansh said irritatingly which his father ignored and made his way towards his wife, Sushma.

"Sushma ji, I think you should welcome them," he said making his wife look at him and then move her gaze to the door.

"I'm not going to do anything like this" Mrs Singania said still in her anger-filled voice.

Vikram, Reyansh's father sighed and said " I know you're angry with whatever happened but don't forget that you made them marry each other. So now, you should welcome them each other"

Mrs Singania keeps quiet for a moment then says, " Riya and Esha, go and bring aarti ki thali (prayer's plate) and other necessary things"

After some time, they both come with things. Riya handover aarti ki thali to her Saas (mother-in-law).

Sushma takes steps towards the entrance where a newly married couple is standing. She stands in front of them but frowns when the girl is still standing behind Reyansh.

"Come here," Sushma says in a little high voice which effortlessly makes Saina scared. She takes little steps and stands beside her husband.

Sushma applies tilak between their eyebrows and showers some flower petals and then moves the plate in a circular motion in front of Reyansh and Sania.

A small pot filled to the brim with rice is placed at the entrance.

"Kick it with your right foot," Sushma says. Sania gently tipped the pot with her right foot, spilling the rice over the threshold.

"Now, dip your feet in the aalta and then take steps inside" Saina does as per the instructions Sushma gives. She dipped her feet in an aalta-filled plate and then took steps on a white cloth that was placed there.

After entering inside, Reyansh didn't wait for a second and started making his way towards the stairs but halted after hearing his father.

"Where are going Reyansh? There are rituals which are still left"

Reyansh's patience is getting out of control but still he controls himself.

"Do whatever you want but now I'm not going to be part of anything" with that he leaves.

After Reyansh, his mother also left the hall. Vikram sighed, he moved his gaze towards the girl who was standing with her head down.

Vikram made his way towards Sania and reaching there, he gently touched her making Sania look up at him.

"You must be tired. Riya, take her to her room" Vikram says. Riya approaches Sania and takes her to her new room.

Vikram looked at the disappearing figures of his daughter-in-law. It's going to be hard to normalise things. He thinks in his mind and left to his room.