The door flung open with a thud as Sarya stepped into the room, only to find her husband seated on the couch behind a fortress of files and papers scattered across the table before him.

' Always busy. kaam kaam aur sirf inka pyara kaam.

Kaam se hi shaadi kar leni chahiye thi.' She screamed in her head, her glare doing what her words didn’t.

“Hm?” he asked confused, finally lifting his eyes to meet hers.

Those charcoal black orbs.

His disheveled black hair, sleeves rolled to his forearms, and even the creases of focus on his forehead — why did everything about him still unsettled her ?

What’s wrong with her?

Everything.

“Nothing,” she muttered, her voice almost swallowed by the silence, and walked toward the washroom.

Sarya emerged a while later, draped in a deep burgundy lehenga, rich with antique gold zari and mirror work that shimmered with every flicker of light. The blouse had a bold neckline and the dupatta cascaded over her one shoulder like flowing royalty.

For a moment, even she didn’t recognize the woman in the mirror.

And abhishek, his eyes followed wherever she moved in the room.

“No, I’ll look into it when I get there. Ask Shayla to rearrange my schedule,” his voice echoed through the room, crisp and commanding as he ended the call.

“Kitne din ke liye aaye hain?”

The words slipped out, part taunt, part truth as she adjusted the choker around her neck.

“What?” he snapped, eyes narrowing like a challenge.

If it were any other day, she might’ve cowered.

But not today.

Today, the burn felt by her heart overpowered the fear.

“After the reception, muh dikhai, and everything else, I’ll be going back home for a month or two until the baby arrives and everything settles down there,” she said, back turned to him as she slipped her bangles.“You can stay in your house. There’s no need for you to displace your life because of me.”

Her voice trembled, but she kept going.

“Maa and Papa don’t say anything… but I see the sadness in their eyes. Advik understands but chooses silence. And Nirvaan — he’s angry. You don’t have to ruin your relationships just because of me.”

She clutched the fabric of her lehenga, battling the sting in her eyes.

“Sarya, it’s not like that,” he said, his voice louder, clearer now as he rose to his feet and moved towards her.

The sound of her name on his lips sent a shiver down her spine. She hated that it still had that effect on her. Or not.

“Yes, it is exactly like that,” she replied coldly, finally turning to face him.

“I’m not leaving anything because of you. This is my decision. Nothing has ever been because of you — understand that?” he growled, his grip tightening around her arm.

“Then why?” she whispered, eyes still on the floor. “Why are you doing this?”

She had known all along, from the very beginning — but like a stubborn teenager, she had chosen denial over truth.

She had made a mistake.

A mistake in hoping that this marriage could be something… anything close to normal.

Every time she looked into his black,striking unreadable eyes, the hope she carried shattered just a little more and each shard cut deeper than the last. Yet, foolishly, she kept hoping.

“I’m sorry for ruining your life. I’m… I’m sorry for keeping you away from your family,” she whispered, her throat thick with emotion.

“Listen,” he said, lifting her chin by his finger and making her look directly into his eyes. “Listen carefully. I have work in London. That branch needs someone to oversee and stabilize the market. I told you this before the wedding. I’ve always been clear. I don’t see what’s left to talk about.”

His voice was firm. Controlled.

Yes, he was not at fault.

But both of us knew the work was only half the truth.

And the rest?

He simply refused to tell me.

And  that's all, it all came crashing down — the insecurities she had buried, the fears she thought she had silenced — they all came clawing back, resurrected piece by painful piece.

All because of his absence.

It wasn’t just physical anymore.

It was  getting haunting.

Unbearable.

A void that echoed louder with every forced smile, every silent dinner, every empty corner of the room where he should have been.

“Nothing’s wrong,” she murmured.

“I’m the only wrong part in your life.”

The words slipped out — not meant for him, but loud enough for both of them to hear.

“I’m sorry,” she said and stepping back, but he reached out. His hand caught her wrist, pulling her in gently yet firmly.

Her bangles chimed with the sudden movement, and the delicate fabric of her lehenga rustled around them.

Silence.

They just stared at each other..

As if trying to soothe the ache of seeing each other after a time or if trying to say all the things their hearts carried but lips refused to utter.

They were lost in each other — and somehow, found too.

“Say something,” she breathed, her voice soft and light, as if afraid that words might break the cocoon of warmth holding them together.

His reply came in a whisper, barely audible, rough, aching.

“Chhod kyun nahi deti mujhe?”

Her breath hitched. Her face paled. She tried to pull back again, but his hand, now resting at the nape of her neck, held her still. With his other hand, he caught the trailing end of his dupatta from behind her, gently draping it across her back , he rested his hand there.

After trying to free herself from his cage of arms and not trying to push him back knowing he wouldn't even flinch or better they both will fall back on the sofa.

Instead, she placed a trembling hand on his chest, grounding herself in the chaotic rhythm of his heartbeat.

Her eyes, brimming with tears, met his — and this time, she didn’t look away.

"kaise chhod doon ?"

His breath hitched looking at her eyes filled with tears, pain and suffering which she hides from the world behind her smile were laid bare infront of him.

And in that moment, something shifted.

Because in her eyes, he didn’t just see pain — he saw every wound she had hidden from the world. Every smile that masked her sorrow.

“Let’s just… get back to how we always are,” She said, gently prying his fingers off her arm, and this time he let her go.

She turned away and walked toward the door.

The talk had been pointless.

The emotions — too tangled to untangle.

And this marriage?

Hopeless.

She cleared her throat, composed her voice, and said steadily "Get ready and come to Nirvaan’s room for the rasam.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heels, opened the door, and stepped out ,closing it behind her.

She walked a few steps down the corridor before her body gave in, and she leaned back against the cold wall. It sent a shiver down her spine, grounding her in the reality she had chosen.

This is the life she decided for myself.

'I will not cry.' she chanted it in her mind like a mantra and took deep breaths.

“I never cried when I was left alone. Not when I had no one. Not when everything I believed in slipped away from my hands… so why now?”She asked herself, frustrated and confused.

But the tears betrayed her.

They rolled down silently, helplessly, as if mocking her strength. She wiped them away harshly, almost angrily.

'Never break in front of anyone,

They’ll only break you more.', the voice echoed in her mind.

It’s odd, how two strangers tied together by  “arranged marriage”—are expected to grow into soulmates. Share a life. Promise forever.

Sounds beautiful, right?

Bullshit.

Or at least, that’s what Advik believed… until her.

Dr. Dhwani.

His wife for exactly 164 days.

They both walked into this marriage dragging their own set of unresolved emotions. No courtship, no calls or texts, no shy glances across the room and no dates to remember .

They were two strangers met at their own engagement party who had taken vows on the date circled by their parents.

He never understood when his Maa said, “You two will be perfect together.”

But she’s his mother. She always sees something he don’t.

Maybe that’s why Advik said yes to marriage when all he really wanted was more time.

And now? Now he find myself watching her like she’s the only real thing in a world full of blur.

The way she wears her white coat over those soft kurta sets, stethoscope casually slung around her neck like it belongs to her soul.

The way she wakes up messy hair, sleepy eyes, still looking like some enchantress.

The way she pauses and adds that small, almost invisible bindi between her brows.

The way her voice dips when she speaks, soft like honey.

The way her fingers curl into fists when she’s nervous, digging into her palms like she’s anchoring herself.

Even the way she breathes...

It does something to him.

Something he can’t name.

But whatever it is—

It’s real.

And it’s terrifyingly beautiful.

She wore a cherry red lehenga with delicate silver and gold floral embroidery. Her blouse had a V-shaped neckline bordered with mirror work that sparkled shyly, much like the way she held her dupatta neatly pleated, resting elegantly across her shoulder.Her hair was tied into a soft ponytail, earrings brushing against her cheeks as she walked.

"Advik ?"

Her name on her lips - soft and hesitant.

"Yes" sweetheart.

'Wait—what ? I didn’t mean that. I meant she’s sweet... like honey. And has a heart that’s too big for this world.',he explained to his subconscious mind.

So… sweetheart.

He waited, watching her fidget with her fingers. She hesitated, as if her words might somehow shatter the space between us.

He gently encouraged her,“Remember what I told you,” he said calmly, “you can tell me whatever comes to your mind from anything to everything."

“There’s something… on your hair,” she finally said in that whisper-soft voice of hers.

That’s it?

He blinked. “Where?”

His hand automatically reached up, ruffling the front of his hair slightly—careful not to ruin the neatly gelled strands.

She shook her head, lips curving into a shy, apologetic smile. And then… she stepped closer.

One delicate step.

Then another.

She stood on her toes, leaned forward—and suddenly, she was inches away from him.

His breath caught.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

The light shimmered on her glowing skin, on those glittering doe eyes. Her pink button nose, the gloss on her lips and that delicate......

God help him.

With all the grace, she plucked a thin silver thread from his hair and showed it to him, still standing incredibly close.

His hand moved instinctively, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes at the touch, and in that moment, the world became silent.

“You’re beautiful,” He whispered the words that slipped through his heart for her.

Her eyes opened slowly—those ocean blue irises locking with his.

Everything stilled.

But then, she took a deep breath and tried to step back. Her foot twisted slightly, and she lost her balance. Instinct took over—he caught her by the waist, holding her close.

And then—boom.

The door flung open.

“Sarya!” He groaned internally.

“My–” Sarya began in full dramatic flare and then paused.

“Oh ho… yahan toh romantic movie ka full scene chal raha hai!” she teased, eyebrows doing a chaotic dance in his direction. “Not bad, huh?”

Great. Getting caught by a stranger would’ve been less humiliating than being caught by her, his bestfriend.

And now? Now she’d tease him 24/7—unless she found a new target, which was also him.

Dhwani’s cheeks flushed in soft crimson. She instantly took a step back, as did he. He was not going to look at her again just yet or my face might match hers.

Sarya coughed theatrically before they could pretend nothing happened.

"I think I should come minutes later."

“When will you finally learn to knock before entering my room?” he asked, trying to glare at her.

“Oh please,” she scoffed, arms crossed, walking in like she owned the place. “When you’ll finally learn to lock your room before doing anything R-rated, Adi.”

“Sara.”

“Adi.”

We both glared at each other. She huffed and walked towards dhwani muttering," Both brothers are same. Always screaming and fighting without no reason."

Oh, so the reason is my bereham brother.

"Sarya, what..... ?", she walked away before he could ask what his brother did now to tick her off.

"I am not talking to you.",she said coldly ,turned to dhwani who was looking at both of them blinking her eyes, “Dhwaniii, help me fix my mascara, na? And maybe the eyeshadow too. I want to look nice.” She pouted.

Dhwani let out a soft laugh, and just like that, the tension broke. “Okay, bhabhi,” she said, already walking toward the vanity. “But help me choose a lipstick too, I can’t decide which one to go with.”

"Done. You are the best.", sara screamed and they both got busy.

He gave them their space and moved to the side sofa, pulling out his phone to check some notifications and respond to a few emails.

But then—

His eyes widened.

Why the hell Nirvaan is flooding the group with useless reels !!?

The evening sun filtered softly through the window sill of the groom's bedroom. Laughter echoed through the marble halls of the rawal mansion outside the private corridor as the everyone prepared for the grand baraat procession.

Maybe too excited than the groom himself.

Nirvaan was comfortably perched on a bean bag in one corner of the room, scrolling through his phone, still dressed in his favourite Doraemon shorts.

" Nirvaan, where are you?” Maa’s voice rang from across the room as she entered, her gaze darting around. She eventually found him behind the rack crammed with gym dumbbells, his prized Hot Wheels collection, and superhero miniatures he refused to grow out of.

“What are you doing, you little headache?” she snapped, though her voice carried more love than anger as she marched over and thudded the puja thaali onto the bed.

“Using my phone—wait, now I’m your little headache? Wow. Paraya kar diya mujhe abhi se hi,” he said dramatically, pouting with full emotion, still glued to the reels on his phone.

“The muhrat for the baraat is passing by and maharaj is lounging around like he’s on vacation. Are you even serious? Shaadi hai aaj tumhari, beta” Maa scolded, smacking the back of his head before he could dodge.

“Ouch! Maa, just two more minutes!” he yelped—okay, maybe a bit dramatically—and continued sending reels to their group chat ‘Dhoom Dhadaka’, which he had heroically created for the younger rawals.

He sat on the bed with a bright smile plastered, ready for their traditional torture in the name of ritual.

His father, Abhishek and Advik helped him wear the turban on his head while his Maa stood like a jailor, arms crossed. Sarya and Dhwani stood right behind her, trying not to laugh.

"Maa, It's so tight. So uncomfortable and.....itchy.", he grumbled, adjusting it slightly.

"Sit straight.", Abhishek scolded him.

"It's the ritual, stop touching it you will ruin it's perfect drape. Don't you dare to remove before the wedding", her mother chided him.

“The sehra bandi,” she finally announced, and Sarya's eyes flicked around the room.

“Kya dhoond rahe ho?” Nirvaan asked.

“Anjali ko,” she said casually.

"What will that plastic doll doing in my room ?", he asked amused eliciting low giggles from the room.

“Nirvaan!” Maa’s eyes widened. “She’s my cousin’s daughter.Talk nicely and  Show some manners. You are not a kid anymore”

"Mom there's nothing nice about her to talk."

Advik stifled a laugh, standing beside Dhwani bhabhi, while Abhishek was conveniently ogling at Sarya and hiding his smirk behind his poker face.

Sarya shook her head, smiling, while Dhwani stepped forward, ever polite, “Nirvaan, it’s a ritual. She does the sehra bandi and you give her a gift. That’s all.”

“I’ll call—” she began, stepping forward.

“Nope. Not happening,” He cut her off, shaking his head.

“Nirvaan, behave. She’s like your sister,” Maa said in that tone which meant business.

"Mom usse to rehne hi do. She knows only two things— taking selfies and simping over her manicure. Dad, you say na something", he trid explained them besides not to mention , she was too clingy.

Then his dad stepped in like a hero and said in his cold yet plotine tone, “Leave it, Sakshi. We don’t want anything done half-heartedly in our son’s wedding."his mother opened her mouth to protest but then nodded with a sigh. “Sarya, Dhwani beta, you both do the sehra bandi.”

"Ab to bandh wayega na ?", maa asked . .

"Ha, jaldi karo bhabhis. Late ho raha.", He said grinning, looking at both of them, knowing his bhabhi's too well than the other members. Sarya and Dhwani both looked shocked. Sarya was overwhelmed while Dhwani got emotional.

Sarya gently passed the sehra to Dhwani, who carefully understood and placed it on his head while she tied it from behind. Their hands were gentle, and he felt the warmth of the moment enveloped them in a peaceful way.

"Kaisa lag raha hoon , beautiful bhabhis.", he asked looking at his bhabhis peaking out of the sehra breaking the emotional moment.

"Sundar, ekdam dulhan jaisi." Advik said bursting in laugh. Sarya next in line bursted too while Abhishek lips turned upward looking at the scene. Nirvaan looked at all them with squinted eyes while Advik and Sarya laughed again.

"Sara bhabhi aap bhi ? Dhoka de diya apne mujhe.",he gasped clutching his chest, drama with hurt evident in his eyes.

"Arre nirvaan mai bas—",sarya said holding her laugh while Abhishek's eyes had a different gleam seeing her mood lifted after their encounter and happily laughing.

Nirvaan looked accusingly and playfully "Nahi bhabhi rehne do. Dekha maine , kitna has rahin thi aap."

He held dhwani's hand and spoke " Only my Dhwani didn't—"

"Sirf dhwani Bhabhi bola kar." Advik cut him off stepping forward and prying Nirvaan's hands off dhwani , holding it in his and gently dusting it to irritate him further.

Nirvaan scoffed muttering "jalkukda"

Advik looked at her mother, "Maa."

"Nirvaan, manners. Bhai ko aise bolte hain, kya ? "his mother glared at him.

"Sara bhabhi."nirvaan pouted looking at his bhabhi expecting to be in his side.

" R...", sarya sang the word to advik reminding him the scene of before with twinkle in her eyes.

And advik got scared knowing the politics well, if getting embarrassed in front of Sarya was worst than a piece of news  known by nirvaan was hell as the whole rawal mansion— his parents, the servants, the head maid's five year old daughter and the parrot sitting on the tree will have their own version of it.

Advik shook her head remembering the time   when a girl proposed to him and it became huge disaster at home.

"What's with the word 'R' ?", Akash asked looking at children who had all different expressions— Abhishek not interested at all,advik pleading through his eyes, Dhwani appeared confused, sarya smirking and nirvaan tugging Sarya's hand asking what he missed.

Sakshi performed the aarti, her eyes glistening with pride, lips whispering a prayer only mothers know.

“Finally, we can breathe. Sukriti will finally tame him,” Advik sighed dramatically.

“Stay happy always, my bacha. And maybe let your childishness reduce... just a little,” His mo

ther smiled, patting my cheeks.

“Only if you admit I’m your favourite,” nirvaan grinned.

“Everyone already knows who the favourite is,” Advik said smugly, resting his head on his Maa’s shoulder while she side-hugged him kissing his forehead.

Abhishek coughed , clearly offended.

Maa smirked sweetly, “What happened, Abhi? Any problem?”

Abhishek looked away and muttered, “No problem, maa.”