AUTHOR POV
Rajesh took a slow, deep breath... as if trying to control the storm inside him.
But when he spoke-
His voice was colder than ever.
"Rashmi... get Kirti ready. Right now. Bring her downstairs."
A pause.
Deadly.
"I don't want any drama. Kirti will marry Reyansh. That's it."
The words didn't just echo in the room-
They shattered Kirti.
It felt like the ground slipped from beneath her feet.
Like everything... just disappeared.
Her lips parted, but no voice came out.
Only tears.
Streaming endlessly.
"Papa..." she rushed forward, grabbing his hand tightly, her fingers trembling. "Please... don't do this. I... I can't marry him. Please papa... I'll do whatever you say. Anything... I'll listen to everything... I'll never disobey you... just please don't force me into this marriage..."
Her voice broke completely.
"I'll do all the work... I won't complain... I'll stay quiet... just please... not this..."
But Rajesh didn't even soften.
Not even for a second.
He looked at her like she meant nothing.
"Like you're capable of doing anything more than this," he said harshly. "Understand one thing-whether today or tomorrow, you had to get married anyway. So why not today?"
Each word felt like a slap.
"And tell me... what have you ever done in this house that makes you worth keeping?" his voice turned even more cruel. "At least now... you'll finally be of some use."
Kirti's grip loosened.
Her world broke... piece by piece.
"Now stop this crying," he snapped. "Get ready and come downstairs. Or else... you'll see a side of me you won't survive."
And with that-
He walked away.
Just like that.
Leaving her behind...
As if she was nothing.
Kirti stood there, shaking.
Tears falling non-stop.
Her chest hurting.
Her breath uneven.
She had never imagined...
Her own father could fall this low.
That he could trade her life like a deal.
Her knees gave up.
She dropped to the floor.
Crying.
Broken.
Then suddenly, like her last hope-
She crawled towards Rashmi.
Falling at her feet.
Holding them tightly.
"Please..." she begged, her voice trembling, desperate, shattered. "Please stop this marriage. I don't want to do it... please. I'll do whatever you say... I promise. I'll listen to everything... just not this... please Rashmi ma... please..."
Her tears soaked the floor.
But Rashmi?
Didn't even care.
"I don't even want a girl like you to enter such a big family," she said coldly. "But in front of your father, I can't do anything."
She pulled her feet away harshly.
"So instead of crying here... go get ready."
Kirti's hands fell.
Empty.
Hopeless.
She kept crying... silently now.
Because somewhere inside-
She had already lost.
For a second...
A dark thought crossed her mind.
What's the point of living like this...?
But even that thought...
She swallowed.
Because she didn't even have the freedom to choose that.
Rashmi didn't waste another second.
She grabbed Kirti harshly and pulled her up.
"Enough of this drama," she snapped.
And then-
She started getting her ready.
Not like a bride.
But like something being forced into a role.
The lehenga didn't fit her properly.
It hung loose... awkward... like it didn't belong to her.
But Rashmi didn't care.
She kept fixing it roughly-
Pin after pin after pin-
Tightening it forcefully until it stayed in place.
Kirti flinched with every pull.
But she stayed silent.
Because what was left to say?
Makeup?
There was none.
No care.
No softness.
Just a harsh swipe of lipstick.
That's all.
Then came the final thing-
The veil.
A long, heavy ghungat.
Rashmi pulled it over her head completely.
Covering her face.
Hiding her tears.
Hiding her identity.
Hiding her existence.
Kirti stood there.
Still.
Silent.
Empty.
Like a lifeless doll.
Her eyes had no spark left.
Her hands felt cold.
Her heart... numb.
-------
Rashmi held Kirti firmly by the arm, guiding her toward the mandap under the heavy veil that covered her completely. The fabric felt suffocating, pressing against her face, stealing her breath little by little. Every step she took felt unstable, as if the lehenga might slip any second. She tried clutching it tightly, her trembling fingers barely holding onto anything. Her entire body felt weak... like she might collapse at any moment.
As soon as she entered the mandap, all eyes turned toward her.
A wave of whispers spread across the venue.
Reyansh, who had been sitting there with a bored and distant expression, lazily lifted his gaze. The moment he saw the bride covered entirely in a veil, his brows furrowed in irritation.
"What the hell is this now..." he muttered under his breath. "Can't she just act normal for once... stupid."
Nisha, however, looked slightly confused. She stepped forward a little and said politely, "Rashmi ji, what was the need for such a veil? We don't really believe in all this."
Rashmi immediately forced a smile. "Arre, even I told her the same. But she insisted. She has been sitting like this since morning... what could I do? It's her wish."
Those words hit Kirti like a knife.
Inside the veil, tears streamed down her face endlessly. Her chest tightened as if someone had stabbed her from within. She wanted to scream... to tell the truth... but no voice came out. The air inside the veil felt suffocating now, her breathing uneven, her entire body shaking uncontrollably.
"Fine," Nisha said after a moment, brushing it off. "If it's Miya's wish, then let it be. Let's proceed with the rituals."
Rashmi quickly made Kirti sit beside Reyansh.
The moment Kirti sat next to him, she felt it.
His presence.
His strong perfume hit her senses instantly-sharp, dominant, overwhelming. It brought back flashes of their earlier encounters... his cold tone, his rude behavior... his indifference. Even through the veil, she could feel his aura-distant, untouchable, intimidating.
Her hands started trembling even more.
Sitting beside the groom... it was supposed to be a moment every girl dreams of.
But for Kirti, it felt like she was being pushed into darkness.
Pandit ji began chanting the mantras, the sacred fire burning in front of them. The sound of bells, the murmurs of guests, the rituals-everything blurred for Kirti.
Reyansh extended his hand forward for the ritual.
Kirti hesitated.
Her fingers trembled violently as she slowly placed her hand over his.
The moment their hands touched, her heart raced uncontrollably. It felt like it would burst out of her chest. Reyansh noticed it immediately. His gaze shifted toward her trembling hands, his expression tightening slightly.
Something felt off.
But before he could think further, the rituals continued.
"Bhai, relax," Arav whispered from behind with a teasing grin. "Bride is already scared of you... don't make it worse."
Arjun chuckled softly. "Exactly. At least pretend to smile, warna log sochenge kidnapping ho rahi hai shaadi nahi."
Reyansh shot them an irritated look. "Shut up, both of you."
But their smirks didn't fade.
The rituals moved forward, one after another.
The gathbandhan was tied. The sacred knot binding them together.
Then came the pheras.
Kirti stood up slowly, her legs weak, almost giving up under her weight. Reyansh held the fabric as they began walking around the fire. Each step felt heavier than the last.
Seven rounds.
Seven promises.
Seven ties she never chose.
Her vision blurred as tears continued falling inside the veil, unseen by anyone.
"Bhai, count properly," Arjun whispered dramatically. "Don't skip any round, warna warranty cancel ho jayegi shaadi ki."
Arav burst out laughing. "Lifetime no-return policy hai bro, careful!"
Reyansh clenched his jaw but stayed silent.
The pheras completed.
Then came the final rituals.
Reyansh picked up the mangalsutra.
For a second, his fingers paused near her neck.
Kirti's breath hitched.
The moment his fingers brushed against her skin while placing it around her neck, a sudden shiver ran through her body-like an electric current. Her grip tightened on her lehenga as she tried to steady herself.
Then came sindoor.
Reyansh took a pinch and filled her maang.
A few grains fell slightly off, brushing against her forehead.
And just like that-
It was done.
Pandit ji's voice echoed clearly, "Vivah sampann hua. From this moment, you both are husband and wife."
Claps filled the mandap.
Smiles everywhere.
---
Just as Kirti and Reyansh stood up from the mandap, something unexpected happened.
Kirti's veil suddenly got caught in Reyansh's wristwatch... and before anyone could react, it slipped.
For a few seconds-
Everything went silent.
Dead silent.
As if time itself had stopped.
Gasps echoed around the mandap. Everyone stared... shocked, confused... almost as if they had seen something unreal.
Reyansh frowned, noticing the sudden change in everyone's expressions. He looked around, irritated. "What now...?" he muttered under his breath, clearly annoyed.
But he didn't understand.
Because Kirti was standing with her back towards him.
He hadn't seen her face yet.
Kirti, on the other hand, saw everything.
The reactions.
The whispers.
The shock.
And then-
Her eyes fell on Rashmi and Rajesh.
The expressions on their faces didn't just confuse her...
They terrified her.
Before she could process anything-
"RAJESH! WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE?!"
Vikram's thunderous voice echoed through the hall, filled with anger and authority.
"Is this a wedding or a joke? Who is this girl? And where is Miya?!"
Those words hit like a storm.
Reyansh froze.
"What...?" he whispered, his mind going blank.
Before he could turn and see the bride's face-
Rashmi stormed forward.
Her eyes burned with fake anger and perfectly crafted drama.
And without a second thought-
SLAP.
The sound echoed loudly.
Kirti's face jerked to the side as the impact hit her hard. Her lip split slightly, a thin line of blood forming instantly.
Gasps filled the air.
Reyansh's eyes widened.
Even he hadn't expected that.
Kirti stood there... frozen... her mind completely blank.
She looked up at Rashmi, confused... broken... unable to even understand what was happening.
"TUMHARI HIMMAT KAISE HUI?!" Rashmi shouted, her voice dripping with fake outrage. "How dare you sit in my daughter's place?! Where is Miya? What have you done to her?!"
Her tone was loud, emotional... perfectly staged to gain sympathy.
Kirti's ears rang.
Her chest tightened.
She couldn't breathe.
Before she could even speak-
Rajesh stepped forward, grabbing Rashmi's arm as if trying to control the situation.
"I'm... I'm sorry," he said to Vikram, lowering his gaze slightly. "I... I don't know how she came here in Miya's place..."
Those words shattered something inside Kirti.
Her own father.
Denying her.
As if she meant nothing.
As if she was the mistake.
Kirti felt like the ground beneath her feet had disappeared. Her vision blurred. Breathing felt impossible now.
Vikram's anger only grew stronger.
"What do you mean you don't know?!" he snapped. "Who is this girl?! How can someone just replace the bride like this?!"
Rajesh hesitated... then spoke.
"She's... my daughter. From my first wife, Suman... she's no more. And Miya... is Rashmi's daughter."
Silence again.
But this time-
It wasn't confusion.
It was realization.
Vikram's expression changed instantly.
His anger faded... replaced by something else.
Shock.
Memory.
Regret.
His gaze slowly shifted toward Kirti.
"Wait..." he whispered. "The little girl... the one I used to visit... the one I used to bring chocolates for..."
His voice trembled slightly.
"That was... you?"
Rajesh nodded slowly. "Yes..."
Vikram took a step closer to Kirti.
His eyes softened.
And for the first time-
Someone looked at her like she mattered.
He gently cupped her face, wiping her tears with his thumb.
"Beta..." his voice was filled with warmth and guilt, "you may not remember me properly... but I remember you very well."
Kirti looked at him, her vision blurred with tears.
"So... it was you..." he whispered, almost to himself. "And I thought... I thought Miya was that same little girl..."
He let out a deep breath.
"I'm... happy," he said softly, pulling her into a gentle hug. "Even if it happened by mistake... I'm glad you became my grandson's bride."
Those words-
They broke her completely.
A weak smile appeared on Kirti's lips as tears streamed down her face.
She wanted to speak.
To tell the truth.
To scream everything out.
But...
A lifetime of being unheard had taught her silence.
Why would anyone believe me now...?
She stayed quiet.
Around them, the family was confused, processing everything. But Vikram's calm reaction stopped them from reacting harshly.
Maybe...
Maybe everything wasn't ruined.
But for Reyansh-
Nothing was normal.
Nothing made sense.
His jaw tightened.
His fists clenched.
His mind flooded with flashes-
Betrayal.Lies.Deception.
Again.And again.And again.
A bitter laugh escaped his lips internally.
"Of course..." he thought. "Another lie. Another trap."
His blood boiled with anger.
Without saying a word, he roughly removed the watch from his wrist... the same watch that had revealed the truth.
And the next second-
He turned.
And walked away from the mandap.
Without looking back.
_____
As soon as Reyansh walked away, the heavy silence in the mandap deepened.
Vikram looked at everyone, his face stern yet controlled. "Let him go," he said firmly. "Don't stop him. He needs time to process all of this."
Then his gaze shifted sharply toward Rashmi.
"Today, you raised your hand on my daughter-in-law," his voice turned cold, dangerous. "But if you ever dare to do something like this again... you won't like what happens next."
A chill ran through the room.
"She is not just Kirti Srivastava anymore," Vikram continued, each word heavy with authority. "She is Kirti Reyansh Oberoi now. So choose your words carefully."
Kirti stood there... numb.
Nothing was processing.
Not the slap.
Not the marriage.
Not the sudden change in her identity.
She just wanted one thing-
Silence.
Somewhere... where no one was watching her... judging her... questioning her existence.
"I don't want to hear a single word against my daughter-in-law," Vikram added, cutting through the tension.
Rajesh quickly turned toward Rashmi. "Prepare for the bidaai," he said coldly. "We need to send our daughter to her new home."
Daughter.
The word felt hollow.
Within minutes, chaos turned into forced rituals.
Bidaai.
Rashmi hugged Kirti tightly, fake tears in her eyes.
From a distance, it looked emotional.
But near her ear-
Her voice turned venomous.
"Don't you dare open your mouth there," she whispered harshly. "If you tell them anything about this house... you have no idea what I'll do to you."
Kirti's body stiffened.
And just like that-
She was sent away.
No real tears.
No one crying for her.
No one stopping her.
She had always known this day would be like this.
But knowing it...
And living it...
Were two different things.
Now a new fear gripped her.
What will they think of me...? That I trapped their son? That I stole this marriage?
Her chest tightened again.
In the car, she sat silently beside Riya and Ira.
Riya kept trying to lighten the mood, cracking small jokes, smiling softly-but nothing reached Kirti.
Finally, Riya pulled her into a sudden hug.
"Don't worry, bhabhi," she said gently. "We all can see this isn't your fault. You were forced into this, right?"
Ira nodded immediately. "Exactly. No one in our house is going to judge you. So please... relax."
Those simple words broke something inside Kirti again.
Do I even deserve this kindness...?
The car soon reached Oberoi Mansion.
Kirti had seen it before...
But today-
It looked completely different.
The entire mansion was glowing with lights, decorated with flowers cascading from balconies, the entrance covered in fresh marigolds and roses. The golden lights reflected against the white walls, making it look nothing less than a palace.
A place too beautiful...
For someone like her.
She stepped out slowly.
At the entrance, the entire family stood waiting.
Everyone-
Except Reyansh.
A kalash filled with rice was placed in front.
Kirti hesitated.
How will I do this alone...?
Nisha immediately understood.
"Don't worry," she said softly. "We don't believe in all these strict rituals. You are a part of this house now... with or without Reyansh."
Her voice carried warmth.
"Go ahead."
Kirti gently pushed the kalash, stepping inside.
Arjun quickly spread a white cloth and grinned, "Careful bhabhi, first footprints matter... we need perfect entry for our new queen."
His playful tone was soft, comforting.
Kirti gave a faint, broken smile as her feet left red imprints on the cloth.
"Perfect," Arjun said, nodding dramatically. "Now this house officially has some grace."
Vikram then spoke, "Riya beta, take her to the room. Make sure she's comfortable."
Riya nodded and held Kirti's hand. "Come on... and listen,now-we're friends too. So no hesitation, okay?"
Kirti nodded slightly.
"This is your room... and bhai's too," Riya added softly. "I know he's angry right now... but he'll understand with time. Just don't stress."
And with that, she left.
Kirti stepped inside.
The room was huge.
Massive.
At least ten times bigger than the small storeroom she used to sleep in.
A large bed stood in the center, soft lights glowing around, everything perfectly arranged.
It didn't feel real.
She slowly sat near the bed.
Waiting.
Because she had to talk to Reyansh.
She had to clear everything.
On the other side-
Reyansh drove like a man possessed.
His car sped through the roads recklessly.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened.
His mind replayed everything-
Lies.
Faces.
Fake emotions.
Betrayals.
"Enough..." he muttered, his jaw clenched.
He dialed his secretary.
"Raj," his voice was cold and furious, "I want every detail about Miya. Right now. Where she is, who she's with-everything. Immediately."
He cut the call.
"I won't let this go," he whispered to himself. "One daughter runs away... and they push another in her place? You think I'll stay quiet?"
His anger burned uncontrollably.
Back in the room-
Kirti, exhausted and broken, sat on the floor near the bed, her head resting against it.
She didn't even realize when sleep took over.
The door suddenly banged open.
Kirti jolted awake.
Reyansh stood there.
His eyes dark with anger.
The moment he saw her sleeping on the floor-
Something inside him snapped.
He slammed the door shut loudly.
Kirti immediately stood up, nervous, her voice about to come out-
But he spoke first.
"Oh... what happened?" his tone was dripping with sarcasm. "Didn't like the room? Want something bigger? Or maybe... the whole mansion?"
Kirti shook her head, confused. "What are you saying-"
"Shut up!" he shouted.
"You think I didn't see what you did? Girls like you... I know them very well. Money is everything, right? You didn't even think twice before taking your sister's place."
His words hit like daggers.
Kirti's eyes filled instantly.
"I didn't-" she tried to speak.
"You're a gold digger," he spat. "A characterless girl who can do anything for status."
Her voice died in her throat.
Tears rolled down silently.
"And don't do this crying drama in front of me," he added harshly. "It irritates me."
Kirti couldn't control it anymore.
Her emotions overflowed.
Before she could step back-
Reyansh grabbed her wrist tightly.
She winced.
The glass bangles shattered slightly, digging into her skin.
Blood oozed out.
But he didn't notice.
Or maybe-
He didn't care.
He dragged her toward the balcony and pushed her inside, locking the door behind.
"Stay there," he said coldly.
And walked away.
Kirti looked at her hand.
Blood slowly dripping down.
Her lips trembled.
Tears fell endlessly.
She slid down to the floorhugging herself.
Why...?
Why is this happening to me...?
The cold night air wrapped around her.
And somewhere between pain... exhaustion... and heartbreak-
She fell asleep.
Inside the room-
Reyansh lay on the bed.
But sleep didn't come.
He turned.
Again.And again.Restless.
Irritated.
Haunted.
Finally, he got up.Walked toward the balcony.Opened the door quietly.
Kirti was there.
Curled up.Shivering.
For a moment-
His anger paused.
Just a little.
Without a word, he took a blanket and threw it over her.
Roughly.
Like he didn't care.
Like it didn't matter.
Then he turned-
And went back to sleep.
.
.
.
“Thank you so much
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I hope you liked today’s chapter 💫
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