Hello everyone!!!

Firstly I wanted to thank you guys for choosing this book to read.

I hope you guys like it🤞🏼

Okay, go and read.

Happy reading!!! 🫶🏼

Don't forget to like and vote..!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arya's POV

The sacred fire crackled before me, its flames swaying in rhythm with the priest's chants that echoed through the grand hall, each syllable louder than my heartbeat.

I sat still—draped in a red bridal lehenga that felt like thorns against my skin. My hands, adorned with mehndi I never admired, rested lifelessly in my lap. Beside me, Rahul murmured the holy mantras along with the priest, his voice trembling slightly. Maybe he was scared. Or nervous.

But me?

I felt... nothing.

No flutter in my chest, no joy, no pain.

Nothing.

Or maybe I was trying too hard to feel nothing—because if I did let go, I'd scream until my throat burned. I'd cry until my bones shattered.

The garland around my neck felt heavier with every passing second. A burden I was about to become in Rahul's life—just like this garland, hanging awkwardly, weighing him down.

This wasn't a wedding.

This was a funeral.

With each chant, I wasn't stepping into a new beginning. I was burying pieces of myself—one after the other.

And yet... this was the only way.

Even if it wasn't what I wanted.

Rahul was my childhood friend. He knew my past and still chose to accept me. He was ready to give me everything.

But what did I have to offer him in return?

Just my silence. Just my shattered pieces.

Across the fire, my father—Randheer Shekhawat—sat with pride in his eyes. Relief too. Maybe because his responsibility was finally complete.

One of the top CBI officers in the country, the slayer of criminals, was walking his daughter into a marriage she never wanted.

Not his fault, though. He didn't know what his daughter had endured—or what she was still enduring.

It had been six years.

Six years since that night.

The night that ruined everything.

Even now, it haunts me.

Every. Single. Night.

After that night, I withdrew from the world. I stopped talking, stopped eating, stopped sleeping properly. I was terrified to even step out after dark—no matter who was with me. And I gave up my greatest love... dancing.

Dancing had been my peace. My escape.

Now, it was just another thing I lost.

After that incident, I changed my dream from being a classical dancer to becoming a criminal lawyer. I'm still studying... but my parents insisted on getting me married.

Back then, when I started shutting down, all I wanted was for my parents to ask me what really happened.

They did ask... but never really wanted the truth.

But I trust Mahadev.

I believe whatever is happening, it must be part of some divine plan.

A lone tear slipped down my cheek.

I wiped it before anyone could see.

I had to stay composed.

Yet... a strange feeling gnawed at my heart.

Something was about to happen.

Something... I couldn't explain.

The priest's voice brought me back.

He asked me to stretch out my hand.

I obeyed, and Rahul reached for it.

But before the ritual could proceed, chaos erupted.

Ten to twenty men in black uniforms stormed into the hall, guns raised. One of them stepped forward and barked,

"Everyone out. Now. Or it won't be good for you."

Panic spread like wildfire. The guests obeyed.

My heart pounded in my chest.

Papa stood, furious, and marched towards the man—ready to strike.

But before he could raise his hand, the man twisted his arm and shoved a gun against his temple.

"PAPPA!" I screamed, taking a few steps forward, my body trembling.

And then—he entered.

A tall man in a black three-piece suit. Muscular. Sharp. Ruthless. His eyes, cold and calculating, never left my father.

Then... they shifted to me.

My breath hitched. A shiver ran down my spine. I couldn't see him clearly through the veil, but something about him felt familiar.

He clenched his jaw and approached my father.

"I'm asking nicely, Mr. Shekhawat. Hand over the documents."

"Not even in your dreams, Mr. Vasishta," Papa said, unflinching.

That name struck me like lightning.

Vedanth Vasishta—India's most powerful and elusive businessman.

But... what documents?

What business did he have with my father?

"You like playing with fire, Mr. Shekhawat?" he asked quietly. Then his eyes flicked back to me.

And he smirked.

"I'll show you how it burns."

He turned and marched toward me. I kept my gaze fixed to the floor. I didn't dare look up.

"Sit," he ordered.

"NO!" my father shouted.

Vedanth's voice was calm. Dangerous.

"You have a choice, Mr. Shekhawat. Your daughter... or the documents."

I turned to Papa, desperate.

But he... lowered his head.

My heart sank.

"SIT," Vedanth barked again.

I didn't move.

He grabbed my arm—tight—and dragged me toward the holy fire.

"You'll pay for this. No... your daughter will."

My limbs felt numb. My mind couldn't process what was happening.

"Begin the prayers," he snapped at the priest.

As the chants resumed, he pulled me around the fire, taking seven circles.

"For each of these seven rounds," he leaned in and whispered, "I promise to make your and your father's life a living hell."

I flinched, tears slipping down.

He pointed toward something. A guard handed him a small chain.

A mangalsutra.

"Please... I beg you," I whispered, finally breaking down. "Don't do this to me."

He didn't even blink. "Then ask your father to give me what I want."

I turned to Papa, hoping—praying—he'd stop this. But the answer was already written in his silence.

"See, sweetheart? Even your dear father won't lift a finger to save you."

Vedanth held up the chain and tied it around my neck.

More tears escaped.

I cried out silently, Why, Mahadev? Why me?

The priest handed him the vermilion.

He didn't lift my veil. He slid his hand underneath and applied the sindoor along my hairline.

Just like that... I was married.

Not to the man I didn't love.

But to the man who shattered my life with a gun in one hand and sindoor in the other.

My knees nearly gave out.

I braced myself.

He hadn't destroyed my wedding.

He had rewritten my destiny.

Without a word, he yanked my arm again, dragging me out of the hall. He didn't even let me say goodbye to my parents.

Outside, he pushed me into his car, got into the driver's seat, and drove in silence.

I cried quietly.

He said nothing.

Finally, we stopped. He stepped out, opened my door, and dragged me into a large mansion. We walked until we reached a room. He opened the door and shoved me in.

I stumbled and fell, a sharp cry escaping my lips.

He didn't look back.

Didn't care.

He claimed me like I was property.

And walked away like I meant nothing.

I broke.

I curled into a ball on the floor and cried.

For hours—maybe more. Until there were no tears left.

Eventually, I sat on the bed. Exhausted. Empty.

I reached up to finally remove the veil...

But—

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, how was the first chapter??

Drop some likes, votes and comments!!!

Thank you for reading🫶🏼