✿༺ 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 3 ༻✿

I was sitting in the mandap when I noticed something was off. Mrs. Mallik and a girl, Kritika's sister Ruhaani, were standing at a distance in one corner, talking, but both of them looked very stressed. It was not something loud or obvious, but there was tension on their faces that did not match the rest of the atmosphere.

I kept looking in that direction.

Then I saw Mr. Mallik and Kritika's brother, Viraj, also go toward them. After a few moments, their expressions changed too. The same stress, the same seriousness.

Something had definitely happened.

In the middle of all this, Panditji asked for the vadhu, Kritika, to come. But she did not come. No one from her family came either.

That was when Mr. Shergill stood up and went toward the Mallik family. From where I was sitting, I could not hear what they were saying, but I could see clearly. Mr. Mallik said something, and Mr. Shergill's expression changed instantly. Shock. Then stress.

That was enough for me.

I stood up and went there.

And then we got to know.

Kritika had run away from her own wedding.

With someone.

We all immediately moved into a private room so that no one outside would find out what had happened.

I stood there, listening.

I was not shocked.

But I was not calm either.

This wedding was never something I wanted. I had agreed to it only because of my mother and because of Mr. Shergill's condition. Otherwise, I had no wish to marry.

So when I heard that she had run away...

for a moment, I felt relieved.

At least I would not have to go through with this.

But that moment did not last.

"We can replace the bride."

Mr. Mallik said it like it was already decided.

For a second, no one spoke.

Then he said it clearly.

"Instead of Kritika, Ruhaani can marry Ritvik."

I turned and looked at her.

Ruhaani was already looking at me.

She was shocked. I could see it clearly on her face. She had not expected this, not even for a second. And I felt the same.

How can he do this?

Without even asking her.

For me, this marriage was a deal.

But for her, it was not.

And I was not going to be a part of this.

I turned and walked out of the room without saying anything. I went straight outside, to my car, and sat inside. I was about to start the engine when Saurabh came running toward me.

"Bhai, come quickly. Mr. Mallik got unconscious."

I immediately got out of the car and went back inside.

We called the doctor. In the meantime, I got to know what had happened. Ruhaani had refused to do the marriage.

At least someone had sense.

But hearing that, her father collapsed.

We were all standing outside the room while the doctor checked him. Me, my family, Mrs. Mallik, Viraj, and Ruhaani. No one was speaking. Everyone was just waiting.

After some time, the doctor came out and told us he was stable.

Mr. Mallik regained consciousness.

Ruhaani went inside.

After a few minutes, she came out.

And she had agreed.

I frowned slightly.

Just a while ago she had refused.

And now she said yes.

I understood the reason.

Her father.

But still, this was not a solution.

I stepped out again, needing some space.

My mother came to me. Before she could say anything, I said, "I am not going to do this marriage. What do they think of me? I cannot do this."

Before she could respond, Mr. Shergill came there.

"You have to do this marriage," he said.

"Did you forget what I told you?"

"I did not forget anything, Mr. Shergill," I replied. "But you are forgetting that this marriage was supposed to be with Kritika. The situation is not the same now."

"But the Mallik and Shergill deal is still on," he said. "So you cannot refuse. Whether it is Kritika Mallik or Ruhaani Mallik."

"I will not do this," I said.

"But you still want your deal," I added.

"Yes," he replied without hesitation. "I want my deal, my reputation, and my image. If today this news goes out, everything will be damaged. I have to save it. And for that, you have to do this marriage. You cannot refuse me."

I stayed silent.

"And if you try to refuse," he continued, "my condition is still on."

My mother looked at him, confused. "What condition are you talking about?"

"Nothing, Mom," I said quickly. "It is about business."

I could not let her know.

I know this man.

He can go to any level for his reputation, his image, his business. Nothing else matters to him.

And once again, I had no choice.

So I agreed.

Not because I wanted to.

But because I had to.

After some time, I was sitting in the mandap again.

This time, Ruhaani was sitting beside me, dressed in a wedding lehenga.

(Ritvik Look)

(Ruhaani Look)

The wedding I never wanted.

But still, I was here.

I looked at her.

At the same moment, she looked at me.

And then she immediately looked away.

I turned my face in the opposite direction.

The rituals continued.

Everything happened as it was supposed to.

And finally, Panditji said, "Vivaah sampann hua. Aaj se aap dono pati patni hue, saat janmon ke liye."

For seven lifetimes......that is impossible. It's all just lies; nothing of the sort actually happens.

We stood up.

And I looked at her.

I told her clearly, "Don't expect anything from me. This marriage is just a deal to save the reputation of two families, nothing else for me. And before, it was supposed to be your sister, but now it's you. It doesn't make any difference to me. You should not have done this marriage."

She was looking at me.

Then she turned her face away and stayed silent for a few seconds.

After that, she looked at me again and said, "I know. This is a family deal to save our families' reputation, and we had to do this. None of us had a choice."

Her voice was calm.

Too calm.

"So I am not expecting anything from you either."

There was a small pause.

Then she murmured slowly, almost to herself, "I stopped expecting anything from anyone a long time ago... because it always hurts."