Kashvi-

I dressed up in a beautiful blue organza saree, my hair braided to one side.

The soft clinking of my silver bangles and anklets echoed through the otherwise quiet hallway as I walked downstairs.

I never liked makeup.

But today I had tried not to look pretty but hide the bruises.

“Kashvi, apologize to your parents from my side,” mom said as she walked up to me.

I gave her a small smile and hugged her lightly. “It’s okay, I’ll manage.”

Grabbing my clutch, I stepped outside and of course, he was already there, leaning against the car like he had been waiting for a while.

Mr. Punctual.

The moment I sat inside, he turned toward me and just  looked.

Not in a way I could understand but not in a way I could ignore either.

His gaze stayed for a second longer than usual, steady, assessing before shifting away.

“Do I look okay?” I asked before I could stop myself.

Why did I even ask him?

He gave a slight nod, eyes already elsewhere.

“I’ll leave you there and come back to pick you up after an hour,” he said, his tone as flat as ever.

Bas.

Iss se zyada kya hi umeed kar sakte hain.

I leaned back in my seat. “Do you even know what this function is about?”

No response.

Of course.

I turned towards the window, watching the sky instead. Half of it was covered with dark grey clouds while the other half remained clear.

It was going to rain.

At least something was predictable.

The car stopped outside my house.

I reached for the handle, it didn’t open.

Frowning, I turned toward him.
“Kashvi,” he said, his voice quieter this time, controlled but firm. “Call me if anything goes wrong.”

I let out a small laugh. “It’s my house, Danish. Not a crime scene.”

But he didn’t react, not even an attempt to respond.

His eyes flickered with something before finally moving to unlock the door.

For a brief second, I felt like , he didn’t want to leave, or maybe he didn’t trust the situation enough to.

He cares about you.

Vidya’s words echoed in my mind again and this time I didn’t brush them off so easily.

“This is my family,” I said, a little softer now. “Nothing will happen.”

I stepped out and gave a small wave.

Ignored as expected.

I walked toward the house, shaking my head at him.

But even as I reached the door , I could feel it.

His presence lingering like he hadn’t really left.
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The house was lit up in warm golden lights, marigold strings hanging across the walls, and the entire hall buzzed with voices, laughter, and movement.

Relatives filled every corner, their presence making the space feel smaller than it actually was.

For a moment, I just stood there at the entrance.

Everything looked normal.

“Di, you came alone?”

I turned at the familiar voice to find Ree walking towards me in a pink lehenga, the white beadwork catching the light with every step she took.

I lightly smacked the back of her head.

“Why? Were you expecting Sam to come?” I raised an eyebrow.

Her eyes widened instantly. “No! Of course not-” she looked around nervously, lowering her voice, “I just meant, where’s jiju?”

“Liar,” I muttered under my breath.

She gave me a sheepish grin, caught.

I was about to say something else when my gaze drifted across the hall, and froze.

My entire body stilled.

“What is she doing here?” I asked, my voice dropping.

Ree followed my gaze, her fingers tightening slightly around mine.

“She’s getting engaged today,” she said quietly.

For a second, I thought I misheard her.

Engaged?

My eyes snapped back to Deepti.

She stood there smiling, glowing, even.

Her face held no trace of guilt, no hesitation. Her hand rested subtly over the small curve of her stomach.

She was already married.

She was already pregnant.

Then what the hell was this?

“Kaajoo, come here.”

Before I could process anything, Vinay appeared and grabbed my wrist, dragging me towards the backyard.

I didn’t resist.

I needed answers.

The moment we were out of sight, I turned to him, my patience snapping.

“What the hell is happening?” I demanded.

He sighed like he had been expecting this reaction, handed me a glass of water, and gestured towards the chair.

“Sit. You’re going to need this.”
I didn’t sit.

“Speak.”

He gave up and leaned back against the chair instead.

“Deepti is getting engaged to Anuj. Her husband.”

My brows furrowed. “Then what’s the point of all this drama?”

He exhaled slowly. “Because no one knows she eloped.”

Silence.

“They told everyone she was out of town,” he continued, “covered it up. Bade papa handled everything.”

Of course he did.

Image first. Always.

“So this is all just what? A show?” I let out a dry laugh. “To protect his reputation?”

“To protect the family name,” Vinay corrected.

Same thing.

My grip on the glass tightened.

“If it were me,” I said quietly, “he would’ve never given me this chance.”

Vinay didn’t reply because he knew I was right.

I looked back towards the hall, where Deepti stood surrounded by people- celebrated, accepted and forgiven.

And something inside me twisted.
I was happy for her.

But that didn’t erase the bitterness.

Not when I remembered how I was forced into a marriage I wasn’t ready for.

Not when Ree cried just yesterday about how suffocated she felt.

Not when Bade Papa controlled every breath we took.

One daughter gets love. The rest get rules.

My jaw clenched.

If Deepti could get her love story despite everything, then Ree wouldn’t be stopped.

Not if I had anything to say about it.

“Oh, and by the way,” Vinay added casually, as if he hadn’t just shaken my entire belief system, “you’re on duty today.”

I blinked. “What?”

“You’ll do the tilak for the groom. Help Deepti on stage. Younger sister responsibilities.”

Of course.

I let out a slow breath and nodded.
“Fine.”

We walked back inside, and within seconds, I was pulled into the center.

“Kashvi, here,” Badi Maa handed me the pooja thaal.

“They’ll arrive any moment.”

I held the plate, staring at the diya as its flame flickered slightly.

Last time I stood like this, I ended up married.

This time, God knows what’s waiting.

The groom’s family entered soon after.
And there he was.

Anuj.

Dressed in a maroon sherwani, confident, composed.

I had seen them at the gala.

I stepped forward mechanically, performing the rituals, sprinkling water, doing his aarti, applying the tilak.
He smiled.

I smiled back but it felt empty.

As he handed me the shagun, my mind drifted- last time Ree stood in my place.

And now look at us.

Life really has a twisted sense of humor.
I moved aside as the priests prepared for the next ritual.

Anuj introduced his family, his parents, cousins and then a very pretty lady.

She stepped forward with effortless grace, draped in a deep red saree that clung perfectly to her frame.

Her hair, slightly highlighted at the ends, flowed down her back.

She didn’t just enter the space.

She owned it.

“Alisha,” she said, extending her hand.
I took it, offering a polite smile.

“Kashvi.”
But for a brief second, I felt something strange.

The kind that makes you realize how different lives, people, and worlds can be.

I excused myself soon after, spotting Rushant bhaiya.

He pulled me into a hug immediately. “How are you?”

“Good,” I replied automatically.
“Where’s Danish?”

I shrugged. “Didn’t come.”

He visibly relaxed.

“Better,” he muttered.

I smirked. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of him too.”

He just shook his head and walked off.

Typical.

The ceremony went on, rings exchanged, music playing, people dancing.

Everything looked perfect.

But my head, it was heavy with too many truths I didn’t want to face.

I stepped aside, pulling out my phone.
Me: Can you send Savio? I want to go home.

I stared at the message for a second before hitting send.

I didn't bother with anything else.

Because with him , you never knew what mood you’d get and right now I didn’t have the energy to deal with Danish Singhania.
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I was watching one of the performances from the groom’s side when suddenly,
“Di, please perform a dance for us!”

Ree and a few cousins surrounded me, excitement written all over their faces.

I let out a small laugh and nodded. “Of course.”

“Let them also see the bride’s side isn’t any less,” Vinay bhaiya muttered, resting his arm casually over my shoulder.

A few minutes later, Ree and I were on stage.

The music started, her favorite song and for those few moments, everything else faded.

The lights, the people, the chaos in my head, everything was gone.

We danced like we always used to.
Carefree.

Unbothered.

And when the performance ended, the hall erupted in cheers.

I was slightly out of breath as I came down and sat beside mom and a few relatives, picking up a glass of juice.

That’s when the attention shifted.

“Arre, Kashvi, you look so changed after marriage,” one of the ladies said, smiling in that too-knowing way.

I returned a polite smile.

Here it begins.

“And how is married life?” another added, leaning forward slightly. “When are you planning to give us some good news?”

For a second, I choked.

Good news?
Already?

It had barely been four months.

“Yeah, Kaajoo,” another aunt chimed in, “when are we becoming nanis?”

I blinked at them, trying to process the audacity.

If Danish heard this, he would’ve either walked away or scared them into silence.

“What’s the hurry?” I said, keeping my tone light. “I just got married.”

They laughed.

“Hurry?” one of them repeated. “At your age, we already had school-going kids.”
I forced a smile, but inside something twisted.

Kids?

The thought alone felt wrong.

This marriage had no future.

We hadn’t even accepted each other properly as husband and wife.

And they were talking about children.

I took a slow sip of my juice, trying to drown the discomfort.

That’s when she approached.

“So, Kashvi, how’s married life?”

I looked up to find Alisha standing beside me, her gaze briefly flickering to my sindoor.

There was curiosity in her eyes but something else too.

Something I couldn’t name.

“It’s going good,” I replied simply.

Except for the chaos. The confusion. The man himself.

“And your husband?” she continued, almost casually. “I hope he’s not as grumpy as always.”

That made me pause.

I turned fully towards her now.

“Do you know him?” I asked, narrowing my eyes slightly.

She shrugged instantly. “Who doesn’t know Danish Singhania?”

That was too smooth.

I didn’t believe it.

There was a difference between knowing about someone and knowing them.

And she clearly belonged to the second category.

I decided to test it.

“What about you, Alisha?”
The moment her name left my lips, something clicked.

A faint memory.

A name I had heard before and then it hit me.

Alisha.

Danish’s ex.

For a split second, everything around me went silent.

This was her. The girl he once loved.

The girl who probably knew a version of him I never would.

I stared at her, trying not to let anything show on my face.

“I’m pursuing fashion designing,” she continued, unaware, or maybe aware of my realization.

“Just got back to India last week.”

Of course she did.

Of course she walked back into his life just like that.

I opened my mouth to respond, but someone called her away.

And right at that moment, my phone rang.

Saved.

I picked it up immediately.

“Where are you?” his voice came, sharp and direct.

My grip on the phone tightened slightly.

Why did that voice always do something to me?

“I’m inside, near the staircase,” I replied, my eyes unconsciously drifting towards the entrance as if expecting him.

The call disconnected.

No extra words.

Typical.

Inka kuchh ho hee nahi sakta.

I picked up my clutch, ready to leave. My head was starting to ache now, not just physically.

I needed to get out.

I looked around for mom but couldn’t spot her. She was probably in the backyard.

I turned to go, and suddenly a firm grip around my wrist pulled me back.

I froze.

Closed my eyes for a brief second.
I didn’t need to turn around.

I just knew.

“Looking for me?”

His voice came out low.

Too familiar.

I opened my eyes slowly as he stepped in front of me.

His clothes changed from earlier.

White shirt. Navy blue tie loosened. Hair slightly messed up as if he had rushed or didn’t care enough to fix himself.

“Don’t you have work?” I shot back instantly, masking everything else.

“Or have you upgraded from gym trainer to bodyguard-cum-driver now?”

Before he could respond, I turned and walked away.

I needed distance.

I found mom in the backyard talking to the caterers.

“Excuse me,” I said, pulling her aside.
“Yeah, Kaajoo?”

I hugged her tightly, more than necessary.

I didn’t even know why.

“I’m leaving, mom,” I said softly. “I have a headache.”

She immediately cupped my face, concern flashing in her eyes.

“Take care, and call me once you reach,” she said.

I nodded, bending down to touch her feet.

As I straightened , I could still feel it.

That strange heaviness, pure discomfort.

That question lingering in my mind,

Why did it bother me that she was here?
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I spotted Danish talking to Badi Maa near the corner, so I walked towards them.

“You came here for the first time after marriage and you’re leaving so soon?” she said, clearly displeased. “At least have something before going.”

Danish glanced at me for a brief second before looking back at her.

“I have work,” he replied calmly. “I only came to pick Kashvi. Next time.”

His tone was firm, leaving no space for argument.

He bent slightly to take her blessings, and she walked away, still muttering under her breath.

Danish then turned towards Ree, saying something to her in a low voice. I couldn’t hear a word, but the seriousness on his face didn’t go unnoticed.

“Hey, Kashvi.”

I stiffened slightly.

Alisha.

I turned towards her, forcing my expression to stay neutral.

“Sorry about earlier,” she said, offering a small smile. “We were talking and I just left.”

“It’s fine,” I replied shortly. “I was leaving anyway.”

“So soon?” she asked, tilting her head slightly as if we were close enough for her to question me like that.

Something about her tone irritated me.

Of course I was leaving.

Why would I stay?

Stand there and watch the girl my husband once loved?

The same girl who, from what I’d heard, had turned his life upside down.

The same girl whose name alone had changed Rahul’s tone that day.

The same girl, who knew a side of Danish I had never seen.

A strange uneasiness crept in.
What if-

No.

I shut that thought immediately.

But still what if he saw her and something changed?

What if he still-

“Kashvi.”

His presence beside me broke my thoughts.

Danish had walked up, now standing next to me.

And just like that, the air shifted.

His gaze locked onto Alisha.

Hers didn’t waver either.

And suddenly, I felt out of place, standing right between them.

“I see,” Alisha said after a moment, her lips curving into a polite smile, though her eyes told a completely different story. “You’re leaving with your husband.”

There was something in that look.

Something sharp.

Something that didn’t sit right with me.
Danish didn’t respond.

He didn’t even pretend to be civil.

He just stared at her, cold.

Unforgiving.

If I expected anything else, I was wrong.

There was no softness. No hesitation.

Only something dangerously close to hatred.

And for some reason that look unsettled me more than anything else.

I had seen that side of him once, and once was enough.

Without thinking, I reached for his hand, gripping it lightly.

He turned towards me instantly

“Shall we leave?” I asked

He gave a small nod, running a hand through his hair.

We were about to walk away when,
“So you won’t even talk to me?”

Alisha’s voice stopped us.

Danish’s grip on my wrist tightened slightly as he turned back.

His expression hardened further.

“The only time I’ll talk to you,” he said, his voice low but lethal, “is when you’re on your knees, begging for forgiveness while I destroy everything you have.”
The words landed heavy.

Final and before I could even process them, he pulled me along with him.

I flinched slightly at the intensity.

What the hell happened between them?

The car ride was silent and I didn’t dare to break it because I didn’t know which version of him I would get.

And right now, I didn’t have the energy to deal with his anger.

I stayed quiet, staring out of the window, until something felt off.

I looked around. This wasn’t the way home.

“Danish, where are we going?” I asked, turning towards him.

No response.

Instead, he tapped his earpiece.

“Yeah, she’s with me,” he said.

My brows furrowed. Who was he talking to?

I tried to listen, but of course I couldn’t hear the other side.

“No way I’m allowing that,” he said next, rolling his eyes.

Allowing what? Allowing whom? Me?

I stared at him, confusion growing with each passing second.

“Kashvi.”

I looked at him.

“I’m dropping you at a cyber café nearby. Sam is there,” he said. “He’ll take you home.”

That was it. I simply nodded.

What else was I supposed to do?

After a few minutes, the car stopped.

I stepped out without another word.
And before I could even turn, he drove away.

I stood there for a moment, watching the empty road ahead and let out a slow breath.

I was tired.

Not just physically.

Everything felt too much.
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I walked inside the café and instantly spotted Sam sitting in a corner, headphones over his head, completely engrossed in his game.

I walked up to him and hit the back of his head lightly.

“Who the h-” he started, annoyed, but froze mid-sentence as he turned and saw me.

“Bhabhi,” he mumbled, immediately softening as he pulled off his headphones. Wrapping an arm around my shoulder, he guided me outside. “I was waiting for you only.”

I smiled faintly, patting his head. “How’s college going?” I asked.

For the first time, I saw Sameer Singhania actually grinning at the mention of college.

“It’s going great,” he said, a little too happily. “I have my girlfriend to give me company after all.”

Smack.

I hit the back of his head again.
“Bhabhi!” he protested, frowning. “I thought you approved! How could you hit me? I’m your best friend.”

“Not yet,” I replied casually, glancing around the area.

My eyes landed on Savio, who was standing near the car, waiting for us as usual- alert and observant.

“You’re changing,” Sam muttered beside me. “Bhai is influencing you.”

I let out a small chuckle.

He dramatically looked up at the sky, joining his hands. “Dear God, please get some sense into my bhabhi.”

I shot him a playful glare.

And that’s when, a sudden flash caught my attention from the left.

I turned instantly.

No one.

Just a few people passing by, minding their own business.

Still something felt off.

A strange uneasiness crept under my skin, like someone had been watching us.

My fingers instinctively tightened around my clutch.

Is someone following us?

The thought lingered for a second longer than it should have then I shook my head lightly.

I really needed to stop overthinking or maybe stop watching so many dramatic serials.
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As soon as I entered my room, I changed into something comfortable and dropped onto the bed.

I closed my eyes, hoping to get some rest.
But instead of sleep, everything started replaying.

The function.
Alisha.
Danish’s anger.
That moment between them.

My eyes opened slowly.

I stared at the ceiling, unmoving.

Something didn’t feel right.

It wasn’t just exhaustion.

There was heaviness like I had witnessed something I wasn’t supposed to understand yet.

There were too many things I didn’t know.

Too many things about him that I had never even questioned before.

But today, when he looked at her and then at me, there was something in his eyes.

I had ignored it back then but I couldn’t now.

It wasn’t just anger.

It was something I couldn’t name.

I shifted to my side, pulling the pillow closer.

He was furious at her.

But if he felt nothing, would he react like that?

My brows furrowed slightly.

“She still affects him.” I murmured under my breath.

The thought didn’t sit well with me.

Not because I had any claim over him but still.

I exhaled slowly, staring blankly ahead.
I didn’t know their story.

I didn’t know what they had or why it ended.

That unknown part felt uncomfortable.

What if it wasn’t over?

What if it was just something left unfinished?

What if-
I stopped myself.

“This is none of your business, Kashvi,” I muttered, pressing my lips together.

We had no future.

He had made that very clear.

Then why was I even thinking like this?
Why did it matter?

I let out a frustrated sigh and sat up, running a hand through my hair.

“Seriously, what is wrong with you?” I mumbled to myself.

Maybe it was just a habit. Living with someone changes things.

You start noticing them, their presence, their absence.

That’s all this was, nothing more.
Yes.

I slid down from the bed and sat on the rug, resting my back against it.

My head fell back as I stared at the ceiling again.

Fragments of the evening kept coming back.

Her confidence.

The way she spoke.

The way she looked at him like she knew him, better than I ever could.

A strange discomfort crept in.

I clenched my fingers lightly.

“Why am I even comparing?” I whispered, almost annoyed at myself.

This wasn’t a competition.

And even if it was, I wasn’t a part of it.

I shut my eyes tightly for a moment.
“Get a grip, Kashvi.”

My voice sounded firmer this time.
I didn’t care. I shouldn’t care.

It had nothing to do with me.

Nothing.

My gaze shifted to the large picture of Danish on the wall.

Perfect as always.

Untouchable.

As if nothing ever affected him.I stared at it for a few seconds then scoffed lightly.

“Yeah, right.”

Today had proved otherwise.

I looked away , grabbing my headphones, I put them on and played some random music.

The sound filled the silence.

Usually, it helped, it distracted me.

But today, even that wasn’t enough.

Because somewhere in between all the logic and denial- a small, irritating thought still lingered.

I pressed my lips together, closing my eyes again.

“This doesn’t matter,” I told myself.
And this time I chose to believe it.
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Thank you.

I put efforts and time.