~she's standing on a line between giving up and seeing how much more she can take~

~~~

The Rajvansh Ancestral Haveli, a grand structure standing tall in Jaipur, was alive with festivities. The air was thick with the scent of marigolds and sandalwood, the corridors echoing with laughter, hushed conversations, and the occasional scolding from the elders. Servants rushed around, finalizing decorations, while the younger members of the family had already begun their mischief.

Aaradhya watched it all from a quiet corner, her hands clasped in her lap. She had never seen such a lively household before. Her childhood home had never been this... warm.

"Bhabhi!"

She looked up just in time to see Vihaan and Aarav grinning mischievously. Vihaan leaned closer, whispering, "How are you feeling? Excited? Nervous? Thinking of running away?"

Aarav nudged his brother. "Don't scare her. But honestly, we'll help if you do."

Aaradhya gave them a innocent blank stare, and Vihaan dramatically clutched his chest. "Oof. That look. Bhai has a long way to go before she starts reacting to his presence."

Before she could say anything, Meera appeared with a bowl of fruits. "Aaradhya beta, have something. You barely ate in the morning."

Aaradhya hesitated but took a small bite. Meera smiled warmly and patted her cheek. "You must be tired. So much is happening, isn't it?"

Aaradhya nodded slightly, after talking to her Meera she got pulled by the siblings who wanted to talk to their Bhabhi and meera started doing some work.

Across the room, her biological family was also present, wearing perfect smiles. Aahan looked her way, concern flickering in his eyes, but he was stuck in conversation with Nishant. Her parents, Aditi and Suraj, pretended to be the most loving, doting parents in front of the Rajvansh elders. Siya, as usual, acted as though she herself is the real bride, standing close to the women of the house, inserting herself into conversations.

Her grandparents, Sarita and Suresh Rathore, sat quietly, stealing glances at Aaradhya every now and then. They wanted to talk to her, to hold her, but they knew better than to create a scene in this gathering.

Among all the chaos, Shivansh remained the calmest. He sat with Ishaan and Abhir, discussing something in low voices. Every now and then, his secret gaze flickered toward Aaradhya, but she never looked back.

It wasn't lost on him how she seemed withdrawn, almost as if she were merely existing rather than living these moments. He had noticed it before, but here, in the middle of all these people, it was even more obvious.

Meera followed his gaze and sighed. "She's still adjusting, Shivansh. Give her time."

"I know," he said quietly. His mother smiled knowingly, as if she could see more than he let on.

~

As the evening deepened, the first ritual was about to take place—Ganesh Pooja, a ceremony to bless the couple before the wedding. The priest called everyone forward, and Shivansh and Aaradhya were seated together for the first time since their engagement.

Aaradhya sat stiffly, her hands in her lap. Shivansh, noticing her discomfort, kept a respectable distance. Their hands accidentally brushed when they reached for the same flower, and she flinched slightly.

He didn't say anything, but after a few moments, in a voice low enough that only she could hear, he said, "I won't force anything on you, Aaradhya."

She blinked, surprised, and turned to look at him. His expression was unreadable, but there was kindness in his tone. It wasn't a promise, but it was something.

The priest instructed them to pray, and as they closed their eyes, Aaradhya whispered in her mind, 'Please... if this is my fate, don't let it be another prison.'

The Ganesh Pooja ended with chants filling the air, but for Aaradhya, everything felt distant. She kept herself away from the attention, blending in quietly with the family's chatter, answering only when necessary. After the prayers, the elders blessed them, placing tilak on their foreheads and pressing sweets into their hands.

"Aaradhya beta," Sushma Rajvansh cupped her face gently. "May you always be blessed with happiness."

Happiness. A word that felt foreign to her. Yet, she gave a small smile.

Shivansh noticed everything—the stiffness in her posture, the way her fingers trembled slightly when she accepted the elders' blessings, the way she never truly smiled. He wasn't the kind of man to pry, but he wasn't blind either.

While the family moved on to lighthearted chatter, after a while, when no one was paying attention, she quietly stepped out into the courtyard.

~

The cool Jaipur breeze brushed against Aaradhya's skin as she stepped out onto the haveli's grand courtyard. The warmth of the lit diyas and fairy lights around the pillars contrasted with the night's stillness. She exhaled softly, allowing the quiet to settle over her.

Inside, the house was filled with laughter, loud conversations, and the chaotic energy of pre-wedding ritual talks. But out here—there was peace.

She closed her eyes briefly, hugging herself as she leaned slightly against the intricately carved pillar. It was overwhelming—this family, their warmth, their attention, their acceptance. Something she had never truly known before.

But was it real? Would it last?

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear Shivansh's footsteps approaching until he spoke.

"You do that often," he said, his voice steady yet unreadable. Hinting on their earlier encounter when they met before the pooja.

Aaradhya stiffened slightly before turning her gaze toward him. He stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, his posture relaxed but observant.

"Do what?" she asked, keeping her voice neutral.

"Disappear quietly when no one is looking." He didn't say it as a question but as a simple observation. "But someone always notices."

Aaradhya glanced away, her fingers tightening around the edge of her dupatta. Had he been watching her? Noticing her silence? Did he figure out something? The thought of him finding something out felt heavier to her, of him finding out the lies of her family.

"I just needed some air," she murmured, not willing to explain further.

Shivansh didn't press. Instead, he leaned against the pillar beside her, maintaining a respectful yet firm presence.

"This family, my family." he began, after a beat of silence, "can be overwhelming at first."

Aaradhya turned slightly, her eyes searching his face. "At first?"

His lips curled slightly, almost like a ghost of a smile. "It doesn't change. They've always been like this—loud, involved, protective, loving."

She didn't know why, but she wanted to ask—"And you?"

But she didn't.

Instead, she looked back at the sky. "I'm not used to this much attention."

Shivansh tilted his head slightly, studying her. "You don't like it?"

Aaradhya hesitated before answering honestly, "It's not that I don't like it, it just feels unfamiliar."

Shivansh exhaled, as if he understood something she hadn't said aloud. "You don't have to force yourself."

She turned her head sharply to look at him, a flicker of confusion in her dark eyes.

"I mean it," he said, voice calm but sure. "My family... we don't expect you to change overnight. No one expects you to become someone you're not."

Aaradhya swallowed, her throat tightening. How could he say that so easily? Didn't he know? In her family, she was always expected to be something she wasn't.

Her voice was barely above a whisper when she said, "That's not how it works in every family."

Shivansh's expression didn't change, but something in his eyes darkened, as if he understood more than he let on.

She shifted uncomfortably, feeling vulnerable under his quiet gaze. "Why does it matter to you?"

For a moment, he didn't answer. The silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant sound of laughter from inside.

Then, finally, he said, "Because I know what it's like to feel trapped in something you didn't choose."

Aaradhya's breath caught. It was the first time he had admitted something personal.

She wanted to ask more, but something told her he wouldn't answer—not yet.

So, she let the silence linger.

After a while, Shivansh straightened, his voice turning back to its usual controlled tone. "You should get some rest. It's late. "

Aaradhya nodded, but before she turned to leave, she heard him add softly,

"I'll be here... whenever you need to step away again."

She paused, her fingers tightening at her sides.

No one had ever said that to her before.

She didn't turn around. She didn't say anything. But as she walked back inside, her heart felt heavier than before.

And Shivansh... Shivansh stood there a little longer, watching the stars, wondering what exactly it was about her that made him notice more than he should.

---

Back inside, the Rajvansh haveli was anything but quiet.

Vihaan, Aarav, and Abhir had gathered in a corner of the grand living area, their eyes gleaming with mischief.

"I say we add extra colour to the bowls in haldi ceremony." Vihaan smirked.

Aarav snickered. "Or better—swap it with turmeric paste mixed with orange food color. Let's see how bhaiya reacts."

Abhir shook his head. "Bhaiya won't care. But Bhabhi..." He glanced toward Aaradhya. "She might."

Vihaan leaned back dramatically. "Then we'll make sure the first attack is on you."

Avni, who had been eavesdropping with narrowed eyes, finally interrupted. "I swear, if you three create a mess during the Haldi, I'll tell Dadi."

Vihaan gasped. "You wouldn't dare."

Avni smirked. "Try me."

Meanwhile, Meera and Kavita sat with Sarita and Suresh Thakur, discussing the wedding details. The older couple were overjoyed, but Sarita's hands kept tightening around her saree. She kept sneaking glances toward Aditi, who was acting like the perfect mother, all smiles and polite nods. 

But Sushma Rajvansh was no fool. She had seen enough people in her life to recognize fake happiness when she saw it.

As for Suraj Rathore, he was deep in conversation with Suryavardhan Rajvansh. The former carried an air of hidden arrogance, while the latter's gaze remained unreadable.

Aahan, sitting beside his grandparents, trying to keep up with the preparations, kept engaging in conversations but never let his gaze stray far from Aaradhya. His heart twisted painfully every time he saw her eyes lower, her posture tighten, as if she was bracing herself for something unseen.

Siya, meanwhile, was chatting with Abhira, oblivious to the growing tension between the elders.

Shivansh's uncle, Nishant, clapped his hands together. "Enough of these serious talks! We should be celebrating. This is our second eldest son's wedding, after all."

Kavita nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! We should be planning the dance performances for sangeet! "

Abhira smirked. "Exactly! bhai is getting married, and it's payback time for all the times he made us do things we didn't want to."

Meera smiled warmly at Aaradhya. "Beta, do you like dancing?"

Aaradhya hesitated, unsure of what to say. She had danced before... but never freely.

Shivansh, noticing her hesitation, answered for her. "She'll enjoy watching more."

Vihaan groaned dramatically. "Come on, bhabhi! Just one performance!"

Sushma laughed. "Let the girl breathe! There are many rituals ahead. She'll have enough to handle."

The room buzzed with warmth and laughter, but in between the conversations, Aaradhya felt a set of eyes on her.

She looked up—Shivansh was watching her again.

And for the first time, she didn't look away.

~~~