~ Talk to the moon or even the sun, both will tell you, it's ok to disappear When things don't go right. But it's important to come back and spread your light. ~

~~~

 The Rajvansh haveli glowed under the golden lights as the wedding rituals began. The mandap was beautifully decorated in ivory and red, with fresh flowers adorning every corner. The air carried the scent of sandalwood and jasmine, while the soft sound of shehnais created an atmosphere of divine serenity.

Inside her bridal chamber, Aaradhya sat in front of the mirror, she can hear the commotion outside, the baraat has arrived, dressed in a breathtaking red and gold lehenga, her face calm yet unreadable. staring at the reflection she barely recognized. Dressed in the finest red bridal attire, adorned with heavy gold jewelry, she looked like a bride—someone stepping into a new life. But the girl in the mirror had empty eyes, a hollow soul.

Life had been cruel to her. It had taken everything—her childhood, her happiness, her freedom. The people who should have loved her had only caused her pain. 

She clenched her fists, feeling her nails dig into her skin. but suddenly she heard a knock on the door, she composed herself and said a small come in. it was Avni who came to check on her.

"wow Aadhya, you are looking so gorgeous" Avni came in after closing the door behind her and took some kajal from her eyed and applied it behind Aaradhya's ear mumbling 'kisi ki Nazar na lage' (May no one cast an evil eye.)

Aaradhya's eyes began to water but soon she composed herself before Avni could see her, she was overwhelmed, no one other than her grandparents did that, and her doing that made her emotional.

Avni adjusted her jewelry with careful hands. "You look beautiful, Aaradhya. Like a queen."

Abhira and Aaradhya's cousin Roohi entered just then, their eyes widening in awe.

Roohi looked at her in awe "You are looking so pretty dii!!"

"Bhabhi, Shivansh Bhai will be speechless," Abhira teased.

Aaradhya's cheeks tinged with color, but she remained silent. Before the teasing could continue, Roohi reminded them.

"It's time." Her voice carried softness. "Come on, diii. Everyone's waiting."

Taking a deep breath, Aaradhya stood up. The weight of the heavy lehenga felt nothing compared to the emotions swirling inside her.

Suresh and Aahan were waiting outside her room. Her grandfather extended his hand with a warm smile.

"Let me walk you to the mandap, beta."

Aaradhya hesitated for a brief moment before placing her hand in his. Aahan walked beside her, his protective presence silently reassuring her that she wasn't alone.

~

The haveli was decorated lavishly, filled with laughter and music. Guests clapped and cheered for her with a beautiful song playing, and her parents stood in the center, smiling as if they were the most loving people in the world.

But Aaradhya knew the truth.

It was all fake.

Just like them.

The care in their eyes was nothing but a performance, a perfect act for society to see how much they "loved" their daughter. But she knew better. If they truly loved her, they wouldn't have destroyed her happiness just to uphold their pride.

She kept walking, her face calm, her expression unreadable. The world saw a bride stepping into her new life, but inside, she felt like a prisoner being led to her final sentence.

As she approached the mandap that was set up in the courtyard, she lifted her eyes—and for the first time, she met his gaze.

At the mandap, Shivansh stood tall, dressed in an white and gold sherwani perfectly. His usual composed expression held an unspoken softness as he adjusted the pearl-studded Sehra on his forehead.

"You look nervous, Bhai," Vihaan teased, nudging him.

Aarav smirked. "Don't worry, Bhabhi isn't going to run away. She's too calm for that."

Shivansh shook his head at their antics, but his gaze flickered toward the entrance. And then, everything stilled.

Aaradhya stepped into the courtyard, her presence ethereal under the warm golden glow. The flickering flames of the diyas reflected in her deep brown eyes, her face calm yet unreadable. The soft jingling of her anklets echoed in the silent awe of the guests.

Shivansh's breath hitched.

She was beautiful. Not just in the way the world defined beauty, but in the quiet strength she carried within her. And as she walked toward him, something shifted inside him.

She reached the mandap, and her grandfather and Aahan stepped back after placing her hand in Shivansh's. His grip was firm, reassuring, as if silently promising to hold on.

Aaradhya lifted her gaze briefly, meeting his for a fraction of a second before lowering it again. Soon the wedding rituals began.

~

The priest chanted the mantras, the fire crackling between them as an eternal witness to the vows they were about to take.

The Kanyadaan was performed by her parents, their eyes filled with fakeness. Aaradhya's heart clenched when she saw their expressions devoid of true emotion. She forced herself to remain composed.

As the pheras began, Shivansh and Aaradhya walked around the sacred fire, each step binding them in an unbreakable bond. With every round, Shivansh silently observed her—her stillness, her unwavering steps, the quiet acceptance in her posture.

When they completed the final phera, Shivansh turned to her, lifting the delicate sindoor between his fingers. The entire courtyard watched with bated breath as he carefully applied the vermillion to the parting of her hair, some fell on her nose. Aaradhya's eyes fluttered shut for a second, absorbing the gravity of the moment.

Next, he picked up the mangalsutra, the black beads shining against the warm glow of the flames. As he clasped it around her neck, Aaradhya felt a strange sense of finality settle over her. This was it. There was no turning back.

After hours of rituals the priest announced their marriage as complete, and the Rajvansh family erupted into cheers and blessings. Vihaan and Aarav whistled, while Meera wiped away happy tears.

Aaradhya, however, remained as she always was—silent, her face unreadable.

Shivansh glanced at her, his grip on her hand tightening slightly.

She didn't say a word. But he knew—somewhere inside her, emotions were stirring.

And for now, that was enough.

~

The wedding celebrations had come to an end, but the emotions of the day lingered in the grand Rajvansh haveli. Since it was already 6 in the morning and everyone was so tired. Most of the guests had already left and only the closest ones were there.

As the final guests retired to their rooms, Avni and Abhira gently took hold of Aaradhya's hand and led her upstairs.

"Chalo, ab tumhe kappde badal lena chahiea yeh lehenga bhot heavy hoga na" Avni said, smiling softly.
(Come on, you should change your clothes now, this lehenga must be very heavy.)

Abhira, always mischievous but protective, helped Aaradhya with her heavy jewelry as she unpinned the intricate dupatta from her head. The weight of the lehenga and ornaments felt heavier than ever.

"Bhabhi, yeh sab jewelries wagerah utarne ke baad kitna halka lag raha hoga na?" Abhira said, trying to lighten the mood. (Sister-in-law, it must feel so light after taking off all these jewelries and all, right?.)

Aaradhya gave them a small, tired nod, her fingers slightly trembling as she adjusted the bangles on her wrist. She had barely spoken since the wedding ended.

Once they were done, Avni gently put her hand at Aadhya's shoulders in comfort. "You should change. we'll give you privacy okay." saying this she motioned to the red saree that they had brought while coming here it was heavy but not heavy than the lehenga.

Abhira squeezed her hand. "Haan, aur agar koi bhi help chahiea na, toh bas humein batana." (Yes, and if you need any help, just let us know.)

Aaradhya looked at them, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. They had always treated her like their own, making sure she wasn't alone in this new phase of her life.

With that, the two left for their own rooms, leaving her alone for the first time since the wedding.

The room was silent.

The exhaustion in her body clashed with the turmoil in her mind. The events of the day, the emotions, the farewells, the uncertain future—everything started pressing down on her.

The echoes of her parents' last words when they acted of blessing her after the wedding stabbed at her heart.

"Bas ab Rajvansh parivar ko pareshaan mat karna jaise humein kiya tha."
(Just don't trouble the Rajvansh family like you troubled us.)

She clenched the fabric in her hands.

She had no place in her own home, and now, she was stepping into another one—as an outsider once again. 

~

After sometime when she was finally changed both Avni and Abhira came into the room to help her, after the servants packed her belongings they put it in the car meanwhile Aaradhya, Avni and Abhira reached downstairs.

Downstairs, everyone had gathered again—this time in simpler attire. Shivansh had changed into a crisp cream kurta and pajama, still looking effortlessly poised. He stood near his father and Ishaan, engaged in a conversation, but glancing now and then toward the stairs, waiting.

And when Aaradhya descended, led by Avni and Abhira, the soft murmur of conversation stilled.

In her elegant red saree, with a little amount of jewelry still heavy, her hands filled with henna and bridal chuda, her eyes lowered, she looked like something delicate and powerful all at once.

Shivansh’s eyes met hers briefly.

He didn’t smile. Neither did she.

But something passed between them—acknowledgment. Respect. And something unspoken that was slowly forming in the quiet space between them.

~

The moment no one truly prepares for had arrived.

Aaradhya stood at the center, flanked by Aahan and her grandparents, Sarita and Suresh Rathore. She didn’t cry. She didn’t cling. But her silence was more painful than sobs ever could be.

Suresh placed his hand gently on her head. “May your new home bring you the love you always deserved, bitiya.”

Sarita hugged her tight. “You’ll always have us. Always.”

Aahan, eyes red, bend slightly to look at her. “I’ll call. Every day. I mean it. And if anything feels wrong, you tell me, Aaradhya.”

She nodded faintly.

They all knew words would only break her further.

From behind, Shivansh came forward, his expression unreadable but his presence grounding.

He stood beside her—not taking her hand, not rushing her—just… standing there, as if reminding her she wasn’t alone.

Finally, Aaradhya was handed the rice for the vidaai. She turned back toward her family, and with each step, she let go—symbolically—of everything she'd carried all her life.

The rice slipped from her fingers in small handfuls, scattering on the ground behind her like pieces of herself she was forced to leave behind.

She didn’t look back.

Not once.

Because if she did, her carefully built silence might shatter.

Soon after that it was time to say goodbye.

Aaradhya stood at the doorstep of the Rajvansh Haveli, surrounded by her biological family. Her grandparents, Sarita and Suresh, held her hands, their eyes filled with both pride and sorrow.

Aahan stood beside them, his jaw clenched, emotions barely contained.

Her parents, Aditi and Suraj, wore carefully crafted expressions of sadness. But Aaradhya knew the truth.

As she and shivansh touched their feet, Aditi bent slightly and whispered in her ear so that only she could hear—

"Agar wahan bhi humari izzat rakhni hai toh apni asli soch ko andar rakhna. Ab koi wapas lene nahi aayega."
(If you want to maintain our respect there as well, then keep your true thoughts inside. No one will come back to take you now)

Aaradhya's breath caught, her fingers slightly tightening against her saree. The small flicker of emotion she had held back threatened to spill over. she saw how her sister smirked at her.

But she did not react.

Instead, she stood straight, her face blank once more.

Aahan, however, had heard just enough. His fists clenched at his sides, but before he could say anything, Aaradhya shook her head slightly, stopping him.

This wasn't the place.

The Rajvansh family was watching.

Shivansh, who had been standing near, caught the change in Aaradhya's posture. The sudden stiffness, the slight downward tilt of her gaze.

Something had just happened.

And he was going to find out what.

---

The Rajvansh family boarded their cars, heading towards the airport.

Shivansh and Aaradhya were seated together, but she remained silent, staring out of the window.

Every now and then, he glanced at her, watching as she barely blinked, her hands resting motionless in her lap.

She was retreating into herself.

Sushma Dadi, noticing the tension, spoke gently. "Beta, bas ek naya safar shuru ho raha hai. Apna mann halka rakho."

(Dear, a new journey is just beginning. Keep your mind light.)

Aaradhya gave a small nod, but it was clear her mind was elsewhere.

Meanwhile, in another car the youngsters were busy planning their Bhabhi's welcome with Ishaan and Avni.

Shivansh kept his focus on the silent figure beside him.

The girl who had just left behind a family that never wanted her.

And stepped into a family that, unknowingly, had become her only home.

~~~