Bound by Fate: Love, Betrayal, Forced Marriage

chapter 2

Enjoy reading cuties 💛

As I entered the room, the scene in front of me was unbelievable. Isha was helping Payal to run away through the window.

"What are you doing?" I asked. They both panicked upon seeing me. Nervousness was visible on their faces. "Don't interrupt," Isha said. "We're doing what is best for me, got it?" Payal added, and with Isha's help, she jumped out of the window.

I couldn't process what I had just seen. Then suddenly, Badi Maa came inside. "Are you rea-" She stopped and observed the tension in the room. "What happened, Isha? Where is Payal?" she asked.

"Maa, woh bhaag gayi," she said nervously. "What?" An unfamiliar voice came from behind me. When I turned, the Malhotra family was standing there in shock. "What are you saying, Isha?" Mr. Malhotra asked.

"How did she run away?" Badi Maa asked Isha.

"Maa, I was in the washroom, but when I came back, Prakruti was helping her to run away," Isha lied. I couldn't believe what she just said.

"Why are you lying?" I sobbed.

"Prakruti would never do that," Maa said, supporting me.

"STOP YOUR FAMILY DRAMA HERE!" Mr. Malhotra said aggressively. "Our family's reputation is at stake, and you are doing this melodrama."

"So, Papa, whoever has committed the mistake should get the punishment," Ekansh Malhotra said, stepping forward.

He held my arm. "Now she'll marry me," he said, looking at his dad.

"Our daughter is not going to marry anyone, understand?" Maa said, freeing my arm from his grip.

My dad came in and said to Maa, "Look, we can't do anything in front of them. They are wealthy people. They'll ruin our lives. If Prakruti has made a mistake, she has to get the punishment," he said with tears in his eyes.

"Get the bride ready," Mr. Malhotra said and left. Everyone else followed.

I couldn't process what had just happened. Life didn't feel real; it felt like a nightmare. Papa knew that the Malhotras could ruin his and my career, and that's why he said so. I started crying and sat on the ground. Maa helped me get up.

"Beta, don't worry. We won't force you. If you don't want it, you can run away like Payal did. We are not puppets," Maa said, trying to assure me. But Papa's face flashed before me.

"No, Maa, I don't want Papa to suffer because of my actions. I'm going to marry him," I said, trying to gain confidence.

"Are you sure, beta?" Maa asked, worried. I nodded.

An hour later, when I stepped out of the room, the weight of my bridal attire was almost unbearable, not just physically but emotionally. The emerald green lehenga, with its intricate gold embroidery, felt like chains binding me to a future I didn't choose. The heavy jewelry and the shimmering dupatta only added to the suffocation.

My heart raced beneath the layers of fabric, not with excitement but with dread. Each step felt like a march toward a destiny I was being forced into. The faces around me blurred, their smiles and whispers meaningless in the face of my inner turmoil.

I glanced at my hands, adorned with intricate henna patterns, and felt a pang of sorrow. These delicate designs were supposed to symbolize joy and new beginnings, but for me, they marked the end of my freedom. As I approached the altar, I couldn't help but wish for a different life, one where I had a say in my own fate.

Isha and I went to sit in the mandap in our designated places. Right then, my body felt numb. Because of the sudden decision, I was really nervous, but I had no other choice.

As Pandit Ji started reciting the mantras, my heartbeat increased. We took the seven pheras around the sacred fire. I was marrying a man I barely knew. He filled my maang with sindoor and tied the mangalsutra around my neck.

Pandit Ji declared us married, and we stood up to take the blessings of our elders. "Be happy," Mrs. Malhotra said.

As I reached my parents, I couldn't hold back my tears and burst into sobs. "Beta, you are our strong daughter, right?" Maa said, comforting me.

"Our daughter is like a delicate flower, so please keep her safe," Papa said to Ekansh Malhotra, now my husband. He just nodded.

"Hey bhabhi, I'm Annaya, Ekansh, and Ranvijay bhaiya's little sister," Annaya said excitedly. "And I'm Varun, her brother," Varun added.

I smiled through my tears. "Nice to meet you both," I replied.

Then Annaya led me and Isha towards the car, followed by the grooms. Ekansh and I settled into one car, while Isha and Ranvijay jiju got into another.

The drive home was silent, but our emotions were loud. Tears were still in my eyes when I noticed Ekansh offering me his handkerchief. I took it and wiped my tears. He then offered me a bottle of water, which I initially refused. "Drink it," he said, commanding me. It felt odd, but I took the bottle and sipped the water.

"How can someone force another to drink water?" I thought to myself.

As we reached his house, Ekansh got out of the car and opened the door for me. I stepped out and was shocked by the scene in front of me. The house was beautifully decorated with lights and flowers, and there were people everywhere, welcoming us with smiles and blessings. The atmosphere was filled with the aroma of fresh flowers and the sound of traditional music. Despite my apprehension, there was a strange comfort in the warm reception

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