Vows Of Vengeance

Chapter 1

In the heart of Delhi, amidst a breath-taking display of marigolds and shimmering silks, the Diwan mansion pulsed with vibrant chaos. Guests, adorned in their finest jewels, exchanged excited whispers as the strains of a shehnai filled the air. The air crackled with anticipation beneath the vibrantly coloured mandap, a four-poster structure adorned with marigolds and cascading silk. The rhythmic chanting of the pandit, mingled with the joyous melody of the shehnai.

Mrityunjay, the groom, sat regally on a raised platform. He was a vision in his sherwani, a long embroidered coat with head adorned in a jewelled turban.

Aisha, the beautiful daughter of Siya and Raghav, was set to marry Mrityunjay, the son of the esteemed Raisinghania family.

However, amidst the joyous celebrations, a sense of unease loomed over Siya as Aisha, the jewel of the Diwan household, was nowhere to be seen. Her exquisite bridal lehenga lay abandoned on the bed, a heart-breaking reminder of the ceremony that was supposed to take place any minute. As her eyes darted around the room, it landed on a crisp white envelope on the dressing table. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she unfolded the paper. She held the letter left on the dressing table with trembling hands.

A snippet of the letter peeked from beneath Siya's trembling fingers:

"...love with someone else & only want to marry him..."

The words hung heavy in the air, leaving more unsaid than they revealed.

Who was this man who had stolen Aisha's heart? Was it a childhood sweetheart, a forbidden love, or someone she met recently?

As possibilities swirled in Siya's mind, a knot of worry began tightening in her stomach.

Raghav Diwan went after Siya as she was taking forever to bring Aisha to the mandap.

"Siya? What's taking so long? The guests are getting restless."

He stopped short, his eyes falling on the abandoned clothes and the crumpled letter in Siya's hand.

"Raghav...Aisha is nowhere to be found."

"Instead I found this." Siya cried, showing the letter.

Raghav stepped forward, took the letter from Siya's hand. His face was draining of colour as he scanned the contents. A single line stood out:

"I can't marry Mrityunjay. I'm in love with someone else."

After reading the letter he began to call Aisha whose phone was switched off.

As the wedding ceremony commenced, chaos erupted. Panic seized the families and guests as the bride was late to the mandap. In the midst of the commotion, whispers of Aisha's disappearance began to spread like wildfire, casting a shadow of doubt over the grand affair.

Riddhima Raisinghania, a woman known for her sharp tongue and icy demeanour, stormed into the room to look for Aisha herself. The sight of the chaos & missing bride ignited a fire in her eyes. Her scarlet saree matching with her current temperament. She called her husband Vansh Raisinghania after reading the letter.

Vansh went after Riddhima as he heard her calling for him. Riddhima handed the letter over to Vansh.

"What is the meaning of this?" Vansh demanded, his voice laced with venom.

"Do you think my son's life is a joke? If your daughter didn't want to marry, then what was the need of all this nonsense." Riddhima said equally enraged.

Seeing his parents' disappearance Mrityunjay stood up from the mandap & also went in the same direction. Mrityunjay arrived when he heard his mother. He was shocked.

Riddhima gave him the letter saying, "Look what that characterless girl did."

The letter:

Mom, Dad I'm very sorry but I can't lie to myself anymore. I can't marry Mrityunjay. I'm in love with someone else & only want to marry him. I am sorry for my decision but I'm not sorry about my love. Please forgive me if you ever can.

Your daughter,

Aisha

After reading the letter Mrityunjay, stood bewildered with burning rage and a deep sense of humiliation.

The tension in the room hung heavy, like a monsoon cloud threatening to burst. Aisha's disappearance had cast a shadow over the grand wedding, leaving everyone bewildered and anxious. The letter she left behind had ignited a storm of emotions, and the Diwan family was caught in its tempest.

Suddenly, the heavy door of the room creaked open, drawing everyone's attention. Amidst the pandemonium, a mysterious woman entered the room, her presence shrouded in enigma, her eyes held a steely glint. She was dressed in a sharp pantsuit, a stark contrast to the vibrant colours of the wedding.

Siya, was particularly startled by the entrance, exclaiming her name in a mixture of surprise and recognition. "Aradhya!"

Siya's gasp cut through the tense silence. Aradhya, a name both familiar and foreign to the Diwans.

However, Aradhya's first words were direct and pointed, towards Siya.

"Meri Aisha kaha hai?" (Where is my Aisha?) She demanded, her voice a low growl.