AN UNUSUAL RELATIONSHIP

'BOUND OF FATE'

HER: "How did I end up here? I barely remember agreeing to this. I barely feel anything at all."

HIM: "This marriage is not just a burden for me; it was a fate the bride hadn't chosen either."

A/U POV

Inside a quiet room away from the crowd, Yashna stood in front of a mirror, her bridal lehenga shimmering in the soft light. Her eyes were empty, reflecting the pain she had tried so hard to bury. She reached up, touching the intricate jewelry adorning her neck, her fingers trembling slightly. This wasn't how she'd imagined her wedding day.

Yashna POV

"How did I end up here? I barely remember agreeing to this. I barely feel anything at all."

The vivid image of shattered glass, the smell of burnt rubber, and Aarav's final words echoed in her mind, almost paralyzing her mid-step. For a brief moment, she felt the pang of that night-the night she lost him. She closed her eyes, remembering her past with him. A tear fell, but she composed herself. Despite the pain, she focused on facing the crowd.

Akash stood at the mandap, his heart heavy as he surveyed the decorated decorations and the excited chatter of the guests. He hadn't wanted this marriage; it felt like a cage he was being forced into. As the priest began the ceremony, he tried to focus, but his mind was clouded with memories he couldn't escape.


Akash POV

"This marriage is not just a burden for me; it was a fate the bride hadn't chosen either."

When Yashna appeared, the atmosphere shifted. She walked down the aisle with a grace that momentarily caught him off guard. Her eyes were downcast, a veil of uncertainty shadowing her features. There was something in her vulnerability that stirred a faint echo of his past-a time when warmth and joy felt real before everything had crumbled away. He couldn't help but wonder why she looked so unhappy as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders. Is she feeling the same suffocating pressure he's having?

As she reached him, he forced himself to maintain his composure. "Let's just get this over with," he murmured, the words escaping his lips with a deep breath.


A/U POV

Yashna stood at the altar, avoiding his gaze. The priest chanted ancient prayers as they exchanged garlands. She felt exposed under Akash's gaze as if he could see her hidden broken pieces.

The priest's chants reverberated in his ears, but they felt distant. When it was time for the sindoor, he reached for the small container, his fingers trembling slightly. Dipping his fingers into the red powder, he fought against the rush of memories flooding back to him-her smile, her laughter, the way love had once felt.

Leaning forward, he placed the sindoor on Yashna's forehead, his heart racing. "It's just a tradition," he said softly, trying to keep his tone neutral.

Aarav's final words echoed in Yashna's mind. Yashna looked at him, her eyes filled with tears and a faint hint of hope. She wasn't ready to trust him or anyone, not yet.

For a brief second, he caught her gaze, and in that moment, something unguarded passed between them-an acknowledgment of shared pain.

Next, he picked up the mangalsutra, feeling its weight-a reminder of the promises he had shied away from. As he clasped it around her neck, he felt an urge to offer her comfort. He almost said it to himself. "Just... don't expect too much from me." He wanted to tell her that he understood-that they were both trapped in this, but the words wouldn't come.

Yashna took a deep breath, sensing the first hints of speaking. Not ready to open her heart, she decided to take things one day at a time.

/AUTHOR/
HOPE YOU ALL LIKED THE FIRST CHAPTER... IT'S MY FIRST TIME WRITING A STORY. SORRY IF THERE'S ANY GRAMMAR WRONG.