One day, One love

Behind the Bridal Veil

Manisha sat in her new room, her heart pounding beneath the heavy, intricately embroidered bridal dress. The silence in the room felt suffocating, amplifying her nerves. She had imagined this night so many times, but now that it was here, all she felt was a strange mix of apprehension and uncertainty. Excitement seemed like a distant emotion—she was too overwhelmed to feel anything but the weight of the day and the reality that lay ahead.

Meanwhile, Abhishek was battling his own set of nerves. As he walked down the corridor towards the room where Manisha waited, he could feel his palms getting clammy. This wasn't just any night; it was the night, the one that marked the start of their new life together. Just as he was about to reach the door, he was ambushed by Riya and a group of cousins, all with mischievous grins plastered on their faces.

"Hold it right there, mister!" Riya's voice rang out, filled with playful authority. "You didn't think you could just walk in there without paying the toll, did you?"

Abhishek stopped in his tracks, trying to suppress a laugh. "Come on, Riya, let me through. You know I'm already nervous as hell."

"Oh, we know," one of his cousins chimed in, waggling her eyebrows. "But rules are rules, Bhaiya. Hand over the cash, or you'll be spending your first night as a married man out here with us!"

"Yeah, and trust me, we're much better company than your bride in there," another cousin teased, causing the whole group to burst into laughter.

Abhishek rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help but grin. "Alright, alright, how much do you want?"

Riya made a show of pretending to think it over. "Hmm, let's see... How about you empty that wallet of yours and we call it even?"

"Extortion!" Abhishek declared dramatically, pulling out his wallet and handing over the cash with a mock sigh. "Here, take it all. Just let me through before I pass out from the nerves."

Riya grabbed the money and winked at him. "Consider this your official entry fee to married life. Now go, before we change our minds!"

The cousins finally stepped aside, giggling and teasing as they watched Abhishek make his way to the door. As he reached for the handle, one of them called out, "Good luck, Abhishek! You'll need it!"

He shook his head with a smile, but as the door clicked shut behind him, the laughter and chatter faded away, leaving him alone with his thoughts—and with Manisha.

Inside the room, Manisha's heart skipped a beat at the sound of the door creaking open. She had been trying to prepare herself for this moment, but as Abhishek stepped inside, she realized nothing could have truly prepared her. She kept her gaze down, her hands trembling slightly as they rested on her lap.

Abhishek paused, taking in the sight of her sitting there. The tension in the room was palpable, both of them too aware of how much their lives had changed in the span of a single day. He took a deep breath and tried to find the right words, but they all seemed to stick in his throat.

"Manisha," he finally said, his voice soft but filled with the same uncertainty she felt. "I... I guess this is it, huh?"

She nodded, still unable to look at him. "Yeah... I guess so."

For a moment, they both just stood there, the silence stretching between them like a vast chasm. Abhishek scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "You know, if this was a movie, I'd probably be making some grand romantic speech right about now."

Manisha managed a small smile. "And if this was a movie, I'd probably be swooning."

They both chuckled, the tension easing just a little. Abhishek took a cautious step closer. "But since it's not a movie... maybe we could just... I don't know, talk? Or maybe just sit?"