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The preparations for Ruhani's Sangeet and mehendi ceremony were in full swing

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The preparations for Ruhani's Sangeet and mehendi ceremony were in full swing. The house was bustling with activity—her father was busy directing the decorators, instructing them where to place the flowers, lights, and other decorations. Everything had to be perfect for the big day. Inside her room, Ruhani was sitting in front of the mirror, getting ready, but her mind was elsewhere.

"Look at these earrings," Sneha said, holding them up to Ruhani's face. "Don’t they match perfectly with your dress?"

Ruhani only hummed in response, barely looking at them.

Sneha furrowed her brow but continued, trying to make her best friend look stunning. "And what about these bangles?" she asked again, holding a beautiful set of green and gold bangles.

Again, Ruhani simply nodded, her focus clearly drifting somewhere far away. That’s when Sneha paused, really looking at her friend for the first time.

"Ruhani, what’s wrong?" she asked softly, kneeling in front of her, concern etched on her face. "Is something bothering you?"

Ruhani looked at Sneha through the mirror, and before she could stop herself, a single tear slipped down her cheek. Sneha’s heart sank, and she immediately stood up, panicking.

"Why are you crying? Did someone say something to you? Was it Nishi? If she—"

"No, Sneha, stop," Ruhani interrupted in a whisper, her voice barely audible, as if even speaking hurt her. "No one said anything to me." Her voice was shaky, like she was on the verge of breaking down completely.

"Then what is it?" Sneha knelt again, gently taking Ruhani’s hands in hers. "Please, tell me what’s going on. You know you can talk to me."

Ruhani’s lips trembled as she tried to hold back her tears. She wanted to tell Sneha everything, but she couldn’t. How could she explain that on the day of her Sangeet, her thoughts weren’t consumed by the man she loved—Aryansh—but by someone else? The guilt was suffocating her, so heavy that she couldn’t breathe.

Sneha’s gentle voice pulled her back. "Ruhani, please don’t hold this in. Just tell me what’s wrong."

Tears spilled over as Ruhani finally let go, her body shaking. "I… I don’t know what to do, Sneha. I’ve made such a huge mistake… I’m a terrible person… I’ve committed an unforgivable sin…" she sobbed, her voice breaking.

Sneha was stunned. She had never seen Ruhani like this—so broken, so full of guilt. Her heart clenched painfully in her chest.

"What mistake? What sin?" Sneha asked, her voice laced with worry.

"The mall that day..." Ruhani’s voice wavered, unable to finish the sentence. The memory of what happened flashed in her mind like a nightmare.

"The mall? What happened there?" Sneha pressed gently, her heart racing.

𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐦 ||  18+Where stories live. Discover now