Author's POV,
Prachi sat on the couch, her phone in her hands, but the screen might as well have been blank. Her heart was racing, pounding against her ribs with an intensity that made it hard to breathe. She scrolled mindlessly, the usual comfort of her phone offering no relief from the thoughts swirling in her mind. The room around her felt distant, as though it was a movie set, with her mother in the kitchen and her father on the couch, watching TV, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside her.
The ticking of the wall clock echoed in her ears, each second amplifying her anxiety. She had agreed to something she wasn't ready for—something that felt too overwhelming, too fast. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions—fear, guilt, confusion—all tangled together, suffocating her. She thought of Sarthak's proposal, the fake marriage plan, and how she had nodded, barely able to think straight at that moment. How did I get here?
Her thumb hovered over Sarthak's name in her contacts. She could back out now. She could call him, tell him she wasn't ready. She could stop this before it went any further. Her chest tightened at the thought, but her legs moved almost on their own, pushing her off the couch. She stood, still in a daze, her mind screaming at her to take action. But before she could move another step, the doorbell rang, shattering the fragile stillness.
The sound jolted her like a shockwave, her heart skipping a beat. Her mother, Preeti, emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. "Who could that be at this hour?" she muttered, making her way to the door.
The knot in Prachi's stomach tightened as she stood frozen, her mind barely registering the events around her. She had a sinking feeling she knew who it was. When Preeti opened the door, her cheerful voice confirmed her worst fears.
"Oh! Srestha and Sarthak!" Preeti's voice rang with surprise and warmth. "Come inside, come inside."
Prachi's trance shattered as her mother called out their names. Her pulse quickened, and a cold sweat broke out on her skin. No... no, not now. Her mind raced, but her body refused to move. She watched, numb, as Srestha and Sarthak stepped inside. The moment felt surreal, like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.
The room grew smaller as they entered, Sarthak's presence filling it with an intensity that made Prachi's heart hammer even harder. She swallowed, her throat dry, her hands trembling at her sides. What do I say? What can I say?
They all settled into the living room, and Prachi's limbs felt heavy as she forced herself to sit down, her mind still spinning. Preeti quickly brought out snacks, a beaming smile on her face as she set the tray on the table. The air was thick with anticipation, and Prachi felt it pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Preeti's curiosity got the better of her as she asked, "What brings you two here so suddenly? Is everything alright?" Her tone was light, but her eyes were filled with questions.
Srestha opened her mouth to respond, but Sarthak cut her off. His voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of authority that made Prachi's stomach churn. "Aunty," he began, glancing briefly at his mother before turning his gaze to Preeti, "I brought Maa here because I have something important to discuss."
Preeti nodded, her curiosity now piqued. "Go on," she urged, sitting down beside Naveen, who had muted the TV and was watching the scene unfold with silent interest.
Sarthak took a breath, then continued, his voice steady, controlled. "Aunty, Maa, Prachi and I have both decided to marry." His words hung in the air like a bombshell, and the room fell into a stunned silence.
Everyone looked at Prachi for confirming Sarthak statement. She could feel everyone's eyes on her, waiting for her to confirm, but her mind was reeling. Her body went rigid, her heart dropping into her stomach. She hadn't expected him to announce it so bluntly, so soon. It felt like the walls were closing in, and she wanted to scream, to deny it, to run away. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst from her chest. Nonetheless, Prachi nodded, unable to speak.
