Rekindled Love

9. new beginning, new feelings?

The Mohan and Kawale families were preparing for what was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but beneath the surface of smiles and laughter lay a complicated web of tension, regret, and unspoken pasts. The grand halls of the Mohan mansion were adorned with colorful drapes, fresh marigold garlands, and twinkling fairy lights. Traditional music played in the background as relatives and friends bustled about, all preparing for the wedding that would unite two prominent families in Mumbai.

But the bride and groom, Abhyudaya and Gautami, were far from feeling any joy. They were two people with a history—a history filled with misunderstandings, anger, and a bitter parting that they both would rather forget. Yet here they were, agreeing to marry for the sake of their families' happiness, caught between the expectations of tradition and the weight of their unresolved past.

Inside his room, Abhyudaya stood still, his face hardened with a mix of emotions. He wore a regal cream sherwani embroidered with golden threads and a matching turban, the epitome of a handsome groom. But his mind was elsewhere. His eyes stared blankly at his reflection in the mirror, his jaw clenched.

Aditya and Nishchay, his best friends, watched him with concern. Aditya, the more cheerful of the two, tried to lighten the mood.
"Man, you look like you’re heading to a battlefield, not your wedding."

Abhyudaya’s face remained stoic. "Feels like one,"
he muttered.
"I don’t know what I’m doing. Gautami and I… after everything, how can we just pretend like nothing happened?"

Nishchay, leaning against the wall, crossed his arms.
"Bro, it’s not just you. It’s her too. You both agreed to this for your families. Maybe it’s time to let the past go."

"Let the past go?"
Abhyudaya scoffed.
"You remember how things ended, right? The fights, the shouting…"

Aditya sighed.
"Yeah, we remember. But do you want to live in that past forever? Or try to find a way to move on?"

Abhyudaya stayed silent, his thoughts racing. He knew his friends were right. The bitterness he felt toward Gautami wasn’t healthy, but how could he simply forgive and forget?

In another wing of the mansion, Gautami sat in front of her vanity, her heart heavy with dread. She was dressed in a beautiful red and gold bridal lehenga that shone with intricate embroidery. Her long hair was braided and adorned with jasmine flowers, and her face was carefully made up to perfection. But her eyes, deep and thoughtful, carried a storm within them.

Her best friends, Sakshi and Aarohi, hovered around her, sensing her inner turmoil. Aarohi, always the more sensitive one, touched her shoulder gently.
"Gautami, you okay?"

Gautami sighed, her voice strained. "No, Aarohi, I’m not okay. I don’t think I can do this."

Sakshi, who was also Abhyudaya’s sister, bit her lip nervously.
"I know things are… complicated between you and Bhai. But maybe this is a chance to make things right?"

"Make things right?"
Gautami echoed bitterly.
"After everything that’s happened between us? I don’t even know if we can stand in the same room without wanting to rip each other’s heads off."

Aarohi squeezed her hand.

"Look, I know it’s hard. But both of you agreed to this. Maybe there’s still something worth saving?"

Gautami glanced at her friend and then at Sakshi, who looked as conflicted as she felt. She knew they meant well, but the idea of mending bridges with Abhyudaya felt like trying to rebuild a house on shaky ground. Still, for the sake of their families, she was willing to try.