His Forced Bride

17. His female best-friend

The Sangeet night was here, and with it came the festive chaos of lights, music, and laughter echoing through the family mansion. From the moment I stepped into the courtyard, draped in deep maroon and gold lehenga, the night felt magical, almost surreal.

The air was thick with anticipation, and every corner sparkled with fairy lights and flowers, filling the night with the scent of marigolds and roses. I felt more like a guest at my celebration—half lost, half nervous, and yet, somewhere deep inside, excited.

But all of that seemed to fade the moment I saw her— Palak. Aditya's best friend, dressed impeccably in a light green lehenga, was the center of attention, her laugh bright and eyes glinting with mischief. And sticking right by her side was Aditya. The sight of them together made my stomach twist in a way I couldn't explain.

Why did it bother me so much? Because you love him, idiot.

I tried to ignore it, convincing myself that it was silly. But each time I glanced over, there she was, her hand casually resting on his shoulder, laughing at something he said, looking up at him like he was the only one in the room. And to his credit, Aditya seemed oblivious, his usual relaxed, charming self, not noticing how each interaction between them made my heart sink just a little more.

I decided to bury myself in my role as the bride, greeting guests, exchanging pleasantries, and forcing a smile whenever I caught someone's eye. Yet every few moments, my gaze would drift back to Aditya and Palak. Each time, I told myself I was just keeping an eye on things—like any responsible bride-to-be.

But then, I noticed them sharing an inside joke, their heads close together, whispering and laughing. My pulse quickened, the mix of jealousy and helplessness bubbling up like an unwelcome companion. I felt a wave of insecurity wash over me.

Palak was stunning, funny, and had known Aditya for years. They had memories, a history I couldn't compete with.

What was I to him compared to her? My Insecurities took a toll on me.

---The dance floor came alive, the beats of dhol and traditional songs filling the night. One of my cousins nudged me, "Rohini, it's your night! Go dance with Aditya!"

{This was after all the dances}

The suggestion made me hesitate, but before I could gather the courage, Palak had already pulled Aditya onto the dance floor. She twirled, laughing as he spun her around, their familiarity so obvious it stung.

I watched, my hands twisting in the fabric of my lehenga, a pang of longing mixed with envy tightening in my chest. They looked so comfortable together, their steps perfectly in sync as if they'd danced together a hundred times before.

"Come on, Rohini!" someone from Aditya's side shouted, and to my surprise, he looked over, his eyes finding me in the crowd. For a moment, our gazes locked, and something in his expression softened, almost as if he could sense my discomfort. With a polite smile, he stepped back from Palak, making his way over to me, hand outstretched. "Are you just going to stand there all night?" he teased, his tone light, but his eyes warm, reassuring.

"I thought you were busy," I replied, my voice betraying a hint of my frustration.

"Oh? Busy?" he raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Didn't know I was off-limits to my fiancée."