SHATTERED ROSES

Chapter 18

I was pacing back and forth in my room, my mind racing with thoughts of the wedding. My phone buzzed, and I lazily grabbed it.

"Meet me in the backyard at midnight," his text read.

My heart skipped a beat as I read the message. What was he thinking.

I tried to calm myself down, but my nerves were on edge. I couldn't concentrate on anything else except the thought of meeting Vishal in secret.

As the hours ticked by, I felt like I was going to explode. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, and I couldn't focus.

Finally, the clock struck midnight, and I snuck out of my room, trying not to make a sound. I made my way to the backyard, my heart pounding in my chest.

Vishal was already there, waiting for me in the shadows. He looked so handsome, so matured, so mysterious, and I felt my heart skip a beat as he smiled at me.

"Hey," he whispered, pulling me close. "I've been waiting for you."

I felt a rush of excitement as he took my hand, leading me deeper into the backyard.

"We need to talk," he said, his voice low and urgent. "We need to figure out how we're going to do this."

I nodded, my mind racing with thoughts of what he was going to say.

"I've been thinking," Vishal said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "We can slip away during the reception, when everyone is distracted by the music and dancing."

"Vishal, what are you talking about?" I asked, my mind reeling in shock. "Eloping? Are you serious?"

Vishal nodded, his eyes shining with excitement. "Yes, Siya, I'm completely serious. Think about it - we can leave all this drama behind and start fresh, just the two of us. We can go somewhere new, somewhere exciting, and build a life together."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "But...but what about Rachit? What about our families?"

Vishal waved his hand dismissively. "Rachit will get over it. He's always been emotionless, and he'll find someone else in no time. And our families...well, they'll come around once they see how happy we are."

I shook my head, trying to process what Vishal was saying. "I don't know, Vishal. This is all so sudden. I need time to think."

Vishal took my hand, his grip tight. "Siya, we don't have time. The wedding is tomorrow. If we don't do something now, you'll be stuck in this marriage forever."

I pulled my hand away, feeling overwhelmed. "Vishal, I can't just run away from Rachit. That's not who I am."

Vishal's face fell, but he didn't give up. "Siya, please. Think about how much we love each other. Think about how much we want to be together. Is it really worth sacrificing our happiness for the sake of one person?"

I looked at him, my heart racing with uncertainty. A part of me wanted to scream "yes", to run away with Vishal and start a new life together. But another part of me was scared, scared of the unknown, scared of hurting Rachit and our families.

"We'll make our way to the car, and then we'll be free," Vishal whispered, his lips inches from mine.

I hesitated, my mind racing with doubts. "Vishal, I don't know if I can do this. It's going to hurt Rachit so much."

Vishal's expression turned persuasive. "Siya, listen to me. Rachit is never serious about anything. He's always been unseriouse, and he'll forget about you the moment you are gone for few months."

I bit my lip, unsure. "But what if he doesn't? What if he really loves me more than we think?"

Vishal snorted. "Rachit doesn't know the meaning of love. He's only in love with the idea of being in love. Trust me, Siya, he'll move on in no time."

I looked up at Vishal, searching for reassurance. His eyes were confident, convincing.

"Are you sure?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Vishal nodded. "Absolutely. And think about it, Siya. We're meant to be together. We're the ones who truly love each other. Rachit is just a obstacle in our way."

I took a deep breath, my heart still racing with doubts. But Vishal's words were persuasive, and I found myself nodding in agreement.

"Okay," I said, my voice firming up. "Let's do it. Let's follow our hearts and be together."

Vishal's face lit up with a triumphant smile. "That's my girl," he whispered, pulling me close. "We'll be happy together, Siya. I promise."

Just as we were about to seal our plan with a hug, we heard a noise behind us. We turned to see Rachit walking towards us, a smile on his face.

"Hey, guys! What's going on?" he asked, oblivious to the tension.

Vishal and I quickly pulled apart, trying to compose themselves. "Just discussing the wedding details," Vishal said, trying to sound casual.

Rachit nodded, his eyes shining with trust. "I knew I could count on you two to make this wedding perfect. You're my rock, Siya, and Vishal, you're my brother."

Vishal forced a smile, while I felt a pang of guilt. How could we deceive Rachit like this?

But Rachit didn't seem to suspect anything, even when he walked in on us hugging. "Ah, you two are just being emotional, I get it," he said, chuckling. "It's a big day tomorrow."

Vishal and I exchanged a look, our hearts racing with excitement and nerves. We knew we had to be careful, but we were determined to follow our hearts, no matter the cost.