"The Fated Substitute"

Chapter 02

 Bela's POV

As soon as I saw her heading our way, I knew I didn't want to engage. My aunt had always been one for fake pleasantries and passive-aggressive remarks. So, I kept my eyes on the ground, hoping she'd miss me and move on. Unfortunately, my efforts didn't keep her from greeting my parents.

"Bhaisaab! It's been so long since you visited. We missed you so much!" My aunt, Tara, wore a sweet smile, but I knew it was just a mask for her bitter heart. She excelled at putting on a show, especially when it came to my family.

My dad, Ram Sharma, returned her smile, probably aware of the deceit but too gracious to acknowledge it. "We missed you too, Tara ji," he replied, matching her tone with a kindness that never wavered, even in the face of her insincerity.

Tara wasn't done with her performance, though. Her eyes flitted from my dad to my mom, Siya, with feigned enthusiasm. "How are you, Siya? And where's Bela? She didn't come?"

My mom barely had time to answer before Tara jumped in again, her words spilling out without waiting for a response. "I told you to bring Bela, didn't I? How else will Anjali get help with the wedding preparations? She's been missing Bela so much."

Missing me? That would be a first. I remained behind my dad, unnoticed for the moment, but her words stirred an old irritation in me. I knew what Tara really meant: she and her daughter, Maya, had been looking forward to showing off and using every opportunity to remind me how much more beautiful Anjali was in their eyes. They'd spent years ridiculing me for my appearance, and I'd heard enough of their taunts to last a lifetime.

Truthfully, I'd never shared most of their comments with anyone—certainly not with my parents. I didn't want to create a rift between them and my mom's family. The only person I'd confided in was my ex-boyfriend. He had been my safe space, my confidant, and I thought we'd have a future together. But that dream shattered last New Year's Eve, when I caught him with one of his colleagues. Since then, I've learned to keep my emotions even closer to the chest.

Now, as Tara's gaze swept over me, she seemed startled. "And who's this lovely young lady?" she asked, eyeing me up and down.

"Bhabhi, you don't recognize her?" my mom replied, her tone calm but with a glint in her eye. "This is Bela, of course."

I could see the shock register on Tara's face. She was trying to mask it, but it was clear she hadn't expected to see me looking this way. My time in London had given me a confidence she wasn't prepared for, and I had lost the weight that once made me a target for her and Maya's ridicule. I met her gaze, waiting for the inevitable comment about my skin tone—her favorite go-to insult. But before she could launch into her usual routine, someone called her away.

It was my uncle, Surya Pratap Verma, my mom's twin brother. He shouted across the courtyard, his voice booming, "Tara! Maya's looking for you; go see what she needs."

Tara rolled her eyes and reluctantly turned away from us. As she walked off, she leaned towards my uncle with a grin. "Guess who's here? Your sister and her family," she said, her tone dripping with excitement. She knew well enough that my uncle didn't share any warm feelings for us, and she was all too eager to stir the pot.

The moment my uncle turned to face us, his expression darkened. He looked at us with a mixture of disdain and anger, his eyes cold and accusing. "Why did you come here?" he demanded, glaring directly at my dad.

My mom's face fell, but she tried to reach out, calling softly, "Bhai, how have you been?"

He didn't look at her. He wouldn't even acknowledge her presence, his entire focus trained on my dad. My uncle's hostility cut through the air, and I could see how much it hurt my mom. She had once adored her twin brother; they had been inseparable. But that bond had shattered the day she chose my dad over the arranged marriage my uncle had planned for her.

They were supposed to have one of those picture-perfect sibling relationships. But, unfortunately, things didn't work out that way. My uncle had arranged for my mom to marry his best friend, a man she didn't love. Though she initially agreed to go along with it, she couldn't deny her feelings for my dad, Ram. Her love for him was genuine, and she'd tried to convince herself to marry someone else to preserve her relationship with her brother. But life had other plans.

The night before her wedding, my mom discovered she was pregnant with me. Overcome with a flood of emotions, she had decided to leave. It wasn't an easy decision; she knew it would break her brother's heart. But in her mind, it was better than the alternative—marrying someone she didn't love and facing a life filled with regret. She made up her mind and eloped with my dad, hoping to avoid further complications. She didn't tell anyone about her pregnancy, and that secret stayed hidden for years.

However, the fallout was devastating. When the wedding guests realized that the bride had disappeared, rumors spread like wildfire. The entire family faced humiliation, but the brunt of it fell on my grandfather. Unable to bear the shame and ridicule, he took his own life. That loss only deepened my uncle's hatred for my mom and dad, and he never forgave them. To him, my dad was the one who stole his sister, dishonored their family, and drove their father to his death.

For years, my uncle had refused to acknowledge our existence. But my Nani's gentle insistence and persistence managed to bridge some of the gap, at least enough for us to visit during significant family events. It was never easy, though. Every time we saw my uncle, the memories and unspoken accusations hung heavy in the air.

Standing there, I could feel the tension radiating between him and my parents. I wanted to step in, say something, but I also knew it wasn't my place. This was their story, their pain, and I was merely an echo of the choices they had made. I remained silent, hoping for some semblance of peace, but knowing that peace was unlikely to come.

My mom tried again, her voice gentle but firm. "Bhai, I understand your anger. I know I hurt you, and I regret it every day. But I didn't want to spend my life with someone I didn't love. I never meant for things to end this way."

"Then why did you come back?" my uncle snapped, his voice sharp and unforgiving. "You have your life. We don't need you here."

My dad tried to intercede, saying, "Surya, we're here for Nani. She invited us. If she didn't want us here, we wouldn't have come."

My uncle's eyes flicked to my dad, and I could see the barely concealed contempt in his gaze. "Of course, you'd say that. You took my sister away, destroyed our family, and now you waltz back in here like nothing happened. How do you even have the nerve?"

My dad didn't flinch. He had probably expected this reaction and was prepared to absorb it all, knowing that nothing he said would change my uncle's mind. My mom, on the other hand, looked like she was on the verge of tears. I could see the regret in her eyes, the pain she'd carried for years.

At that moment, I felt a surge of protectiveness for my parents. They weren't perfect, but they'd always tried to do what was best for me, even when it cost them dearly. I wasn't going to let my uncle tear them down anymore.

"Uncle, I know you're angry, and I know it's not my place to say this, but my parents came here for Nani. Not for you, not for anyone else. She's the only one who ever made us feel welcome, and she's the only reason we're here today."

My uncle's eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, a voice called from behind us. "Surya, enough," my Nani's voice was firm, yet gentle. "They're here because I wanted them here. This is my home, and I won't have you disrespecting my family."

My uncle hesitated, his jaw clenched, but he knew better than to argue with Nani. She commanded respect, even from him. He gave us one last glare before walking away, leaving us standing there, the silence heavy with unsaid words. I looked at my mom, who gave me a grateful smile, and at that moment, I knew that despite everything, we'd be okay. We were a family, scarred but unbroken, and we would face whatever came our way together.

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