𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 (𝐎𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠)

chapter - 03

Author pov-

Hey di, why are you standing there on the balcony? asked Anika.
Are you happy, right di?

Yes, Anika, I am, Aashka said while looking down at her fingers.
It's just… maybe I'm nervous. Because tomorrow, I’m getting married.

Ufff di, don’t take stress! After your marriage, you can come here for a day or two. I will let you stay in my room... said Anika to her sister.

Excuse me?! What do you mean by ‘your’ room?! Aashka shouted and then started moving towards the bed.

Aashka ran after her, and soon, the two sisters jumped on the bed—boom!

And just like that, their pillow fight began.

Aashka, Anika! What are you both doing at this hour?! Aashka, did you forget that tomorrow is your wedding?!

Girls, go to sleep! Otherwise, you’ll get dark circles.

Fir ghumti rahna dark circles leke shaadi mai, log sochenge kis bhutni ki shaadi mai aa gye hain, aur uski behen bhi chudail se kam nahi lag rahi hai! Their mother scolded.
(“If you keep wandering around with dark circles, people at the wedding will think they’ve come to a ghost’s wedding, and they’ll say her sister looks no less than a witch!”)

Nahi, meri ek hi toh behen hai. Uski shaadi mai mera sundar dikhna usse bhi zyada zaroori hai! Anika argued, crossing her arms.
(“No, I have only one sister, and looking beautiful at her wedding is more important than even her!”)

Chup kar, Anika! Kuch bhi bolti hai tu! Chal ab sone de mujhe. Aashka huffed, turning away.
(“Shut up, Anika! You say anything! Now let me sleep.”)

---

Anika’s POV

I think something is fishy. Di is acting weird today. I don’t know what’s wrong, but I can sense something isn’t right.

I just hope everything goes well… she thought before sleep took over.

---

Aashka’s POV

Flashback starts…

Aashka dials Abhimanyu’s number.
Ring… Ring…

"Hello? Who’s this?" came Abhimanyu’s deep voice.

Just from hearing his manly voice, a shiver ran down her whole body.

You can do this, Aashka. You can. She mentally prepared herself.

"Hey, I’m Aashka… your fiancée," she finally spoke.

"What’s the matter? Do you need something?" Abhimanyu asked, his tone laced with irritation. "I already made things clear—I’m only marrying you for my family’s sake."

"Actually… I was thinking… let’s try to give this marriage a chance," Aashka suggested hesitantly.

"Look, Aashka, I already told you—don’t expect anything from this marriage. I was clear from the beginning. It would be better for you if you didn’t expect anything from me."

"Okay, Aashka, I’m hanging up. I have work to do," he said coldly before ending the call without giving her a chance to speak.

Aashka stared at her phone in disbelief.

It’s difficult to be in a marriage where your husband expects nothing from you. I always dreamed of having a caring, loving husband… but he doesn’t even want to accept me as his wife.

And tomorrow is my wedding…

Wow… my life is completely messed up.

Tears welled up in her eyes when suddenly her phone rang again…