Marked By Darkness

Chapter 81- Bound by Destiny

Esha's POV...

The morning was quieter than I expected, but my mind was buzzing. I couldn't stop thinking about everything Anshi had told me last night about Ruhi and Sounak. I knew how much Ruhi was struggling with the fact that Sounak wasn't coming to her wedding, but she needed all of us to stand by her, especially now.

I couldn't help but feel that, somehow, Sounak should be there. As much as Ruhi had tried to hide her feelings, I knew she was still hoping for him to show up, even if it was just as a friend. So, without thinking too much, I grabbed my phone and sent him a message.

"Sounak, I know things are complicated, but please, at least come to Ruhi's wedding. She needs everyone's support, even if it's just as a friend."

I pressed send before I could second-guess myself. Ruhi needed all the support she could get.

Suddenly, I heard Anshi's voice behind me. "What are you doing?"

I quickly hid my phone behind my back, trying to act casual. "Nothing," I said, my voice barely hiding the tension.

Anshi narrowed her eyes, not buying it for a second. "Nothing? Then how come everything's happening so quickly? It's like everything changed overnight."

I gave a quick nod, trying to hide my nerves. "Yeah, it really did," I said, knowing that I wasn't exactly telling the truth.

Anshi didn't press it further, but the concern in her eyes told me she noticed something was off.

---

Ruhan's POV...

The room was still, but my mind was anything but. I stood before the mirror, adjusting my tie for the tenth time, not really seeing it. James and Elijah were chatting behind me, trying to get me to relax, but I couldn't shake the nervous tension in my chest. Tomorrow was the wedding day, and I was still trying to wrap my head around how we got here.

"Man, just breathe," Elijah said, slapping my back lightly. "She's going to be amazing. Trust me."

I nodded, though my mind wasn't so much focused on that. It was focused on Ruhi, on how she'd be feeling, on what she was thinking. Was she really ready for this? I couldn't help but wonder.

James started helping me adjust the final details of my outfit. "You look sharp, Ruhan. No turning back now."

I tried to focus on what he was saying, but my thoughts kept drifting back to her. She had to be just as conflicted as I was. But I couldn't afford to let that distract me. I had to do this for her, for all of us.

---

The room was filled with a sense of anticipation as Esha helped Anshi adjust Ruhi's dress, making sure everything was perfect. The soft rustle of fabric filled the silence, but there was an undercurrent of tension. Ruhi had been so quiet all morning, lost in her own thoughts, and it was clear she was trying to hold herself together. Anshi was doing her best to keep the mood light, but even she couldn't hide the worry in her eyes.

As Esha adjusted the final details of Ruhi's veil, the door opened, and Anshi's mom stepped inside. Her face lit up when she saw Ruhi. "Oh, you look so beautiful, my dear," she said, her voice warm and full of affection.

Ruhi's face softened at the sight of her, but they could see the tears beginning to gather in her eyes. She tried to hold them back, but they slipped down her cheeks anyway. Anshi's mom stepped forward, wiping the tears away gently with the edge of her sleeve.

"Don't cry, sweetie," Anshi's mom whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You're going to be just fine." She wrapped her arms around Ruhi in a warm, motherly hug, holding her as if she were her own daughter. "I'm so proud of you."