Entwined Vows

Chapter 21

Avani Pov
The whole day at college was nothing short of exhausting. I was tired of explaining to everyone that I was not married to Vikrant.

Every time I denied it, a part of me shattered. I wished I could simply say, "yes, I am married to Vikrant." But maybe, in this lifetime, that was an impossible dream.

I knew Vikrant was suffering too. Everyone was bombarding him with questions about the marriage and I could see the pain in his eyes every time we crossed paths. There was no way to make things right. It was easier to avoid him, even though it hurt us both.

I left college early that day, my emotions in turmoil. I decided to go to my parents' house-not to see them, but to visit Dadu. I hadn't seen him since the wedding and he was the only reason I had agreed to this nightmare of a marriage.

My parents had threatened me, warning that they would harm Dadu if I didn't marry Ranvijay. I knew them too well-they would do anything for money. Dadu was their golden ticket and I was their pawn for their illegal business.

If I hadn't agreed, who knows what they might have done? Married or not, my life was a miserable wreck.

When I reached home, I was greeted by the sight of Riya sitting comfortably on the couch, chatting and laughing with my mother as if they hadn't torn my life apart.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I demanded in a harsh, cold tone. Both of them jumped, startled by my presence. They could see the storm brewing in my eyes-the anger, the betrayal.

"Avani beta, let me explain why she's here-" my mother started, her voice feeble.

"Explain? I don't want to hear a single excuse!" I cut her off sharply. "I want her out of this house! Because of her, my entire life has been turned upside down, and yet here you are, sitting with her like nothing happened!" My voice rose with each word, the anger pouring out of me like a dam breaking.

I turned to Riya, who was visibly trembling, fear etched on her face. Good. I wanted her to feel the weight of what she'd done.

"You have no right to tell my daughter to leave this house! It's her house too!" my mother snapped, stepping in front of Riya protectively.

Her words made me laugh-a bitter, hollow laugh that echoed through the room.

"Your daughter? Fine," I sneered. "Then why don't you ask your daughter why she ran away from her own wedding day?"

All eyes turned to Riya. Her lips trembled, her face pale. She stammered, "I-I didn't wa-want to get mar-married... so I ra-ran away."

I had heard enough. Without thinking, I marched toward her and slapped her across the face. The sound echoed like a gunshot.

My mother gasped, frozen in shock. Riya clutched her cheek, tears spilling down her face. "How dare you-"

My mother raised her hand to slap me, but I caught her wrist mid-air, gripping it tightly.

"I can dare much more," I hissed, my voice low and venomous. "And nothing is stopping me, Mrs. Patel. Remember that."

My mother's defiance crumbled, fear flickering in her eyes. I let go of her hand and turned toward the door.

I paused, looking back over my shoulder. "I stopped considering you my parents a long time ago. But today, whatever little respect I had left for you is gone."

Without waiting for a response, I left.

---

As I walked away from the house, my thoughts spiraled back to the life I had been forced into. The weight of my choices pressed heavily on me, suffocating me.

I had become Ranvijay's wife-a bride he hadn't chosen and a woman who didn't belong to him. I was nothing but a replacement for Riya, the bride who had run away. And yet, here I was, bound by vows I never wanted to make.

Every time I looked at Ranvijay, I was reminded of Vikrant-his brother, the man I loved. His presence was a cruel reminder of what I could never have.

Vikrant and I had shared something unspoken, something pure. But life had cruelly torn us apart, replacing our dreams with a reality neither of us wanted.

I knew Vikrant suffered too. I saw it in his eyes, the questions he didn't dare to ask. Why had I married his brother? Why had I betrayed him?

But how could I tell him the truth? That I had sacrificed my happiness for Dadu's safety? That I had to choose saving myself? That I couldn't do anything for the man i loved?

As tears burned my eyes, I realized the truth of my misery. Married or not, my heart would always belong to Vikrant.

And that was a pain I would carry forever.

Unnse mohobat iss qadar hogain,
Ki duniya bhi  beqadar bangain,
kismat ka bhi  khel tha sayad,
Ki jiske sirf chrere se humare kubwaabo mai bhi roshani hagain,
Kyu Aaj wahi assuo ki wajah bangain.

(I fell in love with them so deeply, 
That the world lost all its worth. 
Perhaps it was the play of fate, 
That the one whose mere face lit up my dreams, 
Is now the very reason for my tears.)
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