The Unwanted Royal Marriage

45. Loved. Past tense.

Author's pov

The air was thick with grief as Meera's body was carried to the cremation grounds. The mournful cries of family and friends echoed through the otherwise silent atmosphere, a reflection of the weight of loss that had settled over them. Adhyay walked behind the procession, his footsteps slow, heavy, and uncertain. His eyes were red from lack of sleep, from the hours of weeping, but the rawness of his pain hadn't lessened. He kept his gaze fixed on the ground, as if trying to keep the world at bay, trying to hold on to the fragile thread of control.

Meera's family, standing a few paces behind him, was equally distraught. Her parents, unable to stop their tears, clung to each other, finding some small semblance of comfort in their shared sorrow. Her brother Abhimaan walked alongside them, his face a mask of guilt and anguish. Shivani, her best friend, was at the front, her tears flowing freely, unable to hold back the hurt. The rest of the family followed in a somber procession, each of them consumed by the grief of losing someone so vibrant, so full of life.

The cremation grounds were quiet when they arrived, the stillness punctuated by the sound of the fire crackling in the distance. The pyres, ready to receive the bodies of the departed, waited in silence. Adhyay stood there, transfixed, as he watched the final preparations for Meera's cremation.

Everything felt surreal. His mind couldn't grasp the reality of it—the thought that his wife, the woman who had been his anchor, his everything, was now gone. And worse, taken from him in such a brutal way. He kept seeing her face—her smile, her laughter—flashes of memories he couldn't hold on to long enough before they faded into the shadows of grief.

As the body was placed on the pyre, the atmosphere grew even heavier. The fire that would soon consume her body was a final, painful goodbye. Adhyay stepped forward, his feet dragging, unwilling to let go, but knowing deep down that he had no choice. The ritual began, the priest chanting prayers for the departed soul. Adhyay stood by, his hands clenched into fists, as the fire began to rise, the flames licking at the wood, gradually consuming it.

Maa sa, standing next to Baba sa, clutched her husband's arm for support. Her face was ashen, the deep sorrow evident in her eyes. She had never imagined that something like this would happen, that her son's life would be forever changed by the loss of the woman he loved so deeply.

Sarthak, who had been silently observing, stood a little farther away, his face filled with a mix of grief and concern. He knew the storm that was brewing inside Adhyay, the rage and the helplessness. He had known the bond between Adhyay and Meera, and this loss was something that would shake him to his core. But there was also a sense of determination in Sarthak's eyes. He knew that they would uncover the truth behind Meera's death, no matter how much it would cost.

As the fire consumed the pyre, Adhyay's legs finally gave way. He fell to his knees, his entire body trembling with the weight of his sorrow. His eyes were fixed on the fire, on the woman who had been his world now reduced to ashes. The tears that had been held back for so long finally flowed freely. His sobs were muffled by the crackling of the fire, but to him, it felt as though the world had come to an end.

"Meera," he whispered, the word slipping from his lips in a hoarse breath. "I promise I'll find them. I'll make them pay. I'll make sure your death isn't in vain. Just wait for me. I'll bring you justice."

The fire crackled louder, as if responding to his vow, and the family stood together in solemn silence, each of them reflecting on the life that had been lost, the betrayal that had taken place, and the uncertain road ahead. Meera's body may have been consumed by the flames, but the anger and the determination in Adhyay's heart would burn even brighter. The battle for justice had just begun, and he would stop at nothing until the ones responsible for her death paid the price.