Married to My Ex

19 | The Wedding Day 💒

Ashi's POV:

The morning of the wedding arrived in a whirlwind of activity. My room was a sea of lehengas, jewelry boxes, and makeup brushes.

"You're going to look like a queen," Rubina said, fastening my necklace.

I managed a small smile. "Let's hope the king doesn't run away."

She frowned. "Ashi, you've got to stop saying things like that. Vansh clearly loves you. He has change now. Anyone with eyes can see it."

I sighed, avoiding her gaze. "It's not that simple, Rubina. There's... history. I don't think I can move"

"History doesn't matter if you're both willing to build a future together," she said firmly.

Her words stayed with me as I sat in front of the mirror, watching my transformation. When I finally stood up, fully dressed in my red and gold bridal lehenga, I barely recognized myself.

Vansh's POV:

The moment I saw her walk down the aisle, my breath caught in my throat. She was... radiant. No, radiant wasn't the right word. She was otherworldly, like a goddess descending from the heavens.

As she approached the mandap, our eyes met briefly. There was a flicker of something in her gaze—hesitation, maybe, or fear—but it was gone in an instant.

The priest began chanting the mantras, and we sat down side by side. The rituals blurred together in a haze of firelight and flowers. But the moment I tied the mangalsutra around her neck, sealing our bond, everything felt real.

Ashi's POV:

As Vansh filled my parting with vermillion, my heart was a whirlwind of emotions. This was it. We were officially husband and wife.

The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur. The reception, the photos, the endless congratulations from relatives—it was overwhelming. But through it all, Vansh stayed by my side, steady and reassuring.

When we finally reached his house for the griha pravesh, I felt a strange mix of nervousness and anticipation. This was a new chapter, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it.

The heavy wooden door creaked open, revealing the warmth of Vansh's family home. The air smelled faintly of incense and freshly bloomed jasmine, an oddly comforting combination. As I stepped inside, I felt the weight of all those eyes on me—the relatives, the neighbors, the friends. Their smiles were polite, but I could sense the curiosity behind them.

Vansh's hand, strong and steady, rested on my lower back, guiding me forward. His presence felt like a safety net in a sea of uncertainty, but I couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider, stepping into a life that wasn't quite my own yet.

"You're home now," Vansh whispered, his voice low and soothing, as if he could sense my unease. His words should have comforted me, but they only intensified the weight of the moment. Home. What did that mean for us?

We were both strangers in this new reality. Strangers bound by a sacred promise, and yet, nothing more than that.

Vansh's POV:

The moment Ashi stepped into the house, I could see the hesitation in her eyes. She looked beautiful—more beautiful than I had ever imagined—but the uncertainty in her demeanor made my chest tighten. I knew she was scared. I knew she was probably wondering how she got here. Hell, I was wondering the same thing.

I had wanted this day for so long. I had wanted Ashi in my life, by my side, for years. But now that it was real, I couldn't help but question everything. Was this really what she wanted? Or was it simply a result of duty and promises made long before we even had a say?

Her hand felt so small in mine, a reminder of the delicate balance we were now walking on. "Are you okay?" I asked quietly, trying to gauge her thoughts.

Ashi's eyes flickered up to meet mine, and for the briefest moment, I saw a flicker of something I couldn't quite place—fear, confusion, maybe even regret. But then she quickly masked it with a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm fine," she said, the words soft but certain. But I didn't believe her. I could feel the tension radiating from her, as if she was waiting for something, or someone, to tell her this was all real.

We stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by our families, yet somehow still so alone. I knew I had to play my part, to be the bride everyone expected me to be. But beneath the surface, doubts gnawed at me. How do you build a life with someone when you're unsure of the foundation?

Vansh's hand remained on my back, warm and steady, like an anchor in the storm. Yet, I couldn't help but wonder if it was all just a performance for him too—if he, too, was pretending to be fine when inside he was battling the same doubts.

"Everything's going to be okay," I whispered to myself, as much to convince myself as to reassure the universe.

But the truth was, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know what the future held, or whether I could truly learn to love him in the way he deserved. I only knew one thing for certain: I couldn't turn back now.

Vansh's POV:

Her whisper seemed to hang in the air, and I couldn't help but feel like she was speaking to both of us. Her voice was soft, yet it carried a weight that mirrored my own thoughts.

"Everything's going to be okay," she had said, but I wasn't sure either of us believed it.

As we made our way further into the house, I could feel the tension slowly lifting. Her smile, albeit forced, was enough to keep everyone at bay. But inside, I knew we were both playing roles. How long would that last? How long before we'd have to face what was really going on between us? Would I ever be able to break through the walls she had built around herself, or would this marriage always remain a shadow of what it could be?

We sat down in the living room, surrounded by family and well-wishers. I couldn't help but glance at Ashi from time to time. There was something fragile about her, something I wanted to protect, but she seemed distant, as if she was still trying to find herself in this new world we had created.

"Ashi, we're in this together," I said quietly, my words meant only for her. But she didn't respond, her gaze lost in the crowd. Maybe she wasn't ready to hear that yet. Or maybe, just maybe, she didn't believe it.

Ashi's POV:

Vansh's words hung in the air, but I wasn't sure how to respond. "We're in this together" was a promise, a hope, but not yet a reality. Not for me, at least. I knew he was trying, I knew he wanted me to feel safe, to feel like we had something real. But all I could see was the vast expanse between what he expected of me and what I was capable of giving.

I forced a smile and nodded, but it didn't reach my heart. Would I ever be able to open it up to him? Would I ever truly believe that this was where I was meant to be?

I didn't know. But for now, I had no choice but to go along with the motions, to live this life that was unfolding before me, one uncertain step at a time.

•-•-•-•

And they are married! 😭♥️

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