Threads of Destiny

15-A Hollow Ceremony

Ishita sat alone in her grand bedroom, the soft light of the chandelier casting flickering shadows on the velvet walls. Once a place of comfort, the room now felt like a beautiful prison. In her hand, she clutched a half-empty bottle of champagne. The golden liquid shimmered in the light, mocking her with memories of everything she had lost. She took another sip, but the bitterness of her pain was far stronger than the taste of the drink.

Her eyes, filled with unshed tears, stared blankly ahead. Memories of Barun rushed back like an unstoppable wave—his laughter, his touch, the way he once looked at her. "How could he do this to me?" she whispered, her voice breaking. She had tried to move on, to accept reality, but her heart refused. It clung desperately to the shattered remains of a love that had turned into betrayal.

The room felt suffocating. Every luxurious detail—the crystal chandelier, the satin sheets, even the wilting roses on the dresser—seemed to mock her. Her grip tightened around the bottle. Revenge, she thought, her eyes darkening. If she couldn't have Barun, she would make sure no one else truly could either.

Her hand trembled slightly as she picked up her phone. The screen lit up, casting a glow on her tear-streaked face. She scrolled through her contacts with fierce determination. Ravi. His name appeared on the screen—a piece in her game, a pawn in her plan.

She had tricked someone into giving her his number days ago. She had tried to manipulate him, planting seeds of doubt, feeding him sweet lies. "Kalindi can be yours," she had whispered, her words dripping with poison. "You just need to try harder." But he had refused her. He had dismissed her like she was nothing. The rejection still burned.

But it didn't matter. Ravi's refusal was just a minor obstacle. Her plan was already in motion. Today, on the day of Barun and Kali's wedding, everything would change.

Her lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. The final act was about to begin.

Kali sat still as the girls around her fussed over her, fixing her dupatta and adjusting her jewelry. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, but the woman staring back felt like a stranger. The elaborate lehenga, the sparkling jewelry—it all felt like a disguise. Am I making the right choice? The question gnawed at her, a quiet whisper in the back of her mind.

Her phone buzzed. The name on the screen sent a chill down her spine—Ishita. She hesitated, her hands trembling. She didn't want to read the message, didn't want to give Ishita any more control over her emotions. But fear won over reason, and she tapped the screen.

A recording.

"I'll send this to your parents. Want to stop me? Come to this address."

Kali's heart pounded as she pressed play. Barun's voice filled the room, cold and emotionless:

"I don't love her. But I'll marry her because she respects my freedom. You would never accept that. Could you tolerate me being with other women? No, you couldn't. But Kalindi can, and that's why I'm choosing her."

The words hit her like a slap. Tears blurred her vision. She had known Barun wasn't perfect, but this? He told people about us? The betrayal stung deeper than she imagined. Her chest tightened. She had to stop this recording from reaching her parents. She couldn't let them hear it.

The address burned into her mind. Thirty minutes. Just thirty minutes. She wrapped a shawl around herself, hiding her wedding attire, and slipped out the back door.

Outside, the barat had arrived. The drums, the trumpets—it all felt distant, like a dream she was sleepwalking through. Barun sat in a sleek car, his face unreadable, as the crowd danced around him. His eyes scanned the gathering and then froze. A flash of fabric—Kali's lehenga.

His jaw clenched. He grabbed his phone. "Sameer, follow her," he ordered, his voice tight with unease.

Minutes later, his phone buzzed—a photo of Kali entering a hotel. His grip on the phone tightened. Why is she at a hotel? A deep, unsettling fear crept into his mind.

Kali ran through the dimly lit hotel hallway, her breath uneven, her heart racing. She searched desperately for the room number from the message. 202.

She reached the door and pounded on it. "Open up!" she cried, panic flooding her veins. Silence. She pushed the door, and to her surprise, it swung open. She stepped inside and froze.

The room wasn't what she had expected. Balloons floated near the ceiling, a bottle of champagne chilled on a table covered in rose petals. A romantic setup.

Shock ran through her. What is this?

Before she could react, a familiar voice spoke behind her. "Kali—"

She turned sharply. Ravi. He was on one knee, holding a small velvet box. His eyes searched hers, filled with hope.

"Stop!" she choked out, stepping back. "I don't have time for this!"

Seeing her distress, Ravi stood, reaching for her hands. "Kali, listen—"

"No!" she sobbed, trying to pull away.

Then the door burst open.

Barun.

His eyes darkened with fury as he saw Ravi holding her. For a second, the world stopped. Then, everything erupted.

Before Kali could explain, Barun stormed forward and punched Ravi across the face. The blow sent him staggering, blood at the corner of his mouth. But Barun wasn't done. He struck again, his rage uncontrollable.

"Stop!" Kali screamed, pushing herself between them. "Stop it!"

Barun's chest heaved, his hands clenched into fists. He turned to Kali, his face cold as ice. "You came here, on our wedding day, for this?"

"It's not what you think!" she cried, her voice trembling.

He laughed bitterly. "You think I believe that? How long has this been going on? Did you sleep with him after our engagement?"

The slap came without warning. A sharp crack echoed through the room. Kali's hand fell to her side, trembling. "I won't marry you. I won't," she whispered, her eyes filled with defiance.

Barun's face darkened. He grabbed her wrist, pulling her close. "You think you have a choice? I can destroy you, your family. One word from me, and your father will be ruined."

Kali's blood ran cold. "You... you're a monster."

He caught her other wrist. In one swift motion, he hoisted her over his shoulder. She pounded against his back, screaming, but he didn't stop.

"Be a good girl, Kali," he murmured, terrifyingly calm. "Go back to the wedding. Marry me. Then, we'll talk about your punishment."

The night was alive with celebration, but for Kali and Barun, it marked the beginning of a dark and twisted journey—one fueled by betrayal, vengeance, and a trust that had turned into something far more dangerous.