Hidden Marriage

CHAPTER 15: SANGEET

ISHA'S POV

I was talking to my bua and Akshara when my mother called my name, instructing me to come downstairs. I instantly knew why she was calling me, and that knowledge made me hesitate for a brief moment. A heavy feeling settled in my chest, but after taking a deep breath, I decided to go downstairs.

As I rose from my seat and walked into the hall, my eyes scanned the room. My relatives, parents, and brother were all sitting there, their conversations hushed and expressions unreadable. Among them, seated in a wheelchair, was an elderly man whose presence alone seemed to darken the room—the man from my nightmares, the man I had always dreaded facing, the man I couldn’t bear to be around. My grandfather.

I felt a chill run down my spine, but I steeled myself, took another deep breath, and walked towards him. With every step, my heartbeat grew louder in my ears. When I finally reached him, I bent down to touch his feet—a gesture of respect deeply ingrained in our culture. My voice trembled as I forced myself to speak, the words barely escaping my throat.

"Namaste, Dadaji. Kaise hain aap?"

He extended his wrinkled hand and placed it on my head. His touch lingered as his hand slowly moved down to my neck, then to my shoulder, and finally rested briefly on my arm. I flinched slightly at his touch—it felt heavy, almost suffocating—but I quickly composed myself, forcing a smile onto my face. My lips stretched painfully, and I could feel the strain in my cheeks from holding that false expression.

"You've grown up a lot," he said in a tone that carried an unsettling warmth, paired with a smile that sent a shiver down my spine.

I straightened up, trying my best to maintain the polite, respectful facade. The fake smile remained plastered on my face, but the weight of it felt unbearable. My cheeks ached, and yet I dared not let it falter.

Just as the tension in the room threatened to suffocate me, Akshara appeared by my side and gently took hold of my arm. Her touch was firm yet comforting, like a lifeline pulling me away from turbulent waters.

"We’re going upstairs to her room. After all, it’s her sangeet, and she needs to rest before getting ready for the ceremony," Akshara said with an air of authority that left no room for argument. Without waiting for anyone’s response, she gave my arm a gentle tug, and I gladly followed her.

As we reached my room, I noticed someone trailing behind us—a girl with striking green eyes, soft pink lips, and wavy brown hair cascading over her shoulders. She had an effortless elegance about her, the kind that naturally turns heads. It took me a moment, but then it clicked—Emma. Yes, it had to be her.

"Hi, I’m Emma, Akshara’s cousin," she said with a warm smile, her voice carrying a subtle lilt.

For the first time that day, I found myself smiling—genuinely. "I know. I’m Isha, also Akshara’s cousin, but from her mother’s side," I said, extending my hand towards her.

Emma’s smile widened, and there was something disarmingly sincere about it. "Yeah, I know. The beautiful bride," she replied softly, her eyes twinkling with kindness.

I couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly graceful she was, every word and movement leaving an impression. I was almost certain she must have an endless line of admirers. After all, she was the kind of girl who could light up a room just by walking into it.

After spending some time chatting with Akshara and Emma, the clock struck 5 PM. My mother called out to me, reminding me to start getting ready for the evening festivities. The excitement and anticipation of the sangeet were beginning to fill the air, and soon after, Kavya arrived to help me get dressed.