They Don't Know about Us

Chapter 34 - Love on Trial

Chapter 34 – Love on Trial

The hall was dead silent. Not the soft kind of silence, the heavy, suffocating kind that crushes the air from every chest. Guests stood frozen mid-movement, half-raised glasses suspended in the air

Even the fairy lights seemed to flicker in hesitation, reflecting in hundreds of wide, shocked eyes. Whispers didn't rise. Gasps didn't break. Not yet. Everyone was frozen. Mouths hung open. Hands flew to chests.

It was as if the entire haveli had inhaled and forgotten how to breathe. The warm scent of rose petals, incense, and wedding food — all of it suddenly felt too sweet, too thick, like the air itself was choking under the weight of betrayal.

Riddhima's blood turned to ice. Armaan's jaw locked. Anjali stood frozen, breath stuck in her throat.

And Sneha? Sneha smiled.

Not wide. Not loud. Just a slow and satisfied plastered on her face. That was all it took for Muskaan to snap. She was shaking with fury. Her rage was so sharp it sliced through the silence like glass. She didn't walk toward Sneha—she marched, shoulders stiff, eyes blazing, feet stomping. Everyone watched her cross the hall.

"Muskaan—" Rahul whispered, grabbing her wrist.

"No. Not this time." She yanked her hand free. Her heels clicked once, twice, and she stopped directly in front of Sneha, who looked up innocently, tilting her head.

"Yes?" Sneha asked sweetly. "Is something wrong?"

Muskaan didn't even blink.

"You're disgusting." Her voice came out low. Lethal. Dripping with anger.

Sneha's smile twitched. "Excuse me?"

"No. Listen." Muskaan stepped closer, her face inches away. "You think this is cute? Exposing someone's private moment? On his sister's wedding day? In front of family?" She spat in anger making Sneha frown and step back, rolling her eyes. "Do you realize how SICK you are?"

Sneha's lashes fluttered, "Muskaan, calm down—"

"CALM DOWN?!" Muskaan's voice cracked with fury. "You took MY pictures from MY PHONE. You used MY memories to hurt MY friends. Do you have ANY shame?!" People gasped. Even the DJ froze with his finger on the soundboard.

Sneha finally straightened her back, mask slipping, "Oh please. They deserved to be exposed. Both of them. All of you— hiding this from Anjali—"

That was it.

SLAP.

The sound echoed across the entire hall. Sneha's head snapped to the side. Her hand flew to her cheek, red blooming through the cheek, leaving muskaan's handprint on her cheek. The entire crowd recoiled.

Muskaan stood trembling, chest heaving. "You don't SPEAK about them," she hissed. "And tell me one thing, who the hell gives you the right to decide what they deserve and what they don't deserve? Nahi tum hoti kon ho?"

Sneha's eyes filled—not with tears, but rage. "You hit me?" she whispered, stunned.

"Yes." Muskaan didn't blink. "And I'll do it again if you try to ruin my friend's life any further."

Anjali looked like she was ready to blow from rage. Her eyes were burning with angry tears. She refused to look at her brother and at Riddhima.  At this point, everyone assumed Anjali would drag Muskaan away. But instead—

Anjali stepped forward. Her footsteps were slow and measured. Silent fury radiating off her like heat.

Sneha straightened instantly, relieved, "Anji—thank God— she hit me—" But Anjali didn't even look at Muskaan. She stared only at Sneha.