" Mumma, I am eighteen right now. I've not even started my college and you want me to get married to man who is six years older! This is not fair." I shouted, exasperated. " Swara, your sister has betrayed all of us and has run away from her own wedding. All the guests are waiting for the bride to come out. You know your grandfather's medical condition . He will not be able to take any shock right now and you if you don't go out, his hard earned reputation will get tainted and he may not be able to absorb this shock." Mumma tried to reason. " What about Aditya....? I call him jiju (brother in law) for god's sake maa!" I exclaimed. " He will be okay with this marriage." Amrita aunty said, entering the room. " Mumma...this is going to spoil three lives." I tried, talking sense. " Swara, beta please do this for both of the families." Aunty said, folding her hands in front of me. " I need to talk to him first." I demaded to which both of them obliged and within next five minutes, my so called jiju was standing in front of me. " I tried to reason out with them. Turns out they did not understand. Didi loves you. I think she must have been forced to take this decision." I said, defending Kritika di. " Forced? Her letter clearly states otherwise." He spoke with so much hatred in his voice. I kept quiet. " Get dressed and come to the mandap (pavilion)" He said and left the room, banging the door on his way. " Thank you so much ganpati bappa (god) for throwing me in this mess." I muttered and without an option, started getting ready. God, what is going to happen with my life now!

Freedom was something Aria never had. From the time spent confined in a lab to even after she escaped, freedom was never something she'd experienced. But now, when she discovers there are others out there like her-with unique abilities that they'd been given by the same crazy genius who'd made her who she was-Aria finds new hope in saving them from the cold world they've been thrown into. Determined to give them the freedom she never had, Aria is put back a step when an old friend comes back into her life, giving her the choice to do exactly what she told herself she would not, or submit and become an ally to the enemy. But when her friends-and everything she's worked for-are put at stake, will she give in to the enemy? Or will she stand her ground and fight back? A bolt of lightning is stern, but it can be tamed, if one only has the right materials. Book #2 in the Defying Destiny series