Everyone was eagerly waiting for the bride to arrive. Piya was in her room, all ready. Clad in a stunning red bridal outfit, her hair perfectly styled, and with minimal makeup, she looked breathtaking. She was already beautiful, but today, she looked like the most radiant bride in the world, someone you couldn't look away from.
Despite looking like a princess, Pia wasn't happy. Her face reflected none of the joy expected on such an occasion. She was going through the motions without any enthusiasm.
Kavita and Manish entered her room. Seeing her dressed as a bride, Manish's eyes welled up with tears.
"You look just like a princess, Piya. It's your wedding day, and I promise, from now on, your life will only be filled with happiness," Manish said emotionally. He considered Piya as his own daughter, and seeing her like this made him deeply emotional. Piya gave him a faint smile, hoping he wouldn't notice her reluctance to go through with the wedding.
"Let's go downstairs now; everyone's waiting, and the auspicious time is slipping away," Kavita said flatly, devoid of emotion.
Aarav sat in the wedding mandap, surrounded by family. As soon as he saw the bride approach with her face veiled, he grew confused-or rather, impatient-to see her face.
"Why is Muskan wearing such a long veil? I can't even see her face," Aarav whispered to Raj, who stood behind him.
[Raj and Aarav were childhood friends. Their bond was so deep that, though technically friends, their love and loyalty surpassed that of siblings. Raj's father, Avinash, worked with Aarav's father. However, after a tragic accident claimed his father's life and his mother passed away from illness soon after, Raj was left alone. He wanted to move into a hostel, but Aarav couldn't bear to let him go. Since then, Raj had lived with Aarav and his family, who treated him like their own son.]
Hearing Aarav's complaint, Raj couldn't help but tease him.
"bhai maan le na ki tu mar raha he apni dulhan ka chehra dekhne ke liye''
(Just admit it-you're dying to see your bride's face!)
he said with a laugh.
"N-nothing like that... I was just... I mean..." Aarav stuttered, feeling caught.
" han han, tera chehra sab kuch bata raha he "
(Yeah, right. Your face says it all!)
Raj teased again, laughing harder.
"Both of you, be quiet! It's a tradition. The bride isn't supposed to show her face during the ceremony," Aarav's mother, Radha, interrupted, using the custom as an excuse to hide the real reason.
"Ugh, what kind of outdated tradition is this? How can I not see my bride's face?" Aarav muttered, looking dejected.
"Relax, yar ," Raj consoled, stifling his laughter. "You've got your whole life to see her face. Just be patient!"
Pia finally arrived and sat next to Aarav in the mandap. The rituals began. From the outside, she appeared calm and collected, but internally, she was filled with anxiety. She was marrying someone whose face she hadn't even seen.
During the rituals, Aarav noticed Pia's trembling hands. Gently, he reached out and held her hand, offering support.
The moment his touch registered, Pia's heartbeat quickened. It was the first time a man had ever held her hand. But she controlled her emotions and focused on completing the ceremony.
The priest's voice rang out:
"The wedding is complete."
These words brought joy to everyone present, and drums began to beat loudly. Aarav too seemed happy, but Pia... tears streamed down her face, hidden beneath her veil.
Unknowingly, Aarav had taken vows to stand by Pia in every moment, through every challenge.
The real test now lay ahead-would he keep these vows once he learned the truth?
Life has a way of making decisions for us, throwing us into situations where distinguishing right from wrong becomes a challenge.
In such moments, the best we can do is trust time,
for what's written in our destiny will come to pass. But how we handle those moments-that is up to us.
Piya was lost in similar thoughts. She knew she had done the right thing for her family's honor by agreeing to this marriage, but she felt immense sadness when thinking about Aarav. She was convinced that Aarav would never accept or love her. Even if his family showered her with love.
how could she ever be happy if her own husband hated her?
Piya had always been alone, but she had dreamed of a beautiful future.
She had hoped that one day, a charming prince would come into her life, rescue her from her loneliness, and love her deeply. She dreamed of marrying him and living happily ever after with her family.
But today, those dreams lay shattered. She had accepted that her prince charming would never come.
Now that the wedding is over, Aarav will soon learn the truth-that his bride isn't Muskan but Pia.