"Arohi! Stop it yaar! You've seen like… a hundred lehengas and a hundred sarees already! And you still haven't liked a single one?"
"No, Arohi!" Sukhi chirped, eyes sparkling. "I've liked all of them!"
"You're planning to buy all of them??"
"Yup! I've got both Papa's and Ashu's cards with me!" Sukhi laughed, looking absolutely thrilled.
Arohi (in her head): I swear… Sukhi's the most excited person about her own wedding. Wait— excited is the wrong word. She's gone totally crazy… and she's driving me crazy too. Since morning, she's been dragging me into selecting every single thing… and in the end, she's buying everything anyway!
Sukhi grinned, "You know… I'm just SO happy!"
"You don't have to say it out loud, Sukhi. Everyone can see it. Actually… they can see you've gone mad with happiness."
---
Nirvay calling…
"Hello?"
"Arohi… who even does this? You've literally forgotten about me. You sent one message this morning… and not even a single call?"
"Nirvay… please don't start. Sukhi's already driving me insane. Please… not you too. I'm stuck with her shopping and wedding madness!"
"I'm not angry. I… I just missed you."
"I missed you too. But you know how weddings are. I haven't had a second to breathe…"
Sukhi suddenly snatched the phone from Arohi. "Nirvay! It's Sukhi here. For now, this girl isn't your wife— she's my best friend. So please… stop disturbing her. Bye!"
"Sukhi… listen—" Beep. Call disconnected.
Nirvay sighed. "Great. Sukhi took away my wife… and now I can't even talk to her. I miss you, Arohi… so much."
---
Ayush's Call…
Nirvay: "Ayush! Bro! When were you planning on telling me that you're getting engaged? What after the engagement?"
Ayush: "You do know it's Sukhi, right? She said she'll tell Arohi herself… wanted to surprise you. You also know what would've happened if I'd said no? You know what Sukhi would've done to me!"
Nirvay (laughing): "Okay okay… congratulations, man."
Ayush: "Thanks. When are you coming?"
Nirvay: "I'll reach the venue a day before the wedding."
Ayush: "Sounds good."
Nirvay: "And the bachelor party?"
Ayush: "There's no plan. After what happened last time? Sukhi's given me strict warnings. I'm not ready for a pre-wedding divorce!"
Nirvay (laughing): "Fair enough, bro. Take care. See you soon."
---
The day passed in a blur of madness.
Arohi was dead tired. And Sukhi's energy? Boundless. Insane.
Arohi crashed into bed that night… hoping to catch at least a few hours of sleep.
---
Night – Sukhi's Usual Energy
"Arohi! Come on! What are you doing?"
"Sukhi… I'm not going anywhere. I'm dead."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Just… need to rest."
"Rest after my wedding! Right now… help me select my entry song!"
All the cousins and relatives were sitting together, blasting music, teasing Sukhi, and choosing songs.
---
Nirvay calling…
"Ten at night… and you didn't even call me once. You're heartless, Arohi."
"Hi, Sukhi here!"
"Oh God… Sukhi?"
"Yep. And stop calling her! You'll get your chance tomorrow. Now hang up."
"Come on… let me talk to her once?"
"Fine. Hold on." Sukhi passed the phone.
"Hello?"
"You okay? You're eating properly, right?"
"Yeah… Sukhi's keeping me on a strict diet! I'm not doing any heavy work… but honestly, I'm mentally exhausted."
"What have you been doing all day?"
"Approving everything! You think it's easy?"
Sukhi's voice in the background — "Arohi! Come here! Listen to this song!"
"I've got to go… Sukhi's calling."
"Yeah… I heard. Go. I'll see you tomorrow."
"I miss you…"
"If you missed me, you'd have called."
"I miss you and I love you."
"I miss you too… and I love you too."
"Bye."
---
Arohi helped Sukhi with the song selection. They stayed up with everyone, laughing, dancing, and finally… at some ridiculous hour, everyone went to bed.
They had to leave for the wedding venue in the morning.
---
Morning – Wedding Journey Begins
"Arohi! You're ready, right?"
"Sukhi… did you even sleep last night?"
"I'll sleep after the wedding. Or maybe never. Depends on Ayush. But right now— absolutely not!"
"Don't worry, Sukhi. Ayush is simple. He won't bother you too much." Arohi teased.
"Hah! You really think you know who'll trouble who?" Sukhi winked.
Arohi shook her head, "I'm stupid for even talking to you. You have zero filter."
"And I'll never have one! Now come on— into the car! Let's go. We have a long drive."
---
At the Wedding Venue…
Nirvay, Ayush, and their families were already there.
Soon, Arohi, Sukhi, and their family arrived.
"Welcome, Sukhi… and Arohi."
Sukhi whispered, "Arohi, I'm going inside now. Go… meet him. Or he'll blame me again!"
---
Nirvay caught Arohi's hand softly. "You do remember I'm your husband, right?"
"God… stop being so dramatic. Let me go in. I've been traveling for hours!"
"Fine. I'll come with you."
---
In the Room…
"I missed you… so much." Nirvay hugged her tight.
"I missed you too… Now let me get ready. The haldi and mehendi will start soon. You should get ready too. You know how Sukhi is— she'll either show up herself or call you up and start scolding you!"
"At least give me a kiss?"
Arohi blushed. "Go… and let me change."
---
Haldi & Mehendi Ceremony…
"Arohi, come sit with me," Sukhi called.
"I'll sit with Ayush," Nirvay said, taking a seat.
"Arohi… rituals will start soon, right?"
"Yeah… once all the aunties arrive."
---
The rituals began. Nirvay and Arohi sat watching Sukhi and Ayush— both glowing in happiness.
"They look so good together," Arohi whispered.
"They always have," Nirvay agreed.
"Arohi… come here!" Sukhi called.
"I'll be back."
---
"Arohi! Look how much haldi they've put on me! Help me, yaar!"
"Look at Ayush!" Arohi burst out laughing.
"Yeah yeah… laugh all you want," Ayush said, trying to wipe off some haldi.
Arohi started helping Sukhi… when an older aunty walked over.
---
"Beta… congratulations, Sukhi. I'm so happy for you. You and Ayush… stay blessed."
"Thank you, Aunty."
"You're Arohi, right?"
"Yes, Aunty."
"I saw you when you were little. You've grown up now… but I've heard things about you. Sad… but what can we do?"
Arohi just smiled politely.
"Arohi… have you ever thought about plastic surgery? You're married now… men like beauty. You really should consider it…"
Arohi's eyes welled up instantly.
"Aunty!" Sukhi snapped. "Arohi is beautiful just the way she is! And Nirvay loves her for who she is!"
"You kids won't understand. Everyone gets something done nowadays. And Arohi… with that scar… she really needs it."
Arohi quietly stood up. "Sukhi… I'll be back."
"Wait, Arohi!" Sukhi called after her.
---
Sukhi ran to Nirvay and told him everything. Without a second thought, Nirvay followed Arohi…
Arohi was walking away, wiping her tears, heading straight to her room.
Arohi stood in front of the mirror, her fingers trembling as they gently touched the faint scars along her waist. The words of Sukhi's aunty echoed painfully in her mind.
"You're still young, beta. Maybe you should think about plastic surgery? These marks… they don't look good on a girl like you."
Her throat tightened.
Do I really not look good? Would Nirvay still choose me? Will these scars always remind him of my weakness?
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Within minutes, Nirvay was at the door of her room. He walked straight to her, his eyes serious, his breathing a little heavier than usual.
"Arohi…" he whispered, "You're mine. Every part of you. Don't question that. Let me show you."
Without waiting for permission, he gently cupped her face and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. His thumb wiped away the tears she didn't realize were still falling.
He slowly kissed her cheek… her jawline… and then he knelt down in front of her, pressing a lingering kiss to one of her scars on her waist.
"These marks…"
Another kiss, this time softer.
"…are part of the girl I love."
Arohi's hands trembled as they rested on his shoulders. "Nirvay, I—"
"Shh…" he silenced her, his voice tender yet commanding. "Don't speak. Just feel me. Let me love you completely… just the way you are."
His hands moved slowly, deliberately. He didn't rush to undress her — every button, every layer he removed was done with a sacred kind of patience. His eyes never left hers, always asking, always waiting.
When she whispered, "I trust you,"
Nirvay's chest tightened. His control almost slipped, but he steadied himself.
His kisses moved from her scars to her collarbone, down to her ribs, mapping every story her body held.
"Your body isn't a battlefield, Arohi," he murmured against her skin. "It's my home."
Arohi's tears fell again — this time, they were not of shame, but of overwhelming acceptance.
As they slowly joined in quiet intimacy, it wasn't about desire.
It was about healing. About writing over her pain with his love.
Later, as he held her tightly in his arms, Nirvay whispered into her hair,
"Even if life marks you a thousand times more, I will still choose every version of you."
Arohi smiled softly against his chest, whispering back,
"Then I'll keep them… just for you".