Author's POV:

The house buzzed with joy and excitement - the boy's family was coming to see Sakshi today. She had finally agreed to get married after delaying the decision for a long time.

"Time passes so fast na, Bhabhi? It feels like just yesterday she used to talk about getting married, and I'd always scold her for it," Sarita (Sakshi's bua) said to Sunaina with a smile.

"You're right. Her father was so scared she'd end up in a love marriage... but she actually agreed to his choice," Sunaina replied.

Their conversation was cut short when Ritika (Sarita's daughter) walked in, rolling her eyes, "Stop being emotional, both of you. Someone check on Sakshi, she's still busy with her work!"

Sakshi's POV:

I was focused on my case files when I heard a knock on the door. Ritika Di walked in, looking mildly panicked.

"Get ready fast, the ladke wale will be here any minute!" she said.

I sighed. "Okay Di, I'll go change."

"Good. And please... at least do a little makeup! Don't show up like you usually do around the house," she added... half requesting, half warning as she closed the door behind her.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, my head resting on my chair. Thoughts began to swirl. The girl who once had only one dream in life... to get married was now feeling... nothing.

Two weeks ago, Papa told me he had gone to a business meeting and unexpectedly met his childhood friend.

He liked his friend's son and thought he'd be a good match for me. He asked gently, "Are you ready, or do you still need time?"

I spent that entire night thinking. I had already delayed marriage talks for two years. But, how long could I run away from it? Sooner or later, I'd have to marry someone.

From coming out of my thoughts, I stood up and went to cupboard to took out the dress, maa had selected for me to wear today.

It was a long pink anarkali, kept the jewelry minimal, and was just doing my makeup when my door burst open.

My little baby brother ran in, all breathless excitement. “Saasiii Diii! Jijuuu aa gaye!”, he shouted.

I smiled at his innocence. This 8-year-old boy was more excited than I was. Well... honestly, the entire house was excited... except me.

Chachi came in and said they had arrived. She asked me to come along.

I walked down the stairs, my heartbeat racing like a sprinter, nervousness wrapping tightly around me.

They were seated in the hall area. I slowly walked over to the elders, touched their feet, and quietly took my seat.

My mother began introducing me to everyone but that's when I realized... the boy was missing.

Everyone in the room was quietly wondering the same thing, “where's the boy?”

Just then, Vijay uncle's calm voice brought some reassurance, “He's on the way, his bike stopped midway, that's why he's running late.”

Seema aunty added with a laugh, "He loves that bike more than us!"

30 minutes passed.

Who comes this late to their own Dekhauki?

(A Bihari word meaning the first meeting where the bride and groom's families meet and decide the alliance)

Suddenly, we heard the roar of a Royal Enfield pulling up at the entrance. Amd then, footsteps approached the living room.

I didn't dare to look up.

"Sorry everyone for the delay, my bike ditched me on the way," a voice said casually.

I recognized that voice.

It's the same voice.

The same voice that once brought me the kind of peace I never found anywhere else.

And now?

Now it was about to give me a heart attack.

I slowly lifted my head to assure myself that I was wrong, only to meet his dazzling brown eyes with those long eyelashes. (I was always jealous of his long eyelashes, by the way)

He froze the moment our eyes met, as if a jolt of electricity ran through him.

I saw the same intensity in his gaze that mirrored mine, full of questions, confusion, and unspoken memories.

His puzzled expression, parted lips... he looked like he was about to say something, but stopped midway.

One thing was clear from his face that the ground had slipped from under his feet.

And me?

I was just trying to process how we both ended up here. Of all the people in the world, was he the one Papa chose for me? Him?

God must be having a good laugh up there. How I had run away from him years ago... and now, I was going to marry him because I had already said yes to this alliance even before knowing who the boy was.

Suddenly, his silence broke, and something finally came out of his mouth.

"Sakshi?"

That voice. My name. It all made my heart flutter. A thousand memories flooded in, of laughter, fights, broken promises.

His voice was low, barely a whisper but loud enough to be heard by everyone in the dead-silent hall.

~~~•••~~~

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More drama , chaos, and flashbacks coming in.

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