Chapter 3

The marigold garlands had withered slightly under the harsh afternoon sun. The pandit kept glancing at his watch, muttering under his breath about auspicious times and delays. Anurag, usually a picture of calm composure, felt a tremor run through his hands as he fiddled with the heavy silk fabric of his sherwani.

He had envisioned this day for so long – a day for celebrating the happiness of his family, for promising forever with Tamannah, who his family adored. Now, that vision was fracturing.

Tamannah wasn't here.

She wasn't in the bridal suite. She wasn't in the gardens of the wedding venue. She wasn't with her sisters. She wasn't anywhere.

Anurag saw Rohan, approaching him hesitantly, his face etched with concern.

"Bhai. They are saying she ran away." Rohan's brow furrowed. "Maybe she was just... nervous? This whole thing, it's a lot to take in," he tried to sound reassuring, but the doubt was evident in his voice.

"No," Anurag said. "Tamannah was never nervous about the wedding."

The counted number of times they had met and talked, he always found her confident, but rebellious.

He remembered their conversations about family and traditions. He knew he would take her time to adjust to his family, but he never even thought in his dreams that she would run away from the wedding, leaving both his and her family in despair.

He looked at his father, Rishi Singh, a man of rigid principles and great reputation. Rishi looked like he had aged a decade in ten minutes. His face, usually flushed with jovial confidence, was now etched with a deep worry. Tamannah's father, Shashank Gupta, was a statue of grief, his shoulders slumped, his eyes vacant.

Anurag felt numb, and disconnected, watching the aftermath of a bomb blast in slow motion.

"We are deeply sorry," Mrs. Radhika Gupta said, her gaze sweeping over the gathered relatives. Her eyes were red-rimmed but still held immense strength. "Tamannah's actions are unforgivable. She has brought shame upon us all. But... but something must be done."

She looked at Rishi, a silent plea in her eyes.

"The muhurat is auspicious. The preparations are complete. The families are gathered. To let this day end in complete failure would be devastating."

"My family's reputation is ruined! And you are thinking about the day end in a failure?" Anurag said furiously, trying not to shout at him.

Shashank winced, running a hand through his thinning hair.

"I understand your anger, son. But we have to think practically. The guests...the expenses...everything. People are already talking. The whispers... they are like knives."

He paused, drawing a shaky breath. He looked around, as if checking to see if anyone was eavesdropping, then leaned closer to Anurag. His voice dropped to a near whisper.

"There is another way, Anurag."

"What way?" Anurag frowned.

Shashank's gaze met his, pleading, and suddenly, Anurag felt a cold dread bloom in his chest.

"Naira," He said, the name barely audible.

Anurag's head snapped up.

Naira?

"Please marry Naira to save both family's reputations."

"Absolutely not!" Rishi Singh sputtered in disbelief. "This is absurd! We won't force our son into such a ridiculous arrangement."

Anurag's mother Mandira, however, gripped her husband's arm, her face pale but her eyes fixed on Anurag. He knew that look; it was the look of a woman calculating the damage, weighing the options, prioritizing reputation above all else.

"It's the only way, Mr. Singh," Shashank said tears rolling his eyes. "Think of the families, the shame, the rumors..."

"You think all this is a joke?" Rajat Singh, Anurag's uncle finally spoke outraged. "If your daughter didn't want this marriage, then why did she agree in the first place?"

"We are sorry for what our daughter did." Shashank folded his hands. "Marrying Naira to Anurag is the last resort we can think of..."

The scene around him seemed to blur as Anurag glanced towards the corner where Naira stood, a delicate figure swallowed by her oversized lehenga. Her eyes, usually bright, were wide with a mixture of fear and disbelief. He knew her and liked her well enough, but he had never considered her as anything more than Tamannah's younger sister. Now, she was being offered as a replacement, a quick fix to a gaping wound.

Suddenly, Rohan exploded.

"This is insane! Are you serious? You can't just offer him another daughter like he's some kind of property! He's not a toy you can pass from one sister to another!" He rounded on Shashank, his voice tight with anger. "My Bhai has been through enough. He needs time to process what just happened. He doesn't need to be pressured into another marriage!"

Anurag was surprised at the sudden outburst. Rohan was generally quiet and reserved, preferring to listen rather than speak. He was a deep thinker, processing information carefully before forming an opinion. He always considered the impact of his actions on others. Seeing him losing his cool, Anurag kept his hand on Rohan's shoulder to calm him down.

"Actually," Kriya started hesitantly, "Naira is...she's lovely. Our vibes match. Ved and I were discussing the same other day."

She looked at Ved, but he didn't say anything.

Payal looked around. She had always believed in arranged marriage. She had grown up hearing stories about successful arranged marriages within her extended family, further reinforcing her belief in the system. But right now, she could see her biggest fear coming true - disruption of the peace within her family.

Sighing, she took a step forward, her face etched with concern.

"This is too much to ask of both Anurag and Naira. They need to think this through. This isn't a decision to be made out of panic," she looked pleadingly at Rishi and Mandira. "Bade Papa, please, let's just take a breath. Let's all go home and think about this calmly."

But Aashi, Anurag's youngest cousin, couldn't hold back. Tears streamed down her face.

"No! This is so unfair! I liked Tamannah! She was going to be family! What about what Bhai wants? He wanted to marry Tamannah!"

Aashi's outburst struck a raw nerve. He had certainly envisioned a future with her. But now, that future was shattered, replaced by this bizarre, impossible proposition.

Anurag finally found his voice, though it was barely a whisper.

"Everyone...please...just stop." He felt dizzy, the events of the day crashing down on him. He looked at Naira, who was now staring at the floor, her shoulders slumped with resignation. He saw her vulnerability, her helplessness in the face of this family drama.

He knew he had to say something, anything, to break the mounting tension. He looked at his mother, her eyes assuring him of something she had not even decided yet.

"Uncle, I would like to talk to Naira." He said looking directly into Naira's eyes.

"Alone."

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Hola guys. I hope you liked the chapter :)