Chapter 4

2 months ago

ShiriHoonMain

@ExoticDisaster

Naira sat on the edge of the veranda, her lehenga scratching against the stone floor, her eyes fixed on the wilting jasmine garlands strung haphazardly across the pillars.

"Naira," Anurag said softly, his voice barely a whisper.

She didn't look up.

"Di...she just left. She didn't even think of our family- families' reputation."

Anurag sighed.

"The damage has been done," he said softly, sitting down beside her, leaving a respectful distance. "And... now your parents think the shame... the dishonor... can be averted."

He looked away, unable to meet her gaze.

"By you marrying me instead." Naira finally turned, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Anurag looked back at her, trying to read her eyes.

"Yes. But this situation is unfair to everyone. But I want to know... I need to know what you want. I won't force you into anything. I promise you that."

He watched as her lips parted slightly, then closed. She took a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling visibly.

"Naira, if you have someone you care about... you need to tell me. Please."

"There is no one else," Naira said standing up. "And I didn't... I didn't dream of this, certainly. But..." She hesitated, searching for the right words. "But I also understand the implications if we don't do this. The shame, the disgrace on both families... Papa would be devastated. And, so would Maa. The only way to try and salvage any dignity is... this."

Anurag stood up.

"And what about you, Naira? What do you want?"

Naira stared at him, surprised. In the chaos and the drama, no one had bothered to ask her. Not even her parents.

"What I want?" she repeated. "I want my family to be okay. I want Papa to hold his head high again. I want Maa to smile without it looking forced. And if marrying you is the only way to achieve that, then I am willing to do it."

As her voice trailed off, Anurag knew she was sacrificing her happiness, her dreams, for the sake of her family. He remembered the look at Mr. and Mrs. Gupta's faces, etched with desperation. He looked back at Naira, her quiet strength both admirable and heartbreaking.

"Naira, this won't be easy. I don't know how long it will take for me to move on from this."

She nodded understandingly.

"It is same for me. I have always seen you as my elder sister's would be husband. I don't expect you to forget everything overnight. Even I won't.. But... I hope that one day, maybe, we can build something real. Something... worthwhile."

He looked into her eyes, seeing a strength and a maturity that had been hidden beneath the shadow of her sister. He wasn't in love with her, not yet. But he saw something in her – something good, something decent, something worthy of respect.

He took a deep breath.

"Alright. If this is what you want, for your family and for mine... then let's get married. Let's tell everyone."

He turned and walked towards the mandap.

"Anurag," Naira said her voice barely a whisper.

Anurag stopped on his track and turned towards Naira.

She took a deep breath, her gaze unwavering now.

"Were you in love with Tamannah?"

Anurag realized that she was holding her breath, waiting for his answer with anxiety. He met her gaze and walked closer to her.

"No, Naira. I wasn't. We didn't spend much time together, for me to love her. The wedding preparations consumed most of our interactions. We met through family, there was an understanding, a good match on paper. But love? No. There wasn't enough time, and perhaps, not enough spark."

Naira seemed to relax slightly, a fraction of the tension leaving her shoulders.

"Thank you for saying that. It makes things easier."

"Easier?" he asked, confused.

"Yes. Easier to know I am not stepping into the shoes of someone deeply loved. Easier to believe that we can build something together, a foundation based on respect and understanding." She smiled.

Anurag felt a flicker of hope ignited within him. Perhaps, amidst the chaos and heartbreak, something new could bloom. He reached out and gently took her hand.

"Naira, I can't promise you the whirlwind romance you might have dreamed of. But I can promise you that I will be always honest with you, I will respect you, and I will try my best, every single day, to make this marriage a happy one. Not because it's expected of me, but because I want to."

Anurag reached for Naira's hand. It was cold, trembling slightly. He squeezed it gently, offering a silent promise of support, of understanding. They walked towards the mandap. Their parents looked at the intertwined hands. While Mr and Mrs Gupta sighed a relief, Mr and Mrs Singh just silently agreed to their son's decision.

The rituals unfolded one after another - the exchange of garlands, the saat pheras around the sacred fire. Each step felt like a step further away from the future he had once imagined, and closer to the unknown future now unfolding before him.

After the pheras, he reached for the mangalsutra, the sacred necklace symbolizing their marriage. As he fastened it around Naira's neck, his fingers brushed against her skin. He saw a tear escape her eye and trail down her cheek. He wanted to wipe it away, to tell her it would be alright, but the words caught in his throat.

The wedding was a blur of congratulations, forced smiles, and awkward silence. His brothers were next to him, Rohan's face clouded with concern and Ved's otherwise joyful charisma was replaced with an expression he couldn't read.

"You think you did the right thing, Bhai?" he said, making sure Naira couldn't hear. You were against marrying someone you barely know."

"I barely knew Tamannah too, Rohan," Anurag replied. "Trust me, I would never make a wrong decision for myself."

He saw Payal and Kriya beaming at them, their faces radiating relief. But then he caught Aashi's eye. The youngest of the cousins, normally bubbling with energy, stood in the corner, her arms crossed, a thunderous look on her face. She looked away when their eyes met and her silent disapproval stung.

Anurag held Naira's hand tighter. A promise of a new beginning, born from the ashes of a shattered dream. The task ahead was daunting, but as he looked into Naira's eyes, he saw a strength and resilience that gave him hope. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but perhaps, just perhaps, they could build a life together, stronger and more beautiful than either of them had ever imagined.

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I hope that was good!