As Kiara stood beside Abhir, exchanging vows in a quiet, hastily arranged ceremony, she couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. For Abhir, this marriage was a matter of convenience, a means to an end. He had made it clear that his priority was saving Charu, and this marriage was just a necessary step.

But for Kiara, this moment was so much more. She had loved Abhir for what felt like a lifetime, her feelings for him never truly fading despite the pain and heartache he had caused her. She remembered the way he used to make her laugh, the way he used to hold her hand, the way he used to look at her with eyes that seemed to see right through to her soul.

And now, as she stood beside him, pledging her love and loyalty, she couldn't help but feel a sense of hope and longing. Maybe, just maybe, this marriage would be the start of something real, something true. Maybe Abhir would come to realize that his feelings for Kiara went beyond mere convenience, that she was the one person who had ever truly understood him.

As they took pheras around the holy fire, Abhir's face was a mask of calmness, his eyes fixed on some point ahead, his expression unreadable. But Kiara's face was a picture of contrasts - her eyes shone with tears, her lips trembled with emotion, and her face glowed with a soft, ethereal light.

As they walked around the fire, Kiara's tears fell silently, dropping onto the sacred flames like tiny, glistening diamonds. She was crying, but it wasn't clear if it was from happiness or sadness. Was she overwhelmed with joy at finally being married to the man she loved, or was she heartbroken at the knowledge that he didn't love her back?

Abhir, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to Kiara's emotional turmoil. He walked beside her, his hand clasped around hers, his eyes fixed on the priest as he recited the ancient vows. He didn't glance at Kiara once, didn't seem to notice her tears or her trembling lips.

As they completed the seventh and final phera, Abhir turned to Kiara, his eyes still expressionless. He took her hand, his fingers wrapping around hers in a firm, possessive grip. The priest pronounced them husband and wife.

.......................

As Abhir and Kiara stepped into the opulent foyer of the Poddar Mansion, they were met with a mixture of shock, outrage, and utter bewilderment. The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on the newlywed couple. Abhira, Abhir's sister, was the first to break the silence, her voice shrill with indignation.

 "What is this, Bhai?!" she shouted, her eyes blazing with anger. "You were supposed to marry Charu, not... not Kiara! How could you do this to us? To Charu? We had everything planned, everything arranged. And now you're standing here with... with Kiara as your wife?"

Armaan, Kiara's brother, stepped forward, his face red with rage. "You're married?" he thundered, his eyes fixed on Kiara. "How could you do this, Kiara? Without even telling me? I'm your brother, for God's sake! I have a right to know what's going on in your life. And now you're standing here, married to... to Abhir, of all people. What were you thinking, Kiara? Did you even consider how this would affect our family, our reputation?"

Abhir stood tall, his eyes flashing with defiance. "I've made my choice, and I won't apologize for it," he said, his voice firm. "Kiara is my wife now, and I expect you all to respect that. We're married, and that's final. You can either accept it and support us, or you can continue to fight it and cause unnecessary tension. The choice is yours."

 But Abhira and Armaan were having none of it. They continued to shout and berate Abhir and Kiara, their words cutting deep. Kiara felt a sting from her brother's anger, but Abhir's hand found hers, his fingers intertwining with hers in a reassuring grip.

As Armaan's fist clenched and he took a step forward, ready to strike Abhir, Kiara sprang into action. She rushed forward, her eyes blazing with anger, and grabbed Armaan's arm, holding him back. "Armaan bhai, stop!" she shouted, her voice loud and firm. 

"Don't do this! You're not thinking clearly. You're just reacting out of anger and hurt. Think about what you're doing, Armaan bhai. Think about the consequences of your actions. You're not just fighting Abhir, you're fighting me too. You're fighting my marriage, my happiness. Is that really what you want?"

As Armaan's fist clenched and he took a step forward, ready to strike Abhir, Kiara sprang into action. She rushed forward, her eyes blazing with anger, and grabbed Armaan's arm, holding him back. "Armaan, stop!" she shouted, her voice loud and firm. "Don't do this! You're not thinking clearly. You're just reacting out of anger and hurt. Think about what you're doing, Armaan. Think about the consequences of your actions. You're not just fighting Abhir, you're fighting me too. You're fighting my marriage, my happiness. Is that really what you want?"

But Kiara refused to back down. She stood her ground, her eyes locked on Armaan's, and shouted again. "Armaan, stop! You're not thinking about the consequences. You're not thinking about how this will affect our family, our reputation. You're just thinking about your own anger and hurt. But I'm thinking about the future, Armaan. I'm thinking about the life that Abhir and I are going to build together. And I won't let you ruin it. I won't let you come between us." Kiara's voice was firm, her words ringing with conviction. She stood tall, her shoulders squared, and her eyes flashing with determination.

Kiara's eyes blazed with intensity as she gazed at Abhir, her voice trembling with emotion. She held his hand in a tight grip, her fingers digging deep into his skin. "I love him, bhai," she said, her words pouring out in a rush. "If you want to accept him or not, I don't care. Abhir is the only man I have admired for my whole life. He's the only one I've ever wanted to spend my life with."

Kiara's voice cracked with emotion as she continued. "I've sacrificed my own happiness for you all, for my family, for so long. But I won't sacrifice my happiness for anyone anymore. I've given up too much already. I've given up my own desires, my own dreams, my own happiness. But I won't give up Abhir. I won't give up the one person who makes me feel alive."

Kiara's grip on Abhir's hand tightened, her eyes burning with a fierce determination. "I'll do whatever it takes to make this work, Abhir," she said, her voice firm. "I'll do whatever it takes to make you happy. But I won't give you up. I won't give us up. We deserve to be happy, Abhir. We deserve to be together."

Kiara's eyes flashed with anger and hurt as she turned to Abhira. "What were you saying, Abhira bhabhi?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Abhir was supposed to marry Charu di? But where is she? Why did she run away? I had sacrificed my love for her, I had given up my own happiness for her sake. And yet, she's not even here to appreciate it."

Kiara's voice rose, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I had loved Abhir for so long, but I had stepped aside for Charu di's sake. I had thought that she was the one Abhir truly loved, and I didn't want to come between them. But now, it seems that Charu didn't even care enough to stay. She just ran away, without even a word. And now, you're all blaming Abhir and me for following our hearts?"

 Kiara's eyes blazed with indignation, her chest heaving with emotion. "I don't understand why you're all so upset. Charu di's the one who ran away, not Abhir and me. We're just trying to move on with our lives, to find happiness together. But you're all making it so difficult for us."

The room was silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the people around them. Kiara's words hung in the air, a challenge, a declaration, a promise. Abhir's expression was still unreadable, but Kiara could sense the tension in his body, the subtle tightening of his muscles. She knew that he was listening, that he was hearing her, and that he was processing her words.

"Enough, Kiara!" Dadisa's voice was stern and commanding, her eyes flashing with anger. "If you want to stay with this boy, then fine. Stay with him. But from now on, we have nothing to do with you. You're cutting off all ties with the Poddars. You're no longer a part of this family."

Dadisa's words were like a slap in the face, leaving Kiara feeling stunned and hurt. She had expected anger and disappointment from her family, but not this. Not a complete and utter rejection.

Kiara felt a lump form in her throat as she gazed at her family, her eyes pleading for understanding. But their faces were hard and unyielding, their eyes cold and unforgiving.

"Abhir, let's go," Kiara said, her voice firm and resolute. "I won't stay at a place where my relationship with you is not respected enough. I deserve better than to be constantly questioned and criticized for my choices. And I know you do too."

She turned to Abhir, her eyes locking onto his, and nodded. It was time for them to leave, to start their new life together.

Together, they turned and walked away, leaving the Poddar family and their disapproval behind. As they stepped out of the mansion, Kiara felt a sense of freedom and liberation wash over her. She knew that she had made the right decision, and that she was exactly where she was meant to be - with Abhir, and on her own terms.