Vidhushi sat with her friends and the few relatives who had managed to come on such short notice to her 'mehndi' ceremony. Vidhushi tried her best to put on a cheery smile all the time to show her mother that she was happy. However, only she knew how anxious she was.

As soon as the 'mehndi' from Kunal's home came to her house, the women hired by Kunal started their work on Vidhushi's hands and feet. She sat calmly while chatting with her friends. The photographer took her photos which she knew was to be sent to Kunal. So, she put on her best smile to convince Kunal that she was as much into the marriage as he was. She had to fake it...for her mother.

It took two hours for the young girl who was applying mehndi on her hands and feet to complete her task. In the end, she asked a very obvious question.

"What is the first letter of your fiance?"

"K." Her friends teased her. Vidhushi merely chuckled. They were all her college friends because of which they all knew that Kunal and Vidhushi were in a very long relationship.

"Where should I write it?" The girl asked.

Vidhushi thought for a while. She was aware that the groom searches for his initials on the wedding night and if he succeeds, he gets to ask for a wish. So, she had to search for a nice place to hide the letter.

She pointed at the centre of her left palm where two peacocks shaped curves met. It was a perfect place to hide where a guy like Kunal will have a hard time searching for.

The girls around cheered seeing her smartness. She too smiled. The rational part of her mind told her to just enjoy her day and try to take a new step with no gloomy thoughts.

However, when her phone rang, her heart started racing as she thought it would be Advith. Her friend held her phone for her because her hands were now covered with henna.

She glanced at the screen and all the excitement flushed. It wasn't Advith but Kunal.

"Do you want to talk to our 'jiju'?" Her friends teased again.

"Stop playing, Pooja. Please hold it for me." She requested while maintaining her smile.

Her friend did as she told, much to her surprise.

"Hi!" Kunal spoke gently from the other side.

"Hi." She replied back, not knowing what to say.

"You look beautiful, wifey." He complimented with a pinch of playfulness as he looked at his laptop.

"The photographer is surely fast." She said and glanced at the photographer who was busy taking photos of other people.

"He knows his work well, after all." Kunal added.

"I...can't believe this is actually happening." Kunal confessed.

"Believe what?" She asked.

"We...getting married tomorrow." He said as he laid on his bed.

"Wasn't it inevitable?" She asked, repeating the statement that he often threw at her.

Kunal remained silent...thinking about the things he had to do to make this day possible.

"Anyway! Send me the photo of your mehndi. I want to see it." He said, changing the topic of discussion.

Vidhushi narrowed her eyebrows.

"No. It is not good for the bride and groom to see each other's mehndi before the wedding." She said. Her friends laughed even more after listening to her.

"I will talk to you later." She quickly said shyly as she signalled her friend to cancel the call.

Kunal smiled back at her quick response. Of course, he knew about this custom. He just wanted to check how serious she was into this. And seeing her happy, made him ecstatic.

His mehndi ceremony was short. His cousin, Misha, had applied the henna on his right palm and that was it. He simply came back to his room after that, leaving behind the various people who had come to his house, to enjoy for themselves. He knew that they were here to just enhance their social connections. It was like that in all the parties which is why he didn't prefer such gatherings.

After talking to his soon-to-be-wife, he felt at peace. He just wanted tomorrow to happen fast so that he could wake up beside his only love, everyday. His lonely nights will not be lonely anymore. His life won't be lonely anymore. He smiled with that image in mind.

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Vidhushi fidgeted with her hands. She felt as if she was going to pull the skin of her hand out. The time that she had begged for was over. The knock on the door signalled that they were back.

It was the wedding day. The 'baraat' had arrived and she could still hear the loud music that announced their arrival. To add to her anxiety, her bridesmaid entered again to take her to the 'mandap'.

"Are you ready, Vidhushi?" The four girls, who were her collegemates, asked her.

She glanced at her reflection on the mirror. She couldn't even recognize herself. She was loaded with gold and diamond from top to bottom. She loved the dress and its feel. She nodded to herself and turned around.

"Let's go." She said in a manner to give courage to herself.

They were about to come out when her mother entered.

The girls understood that the mother and daughter wanted to talk to each other. So, they left again to give them privacy.

Vidhushi smiled at her mother. Her mother smiled back and walked closer to where she stood. Cupping her face, while being careful to not displace her nose ring, she caressed her cheeks.

"You look beautiful, Vidhu." Her mother whispered as her eyes brimmed with tears.

Vidhushi took her mother's hand in hers and hugged her mother.

"Don't cry, mumma. Or I will lose strength too." She mumbled.

"If you want to run, just...go now." Her mother said.

Vidhushi broke the hug and looked at her mother with confused eyes.

"And let Kunal cause chaos here. No, mumma. You have not seen his potential. He can do anything to get what be wants." She replied.

Her mother sighed in defeat.

"Why you, Vidhu! Why?" Her mother asked tiredly.

The question stilled her. It was the question whose true answer she had always dodged.

However as she walked the stairs to the mandap, the answer became more and more clear. She understood why did it have to be her! Why Kunal fell in love with her! Why was she forced into this!

It was all her fault. She was to blame for her fate. It was her greed that put her in this situation where she can never run away from Kunal.

When she was a kid, Kunal's fancy toys and books amazed her. She was so attracted that she forgot that she was sowing the seed for a horrible future. She spent day and night with Kunal, trying to live the life that her father couldn't give her. During her teen years, Kunal's money helped her enjoy the attention and reputation in school. And in college, it was only because of Kunal that she lived the life of a typical college girl...partying and enjoying.

However, her eyes opened when her father told her to marry Kunal, as his last wish and left her with her mother forever. It was that one night that changed her perspective to life. She then realised, that money wasn't everything. She would prefer to live in poverty just to have another day with both her parents alive.

But, she knew now, that this would never happen. She only had her mother with her now. And she valued her to the level of infinity. Money and reputation mattered nothing to her now.

But what is done, is done. And, now, she will have to pay for the greed and selfishness of her past.

Deep in her thoughts, she didn't realise when she came near the mandap. When her friends left her arm, she realised that she stood near the sacred fire. The priest motioned her to take her place. But it was as if her feet were frozen.

She couldn't marry Kunal....A heartless murderer! She thought.

Her eyes fell on Kunal whose back was facing her. Was it really happening? Would she really be his wife and be a part of his dangerous life.

She didn't realise that her heart was beating fast. The thought of running away crossed her mind. Should she do that? She thought.

The priest voiced his words this time and asked her to sit beside the groom.

Vidhushi lowered her eyes. She was about to turn around when her mother held her shoulders.

Seeing her mother's face and feeling the warmth of her palms, her rational thoughts surfaced. She realised that if she runs away, Kunal will hunt her down and then he will make sure to teach her a lesson for life by hurting her mother in front of her.

She forced a smile as her eyes teared. God must be really punishing her, she realised. With the help of her mother, she sat beside Kunal. And then mechanically, she listened to the mantras that the priest chanted.

Kunal offered his hand to her as they paid respect to the sacred fire by putting things of religious importance in the fire. She placed her right hand on his gently and he did what the priest had to say.

When it was time to take the seven rounds around the holy fire, she was clearly into consciousness. Perhaps, one of the mantras really did hit her hard. When the priest said that the bride should whole heartedly devote to her husband, she accepted it. She wasn't going to fool the gods or herself. She promised herself to devote her body and life to her husband...Kunal.

She stood without the support and stood behind Kunal, facing his back. A newly wedded relative of Kunal tied the knot before they walk. Kunal unexpectedly asked for her hand again. She was confused because of which she looked at him. She had her veil down but it was transparent enough for her to see through.

For the first time, she saw the person she was going to marry. Her childhood friend...The person who promised her numerous times that he will love and cherish her forever. Kunal's face was clearly visible. And he had a beautiful smile on his face. He wore a sherwani whose colour matched exactly with her dress. The 'sehra' made him look beyond handsome. He even had a light beard which made him look quite manly.

Kunal motioned her to take his hand. She realised that he wanted to take the seven pheras hand in hand. She put on a small smile as she placed her hand on his hand.

They took the first four rounds around the holy fire with Kunal at the front. Then the last three pheras were taken with the bride at the front.

After the seven rounds, they sat back again and Vidhushi let Kunal lift her veil so that he can put the sindoor and mangalsutra. She didn't have the courage to look at him, as he did that and concluded the marriage.

When he successfully clasped the mangalsutra around her neck, he took the liberty to bend forward and kiss her forehead.

"Now, you are my wife." He whispered so that only she hears him.

Vidhushi looked at him with big eyes. He was correct, though. She was his now, till the day death separates them.

Sparkles flew in air as people celebrated the wedding. Kunal's relatives and business partners came one by one to congratulate them. Vidhushi accepted all the gifts. She tried to remember each face because she knew that if they were a part of Kunal's life, then they were supposed to be a part of her life also now.

By the time the function came to an end and they prepared to leave, Kunal came close to her and spoke.

"You can still ask your mother to come with us, Vidhu." He said.

"I know that she won't come to your house." Vidhushi replied as she glanced at her mother who was talking to Kunal's father.

"Let's go, then." He stated.

Her family, especially her mother sent her off to her new home with loads of tears. She had to literally console her mother to not cry. She, on the other hand, didn't cry because she knew that it would break her mother even more. Also, she knew that she would visit her mother anytime she wanted. So, why cry!

"I love you, mumma! Now stop crying." She mumbled to her as they hugged each other.

Her mother kissed her daughter and made her sit inside the beautifully decorated Mercedes. Kunal touched Vidhushi's mother's feet.

"Don't worry, mummy Ji. I will take care of her." He promised. Her mother gave him a forced smile and blessed him too.

Kunal then entered the car and asked the driver to drive.

As the car exited the grand venue, fireworks lighted the whole night sky beautifully. Vidhushi looked at the fireworks, mesmerized, as the car entered the traffic.

It was Kunal who broke the silence first.

"It is good that your loverboy didn't come to our wedding." He said as he removed his watch slowly, looking at her intently.

She turned to look at him.

"Is it the first thing you have to say after getting married?" She asked. She was angry at him for reminding her about Advith. She was trying so hard to forget him and here he was bringing him up again.

"No! The first thing I told you after our marriage ceremony was 'I love you'." He reminded her.

She didn't argue because she knew he was right. He did confess that to her when the priest announced them, husband and wife.

"Whatever. I don't want to talk about him." She said as she faced the car's window again.

"Why?" He asked, curiously.

"Because he is not a part of my life anymore!" She immediately said, while raising her voice.

Instead of getting startled, Kunal simply smiled.

"I am glad that he isn't." He said with a smile as he caressed her cheek, lovingly.