1

A New Beginning

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My wedding attire was perfect, my jewelry glistened under the soft light, and yet, uncertainty lingered in my eyes. Am I truly ready for this? A whirlwind of emotions swirled within me-nervousness, and a bittersweet ache in my heart. My past, the love I had once cherished, was a secret I had kept from my family. Would my future husband accept it? Would he understand me beyond this conditional marriage we had agreed upon?

Just then, the door creaked open, and in walked my mother, Roopa Joshi, my father, Jaidev Joshi, and my little brother, Vishal. Their expressions carried a mix of emotions-joy, pride, but also a sadness that tugged at my heart. Seeing them like this, I felt guilty for not sharing my past with them.

Before the moment could get too heavy, Vishal, ever the mischief-maker, smirked and said, "Maa, let's take this monkey out fast! Otherwise, if Jiju finds out that she's actually a bandar, he might just run away from the mandap!"

Laughter filled the room, lightening the mood. Even I couldn't stop the small smile that crept onto my lips.

Maa, holding back tears, gently placed a dot of kajal on my foot to ward off the evil eye. A silent prayer left her lips, and I knew she wished only for my happiness. Then, with my family by my side, we stepped out of the room and headed toward the mandap, which was an hour's drive away.

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The journey was filled with nostalgia. Maa and Dad reminisced about my childhood, their voices brimming with love, while Vishal, as expected, took the opportunity to tease me.

"Finally, I'll be the only one getting all the love and attention at home!" he gloated dramatically, earning a playful smack from Maa.

But while they talked and laughed, my thoughts drifted elsewhere. Will my future husband truly accept me? Or will this marriage remain just a formality, bound by our past heartbreaks? These questions haunted me, wrapping around my heart like a vice.

Before I knew it, we had arrived at the mandap. My stomach churned with nerves, but I maintained my composure and went to my designated room. There was still time before the muhurat, yet my heart pounded as if the moment was already upon me.

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When the muhurat arrived, Panditji called for me. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, my hands slightly trembling as I walked toward the mandap

And their he was.

Aarnav.

Dressed in an elegant sherwani, standing tall, composed, and unreadable. An ACP of Mumbai-cold, calculating, and arrogant to the world, yet a sunshine to his family.

As our eyes met, I couldn't decipher his thoughts. Was he happy? Indifferent? Or just fulfilling a duty, just like me?

With the exchange of garlands, the pheras followed. Step by step, we completed the sacred vows, tying our destinies together in ways neither of us could have foreseen.

Then came the moment that truly sealed our bond-sindoor daan.

Aira Kapoor, my best friend, and Ria Malhotra, my colleague, stepped forward to remove my veil and maang tikka. As Aarnav applied the vermillion to my hairline, a small speck fell onto my nose. Aira gasped, then giggled.

"Didi, this means Jiju will love you a lot!"

I didn't know whether to believe in such traditions, but at that moment, my heart fluttered just a little.

Then, with reverence, he gently tied the sacred mangalsutra around my neck-an unspoken promise, binding us together forever.

With Panditji's final pronouncement, we were officially declared husband and wife. The moment was surreal.

After seeking blessings from our elders and embracing our siblings and friends, vidai followed. Tears welled in my mother's eyes as she held me one last time before I stepped into a new life. My father's grip on my hand was firm but reluctant, as if he wanted to hold on for just a little longer. And Vishal... his usual playful self was replaced by uncharacteristic silence.

Then, with one last look at my family, I stepped into the car beside Aarnav.

The two-hour journey to my new home was mostly silent. Neither of us spoke a word, lost in our own thoughts. The only noise came from his younger siblings, Ruhaan and isha, who were playfully arguing over a song.

"Bhai, tell isha she has no taste in music!" Ruhaan whined.

"Bhai, tell Ruhaan that he wouldn't know good music if it hit him in the face!" Isha shot back.

Aarnav's patience snapped, and with just one sharp glare, the car fell into silence. I couldn't help but suppress a small smile.

Today, I woke up as usual, but today was far from ordinary-it was my wedding day. To be precise, my second marriage.

As I got ready, a mix of emotions swirled within me. I wasn't nervous, but there was a certain weight at the moment. And then, as I stood at the mandap, waiting, she arrived. Maira-draped in red, looking breathtakingly beautiful. For a brief second, I forgot everything else. The noise, the rituals, the people-it all faded, leaving only her in my sight. But the moment passed, and we proceeded with the wedding, completing every ritual with the blessings of our elders.

Once the ceremony was over, we set off for home. I sat in the car with my siblings, isha and Ruhaan, who, as expected, found a reason to bicker-this time, over a song. Their argument only added to my irritation, as I was already preoccupied with the jootha chhupai rasam. One sharp, silent glare from me was enough to quiet them down.

Upon arriving at the mansion, Mamma and Dada welcomed us warmly. Mamma performed Maira's griha pravesh with love and care, guiding her through the rituals that marked her entry into our home.

Then came another tradition-introducing ourselves as husband and wife before stepping in. I was the first to speak.

"I, along with my wife, Maira, have arrived."

She followed, her voice soft yet firm, marking her presence in our home.

The next few hours were filled with more rituals, laughter, and teasing. Eventually, I retreated to my room, seeking a moment of solitude-only to be stopped by Isha.

"Bhai, nek dedo, phir jaane dungi."

I sighed, knowing there was no way out. As a good brother, I handed over the nek, much to her delight, and finally stepped into my room.

Maira was already there, sitting on the bed, looking as composed as ever. A few moments of silence stretched between us before I spoke.

"You should change; I'll do the same."

She nodded, and I went into the closet to change. When I returned, we both settled on the couch. The air between us was unfamiliar yet comfortable. I decided to break the ice.

"We agreed to be friends after marriage," I reminded her.

She nodded again, acknowledging our decision. Friendship first-that was our promise to each other.

As the night deepened, I suggested she take the bed while I would sleep on the couch. But she refused.

"There's no need for that. We can both sleep on the bed."

I knew Maira was stubborn, and after a few attempts to convince her otherwise, I gave in. Sharing a bed wasn't something I had anticipated, but here we were-two strangers bound by marriage, yet determined to build something meaningful together.

As I lay down beside her, the reality of our new journey settled in. This was just the beginning.

Hey Companions,

I hope you like the first chapter of this story.

As it's my first book please forgive me for any kind of mistake and tell me about so I can rectify it.