A silent billionaire.
A woman trained to kill.
When power marries danger, love turns lethal.
Happiness came unexpectedly.
Soft, not loud—like sunlight slipping through curtains.
I stood before the mirror as Chhaya fixed my lehenga, Harshita circling me with a smile.
Finally, the day arrived.
From today, I would gain a new name. A new status.
For the first time, the world felt gentle. So many thoughts wandered through my mind, but above all of them—there was happiness.
My family’s eyes were filled with tears—but they were tears of joy.
Even I couldn’t stop my own.
“You look beautiful—and happier than ever,” Chhaya whispered.
I smiled despite myself.
“Everything feels perfect. Are you comfortable?” Harshita asked softly.
“Yes,” I said.
The lehenga was heavy—deep red, woven with gold. Uncomfortable, but it didn’t matter. It was my choice, and I was happy.
I had never dreamed of being a bride. Yet, surrounded by warmth and familiar voices, I felt a quiet kind of happiness.
Pari and Sakshi moved around me in perfect chaos—fixing my bangles, adjusting my jewelry, arguing one moment and growing emotional the next.
“Stop looking at her like that,” Sakshi snapped at Pari, blinking rapidly. “If you cry, she’ll cry too—and her makeup will be ruined.”
“Then why are you crying?” Pari accused.
“I’m… I’m not. You are.”
Their voices grounded me.
Outside, the venue shimmered like a dream—fountains scattering light, trees glowing with soft fairy lights, roses and jasmine in the air.
My mother and aunt entered.
The moment they saw me, tears filled their eyes.
“I don’t know when you grew up so much,” my mother said as a tear slipped free.
“You were always ahead of other children your age,” my aunt added, her voice trembling. “But for us, you’re still our little Trishika.”
“A little Trishika who cried all day because the floor hit her twice. Not the one who fell—but the floor that attacked her,” Mother said, lost in one of my childhood memories.
“Maa…” I whispered, hugging her tightly.
“Don’t cry.”
“I’m not crying,” she said softly. “It’s just happiness.”
My aunt wiped a little kajal from the tip of her ring finger and placed it behind my ear.
“May no evil eye ever fall upon you,” she said. “Come,” she added gently, holding my mother’s hand. “We have to welcome the guests.”
My mother paused, holding my hands.
“Be kind to everyone,” she said. “The family is very nice. They’ll love you like their own daughter. And I know—you’ll win everyone’s heart.”
“And quickly make me a grandmother,” my aunt teased, breaking into laughter.
“I’m excited to be an aunty,” Harshita added.
“Can’t wait,” Chhaya laughed.
My cheeks warmed. A blush bloomed as they teased me.
Soon, they left.
Just then, my father entered.
“Trishika, my child,” he said, his voice breaking. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you, Papa,” I whispered, hugging him tightly.
“My lovely daughter… I can’t believe you’re getting married.”
He wiped away the tears that had escaped my eyes.
“Be ready,” he said softly. “I’m going to welcome the guests.”
And just like that—
The world waited.
Voices rose outside, louder with each arrival. The crowd was growing.
I moved to the window. Harshita slipped her hand into mine.
“This is not a wedding,” she said, eyes wide as she looked down. “This is a business empire announcing itself.”
She wasn’t wrong.
Men in tailored suits moved with quiet authority—power in every step. Women radiated wealth. None of them were ours. They were here for one reason—Rathor.
This wasn’t just a wedding. It felt like strategy.
I was fine with it—until I saw the media. Cameras. Reporters.
Ranbir Singh Rathor didn’t seem like a man who welcomed attention. So why this?
An unease settled in.
In a few hours, I would be his wife. His world would become mine.
Why had he agreed to this marriage?
Whatever the reason—I would find out.
I had been angry at him for surveilling me, but the moment I saw his face, it melted. And when he apologized, I was so overwhelmed that I forgot I had ever been angry.
From the window, I watched my parents welcoming guests, pride clear in their smiles.
“You all look very beautiful,” I said, trying to lighten the moment.
“Maybe I’ll get a marriage proposal today,” Chhaya said, winking.
“Well, I have a boyfriend,” Harshita replied proudly. “So I’m not thinking about that.”
“Oooh,” I and Chhaya teased together, hitting her shoulder.
“Well, don’t believe in a man you meet randomly,” I said.
“Oh really?” Harshita shot back. “What about you? You don’t know anything about your soon-to-be husband. Never even met him properly.”
“Shut up,” I said, pretending to glare.
“Well, at least let us meet your boyfriend, Harshita,” Chhaya insisted.
“Soon,” Harshita said shyly. “You both will meet him. He’s busy with work, but he’s taking a full day off just for me.”
“Well, if a man won Harshita’s heart, he must be good,” I said, hugging her. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Guys, I also want a hug,” Chhaya complained.
Harshita pulled her in, and we laughed together.
Suddenly, music swelled from below. Loud. Vibrant. Alive.
The baraat had arrived.
“Sister, they’re here!” Pari shouted.
“Brother-in-law arrived!” Ankita added.
They came running upstairs, breathless.
My friends rushed out, excitement spilling everywhere. Before leaving, Chhaya grabbed my hand.
“Don’t move,” she said firmly. “We’ll be back.”
Minutes stretched.
For the first time, staying alone felt scary. I had never felt this way before.
The music grew louder. Drums echoed through the walls. Joy climbed the stairs as if searching for me. My heart raced—not fear, not doubt—just nerves.
“Come back,” I called, half-laughing, half-pleading.
They returned breathless.
“He’s handsome,” Harshita announced dramatically.
“Very,” Pari added.
“Like… unfairly handsome,” Sakshi said.
“I’ve never seen a man this handsome,” Chhaya added.
“And you know what else happened,” Sakshi said, laughing.
“A man approached Chhaya didi downstairs and handed her flowers. He introduced himself as Reyansh. His voice was warm, his eyes sharp but kind.”
“Who is Reyansh?” Pari asked me.
I looked at Chhaya. She stood frozen—no happiness, no anger. Just… something unreadable. The flowers were still clutched in her hand.
I already knew who Reyansh was. After signing the contract with the Rathores, I had made sure to learn every connection in that room.
“He’s the groom’s brother,” I said softly.
“Ohhh… so our jiju’s brother is hitting on your friend?” Pari laughed loudly, clearly enjoying it. “Maybe both of you best friends will end up married into the same house.”
“Maybe,” I said, letting out a soft laugh as I joined her.
Harshita, however, had gone quiet.
“The guy I told you about,” she whispered later, stunned. “He’s from the groom’s side.”
Coincidence felt… strange.
“I think he’s a friend. Or someone very close,” Harshita added.
Then Chhaya finally came back to herself.
“Sakshi told everything about me,” she said pointedly. “But did she tell about herself?”
“What?” I asked.
“She was standing downstairs when soft petals brushed her shoulder. She looked up—surprised—met a stranger’s eyes for just a second before he disappeared into the crowd.”
She paused, then laughed.
“We didn’t know his name. But we saw his face—and he did this instantly.”
Sakshi’s face turned red.
I laughed with them.
“The story isn’t finished yet,” Harshita said, pointing at Pari.
“One man came and stood beside her and said, ‘You, little girl—you skipped school for your friend’s wedding.’
And she angrily replied, ‘Mind your business, uncle.’”
“And that uncle,” she added with a wicked smile, “put marigold flowers in your hair.”
“She didn’t even notice,” Harshita laughed.
“Really?” Pari gasped, instantly checking her hair.
Sure enough—marigolds tangled softly in her curls. She began pulling them out, flustered.
“That uncle—” she muttered angrily.
“He was not an uncle,” Harshita corrected. “He was a young man.”
All of this happened within twenty minutes.
Was it possible that all my friends were about to find their life partners here—by coincidence or by destiny? I stood frozen, still processing everything.
Soon, Ankita and Priya arrived—the groom’s sisters. Bright smiles, easy warmth, instant familiarity.
“You’re stunning, bhabhi,” Ankita said.
Bhabhi.
The word felt unfamiliar—slightly awkward—because no one had ever called me that before.
“No, Ankita,” Priya corrected gently, echoing earlier words. “She’s perfect.”
“We’re so happy a new member is coming into our family,” Priya added. “And finally, our brother is getting married.”
“I’m happy too,” I said, smiling.
Soon after, their mother entered with two aunts. They gifted me jewelry, clothes, blessings—kindness that was gentle and respectful, without weight or expectation.
“You look pretty,” his mother said.
“Thank you, aunty ji,” I replied.
“Call me maa,” she corrected softly, laughing.
Then they left.
When the room emptied again, only laughter remained. Teasing. Nervous jokes. Sudden silences filled with meaning.
Then my mother came.
“It’s time.”
My throat tightened. I nodded.
My steps felt heavier now. Nervousness bloomed for the first time. I didn’t know why. My legs trembled slightly. My hands too.
I had killed so many people—and yet I had never felt this.
This marriage would truly change my life. Of that, I was certain.
I took slow steps forward with my friends and sisters beside me. As I moved toward the hall, the air itself changed.
Outside, the mandap stood grand and open beneath the sky—flowers framing the sacred fire, lights glowing like stars brought down to earth.
I didn’t look up.
I could feel it—eyes on me. Whispers floating. Admiration. Shock.
“She’s beautiful,” a woman’s voice reached my ears.
“Too beautiful,” another said.
I moved forward slowly, my heart steady but full. I was walking into something irreversible.
And for the first time in my life—
I wasn’t doing this because of my past.
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