Aratrika: (whispered) Don’t tell me you’re offended…That's just like your family…I didn’t choose you. I chose your brother..!!

In one swift move, he grabbed her arms tightly and yanked her close.

His furious, sharp gaze hovered just inches from her eyes,

and his fingers dug into her soft skin, leaving no space for escape.

She drew in a deep breath, feeling his touch for the first time —

His presence, so close, so consuming.

For a moment, everything else blurred.

Rudraksh’s eyes softened, confusion flickering in them when he found no fear in hers — just silence… and something heavier.

Rudraksh:I can read expressions. (He smirked slightly) I’m not angry at you...

I pity you.You’re carrying more pain than even I am.

Just then, Aratrika felt a soft tug at her index finger.

For a second, she assumed it was Rudraksh again.

But it wasn’t.

She looked down to find a tiny boy — barely three years old — gripping her finger, trying to pull her toward the mandap.

A random child.

A stranger.

But his innocent grip had the entire room frozen.

Her family, Rudraksh, even Aratrika herself — all stared, stunned.

The child tightened his grip around her index finger.

She knew how firm a child's grip could be — she'd let many babies hold her finger at the hospital.

But she never imagined the same thing would happen at her own wedding.

That a child, lost in his innocence, would drag her to the mandap.

With his tiny feet taking small determined steps forward,

Aratrika silently watched him… and then began to follow— not because she wanted to, but because she didn’t know what else to do.

Something about the randomness, the purity of it, pulled her into motion.

And then, in his sweet baby voice, the little boy mumbled:

Kid: Come here... jabebi. (jalebi)

Aratrika was stunned by his words.

Everyone else wore the same expression — shock —

but the difference was that her family had smiles on their faces watching the scene unfold.

She didn’t.

Her lips only twitched slightly.

Maybe her mind was occupied with thoughts that wouldn’t let her laugh freely.

Maybe it was tangled in things she couldn’t ignore.

Everyone understood.

He wasn’t dragging her to the mandap for rituals, or drama, or decisions.

It was a game for that innocent soul,She didn’t want to stop him,

didn’t even try to correct him.

She didn’t want to shatter his innocence.

That child — whoever he belonged to —

became a core memory for Aratrika,

one she would probably always treasure

as one of her sweetest moments.

He was just a child — trying to share his simple joy with her.

Pure. Unfiltered. Innocent.

But she had to harden her heart and console him somehow.

So she stopped herself from following him.

The little boy turned back with a sad frown on his face,

as if someone had taken away his favorite toy.

Seeing this She knelt in front of him, taking his cute lil hands in hers, whispering something.

He smiled brightly and ran off.like he found his lost toy back

Rudraksh, watching with curiosity, asked:

Rudraksh : (confused) What did you say that made him smile like that?

She exhaled deeply as she stood up and stepped closer.

Aratrika: Forget him… you listen.

You hate your brother, right?

Marrying his fiancée — won’t that satisfy you? Complete your revenge!!

Rudraksh, hearing her words, got distracted from the whole child incident.He stepped forward, his face inches from hers.

Rudraksh : But his fiancée seems far too eager to marry me…Not satisfying enough..!

She closed her eyes for a beat, then opened them — sharp and calculating.

Aratrika: Maybe... you’re just scared of your brother,he is a member of a big mafia gang…And you? Just a shooter.Fear’s understandable…!

Did it work?

Yes.

Far more than she had expected.

Then came his words, low and laced with danger:

Rudraksh: If you’re that eager to step into my hell…then come.

Just don’t complain when it starts to burn…!!

The love between two brothers can be incredibly deep—

but sometimes, even hatred runs just as deep,

all because of a few misunderstandings.

But was it truly a misunderstanding between them…

or was there a hidden secret?

She knew that Rudraksh hates his younger brother,

but no one knew the reason behind that hate.

He grabbed her wrist firmly and started leading her to the mandap.no expression,he took it as a challenge

Aratrika: (mumbled) At least wear the sherwani...

He let out a low chuckle as he made her sit on the mandap.

Rudraksh : (firm tone) You wanted a replacement ,Not a groom dressed in glitter.

So sit quietly and accept it.

She looked at him to read his expression,but failed miserably

Rudraksh : (warned her) One month.

After that, you’ll cry remembering this decision…

and beg to leave my life.

Aratrika (with a smirk, didn't take his words seriously) : One month…and you won’t dare say that again.

They glared at each other, the tension crackling in the air.

Then, in silence, both turned their eyes toward the sacred fire burning before them—

anger simmering hotter than the flames.

Pandit ji began chanting the mantras.

Her family let out a deep sigh of relief —

just because now, their reputation wouldn’t be ruined.

But reputation… What a strange thing, isn’t it?

Sometimes, it forces a person to make the wrong decisions.

And sometimes,

it makes the wrong appear right

— all in the name of saving face.

Rudraksh kept looking at her face—not with affection, but with a different intent.

He wanted to catch a certain expression on her face.

Suddenly, with a cold expression, he leaned in and whispered in her ear:

Rudraksh : (taunted her) After marriage comes the wedding night... Are you that desperate for that too?

He taunted her —

because somewhere deep down,

Her eagerness to marry him felt strange to him. But maybe it was his overthinking

She glared at him and responded in his own tone:

Aratrika : Say another word… and after marriage, you’ll find poison in everything you eat.

Amused, Rudraksh leaned in again, observing her body language,the way she shivered slightly feeling his breath near her ear

Rudraksh : Poison? The words that come out of your mouth aren’t any less lethal..!!