Author’s POV
Morning (Wedding Day)
Riya was sitting in her room with everyone, talking to the new people who had just arrived. They were none other than her Nani, Mama, Mami, and cousin brother from her paternal family.
Riya had no parents. Her mother had died when she was young, and her father had passed away three years ago. Aayansh’s family were long-time family friends. After her mother’s death, Riya’s father became busy with work, so Riya mostly grew up with the Singhaniyas, who treated her like their own daughter.
As for her paternal family, they were never on good terms with her parents. Even when her mother died, they didn’t come. When her father passed away, they showed up not out of care, but for property. Riya’s father had seen this coming, so he made sure his daughter wouldn’t have to deal with them. He appointed Aayansh’s father as her guardian until she could handle all the business herself.
Because of this, her uncle got nothing and eventually left. The only person from that side who showed even a little concern was her Nani. That was why Riya had invited her Nani to the wedding she never expected the others to come along.
That was why everyone was gathered in her room now, and Aayansh’s father was clearly warning them not to create any scene today.
As they were talking, the door opened.
Ruhi entered the room.
“Riya, badi ma asked me to give this to you since she couldn’t finish” Ruhi stopped mid sentence.
She noticed the people she never wanted to see again.
Whatever she was holding slipped from her hands as she stepped back slightly.
Ruhi’s breathing became heavy as she stared at the woman in front of her. Her voice turned sharp, filled with anger.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“Who the hell even let you in?”
Everyone in the room was stunned.
The Ruhi they knew was a sweet, calm someone who barely raised her voice. Seeing her speak so harshly shocked them.
Riya moved toward her to explain, but before she could reach her, Karan, Ruhi’s {step brother, and Riyas cousin brother}, stepped forward with a slight smirk.
He moved closer to Ruhi, but she immediately stepped back, bumping into the cupboard behind her.
“Oh, sister,” he said mockingly. “How can you talk to your mother like that?”
The room froze.
Karan continued, pretending innocence.
“Aren’t you happy to see me? I came especially to meet you. I was missing my sister.”
Ruhi composed herself and replied coldly,
“I didn’t miss you even a little. To miss someone, they need to have value in my life. And For me, you people don’t even exist.”
She looked straight at him.
“And don’t ever call yourself my brother. I have only four brothers and you’re not even a little bit like them.
“Ruhi! Is this how you talk to your brother?” Vishakha shouted.
Ruhi scoffed.
“Don’t talk to me like that. You’re not my mother. You only gave birth to me, so don’t think you have any right over me.”
Vishakha snapped back,
“Is this what the Raichands taught you to disrespect your elders?”
“Don’t talk about my family,” Ruhi replied sharply.
“They taught me to respect those who respect me. And you don’t even deserve my disrespect.”
Vishakha was about to say something else when the door opened again.
Ruhi’s badi ma entered.
The moment she saw them, her face hardened with anger.
“Who even invited you people here?” she demanded. “Leave. Right now.”
Vishakha smirked.
“You shouldn’t talk to us like that. We are the bride’s family.”
She turned to Riya.
Riya spoke softly, “Badi ma… they are my mom’s brother, his wife, and my Nani.”
“But you told me you didn’t have a family,” Ruhis badi ma mother said quietly.
Aayansh mother chimed in we could talk about this
“Yes,” Badi ma replied firmly. we really need to talk, because I don’t want these people near my family.”
She called everyone.
All the Raichands gathered, and the moment they saw Vishakha, anger spread across their faces.
“What are they doing here?” they asked.
When they found out these people were claiming to be Riya’s family, Aditya stepped forward.
“Oh,” he said bitterly. “So you’re the ones who abandoned Riya. And when her father died, you came running for money?”
He scoffed.
“What can we even expect from people like you? You even ruined my sister’s life. Someone who can abandon her own daughter why would she care for anyone else?”
“Watch your mouth, kid,” Divakar snapped.
“Or else what?” Ruhi’s bade papa stepped forward.
“You already ruined our family once. This time, I won’t let it happen.”
Then he turned to Riya, his tone softening.
“Riya, I don’t care whether they’re your family or not. You told us you had no family, and now suddenly these people are claiming they are your family. But it's your decision whether they attend your wedding or not.”
The room went silent.
“But remember one thing,” he continued firmly.
“If you let them attend, then after the wedding, you must cut all ties with them. I don’t want them anywhere near my family. And if you can’t do that then we need to rethink this wedding.”
Aayansh’s mother spoke gently, “Bhaisahab, please… let’s calm down and talk.”
“I know exactly what I’m saying,” he replied, looking straight at Vishakha.
“This woman once destroyed my family. Because of her, our Ruhi suffered a lot. I don’t want her or her family anywhere near Ruhi.”
He turned to Riya again.
“I’ve always treated you like my daughter, just like Ruhi. But I will never allow this woman near her. The decision is yours.”
Vishakha scoffed.
“Fine. Then there will be no wedding.”
She turned to Riya coldly. “Come. Let’s go.”
Riya didn’t move.
“Why should I?” she asked calmly.
“Give me one reason why I should leave this marriage.”
“Because we are your family,” Divakar said.
Riya laughed bitterly.
“You’re not my family. If you were, you would have been there when I needed you.”
She pointed at the Singhaniyas, the Raichands, and her friends.
“These people stood by me. They are my family. And I will always choose them over you.”
Her Nani raised her hand to slap her
But it never reached.
Aayansh caught her wrist mid-air.
His calm expression was deceptive. His jaw was clenched, fists tight.
“You should leave,” he said coldly, his voice steady but dangerous.
Karan scoffed. “Who are you to decide that?”
Aayansh didn’t even look at him.
“I’m the one whose family raised Riya and her brother,” he replied sharply.
“And I won’t tolerate anyone disrespecting her.”
“We are her real family,” Vishakha snapped. “Blood.”
Riya flinched but only for a second.
Before she could speak, Aayansh’s father stepped forward.
“Blood doesn’t make a family,” he said firmly.
“Care does. Presence does. Responsibility does.”
His gaze was sharp.
“And you failed at all three.”
Aayansh’s mother added calmly,
“You came without permission. And today is Riya’s wedding. No drama will be tolerated.”
“So you’ll throw out the bride’s own family?” Vishakha sneered.
Riya finally spoke.
Her voice was steady, but it shook the room.
“I don’t need you,” she said quietly. “I never did.”
She looked at the people who raised her, protected her, loved her.
“I already have a family. One that stayed. One that protected me. One that loved me when you didn’t.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“They’re my family.”
That was it.
“You will leave now,” Aayansh’s father said firmly.
“And if you create any issue today, I won’t hesitate to involve security.”
Vishakha grabbed Karan’s arm and turned away, bitterness in her eyes.
“This isn’t over,” she muttered.
Ruhi met her gaze calmly.
“For me,” she said,
“It ended a long time ago.”
As the door closed behind them, the room finally exhaled.
Riya broke down, and Ruhi pulled her into a tight hug.
Aayansh watched quietly.
His eyes stayed on Ruhi.
Not just with concern
But with something deeper.
Something protective.
Something dangerous.
And very, very real.
Write a comment ...