The Raichand mansion was usually a place of disciplined elegance, but tonight, the air felt heavy, as if a storm was brewing just beneath the surface. In the grand living room, the entire family had gathered, summoned by Yuvraj Raichand.
Rudransh stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, his back turned to everyone. He looked like a dark statue against the moonlight, his hands tucked into his pockets. He hadn't uttered a single word since he walked into the room.
"Yuvraj, why have you called us all here so late?" Vikramaditya Raichand, the grandfather, asked, though his eyes darted toward his grandson, sensing the tension.
Yuvraj took a deep breath and looked at Gayatri, who was sitting on the sofa, her face etched with curiosity. "I have made a decision. A decision for this family's future. Rudransh is getting married tomorrow."
The silence that followed was deafening.
"What?!" Reyansh was the first to break the silence, jumping up from his seat. "Bhai is getting married? Tomorrow? Is this a joke? Who is the girl? Is she a princess? A supermodel?"
Gayatri stood up, her eyes wide with shock and a hint of maternal joy. "Yuvraj, what are you saying? So suddenly? Who is she? We haven't even met her!"
"Her name is Sia," Yuvraj said firmly, glancing at Rudransh's motionless back. "She is the daughter of my late friend. She has no one left. She will be coming to this house as Rudransh's wife."
"Sia? Just... Sia?" Anjana, the aunt, whispered, confused. "No surname? No background?"
"She doesn't need a background," Yuvraj replied sternly. "From tomorrow, her identity is Raichand. That is all you need to know."
Gayatri walked toward Rudransh, her hand trembling slightly as she touched his shoulder. "Rudransh? Beta? Are you happy with this? You know, marriage isn't just a deal..."
Rudransh finally turned around. His eyes were like two dark abysses, devoid of any warmth or joy. The family flinched at the intensity of his gaze. Even Reyansh, who was always ready with a joke, went silent.
"I am doing this because Dadu wants it," Rudransh's voice was like ice cracking on a frozen lake. "Don't expect celebrations. Don't expect a 'happy' bride. I am giving her my name, and in return, she will stay out of my way."
"But Rudransh-" Gayatri started, but he cut her off with a sharp gesture.
"I don't know who she is, and I don't care. To me, she is just a ghost my father is bringing into this house. She will have her room, her food, and her safety. But she will never have me."
Without another word, he walked out of the room, his heavy footsteps echoing through the hall like a death knell.
Reyansh looked at his father, his playful face now serious. "Dad, Bhai looks like he's going to war, not a wedding. Who is this girl? Will she survive his silence?"
Yuvraj looked at the floor, his heart aching for the girl he was about to bring into this lion's den. He knew Sia's past-the abuse, the hunger, the fear. He knew she was a broken bird. And he also knew his son was a predator.
I am saving you from the Mehras, Sia, Yuvraj thought, But I don't know if I can save you from my own son.
While the rest of the family started whispering in excitement and confusion-Shanaya jumping with joy at the thought of a 'Bhabhi' and Gayatri worrying about the preparations-Dadu sat silently. He was the only one who saw the flicker of something in Rudransh's eyes. It wasn't hate. It was a wall. A wall that Sia would either break or die trying.
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Author's Note:
Hey beautiful souls! ✨
I hope you enjoyed this intense chapter! The Raichands are ready to welcome their new bride, but is the bride ready for the storm named Rudransh? 🥀🖤
If you liked the chapter, please don't forget to Vote (hit that little star! ⭐) and share your thoughts in the Comments. Who else is excited for the first meeting? Your support means the world to me!
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