My eyes fluttered open, and a piercing pain surged through my head, as if a thousand tiny needles were pricking my brain. My gaze darted around, but this was not my room. The walls were cloaked in somber shades of grey, like a stormy sky just before the downpour.

I attempted to rise from the bed, but my legs gave way beneath me, sending me crashing to the cold, unyielding floor.

"Ahh," I cried out, the agony radiating from my bandaged feet. Glancing down, I saw the white gauze wrapped tightly around them, a stark contrast to the dark room. I realized with a jolt that I was in a nightdress that wasn't mine.

"Who... who changed me?" I whispered, my voice trembling with fear and confusion.

"Meera, my child, are you okay?" The familiar, soothing voice of my mother reached me, and I looked up to see her standing there, her face etched with worry. It was as if I had been a drifting ship lost in a turbulent sea, and she was the lighthouse guiding me back to safety.

"Maa," I cried, my voice breaking as tears streamed down my face. She rushed to me, enveloping me in a warm, protective embrace.

"Oh god, my baby... do you need anything? Tell me, hmm?" She gently wiped away my tears and hugged me tighter, as if trying to shield me from the world.

"Maa, dad and uncle th-they..." My words faltered, my breath coming in shallow gasps as a wave of panic crashed over me.

"Meera, Meera... Lakshya, Lakshya!" Her voice was urgent, filled with concern. Before I knew it, I was back on the bed, her hands steadying me.

"Here, have some water." She held a glass to my lips, and I sipped slowly, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat and calming my racing heart.

"L-Lakshya, who was with you last night? Did Advik bhai save me? I heard you calling bhai," I asked, a flicker of relief breaking through my fear. My brother had saved me.

"Don't think too much, Meera. Your dearest brother chose his bitch of a wife over you and left right after you ran away." Maa's bitter words cut through me like shards of glass.

"W-what?"

"Yes, that cursed girl manipulated your brother and took him with her. Ever since then, he hasn't made a single call or asked about your whereabouts," she seethed. I stared at her in disbelief. My brother would never do that to me. But then again, I hadn't expected such cruelty from my father and uncle either. Why did nobody trust me?

"T-then who saved me?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"Here." My eyes widened as I recognized the familiar voice.

He stood there, expressionless, holding a glass of water in one hand and a tablet in the other. The room seemed to shrink around us, the silence heavy with unspoken words.

"Y-you?" My voice wavered, caught between disbelief and fear. I couldn't tell if I was questioning him or myself.

"Yes, beta, Shaurya saved you." My mother's voice broke the tension. "I asked Lakshya to call him. When I wanted to save you, he was the only one who came."

I looked at my mom, tears welling up in my eyes. "Thank you, Maa. Thank you for saving me." Despite the darkness cast by my father, my mother was my beacon of light.

Shaurya's face remained a mask, his emotions hidden behind a stoic exterior. "Vardhaan is here. He's waiting for us," he said to my mother, his tone flat and detached.

My mother turned to me, her eyes softening with concern. "Meera, take this tablet, and then we'll go downstairs." Her voice was gentle yet firm, a lifeline in my storm of confusion and fear.

I nodded, taking the tablet and the glass of water from Shaurya. His hand brushed mine briefly, cold and impersonal, like a winter wind. I swallowed the pill, feeling the cool liquid soothe my dry throat.

"Come," my mother said, trying to help me walk, but I lost my balance again. The pain in my foot was excruciating, and I winced as I tried to steady myself.

"Let me help her, Aunty," Shaurya said. Before I could protest, he scooped me up into his arms. My hands instinctively grabbed his collar to keep from falling.

He didn't look at me, and I scarcely dared to breathe. Being so close to him filled me with immense fear. Memories of the past flooded back—years of him avoiding me, treating me like I was some kind of disease.

We had never shared a single moment of eye contact. Whenever I had been near him with Ishani Dii, he would always glare at me with such disdain. Everyone knew how much he adored his little sister. Everyone loved his personality but only I knew the amount of hatred he had for me. He never said a single word to me, yet the look he carried in his eyes for me was enough for me to understand.

As he carried me down the stairs, I could feel the tension in his body, as if he were carrying a burden much heavier than my weight. I looked away, trying to make sense of the situation. His unexpected kindness was confusing, a stark contrast to his usual indifference.

We reached the living room, and he gently set me down on the couch. My mother fussed over me, making sure I was comfortable, while the man dressed in the lawyer's uniform watched with concern etched on his face. I guess he was Vardhaan.

Shaurya stood back, his expression unreadable. He glanced at me briefly, and for a fleeting moment, our eyes met. I quickly looked away, the intensity of his gaze too much to bear.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible. It was the first time I had ever thanked him, and it felt strange, almost surreal.

Not a single nod of acknowledgement and he sat on the couch, leaving me with a whirlwind of emotions. I was still unable to comprehend why he had come to my rescue. Despite the pain and confusion, a small part of me felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, things could change and he would help me go back to my brother. My brother was my only hope and no matter what mom said I know that there must be an emergency due to which he had to leave.

"Aunty, let's start,"Vardhaan handed a document to me.

"Meera, sign these documents," my mother said. I looked at her and then at the papers in front of me. My eyes widened as I read the very first page.

Marriage Certificate

With trembling hands, I picked up the document, my heart sinking as I saw the other signature. It was Shaurya's. I glanced at him, but he was focused on his phone, completely indifferent. Why was he doing this? Marriage was a huge step, and I had never thought of anyone as my husband besides Vikr—

Oh God, no, Meera, stop thinking about him. He's married now. Married to Ishani Dii.

"Maa, I do—" A hard slap landed on my face, silencing me. Tears of shame and humiliation welled up in my eyes, and I didn't dare look up.

"Meera, after the shameful act of yours, I am still helping you. You have caused so much humiliation already. Don't you have an ounce of shame? After all I've done for you, instead of being grateful, you're still being a spoiled brat. Meera, forget that guy you ran away with and marry Shaurya. He has promised that he would protect you forever and that everything between the Rajvanshi and Agnivanshi families would be even." I looked at her in disbelief. Even she didn't believe me.

"Ma—"

"Don't say anything, just sign these papers, or I will kill myself," she threatened, and my heart broke.

I had no option. I was helpless.

With a heavy heart, I signed my future away to the man I had always feared.

"My good girl. You will be happy with Shaurya," she said with a smile, kissing my forehead.

"We are even now, Aunty. I expect you to keep your end of the deal," Shaurya said, his words confusing me. My mother just nodded.

"I will submit these papers in court," Vardhaan said. He congratulated Shaurya and me, then left.

"Maa, what's going on? I-I don't understand," I said, looking at her. She was about to respond when she received a call, and her face paled. It must be Dad. Even my soul trembled.

"Lakshya, let's go home. Meera, I will talk to you tomorrow," she said, rushing out with Lakshya. I grabbed her arm, pleading.

"Maa, take me with you. Don't leave me alone here," I begged.

"You are married now, Meera. Your home is with your husband. You will stay here with Shaurya and be a dutiful wife. I have already guided you enough," she said, removing my hand from her arm, and left with Lakshya.

I stood there, stunned. What was happening? Why was everything so messed up?

"She's gone already," came Shaurya's voice, sending goosebumps down my spine. I didn't dare move. He was so close.

"Go and make me coffee. I am already late for the office because of you," he said coldly, his words cutting through the air like a knife.

"Five minutes. Quick!" he barked, his voice raised. I flinched, then turned toward the kitchen and walked with a lot of difficulty and pain. Despite the pain I didn't dare to look at him. Thankfully his house was not a mansion, the kitchen was close, but  still his duplex penthouse screamed luxury, far more than my home ever did.
K
Home? Was it even my home anymore?

As I had made my way to the kitchen, my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. How had my life spiraled so far out of control? And how was I supposed to navigate this new, terrifying reality?

Heyyy guyzzz 🙋‍♀️

I hope you like the update

Note - this is going to get darker. Meera is jist 18, she is not familiar with the outside world much as she belong from a very orthodox family. Understand her actions. She is naive, traumatised and she is dependent too. She is not financially independent and her upbringing has been very different. Her mother taught her only one thing. How to be a good wife and good daughter in law.