Nivya Sekhawat

I sat on my bed, waiting for Mahi and Mihika to arrive. Mahi, a journalist by profession, is the daughter of a renowned actress and a prominent businessman. Though she's quite different from me, our bond has only grown stronger since kindergarten, making her my closest friend—at least until Mihika came into my life.

Unlike Mahi and Mihika, I've never had many true friends. Acquaintances? Yes. Genuine friendships? Rarely. People often tried to befriend me, but it was clear their interest stemmed from my title as a princess, the daughter of the Sekhawats, rather than any genuine connection. Their attention felt superficial, as though they wanted to flaunt our association rather than truly understand me.

I've always preferred solitude to the kind of company that wouldn't notice my presence, let alone my absence.

Laksh wanted to meet me. I didn't know why, but out of respect for our years-old friendship, I decided to go. Besides, I needed answers. His recent behavior toward me was frustrating, and I couldn't bear seeing one of my closest friends shutting me out like this.

I picked up a glass of lemonade, savoring it slowly. There was something comforting about its tangy, sour taste with just the right hint of sweetness. Lemonade had always been my favorite, a simple pleasure amidst the chaos.

A while later, Mahi burst into the room, practically running and tripping in her green crop top and wide, embellished pants. The indo-western look was a refreshing change from her usual style, and she looked radiant.

"Niviii!" she screamed, tackling me in a tight hug as I set my glass aside. I hugged her back, her infectious energy momentarily lifting my spirits as she swayed us from side to side.

"My princess is becoming a bride," she said with unrestrained admiration, cupping my cheeks as a broad smile lit up her face, so wide it looked like her cheeks might hurt.

Mahi had always admired Nirvaan—not romantically, but for the way he had taken responsibility for his brothers and the family business. He had stepped in when he didn't have to, a quality that earned him her endless respect.

"You know," she began, pulling me onto the bed to sit beside her, "I always used to say how lucky Nirvaan Singh Rathod's wife would be."

I nodded, trying my best to return her smile.

"And now, I'm the happiest because that lucky girl is you. But honestly, he's the lucky one, Nivi. He's getting a gem like you. My princess," she said softly, her voice brimming with warmth.

She reached out, gently playing with the sacred thread tied around my wrist by the priest, meant to ward off evil eyes. Her touch was calming, grounding me in the moment, even as my thoughts threatened to spiral.

I smiled at her, though it felt restrained. Mahi noticed, but she didn't point it out. She understood me well enough to know that marriage had never been in my plans—at least, not so soon.

"Sometimes, life doesn't wait for what we think is the right time," she said softly, her tone thoughtful yet comforting. "But honestly, no one knows better than destiny when the right time is. You just have to let go of grudges and accept it with an open heart."

As she spoke, she opened her handbag and pulled out a large bar of my favorite chocolate. My eyes widened in delight, and before she could even blink, I snatched it from her hands, tearing open the packaging with childlike enthusiasm.

Breaking off a piece, I let out a contented sigh as I savored the crunch. I love crunchy chocolates—the kind that crackle between your teeth with every bite. Melting chocolates, the ones that dissolve too quickly in your mouth, just aren't my thing. But this? This was perfection. The taste was top-notch, and for a moment, I allowed myself to lose all thought in its sweetness.

A while later, Revaan stepped inside, asking me to come along with him. Behind him stood Nitya and Kashvi, waiting patiently.

I quickly dialed Mihika, who still hadn't arrived. She assured me she would meet us directly at the venue. With that, I ended the call, slipping my phone into the potli attached to the waistband of my lehenga.

We settled into the car—Revaan, Mahi, and I—while Nitya and Kashvi got into another car with Adarsh Bhaiya and Esha Bhabhi.

Just as the car began moving, my phone buzzed again with a notification. Opening it, I saw a message from Laksh, sharing a location and asking me to meet him before the mehendi ceremony.

"Revaan, can you turn the car towards Serenity Sips?" I asked.

He frowned in confusion but didn't press further. With a nod, he asked the driver to change course.

Serenity Sips was one of the most well-known cafés in Veerkut, famed even in neighboring towns. From my childhood days, it had been a cherished spot—a place I'd visit almost weekly just to indulge in their cheesecake and shakes.

As I entered the café, I was taken aback by the decorations. Soft lights, floral arrangements, and a table set for two—it looked like someone was about to propose. For a moment, I panicked, wondering if I'd walked in at the wrong time and interrupted a couple's special moment.

But before my thoughts could spiral, Laksh's voice broke through the haze.

"Nivya," he called softly, his voice carrying an uncharacteristic gentleness.

I turned to see him standing there in a simple off-white kurta, his expression unreadable as he walked towards me.

"Oh, so you do remember you have a friend named Nivya?" I taunted, stepping back as he approached. My voice held a sharp edge, masking the swirl of emotions within me.

His steps faltered slightly, but he continued closing the gap between us. My gaze darted to the decorations again, and a knot of unease formed in my stomach.

I gulped, my heart racing. No, it can't be what I'm thinking. Please, no. I'm not ready for this.

"I had always wanted to tell you this. But I couldn't gather the courage," Laksh began, his voice trembling slightly.

My chest tightened as I stepped back, clutching my lehenga, tears threatening to spill. No. No, no, no. I'm not ready to lose a precious person in my life.

"No. Please don't," I whispered, shaking my head as I retreated further. "Don't spoil our friendship. Please."

But he didn't stop. He dropped to one knee, pulling out a bouquet of red roses, his eyes filled with emotions that only deepened my unease.

"I've always loved you," he said softly. "What started as a little crush in high school grew into something I couldn't ignore. I don't know when it happened—when you became my future, when you started appearing in all my dreams. I really, really love you, Nivya. Please, give me a chance. If you accept me, I'll stand against the world for you."

His words hung in the air, but I couldn't meet them halfway. I shook my head vehemently.

"I respect your feelings, Laksh, but I can't do this," I said firmly, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. "I'm marrying the day after tomorrow, and you're proposing to someone else's fiancée. Do you even realize what you're doing?"

I looked directly into his eyes, hoping my resolve would make him understand. But deep down, I could see his heart breaking. And it hurt more than I'd ever expected.

"You don't love him. I know you don't," Laksh said, standing up and setting the bouquet aside. His voice was desperate, pleading. "Give me a chance, and I'll free you from him. I'll give you everything you've ever wished for—everything that monster could never give you."

The moment he called Nirvaan a monster, something snapped inside me. My blood boiled. How dare he?

"You've lost your mind," I said coldly, stepping back as disgust washed over me. "Proposing to someone else's fiancée two days before her wedding? You need to see a doctor, Laksh. Where are all those righteous morals you used to preach about?"

His gaze, once comforting and familiar, now made my skin crawl. There was something in his eyes, something unsettling that I couldn't quite place.

"Tumhe apne dimaag ka ilaaj karane ki zaroorat hai," I said sharply, my voice laced with contempt. "Your so-called morals are in the gutter right now." {You need to see a brain specialist for your mind.}

Before I could say more, he stepped closer and grabbed my shoulders. The audacity. I threw his hands off me with force, the disgust in my expression unmistakable.

"Don't you dare touch me," I spat, my voice trembling with a mix of rage and disbelief. "You've crossed every boundary today, and I'll never forgive you for it."

Laksh's desperation morphed into something unsettling as he tightened his grip on my shoulder. "Nivya, that monster doesn't deserve you. He doesn't even have basic humanity. He'll never love you."

The word monster echoed in my head. Twice now, he'd called Nirvaan that. My patience snapped. I leaned in and bit his wrist hard, making him wince and let go.

"Don't you dare call my man a monster," I said firmly, pushing him away. His presence now filled me with disgust. I'd warned him not to touch me, but he still had the audacity.

"I would choose the said monster over you a hundred times in any lifetime," I continued, my voice steady and unyielding. "Nirvaan is a man who sacrificed himself for his family. You, Laksh, could never compare. Even if you lived a hundred lives, you wouldn't amount to a fraction of what he is."

Laksh's expression darkened, and my instincts told me to leave. I moved toward the door, but he was quick, grabbing my hand.

"Your man?" he scoffed, his tone dripping with mockery.

I yanked my hand away, glaring at him. "Yes, mine. Just mine. At least he's loyal to me. You claim you've loved me since high school, but how does that justify sleeping with other women? If your heart truly belonged to me, you wouldn't have let anyone else near you. Your so-called morals are in the gutter. Don't forget what I'm capable of, Laksh. If Nirvaan hears about this, he could destroy you and your family with a single snap of his fingers."

He frowned but said nothing as I stood tall before him.

"I am becoming his bride," I continued. "I'm marrying a man who respects me, and I don't need any more drama in my life. Come to the wedding, eat, dance, and leave. Stay out of my personal life. If you truly care about me, accept that I am going to be someone else's wife. As for our friendship? It ends here. Thank you."

I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me.

"Why can't you love me? Just because I slept with a few women?" His tone was almost accusatory. "I even took architecture for you."

I turned back, shaking my head in disbelief. "Excuse me?"

"No," I said firmly. "I would have never loved you, Laksh. You were never more than a friend to me, and your career was your own choice. Don't you dare blame that on me. And about sleeping with other women? You claim to love me, yet you sought solace in their arms. If you truly loved me, you would've made an effort toward me, not everyone else."

Laksh smirked, as if he thought he'd found an edge. "And what makes you think Nirvaan doesn't sleep around?"

His smugness fueled my irritation. "He doesn't claim to love me, Laksh. You do," I said sharply, watching his smirk falter. "I don't know Nirvaan well on a personal level, but I've never seen him disrespect a woman like this."

"He won't give you love," Laksh said bitterly, almost cursing me.

I exhaled, shaking my head. "Maybe not. But he'll give me respect, trust, and loyalty—and that's more than enough."

Without sparing him another glance, I turned, pushed the door open, and walked straight to the car, leaving him and his toxic desperation behind.

I settled into the car, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. Revaan immediately noticed, his sharp eyes assessing me.

"You took quite some time," he said softly, passing me a bottle of water. Mahi, seated beside me, frowned as her gaze shifted to Laksh, who was exiting the café.

"You met Laksh?" she asked, her voice cautious.

I nodded, tipping the bottle to gulp the water down, trying to cool the fire in my chest.

"Did he say something?" Revaan's tone was clipped as he turned toward me, instructing the driver to head to the venue. His expression hardened when he noticed my flushed face.

His voice darkened, filled with quiet fury, as though he was ready to act on a single word from me. "What did he do?"

"Nothing. Just congratulated me and fed me my favorite cheesecake," I replied softly, forcing a calmness into my voice.

Revaan's brows furrowed slightly, but he didn't press further. He might seem mature beyond his years, but he was still a kid in some ways. Things like this—messy, complicated emotions—I wasn't going to burden him with unless absolutely necessary.

Mahi, however, kept glancing at me, her curiosity clear. I avoided her gaze, leaning back in my seat and closing my eyes, pretending to rest. The truth would stay with me, locked away where it belonged.

As the car stopped at the venue, and Revaan went out to fetch Mihika, Mahi immediately held my hand, her grip firm but warm.

"Tell me the truth," she demanded, her voice steady, though the concern in her eyes was undeniable.

I didn't answer right away. Instead, I hugged her tightly, letting her warmth ground me as I tried to calm the storm of emotions raging within me.

Through the tinted glass of the car, I caught a glimpse of Laksh's car pulling up nearby. He stepped out, glanced briefly at my car, but didn't seem to notice me. His gaze drifted away as he entered the venue, and I felt a surge of disgust.

How could he? After everything, he had the audacity to show up here, at the very wedding he was desperately trying to derail. What kind of person does that? My heart pounded in my chest, anger bubbling up again. This shamelessness, this hypocrisy—it was too much to bear.

Mahi pulled away slightly from the hug, still holding me by the shoulders. "Nivya, tell me what happened," she insisted softly, sensing the weight of my silence.

"He proposed to me," I spoke out softly, glancing at Mahi as I stepped out of the comforting hug, locking eyes with her.

She blinked, then scoffed, disbelief written all over her face. "He had the audacity to propose to you just two days before your wedding? Was he sleeping for the past seven years?" she asked, shaking her head as she squeezed my hands.

I looked at her, surprised. "You knew?" I asked, my voice a little shaky.

Mahi shrugged, her gaze distant as she spoke with the calm of someone who had observed far more than she had let on. "I never thought it was love. It was more like he was fascinated, or obsessed with your beauty. You know how he is—he gets drawn to beautiful things, and I think you were just added to that list. But love is different. It's not something you force; it makes space for itself on its own." Her voice softened as she finished, her eyes reflecting a quiet wisdom.

She pulled me in for another brief hug, her words still hanging in the air. "Don't let that man destroy your precious day. Let's go and enjoy it. Nirvaan Jiju must be waiting for his gorgeous princess," she teased, her voice light and teasing, making me smile despite the tension in my chest.

Just then, Mihika and Revaan arrived, and I nodded, stepping toward them. Revaan rushed to me, helping me with my lehenga. My little brother—who now stood before me as a young man—was a constant reminder of how time had passed. I glanced over at Atharva, who stood with a beautiful young girl in a sleeveless orange kurta set.

"Hello, Dii. I'm Mishka, Atharva's sister. You're so gorgeous," she said, beaming as she stepped forward and gave me a wide smile. Her accent made it clear that she was an NRI, something I noticed right away.

"Thank you. You're also so cute," I replied, gently tapping her cheek with a smile before my eyes shifted to my brother. I caught him looking at Mishka with something new—a soft, almost tender look that spoke volumes. It was a quiet admiration, one I wasn't used to seeing on his face for someone apart from family.

Curious, I turned back to Mishka. She was stunning—a perfect blend of elegance and poise. Her lean frame and flawless jawline made me a little jealous, but I hid it behind a smile. She looked like a model—tall, graceful, and poised.

"I can't believe I'm seeing a real-life princess," she exclaimed, her eyes wide with awe as she cupped her cheeks. Before I could respond, Atharva pulled her back with a laugh, pulling me into a hug while also congratulating me.

I thanked them with a quiet smile before stepping inside. My eyes scanned the room, and a wave of anger surged through me when I saw Laksh sitting with our friends, as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn't just proposed to me two days before my wedding. The audacity—he had sold all his shame at a wholesale market, it seemed.

Nirvaan and I were ushered to sit side by side, and without thinking, I immediately reached out to hold his forearm. I felt him stiffen slightly, moving away, but I didn't let go. Our shoulders brushed as we sat close, and I could sense the tension in the air. I glanced over at Laksh, our eyes locking in a silent challenge. His gaze shifted quickly, and he looked away, gritting his teeth, trying to act as if nothing had happened.

Soon, the artists began applying mehendi, and I couldn't help but dance a little, trying to shake off the tension and anger building inside me. My mother, as expected, got emotional, which only added to my frustration. Her tears were sweet, but in that moment, I couldn't shake off the anger that had been festering inside me for days.

After a while, Revaan appeared with a plate of food, filled with all my favorites. He fed me while making small talk, trying to lighten the mood. Despite my best efforts to stay calm, I couldn't fully engage in the moment, my mind still clouded by everything that had happened.

By the end of the mehendi ceremony, my hands and feet were filled with delicate, intricate designs, the deep red of the mehendi contrasting against my skin. Nirvaan's name was hidden within the patterns, a reminder of the commitment we were about to make. But honestly, I felt worn out. The weight of all the emotions—the anger, confusion, frustration, and the constant tug-of-war between my feelings and my responsibilities toward Nirvaan—was starting to take its toll on me. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt so drained.

I would never let a third person disrespect my relationship with Nirvaan, not now, not ever. Laksh's actions, his misguided attempts to disrupt what I had with Nirvaan. I couldn't allow anyone to diminish what we shared, especially not someone who was willing to disrespect both me and the man I was about to marry.

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This is the story behind the pictures Nirvaan received. Let's see how he would handle this situation or will end up disappointing Nivya.

What are your thoughts on Nivya and Nirvaan?

Thankyou<3