VANI'S POV

"Are you okay, Vani?" I looked up, seeing Riti di's reflection in the mirror, her face filled with concern and countless questions that I had yet to answer.

"Yes, di, I am. Why are you so worried?" I smiled at her, hoping to erase the worry and suspicion from her heart.

Rudra was known for his barbaric nature. To others, he was a multi-billionaire with power and reputation, but those who knew him personally were aware of his ruthless dark side as well.

Riti di knew it, and I had witnessed it just yesterday.

"Are you sure about this marriage with him?" Riti di asked as she combed my hair.

Even if I wanted to tell her everything, I couldn't.

I gave her a small smile and nodded. I knew his visit with his family for my proposal was just a formality. The only answer expected from me today was yes.

Yesterday, Riti di got married. She doesn't know that Rudra has blackmailed me into this marriage by threatening her. I didn't want her to blame herself for my suffering.

Moreover, she was pregnant. Any stress could increase the risk for her and her baby.

"You met him just yesterday, and today he's here with a proposal. This is too weird, and mom and dad are okay with this. I don't understand," Riti said calmly. I knew she wasn't convinced by the "love at first sight" lie I had fed her. If anyone knew me better than anyone, it was di.

"Di, please, I'm not a kid anymore. I love him, and he loves me. Please have faith in me. I wouldn't do anything wrong," I pleaded, giving her a desperate look.

It was already suffocating to keep my emotions bottled up inside, and if she continued like this, I might lose control.

"Fine, stay here. Come when mom calls you." She left, and I watched her retreating back until she vanished from my sight.

I looked back into the mirror. I was clad in a maroon anarkali suit. I looked beautiful. I had always looked beautiful, and I had always wished to be loved by someone not just for my looks but for the real me.

But destiny—when has it ever played in my favor? I don't even know why I keep expecting when I know it always hurts me in the end.

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Vani sat in front of Rudra, who was mentally smirking at his victory. His eyes showed no emotion; he was a man who never let his feelings show in public.

Vani, on the other hand, couldn't bring herself to look at him. Yet, Rudra couldn't take his eyes off her. She looked like a goddess in her maroon suit.

"We like Vani for our Rudra. We accept her as our daughter-in-law," Rudra's father, Shivraj, declared. Vani's heart sank. This was the moment she had dreaded since last night. She took a deep breath to steady her trembling hands.

"Congratulations, everyone. Meena, bring the gifts for my future daughter-in-law," Gauri, Rudra's mother, ordered the maid. She walked towards Vani and covered her head with a red dupatta, gifting her with ancestral bangles.

As soon as her face was covered, a tear dropped onto the bangles that now adorned her pale wrist. To her, they felt more like shackles, caging her.

"Now, let's find an auspicious date for the wedding," Rudra's grandfather said sternly. He gave a look to the pandit that Rudra's family had brought with them.

The priest turned the pages of his book. After a few minutes, he looked at Rudra's grandfather and then at Rudra.

"Next Monday is the only auspicious date we have. Otherwise, it will be next year." Vani looked up for the first time, shocked and terrified. She felt faint.

Rudra was ecstatic; everything was going according to his plan.

"Fine, the marriage will happen next year," Rudra's grandfather, Prithviraj Singh Rathore, declared. At 75, he was the man no one ever went against, not even Rudra, who was like his shadow.

Vani felt a brief sense of relief, but it was short-lived when Rudra's next words fell on her ears.

"Okay, let's do the engagement in two days, then. I will introduce Vani as my future wife to eve—"

"It will be a private ceremony," Prithviraj interrupted, cutting Rudra off.

Using his stick for support, he stood up and walked towards Vani.

"Welcome to the family, beta," he said gently, placing his hand on her head in blessing.

Everyone followed him silently.

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"Ahhhh, sarkaar!" the man screamed, tears of terror streaming from his eyes.

"How fucking dare you? You had one job, and you couldn't even do it, hmm?" Rudra seethed as he fired another shot near him.

"Forgive me, sarkaar, I did exactly what you ordered. I didn't know that badhe sarkaar would—" The pandit fell silent.

"This pandit is irritating me more, Kumar. Blindfold him and throw him in the jungle." The pandit's eyes widened in fear. He almost hugged Rudra's leg, but Rudra shoved him away, disgust evident in his eyes as if the pandit were some plague.

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"Where have you been, Rudra?" Prithviraj questioned him. It was almost midnight when Rudra returned home.

"Just some work, dada-sa," Rudra answered without looking at him.

"Won't you ask me why I chose next year?" Prithviraj asked.

"Elections are coming, and I know you want me to be focused on them," Rudra stated, but Prithviraj shook his head.

"No, it's because I want you to be really sure before you marry the girl. She is very young. Considering the age difference between you two, I would suggest you make sure you love her and can spend the rest of your life with her. I believe you are rushing into things. Make sure it's not just mere infatuation." Prithviraj's words made Rudra tremble with anger.

"I didn't, and neither would I ask you why you chose her. But I only give you one piece of advice. Sometimes, loving someone too much can ruin the other person. You have a whole year, decide wisely."

"You and dadi-sa had an age gap too; that was never a problem. Same goes with maa-sa and baba-sa. They are happy as well." Prithviraj gave him a stern look before heading to his room, leaving Rudra seething.

Even the thought of someone being against his and Vani's union made his blood boil. He would never leave Vani or let her go.

"Fucking one year," he gritted his teeth and stormed off to his room.