The days leading up to Shweta's wedding were a blur for Aarohi. Her house was filled with the sounds of laughter, excitement, and the constant bustle of relatives arriving, checking arrangements, and discussing details. It felt as though the entire world had turned its focus to Shweta, and Aarohi was stuck on the sidelines, invisible.
Her sisterâs wedding dress hung in the corner of the room, its fabric soft and sparkling in the light. The rich red and gold colors were a symbol of everything that was expected in their worldâa perfect match of tradition, culture, and family pride. Aarohi admired the dress but couldnât help feeling disconnected from it all. She didnât belong in this picture-perfect scenario, where everything was so neatly planned out. She wondered, What about my future?
Each day, she helped with the preparations, acting as though everything was fine. But deep down, the pressure mounted. The conversations about Shweta's wedding were endless. Everyone was so happy and focused on the upcoming event that no one seemed to notice the storm brewing inside Aarohi.
One afternoon, as Aarohi set the table for dinner, she overheard her parents talking in the living room. She paused, her heart racing. Her fatherâs voice was low, but the words were clear.
âItâs time we think about Aarohi,â her father, Rajesh, said. âSheâll be finishing her second year soon. Once she graduates, weâll need to arrange her marriage too.â
Aarohi froze, her hands gripping the edge of the table. She didnât want to hear more, but she couldnât bring herself to leave.
Her motherâs voice followed. âI know. But weâve promised Dev that his son, Vihaan, will marry her. We should wait until sheâs finished with college. It wouldnât be proper otherwise.â
âI agree,â Rajesh replied. âWeâll wait until after her graduation. We donât want to rush her. But we canât wait too long. Vihaan is growing restless. He wants to settle down soon.â
Aarohiâs stomach twisted. The mention of Vihaanâthis stranger who had been chosen for her without her consentâmade her feel like she was drowning. She had no idea who this man was, nor did she want to. But the reality was setting in, and her parents' casual tone about her future only made it worse.
They continued talking, discussing Shwetaâs wedding details, but Aarohiâs thoughts were elsewhere. So, theyâre not going to tell me yet, not until after my graduation, she thought. But theyâve already decided my life.
Aarohi silently stepped back, retreating into her room. She shut the door softly behind her, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
The weight of it all was suffocating. She had always believed that her life would be her own, that sheâd be able to choose her path. But now, everything seemed predetermined for her. It was as if her happiness was secondary to the promises her parents had made years ago.
Aarohi sank onto her bed, staring at the ceiling. She could hear the chatter downstairsâher mother and aunt discussing Shwetaâs makeup trial, the details of the catering, the guest listâbut it all felt so distant to her. She wasnât sure where she fit into this picture anymore.
The door creaked open, and Shweta walked in, her eyes twinkling with excitement. âAarohi! You wonât believe it, I just picked out the perfect jewelry for the wedding. Itâs so beautiful! Mom says Iâll look like a queen.â She laughed, her smile bright, but Aarohi could sense a weariness behind her sisterâs eyes.
âSounds amazing,â Aarohi said, forcing a smile. She didnât have the energy to match her sisterâs enthusiasm.
Shweta tilted her head, studying Aarohi. âAre you okay? Youâve been acting strange lately.â
Aarohi hesitated, unsure of how to answer. She couldnât tell her sister everything. Shweta had enough on her plate with the wedding preparations. She didnât need to hear about Aarohiâs own fears and anxieties.
âIâm fine,â Aarohi replied, but the lie felt heavy in her mouth.
Shweta didnât seem convinced, but she didnât press further. Instead, she sat down beside Aarohi, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. âListen, I know this whole wedding thing is a lot. But Iâm doing this for Mom and Dad. Youâll understand someday. They just want whatâs best for us.â
Aarohi swallowed the lump in her throat. âI know,â she whispered. âI just donât feel ready for all of this.â
Shweta gave her a sympathetic look. âI know. But youâll be okay. You have to trust Mom and Dad. They know what theyâre doing.â
Aarohi nodded, though she wasnât sure she believed her sister. How could she trust them when they hadnât even given her a say in the matter?
The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Aarohi went through the motions, helping her mother with dinner, offering a smile to guests who came by to offer their congratulations to Shweta, and pretending that everything was okay. But with every passing moment, the pressure only increased.
Later that night, Aarohi couldnât sleep. She kept thinking about the conversation she had overheard earlier. Her father had said they would wait until after she graduated, but the truth was, she didnât know if she could bear it. The thought of her life being completely decided for herâof being married to someone she didnât even knowâwas crushing.
She tossed and turned, until finally, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Tanya: âIâm here if you want to talk. I know this is tough.â
Aarohi replied: âI donât know what to do anymore. It feels like my life isnât even mine to live.â
Tanyaâs reply was instant: âYou have to make your own choice. Donât let them decide everything for you.â
Aarohi bit her lip, staring at the screen. But how do I fight something I canât control?