The day Shwetaâs wedding rituals began was filled with excitement and anticipation. Aarohi felt like she was drifting through the entire process, watching her sister be pampered and showered with attention, while her own thoughts remained consumed by the whirlwind of her own future. Shweta was radiant, her smile never fading, as family and friends surrounded her, but Aarohi couldnât shake the gnawing feeling in her chest.
The house was busy with preparationsâdecorations, flower arrangements, the final touches on the bridal dress. Aarohi moved around, helping wherever she could, but her mind was elsewhere. Her parents were caught up in the wedding, oblivious to the storm brewing within their younger daughter. Aarohi had promised herself that she would talk to them soonâshe couldnât bear the thought of her life being planned out without her input any longer. But the opportunity hadnât come yet.
As the evening progressed, Aarohi found herself retreating to the quieter corners of the house, avoiding the crowded spaces where relatives were mingling. Her eyes kept darting to her parents, who seemed so absorbed in making sure everything for Shwetaâs wedding was perfect. She took a deep breath, gathering her courage. Tonight, she thought. Iâll finally tell them.
But as she stood by the hallway, preparing to enter the living room where her parents were sitting, she heard voices. Her heart skipped a beat. It was her father, talking to someone on the phone. Aarohi froze, pressing herself against the wall to stay hidden from view.
âI canât wait for Shwetaâs wedding,â her fatherâs voice filled the hallway, warm and excited. âEverythingâs falling into place. But after itâs over, we can finally turn our attention to Aarohi. Itâs time, Dev. Weâve waited long enough.â
Aarohiâs breath caught in her throat. She hadnât meant to overhear this. The conversation continued.
âI agree,â her father continued, his tone filled with anticipation. âWeâll wait until sheâs graduated, of course. She deserves that much. But after that, itâll be time for her and Vihaan to meet. Iâm sure theyâll get along well. We can finalize the engagement after their meeting. Itâll be perfect.â
Aarohiâs knees nearly buckled. Vihaan? The name felt foreign and distant to her, like it belonged to someone from a completely different world. This stranger, the man her father had promised her to, was about to become a reality. The thought of it made her dizzy.
Her fatherâs voice softened. âIâve known Dev for years. His son Vihaan is a good man, Aarohi will be in good hands. Iâm sure of it. Iâm excited for this. Itâs the right thing to do.â
Aarohi stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. Every word felt like it was a nail in the coffin of her own autonomy. They werenât just planning her marriageâthey were already excited about it, as though it was an inevitable step in her life that she had no control over. She had thought she could talk to her parents and change things, but now it felt hopeless.
Her fatherâs voice grew excited again. âWeâll meet with them after her graduation, arrange a time for them to meet. After that, weâll make the official announcement to everyone. Iâm sure sheâll come around. Sheâs a good girl. Sheâll do her part.â
The words were like a weight pressing down on Aarohiâs chest. Sheâll come around. That was how they saw her? As someone who would eventually accept whatever they decided for her?
Aarohi couldnât take it any longer. She turned quietly and slipped out of the hallway, retreating to her room. The sound of her footsteps was drowned out by the laughter and chatter downstairs, but she could feel the world closing in on her. The idea of meeting Vihaan, marrying him, was a nightmare she couldnât escape. Theyâve already made up their minds, she thought, her voice breaking in her head. And they donât even see how much this is tearing me apart.
She sat down on her bed, her hands trembling as she hugged her knees to her chest. The plan was already set. It was only a matter of time before her parents would bring her into it, making her a willing participant in their dream for her future. Aarohi had always thought sheâd have a choice in her life, that her happiness would matter. But now, it seemed like her dreams were fading, like they had never been real to begin with.
She wanted to scream, to demand that her parents listen to her, but she knew it would do no good. They had already decided. All that was left was for her to play along, to meet Vihaan, and to accept the future they had planned for her.
Aarohi wiped her eyes, trying to calm herself. She wasnât sure what to do anymore. She had to face this head-on, but the thought of confronting her parents felt like too much. Her heart was racing with fear and frustration, and all she could do was wonder how she could escape the web her family had woven for her.
Downstairs, the wedding celebrations continued, but for Aarohi, it all felt like a distant memory, a dream she no longer recognized. She felt trapped in a life she hadnât chosen, a future she wasnât ready for.