I walked into the grand hall of the venue, the sound of shehnai and guests’ chatter echoing all around. The space shimmered with golden lights and floral decor, but my eyes weren’t admiring any of it. I was searching.

For someone.

For him.

No, not the groom.

Someone who would listen. Someone who mattered.

My eyes landed on Papa.

Yes—him. The right person.

The only one I think  who could stop this before it went too far.

I walked straight to him, my heart racing. “Papa,” I said, pulling him slightly aside, “I need to talk to you. It’s important.”

He looked at me, concerned but calm. “What is it, Radhika?”

“She’s not marrying him for the child, Papa,” I said quietly, urgently. “She doesn’t care about the boy. She’s doing it for the name, the status, the money. That’s all. We can’t let this happen.”

His expression changed—shifting from calm to firm in seconds.

“Radhika, no. I trust my brother’s decision. And if he approved this match, then there must be a reason. I won’t go against him.”

I shook my head, frustration rising. “But Papa—”

His voice cut through mine, sharper now. “That’s final. No more talking about this. I don’t want any drama. This is a wedding, not your stage for some moral crusade.”

He turned and walked away, his decision echoing louder than the music around me.

I stood there, stunned. Alone in a crowd that didn’t even know a storm was coming.

But I knew one thing for certain—I couldn’t disobey my father’s word.

------

Soon, the time came to bring the bride to the mandap. The music changed, the priest called out for the bride, and the guests turned their heads in anticipation.

And for my bad luck, it had to be me.

“Radhika,” my aunt Urmila said, adjusting the pleats of her saree, “go bring Priya. The groom is waiting.”

I forced a smile and nodded. “Sure, Aunty.”

My feet dragged as I made my way back to the bridal room. I took a breath, preparing myself for another round of fake smiles and tension—but the moment I opened the door, my stomach dropped.

The room was empty.

No bride. No dupatta trail. No clinking bangles. Just silence.

Panic surged. I stepped inside quickly, checked the bathroom. “Priya?” I called out.

No answer.

I looked behind the changing screen. Nothing.

I tried calling her.

Switched off.

My pulse quickened.

Where the hell did she go?

Just then, Aunt Urmila entered the room behind me, her voice laced with nerves. “What’s taking so long, Radhika?”

She paused. Her eyes scanned the room.

Empty.

“Where is she?” she asked, her voice rising. “Radhika, where is Priya?!”

“I—I don’t know,” I stammered. “She’s not here. I checked everywhere. I even tried calling her, but her phone’s off.”

Aunt Urmila’s face turned pale as realization hit. “She wouldn’t... she can’t...”

She sank onto the edge of the bed, her breath shaky.

Author POV :

Few hours ago ~

Priya paced the length of her room, her lehenga rustling softly with each step. One hand held her phone to her ear, the other clutching the edge of her dupatta as if to steady her nerves.

Her voice was low but laced with assurance.

“No, baby. This marriage is just an act for me. Nothing else. I love you.”

There was a pause as she listened to the voice on the other end.

Then she smirked.

“Don’t worry, Rishi. After one year, I’ll divorce him. I’ll ask for alimony—a huge one. Enough for our future.”

With that, she ended the call.

She glanced at her phone. Battery: 3%.

She sighed. “Of course,” she muttered.

She walked toward the window. The faint sound of dhol and wedding music floated into the air. She pulled the curtains aside.

The baraat had arrived.

Veer stood in the center, regal and composed, as people danced around him.

The groom.

Her target.

Her lips curled into a faint, unreadable smile.

On a whim, Priya turned and stepped out of her room, quietly making her way up the staircase—higher, past the second floor, to the terrace. The music grew louder with every step.

She pushed the terrace door open and stepped out.

From the third floor, the entire venue below looked small, like a decorated dollhouse. Fireworks burst in the distance. She leaned on the railing, watching silently.

Lost in her own world, Priya didn’t hear the soft footsteps behind her.

One of the venue staff, seeing the terrace door ajar, frowned.

It was supposed to stay shut—too many kids running around the venue.

Without checking thoroughly, he quietly pulled the heavy iron door closed...

And locked it.

Click

Unaware, Priya remained at the edge, staring down—trapped in her own thoughts, and now...

Unknowingly trapped on the terrace.

Back to present ~

Urmila sat on the edge of the bed, her face buried in her palms as sobs wracked her body.

The once-bright bridal room was now filled with  heavy silence.

Radhika stood still beside her father, her heart pounding. Across the room, Veer stood like a statue—his jaw clenched, eyes dark with fury. Beside him, Abhijeet ji’s face was red with restrained anger.

“How can you all do this to us?” Abhijeet ji’s voice boomed through the room. “What will people say? This is not just a wedding—it’s our name, our dignity. How can she vanish like this on the day of her marriage? This isn’t a joke, Amit ji!”

Gayatri ji placed a gentle hand on Urmila’s shoulder, trying to calm her, but Urmila suddenly stopped crying. Her eyes snapped toward Radhika, filled with rage.

“This girl!” she hissed, pointing a trembling finger. “She must be involved. I’m sure she said something to Priya—something that pushed her to take such a step! She’s always been jealous!”

“Stop it, Urmila!” Amit ji interrupted sharply. “This is not the time to point fingers. We don’t even know what happened!”

Radhika took a step back, stunned. “N-No… I didn’t do anything…”

She turned to her father with pleading eyes. “Papa, you know me. I didn’t do anything, I swear…”

But her father remained silent.

His gaze didn’t meet hers. His lips were tight.

And in that silence, Radhika felt something inside her begin to break.