"Var-vadhu ab apna dahina haath badhaein," the priest chanted, his voice steady as he began tying the kalewa, a sacred red thread symbolizing the bond of marriage. Sanskrit mantras echoed around them, soft and solemn.

Ruhi's breath hitched.

"I-I don't want to marry..." she whispered, barely audible beneath the veil. Her voice trembled, her heart pounding so loud she could feel it in her ears. She peered through the fine mesh, trying to catch a glimpse of the boys standing just beyond the mandap. Were they still there? Could she run?

This couldn't happen. Not like this.

Marriage for her was a sacred bond. Something she had dreamed of, idealized. A vow made with the person her heart would call home, not a stranger in a borrowed mandap, not under pressure, not hidden behind veil and fear.

Her eyes dropped to the man beside her.

Her hand small, trembling was resting in his, while the priest tied the thread around their wrists. His grip was warm... but steady, too steady, too familiar.

A strange sensation stirred inside her, a stillness. Then he spoke, just one word.

"Ruh?"

Low and stunned, as if spoken from the heart, not the lips, and she froze.

Her head turned ever so slightly slowly, and hesitantly.

"I..." he began again, his voice barely a breath. "Is it you?"

That voice. That voice.

Her veil may have blurred her vision, but her ears never lied. She knew that voice, that impossibly calm, grounding voice that had once pulled her out of the dark, literally and metaphorically.

She gasped. "Shivaang?"

He was already lifting his sehra and looking at her.

And as their eyes met finally, clearly the world stilled. The crowd, the mantras, the flames, even time itself faded away.

It was him. It had always been him, and she... was going to be his bride.

Echo reached the temple after completing his part of the plan, now blended effortlessly into the crowd in a cream-colored kurta. His eyes scanned the bustling chaos, looking for any sign of Shivaang.

From a distance, he spotted Trussardi's men, Yug among them searching the outer periphery. Good, the decoy was working. The police had been informed as per protocol and would arrive at any moment.

Just then, Echo's eyes briefly flicked toward the other side of the temple, where a traditional wedding ceremonies was taking place under many mandaps glowing with soft yellow light. He scoffed under his breath and murmured,

"That's the last place on earth he'd go to."

With that, he turned and began moving in the opposite direction.

At the same moment, Prisha and Aria burst into the temple courtyard, breathless and frantic, their eyes glued to Prisha's phone screen.

Clash!

Prisha crashed hard into Echo, her phone flying from her hand. She stumbled back, clutching her elbow.

"Hey! Watch where you're-" she started, flustered, not even fully looking at him.

Echo caught her by the arms to steady her, eyes narrowing for a fraction of a second.

It's her. Prisha Advani. Ruhi's roommate.

He let go instantly, stepping back with a composed smile. "Sorry, you okay?"

Prisha blinked, caught off guard by the softness in his tone. "Yeah... I-I wasn't looking."

Aria rushed over, grabbed Prisha's arm. "Come on! We're late, she's in that crowd I think!" signing towards wedding area.

That caught Echo's ear like a slap.

He looked sharply toward the wedding, then back at them. "Wait, who's in the mandap?"

But they were already running past, disappearing into the crowd. Echo also turned to follow them. Ruhi?

"Kanyadaan ke liye vadhu ke pita hai?" the priest asked.

Ruhi looked at him, then at Shivaang, then lowered her gaze. She shook her head gently under the veil. Just then, an older couple stepped forward from the back.

"Hum kar dein?" old man asked softly. "Beta, humein kabhi bacchon ka sukh nahi mila... kanyadaan ka punya dogi humein?" There was a flicker of emotion in his voice, a glint of tears in his eyes.

Ruhi turned toward him from under her veil and slowly nodded, her own eyes welling up. A storm of thoughts raced through her mind. Shivaang gently squeezed her hand. Understanding her emotions, his eyes moved across the mandap and caught Echo's gaze, who was scanning every girl sitting in the mandaps like some undercover detective creep.

Their eyes met.

Leaning slightly toward her, Shivaang whispered, "I don't know why you're here, but don't worry. This wedding won't happen. The police will be here any moment."

Ruhi heard him, she should have felt relieved, but she didn't. Of course he would never marry someone like her. And anyway, he had a girlfriend. That thought spiraled into more, clouding her mind. She simply nodded at him, quietly.

Meanwhile Echo, HE FROZE.

His eyes widened as he blinked rapidly, taking a step back. "No way. I'm dreaming. I have to be dreaming. This can't be real," he muttered to himself. "I came here to find Ruhi, and now I'm seeing... what even is this?"

Prisha and Aria were still scanning the crowd for their friend, standing a little distance from Echo, when suddenly Prisha gasped.

"Oye! Isn't that Ruhi's lehenga?" she said, pointing toward a girl sitting at one of the corner mandaps.

Aria followed her gaze. Echo turned too, his head snapping in the same direction. And then he took another step back.

That was the exact mandap where Shivaang was sitting.

"Yes, that's her lehenga. But is she really Ruhi? And if it is... why is she sitting there?" Aria asked, confused.

"Can't you see she's getting married!" Prisha exclaimed. Then the words hit her and she gasped. "Oh shit."

She looked at the mandap, then at Aria. Both girls started hurrying toward it but Echo stepped in front of them.

"Where are you going?"

"Who even are you? Get out of the way!" Prisha snapped.

"You can't just go up there and cause a scene," Echo said firmly.

"And how do you know we will?" Aria asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Look, it doesn't matter who I am. But think for a second, if she's sitting there quietly, there has to be a reason. Maybe she's doing it by choice. If you storm in, you might only make it worse for her."

Prisha folded her arms, fuming. "With all due respect, mister, no one asked for your opinion. What if she's being blackmailed or threatened? We can't just assume anything. We need to get her out of there."

Echo panicked slightly. They couldn't draw attention right now. Not with Trussardi's men lurking nearby, and the police not here yet.

"Wait-" he tried again.

"Shut up!" Prisha snapped, waving her hand in his face.

They started marching toward the mandap again, but Aria suddenly stopped. Her hand shot out, grabbing Prisha's arm.

"What is it now?" Prisha asked, annoyed.

Aria didn't answer. She stared at the mandap with wide eyes. Then, slowly, she turned to Prisha and whispered, "That... that's Shivaang Shrivastav sitting beside her."

"So?" Prisha asked, puzzled. Then her eyes widened too. "What?"

They both whipped their heads toward the mandap. Squinting through the crowd, Prisha's breath caught. It really was him.

They turned to each other, silent, stunned.

Then without saying another word, they quietly returned to the spot beside Echo.

Echo looked at them. "What happened? Not going anymore?"

They both shook their heads, still staring at the mandap in disbelief.

"Weirdos," Echo muttered, rolling his eyes.

Across the temple, leaning casually against a pillar, was Yug. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he watched the ceremony unfold like a movie.

Echo followed his gaze and groaned. "Great. Weirdo 2.0."

Then he looked back at Shivaang and muttered to himself, "Who knew, when he said 'There will never be one,' he wasn't talking about marriage but me being his best man. Huh!"

He slumped against the pillar with a dramatic sigh, still watching the impossible scene playing out in front of him.

"Gathbandhan ke liye koi hai? Aap dono ki taraf se?" the priest asked, pausing mid-ritual.

"Jee, Pandit ji. Dulhe ka bhai," Echo said calmly, stepping forward.

He picked up the ends of Ruhi's dupatta and Shivaang's stole with careful hands, tying the sacred knot that bound them in the ritual of togetherness.

Shivaang looked at him in his eyes trying to understand what the hell is he doing, when he should be getting the police. With a quick pat on Shivaang's shoulder, part reassurance, part secret brotherly mischief, he quietly stepped back into the crowd.

Aria and Prisha, watching from the side, gasped in unison.

"Dulhe ka bhai?!" they echoed, eyes widening as they turned to each other.

"Bro, one more shock and I swear I'll pass out," Prisha muttered, clutching her forehead dramatically.

But then something lit up in her eyes.

"Oh... oh shit. Aruuu!" she whispered urgently, grabbing Aria's arm.

"What now?!" Aria whispered back, confused.

"How could we forget?! The black magic!" Prisha's eyes were now the size of saucers.

"This...this is all happening because of that black magic we did that day!"

Aria froze.

"Oh. My. God," she said, realization dawning.

"I told you it works!" Prisha squealed, half-horrified and half-triumphant.

"This much?! I thought maybe a flower would fall near him or he'd text or something. Not... not shaadi!" Aria exclaimed, half-whispering, half-shouting.

They both stared back at the mandap in stunned silence.

"...we are never doing this again," Aria finally said.

"No promises," Prisha replied, still beaming.

"Ab aap dono pheron ke liye khade ho jayein," the priest announced solemnly.

"Finally! Pheras!" Prisha whispered with a wide grin from the sidelines, her excitement barely contained.

Shivaang stood up first. Ruhi followed, but as she rose, her energy gave out for a second. After all the running, the weight of her heavy lehenga, and the emotional storm inside her, her legs stuttered and she stumbled slightly.

Shivaang caught her instantly, his hand steadying her arm as she leaned toward him.

"Thik ho?" he asked, brows furrowed with concern, his voice low, just for her.

Before Ruhi could answer, a sharp shout rang out from the seated crowd.

"There she is!" Daniel's voice.

Ruhi's head snapped in the direction of the voice. She could see from inside the veil, he was looking at her, with rest of the boys standing behind him. They had finally spotted her, unmistakable in the dazzling lehenga.

Her heart thudded in panic.

Without thinking, she clutched Shivaang's hand tighter, as if it were the only real thing grounding her in that moment. He noticed and before he could say something the priest spoke again.

"Pehla phera dharm ke liye. Vadhu, kripya agni ke chaaron taraf chalna prarambh karein."

Ruhi turned back toward the fire.

She saw Daniel take a step forward but he stopped. He couldn't do anything, not here, not in front of all these people. And police would arrive soon, right? She would be safe.

She took a breath, then began walking, her trembling fingers still wrapped in Shivaang's.

He followed, matching her pace.

The seven rounds passed in a blur of flickering firelight, of murmured chants, of questions neither of them voiced.

They sat down again, side by side. Her mind was still spinning.

"Yeh aapki police kab aa rahi hai?" she whispered from the corner of her mouth. "Poori shaadi hone ke baad?."

Shivaang blinked. For a second, he had forgotten, the plan, the mission, his identity, the lines he had drawn between Mirage and Shivaang.

He looked up quickly and scanned the crowd.

Echo stood by a pillar, arms crossed, sulking like a betrayed sibling.

Shivaang subtly signaled to him with his eyes What's the update? Where's the police?

Echo returned the look with exaggerated defiance, as if saying, Oh, now you remember? You were here for something but to getting married and didn't even tell me!

Their silent conversation continued while Ruhi sat beside Shivaang, completely unaware that her accidental wedding was not only witnessed by fate, but now supervised by two emotionally dramatic spies.

"Hey that's Ethan right?" Aria told Prisha pointing towards him.

"Yes, what's he doing here?" Prisha said getting confused.

"Kripya mangalsutra lein aur vadhu ke gardan mein pehnayen," the priest said solemnly.

Ruhi's heart was pounding. This was the moment. She was going to be his wife now, maybe the circumstances were strange and rushed, but the truth remained, she would become his wife. She did not even know when that shift had happened. When did she started liking him. was this fate? was he truly destined for her? Could she really get what she had secretly hoped for? would he ever accept this marriage... accept her?

A storm of thoughts surged through her when she suddenly felt his hands brush against her neck. Gently, with trembling fingers, he fastened the mangalsutra. She lifted her veil slightly, just enough to see him in front of her. Their eyes met, his gaze steady, hers uncertain and in that silent exchange, something unspoken passed between them. An attempt to understand, to connect, even amidst the chaos around them.

Now only one ritual remained.

"Ab var vadhu ke maang mein sindur bhar kar use apni patni roop mein svikaar karein," the priest announced.

Shivaang took the small container of sindur in his hand. But before he could reach out, a voice thundered across the temple.

"Everyone stop right where you are!" shouted a police officer.

The temple, moments ago alive with ritual and devotion, now froze in silence. Within seconds, armed officers surrounded the crowd. Guests looked around in confusion, unable to understand what was happening. Aria and Prisha were equally stunned. Ruhi closed her eyes, overwhelmed and unsure how to feel anymore.

A gunshot rang through the air.

One of Trussardi's men had fired into the sky, triggering panic. Screams echoed as people began to flee in every direction. The police rushed to control the chaos, returning fire. More bullets flew, and in the madness, one struck a pillar right beside Ruhi. She instinctively crouched down, but before she could react further, Shivaang threw himself in front of her, shielding her with his body.

"Ruhi, get up!" he shouted. He grabbed her hand firmly, keeping her close as they weaved through the frantic crowd.

Suddenly, Ruhi stopped.

Her eyes locked on a small boy, barely four or five, standing alone and terrified amidst the chaos. He was not crying, just frozen in fear, eyes wide as people raced past him. Someone ran close, almost trampling him, and he stumbled to the ground.

Without thinking, Ruhi broke away from Shivaang and ran to him.

"Ruhi!" Shivaang shouted, reaching out, but she did not stop. She crouched and pulled the boy into her arms, shielding him just as Shivaang had shielded her moments ago. She cradled the child tightly, wrapping herself around him. A second later, Shivaang reached her. He bent down, placed a protective hand on her back, and helped them both up.

"Let's go. We need to move," he said urgently.

Together, Shivaang led Ruhi and the boy through the back gate, out of the temple.

Meanwhile, Prisha spotted Ethan in the distance. She pushed through the fleeing crowd to reach him, but he turned and disappeared into the chaos. Just as she was about to be pushed over by the stampede, a strong hand yanked her back.

"Have you lost it? Running straight into gunfire?" Echo snapped, eyes full of concern.

Prisha, still rattled, pushed him away. "None of your business!" she shot back and stormed off. Echo shook his head, muttering to himself, then followed after her at a distance.

On the other side Aria was not so lucky. She was shoved by the stampede and fell to the ground. Before she could rise, someone's foot landed on her hand. She winced in pain, helpless as more people came running. She shut her eyes, bracing for the worst.

But nothing came.

Instead, she felt a body crouch over her, shielding her from the crowd. Slowly, she opened her eyes and found herself face to face with Yug.

"You..." she whispered, shocked.

Another push came from behind, but Yug absorbed the impact, never letting it reach her. When the panic thinned, he stood and offered his hand.

"Come on. Get up," he said, still standing protectively in front of her. Aria took his hand, and together, they made their way to safety.

Back outside, Ruhi gently set the little boy down.

"What happened, baby? Where are your parents?" she asked, crouching to his level, trying to calm him.

The boy hugged her tightly, tears finally spilling from his eyes.

"Mamma... Dadda..." he sobbed.

"No, no... don't cry," Ruhi whispered, her own tears beginning to fall. "Please don't cry, you'll be okay."

Shivaang stood beside her, watching the moment. He sighed and said, "He can't tell you where his parents are. If he could, he would have gone himself, right?"

He bent down to pick the boy up, but the child clung to Ruhi like a koala, refusing to let go. Shivaang exhaled, defeated.

"ye kiska bacha hai..khud bhi chup nhi ho raha aur iinko bhi rula raha hai" he muttered softly, though with no real annoyance.

Ruhi looked at him, voice trembling. "But Shivaang, how will we find his parents? They must be inside looking for him."

He sighed again, then said, "Don't worry. I'll find them but first, we have to leave this place. It's not safe."

Ruhi shook her head firmly. "No, we are not going anywhere until we find his parents."

Shivaang looked at her at the quiet strength in her voice, at the way she held the child and realized there was no convincing her otherwise.

Soon, Prisha came rushing toward them, with Echo following close behind.

"Ruhi.." Prisha said.

"Pri? are you okay? What are you doing here?" Ruhi asked, concern lacing her voice.

"I'm fine," Prisha replied, glancing around. "But where's Aria?"

Just then, Aria emerged from the same back gate, breathless but unharmed.

"Oh thank God!" Prisha exclaimed, hurrying to her. "I lost you in the crowd, I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay," Aria said, brushing her hair back. "Thanks to him, I-"

She turned to gesture behind her, but paused.

There was no one there.

Where did he go? she wondered.

"Him?" Prisha raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

Aria shook her head lightly. "Never mind. You both are okay?"

Ruhi stepped in, still holding the boy. "Wait, first tell me when and why are you two even here?"

Prisha folded her arms, giving Ruhi a mock glare. "Madam, you got married here and we weren't even invited?"

Her eyebrows lifted dramatically. "You really thought we'd miss that?"

Ruhi opened her mouth, but couldn't find the words. She glanced at Shivaang for a second, then quickly looked away.

Shivaang, meanwhile, had turned to Echo. A silent exchange passed between them - a glance, a subtle nod. Wordless, but understood.

"I'll tell you guys everything later," Ruhi said, her voice low but firm. "First, help us find his parents."

She nodded toward the little boy, now fast asleep in her arms.

Noticing the weight beginning to wear on her, Shivaang stepped forward and gently lifted the boy from her hold.

"It's not safe to go back in. Gunfire's still going on inside." Echo informed them.

Shivaang glanced at Ruhi. "Ruhi, get in the car. Trust me, we'll find his parents, but not like this."

Ruhi looked at the sleeping child, then at her friends. Her heart hesitated, but her head nodded.

"Let's go, guys."

Prisha blinked. "Go? Where?"

"Hostel, aur kahan?" Ruhi replied, as if it were obvious.

"Wait," Aria said, her eyes widening. "Girl, you're married now, and you're still coming to the hostel?"

"With a kid?" Prisha added with a mischievous smirk.

Shivaang opened his mouth. "Ruhi, I think-"

But Ruhi held up a hand dramatically. "Pata hai humein aap kya kehne wale hain- ki aap is shaadi ko nahi maante, and bla bla bla..."

She glanced away, then added with a tight smile, "But don't worry. Hum bhi aapko pareshaan nahi karenge."

Shivaang looked at her quietly for a moment, then a faint smile curved his lips.

"Shaadi to poore rasm aur riwazon ke saath... aapke Shivji ke saamne hui hai," he said softly. "Main kaun hota hoon ise nahi maanne wala?"

Ruhi stared at him, stunned. "But-"

"No but-vat, Ruhi," Prisha said, already opening the car door. "Chal, baith. Apne sasural ja. Waise bhi, hostel mein bachche allowed nahi hai. Aur kuchh kha lena ab toh atleast you can break your nirjala fast right?"

Saying she gave Ruhi a playful shove into the passenger seat.

"Nirjala fast?" Shivaang asked looking at Ruhi.

"Yes sir-sorry Jiju, she has kept fast today, and see she even got the result." Prisha said breeming.

"Tum dono-" Ruhi began, but Echo cut in.

"Main chhod dunga inhe," he said, stepping in before she could protest.

Shivaang handed the child back to Ruhi gently, then moved to the driver's seat and started the engine.

The drive was quiet.

The kind of silence that wasn't peaceful, just heavy. Questions curled in Ruhi's head like storm clouds. Unspoken, unanswered, unresolved.

Finally, Shivaang broke it.

"What do you want to do?" he asked without looking at her. "Shall we hand him over to the police? They'll trace his parents faster."

Ruhi looked down at the child in her lap, his tiny fingers curled, his face innocent and soft even in sleep.

"But will they be kind to him?" she asked quietly. "And what if he wakes up scared and crying?"

She paused.

"I can't leave him. Not until he's back with his parents."

Shivaang glanced at her, then back at the road.

The silence returned but this time, it carried something else.

Respect.

After a while, he pulled over near a small roadside fruit stall, got down quietly, and returned with a plate of fresh-cut fruits in hand
"Here," he said, offering it to Ruhi
She looked at him, confused — why this? I'm not even hungry
He met her gaze, steady and calm, "You know I wanted to scold you the moment I heard you didn't eat or drink anything the whole day... but seeing you like this, I'll save it for later — so just eat it, chup chap"

She pressed her lips together and reached out to take the plate, but the child was sleeping in her lap, wrapped around her like a little blanket of trust, and she couldn't move her hands without disturbing him
Shivang noticed, didn't say a word, just picked up a strawberry with the plastic fork and brought it gently to her lips

She blinked, startled, as if unsure whether this was really happening — her heart skipped a beat and then started thudding loud in her ears
He waited, patient
She opened her mouth slowly, almost involuntarily, and took the bite

One after the other, he fed her the entire plate like that
And she... she ate it all silently, chup chap, without a word, her eyes lowering every time their eyes met.

**************************************************************************

Kisine....Literally kisine bhi socha tha? In their wildest dream, that they will end up in an accidental samuhik vivah?...Like while writing this I could literally hear the bg music "dhin tana na na na na dherna dherna... dhin dhin tana na na na na dherna dherna...."🙂

Waise shaadi hui ya nahi? I mean sindur toh.... just saying, see you in next.

Love,

Reva ♡