“I’m really happy, Papa. Thank you for accepting Shaurya.”

Papa smiled faintly. “Why wouldn’t I accept my daughter’s happiness? I may not like that boy, but if he makes you happy, that’s enough for me.”

I hugged him tightly.

“Thank you so much, Papa.”

At that moment, I had no idea how quickly my happiness would turn into a nightmare.

I sat beneath the mandap, my veil covering half my face. The wedding rituals had already begun, but the groom was nowhere to be seen.

Whispers travelled through the crowd.

“Where is the groom?”

“The baraat should have arrived by now.”

“Has something happened?”

I tried to ignore them, but every passing minute made my heart beat faster. The weight of my lehenga suddenly felt unbearable.

Then, finally, the whispers stopped.

I looked up.

Shaurya was walking toward the mandap.

Relief washed over me.

Papa immediately stepped forward.

“Beta, you’re very late. Where is everyone else?”

Shaurya didn’t answer.

He simply stood there, his face expressionless.

Then he said,

“I’m not marrying her.”

For a moment, I thought I had heard him wrong.

I slowly lifted my veil and walked toward him.

“Shaurya, stop joking. This isn’t the time. Everyone is waiting, and we’re already late for the auspicious moment.”

His eyes remained cold.

“I said I’m not marrying you, Devika.”

My smile disappeared.

“What...?”

Papa looked at him in confusion.

“Beta, what happened? Did we make some mistake?”

Shaurya finally looked at him.

“I told you I needed money to start my business. You promised you would arrange it, but you couldn’t even manage that.”

My heart sank.

Papa had never told me about any such demand.

Shaurya continued, “I’m not going to marry into a family that can’t even support my future.”

Papa’s face turned pale.

“Shaurya, please. Give me some more time. I’ll arrange the money somehow. Please don’t break my daughter’s heart today.”

He actually folded his hands.

Then, to my horror, Papa fell at Shaurya’s feet.

“Please, beta.”

Shaurya kicked his hands away.

Something inside me snapped.

SLAP!

The sound echoed through the mandap.

Shaurya's hand immediately went to his cheek. His eyes burned with anger.

I stepped in front of Papa.

“How dare you touch my father?”

He grabbed my wrist for a second, then released it with a bitter laugh.

“You'll regret this slap, Devika. I promise you.”

He turned to leave.

“Stop.”

He paused.

I smiled, though my eyes were burning with anger.

“Where are you going?”

He frowned.

“Home.”

I tilted my head.

“Are you sure about that?”

His expression changed.

“What are you talking about?”

I stepped aside.

“Because we’ve already arranged a new home for you.”

Shaurya stared at me.

“What?”

“Turn around.”

He slowly looked behind him.

His face went blank.

Several police officers were standing there.

I folded my arms.

“You wanted to leave this wedding, Shaurya. Fine.”

I looked at the police.

“But you’re not leaving without answering for what you did.”

I thought that was the end of my wedding.

I was wrong.

Because before the day was over, I would be wearing the same bridal outfit again—this time beside a man whose name I had never imagined would become part of my life.

Neel Suryavanshi.

My boss, Viren Suryavanshi, was the man who would change everything.

And his decision was simple.

“Devika will marry my son.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Sir... Neel?”

Then I heard footsteps behind me.

I turned.

And for the first time, I saw Neel Suryavanshi standing in front of me.

Calm. Silent. Impossible to read.

The man I barely knew was about to become my husband.

On the day I lost the man I loved, I became the wife of a stranger.

And somehow, I had a feeling...