ZOYA

I sit with my hands open as the henna artists apply mehandi on both of my hands, looking around the garden area as people talk and eat.

I know very few people in this crowd and those are my relatives, the rest are father's business partners and clients including Anirudh's family but he's nowhere to be found like yesterday.

"The design is very unique I must say" Unnati voiced beside me looking down at my hands. I look at them, yes the designs are really good but I want to wash them already. I'm already tired of this boring ass wedding.

Maybe this is what happens when you don't get the groom of your choice, "Mam what's the name of the groom?" One of the artists asks pointing at my hands.

"Don't. There's no need for that" I shake my head quickly, I don't want him near me let alone his name on my body. "But Mam it's a bridal mehendi, it'll look better if we do."

"Just write the alphabet then, it's A" I shut her down with a glare as she is about to say something again. She complies and writes a small 'A' in the middle of my palm.

Four hours later I'm removing the remaining henna sitting on my bed as Unnati does her dance rehearsal again and again. I have my sangeet today as well in the evening and I'm already tired to the bones.

"Can you please join me? Please?" I sigh at her words as she hits a pause on the speaker. It's the thirtieth time she has asked me to do a dance with her and my answer is still the same.

"No" I walk towards the closet and take out my Lehnga for the night. "Come on yaar, you know I suck at this but you are a dancer!"

I walk towards the bathroom, "was" I say before closing the door. Even though I still dance sometimes in my room, it's not professional. I stopped when my one and only teacher quit her classes with me.

What's the point in continuing anyway if I can't perform on stage? I stopped trying to convince my father when I entered my college, I knew it'll never work by then.

I change into the blouse and stare at the purple-pink scar at my thigh. I still don't know how I got it. I'm clumsy at times and do stumble upon things here and there but how did I stumbled to get a scar on my Inner thigh?

"Hurry up baby girl" Unnati shouts from outside and I pull up the skirt. I exit the bathroom and sit at my vanity.

I keep my makeup a little bold to go with the indigo colour Lehnga, and finish it with pink lipstick while Unnati does my hair in soft curls.

"Are you still upset about the wedding?" She asks behind me and I remain silent. "Why don't you like him though? I mean he's rich, hot and is totally your type so what's the problem?"

I look up at her in the mirror, "there are thousands of men like him in this world, doesn't mean I'm going to marry everyone" why doesn't she get it?

"I just... I feel nothing when I look at him" I sigh, defeated. "There's zero chemistry between us" I get up and walk around to get my bangles.

"That'll happen when you both talk to each other properly, you both just glare at each other and fight when you open your mouths." I wear my bangles and move on to my earrings.

"That'll never happen, have you seen the way he talks? Misogynistic aash0le" I shake my head, my movements getting agitated just by thinking about him.

"I wish koi asi ladki use mile jo use mar mar ke sidha kare" I keep my ankle on the bed and wear my anklets.

"But you're the one who's marrying him" I pause at her words, right. I guess I'm still in denial, "do you think he'll stay loyal to me just because I'm his wife?" I laugh as her face morphs into horror.

"So he will cheat?" I shrug, "and you're fine with it?" I stare at her. This is not normal for her, of course it's not. She doesn't belong to this shit h0le.

"It's not like I'm in love with him or anything, it's just business plus I can probably cheat as well" I know I won't, that's just not who I am as a person but I wish I had it in me to do so.

"Let's go" she's still processing what I just said as I drag her with me downstairs.

The Sangeet is set in the giant hallroom of our mansion and the room is currently filled with the same if not more people from the afternoon. Even some politicians have joined tonight which just shows how corrupt the system is.

'Rangisari' starts playing as we descend from the stairs, I slowly walk towards my father and there's a look of approval on his face.

Of course, me marrying according to him is what gets me his approval, not my existence or my career.

"You look beautiful beta" Sejal maasi, my mom's sister states smiling at me. I give her a polite smile and move towards another table with my dad.

We move to the table where Anirudh's father, Rishi uncle is standing with another man. I give them a polite namaste and stand there as they talk with my dad.

"Oh here he is" Rishi Uncle state pointing at the entrance and the asshole walks in. Wearing his usual black suit with those hideous leather gloves he walks towards us as I glare at him and he ignores me talking to my father.

"Why didn't you join the haldi and mehandi?" Dad asks beside me, "I had some important business to handle, you know how our work is" oh so he was killing someone while I was writing his name on my hand?

It's just an alphabet but whatever, "why is he here?" Anirudh frowns pointing at another table where a tall guy in a white suit stands with two other men, encircling another table.

He looks really young, with a clean shaved jaw and dark hair, "he said he wants to do business with us now that he took control over his father's business" dad answers.

"Who is he?" I ask turning towards my dad. I don't know every client from his business but I know a few of them and I have never seen this guy before.

"Kartik Randhawa, his father used to handle Intel around the underworld and he is taking over now" I take a good look at the guy again, he seems a lot like my age and he's taking over already?

"He's friends with Raizadas" Anirudh glares at the guy who seems like he has nothing to worry about, he's casually enjoying the ongoing performance.

"Intelligence is available for everyone bete, you throw the money and get what you want. That's it" my father smirks which makes Anirudh annoyed.

This is the first time I'm seeing him annoyed and if that Kartik guy makes him annoyed then I should definitely talk to him.

"I think I should greet him, I'm the bride after all" I raise my brows at my father and he nods getting the hint. It would be better to build communication, if we want to do business.

I walk towards their table as Anirudh glares at me even more but stays quiet. Mission accomplished, serves right for marrying me idiot.

"Hi, I'm Zoya" I greet Kartik and he looks surprised. "I'm the bride" I add on when the three of them remain quiet and put my hand forward.

"Oh, nice to meet you Zoya, I'm Kartik" he gives a small nod and looks skeptically at my hand, should I put my hand back? Awkward.

"Uhh... He'll kill me" he mutters under his breath and continues, "here these are my friends, Vinay and Sujal" he points at the other two men beside him.

Who will kill him, what?? I put my hand back slowly smiling a confused smile at them.

"Hello, hello, good evening everyone" Unnati speaks into the mic and everyone including me turn towards her.

"Today is my best and only friend's Sangeet and we are here to perform for her tonight," two other girls join her. They are my cousins, Sejal massi's daughters.

"I'm warning everyone, I'm not good at dancing so if I fall do not make the mistake of laughing" laughter echoes In the hall and I smile at her giving her my thumbs up, mouthing 'best of luck'.

The lights go dim and I look around to find Anirudh standing alone at a table, "Excuse me" I say to Kartik before walking towards him.

I stand beside him but he doesn't bother acknowledging me. "Why didn't you pick up my calls yesterday?" I mutter at him.

"I was busy" the nonchalance in his voice just fuels my anger, "doing what?" I look up at him.

"Chasing after a woman" I stop breathing at his words, is he for real right now? "Are you serious?" I hold my breath.

He turns to face me this time and looks straight into my eyes, "yes, very" Oh God, we aren't even married yet.

"Is this what I should expect after our marriage as well?" Even though I know this is what will happen, there was still a small childish part of me hoped it wouldn't.

"Of course. Why? Did you expect anything else?" He raises a brow without a care in the world. I don't bother answering and turn towards the stage.

Unnati dances as the music switches to 'Desi girl' and I gulp back my tears. No, I will not cry for a man like him.

I look around to find somewhere else to go and spot Kartik again with a grin on his face. I follow his line of sight which is fixed on Unnati.

Oh hell no, I'll never let her get into this messy world but I can't control her fate can I? Hell, I can't even control mine.

Unnati comes down the stage towards me as the music switches to 'Tainu Leke'. She starts pulling me to the stage as I try to push her away.

"Come on yar please" I join her because I know she wouldn't listen and everyone were already staring at me.

I start doing the steps with her that I have memorized during her practice that she has done countless times infront of me.

Heeriye sehra baandh ke Main

Toh aaya re..

Doli barat bhi saath mein

Main toh laaya re

Abb toh na hota hai

Ek roz intezaar soni

Aaj nahi toh kal hai

Tujhko toh bas meri honi re

Tenu leke main javaanga

Dil deke main javaanga

Tenu leke main javaanga

Dil deke main javaanga

It feels good to dance on the stage, thrilling, a feeling I have yearned all my life. I don't bother looking at my father and keep going.

All three of them turn in a circle around me clapping as I continue my last steps.

Kar diya hai tune

Mujhko yun beqaraar maahi

Keh diya duniya se

Main teri , main teri ho gayi re...

Tere naal main avaangi

Sasuraal main jaavangi

Hey...

Tenu leke main javanga

Dil deke main javanga

I turn in a spin, and my eyes land on him dressed head-to-toe in black, a kurta pajama with sleeves folded just enough to reveal the glint of his wristwatch, polished shoes carrying him toward me with quiet dominance.

He strides through the entrance with confidence so sharp it slices through the air, knocking the breath clean out of me.

My smile falters, slipping away as my steps freeze mid-motion. I can only stare.

And he doesn't stop, each step toward me pushes my heart harder into the same reckless rhythm it beat that night at the club.

Am I dreaming? If yes, then why the fuck is this so realistic?? "Zoya? What happened?" Unnati's words pull me out of the trance and I turn towards her.

"Huh?... Uhh nothing I forgot the steps. I'll go" I walk away before she can say anything. I run towards the food stalls and Chuck down a glass of water, breathing heavily.

A few seconds later my heart rate comes to a normal state and I let out a heavy breath. Was it real? What if it is? If it's real then he must be in the crowd right?

I turn around and scan through the crowd clutching my heart with my palm, was I actually dreaming? No it felt too r

eal-

There he is, the same black kurta. He is talking to my father and Anirudh and from here it looks like a heated conversation.

So it wasn't a dream after all.