4 | Bidaai
The bracelet wasn't expensive because of its price. It was priceless because someone remembered.
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In that brief pause, it almost sounded like he wanted to say something more.
But the words never came out.
He was about to step back when suddenly—
"I'll go."
The entire room turned toward Avantika again.
She stood there silently beneath the heavy bridal jewelry, her trembling fingers clutching the edge of her dupatta.
Then slowly...
She looked directly at her father.
"Why wouldn't I go?" she asked softly.
A painful smile appeared briefly on her lips.
"I don't think I have a home here anymore."
And suddenly—
The little relief that had appeared on everyone's faces disappeared completely.
Because her silence hurt far more than tears ever could.
The groom felt something tighten painfully in his chest.
Yet even now—
He still couldn't gather the courage to look directly into her eyes.
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And daughters... they can fight against the whole world.
But somehow, they still lose in front of their fathers.
I agreed to leave.
The bidaai rituals continued.
Everyone had accepted reality by now.
Everyone except two people who still couldn't look me in the eyes.
The first was my father.
And the second... was my husband.
The man whose face I had barely seen even once properly.
I felt strangely emotionless through the entire ritual.
People cried around me.
My mother broke down.
Even Siya's eyes were red.
But I felt nothing.
It was almost like my mind had gone numb to protect itself.
I was about to sit inside the car when my eyes searched for Siya instinctively.
I wanted to take her with me.
But I didn't even know whom to ask anymore.
The man sitting inside the car—my husband—quietly opened the door for me without looking in my direction.
Then he signaled something silently to his mother.
I couldn't understand what it was.
Slowly, I sat inside the car.
A second later, he moved toward the front seat instead of sitting beside me.
I stared silently at the heavy bridal bangles covering my hands.
I used to love bangles.
But suddenly... the desire to wear them had disappeared completely.
One by one, all the cars started leaving.
But ours remained standing outside the gate.
I frowned faintly in confusion.
Then—I saw Siya rushing toward the car.
The moment she sat beside me, I looked at her in shock.
"I'm coming too," she said casually before lowering her voice. "Your in-laws insisted."
A quiet breath of relief escaped me without permission.
Of course... whatever had happened tonight, they still knew me since childhood.
Maybe somewhere, there was still affection left.
I was only four when their family shifted abroad.
After that, their children rarely visited India.
But his parents always did.
The car finally started moving.
Exhaustion slowly took over my body.
Without realizing when, I fell asleep against Siya's shoulder.
The car finally stopped in front of my sasural.
My eyes slowly lifted toward the mansion.
The entire house was decorated beautifully.
Almost exactly the way my father had decorated ours.
As if someone here knew my likes and dislikes too.
Before I could think much further, a cheerful voice interrupted me.
"Come, bhabhi."
A girl around my age smiled brightly at me.
"I'll take you inside."
I looked at her quietly.
Ruhi.
My husband's younger sister.
The funny part? I still didn't even know my husband's name.
Slowly, I stepped out of the car while Siya followed behind me.
He still remained seated inside.
The moment his mother called him, he finally stepped out and stood beside me—leaving a careful, respectful distance between us.
The griha pravesh rituals happened quietly after that.
My feet entered the house, but my mind still felt left behind somewhere else.
After the rituals, his mother smiled softly at me.
"You must be tired after all the wedding ceremonies, beta. We'll do the remaining rituals tomorrow. Go rest for now."
Then she looked toward Ruhi.
"Take Siya to her room... and show your bhabhi your brother's room too."
My breath stopped for a second.
We were supposed to stay in the same room?
Ruhi immediately grinned mischievously.
"Well, obviously. It's your wedding night after all."
I had no words.
How was I supposed to share a room with a man I had met only today?
I slowly started walking upstairs when—I heard his voice.
"Mom, I'm going out. I have some work."
His voice was much louder than before.
Almost as if he wanted everyone to hear it clearly.
His mother sighed helplessly.
"Can't work wait for one night? At least come back early."
He glanced upstairs.
Toward me.
Then quietly walked away.
And strangely... I felt relieved.
Maybe he didn't want this marriage either.
And honestly? That thought made breathing easier.
But at the same time... a strange nervousness still remained.
What if he returned early?
Ruhi and Siya stayed with me for a while after that.
At some point, while sitting against the headboard still wearing my jewelry—I fell asleep.
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My eyes opened the next morning.
I checked my alarm clock and saw that it was 8 o'clock.
Panic immediately rushed through me.
I had overslept.
I had set the alarm before going to sleep, so why didn't it go off?
I thought it might be broken, but it was showing the correct time.
Quickly, I fixed the bed before noticing a pillow lying neatly on the couch nearby.
Maybe one of the girls had placed it there last night.
Without thinking much about it, I placed it back on the bed and walked toward the bathroom.
The bathroom was spotless.
Everything looked carefully arranged.
A brand new toothbrush rested near the sink too.
Without thinking much, I freshened up.
After bathing, I wore the same clothes again since my suitcase still hadn't arrived.
The moment I stepped outside, someone knocked on the door.
Ruhi entered excitedly with Siya, carrying neatly folded clothes and jewelry.
"Bhabhi! Mom arranged all of this for you."
Siya immediately noticed my expression.
"What happened, Di?"
Ruhi laughed.
"You probably don't know how to wear sarees properly, right? Don't worry, we're experts."
I smiled awkwardly.
"She's right... I actually don't."
"Perfect!" Ruhi grinned. "Then we're coming inside."
Siya immediately interrupted.
"If you're uncomfortable, wear a suit instead. Who said a saree is necessary?"
Ruhi nodded quickly.
"There's a suit too if you want."
I shook my head softly.
"No... it's okay. I'll wear the saree."
After getting ready, I stood silently in front of the mirror.
The jewelry.
The saree.
The sindoor.
Everything looked exactly the way I had imagined my wedding look would someday look.
Then why didn't it make me happy anymore?
My hand trembled slightly while applying the sindoor.
Still, I closed my eyes and forced myself to do it.
"Bhabhi, you look beautiful," Ruhi said honestly.
Siya immediately hugged my arm proudly.
"She's my sister after all."
I smiled softly.
A fake smile.
I reached toward the upper drawer beside the bed to grab my phone and—a small velvet box caught my attention.
Confused, I opened it slowly.
Inside rested a delicate bracelet and ring set.
My breath caught for a second.
"Siya..." I whispered softly. "This design..."
She immediately leaned closer.
"It looks exactly like the one you used to wear as a child."
But it was a real diamond.
A small laugh escaped me unconsciously.
"Yeah... I got saved from the dog, but my bracelet didn't."
Ruhi smiled brightly.
"Wear it, bhabhi. It's for you."
"It's expensive..."
Ruhi shrugged casually.
"Forget the money. Look at the love behind it."
For the first time since the wedding—my smile felt a little real.
Maybe because the bracelet looked exactly like the one I had lost years ago.
Or maybe because... something felt chosen just for me.