Chapter 6: A New Journey Begins

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The wedding was done. The rituals were complete. Reet and Abbeer were now officially married.

The grand dining hall of the resort-style venue echoed with laughter, clinking glasses, and the scent of a lavish wedding feast. Both families gathered around the long table, cousins clicking selfies, aunties sharing gossip, and elders blessing the newlyweds.

Reet and Abbeer sat side by side, still lost in their shock from earlier. The atmosphere around them was warm and festive, but between them was an awkward silence.

“Beta, Reet ko ek bite khila do,” said Abbeer’s chachi with a teasing grin.
“Aur Reet, tum bhi! You’re husband and wife now!” added Reet’s mami, winking.

Reluctantly, both picked up a spoon and fed each other. It was awkward. Slow. Their hands slightly trembled. Their eyes met for a second — not with love, but with the silent confusion of how did this happen?

Family cheered. Some clapped. Reet forced a smile. Abbeer just looked away.

After dinner, the newlyweds walked through the crowd of relatives who gave gifts, hugged them tightly, and blessed their union. Reet nodded gently, Abbeer kept it formal. Neither said much.

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The Bidai

And then came the most emotional part — Reet's bidai.

The dhol slowed down. The smiles faded.

Reet hugged her mother tightly, her voice trembling as she whispered, “Main ja rahi hoon, Maa...”
Her mother wiped her tears and kissed her forehead.

Reet’s father tried to stay strong, but his eyes welled up too.
“Khush rehna beta. Ghar ko ghar banana tumhare haath mein hai.”

Reet sat in the decorated car, her head lowered. Tears streamed silently.
But her sadness wasn’t only about leaving home — it was about how everything changed so fast. A marriage she never even imagined. A husband she only knew as a quiet classmate.

Abbeer looked at her once. Then again. And something softened in his chest.

Without saying a word, he gently took out his white handkerchief and handed it to her.

Reet looked at it. Then looked at him. And for the first time, she gave a small nod.

He looked away again, pretending not to care. But something had begun to shift.

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The car drove through the dark roads under a sky full of stars.

Reet Rathod and Abbeer Malhotra were now husband and wife — not by love, but by fate.

But where would this road take them?

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✨Thank you for reading Chapter 8.
Will this forced marriage become a story of love… or regret?
Stay tuned for Chapter