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**Copyright © [echoedverse], 2025**

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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A Note from the Author**

Dear Reader,

Thank you for picking up *The Unplanned Vows*! This book holds a special place in my heart, as it marks my debut as a storyteller. Writing this novel has been a journey filled with late nights, endless cups of chai, and a world of emotions that I poured into these pages.

I’ve always believed in the power of stories to touch hearts, and I hope this one speaks to yours. Meera and Arjun’s journey is not just a story of love—it’s about courage, family, and finding oneself amidst life’s unexpected twists.

As this is my first novel, your love and support mean everything to me. If you enjoyed the story, please consider leaving a review or sharing it with others. Hearing from readers like you will inspire me to continue writing and bringing more stories to life.

Thank you for taking this leap of faith with me. I hope you enjoy this journey as much as I enjoyed creating it.

With all my love,

Anonymously Yours

echoedverse!

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...Chapter 1...

The vibrant hues of marigold and crimson adorned the grand hall, the scent of jasmine wafting through the air. The Rathore family’s ancestral mansion in Jaipur was abuzz with excitement. Relatives rushed from one corner to another, ensuring every detail of Kavya’s wedding was perfect. The dhol players drummed away, setting an energetic rhythm for the occasion.

Meera adjusted her light pink lehenga, watching the commotion from the corner of the room. She was content being on the sidelines, unnoticed as usual. Unlike her vivacious cousin Kavya, she preferred the quiet—reading a book, sketching in her notebook, or just observing the world pass by.

“Meera!” her aunt Sudha’s voice broke through the chatter. “Stop daydreaming and help with the flower garlands!”

“Yes, Maasi,” Meera replied meekly, rushing to assist.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly until Sudha’s phone rang. She picked it up with a sigh, annoyed at the interruption. “Hello? Kavya? What?!” Her face drained of color, and the entire room seemed to freeze around her.

“What happened?” Meera asked, her heart pounding.

“She’s gone!” Sudha whispered, her voice trembling.

“Gone? What do you mean gone?” Meera’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Kavya ran away! She left a note saying she couldn’t go through with the wedding!” Sudha’s voice cracked as she read the hastily scribbled note:

*"I can’t marry him. I’m sorry, but I need to live my own life. Please forgive me."*

The note slipped from Sudha’s hands as the reality of the situation sunk in. Panic erupted. The groom’s family was on their way, the guests were already arriving, and their carefully preserved reputation was moments away from being shattered.

Sudha collapsed onto the sofa, her hands trembling. “What will we do? Arjun’s family won’t tolerate this! They’ll call off everything, and we’ll be humiliated in front of everyone!”

Meera’s uncle paced the room. “This is a disaster The media will pick up on this, and the Rathore name will be ruined!”

Meera’s heart ached for her family. They had always prided themselves on their reputation, and this was their worst nightmare. But more than that, she felt a pang of betrayal. Kavya had always been impulsive, but this… this was beyond comprehension.

Sudha suddenly turned to Meera, her eyes wild. “You!”

Meera froze. “What?”

“You’ll marry Arjun.”

“What?!” Meera gasped, stumbling back. “Maasi, no! I can’t—”

“You’re the only one who fits in Kavya’s wedding outfit! You’re her cousin, and you’re unmarried. No one will know until it’s too late. You have to do this, Meera. For the family!”

Meera shook her head, panic rising in her chest. “But this isn’t my wedding! I can’t marry a stranger!”

“Do you think I want this for you?” Sudha snapped. “But we have no choice! If we don’t act now, everything will fall apart. Please, beta. Think about us. Think about your parents. We’ll handle everything later, but for now, you have to save this wedding.”

Tears welled up in Meera’s eyes. She wanted to refuse, to stand her ground, but her family’s desperate faces stared back at her. She could feel the weight of their expectations pressing down on her chest.

“Meera,” her uncle said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You’ve always been the dependable one. I know this is unfair, but you’re the only one who can do this.”

Meera swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper. “What about Arjun? Won’t he know?”

“We’ll handle him,” Sudha said quickly. “He’s a practical man. He’ll understand.”

The room grew silent, all eyes on Meera. Her legs felt like lead, her mind a whirlwind of fear and doubt. But deep down, she knew the answer was already decided. She couldn’t let her family face this shame.

“Okay,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I’ll do it.”

Sudha let out a sigh of relief, quickly barking orders to the other relatives. “Get her ready! We only have two hours!”

Meera was whisked away, her protests drowned out by the chaos around her. As she sat in front of the mirror, watching the makeup artists transform her face, she felt like a stranger in her own body.

The weight of Kavya’s ornate bridal lehenga felt suffocating, the heavy jewelry biting into her skin. She stared at her reflection, her heart pounding in her chest.

“This isn’t my life,” she thought. “This isn’t my choice.”

But as the minutes ticked by, there was no turning back.

The sound of dhols and laughter echoed from outside, filling the Rathore mansion with energy. But inside the bridal suite, an entirely different atmosphere prevailed. The room was suffocatingly still, the silence broken only by the occasional rustle of fabric. Meera’s hands trembled as she adjusted the delicate dupatta over her head, the weight of the situation pressing down on her.

She had always been the quiet one, the observer, the one who kept to herself. But today, she was thrust into the center of everything. Today, she was standing in for her cousin, Kavya—who had eloped with her secret lover, leaving Meera to pick up the pieces of her family’s broken reputation.

Sudha, Meera’s aunt, paced the room with her phone glued to her ear, barking orders to the caterers and decorators. The wedding was meant to be a grand affair, and even though the bride had disappeared, nothing could ruin the celebration. Nothing, except the truth.

Meera was barely able to meet her aunt’s gaze as Sudha turned her attention to her. "Meera, it's time," Sudha said, her tone softer now but no less desperate . "The groom’s family is here. You need to go out there."

Meera stood up shakily, her knees threatening to buckle. “Maasi, what if he realizes I’m not Kavya?”

Sudha grabbed her by the shoulders, her grip firm. “He won’t. The ghoonghat will cover your face during the ceremony, and by the time he realizes… it won’t matter. Trust me, beta, we’ll handle everything after the wedding. Just get through today.”

“Just get through today,” Meera repeated in her mind like a mantra.

Meera nodded weakly, her stomach twisted into knots. She wasn’t ready for this, but there was no turning back. She stood up, the bridal lehenga trailing behind her like a heavy burden, and made her way to the door.

"Don’t make a scene," Sudha warned, grabbing Meera’s arm before she could leave. "Keep your head down. Don’t speak unless absolutely necessary. Let the ceremony play out."

Meera could only nod again, her voice lodged somewhere deep inside her throat. She had always felt out of place in her family’s grandiose world, and now, standing in the center of it, everything felt even more alien.

Her uncle found them , looking just as frazzled as his wife. “The baraat is here. We need to move quickly.”

As the two of them fussed over last-minute details, Meera caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She looked beautiful, like a princess plucked straight out of a fairytale. But the girl staring back at her felt like a stranger—a girl stepping into a life she hadn’t chosen.

Sudha handed her a small vial of perfume. “Just a touch behind your ears, beta. And remember, keep your head low. Speak as little as possible.”

The sounds of the celebration outside grew louder as Meera was led through the grand corridors of the mansion. She could hear the rhythmic beat of the dhols and the excited chatter of the guests, but none of it felt real. It was like she was walking in someone else’s life, someone else’s shoes.

As they reached the mandap, Meera paused. The crowd was gathered in anticipation, and there, in the center, stood the groom, Arjun Malhotra. Meera’s heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of him—tall, composed, dressed impeccably in a rich velvet sherwani. He was everything she had imagined and nothing like what she had expected. She had heard of him—how he was known for his calm demeanor and sharp business acumen—but seeing him in person, about to marry someone else, made her breath catch in her chest.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Sudha ushered her forward. The pandit was already preparing to begin the ceremony. Meera’s eyes darted nervously to the ground, her hands shaking as she moved toward the mandap. The weight of her bridal attire made each step feel heavier.

"Keep your head low," Sudha whispered, her voice sharp. "Don’t look him in the eye."

She could hear Arjun’s deep, calm voice as he greeted the guests. He sounded confident, composed. “How will I face him when he finds out the truth?” she thought.

As Meera reached the mandap, her hands shook. The pandit began chanting mantras, and the wedding rituals commenced.

Meera obeyed, lowering her gaze as the pandit began chanting the mantras. She could feel Arjun’s presence beside her, but she couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes. How could she? She was standing in for someone else, someone he had intended to marry. He would hate her if he knew the truth.

Arjun glanced at her briefly, his expression unreadable. She couldn’t see his face clearly through the veil, but she felt his eyes on her. “Did he sense something was off?” she wondered.

The ceremony continued, a blur of rituals and prayers. Meera barely registered the words being spoken. The fire flickered in front of her, casting a soft, golden glow on her veil. As they circled around the sacred flame, Meera’s heart raced. With each step, she felt more like a prisoner than a bride.

Finally, the moment came—the sindoor. The groom was supposed to mark her forehead with the vermilion, symbolizing their union. But when Arjun’s hand reached up to lift the veil slightly, his fingers hesitated for just a split second. Meera’s breath caught in her chest. Had he noticed something?

But then, his hand moved steadily, and the sindoor was applied. The ritual was complete. The marriage was official and now it was completed.

Hours later, the wedding celebrations had calmed, but Meera’s mind was still spinning. The guests were mingling in the grand hall, but she had been led to the bridal chamber, where she now sat in silence, waiting for Arjun to arrive.

The weight of the situation was suffocating. She had never imagined she would be in this position—married to a man she barely knew, under false pretenses. Meera’s hands fidgeted nervously with the delicate embroidery of her dupatta, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Arjun stepped inside. His tall frame filled the doorway, and for a moment, he didn’t say anything. He simply stood there, watching her.

“Kavya,” he said, his voice low and measured. “Or should I say… Meera?”

Meera’s heart stopped. He knew.

The air in the bridal chamber hung heavy, each second stretching longer than the last. Meera sat on the edge of the bed, her hands clutching the ornate embroidery of her lehenga as though it were the only thing anchoring her. The room, decorated with soft fairy lights and scattered rose petals, was supposed to feel romantic. Instead, it felt like a prison cell, and Arjun's presence at the door made it clear she couldn't escape the truth anymore.

The door clicked shut behind him. He took a few deliberate steps forward, his sharp features shadowed in the dim light. His silence was deafening. Meera could feel his gaze boring into her, dissecting her, as if he could see straight through the layers of silk and lies.

"Meera," he said finally, his voice low but steady. That single word carried the weight of everything he already knew.

She froze. He wasn't supposed to know her name—not this soon. Her heart raced as she struggled to calm her breathing. If he knew she wasn't Kavya, everything would unravel faster than she could handle.

Her heart hammered in her chest, but she refused to look up. Instead, she pressed her hands against her thighs, trying to steady the trembling that had taken hold of her. The world seemed to be closing in on her. She was caught between a lie she couldn't escape and a truth she couldn't bring herself to face.

"I... I don't understand," she stammered, keeping her eyes fixed on the floor.

"You're not Kavya," Arjun said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. He wasn't asking; he was stating a fact. He stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "You've been trying to avoid my gaze all evening, and I can see why now. You're not the woman I was supposed to marry. Who are you?"

The words hit her like a blow. Meera clenched her fists in her lap, her nails digging into her palms. For a fleeting moment, she considered lying, but what would be the point? He had already seen through the façade.

"How?" she whispered, barely above a breath.

Arjun took a few more steps into the room, his shadow falling across her. "You're not her. Your eyes—they're different. And the way you carry yourself, it's... not the same. Kavya would never be this still, this quiet. You don't belong here."

"I... I'm Meera," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She finally looked up, her tear-filled eyes meeting his sharp, unrelenting gaze. "Kavya is my cousin. She... she ran away."

She slowly lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes for the first time since the ceremony. Arjun's face was unreadable, his features sharp and calculating. There was no anger in his expression, just quiet acknowledgment of the truth.

"Why?" he asked, his voice now edged with a quiet confusion. "Why didn't you stop this? Why did you let it happen? Arjun's jaw tightened, but he didnt say anything more. His silence was more unnerving than anger.

Meera's throat tightened as she struggled to find the words. "It wasn't my choice," she said quietly, her voice barely a whisper. "I didn't ask for this. My aunt, Sudha... she... she forced me to take Kavya's place."

Arjun's brow furrowed, but he didn't interrupt her. She took a deep breath and continued, the words pouring out like a dam breaking. "Kavya ran away, and I... I didn't know what else to do. My family would have been ruined. They were going to disown me if I didn't do this. I didn't have a choice."

"You didn't have a choice?" Arjun repeated, his voice soft but laced with disbelief. He stepped back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. "So you thought stepping into her shoes, lying to everyone, and marrying me under false pretenses was the only solution?"

Tears spilled down Meera's cheeks, but she didn't bother wiping them away. "I didn't want this," she said, her voice breaking. "I never wanted this. But my family... they said they'd disown me if I didn't do it. I wasn't trying to deceive you, Arjun. I just... I didn't know what else to do."

Arjun ran a hand through his hair, frustration flickering across his face. He turned away, pacing the length of the room. The ornate decorations, the faint scent of roses, the lingering warmth of the evening—all of it felt suffocating now.

"So," he said finally, stopping to face her again. "You were willing to sacrifice your entire life for a family that was ready to throw you away? For a cousin who abandoned her responsibilities and ran off?"

Meera flinched at the harshness of his words, but she knew they weren't untrue. She swallowed hard, struggling to find her voice. "It's not that simple," she said, her tone pleading. "I didn't want to ruin everything. I didn't want to be the reason this wedding fell apart."

"And now?" Arjun asked, his voice quieter but no less intense. "What happens now, Meera? Do we keep pretending? Do I introduce you to the world as my wife and pretend this isn't built on a lie? Or do we end this farce right here?"

Arjun stepped forward, closer now, his eyes never leaving hers. "And what about you, Meera? What about your happiness? What about your life? Are you willing to spend it hiding behind a lie? Are you willing to live a life where you're nothing more than a replacement?"

Meera couldn't answer. The truth was, she didn't know what she wanted. All she knew was that her world had already fallen apart, and now she was dragging his into the chaos with her.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved tension. Finally, Arjun sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

"Meera," he said, his tone softer now, "I don't know what to do with this situation. But I can't ignore the fact that you're here now, and Kavya isn't. What's done is done. But I need to know one thing."

She looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat.

"Are you willing to stop pretending?" he asked. "Because if we're going to move forward, I need honesty from you. No more lies. No more playing someone else's role."

Meera's heart clenched at his words. For the first time, someone was asking her to be herself, not to fit into the mold her family had created for her. She didn't know if she could trust him—not yet—but the sincerity in his voice gave her a sliver of hope.

"I'll try," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'll try to be honest."

Arjun nodded, his expression unreadable. "Good," he said simply. "Because that's the only way this has even a chance of working."

He turned to leave, pausing at the door. "We'll figure this out tomorrow," he said, his tone final. "Get some rest."

And with that, he was gone, leaving Meera alone with her thoughts. The reality of her situation was clearer than ever now—there was no going back.