Chapter 1: The Wedding Chaos

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**Copyright © [echoedverse], 2025**

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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.

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