Bound by Vows, Freed by Love
Chapter 𝟏: Whispers of Fate
Avni rests her head in her grandmother Jaya's lap, comforted by the rhythmic strokes through her hair.
Jaya (FL's grandma)
Chuckles "You're getting too grown-up for me."
Avni (FL)
"Married? hey bulbul not this again" Avni groaned, shaking her head. "That's a few years away. I have my own adventures to chase first!"
Jaya (FL's grandma)
Softly "But wouldn’t it be lovely to have your own little family?.... I'd like to see you find someone special... before it's too late."
Avni's smile faltered. She knew the phrase "before it's too late" meant something different to her grandmother. There was a heaviness in the air that she could sense, one that descended when the topic of marriage arose.
Avni (FL)
Playfully "What if I don’t want to get married?"
Jaya (FL's grandma)
"Love sometimes finds you when you least expect it…" squeezes Avni’s hand "And I want to be there when it does."
The warmth of laughter fills the room, but before the moment settles, a loud cough echoes from the kitchen.
Voice: "Get some water!"
Voice: "Call the doctor!"
Avni’s heart pounds as Jaya’s frail fingers tighten around hers.
Jaya (FL's grandma)
Hoarsely "Don’t worry, my dear. Just an old-age thing…"
Avni sits beside Jaya, holding her hand tightly.
Jaya (FL's grandma)
Weakly smiling "You always look so worried."
Avni (FL)
Said softly "You scared me, Bulbul…"
Jaya (FL's grandma)
Rasping chuckle "Maybe God doesn’t want me to see your wedding after all."
The words sting more than Avni expects. A wish her grandmother may never see come true…
She steps outside, heart pounding.
(Is this really what she wants most? To see me settled before it’s too late?)
Back in the room, the family sits in quiet conversation. Avni takes a deep breath.
Avni (FL)
Said firmly "I’ll get married."
Her father, Shourya, lifts his head, eyes filled with disbelief.
Shourya (FL's father)
"Why are you saying this, bachhe?" voice trembling
Shourya (FL's father)
Cupping her face "How can you think of staying away from Baba? What will I do without my little girl?"
Avni blinks back tears, but before she can reply, her mother, Kavya, intervenes.
kavya (FL's mother)
Gently "We will talk about this later. First, let Maa get discharged."
Avni nods, the weight of her decision pressing down on her.
(She wasn’t sure if she was ready for marriage, but she knew one thing—she couldn't bear to let her grandmother’s wish go unfulfilled.)
The Malhotra house buzzes with energy as dinner is in full swing.
Vivaan (ML's brother)
Dramatic sigh "Bhai, you guys always force him to talk to girls, but the moment I text someone, I’m suddenly the problem child!"
Meera (ML's mother)
Shoots a glare "Because you don’t just text, beta. You flirt like it’s a full-time job."
Anirudhh (ML's father)
Chuckles from behind his newspaper "Kabir, when are you giving us our daughter-in-law?"
Kabir (ML)
Raised an eyebrow, flatly "I’m not."
Meera lets out an exaggerated sigh.
Meera (ML's mother)
"Of course, my workaholic son would say that." to Vivaan "See, beta? This is what happens when you take business too seriously. You turn into him—cold, emotionless, allergic to romance!"
Vivaan (ML's brother)
Smirked. "And terrifying. Don't forget terrifying."
Kabir (ML)
Gave him a sharp look.
Vivaan (ML's brother)
Grinned "Maybe if you smiled more, bhai, girls wouldn't run away."
Meera (ML's mother)
Nods "Girls don’t run from him, he runs from them."
Vivaan (ML's brother)
Dramatic tch tch "Tragic. Truly tragic."
Kabir calmly places his fork down.
Kabir (ML)
"Love. Marriage. It makes people weak."
A sharp tug on his ear makes him wince.
Meera (ML's mother)
Scolding "Are you calling your parents weak?"
Kabir exhales, rubbing his ear.
Kabir (ML)
"That’s not what I meant."
(Love? Marriage? Those are illusions for people who have the luxury to dream… And he had never been one of them.)
___________________________
"Kabhi kabhi hum jo chahte hain, woh nahi hota… Aur jo hota hai, uske maayne hum samajh nahi paate."
(Sometimes, what we want doesn’t happen… And what happens, we fail to understand its meaning.)
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