Chapter 2

Vidi closed the door to her room slowly and leaned back against it, her fingers trembling. The silence felt heavier than before. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and walked to her bed, sitting down with a blank stare.

Her parents loved her—she knew that. They had never made a decision that would hurt her. But tonight… everything felt different. Marriage? To a man she’d never met? While she was still in college?

She pressed her palms to her face.

Why Kunal?

What if he’s cold? What if he’s arrogant? What if he treats me like a deal rather than a wife?

She took a shaky breath. A part of her whispered that maybe, just maybe, her parents believed he was the best choice. But another part felt betrayed—her life wasn’t a contract.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.

Without thinking, she grabbed it and dialed the one person she couldn’t hide from—Amaya.

The call connected.

“Hey… Vidi? It’s past midnight. Everything okay?” Amaya’s voice was soft, then instantly alert when she heard Vidi sniff. “Are you crying?”

Vidi couldn’t speak for a moment. Her voice finally came out low and broken. “Ammu… they fixed my marriage.”

There was a pause. A long one.

“What?” Amaya’s tone turned sharp with shock. “What do you mean marriage? With who? When? What the hell—”

“Kunal Rathore,” Vidi whispered. “Some CEO from the US… he wants to expand in India. They said it’ll help our company. My parents agreed.”

There was silence again, but this time it wasn’t disbelief—it was concern.

“Oh, Vidi…” Amaya said softly. “Are you okay? Did you say yes?”

“No,” she whispered. “But they already decided. They said it’s for my good.”

For a moment, Amaya didn’t know what to say. Vidi could hear her friend breathing slowly on the other side, processing the whole thing.

Finally, Amaya spoke—calm, firm, and gentle.

“Listen to me, Vid. I may not have the right words right now, but I’m with you. Whatever you decide—whether you accept it or fight it—I’ll support you. You’re not alone, okay?”

Vidi’s eyes filled again, but this time with relief. “Thank you…”

“And if,” Amaya continued, “if you do agree to this… then we need to be smart.”

“How?” Vidi asked softly.

“First—no one in college can find out. You know how people talk. The gossip, the questions, the drama—it’ll make things worse.”

Vidi nodded to herself slowly. “You’re right…”

“We’ll keep it a secret. At least until you decide what you’re really going to do. No one needs to know anything right now.”

Silent tears rolled down Vidi’s cheeks again, but this time she wasn’t panicking. She was thinking.

Amaya’s voice softened. “We’ll deal with your parents, with this Kunal guy, with everything—step by step. But tonight, just breathe, okay?”

Vidi let out a slow breath. “I’m trying.”

“Sleep if you can,” Amaya said gently. “And tomorrow, we’ll make a plan.”

They stayed on the call without speaking for a while, just silent presence. When Vidi finally hung up, she lay back on her bed, eyes on the ceiling.

The fear was still there—but so was a spark of strength.

No matter what happened next, she wouldn’t face it alone.

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Morning sunlight slipped into Vidi’s room, but she hadn’t slept much. Her eyes were heavy, yet her mind was strangely calm. After hours of thinking, crying, and replaying every conversation, she had made a decision.

Not for love.

Not for dreams.

But for responsibility.

She got ready slowly, tying her hair into a loose bun and stepping downstairs with quiet steps.

Her parents were already seated at the dining table, tense and silent. The moment they saw her, both stood up anxiously.

“Vidi…” her mother began softly, unsure of what to expect.

Vidi didn’t raise her voice. She didn’t cry this time. She simply spoke.

“I’ll marry him.”

Both her parents froze—relief and guilt mixing on their faces.

“But,” she added firmly, “it will happen on my terms.”

Her father nodded slowly. “Tell us, beta.”

Vidi’s voice was steady, but her heart ached.

“I don’t want a public wedding. No celebrations. No relatives. No guests. No media. Nothing.”

Her mother exchanged a glance with her father.

“It will be a court marriage, and no one outside this house should know—especially not my college, my friends, or the public. I don’t want my life turned into gossip.”

Her mother stepped forward with teary eyes. “Vidi… we are truly sorry. We never wanted to hurt you.”

Her father spoke after a moment. “We should have talked to you first. But we knew this alliance would strengthen our company’s future, and—”

“I know,” she interrupted gently but firmly. “That’s why I’m agreeing. GOALS means everything to us—and if this marriage protects it, then I’ll do it.”

Her father’s voice softened. “Are you sure?”

“No,” Vidi whispered honestly. “But I’ll still do it.”

Her mother cupped her face with shaking hands. “We promise, whatever you ask—we will respect it. No functions, no crowd, no announcement. Just your signature and his.”

Vidi nodded once. “Good. And after the marriage, I want to finish my studies quietly. No one should know I’m married until I say so.”

“We agree,” her father said immediately.

There was a moment of silence.

Inside, Vidi tried to remind herself why this wasn’t a mistake.

Kunal Rathore wasn’t just any businessman—his company was one of the most powerful, respected, and multi-talented empires spreading across the US and now entering India. Technology, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, skincare, digital programming—his brand had influence in every field, just like GOALS in beauty and skincare.

A merger meant strength. Stability. Expansion.

And sacrifice.

Vidi took a deep breath and looked at them.

“When will he come to sign the papers?”

Her father hesitated. “Soon. His secretary spoke to me last night. He’ll arrive in India within a few days.”

Her heartbeat quickened—not with excitement, but with uncertainty.

Somewhere, miles away, a man she had never met had already decided to be her husband.

And she had just agreed to become his wife.

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