The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by Sia's soft, muffled sobs. The tears streamed down her face as she curled up on the bed. This was supposed to be her sanctuary nowâtheir sanctuary. Yet it felt more alien than ever. The warmth of the room, the neatly placed wedding decorations, the faint scent of rosesâit all felt wrong.
Arjun's anger had left her shattered. His words lingered in her mind like a haunting echo: "This is why your father hates you and never appreciates you." He hadn't meant them, but they had cut deeper than he could imagine. She thought of her father, the man who had always made her feel like she was barely worth his time. No matter how much she tried, she was never enough. And now, even Arjun, the one person she thought she could trust, had said the same thing.
As the night deepened, her tears subsided, replaced by a dull ache in her chest. She pulled on a pair of comfortable pajamas, wanting to shed the weight of the heavily embroidered wedding attire that had suddenly felt suffocating. Sia lay down, trying to find solace in the emptiness of the room.
It wasn't long before a soft padding sound broke the stillness. She turned her head and saw Candy, Arjun's beloved Husky, padding toward her. The sight of him made her heart swell.
"Candy," she whispered, her voice cracking as she sat up on the bed. The dog stopped, tilting his head as if sensing her sadness. Then, without hesitation, Candy jumped onto the bed and nestled against her.
Sia wrapped her arms around the dog, burying her face in his thick fur. "You're the only one who gets me," she murmured, her voice trembling. Candy let out a soft whine, nuzzling closer to her. It was as though he understood every bit of her pain.
The two of them lay there for hours, Sia drawing comfort from Candy's presence. The warmth of his fur and his steady breathing lulled her into a sense of fragile calm.
It was late into the night when Arjun returned to the room, his footsteps uneven, the faint scent of alcohol clinging to him. His emotions were a tangled mess, torn between loyalty to Siaâhis childhood friend who had stood by him through thick and thinâand the lingering shadow of Riya, who had been a pivotal part of his past.
He pushed the door open quietly, not wanting to wake Sia, but froze at the sight before him.
There she was, curled up on the bed, her face peaceful, her breathing steady. For a moment, his heart clenched, guilt creeping in. He had hurt herâhe knew it. But then he noticed something that made him pause.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he saw Candy sprawled across the bed, his head resting on Sia's shoulder, the two of them cuddled close like they had always belonged together.
Arjun leaned against the doorframe, his anger melting away for a fleeting moment. Despite the turmoil in his mind, the sight of Candy and Sia together brought a strange sense of relief. Candy was the purest soul he knew, and he adored Sia. Perhaps there was more to Sia's heart than he had allowed himself to see.
He took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. The alcohol in his veins was dulling his thoughts, but one thing was clearâthis wasn't the life he had envisioned. His loyalty to Riya was clashing violently with his sense of justice, and the lines between right and wrong were becoming harder to discern.
Sia stirred slightly as Arjun climbed into bed on the other side. She didn't wake up, but Candy lifted his head briefly, giving Arjun a soft, approving look before settling back down.
As Arjun lay down, staring at the ceiling, the guilt and confusion weighed heavily on him. His words to Sia earlier played over in his mind, and for the first time, he wondered if he had crossed a line he couldn't uncross.
In the quiet of the night, with Sia sleeping beside him and Candy as their unlikely bridge, Arjun's heart felt heavier than ever. He wasn't sure how to fix what had been brokenâor if it even could be.
The first rays of sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Sia woke up slowly, her head still heavy from the emotional storm of the previous night. Candy was curled up beside her, his soft breaths a reminder that at least one soul in the house was completely on her side.
As she freshened up and got dressed in a simple but elegant yellow saree, her thoughts lingered on the day ahead. Her responsibilities as the new bride of the house had officially begun, and she was determined not to let the weight of last night hold her back.
The Morning Rituals
Downstairs, the house buzzed with activity. Arjun's mother, Devika, and aunt, Shalini, were in the kitchen, prepping for the morning rituals. As Sia joined them, they greeted her warmly.
"Sia beta, today you'll prepare the first rasoi. It's an important ritual for a new bride," Devika explained, handing her a set of ingredients.
Shalini smiled, patting Sia's hand. "Make something sweet; it's auspicious. And don't worryâwe're here if you need help."
Sia nodded, masking her nervousness with a determined smile. She had spent hours in the kitchen growing up, often experimenting with recipes to escape the harsh gaze of her father. If there was one thing she could do confidently, it was cook.
She decided to make halwa, a simple yet beloved dish. As she stirred the pot, adding ghee, sugar, and cardamom, her thoughts drifted to Arjun. Halwa was his favorite. Maybe this would be her way of bridging the chasm that had formed between them.
When the dish was finally ready, Sia garnished it with almonds and pistachios before carefully plating it.
As the family gathered in the dining room, the aroma of freshly made halwa filled the air. One by one, they took their first bites, and the room was soon filled with murmurs of appreciation.
"This is delicious, Sia," Shalini said, her smile genuine. "You've set the bar high for yourself!" Says, Devika.
Even Arjun's grandmother, who was known for her sharp tongue, nodded approvingly. "It's perfect, just like I used to make. Maybe even better."
Sia's cheeks flushed with pride.
Meanwhile, Aarav, Arjun's younger brother, smirked mischievously. "Oh, I see what's going on here. You made this because it's bhaiya's favorite, didn't you?"
Before Sia could respond, Ishika, chimed in. "Who cares why she made it? I'm eating more than you, Aarav bhai!"
"Dream on, choti. This halwa is mine!" Aarav retorted, grabbing another bowl.
Their playful banter brought a lightness to the room, making Sia feel, for a moment, like she truly belonged.
Through it all, Arjun sat silently, eating the halwa with measured bites. He didn't say a word, but his empty bowl spoke volumes.
After breakfast, Devika approached Arjun. "Arjun, you need to take Sia to the Mehta mansion for her pag phera ritual. It's customary for the bride to return to her parents' home for the day after the wedding."
Arjun hesitated, his emotions still raw from the night before. But he nodded, casting a quick glance at Sia. "Okay."
Sia gathered her things quietly, her nerves returning as she thought about going back to her father's house.
The car ride was tense, with neither Sia nor Arjun speaking much. When they arrived at the Mehta mansion, her mother greeted her warmly, but her father barely acknowledged her presence, buried in his morning newspaper. Arjun had already left for his office.
"Don't just stand there, Sia," he said gruffly. "Go help your mother with lunch."
Sia bit her lip, the familiar sting of his disregard washing over her. She busied herself in the kitchen, doing her best to ignore the heavy atmosphere.
Later, as she tried to rest in her childhood room, she overheard her father talking on the phone with someone, his tone sharp and dismissive. The words stung even more when she realized he was discussing her.
"She's lucky we even agreed to this marriage. Honestly, I don't know what Arjun sees in her. She's never been the kind of daughter who brings pride to this family."
Riya's Manipulation
As if the day wasn't hard enough, Riya's call came while Sia was still at the Mehta mansion. She overheard her father talking on the phone in the living room, his sharp tone immediately drawing her attention.
"Hello, Riya," he said gruffly. "What's this about?"
Riya's voice on the other end was syrupy sweet, yet laced with hidden barbs. "Papa, I just thought you should know the truth about Sia's intentions. She's not as innocent as she pretends to be."
Her father frowned. "What do you mean? Speak clearly, Riya."
"She forced me to go to London," Riya began, her voice trembling ever so slightly to add an air of victimhood. "She said it was for my own good and convinced me to leave. I trusted her, thinking she would handle things here, but instead, she used the opportunity to take my place in Arjun's life."
Sia, who had been quietly walking towards the kitchen, froze in her tracks. The words hit her like a thunderclap.
Her father's face darkened. "I knew she was manipulative, but this... this is disgraceful. She's tarnishing our family's name."
"Exactly," Riya pressed on. "I didn't want to call and create trouble, Papa, but I couldn't stay silent anymore. Arjun deserves to know the truth, don't you think?"
Her father grunted in agreement. "Don't worry, Riya. I'll make sure Sia doesn't get too comfortable in that house. She'll regret stepping on your toes."
The Blow at the Mansion
As Sia helped her mother clear the dishes after the customary rituals, her father's stern voice boomed through the house. "Sia, come to the hall. Now."
Confused and slightly apprehensive, she set the plates down and made her way to the living room, where her father stood, his expression thunderous. Her mother trailed behind, trying to calm him.
"What's wrong, Papa?" Sia asked softly, dread pooling in her stomach.
"What's wrong?" he repeated, his voice laced with anger. "Riya called and told me everything. You've destroyed her life, Sia! Forced her to leave, manipulated her, and then conveniently took her place. What kind of daughter are you?"
Sia's heart sank. "Papa, it's not like thatâ"
Before she could finish, his palm landed on her cheek with a resounding slap. The sting of the blow was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.
Her mother gasped, rushing forward. "What are you doing? She's your daughter!"
"She's not my daughter!" he roared. "She's a disgrace. Riya was right. She's selfish, deceitful, and unworthy of the Mehta name."
Sia stood frozen, tears streaming down her face. Her father's words cut deeper than the slap. Without saying another word, she turned and ran to her room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Snowy, her female husky, immediately padded over, sensing her distress. Sia collapsed onto the bed, wrapping her arms around Snowy as sobs wracked her body. "At least you're still with me, Snowy," she whispered, her voice breaking.
Arjun's Message
By evening, Sia's phone buzzed with a message from Arjun:
"I'll be there in an hour to pick you up."
She wiped her tears, trying to compose herself. Her father didn't come to see her off when Arjun arrived. As she stood near the door, she turned to her mother, her voice trembling. "Please take care of Snowy."
Her mother nodded, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I will, beta. Be strong."
Sia glanced back one last time at the empty hallway before stepping into Arjun's car. The absence of her father's presence stung more than she could admit.
The Car Ride
The drive back to the Rathor mansion was heavy with silence. Sia stared out of the window, her thoughts swirling with the events of the day. Her pale face and slumped shoulders didn't go unnoticed by Arjun, but instead of following his instinct to comfort her, Riya's venomous words echoed in his mind.
"Pretending to be sad, huh?" he said, his tone sharp. "How long are you going to act like the victim, Sia? Deep down, you must be thrilled after ruining your sister's life."
Sia's head snapped toward him, her eyes wide with hurt. She opened her mouth to respond but quickly shut it, her throat constricting with emotion. Turning away, she bit her lip to hold back the tears threatening to spill.
Arjun clenched the steering wheel, regretting his words almost instantly but too proudâand too confusedâto apologize.
The Rathor Mansion
As they entered the Rathor mansion, Candy came bounding toward Sia, barking excitedly. The sight of him melted her resolve, and she dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms around him. Tears streamed down her face as she buried her head in his soft fur.
Candy, sensing her sadness, licked her face and whined softly. But when Arjun approached, Candy's demeanor shifted. He barked at Arjun for the first time, his sharp growls a clear sign of disapproval.
Arjun froze, startled by Candy's reaction. His heart sank as the realization hit him: Candy had never acted this way before.
Sia looked up, her tear-streaked face filled with heartbreak. "Even Candy knows," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Arjun stood there, guilt swirling within him. He wanted to say something, to fix the chasm growing between them, but the words wouldn't come. For now, he could only watch as Candy stayed protectively by Sia's side, his loyalty unwavering.