Kiara sat in the middle of the living room, fabrics spread across the table in front of her, while her mother and aunts discussed colors and embroidery like this was any other celebration.

“Try to visualize it properly,” Shalini said, holding up a dupatta against her shoulder. “This shade will look elegant in the evening lighting.”

Kiara nodded faintly. “It’s fine.”

“You’ve been saying that to everything,” her grandmother pointed out gently.

“Because everything is fine.”

It wasn’t. But there was no space to say that anymore.

“Kiara!”

She turned at the voice—

And for the first time that day, something in her expression softened.

“Ishaani—”

Ishaani walked in quickly, her eyes immediately scanning Kiara. “Okay… wow. This is actually happening.”

Kiara let out a small breath, forcing a faint smile. “Yeah. Looks like it.”

“You look…” Ishaani paused. “Normal.”

“I am normal.”

“Kiara.”

“Ishaani.”

A brief silence.

Then—

“Finally,” Neel’s voice cut in as he walked in with Aditya and Tanya. “We had to hear this from the internet?”

“Very classy,” Aditya added.

Kiara rolled her eyes. “I’ll send you a formal invite next time.”

“There better not be a next time,” Tanya said softly.

“So,” Neel crossed his arms, “how bad is it?”

Kiara leaned back slightly, casual. “It’s manageable.”

Aditya gave her a look. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“This,” he gestured vaguely. “Act like it’s nothing.”

Kiara shrugged lightly. “It is what it is.”

Tanya studied her face carefully.

Ishaani didn’t say anything.

Not yet.

—

“Where is he?” Neel asked.

Kiara tilted her head slightly. “Somewhere there.”

“That’s helpful,” Aditya muttered. “Come on.”

The three of them walked off toward Aarav without waiting.

—

“Ishaani,” Kiara said quietly.

She was already walking toward the balcony.

This time, slower.

Ishaani followed.

—

The moment they stepped outside, the noise faded.

Cool air.

Silence.

For a few seconds, neither spoke.

Kiara rested her hands on the railing, looking out.

“I like the outfit,” Ishaani said lightly.

“It’s fine.”

“Everything’s ‘fine’ today, huh?”

Kiara let out a small breath. “What do you want me to say?”

“The truth.”

A pause.

“I am telling the truth.”

Ishaani stepped closer. “No. You’re saying what everyone else wants to hear.”

Kiara didn’t respond.

Didn’t move.

“I’ve known you too long for that,” Ishaani added softly.

That did it.

Not immediately.

Not dramatically.

But slowly—

Kiara’s shoulders dropped just a little.

“I don’t even know what to feel,” she said quietly.

Ishaani stayed silent. Letting her speak.

“It happened so fast,” Kiara continued, her voice still steady, but thinner now. “One second it was nothing… and now it’s… this.”

She laughed softly. Empty.

“I didn’t even get time to process it.”

Ishaani’s expression softened. Kiara blinked, staring ahead.

“I always thought…” she hesitated. “It would be different.”

Her voice faltered slightly.

“I wanted something real,” she whispered. “Something that I chose.”

The words hung there. Heavy. Unfiltered. She swallowed, trying to hold herself together.

“I didn’t want this,” she said, her voice finally breaking. “Not like this… not with him…”

And that was it. The last bit of control slipped. She turned slightly, her face crumpling as tears finally spilled over.

“I don’t want this,” she repeated, barely able to get the words out.

Ishaani stepped forward immediately, pulling her into a tight hug. Kiara clung to her. Like she’d been holding everything in for too long. Her shoulders shook slightly, her grip tightening as she buried her face into Ishaani’s shoulder.

“I know,” Ishaani murmured softly, one hand gently running through her hair. “I know…”

—

From the hallway Aarav had stepped out. Not on purpose. Just… to get away. He stopped when he heard voices. Didn’t mean to listen. But he did. He didn’t hear everything. Just enough. Her voice breaking.

The words— I don’t want this.

His jaw tightened slightly. Something uncomfortable settled in his chest. He looked away. And walked back inside.

A few minutes later, Kiara pulled back, wiping her face quickly.

“I’m fine,” she said, even though she clearly wasn’t.

Ishaani didn’t argue.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “Of course you are.”

Kiara let out a small breath.

“Go talk to him,” she muttered. “He’s probably acting like this is a board meeting.”

A faint smile touched Ishaani’s lips. “Probably.”

Inside, Neel, Aditya, and Tanya were already with Aarav.

“…so you’re just going along with it?” Aditya was saying.

Aarav’s tone remained calm. “For now.”

Neel shook his head. “Unbelievable.”

Tanya stepped in before it escalated. “We know it’s not your choice.”

Aarav met her gaze. “It isn’t.”

That was enough. Just then Ishaani stepped in. Aarav looked at her.

“Isha.”

She didn’t say anything at first. Just stepped closer. And hugged him. It caught him off guard. Completely. It reminded him of the times when she used to comfort him everytime he didn't feel okay.

“Hey,” she said quietly. “Are you okay?.”

Aarav didn’t move for a second. Then his shoulders relaxed just slightly.

“It’s not ideal,” he said.

“That’s an understatement,” she murmured, pulling back.

A small pause.

Then—

“Look,” she said gently, her tone soft, careful. “I didn’t say this to her because she’s… not okay right now.”

His expression shifted slightly.

“But you—” she continued, meeting his eyes, “you can handle this better.”

Aarav didn’t respond.

“Just… don’t make it worse,” she said. “You don’t have a choice right now, I get that. Neither of you do.”

A pause.

“But you can still decide how you deal with it.”

He held her gaze.

“Keep it civil,” she added quietly. “At least that much.”

Another silence.

Then—

“…I can do that,” he said.

Ishaani nodded faintly. “Good.”

By the time everyone gathered again, things resumed like nothing had happened. Outfits finalized. Venue confirmed. Decor halfway planned. Everything moving forward.