The sun had set, casting a soft golden glow over the small village, and Samaira sat on her bed, her fingers nervously tugging at the hem of her sari.Everything felt surreal—this was the night she had waited for, the night that would mark the beginning of her married life.
Her heart raced as she glanced at the door, waiting for Vikrant to come in. She had heard stories of what this night would mean, how it would solidify the bond between two souls. She was full of hope and excitement, even though she knew that the road ahead might not be as simple as it seemed.
When the door opened, Vikrant stepped inside. His presence immediately filled the room, his tall frame casting a shadow over the threshold. He was wearing the traditional attire, but the sternness in his eyes and his cold demeanor didn’t match the joy that Samaira had expected on a wedding night.
Vikrant closed the door behind him, locking it. He turned to face her, his gaze intense but distant. Samaira felt a shiver run through her, unsure of what to expect next.
"Samaira," Vikrant said, his voice calm but laced with a coldness that made her heart tighten. "Hume baat kr leni chahiye kuch krne se pehle."(We need to talk before we... proceed.)
Samaira’s breath caught in her throat. She had imagined this moment countless times, but never like this. "Aapka matlab kya h?"(What do you mean?)she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Vikrant took a step closer to her, his expression unreadable. "Yeh .... sirf ek rasm h mere liye. Aur kuch nhi. Tumhe pata hona chahiye ki m shaadi ya pyar mein vishwas nhi krta.Na krta tha. Na mujhe tumse koi umeed h or na m tumhe badle mein kuch de sakta hu."(This... is just a ritual for me. Nothing more. You should know that I don’t believe in love. I don’t believe in the idea of Marriage. I never have. I don’t expect anything from you, nor will I offer anything in return.)
Samaira’s heart sank, the words hitting her like a cold wave. She had always believed in love, in the bond between two people who were meant to be together. But Vikrant... he was different. She had known he wasn’t like the men in her stories, but this? This was harder to digest.
"Main yahan isliye nhi hu kyunki ye meri marzi h. Main yahan isliye hu kyunki iss baat ki mujhe umeed h."(I’m not here because I want to be with you. I’m here because this is what’s expected). Vikrant continued, his voice steady, as if stating a simple fact. "Yeh ek farz h , ek zimmedari h mere liye.Tum meri patni ho aur yeh humara farz h aur kuch nhi."(This is a duty, a responsibility. You’re my wife, and this is our duty. Nothing more.)
Samaira’s eyes welled with unshed tears, but she wiped them away quickly, trying to hold her composure. "Par... mujhe laga ki hum ek saath h. Mujhe laga....hum ek saath milkar kuch ban sakte h."(But... I thought we were supposed to be partners. I thought... we could build something together.")
Vikrant’s expression softened for a brief moment, but it quickly hardened again. "Main jhooth nhi bolunga , samaira main woh sab nhi kar sakta Jo tum umeed krti ho. Main tumhe pyar nhi kr sakta aur na hi dikhava kr sakta hu pyar ka. Ye sirf ek farz h mere liye. Par ...main Tum se ijaazat zaroor mangunga kyunki yhi sahi h."(I won’t lie to you, Samaira. I am not capable of what you’re hoping for. I can’t give you love, and I won’t pretend to. This is a simple matter of duty. But... I will ask your permission, because it’s the right thing to do.")
He stepped closer, his dark eyes meeting hers, searching for any sign of hesitation. "Kya tum mujhe ijaazat h iss farz ki nibhane ki ?"(Will you allow me to... consummate our marriage, as required?)
Samaira’s mind was a whirlwind. Everything she had hoped for was slipping through her fingers. She wanted to say no, wanted to refuse him, but she also knew that this was what she had agreed to. This was her life now, and the choice was hers to make.
After what felt like an eternity, she looked at him, her heart aching but her voice steady. "Agar aap yhi chaahte toh, haan .Par yeh jaan lijiye , vikram ji -iss shaadi mein farz se zyada bahut kuch h. Ek din aap samjh jayenge."(If it is what you need, then yes. But know this, Vikrant ji—there is more to marriage than just duty. One day, you will understand.")
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