~Switzerland~

The mountains covered with the blanket of snow was witnessing the tale, as the two souls laid in each other's embrace, beside the fireplace, over the intimate terrace, their souls seeking the warmth more from each other's bodies than from the burning fire beside.

Though the storm of snow had died down hours ago but they both knew that the revelations that were to happen was a much bigger of a storm that they had to face.

They were ready.

Ready to hear it out , ready to spill it out, the incidencies and the tragedies that the years bestowed upon them.

But the hearts were questioning in synchrony, were they actually ready?

Ready to know what all happened?

Ready to reveal what all happened?

The air witnessed the mist that swirled around and got lost in the coldness of the air, the mist that was created due to the deep breaths that they both sucked.

His hold around her body tightened a bit as she put all her weight onto his torso.

"Hold me tighter.", she breathed out as she resolved that the trail to the memories were to begin.

He did as told, taking her more into his self,wrapping her in his toned figure, making it very clear to her with his actions that HE WAS THERE. WITH HER. FOR HER.

There they layed, on the rooftop of his penthouse, with her laying on his chest, while his back touched the wall, the blanket covering their lower bodies while his arms were securely holding her. His fingers entangled in between hers, and his eyes waiting in agony for he knew that her words were going to break him into nothingness.

The fire in the fireplace was burning bright and the stars were shining in the velvety skies,but the destination of love was about to witness the story of how she died.

______________ ________________ ____________

~ Nearly one year ago ~

~India~

~Rajasthan~

The Farmhouse of Shekhawat's was all dolled up. The chaos that a wedding witnesses being totally eye catching as people had gathered to be a part of one of the most talked about wedding of Rajasthan.

The wedding that marked the start of a relationship between two business families of Rajasthan.

The Rathore's and The Shekhawat's.

Abhimaan Singh Rathore, the eldest son and the second most richest businessman of Rajasthan was going to tie knot with the elder daughter of the Shekhawat's, Neha Shekhawat.

Though the farmhouse was filled with all rich and influential people from all sectors of industries, still the Rathore's had kept it as a secret affair away from the cameras of the media.

The excitement that was flowing around was hard to contain.

The past one week had witnessed all the festivities, proclaiming the union of the two influential families.

Today as the mandap was set, the family members were rushing around to look around for the last moment touch ups.

And amidst all of this, was a lady, nearly 5'6 feet tall, dressed in a black coloured simple lehenga, looking beautifully pleasing to the eye.

Her soft hair was flowing down her shoulders, her perfect waist was hidden in the thin fabric of her dupatta, her accessories were adding to her beauty.

But there was more. More than what the eyes could deduce.

While she sat on the floor, filling the kalash's and decorating them with the mango leaves and marigolds, as she was instructed by one of the elder lady from the groom's side,she was totally zoned out. Lost in her own world of thoughts.

Physically being present, mentally she was facing a storm that no one knew about. Her gaze was sharp as a knife, her face though masking the turmoil but the lines of uncertainty on her forehead if observed intently indicated that something was wrong.

She was Riya Shekhawat.

(Riya's Lehenga)

_______________ ______________ ____________

~In a Room~

"Kya hua Abhimaan, aap pareshaan lag rahe hai! ", Ashwat Singh Rathore, a man in his late 50's, Abhimaan's Babasa, questioned him.

" The Rajvansh's. I wanted them here today. I thought, this, a family interaction, it'll help us built some ties with them. But.. I am sure they are not turning up.

I, myself went to invite them babasa.

The arrogance that the family has is of sky level. ", Abhimaan said in frustration as he threw his phone on the bed beside.

Ashwat walked to his son and softly laid his hand on his son's broad shoulder as he said, " Aaj aapki shadi hai Abhimaan. Is sab ke bare mei baad mei sochiye ga. Filhaal, focus on your big day.

And anyways we all know the Rajvansh's, they never participate in social gatherings. "

Abhimaan hummed in affirmation.

The thing was, he himself had visited the Rajvansh's office two-three times in order to invite them for the wedding. But they denied.

The rejection was thrown directly on his face.

He still had hopes that somehow they might turn up. But now it was certain that they won't.

Ashwat made his son to sit on the bed as he took on to tie his Pagri.

Abhimaan Singh Rathore, a man of the Rajput clan, was nearly of 6'0 height, with strong chiseled jawline and a face that radiated confidence, elegance and regality. Dark brown coloured eyes with a thick set of prominent eyelashes.

His demeanor commanded respect and admiration.

Abhimaan looked at his figure in the long mirror, he was ready for the wedding.

______________ _______________ _____________

~An hour later~

The farmhouse that was spread over several acres of land was all decked up, ready for the wedding but there was this one room inside that was in total dispute and choas.

"Aise kaise kar sakti hai aapki beti! ", the booming voice of Leelavati made the Shekhawat's to shudder.

Leelavati Singh Rathore, the eldest from the Rathore's. Abhimaan's grandmother was burning with anger.

" Naveen ji, Kya mazak hai yeh! Aap soch bhi sakte hai kya kaand kiya hai aapki beti ne!

Barat tayar hai, Dulha tayar hai, Mandap saz chuka hai aur dulhan...dulhan gayab hai. ", Ashwat shouted on Naveen while Naveen stood with his head hanging low.

" Ji koi galat fehmi hogi. Neha aisa kuch nahi kar sakti. Uske sath jaroor kuch hua hoga. Please. ", Vishaka Shekhawat, mother of the missing bride, pleaded.

The thing was, the bride, Neha Shekhawat, was nowhere to be found. Missing? Eloped?

The Rathore's were infuriated.

The Shekhawat's were drowning in shame.

" Koi galat fehmi nahi hai. Woh bhag gayi hai. Yeh shadi, mujhe, sab ko piche chod kar! ", it was Abhimaan who shouted this time, his voice raging with the betrayal, anger flowing through his veins and frustration blurring his vision.

He was frustrated to the last of his extend and was burning in pure rage.

Moments ago the family got to know that the bride was missing.

Vishakha came to take Neha downstairs when she realised that the room was empty. She and Naveen searched everywhere, but there was no sign of Neha.

Neither there was any letter stating any reason for her disappearance. Her phone too was unreachable.

Both Naveen and Vishakha were shocked. They knew their daughter would never ran away from a wedding, specially the wedding that she herself was so excited about.

The Shekhawat's standing there with their heads hanging low knew that Neha liked Abhimaan. For Neha, Abhimaan was the ideal man. Money, Looks, Fame he had it all.

And moreover, this wedding was essential for the Shekhawat's. Their drowning business needed a support. And only Rathore's could provide them with the support, for as stated the Rathore's were the second richest business family of Rajasthan.

The first being, the Royals of Rajasthan, the Rajvansh.

Naveen Shekhawat, the bride's father and a shrewd businessman himself, who in real had himself led the Shekhawat business empire to the verge of its extinction, knew that the Rajvansh's would never help or support them, for the past that they shared with them, was a bad one.

Toh doobte Shekhawat's ko sirf Rathore's ke tinke ka sahara tha.

This wedding had to happen. Anyhow.

Naveen stood in front of the Rathore's with his hands folded.

" Maaf kar dijiye Rathore sahab. ", he said being totally ashamed.

He removed his pagri, as he bent in front of the Rathore's, asking rather begging for forgiveness.

" Aapki maafi kuch bhi thik nahi karegi.

Log bahar dulhe aur dulhan ke intezaar mei lage hai. Shadi ka muhurat bit raha hai. Sab kuch barbad ho gaya hai. Ab kuch nahi ho sakta. ", Ashwat said as he clearly lost all the hopes.

In fact everyone around had lost hopes. The wedding, their respect, their honor, all was at stakes.

Abhimaan was fuming.

No one knew any way out. It was just mess that they could see.

" Nahi. Hum Rathore's yeh itni badi bezzati nahi sahehge.

Kuch khatam nahi hua hai.

There's a way out.

The only way...To set this right, to clear the mess that you pulled up, get your younger daughter ready.

Tayar karke mandap mei lekar aayiye isse! ", Leelavati said, after moments of thinking, in a harsh tone looking towards Riya who was standing in a corner witnessing all the drama silently.

Her words, the declaration broke through the cold air.

Naveen and Vishakha froze in their place.

The demand felt unreal.

While Riya?

Leelavati's words took her by shock as she wasted no time in reacting back, " What nonsense. No. A big No. Aisa kuch bhi nahi kar rahe hai aap log. What stupidity is this! ", Riya shouted looking at them all.

" Awaz niche! ", it was Abhimaan, who growled out loud.

" Dadi sahi keh rahi hai.

Bahar Rathore's ki bezzati karwane ka pura intezaam kar rakha hai tum logo ne toh saza bhi tum logo ko hi milegi.

Wear that thing and join me in the madap. ", Abhimaan said in a dark voice pointing towards the lehenga that laid on the bed, as he strided away from there.

" Mei yeh shadi nahi karungi. Get that thing straight. ", Riya shouted roughly.

She felt as if somebody pulled the ground beneath her feet.

Everything was already a mess, her head was already struggling with a lot many things, and this new trouble was too much for her to handle.

But before she could say anything more, Naveen's authoritative voice took over, "Aap sab log mandap ki taraf jayiye. Dulhan ko lekar hum aate hai. "

The Rathore's looked towards him, as Leelavati instructed, "Agar ab koi bhi gadbad ki na, toh tumhara bacha kucha business bhi khatam karne ka khayal khud Abhimaan rakhenge.

Toh bina kisi nautanki ke, dulhan ko tayar kar mandap mei lekar aayiye. ", with that the Rathore's left.

As soon as they were out of sight, Naveen threw his pagri down in a harsh manner,

" Ek kaam tha uss Neha ka, woh bhi nahi kar payi woh.

Itne dino tak toh mari ja rahi thi Abhimaan se shadi karne ke liye, aur ab bhag gayi. Aaye wapas, uski khal na udedli na toh mera naam bhi Naveen Shekhawat nahi! ", he grunted.

" Aji.. Koi galat fehmi hai. Humari Neha aisa nahi kar sakti. ", Vishaka tried calming her husband down but he shrugged her hand away, giving her the sharp look that she better not side their daughter.

" Yeh sab iske karan ho raha hai. Iski manusiyat ka natija hai yeh sab! ", Vishakha shouted as she charged towards Riya.

Naveen took heavy breaths as he commanded Riya, " Tum.. Jaldi se yeh sab pehno aur mandap mei aah jao. "

"Mai aisa kuch bhi.. ", before she could complete, Riya felt a sharp sting on her right cheek.

The slap that Vishakha rendered on her reverberated in the room.

Vishakha held Riya's hair in a tight fist as she said, " Itne saal pala posa hai tujhe. Jo hum keh rahe hai woh chup chap kar.

Tujhe uss ghar ki bahu banakar nahi bhej rahe hum, sirf jab tab Neha wapas na aah jaye, tab tak ke liye uski jagah legi tu. Uski replacement bankar.

Jyada nakhre maat dikha. Maa-Baap hai hum tere. Humara kaha manna farz hai tera. ", Vishakha stated in a dangerous manner.

" Nahi.... ", before Riya could complete, Naveen charged towards her, showing a picture to her.

A picture that had a house that radiated love, with a group of children of different age groups posing for the picture outside that house.

A picture of her " Rainbow. "

" Chahti hai, yeh teri, "Rainbow", orphanage bhike? Yeh tere bacche beghar ho?

Shayad tu yehi chahti hai.

Yeh sab bhikhariyo ko phir se raste par le ana, haina?

Chal maat kar shadi. Maat maan humari baat.

Par phir jo in baccho ke sath hoga, uski zimmedaar Tu hogi. Samjhi! ", his voice held the resolution.

His tone held the evilness.

Riya's eyes teared up.

No.

She wasn't selfish. But she had no other way out.

" Nahi.. Aap unko kuch nahi kar sakte.. Please.. Yeh sahi nahi hai.. Yeh galat hai...Please. ", Riya pleaded.

" Chahe sahi ho ya galat. Naveen sirf khud ka faida dekhta hai. Aur teri aaj Abhimaan se shadi hone mei mera faida hai.

Bina kisi natak ke niche mandap mei aah.

Warna aaj jo in bacho ke sath hoga, tu soch bhi nahi sakti.

Don't try to test my patience,Riya.

Aur tu, isse tayar kar jaldi. ", he shouted instructing his wife as he walked away.

Vishakha threw the lehenga over Riya as she said, " Khush kismat maan khudko, jo itne ache parivaar mei, itni asani se teri shadi hone wali hai.

Though this won't last much. Jab tak Neha wapas nahi aati sirf tab tak tu Rathore's ki bahu ban kar rahegi. "

____________ ________________ ______________

~ Later ~

Riya was all decked up in the bridal attire.

After all the chaos, all the abuses, and everything that happened, Riya was thinking straight after nearly a day.

Now,

Her mind felt clearer. Her face radiated calmness.

The one who was crying and messed up moments ago, appeared all composed. As if she found a way out from the dark tunnel that she was venturing into.

After all, her Mahakal had her back, and was helping her to weave the trap of Kal.

She was sitting alone in the room, since Vishakha had gone downstairs.

Riya looked at the lehenga she wore, the bride's lehenga. She could feel the heaviness of it. But the heaviness that surmounted on her chest was more.

Anxiety. Fear. And apprehension had gripped her. Her heart was palpating but she let no sigh of the inner turmoil out, as her face held on to the composure.

Everything on the surface looked perfect, the lehenga, the jewelleries, the makeup. Everything was perfect.

But her life was a mess.

Marrying someone is weird. But marrying one's own brother-in-law, is weirder.

A single tear rolled down Riya's cheek.

She had shedded those tears a lot many times in the past two days.

But the single drop that trailed down her cheek getting lost in the valley of her breast was different.

For she knew what she was doing.

She softly touched her hand to her right cheek, the same one where Vishaka had slapped her moments ago, " Two hundred and forty seven. ", the soft numerical count litted something in Riya's eyes.

She wiped the tear and looked at her own reflection for just a second.

A replacement that's what she had been all her life.

A replacement that's what she was going to be now.

She inhaled a deep long breath and decided to inform them.

Them.

Her People.

She picked up her phone and rang a number. The call was picked up in a ring.

" Video connect me to everyone. Urgent. ", she instructed in a professional tone.

And within minutes she found herself addressing a video call that had nearly 7-8 participants.

"I am getting married. ", Riya informed in a blank tone. Devoid of any emotions.

" What!"

"What nonsense? "

"Aise achanak? "

"Princess, something's wrong. Should I come? "

"Ri tell me what happened? "

"Di who's he? "

"Shuuu! Quiet.

I know you all got your own questions, but this is what is bound to happen.

Neha abandoned the wedding. " , Riya informed but before she could complete the entire thing she heard a voice.

"What nonsense. You are not a replacement, Ri. ", It was Abhimanyu Singhania, the owner and CEO of Singhania group of industries.

Everyone from the other side was waiting for her reply. But a deadly silence persisted for moments.

A silence that tensed the air.

" What if I want to be, Abhi? ", Riya pointed out sharply, her words piercing the silence and all the voices across the phone felt silent.

" Mei yeh shadi karna chahti hu.

We'll talk tomorrow.", she said firmly.

Her growing smirk conveyed what words failed to.

Afterall it wasn't what it appeared to the eye.

__________ ___________ ________

So here we are!!! ✨💃

The first chapter's out! 🥳✨💃

What do you have to say? 😗

About Riya? 😌

Any opinions about her? 😌

Guess what the story is going to be like, chalo, let's see if anyone can decode the author's mind. 😙🤭

Baki,

Lots of Love. ❤✨