Reyna :-
My head felt like it was splitting open.
I groaned softly and turned on my side, burying my face into the pillow, instantly regretting the movement. The room spun, slow and cruel, as if reminding me of every bad decision I had made the night before.
My mouth felt dry, my body heavy, and my temples throbbed in perfect rhythm with my heartbeat. I pressed my palm to my forehead, breathing slowly.
So this was a hangover.
Great.
Never again, I thought bitterly.
Alcohol was officially my enemy.
As if the pain wasn't punishment enough, my mind decided to betray me too.
Memories crept in, uninvited and merciless.
Marine Drive glowing under streetlights.
Maya's laughter echoing too loud.
The burn of alcohol sliding down my throat.
Then the drunk man.
My chest tightened.
His voice. His touch. The way my anger had flared before my thoughts could catch up.
The car came next.
Advik's hands on the steering wheel. His jaw clenched. The silence between us thick enough to choke on.
And then-
Heat rushed to my face as the rest hit me all at once.
My words.
My closeness.
The way I had teased him without thinking.
God.
I buried my face in the pillow, wishing the mattress would swallow me whole.
What must he think of me now?
In his world where control was everything and weakness was a liability- I must have looked pathetic. A reckless girl who couldn't hold her liquor. A desperate girl throwing herself at a man who was about to marry her sister.
The thought made my stomach twist.
And then his voice echoed in my head. Distant. Controlled. Sharp.
The way he blamed me.
The way he pushed me away.
The way he walked out like none of it mattered.
My jaw clenched.
How easily he had turned it all on me.
As if he hadn't kissed me first.
As if he hadn't touched me first.
As if I had imagined everything.
Fine.
If he could pretend nothing happened, so could I.
I would ignore him.
Completely.
No more questions. No more weakness. No more letting Advik Raichand crawl into my head and ruin my peace. He was my sister's future husband, and from this moment on, he didn't exist to me.
A soft knock pulled me out of my thoughts.
"Reyna beta?" the housekeeper called gently as she entered with a tray in her hands. "Good morning."
I pushed myself up slowly, blinking through the headache. The smell of breakfast made my stomach turn, but I forced a small nod.
"Good morning," I murmured.
She placed the tray on the table and hesitated before adding, "Devika ma'am asked me to tell you that Meera Raichand is in the hall. She wants you to come down after you take a shower."
My brows furrowed instantly.
Meera Raichand?
Why was she here so early?
I swallowed, unease settling in my stomach. "Did... did Ira di wake up?" I asked quietly.
The housekeeper's expression softened. "No, beta. She's still sleeping. We cleaned her room, but she didn't respond to anything."
Something heavy settled in my chest.
I nodded slowly. "Okay. Thank you."
She gave me a gentle smile and quietly left the room.
The silence returned, thicker than before.
I swung my legs off the bed and stood up carefully, the room tilting slightly as I steadied myself. My reflection in the mirror looked exactly how I felt- tired eyes, pale face, and emotions written too clearly on my skin.
Pull yourself together, Reyna.
I turned toward the bathroom and stepped under the shower, letting the cold water hit my skin. I tilted my head back, closing my eyes as the water rushed over me, hoping it could wash away the embarrassment, the guilt, and the memories of last night.
But no matter how long I stood there...
One name refused to leave my mind.
Advik Raichand.
And that scared me more than the hangover ever could.
I had barely taken three proper bites of breakfast when my phone started buzzing like it was possessed.
After the shower, I felt a little more human.
The cold water had helped- washed away the fog in my head, dulled the ache behind my eyes. I changed into something comfortable, I had barely taken three proper bites of breakfast when my phone started buzzing like it was possessed.
Maya. I already knew.
I answered without even saying hello. "Please tell me you're alive."
A groan came from the other side. "Barely," she muttered. "If I die today, blame the alcohol...and you."
I snorted despite myself. "Same."
There was a pause. Too quiet.
Then-
"So," she said slowly, way too amused for my liking, "you have a hot and charming brother-in-law."
I closed my eyes. "Maya, don't."
She ignored me. "Like, seriously hot. Tall. Broody. Rich. Mafia. Damn. No wonder you lost control and kissed him back."
"Oh my God," I snapped. "Will you shut the hell up?"
She burst out laughing. "Why are you getting so pissed? You always liked those mafia-type guys. Don't act innocent. You literally used to read those mafia romance novels at 3 a.m. and pretend you weren't obsessed."
"That was FICTION," I shot back. "This is real life. Big difference."
"Ohooo," she teased. "Someone's defensive."
"My life is already screwed," I groaned. "Please don't add commentary."
She laughed again. "Relax. I'm just saying- now I get it. Mr. Dangerous-with-a-Ferrari walks in and boom, Reyna Rathore forgets her morals."
"I did NOT forget my morals," I snapped. "And for the record, I don't like him. At all. I will never like a guy like him."
"Oh? And why's that?"
"Because he doesn't respect emotions," I said flatly. "And because he thinks destroying people's lives is normal. That's not hot, Maya. That's messed up."
She went quiet for a second. Then sighed. "Okay, okay. Chill. I was joking."
I rubbed my forehead, already exhausted.
"Anyway," she continued, switching gears instantly, "don't forget we have our accounting presentation today."
I froze.
"...Oh shit."
"Exactly," she said. "Professor Sharma. The man who wakes up every day choosing violence."
"He already hates us," I muttered. "Mafia kids. Owners' daughters. His favorite targets."
"And today," she added cheerfully, "he'll be extra annoying if we're late."
I groaned. "I totally forgot. My brain is still offline."
"Get dressed," she ordered. "I'll pick you up."
I exhaled. "Fine. Give me fifteen minutes."
"Make it ten," she said. "And Reyna?"
"What?"
"Next time you kiss a hot mafia guy, at least warn your best friend first."
"MAYA."
She laughed and hung up.
I stared at my phone for a second before shaking my head.
Best friends were a blessing.
And a menace.
I stood up, already heading to my room, mentally preparing myself for college, presentations, and pretending my life wasn't a complete disaster.
One thing was clear though-
Today, I had zero emotional capacity for Advik Raichand.
Zero. 🖤
I was already halfway down the stairs, phone in one hand, bag slung over my shoulder, mentally calculating how late I was, when I heard my father's voice cut through the house.
"Reyna."
I froze.
Slowly, I turned around.
My father stood in the hall, calm and commanding as always, his presence alone enough to make people stop mid-breath. Beside him sat Meera Raichand, elegant and composed, her posture perfect as if she'd been born sitting in rooms like this.
"We have guests in the house," my father said evenly. "At least greet them before leaving."
I clenched my jaw. Of course.
I forced myself to walk back a few steps, pasted a polite smile on my face- the kind I'd mastered over years and looked at Meera.
"Namaste, aunty," I said, folding my hands briefly. "Sorry, I didn't notice."
It was a lie.
I had noticed.
I just didn't want to.
Meera smiled softly. "It's okay, beta."
Then, turning to my father, she added lightly, "It's fine, Rajveer ji. Kids these days are all like this. My Advik is just like her."
The name hit me harder than I expected.
I kept my face neutral.
"Reyna," my father said, gesturing toward the sofa, "come sit for a minute. We're about to fix the marriage date for Ira and Advik."
My chest tightened. I pressed my lips together.
Ira's marriage. Ira's life. Ira's happiness, her fear, her tears...
All being decided like it was some business deal.
I hated everything about it.
But I couldn't walk out. Not with Meera Raichand's eyes glued on us like a hawk.
"I can't," I said quickly. "I have my accounting presentation today. It's important. I'm already getting late."
Papa waved it off like it was nothing. "I'll talk to your professor. Don't worry."
I stared at him. "Papa..."
"It'll only take four or five minutes," he interrupted calmly. "The pandit is on the way."
Four or five minutes. I glanced at the wall clock.
My heart sank.
Before I could argue further, the doorbell rang.
Perfect timing.
"The pandit ji is here," my mother said, standing up immediately.
My mother, father, and Meera all moved forward together, greeting the elderly man respectfully as he entered. The hall filled with murmured pleasantries and the soft rustle of clothes.
I stood there, rooted in place, checking the time again, anxiety crawling up my spine.
Every second felt heavier.
I was still standing near the sofa when Pandit ji settled onto the sofa, his movements slow, deliberate like a man who knew the weight of destiny too well. Devika immediately instructed the house help to bring him breakfast, her voice crisp and efficient.
Pandit ji smiled politely and lifted his hand. "Only water, beti."
A glass was placed before him. He took a small sip, then set it aside and reached for the kundalis lying on the table.
Something about the air shifted.
I don't know why but my chest tightened as soon as he adjusted his glasses and began reading. The ticking of the clock suddenly felt louder, sharper, drilling into my head. I glanced at it instinctively.
I was late.
Again.
But my feet refused to move.
Pandit ji murmured calculations under his breath, fingers tracing lines on paper that supposedly held our futures. Minutes passed. Too many minutes.
Then his expression softened.
His brows relaxed. A faint smile curved his lips.
"This is a very auspicious match," he said.
My heart skipped.
"Almost thirty-four gunas are matching," he continued calmly. "Bride and groom will be deeply in love. There will be understanding, prosperity, happiness. A powerful union."
I felt dizzy.
Beside Papa, Meera aunty's face lit up instantly. She smiled like she'd already won something.
"I knew it," she said warmly. "I knew Ira would be very lucky for our family."
Her words echoed strangely in my ears.
Pandit ji froze.
He looked up, confusion flickering across his face. He adjusted his glasses again and glanced down at the kundali, then back at Meera aunty.
"Forgive me," he said slowly, "but may I confirm the bride's name?"
"Of course," Maa replied smoothly. "Ira Raichand."
Silence.
Pandit ji frowned. Deeply.
"But..." he said hesitantly, "the name written here is Reyna Rathore."
The room spun.
"What?" I whispered before I could stop myself.
My heartbeat roared in my ears. Matching gunas? Love? Happiness?
With him?
My stomach twisted violently. The thought felt absurd. Impossible. Matching with that arrogant, infuriating man who had turned my world upside down overnight?
No. Absolutely not.
Papa leaned forward and took the kundali from Pandit ji, scanning it once. Then again.
"Oh," he said calmly. Too calmly. "My mistake. I must've brought my younger daughter's kundali by accident."
Something cold slid down my spine.
He handed the papers back. "Devika, bring Ira's kundali."
Mom nodded and disappeared upstairs. I stood there, gripping my bag strap so tightly my fingers hurt.
So fate had confused us too.
Mom returned quickly, placing another folder on the table. Pandit ji opened it, adjusted his glasses, and began reading again.
This time, his face changed almost immediately.
The smile vanished.
His shoulders stiffened.
His fingers trembled slightly as he traced the lines.
A knot formed in my stomach.
Minutes crawled by. The room felt colder, heavier, like the walls themselves were holding their breath.
Finally, Pandit ji looked up.
"This marriage," he said gravely, "is impossible."
My breath caught painfully in my throat.
"What do you mean?" Meera aunty asked sharply.
"These kundalis do not align," Pandit ji continued. "If this marriage happens, it will bring destruction to both families."
Mom's face went pale.
"Death will dance in this house," Pandit ji said, voice trembling now. "Bloodshed. Loss. Betrayal. The stars are extremely unfavorable."
I felt sick.
Papa leaned forward, his voice steady but tight. "Is there a solution?"
Pandit ji hesitated. "I can perform a hawan to reduce the impact. But I strongly advise against this marriage."
Before anyone else could react, Meera aunty stood up abruptly.
"That's enough," she snapped. "Stop filling our minds with fear."
Pandit ji startled.
"Just fix the dates," she said coldly. "Don't manipulate us with superstition."
Papa studied her for a moment, unreadable.
Pandit ji lowered his gaze.
"As you wish."
He turned back to his papers, voice dull now, reciting dates and rituals as if reading a sentence instead of a celebration.
"The earliest auspicious date is next month-
31st December.
Mahurat is in the evening."
Meera smiled firmly.
Papa nodded stiffly.
Maa forced a smile.
Aarav looked like he wanted to disappear.
The marriage was fixed.
Just like that.
I stood frozen, my heart pounding violently.
Moments ago, the stars had promised love- for me.
Now they promised destruction for my sister.
And no one cared.
As the elders discussed ceremonies and logistics, I quietly glanced at the clock again. I was officially late now.
But suddenly, college didn't feel important at all.
Because somewhere between fate being mistaken and fear being ignored, I realized something terrifying-
If this marriage went through, it wouldn't just destroy families.
It would destroy us.
And this time, there would be no one left to blame the stars.