Her aunt froze the moment she saw a boy standing inside the room.
He was dressed in a black fur coat, blue heavy jeans, a mask pulled tightly over his face, and dark spectacles hiding his eyes. He looked completely out of place in a bride's room filled with silk, jewellery, and flowers.
"Who are you?" her aunt asked sharply.
Inside the mask, Sia's breath stopped.
Nisha froze beside her.
For a second, no one spoke. The silence felt heavy, crushing.
Then Nisha forced her voice out, a little too fast.
"Aunty… he came here by mistake. He was asking for garam masala… for the kadai paneer."
The excuse sounded stupid even as it left her mouth.
The lines on her aunt's forehead deepened. Suspicion crept into her eyes, putting both Sia and Nisha into full panic mode. Inside the mask, Sia felt a sudden urge to vomit. Her stomach twisted violently, and her chest tightened.
Her aunt spoke again, louder this time.
"You should have asked someone outside. Who allowed you to enter the bride's room?" she snapped.
"Don't you have any manners?"
Her gaze swept over Sia's clothes again.
"And why are you wearing a mask and spectacles?" she demanded.
"Remove your mask!"
Sia froze completely.
If she spoke, she would be caught instantly.
If she didn't, her aunt would call everyone—and then the mask would be forced off.
Either way, she was trapped.
Arjun's name hit her mind like a hammer. He could arrive any minute. She imagined him walking in, drunk, loud, creating a scene. The train would leave in just forty-five minutes.
Her heart screamed to surrender. To confess everything. To say it was a joke.
But the thought of Arjun entering the house made her even more anxious.
At that moment, Nisha stepped in again.
"Aunty," she said quickly, her voice trembling but steady enough, "he has eye flu. That's why he's wearing spectacles. And the mask—he had a viral infection a few days ago. He's just trying to prevent spreading it."
Her aunt didn't move.
The suspicion didn't fade.
She raised her voice.
"Where is your manager? Why do they keep sick people working like this?"
Nisha's heart raced, but she didn't stop.
"Aunty, he has two small kids," she said desperately.
"They're hungry. He had to work today."
Her aunt's expression turned sharper.
"How do you know all this?" she asked.
"He hasn't said a single word since I came."
She stepped closer to Sia.
"What's your name?" she demanded.
"I will talk to your manager myself."
Nisha's mind worked at the speed of light.
She put on a sad expression instantly.
"Aunty… he can't hear or speak," she said softly.
"He told me everything in sign language."
Sia remained frozen, her hands clenched tightly.
"That's why he's standing like this," Nisha added quickly.
She made a few random hand signs. Sia copied her without thinking, her movements stiff and unnatural.
Seeing this, her aunt's expression softened slightly. A flicker of sympathy crossed her face—but suspicion still lingered.
Without saying anything more, her aunt turned away.
"Come with me," she said.
"I'll give you the masala."
She stepped out of the room.
Then suddenly, she turned back.
"Nisha," she asked sharply, "where is Sia? Why isn't she in her room?"
Inside the mask, Sia froze again.
Her aunt walked back into the room.
Nisha replied quickly, her voice casual on the surface.
"She's in the washroom. She got loose motion."
"Uff!" her aunt exclaimed in irritation.
"I told her to be careful on her wedding day."
She walked toward the bathroom door and knocked.
"Sia beta… Sia beta…" she called.
"How are you feeling now? Come outside. I'll give you medicine."
Her eyes then fell on the lehenga and blouse lying in the corner of the room.
Her face hardened instantly.
"And why have you removed your bridal clothes?" she snapped.
"Come outside and get ready properly!"
Nisha noticed the bathroom door.
It was locked from outside.
Her heart skipped a beat.
If her aunt noticed that, everything would collapse.
Nisha stepped forward quickly.
"Aunty, he's waiting for the masala," she said urgently.
"I'll look after Sia. I'll make her ready fast and give her medicine. Don't worry."
"But she's not responding from inside," her aunt said suspiciously.
"I want to know if she's okay."
"Aunty," Nisha replied carefully,
"she's in the bathroom. How will she speak properly?"
She gently guided her aunt away from the door.
"I'll take care of her," she added firmly.
"You please go."
Reluctantly, her aunt turned around.
Sia followed behind her, her heart pounding louder than ever. Her legs trembled with each step, threatening to give way.
What if she turns back now?
What if she recognises me?
What if everything ends here?
They entered the storeroom.
Her aunt picked up packets of garam masala and held them out, gesturing for Sia to take them.
Sia hesitated.
Her hands were covered in fresh henna, stiff and delicate. Stretching them felt difficult, unnatural.
She was stuck again.
And this time, Nisha wasn't there to save her.
She didn't move.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from outside.
"Come fast!" her uncle called urgently.
"Where is the golden kalash? I can't find it anywhere!"
In the rush, her aunt placed the masala packets on the table and waved her hand impatiently.
"Take it and go," she said.
Sia grabbed the packets quickly and rushed out.
As she walked through the house, she felt painfully visible. Guests stared. Some turned back to look again. Whispers floated in the air.
She kept her head down, her breath shallow.
Each familiar face made her heartbeat rise like an ocean wave—then crash violently.
She reached the main gate.
Her chest tightened.
She rushed to the dustbin near the entrance, pulled out her bag, and clutched it tightly. Her hands were shaking as she dialed Nisha.
"Hey," she whispered urgently.
"I'm out."
"What a relief," Nisha breathed on the other end.
"Now you have to handle everything there," Sia said quickly.
"Stay visible. Don't let anyone suspect you."
"If Arjun comes, try to handle it," she added, panic creeping into her voice.
"But things might get completely out of control."
"I'll message you once I reach Rachna's place."
She ended the call.
As she walked toward the road, her steps slowed suddenly.
A car stopped near her house.
Her heart dropped.
Arjun stepped out of the car.
With his friends.
A surge of anger rushed through her. For a split second, she wanted to stop him. To scream. To tell him to stay away.
But time was slipping out of her hands.
If Arjun saw her outside, he would never let her go.
Fear took over.
She walked faster.
Then she ran.
She waved at a taxi and jumped inside, her chest heaving.
"Railway station," she said breathlessly.
As the car started moving, she looked back one last time.
Arjun and his friends were walking straight into her house.