The Sacred Flame Extinguished
Aarav pierced a hole in the pot he was carrying. A slow stream of water began to pour out, trickling toward the sacred fire. He walked in slow, deliberate circles around it—his eyes dark, his posture rigid.
Each step he took was not part of a wedding ritual, but something far darker.
The priest's eyes widened in horror. "Stop! What are you doing?" he cried out. "Someone, stop him! This will enrage the gods!"
Gasps filled the air. Arundhati's family rushed forward, trying to intervene—but Aarav shoved them away as if they were nothing.
He completed the final circle. Then, with a twisted smile, he turned to Arundhati. And in a cruel echo of their past tenderness, he leaned in and pressed his signature kiss on her forehead.
Then he hurled the pot into the fire.
Fffffsht—hissss...
The sacred flames sputtered and died.
A stunned silence fell over the venue.
"I, Aarav Trivedi," he said, his voice cold and steady, "hereby break this marriage."
Arundhati staggered forward and clutched his arm. Her voice trembled, her eyes wet with confusion and desperation.
"Aarav, why?" she whispered. "Why are you doing this? This isn't you. Please… did I do something wrong? Are you angry with me?"
Her pleas fell like raindrops on stone.
People in the crowd shifted uncomfortably, sympathy rising in their eyes. But Aarav's wicked grin only widened.
"I suppose you didn't hear me the first time," he said. "I, Aarav Trivedi, am ending this marriage. From this day forward, Arundhati and I have nothing to do with each other."
And with that, he walked away—leaving shattered hearts and stunned silence in his wake.
He climbed into his car. Arundhati ran after him, tears streaming down her face, calling his name again and again.
But the car pulled away.
Her legs gave out. She fell to the ground, sobbing, her bridal attire pooling around her knees like wilting flowers.
---
Chaos and Cruelty
"Aru! Aru, hold on—please don't cry," her father, Vijay, rushed to her side, lifting her gently. "I'll speak to Kailashnath. I promise I'll fix this."
She clung to him, her eyes vacant and hollow.
But as her world crumbled, the world around her turned cruel.
Reporters surged forward with flashing cameras and twisted questions.
"Miss Arundhati, were you only after Aarav's name?"
"Did you cheat on him, is that why he left?"
"Why did he abandon you at the altar? Speak up, please!"
The crowd, once respectful because of the Trivedi name, turned ravenous now that Aarav had cast her aside. With him gone, she was no longer under the protection of the powerful. The vultures had found their prey.
Her parents shielded her and led her away. Arundhati didn't speak. She didn't cry anymore. She simply… existed.
---
The Trivedi Mansion – Midnight
The mansion was still and silent—everyone under its roof fast asleep.
Except one.
Madhuri Trivedi—Kailashnath's sister—sat in a corner room, scrolling through live coverage of the incident on her phone. Her lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"Well done, Aarav," she murmured. "Even I didn't see that twist coming. You fooled everyone—even me."
She leaned back, her tone almost fond.
"For a moment, I doubted the mind I helped shape. That girl, Arundhati… she unnerved me. She had the power to mend what I've spent years breaking. Had she succeeded, the bond between you and your father might have been restored—and all my efforts would've been undone."
She stood, pacing slowly.
"I couldn't let that happen. So I decided to kill her. I had my people sneak into her home and poison the holy water. It should've ended her quietly, without drama. But she survived."
She chuckled softly. "No matter. You ended it your way. Messy, public, brilliant. You've inherited more of me than you realize."
Her eyes wandered to the sleeping guests.
"And slipping sleeping pills into every guest's drink? Impressive. But you should have told me. I'd have helped."
Hearing the distant hum of a car outside, her lips curved again.
"Aarav must be home. Time to pretend I've been asleep all along. I can't wait to see the next act of this drama."
---
Moments Later – In the Hall
The Trivedi household slowly came to life. One by one, family members stirred awake—groggy and confused.
Kailashnath was the first to notice the time. "We've overslept... Why didn't anyone wake us? We're late for the wedding!" he said urgently. "Someone call Aarav. Arundhati's family must be waiting."
Just then, the gates opened. A car rolled in.
Aarav entered the hall still dressed in his groom's attire, looking calm and unbothered.
"There you are!" Kailashnath said. "Where have you been? We must go immediately—Arundhati will be—"
"No need," Aarav interrupted, voice smooth and unnerving. "I've already been to the Iyers. I informed them of my decision."
"What decision?" Kailashnath asked, brow furrowing.
Aarav smiled.
"I've broken the engagement. There will be no wedding."