Chapter 3: A Bond She Refused

The sound echoed through the hall.

Slap.

Veeresh’s face turned to the side, the sting sharp, but he didn’t flinch. He didn’t raise his hand. He didn’t step back.

Poornima’s chest heaved as she stood before him, her eyes blazing with pain, confusion, and betrayal.

“Veeresh, what is all this? Why?” she cried.

“You were supposed to marry Sahana, not me! How dare you do this to me?”

Her voice broke as she pushed against his chest.

“You spoiled my life!”

Her trembling fingers went to the thali around her neck. She tried to pull it off desperately, as if removing it could undo everything that had happened.

An elderly woman rushed forward, grabbing her hand gently.

“No, beta… please don’t,” she pleaded, tears in her eyes.

Poornima laughed bitterly through her sobs.

“I don’t accept this marriage,” she said, her voice shaking. “I lost my parents… my family… everyone… because of you!”

She looked at Veeresh, pain spilling freely now.

“Why, Veeresh? Why did you do this to me?” she cried out, collapsing to her knees.

From behind them, Sahana’s voice cut through the chaos—sharp, wounded, filled with rage.

“I will not leave you both,” she said coldly.

“You will suffer for what you’ve done.”

Veeresh turned to her and, without hesitation, knelt down before Poornima instead.

“I won’t leave you,” he said softly but firmly. “Never.”

Poornima shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face.

“I don’t want to live with you, Veeresh,” she whispered. “I don’t want you.”

His heart clenched, but his grip on reality did not waver.

“You are my wife,” he said. “That won’t change.”

She looked at him with disbelief, anger, and despair.

“I will never accept this marriage,” she said. “I will never accept you.”

Neha stepped forward, her eyes red from crying. She held Poornima’s shoulders gently.

“Poornima… right now you have no choice,” she said softly. “You have to go with him. We’ll figure everything out later. I promise.”

Saif and Narayana stood beside them, helpless and heavy-hearted.

“She lost everyone today,” Saif said quietly.

“Take care of her… and yourself,” Narayana added, looking at Veeresh with warning in his eyes.

Veeresh nodded once.

“I won’t let go of her hand,” he said.

He reached out and held Poornima’s hand firmly—not possessive, not cruel, but unyielding. She tried to pull away, but her strength failed her. Exhaustion and grief weighed her down.

Without another word, he turned and walked.

Poornima followed, tears blurring her vision, her steps unsteady, her heart shattered beyond repair.

As they walked out of the wedding hall—

past the lights, the flowers, the people, the broken promises—

Poornima realized something terrifying.

She had entered the mandap as a guest.

And walked out of it as a wife she never chose.