Chapter 3: A Decision Not Her Own

Poornima stepped into Thakur Bhavan, the familiar scent of sandalwood and polished floors wrapping around her, but something felt… different.

Too quiet.

Too arranged.

“Poornima, come here,” her father, Siddharth, called, his tone unusually formal.

She walked toward the hall, her eyes scanning the room—her mother Riya sat beside Lakshmi aunty, while Raju uncle leaned back calmly, as if everything was already decided.

A strange uneasiness settled in her chest.

“Yes, Papa?” she asked softly.

Siddharth gestured toward the man seated across. “Poornima, meet your fiancé—Pavan.”

Her breath hitched.

“…Fiancé?”

Riya smiled gently, as if this was something normal. “You both were engaged as children. We always planned this.”

Poornima stared at them, confusion turning into shock. “But… I didn’t even know…”

“It was decided long ago,” Siddharth interrupted. “Now the time has come.”

Her fingers tightened around the edge of her dupatta. “Papa… I—”

“Go get ready,” her mother said, cutting her off softly but firmly. “Wear a saree.”

“Maa, please listen—”

“Poornima,” Riya’s voice hardened just a little, “don’t make this difficult.”

Silence.

Poornima swallowed her words.

“…Okay.”

She turned and walked toward her room, each step heavier than the last.

Inside, she closed the door, leaning against it for a moment.

Her reflection stared back at her from the mirror—confused, trapped.

“Fiancé…” she whispered to herself.

Her hands trembled slightly as she took out a red saree.

She draped it slowly, mechanically, as if her body was moving but her mind wasn’t there.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me…” her voice broke softly.

A knock came.

“Poornima, are you ready?” her mother’s voice.

“Yes, Maa… coming.”

She took a deep breath, wiping the corner of her eye quickly, forcing a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

When she walked back into the hall, all eyes turned to her.

“She looks beautiful,” Lakshmi said warmly.

Riya nodded proudly. “My daughter.”

Pavan smiled, clearly impressed. “Hi… Poornima.”

She gave a polite nod. “Hello.”

“Come, beta, serve coffee,” Siddharth said.

She picked up the tray, her hands steady on the outside, but inside everything felt like it was slipping.

As she handed the cup to Pavan, he said lightly, “Didn’t expect we’d meet like this, huh?”

She forced a faint smile. “Neither did I.”

Just then—

Footsteps.

Veeresh walked in.

His presence shifted the air instantly, but he looked completely detached, his focus already somewhere else.

His eyes briefly flicked toward the hall… toward her.

Just a glance.

A second.

Then gone.

He walked past them without a word.

“Veeresh, at least come and sit,” Lakshmi called.

“I have work,” he replied flatly, already heading toward his room.

The door closed behind him.

As if none of this mattered.

Poornima’s eyes lingered in that direction for a moment longer than they should have.

Something inside her stirred.

Not understanding… not words…

Just a feeling.

A quiet resistance.

Back in the hall, conversations continued—wedding dates, arrangements, plans.

“So we’ll fix the engagement ceremony soon,” Raju said.

“Yes, no need to delay,” Siddharth agreed.

Poornima stood there, hearing everything… yet feeling completely disconnected.

“Poornima?” Pavan’s voice pulled her back. “You’re okay?”

She nodded automatically. “Yes.”

But she wasn’t.

Not even close.

Her gaze drifted again, unconsciously, toward the corridor leading to Veeresh’s room.

Her heart whispered something her mind couldn’t understand.

This isn’t right.

Her fingers tightened slightly.

She wanted to speak.

She wanted to say no.

She wanted to stop everything.

But the words…

Wouldn’t come out.

And in that moment, surrounded by people who thought they knew her future—

Poornima realized something painful.

Sometimes…

The hardest thing wasn’t making a decision.

It was not being allowed to make one.