I have no idea what I should do now. I'm in a situation where I should marry Arjun or marry an old man. But, when I think about marrying Arjun, I feel bad that I'm going to betray someone even if they're my rival.

I know well that everyone deserved to be loved and get their loved ones. Am I going to snatch someone's love? It's con for both Arjun, me and Aarthi.

Yeah. I hate Aarthi. I could take my revenge now by marrying Arjun. But, I'm not like her to do so. The words I told her when we were in the cart was only for the sake to make her mad. I didn't at all mean those words.

"Please listen to me. Arjun is going to live a fake life if he marries Aarthi. As for Ezhil, he's just obsessed with me. I remember, when you were young, you kissed a boy's hand of your age who you just considered as your friend. But, Ezhil broke his ribs for that. He just almost killed him for your fault. You were dumb to listen me that Ezhil is not a right man for you. Listen me atleast once.", Tamizh said.

Ezhil is...obsessed with me? What if he kills me if I marry Arjun. How would he leave me marry that old man while he's obsessed with me?

I'm damn sure that Ezhil is gonna do something. Something worse than Aarthi and main consort planned.

I was so confused. I don't know what I should do next. Should I say yes or no?

"I-I..", I was stammering. I couldn't form a sentence as they looked at me.

"I know it's hard. It's hard to decide in just a minute. But, you don't have a choice. The marriage is in 20 minutes. Decide fast!", Tamizh said.

"Can you tell me something? Why was I given a veil when it's not in the traditional? Did you plan to marry me to Arjun before itself?", I asked as it clicked in my mind all of sudden.

"Father said so. He thought of switching the bride. I mean replace someone else and she would marry that old man and Aarthi will marry Arjun as she wished. But, mother said that it is a sin. So, we dropped that plan.", He said honestly.

I was rewinding everything that happened in just 1 week. My life turned upside down and I got end up in somewhere I don't know.

Now, I have to marry someone whom I only know for one week. He might have known me for years. But, I know him one week. Only one week!

"What should I do now.", I finally surrendered without any choice.

"Put on the veil. Mother will manage to pursue them that our astrologer suggested the groom to not look at bride's face while marrying.", Tamizh said.

"But, what you're gonna do about the main consort and Aarthi?", I asked.

"Don't worry about that. I will lock them up in their room.", He said me and turned back to mother. "I'm sorry, mother. You've been teached me that everything should be done in honesty. But, if being a bad person will make my sister's life better, I won't hesitate to do that. I hope you understand.."

A tear slipped from mother's eyes and nodded. She have no other choice to save my life too.

"How will you manage that old man then?"

"The wedding of you and Aarthi is in same stage at exacly same time. I'm thinking of locking him up too.", He stated and I nodded.

I was sure of one thing. We're committing a sin that's unforgivable.

"Don't worry. You know you're not that bad. Aarthi and main consort deserved this. I still remember the main consort trying to kill Tamizh when he was just 1. Because he will be the next king of the throne. She always wanted a son. But, God didn't bless her with that. I thankfully saved Tamizh from that.", Mother said wiping her tears.

"I remember her trying to sell you off to a jeweller when you were 14. Tamizh was old enough to save you from that jeweller. If he was a minute late, your life would've been a hell."

A tear slipped my eyes as she was saying all this. The pain she would've felt when she can't keep her daughter protective from bad eye.. it was clearly plastered in her face.

She wiped my tear as she tried to suppress her emotions.

"You've gone through enough with enough people. I don't want you to be desperate and unprotected anymore. I want someone to love you till your lifetime. I'm not mentioning the person who's obsessed with you. If you don't marry Arjun now, the main consort will try to ruin your life anytime. I don't want you be insecure."

It must signify Ezhil when she said obsessed.

"I've spent my whole life being a concubine, tortured by the main consort. But, the love in which your father showed me gave me hope to move on. It will not be the same case if you marry Ezhil or that old man. Ezhil is so obsessed with you that he would dare to kill you if you touch other man now. The old man is the very worst. He have 26 concubines who serve him as a maid."

Did she just say 26 concubines?

"Ok mother. I will not let you worry like this. I will marry Arjun. Happy?", I said and she replied with a smile.

Tamizh left to lock up main consort and Aarthi in one room and that old man in one room. No one will be able to hear their sounds as everyone would be downstairs busy seeing the wedding.

There's no way someone can hear them out. There's only 10 minutes left for them wedding and Tamizh hadn't returned yet. Some woman knocked our door and reminded us.

Meanwhile, I saw a masked man entering our room not being seen by anyone which I guess is Tamizh. He removed his mask and his face was clear for me.

"Way is clear. Put on the veil and go on. Don't show anyone your face until the wedding is over. But, be careful. I couldn't find that old man. I searched the whole palace. I don't know where have he been.", Tamizh said and I went forward to the mandap.

The place was crowded with many people. Yet, the people were giving more than enough space even I entered the mandap. They were respecting me and bowing me.

As I entered the mandap, my nervousness was on peek as I saw Arjun's frowned face. He was confused why I was wearing a veil. I looked beside and cannot find that old man.

Meanwhile I looked at Ezhil's face which was smirking looking at the place where me and that old man are supposed to sit.

Maybe, he did something to that old man?

I was pretty sure he did something to him by his facial expression. What would he do me when he comes to know I'm married to Arjun.

I was puzzled at that time. I was also hoping that Tamizh would save me from him. I sat beside Arjun as the pandit was chanting mantras.

"Why are you wearing a veil?", I could here Arjun's whisper. I just shrugged as I will be caught if I say a word.

"What happened to you?", He muttered as I saw mother behind me and Arjun.

"Prince Arjun, our astrologer suggested to the main consort that you should not see Aarthi's face while marrying.", She explained as Arjun nodded. She left and stood with Tamizh.

"Where's your mother?", He asked looking right and left. He's asking about the main consort.

I can't talk. So, I just pointed the place where the people were overcrowded. He nodded and didn't question me again.

Arjun's eyes trailed towards the place where me and that old man is supposed to be married which was now empty.

"Have you seen Thara and my big father? Is the marriage cancelled?", I shrugged pretending like I don't know.

He's so talkative than a girl.

He turned back to his own position while the pandit was still chanting mantras which I have no idea what is it.

We exchanged the garlands. I was a lot nervous as the time passed by. I'm actually going to get married in 5 or 10 minutes..

After we were done exchanging our garlands, mother put on a shawl over my shoulder and his. She tied the edge of the two clothes. He intertwined his little finger with mine.

It send shivers down my spine. We circumambulated the consecrated fire seven times, reciting specific vows which was in sanskrit.

Each circle consists of 360 degree.

The only number from 1 to 9 which cannot divide 360 is 7. So the bride & groom circumambulate the fire 7 times which symbolises that no-one can divide their relationship.

I know the history about this specific thing when scrolling through YouTube back there when I was in 2022. But now, everything has changed.

We were done circumambulating and settled back in our seats. The traditional music rised such was a forewarning that he's going to tie the mangalsutra around my neck.

My heart beat raised. I felt it was abruptly beating. Fear and nervousness consumed me.

The pandit handed Arjun the mangalsutra and I felt Arjun putting knots on it. He took back his hands on two knots and I saw a beautiful young girl tying the third knot.

Ohh! I remember. The first two knots should be tied by the groom and the third knot should be tied by the groom's sister.

The fact that I'm officially married now is killing me alive.

He applied the vermilion on the centre of my forehead putting his hands into my veil. I made sure he didn't see my face. Because, I'm not ready for the disaster yet.

We got blessings from the elders. I saw the change in Arjun's expression.

"Where is your mother and your father? You said they were in the crowd. Didn't you?", He questioned me as I was hesitating to take off the veil.

Mother's and Tamizh's face was plastered with fear. Suddenly his facial expression changed when he saw my hand. I looked at my hand where a tatoo was present.

It was a crown tattoo along with some floral deisgns. This is the first time I'm seeing this tattoo. The tattoo was beautiful. But, what's going to happen now is gonna be worse.

He found out I'm not Aarthi. He definitely know I'm Thara from seeing the tattoo.

Please pretend like you didn't notice my tattoo.

He threw my veil aside exposing my face. He was shocked. So did everyone. Suddenly I felt a sharp sting on my cheek which was very strong.

Did he just slap me?

I was now scared. Seems like I woke up the beast inside me. I was scared to even look at his face. He was burning in rage.

"Wait! It's not her fault. I will explain-", Tamizh was cut off by Arjun saying, "stop! You did it on purpose right? Where is Aarthi, main consort and the king?", He yelled at the top of his lungs.

Everyone around me already started whispering bad about us. Everyone was stunned. He turned back towards me and held my jaw.

"Where. Are. They?", He asked in a dangerous tone.

He's actually thinking we betrayed them and I married Arjun because of the reason he will be soon a crown prince of this kingdom soon because of his ability and attitude.

I never wanted something like that.

"Upstairs. Locked in their room. But, I swear, the main consort and Aarthi were the one who kidnapped the king.", I said in a low tone which was audible for him.

"Why would the main consort kidnap her own husband?", He said letting out a evil chuckle. He's still thinking I'm lying.

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