Aarav stood in silence, watching the flames consume the body of his wife.

His wife. For just six hours.

Their wedding had taken place in the grandest way possible. Lights, music, tears of joy. But no one had imagined that the bride, Saanvi, would collapse before the wedding night even began.

Heart attack, the doctors said.

Fate, the world whispered.

He didn’t cry. He couldn’t. His body had turned to stone.

Behind him, Saanvi’s younger sister, Meher, cried like a child. She clutched Saanvi’s dupatta in her hands as if it could bring her back. Her eyes were swollen, and her throat burned from screaming her sister’s name.

She had always been the loud one. The chirpy one. But now she was reduced to silence.

---

Two days later, the house was filled with hushed voices and awkward stares. The family elders sat in a tight circle.

Aarav’s father broke the silence.

> “Log kya kahenge? Bina kuch kiye vidhva ban gaya. Dulhan gayi thi, lekin sasural mein chita jal gayi.”

(What will people say? She became a widow without even living her married life.)

> “Meher is unmarried. Young. And everyone saw the wedding. Why not let her take her sister’s place?”

Meher gasped.

“Kya?” she whispered, looking up from her lap.

“Aap log kya keh rahe ho? Yeh shaadi ka mazaak hai kya?”

But no one listened to her.

Not even her own parents.

And then Aarav spoke for the first time in days.

> “Main is rishte ke liye tayaar hoon.”

(I agree to this marriage.)

Everyone turned to him.

And Meher looked at him with disbelief and anger.

“You’re agreeing? Without even asking me?”

Aarav didn’t flinch. His voice was calm but distant.

> “Tumhari behen ki chita abhi bhi thandi nahi hui, Meher. Main uski izzat bacha raha hoon.”

(Your sister’s pyre hasn’t even cooled yet. I’m saving her honour.)

Meher’s eyes burned.

Was this what love looked like?

No. This was duty. Guilt.

And she was being sacrificed in its name.

But Meher had no choice. In just five days, her life turned upside down.

And she was married.

To her sister’s husband.

To the man who never looked at her before.

To the man she now shared a room with—but not his heart.

---