The air was filled with softness.

A gentle melody floated through the hall, the sound of traditional instruments blending perfectly with the quiet laughter of guests. The golden lights shimmered like stars above, casting a warm glow over everything.

It felt like a dream.

White and gold drapes flowed elegantly from the ceiling, roses arranged with delicate care, their fragrance lingering in the air. Women dressed in shimmering outfits moved gracefully, their bangles chiming softly with every step.

Everything was perfect.

Exactly how a wedding should be.

Roohi Shah stood near the edge of the hall, her fingers wrapped around a warm cup of chai.

Her eyes moved slowly across the room, taking in every detail—the decorations, the guests, the happiness.

A small, soft smile rested on her lips.

This was her sister’s day.

Meher’s wedding.

The day Roohi was waiting for almost years was finally here Meher has rejected total 20+ proposals but when Khan's family sent it she accept it.. “Roohi, move na! You’re blocking the view.”

Hania nudged her playfully, pulling her slightly aside.

Roohi let out a quiet laugh, stepping back.

“Sorry…”

Her voice was soft, almost blending into the music itself.

Across the hall, Meher stood inside brides room standing by window calmly watching people—glowing, radiant, the center of everything.

Dressed in deep red, adorned with gold lehenga, she looked exactly like a bride should.

Confident. Beautiful. Perfect.

Roohi watched her for a moment.

There was admiration in her gaze…

And something else.

Something quieter.

“Doesn’t she look stunning?” Hania whispered.

Roohi nodded gently.

“She always does.”

And it was true.

Meher had always been the one people noticed first.
The one people chose.

Hania notice the change and sigh in understanding hania hug her Roohi from behind "But you know they haven't seen my bestie till then" Hania say teasingly and Roohi chuckle softly her dimples forming hania smile "you know keep smiling i don't like see you sad" hania tease... The music softened further, shifting into something slower, more intimate.

Guests began to take their seats, murmurs of excitement filling the air.

“The groom’s side has arrived…”

The whisper spread quickly, like a ripple through the crowd.

Roohi straightened slightly, her heartbeat picking up just a little.

Not out of excitement.

Just… curiosity.

Hania also peek from side. The doors opened.

And the atmosphere shifted—subtly, but noticeably.

A group of men entered first, followed by him.

Zayan Khan.

Dressed in black, his presence was… different.

Not loud.
Not warm.

But powerful.

The kind that didn’t need attention… yet commanded it anyway.

"Bhai Sahab!" (Broo!) Hania say her jaw dropping "Meher appi is really lucky!" Hania say i smile softly shutting her mouth "You are right jiju is good-looking" (Ha behen dekh le tera hi maal h🌚) Roohi’s eyes met his for a brief second.

Just a second.

But something about it felt…

Strange.

Unfamiliar.

Cold.

She looked away quickly, her grip tightening slightly around her cup.

It didn’t matter.

None of this had anything to do with her.

This was Meher’s story.

Her moment.

Her beginning.

And everything…

Looked perfect.

"come hania click my pictures" I say to hania as we both went to our photo-section everything was perfectly fine laughter still there soft melody of music...I stare at decoration...Her sister's wedding A big Day.. “Stop staring like that, you look like you’re in love with the decorations.”

(sis this is your day but little did she know😁)

Roohi turned, a soft smile instantly forming on her lips.

“Hania…”

Hania grinned, linking her arm with Roohi’s.
“I mean seriously, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re the bride.”

Roohi let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head.
“Please. I could never handle this much attention.”

Hania raised an eyebrow playfully.
“Yeah? Or maybe you just don’t like being the center of everything.”

Roohi didn’t reply immediately.

Her gaze drifted across the hall again—

Landing, as always, on Meher.

Roohi smiled faintly.
“She deserves it.”

Hania followed her gaze, then looked back at Roohi—this time a little more carefully.

“And you don’t?”

Roohi blinked, caught off guard.
“What?”

Hania shrugged lightly, but her eyes held meaning.
“Nothing… just saying.”

Roohi let out a small breath, brushing it off with a gentle smile.
“It’s her day.”

And that was enough.

It always had been...The music softened further, shifting into something slower, more intimate.

Guests moved around gracefully, laughter echoing softly through the hall.

Everything was still perfect.

“Roohi.”

Her mother’s voice came from behind—calm, but slightly rushed.

Roohi turned instantly.
“Yes, Ammi?”

“Can you go check on Meher?”

Roohi frowned slightly.
“Why? She was just here.”

Mrs. Shah smile.
“I know… I just want to make sure everything is fine.”

“Okay,” she nodded softly.

Hania squeezed her arm lightly.
“Go. I’ll be here when you come back.”

"No you too come hania" I say hania roll her eyes but still come...Roohi gave a small nod and turned, carefully making her way through the crowd.

The music still played.
The lights still shimmered.
The guests still smiled.

Everything looked the same.

But with every step she took away from the hall…

The warmth slowly faded.

The corridor outside was quieter.

Too quiet

she frown noting it...Roohi’s footsteps echoed softly against the marble floor as she reached the bridal room door.

She paused for a moment.

Her hand hovered over the handle.

“Meher?” she called gently.

No response.

she frown beside hania notice too "did she got faint after seeing jiju?" Hania say i shoot her glare "Shut up" i say as she immedaintly become quite...A small frown formed on her face.

She pushed the door open slowly—

And the room was empty.

The decorations were still there.
The mirror lights still on.
Jewelry scattered neatly across the table.

But the bride…

Was gone.

Roohi’s heart dropped.

And in that moment—

Without anyone saying a word…

She knew.

Something was terribly wrong.

For a moment, everything looked normal.

Too normal.

Hania stepped in first, her brows furrowing.
“Meher?”

Silence.

Roohi’s eyes moved slowly around the room—
the vanity, the mirror, the jewelry…

And then—

She froze.

The bridal lehenga

It lay on the bed.

Untouched.

Heavy.

Beautiful.

And completely… abandoned.

Hania’s voice dropped to a whisper.
“Why is her lehenga here…?”

Roohi’s heart started pounding.

“No…” she breathed softly.

Her gaze shifted again—

And this time…

She saw it.

A small folded piece of paper.

Placed carefully beside the lehenga.

Her fingers trembled as she picked it up.

Hania moved closer, her expression tense.
“What is it?”

Roohi unfolded the note slowly.

Her eyes scanned the words—

And in an instant…

Everything inside her shattered.

Her grip tightened around the paper.

Her breathing grew uneven.

“Roohi… what does it say?” Hania asked, her voice barely steady now.

Roohi swallowed hard.

Her lips parted, but for a second… no words came out.

Then finally, in a broken whisper—

“She left…”

Hania’s eyes widened.
“What?”

Roohi’s hands shook as she read the words again, her voice trembling

Silence filled the room.

Heavy. Suffocating.

Hania stepped back slightly, disbelief written all over her face.
“She… she ran away?”

Roohi didn’t answer.

She couldn’t.

Her eyes were still fixed on the lehenga—

The one Meher was supposed to wear.

The one meant for the bride.

And suddenly…

A terrifying thought crossed her mind.

Her breath hitched.

Her heart dropped.

No.

No, they wouldn’t—

But deep down…

Roohi already knew.

This wasn’t just the end of a wedding.

It was the beginning of something much worse.

hania snatch the note from me and froze.

’m sorry… but not enough to stay.

This marriage was never mine to begin with.

I refuse to tie myself to a life I didn’t choose.

Don’t look for me.

I can’t do this.

I won’t marry someone just to make everyone happy.

I choose myself this time.

Don’t try to find me.

—Meher

Hania stood frozen i bit my lower lip hardly...The paper slipped slightly in Hania’s trembling hands.

For a moment—
no one moved.

No one spoke.

"Roohi… say something.”

Hania’s voice came out shaky, almost a whisper.

Roohi looked up slowly.

Her lips parted, but no words came.

Only one thought echoed in her mind—

She left.

Hania ran a hand through her hair, pacing once.
“This… this isn’t funny. She’ll come back, right? Maybe she just—”

“She’s not coming back.”

Roohi’s voice was quiet.

Too quiet.

The words settled heavily in the room.

Real. Final.

“Ya Allah…” Hania whispered, covering her mouth.

Before Roohi could say anything else—

The door burst open.

“Roohi! Where is—”

Mrs. Shah stopped mid-sentence.

Her eyes moved from Roohi… to the lehenga…

And then to the note still clutched in her hand.

“What is this?” her mother’s voice dropped, trembling now.

Roohi didn’t answer.

She couldn’t.

Mrs. Shah rushed forward, snatching the paper from her hands.

Her eyes scanned the words—

And within seconds…

Her face lost all color.

“No…” she whispered.

Her grip tightened on the paper.

“No, no, no…”

“Ammi—”

“She wouldn’t do this!” Mrs. Shah’s voice broke, panic rising with every word.
“She can’t just leave! Not today—not like this!”

Hania stepped back, tension filling the room.

“Aunty…” she tried gently, “maybe we should—”

“Find her!”

Mrs. Shah’s voice echoed sharply now.

“Call her! Call her right now!”

Roohi fumbled slightly, pulling out her phone with shaking hands.

She dialed Meher’s number.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Switched off.

Her heart sank deeper.

“She’s not answering…”

The words barely left her lips when—

Another presence filled the doorway.

Mr. Shah.

His sharp eyes took in the scene in seconds—
his wife trembling…
Roohi pale…
the lehenga untouched…

nd just like that—

He understood.

“What happened?”

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

No one answered.

Mrs. Shah handed him the note with shaking hands.

He read it once.

Then again.

Silence.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

And then—

His jaw tightened.

“Close the doors.”

Roohi blinked.

“What…?”

“No one leaves this house.” His voice was firm now, controlled—but filled with something darker.
“And no one finds out about this.”

Finds out?” Hania whispered in disbelief.
“Aunty—Uncle—the groom’s side is literally here—”

“I said no one finds out.”

The room fell silent again.

Mrs. Shah shook her head, tears now slipping down her cheeks.
“What are we going to do…?”

The room felt smaller.

The air heavier.

Harder to breathe.

Roohi stood frozen as her father’s gaze rested on her.

Not soft.
Not questioning.

Decided.

Her heart dropped instantly.

“No…” she whispered, almost to herself.

“Abu…”

Her voice trembled as she shook her head slowly.

“No. You’re not thinking that.”

Mr. Shah didn’t look away.

“We don’t have a choice.”

The words hit like a slap.

“Yes, you do!” Hania stepped forward, her voice rising.
“You can tell them the truth! This isn’t Roohi’s responsibility!”

“Enough.”

His tone was sharp. Final.

ohi’s chest tightened.

She looked at her mother—desperate, pleading.

“Ammi… say something.”

Mrs. Shah’s lips parted, tears streaming down her face.

But no words came.

Only silence.

And that silence…

Said everything.

Roohi felt something inside her crack.

“You can’t do this to me…” she whispered, her voice breaking now.

Mr. Shah stepped closer, his voice lowering—controlled, but firm.

“This isn’t about you.”

Her breath hitched.

“This is about our family. Our respect. Our name.”

Every word felt heavier than the last.

“I’m not her…” Roohi said, shaking her head, tears now filling her eyes.
“I can’t replace her. I don’t even—”

“You will.”

Silence.

Roohi stared at him, disbelief written all over her face.

“You will sit there,” he continued, his tone unwavering,
“You will complete this marriage… and no one will question it.”

Her hands trembled at her sides.

“This is wrong…”

But her voice sounded small now.

Weak.

Lost in the weight of everything around her.

Hania stepped closer to her, grabbing her hand tightly.
“Roohi, you don’t have to do this. Say no. Please—just say no.”

Roohi looked at her.

Her best friend.

The only person standing for her. Roohi eyes fill with tears

For a second…

She almost did.

But then—

Her gaze shifted.

To her mother.

Crying. Broken.

To her father.

Unmoving. Unyielding

To everything she had ever known.

Everything she had ever been taught.

Her fingers slowly loosened from Hania’s grip.

“I…”

Her voice cracked.

She swallowed hard.

“…I’ll do it.”

Hania’s eyes widened.
“Roohi—no—”

But it was too late.

The words were already spoken.

And in that moment…

Roohi Shah didn’t just lose a choice.

She lost herself.

Across the room, the untouched bridal lehenga lay silently—

Waiting.

For the wrong bride.

(Roohi POV)

I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands trembling slightly as I stared at the lehenga laid out before me.

Red. Gold. Beautiful. Meher’s lehenga.

I couldn’t touch it. Not yet.

It wasn’t mine. It was never mine.

And yet… today, it would be.

The room was quiet except for the soft rustle of fabric and Hania’s nervous whispers beside me.

“Roohi… you’re going to be okay. I’m right here,” she said, squeezing my hand.

I swallowed hard, trying to force my lips into a small, hollow smile.

“Yeah… okay.”

But even as I said it, my chest felt tight. too tight to even breath

The makeup artist started gently, brushing powder on my face, tracing the curves of my cheeks, smoothing out every imperfection.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

I barely recognized the girl staring back.

Not me. Not the girl who had been sitting by the window just yesterday.

The jewelry came next. Heavy gold, encrusted with rubies that gleamed under the soft lights.

I let the bangles slide onto my wrists. The sound of them clinking together was deafening in my ears.

Every piece felt like a weight pressing down on me—on my chest, on my shoulders, on my heart.

Hania adjusted the dupatta over my head, her hands gentle but firm.

“You look… like a princess,” she whispered.

I wanted to laugh. Wanted to shake my head.

But I couldn’t.

I looked like a bride.

The bride.

Not Meher. Not anyone else.

Me.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to calm the storm inside me.

The soft music from the hall floated up through the open window.

Guests were gathering. Cameras would flash. Smiles would shine.

All eyes would be on me.

All eyes… except his.

Zayan Khan.

A shiver ran down my spine at the thought.

Would he notice? Would he even care?

Would he realize this wasn’t Meher…

This… was me.

The last touch. A final glance in the mirror.

My lips painted a soft red. My eyes lined and wide, lashes long.

I barely recognized the reflection.

The girl staring back at me wasn’t the same Roohi who had laughed with Hania just an hour ago.

She was the bride now.

The replacement.

The wrong choice.

took a deep breath, my hands gripping the edge of the bed.

And in that quiet moment, I whispered to myself:

I can do this.

Even though every part of me screamed otherwise.

The door opened.

Hania peeked in, her smile small and nervous.
“Time to go…”

I nodded.

Every step toward the hall felt heavier than the last.

The soft music floated closer. Guests murmured and smiled, unaware of the storm behind the calm.

And as I walked out, every eye following me…

Every heartbeat echoed in my ears.

Every step carried me further away from the girl I had been.

And closer to the bride I never wanted to be.

𝓣𝓗𝓐𝓝𝓚 𝓨𝓞𝓤 🖤✨

So Hey Cuties! It was first chapter i hope you guys like it please comment and like it and I will be posting 3 times In a week! Love You All Ummah💋