Flowers of off-white and peach draped every pillar from base to crown, like garlands for celestial ceremonies. Crystal lamps hung from the ceilings and made the entire hall breathe like something warm and peaceful. The smells of roses, sandalwood, and the sacred fire of the agni kund were everywhere.
But suddenly.
BANG!
The bullet fired struck the chandelier, sending it crashing down in a shower of glass and sparks, which scattered everywhere across the floor. The weapon trembled in Kairav's grip as he stormed up the steps of the wedding mandap. His sherwani was creased and his pearl necklace was swinging wildly against his chest with every step.
"Tell me this wedding is a joke!"
He walked fiercely towards the agni kund, where Krishav stood. He was dressed in a sherwani of bright white, embroidered with gold along the collar and cuffs, and a necklace of rubies and peach beads sat at his chest. His fingers were loosely intertwined with Veeransh's, who was dressed in shades dark as blood. The mangalsutra that Krishav had tied around his neck lay against his chest like a seal of bond.
The gathbandhan was still tied between them.
Kairav's eyes moved from his brother's face to that knot of cloth binding Krishav and Veeransh together in front of the holy fire, and something in him went very still before it shattered.
"YOU MARRIED MY VEERANSH!" Kairav raised the gun and pressed it against Krishav's chest, his hands steady as he aimed it at his own younger brother. "Why?" he shouted, his voice echoing through the entire villa. "Why would you do this to me, Krishav?" Kairav's fingers trembled around the gun. The pain in his voice silenced every whisper.
"KRISHAV!" Another voice erupted. "What about me?!" Jhanvi cried out as she stumbled forward in her emerald-green lehenga, the heavy jewellery swayed with every shaky breath.
"We were supposed to get married tomorrow!" she screamed, rushing towards him and grabbed onto the collar of his sherwani with trembling hands, tears spilling down her face. "You said you loved me!" Her voice cracked into a desperate sob. "I loved you so much, Krishav!" She glared at Veeransh. "Why did you marry this guy?! WHY KRISHAV?! WHY-"
"Because I couldn't stand there and watch Veeransh become my brother's," Krishav snapped, cutting through Jhanvi's cries with rage and desperation. His chest rose sharply as his eyes locked onto Veeransh. "Not when I had already started falling for him," he shouted. "Not when I began noticing how precious Veeransh truly was. When I saw him beside bhai, it used to burn something in me. It felt so unbearable."
Krishav clasped Veeransh's hands, "But, now.." and raised them.
"He's mine."
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Guide:
agni kund - sacred fire altar
mandap - wedding ceremony pavillion
mangalsutra - sacred wedding necklace tied by one partner around the other's neck as a symbol of marriage
gathbandhan - ritual knotting together of the couple's garments to symbolize their union
bhai - brother