Capítulo 19: Chapter 18: The Blind Marriage
Vivian's mind raced, and her body froze as she stared at the man standing before her. She remembered mentioning to her grandmother that she had no desire to marry this man—then how had it come to this? Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she turned to her grandmother, seeking an explanation.
"How did this happen?" she asked through eye contact.
Her grandmother, standing nearby, merely offered her a soft smile and a gentle nod, as if everything was proceeding as planned. But it wasn't. None of this was part of the plan Vivian had envisioned for her life.
"Miss Kapoor." Alvin's calm, deep voice broke through her thoughts and questions. He stood in front of her, his cold eyes staring directly into hers. His hand was extended toward her, an unspoken request for her to take it.
Vivian remained rooted to her spot, her mind spinning. How could this be happening? Alvin Thakur, the man who had once broken her heart, was now standing there, waiting for her hand as if nothing had happened between them. Her fingers itched to recoil, but she couldn't move.
"Vivian," Sanvi, her best friend, called softly. But even her gentle tone couldn't break Vivian from her trance. Sanvi glanced nervously between the two, then, with an awkward smile, stepped forward. She gently placed Vivian's hand in Alvin's, trying to smoothen the atmosphere.
"Mr. Thakur, shall we?" Sanvi asked, attempting to maintain the composure that Vivian had clearly lost. Alvin nodded, his grip firm as he began to guide Vivian up the old court staircase.
Vivian followed him, her mind blank as they ascended. She could feel the warmth of his hand against hers, yet it only reminded her of the betrayal. How had she ended up here, dressed in a red bridal saree, about to marry the man who had once shattered her trust? The thought suffocated her, each step up the stairs were proving heavier to bear on her broken heart.
"I can't do this," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible to anyone but herself. Panic started to rise in her chest. "I can't let this happen." Her feet stopped, but Alvin, unaware, continued up the stairs, still holding her hand.
Her sudden halt made her lose her balance, and she stumbled forward. Alvin, noticing too late, turned just in time to catch her. For a brief moment, their eyes met. His hazel eyes stared deeply into hers, and the world seemed to stop around them. Vivian felt her throat tighten, a lump forming that made it hard to breathe.
Why was she here?
Why was she about to marry the man who had broken her heart?
She pulled away from him, turning towards her grandmother. "I need to talk to you," she said abruptly, grabbing hold of her grandmother's frail hand. Without waiting for Alvin's response, she forced a polite smile. "Excuse me," she said, before leaving her groom by himself.
With that, she led her grandmother up the last few steps and ducked behind one of the large marble pillars in the corner of the hall, where no one could overhear their conversation.
"What is this?" Vivian asked, her voice trembling with frustration. Her grandmother looked up at her, her eyes soft with confusion.
"What's wrong, dear?" her grandmother asked, genuinely surprised by Vivian's anger.
Vivian's hands shook as she tried to contain the rising storm inside her. "I told you I didn't want to marry him. I specifically told you that I would never marry that man!"
Her grandmother's eyes softened with a touch of nostalgia. "Yes, I remember, but sometimes the person we dislike the most can turn out to be our greatest support," she said, her voice calm and steady. "Your grandfather and I had a love-hate relationship. In the end, he became my greatest ally in the accursed world."
Vivian blinked, stunned by the absurdity of her grandmother's reasoning. How could she compare her relationship with Alvin to her own marriage?
"Just because it worked out with you and Grandfather, doesn't mean it will work for me and him!" Vivian's voice rose in disbelief.
Her grandmother chuckled lightly, as though Vivian's reaction was nothing but simply nervousness taking over her sanity. "But he's a good man, isn't he? Wealthy, handsome, kind..."
"No!" Vivian practically shouted, cutting her off. "He is not kind." Her voice cracked, filled with frustration and anger. Her grandmother looked taken aback, she tried to cover up her mouth, trying to subdue her voice. But Vivian shook it off and continued, "He's my ex, G-ma. We broke up because he cheated on me!"
Geetanjali Kapoor's eyes widened in shock. "What?" She took a step back. "You had a boyfriend?" She paused, the surprise still evident on her face. "Wait—that's not important. He cheated on you?" Her voice lowered in disbelief. "You?"
"Yes, G-ma. That's why I told you that I can't marry him. That's why I asked you to find someone else," Vivian explained, her hands trembling with the intensity of her emotions. She held her forehead feeling sick and pukish, moving around in short circles.
Her grandmother's face softened with regret. "Oh, Vivian, I had no idea," she whispered, her voice filled with guilt. She was clearly overwhelmed by the revelation. "I should've listened to you."
Vivian felt tears prick the corners of her eyes. "What should I do now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "If I go through with this marriage, I'll be stuck with him for the rest of my life. And if I don't, I'll lose everything—our family's honor, our inheritance..."
Her grandmother nodded, understanding the weight of the dilemma. "Call it off," she suggested softly. "We can explain the situation to the Thakurs. I'm sure they'll understand."
Vivian shook her head. "They won't. If we insult the Thakurs by breaking the engagement, they'll ruin us. They'll ruin me. I have no choice, G-ma." Her voice broke as she spoke, tears finally escaping down her cheeks. "I can't back out now. I'm trapped."
Her grandmother reached out, cupping her face in her hands. "I made a mistake," she said softly, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I should have listened to you from the beginning. I should have trusted your instincts."
Vivian wiped away her tears, forcing a shaky smile. "No, it's not your fault. It's mine. I should've chosen my own husband instead of relying on others. Now, I have to face the consequences."
"Vivian..." her grandmother's voice cracked, her words felt like sharp needles piercing deep in her heart.
"I have to do this," she said quietly. "It's my responsibility."
With that, Vivian turned and began walking back toward the corridor, where Alvin and her soon-to-be in-laws were waiting. Her heart felt like it was sinking into her chest, the weight of the decision nearly unbearable. She forced herself to breathe, to keep walking, despite the crushing disappointment she carried with every step.
Her grandmother watched her go, her own heart breaking at the sight. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
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