It was an auspicious day meant for a wedding.
The marriage hall glowed with bright lights and rich decorations. Fresh jasmine garlands hung from the pillars, the air filled with the scent of flowers, incense, and happiness that everyone expected to feel. Guests moved around in silk sarees and crisp veshtis, laughing and chatting, unaware that fate had already decided to ruin the day.
Inside one of the rooms near the stage, Abinaya stood near the mirror.
She was wearing a green saree that suited her perfectly, her hair neatly braided and decorated with flowers. Gold jewellery rested lightly on her skin. Anyone who saw her would think she was just another happy sister attending a wedding.
But Abinaya was not paying attention to the noise outside.
She carefully looked around to make sure no one was watching. Once she was sure, she lifted her phone, tilted her head slightly, and took a selfie. After checking it once more, she smiled to herself and sent it on WhatsApp.
The receiver's name was saved as a devil emoji.
Almost immediately, a reply came.
"My baby is so cute as always."
Abinaya giggled softly, covering her mouth like a guilty child.
Another message popped up.
"Baby, you're trying to murder me!"
Abinaya frowned slightly and typed back.
"What?"
The reply came instantly.
"I'm taking a cold shower because of you! Do you know what the temperature here is? It's 7 degrees! You're cruel, baby!"
Abinaya's lips curved into a smile, her cheeks warming. She typed back quickly.
"Pervert."
There was no delay this time.
"What can I do? Since I started eating meat, I want meat for every meal! It's your fault for being irresistibly beautiful!"
Her face turned red. She felt heat rush to her cheeks.
"Stop it," she typed.
The next message softened her heart.
"I love you, baby…"
"I love you too…" she replied almost instinctively.
But before she could relax, another message followed—longer, serious.
"Baby, when are you going to talk to your parents? It's not good to hide at this point after… you know. We can't trust protection always. We should marry early."
Abinaya's smile faded.
Her chest tightened as she stared at the screen. Her fingers hovered above the keyboard, unsure of what to reply.
Just then, a loud, frantic voice echoed through the corridor.
"Kuddima! Kuddima!"
Her mother's voice.
Abinaya's fingers froze. She quickly locked her phone and ran toward the voice, finding her mother stood there, breathless, sweat forming on her forehead, her face pale with fear.
"Amma? What happened?" Abinaya asked, her heart starting to race.
Her mother's lips trembled. "Your sister… that girl… she has run away!"
Abinaya froze. "What?"
Instead of answering, her mother pushed a folded letter into her hands. "See for yourself."
Abinaya unfolded the letter. Her eyes scanned the words hurriedly. With every line she read, her hands began to tremble.
The world around her seemed to spin.
"Where's appa?" Abinaya asked in a shaking voice.
Her mother wiped her sweat with the edge of her saree. "He was holding his chest. I'm scared, kuddima. That's why I was looking for you. Go and check on your father quickly!"
Abinaya didn't wait another second.
She ran.
Inside another room, her father sat on a chair, clutching his chest tightly. His shirt was soaked in sweat, his breathing uneven and laboured.
"Appa!" Abinaya rushed to his side and checked him immediately. Her medical instincts kicked in at once.
Her heart sank.
It was a heart attack.
"Appa, can you hear me? Appa?" she called out, her voice trembling.
His eyes were unfocused, his body weak. He murmured something incoherent.
Only after she called him a few more times did his vision clear slightly.
His eyes fluttered open, vision clouded. "Kuddima… kuddima… did you see? Did you see what that girl did? She… she abandoned me… abandoned us…"
Tears streamed down his face like he was a helpless child.
Abinaya held him close, stroking his back. "Appa, please don't cry. I'm here! I'm right here! Everything will be fine!"
Between sobs, he whispered, "Kuddima… I raised her… fed her… protected her… how could she do this to me?"
Tears streamed down Abinaya's face. "Appa, let's go to the hospital first!"
"No!" he snapped weakly. "We can't leave the hall without giving them an explanation! It will disgrace both families!"
"Appa, please! The hospital first! We can explain everything later, I promise!"
A sudden thought crossed his mind. "No… Kuddima… you marry him!"
Abinaya froze. "What?"
He repeated, his voice trembling. "You must marry him… in your sister's place."
"Appa, please! First, let's go to the hospital. We can talk about marriage later!"
"No! Kuddima, if this wedding stops now, the groom's reputation will be ruined. This marriage must happen!"
Abinaya took a deep breath, fighting her rising panic. "Appa… I will listen to you… after you're safe and at the hospital, alright?"
"No! You must marry him now!"
Her heart raced, but she nodded reluctantly. "Alright, Appa. I'll listen. But please… first the hospital."
He squinted, suspicious. "You're lying… sending me away!"
"I promise, Appa. Trust me. I will listen to you, I swear," she said, holding his trembling hand.
Finally, a small smile broke through his pain before he drifted back into delirium.
Abinaya quickly called for the car, supporting her father. "Don't worry, Appa. I'm here. You'll be fine."
Finally, a small, tired smile appeared on his face. Then, still weak, he drifted into delirium.
Abinaya gently lifted him and sent him to the hospital, her heart heavy with dread. The wedding chaos had only just begun.