Page 48 of Since You Stole My Heart

The faint bluish light of dawn slipped through the curtains as Kashvi sat before the mirror, her hands folded loosely in her lap while she tried to gather the courage to face the day.

Her reflection still felt unfamiliar.

She had never imagined her wedding day would come, because she had always been certain marriage would never be part of her story. Yet here she was at six in the morning, dressed as a bride.

Her half-tied hair fell over her shoulders in heavy curls. A tiny bindi shimmered at the centre of her forehead, while the kohl around her eyes only made the nervous shine in them more obvious. Despite having a vault full of priceless family jewels, she had chosen Siya’s simple gold jhumkas instead, feeling far more comfortable in them.

Kashvi brushed her fingers over the emerald zardozi border, tracing the embroidery stitched into the crimson saree. It had once belonged to her mother.

After finally calming down and accepting the marriage, Siya had quietly brought the saree to her room the night before. Shehad carefully unfolded it across the bed, smoothing her palm over the fabric before softly saying that their mother would have wanted her to wear it today.

‘Maa wore this on her wedding day, and I thought you should have something of hers today,’Siya had said.

Kashvi had been hesitant to wear it, but she also wanted to hold her mother's memory close to her heart, especially today.

When she shifted slightly in her seat, Siya scolded her. ‘Stop moving,’ she murmured, adjusting the same pleat of her saree for the fifth time, even though Kashvi was certain it had been perfectly fine a minute ago.

‘I’m trying, but you’re the one who’s been obsessively fixing the same thing for the past ten minutes,’ Kashvi replied gently.

Siya smoothed the fabric once more before stepping back, tilting her head slightly to assess the drape from a different angle. She tsked softly and sighed. ‘It’s not sitting right.’

When she started fussing over it again, Kashvi frowned. ‘Di, what’s wrong?’

Siya shook her head too quickly. ‘Nothing,’ she said, but the word came out strained.

Kashvi turned around in her seat, concern etched across her face. ‘Di, talk to me, please.’

Siya’s hands dropped away from the saree, and she looked away. Her composure cracked, and Kashvi saw the conflict in her eyes.

‘I messed up,’ Siya said, her tone laced with guilt.

‘What are you talking about?’

Siya sighed. ‘I told you I’d never let this happen to you. I told you you’d never have to stand where Maa stood, never have to make choices like she did.’

Kashvi pushed herself up from the chair and clasped her sister’s hands. ‘Do you remember the time I refused to go to school because I had a presentation and I was convinced I was going to embarrass myself?’

Siya blinked, caught off guard. ‘What does that have to do with this?’

‘You sat with me the entire night, helping me rewrite it over and over until I felt it was right. Then you walked me to school the next day, even though you had a mid-term, just so I wouldn’t get nervous and back out at the last minute.’

Siya shook her head, her expression stubborn. ‘That’s not enough. I was supposed to protect you from this. You’re getting married even though you don’t want to, and I can’t stop it. I failed you, Kashu.’

‘Oh, hush, you,’ Kashvi said, rubbing her arm gently. ‘You made sure my life never became unbearable or lonely. You made sure I never felt like I was missing something just because things weren’t… normal at home. You listened to my every stupid little thing that felt like the end of the world at the time, and made it better.’

Siya opened her mouth to interrupt, but Kashvi didn’t let her.

‘What’s happening now doesn’t erase the fact that you gave me a home that felt whole, safe, and secure. So no, you didn’t fail me,’ she said, leaving no room for argument.

‘Are you sure about this, Kashu?’ Siya asked, hoping she had changed her mind. ‘You don’t have to do this, you know.’

If it had been anyone other than Swayam, she might have taken that escape, but it was him, and that was enough to keep her from running.

‘I’m sure, I promise. Besides, I think it will be fun to make Swayam’s life hell. I can take revenge for all the times he annoyed you,’ Kashvi said with a teasing smile.

Siya’s eyes glistened faintly, and she squeezed her hands. ‘I just want you to know that you’re not doing this alone. I trust Swayam. He’s one of my best friends, so I’m trusting you with him. And I also want you to know that I’m always here for you, no matter what.’

Kashvi nodded, giving her a tight hug. Just then, her phone vibrated against the dresser, and Siya tapped on the screen, reading the text.