Mourning Bride – Season 2

The sacred fire flickered as the final ritual approached.

Vedant lifted the vermillion.

Just as he was about to step forward—

The lights went off.

Darkness swallowed the mandap.

Before anyone could react—

A faint spray filled the air.

Abhina’s eyes widened for a second.

Then everything blurred.

Her body went limp.

She collapsed unconscious.

---

Silence.

Then footsteps.

A middle-aged woman entered the mandap from the shadows.

Vedant lowered his hand, exhaling slightly.

“Thanks, Mom,” he said under his breath.

“I really didn’t want to apply vermillion to her.”

He paused.

His eyes turned cold.

“This marriage is fake… and she is my—”

He stopped himself.

The woman gave him a knowing look.

---

After some time, when everything was still—

A maid was called in quietly.

Under instructions, she took red powder and gently applied it on Abhina’s forehead.

A perfect illusion.

A completed ritual.

A lie… sealed as truth.

---

When Abhina slowly regained consciousness—

Her head throbbed.

“What… happened?” she whispered weakly.

Vedant immediately stepped forward.

“There was a power cut,” he said calmly. “You fainted suddenly.”

Abhina frowned slightly.

“I… I smelled something… like gas…”

Vedant shook his head softly.

“No, Abhina. You’re weak. Because of the pregnancy… mood swings, dizziness… even hallucinations can happen.”

He gently held her shoulders.

“We need to take care of you.”

Confused, vulnerable, and exhausted—

Abhina believed him.

She leaned forward and hugged him.

Seeking comfort.

Trusting him… completely.

---

The night passed in silence.

They followed the ritual of kaalratri, staying apart, letting the darkness settle around them.

---

Next Morning

It was time.

Time to face reality.

Time to go home.

Abhina’s heart pounded violently as she stood beside Vedant.

“We’ll tell them together,” he assured her.

But her hands trembled.

---

Roy Mansion

Mareena waited anxiously.

Her eyes fixed on the door again and again.

Something felt terribly wrong.

Then—

The doorbell rang.

She rushed to open it.

And froze.

Standing outside was a man dressed as a groom.

For a second, she couldn’t process it.

Then—

She saw Abhina standing behind him.

Draped in a bridal saree.

Vermillion in her hairline.

Slowly, Abhina stepped forward.

Mareena’s face went pale.

She was speechless.

---

From inside, Abhinav walked toward the door.

Seeing the scene, he stopped.

Shock filled his eyes.

But his mind tried to make sense of it.

“Princess…” he said slowly, forcing a smile,

“this is for some modeling shoot, right? A bridal shoot?”

Vedant’s gaze shifted toward Abhinav.

For a moment—

He stared at him.

As if recognizing something.

A strange mix of love… and hatred passed through his eyes.

---

Abhina’s voice broke the silence.

“No, Papa…”

She swallowed hard.

“I got married.”

---

SLAP.

Before another second could pass—

Mareena’s hand struck her.

“I sent you to college for this?!” she shouted, her voice shaking.

“I spoiled you with my love!”

Abhinav stood there, shattered.

Unable to speak.

Unable to process.

---

Vedant stepped forward.

“Aunty, please… I will explain everything—”

“Explain?!” Mareena snapped.

“You married her like this? Without telling us?!”

Vedant lowered his gaze slightly.

“We had to get married in difficult circumstances…”

His words hung in the air.

Heavy.

Incomplete.

Dangerous.

---

And just like that—

The storm had entered the Roy mansion.

---