Third person’s pov!

Viswa’s heart sank, his fists clenching at his sides. He could feel his blood boiling, his vision darkening as he took in the sight of his sister bound in a marriage she hadn’t chosen.

“No!” He bellowed, pushing through the crowd."What have you done??"

Unfortunately, it was too late. It was all over. Vaidehi softly turned her head to meet his eye for a moment. He could see on her features the grief, treachery, and exhaustion. She started to talk, but no words came out. Instead, a single tear slid down her cheek, and she lowered her gaze. His heart broke..

Viswa spun toward his uncle, who stood among the elders, his expression calm and resolute.

"How could you do this, bade papa? Without her consent?" Viswa's voice trembled with anger as he shouted. 

"Remain calm, Viswa. No alternative method existed to uphold family honor. The situation was escalating rapidly, and you were not here. We had to act quickly." Raghav raised his hands and stated.

"Act quickly?" Viswa spat, his voice full of hate. "You had no rights! You ruined her life! You have—" He paused, his gaze returning to Vaidehi, who remained still on the mandap.

Viswa's face contorted with misery as he stormed towards where his parents sat, their faces tight but unmoved. Manjula sat on a low seat, staring down on the floor, while his father, Arvind Naik, slumped against the wall with his arms cross. Though unsaid comments permeated the air, Viswa did not hold back.

"HOW could you?" He demanded, his voice filled with rage. “How could you let this happen? How could you stand by and watch as they forced her into this? Amma, Appa, why didn’t you stop them?”

Manjula looked up sharply, her lips pressed into a thin line. 

“Watch your tone, Viswa,” she snapped. "This is not the time to lecture us."

"Not the time?" Viswa chuckled viciously, raising his hands in frustration. "If not now, when? Amma, how could you fail her like this? She's your daughter. Our Vaidu! How could you not trust her?"

When Manjula said, "She brought shame to the family, Viswa," her voice became defensive. "Yesterday, you weren't present. We witnessed it firsthand."

Vaidehi recoiled at her mother's remarks as she stood by. She felt her knees weaken as a new wave of misery swept over her. 

Did her mother ever love her? Weren’t mothers supposed to trust their children, to protect them from the world’s cruelty? Why had her mother chosen to believe the lies over her?

“Amma!” Viswa’s voice cracked with pain as he stepped closer. “Do you even hear yourself? She brought shame to the family? She was attacked by the whole villagers, Amma! And instead of protecting her, you punished her? You handed her over like some... some burden you were desperate to get rid of!”

Manjula’s face hardened, but a flicker of unease crossed her eyes. 

“She was always rebellious, Viswa. You know that. We let her have her way for too long. Even when Raghav Anna refused, we supported her whims. And this... this is the result!”

“Rebellious?” Viswa repeated, his voice thick with disbelief. He let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. “Rebellious, Amma? All she wanted was an education! To study, to build a life for herself. And you call that rebellion?”

“She brought this upon herself,” Manjula said, though her voice faltered slightly.

“Brought this upon herself?” Viswa’s tone grew louder, angrier. “You think she wanted this? To be humiliated, blamed, and forced into a marriage against her will? Do you even know her, Amma? Or has your so-called ‘family honor’ blinded you to your own daughter’s pain?”

“Viswa, enough. This is not the way to address your mother.” Arvind, who had remained silent so far, finally spoke. 

“Enough?” Viswa turned on his father, his anger unabated. “No, Appa, enough is enough! You’re just as much to blame. You’re her father! You were supposed to protect her! You watched instead and let it happen. What sort of father would do that?"

Arvind's jaw locked but he said nothing. His silence aggravated Viswa more.

"Vaidu relied on you! She trusted you two! You disappointed her. Not once did you pay her any attention. You turned away not even giving her have a chance to explain! Viswa's voice trembled when his fury subsided to grief. How could you treat her like that?"

"Viswa, we did what we had to do. You were not here. You have no idea how much strain we were under. The shame — " Manjula's hands trembled, but her pride hindered her from facing her misgives. 

"Shame?" Viswa yelled, cutting her off. "The only shame here is that you chose to side with the lies over your daughter. You chose family honor over her life, her dignity, her happiness. And that is something I will never forgive.”

“Anna…” Vaidehi’s soft, trembling voice cut through the storm like a fragile thread.

Viswa froze, his chest heaving as he turned toward her. She stood there, her frame frail and her face pale. Her eyes, red from crying, glistened with unshed tears.

“Please, Anna…” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Stop. It’s… it’s done. Let it go.”

For a moment, Viswa couldn’t breathe. His heart broke all over once he noticed the gloom in her eyes and the weariness in her stance. His fists unclenched, and the fury in his eyes vanished to be replaced by immense despair. 

"Vaidu..." he said, straying a hesitant step toward her.

"Don't fight for me anymore. It is over." She shook her head with trembling lips.

Viswa's shoulders fell, his rage quelled by her calm plea. He paused for a minute, his gaze fixed on Vaidehi's delicate figure. Then, without saying anything else, he drew her into his arms.

Vaidehi stiffened for a second, her body tense, but as soon as she felt the warmth and safety of her brother’s embrace, the dam she had held back for so long finally broke.

Her hands clutched at his shirt as she buried her face in his chest, the sobs wracking her small frame.

“Anna… I didn’t… I didn’t do anything wrong,” she choked out between cries, her voice raw with pain. “I swear… I swear I didn’t…”

Viswa’s arms tightened around her, his own tears spilling as he rested his chin on the top of her head.

"Yes, Vaidu. I know."  He answered softly, "I believe you." His voice broke. "This wasn't fair to you. Not a thing about it."

Her cries became more intense and out of control.

Every hurt her family caused—the lies, the accusations, and the forced marriage—came out in waves of sadness. 

Viswa held her, his hands gently rubbing her back as he murmured calming words; his heart broke with every sob she let out. 

But a fresh resolution grew in his heart as he beheld her.

For him, this was not the end.   

Not until he would have things corrected.

A/n

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Love,

SF❤️