Chapter 1: Introduction
The air was thick with the scent of jasmine and sandalwood, the vibrant colors of the mandaps reflecting in the shimmering pools of water that surrounded the terrace. The sound of the priest's chanting reverberated through the atmosphere, intertwining with the sweet melody of the shehnai. It was a perfect day for a wedding, a day that was about to change two lives forever.
Aarav stood beneath the ornate canopy, his heart pounding in his chest like a drummer's rendition of a rock song.
He was dressed in a crisp, snow-white sherwani, the intricate gold thread work glinting under the soft glow of the lamps. He tried to focus on the priest's chanting, but his mind was elsewhere, lost in the swirling memories of the past few weeks.
He had known Savi for barely a month. Their families had arranged the match, a tradition that was as old as the tiles on the palace walls they were standing in.