Kashi's POV...

I put the bindi on my forehead and look at myself in the mirror for the last time.

Today, another family is coming to see me.

With another possibility of rejection.

"You wore this? Why didn't you wear the full-sleeved kurti I gave you?"

My mami walks into the room and looks at me from head to toe.

"Your skin disease is more noticeable like this. I already told them that your vitiligo is mild. No one can tell just by looking at your face. And you didn't even apply makeup to hide it."

Her voice is filled with irritation.

"What are you even doing, Kashi? Do you want to get rejected again? It's going to be..."

She pauses and shakes her head.

"I don't even remember how many times anymore. I've lost count."

I don't answer her.

Instead, I slip two simple very thin gold bangles onto my wrists.

They belonged to my mother.

They are the only things I have left of her, and wearing them makes me feel like she is still blessing me somehow.

"I don't want to hide anything."

I said.

"Don't you remember what happened the last time I listened to you? I was left at the altar."

Mami goes silent hearing me.

For a moment, she doesn't say anything.

She probably remembers.

The last time, I had covered the vitiligo on my face with concealer because everyone had convinced me that the groom's family would never accept me if they saw it.

Somehow, his family found out about my condition through one of our neighbours.

And on the day of my wedding...

The groom emptied an entire jug of water over my face.

The makeup washed away and the white patches became visible.

And so did the disgust on his face.

He threw some horrible remarks at me in front of everyone and simply walked away.

I still remember standing there in my bridal clothes and watching him leave.

Mami clears her throat and handed me a box.

"And for today, wear these bangles too. No need to wear those thin ones. I don't want them to think that we treat you any less than Minakshi. Here."

She opens the box.

I look at the bangles for a moment before looking away.

"No need. I've already worn my maa's bangles. I won't remove them now."

"Stop this drama, Kashi."

She sounds exhausted.

"I'm already tense. I don't want you to get rejected this time. You know me and your mama can't bear this burden anymore."

I sigh.

The word burden doesn't hurt anymore.

Maybe I have heard it too many times.

I have learned to take whatever burn life throws at me.

Many things don't affect me anymore.

Or perhaps I have simply become good at pretending they don't.

"It's my maa's blessing," I say quietly. "It's the only thing I have of her. I won't remove it."

Mami looks at the bangles and twists her lips.

"I don't think it's a blessing. It's probably a curse. Every time you wear them, something bad happens."

I look at her.

"It's about perspective."

I stand up from the dressing table.

"Maybe maa is saving me from the wrong ones."

Mami gives me a mocking look and look away.

"Come to the kitchen. They will be here in ten minutes. You have to go in front of them with the tea tray."

She leaves.

I silently follow her.

A few minutes later, they arrive.

Mama and Mami are already in the living room, talking to them.

I can hear their laughter and chatter from the kitchen.

I am preparing the tea when Minakshi, my cousin, comes towards me with excitement written all over her face.

She wraps one arm around my shoulder.

"He isn't that bad. I think he's going to say yes. He's almost your height too."

She smiles brightly.

"I really hope it's a yes this time."

Every time someone comes to see me, she gets more excited and nervous than I do.

I don't say anything.

I simply start serving the tea into the cups one by one.

"You stay so moody all the time."

She clicks her tongue.

"What's with this face? Smile a little, for God's sake. You look even duller like this, Kashi. And why did you wear this yellow suit? You're looking more washed out in this."

I glance at her.

"I'm going to wear my own clothes. I don't want to hear your ranting later after wearing yours."

I turn back to the tea.

Every time she gives me her clothes, she complains afterward.

I pulled the stitch. I stained it.

I stretched far too much. Etc. Etc.

Even when I haven't done anything.

So I avoid wearing her clothes whenever I can.

She is about to argue with me when Mami enters the kitchen.

"Kashi... come, come. They want to see you."

Mami asks me to put the pallu over my head.

I do as I'm told.

Then I pick up the tea tray and walk out with her.

We reach the living room.

I look at the family sitting on the sofa.

And I saw the guy is sitting between his parents.

I place the tray on the tea table and take a seat on the sofa.

"She is Kashi, my niece."

Mama gestures towards me.

"Say namaste to them, beta."

I joined my hands.

"Namaste."

They return the gesture with small smiles.

But the guy doesn't smile. He is staring at me with a frown.

More specifically, at the white patches on my face.

I know exactly what he is looking at.

I have seen that look too many times.

"How much have you studied, beta?" His mother asks.

"I am a B.A. graduate in Political Science."

"Hm. Are you doing some job currently?"

I nod.

"I work at a newspaper company."

"Achha."

She smiles faintly before looking at her son.

"He is my son, Kuresh. Kuresh, do you want to ask something to Kashi?"

He clears his throat.

Then he looks directly at me.

"Hi... so, when did you get this disease?"

That's his first question.

I slowly look at Mama.

He gestures at me strictly to answer.

I sigh internally.

"When I was ten years old."

"Oh."

He pauses.

"Did one of your parents also have this?"

"No. They didn't."

"Then why didn't you try to cure it on time? It could have been cured at an early stage."

"I could have....you are right.."

I look at him.

"But I was in the village then. And there were some idiotic shitheads like you who used to perform exorcisms on me because they thought it wasn't a disease but a curse."

The guy's eyes widen. His parents immediately stand up.

"What the hell!"

His mother looks furious.

"What kind of behaviour is this? How dare you insult our son?"

Mama and Mami immediately try to calm them down.

"Please sit down. She's a little sensitive about this topic. Just try to understand her state of mind."

"Sensitive?"

The guy speak up.

"There's nothing to get offended about if it's true."

His face has turned red with embarrassment.

I look at him calmly.

"I could say the same to you."

"I..."

He struggles to find words in my statement.

"I think we should leave."

His father finally said this time.

"Let's go. We don't want this girl. She has nothing... neither face nor brain."

He pulls his wife towards the door.

It is painfully obvious how submissive he is to her.

Or perhaps how afraid he is of her.

They continue throwing a few more insults at me before finally leaving.

The door gets close and silence fills the room.

Mama looks disappointed.

Mami looks furious.

And then-

Slap.

My face turns to the other side.

I slowly look at Minakshi.

She is crying.

"What do you want?"

Her voice breaks.

"Why can't you just tolerate a little? You are so ungrateful. So selfish."

She wipes her tears angrily.

"Maa and Papa have given you shelter for fourteen years, but you can't even compromise a little for me?"

She pushes me lightly on my chest.

I don't move.

"Compromise should be two-sided, Minakshi. And compromising and getting insulted are two different things."

"Oh, please!"

She throws her hands up.

"Stop with your lectures!"

Mami immediately goes to her and rubs her back.

"Minu... that's enough... whatever happened can't be changed now...go to your room..."

Mamaji said to Minakshi.

"You won't understand, Papa!"

Her voice cracks.

"You already know the condition the Shergills has put forward. Arjun can't marry me until this disease-stricken girl gets married."

She points towards me.

"And if she keeps getting rejected, I fear that Arjun will marry someone else."

Her breathing becomes uneven.

"I swear... if that happens, I'm going to commit suicide."

Mami gasps.

Even I feel frightened hearing those words.

"Minu!"

Mami grabs her arm.

But Minakshi pulls away and runs towards her room.

Mami gives me one last bitter look before following her.

Mama doesn't say anything. He simply walks away.

I am alone in the living room now.

I look at the tea.

I quietly started cleaning. I put the snacks back into their containers.

I collect the cups and wash them one by one.

The Shergills.

One of the most influential family in the city.

They own the biggest chains of five-star hotels across the country.

Here in Delhi, their name carries weight.

Shubhman Shergill is the current owner.

His elder son, Arjun Shergill, has been in a relationship with Minakshi for five years.

They love each other.

But Arjun's mother, Romila Shergill, has immense faith in a baba.

And that baba told her that Arjun cannot marry Minakshi until the elder girl in our house-me-is married first.

According to him, if minakshi marries before me, it will bring misfortune upon her son...arjun.

And somehow, everyone has accepted this nonsense as a condition.

That's why Minakshi is so desperate.

That's why every rejection I face feels like another obstacle between her and Arjun.

And somehow...

I have become the villain in her love story simply because I haven't found someone willing to marry me.

I finish washing the last cup and place it upside down near the sink.

Then I walk to my room.

It is right next to Minakshi's.

The moment I enter, I can hear her crying and some crashing sounds.

She is throwing things around in anger.

I closed my door quietly and sat on the edge of my bed.

Slowly, I rest my head in my hands.

For a few seconds, I just sit there. My heart feels so heavy now.

But I shake the sting away. Such chaos is normal for me now.

I am used to it.

I remove my bangles carefully and then keep them in the box.

After that, I take my bag and leave for my job.

.............

Author's POV...

A very expensive car comes to a stop near an ashram.

The driver immediately steps out, opens an umbrella, and walks around to the backseat. He opens the door respectfully.

A lady wearing a neatly draped, beautifully embroidered saree steps out.

Another car stops behind her.

A few servants get out, carrying large gift baskets filled with fruits and various gift items.

She is Romila Shergill.

Romila walks towards the ashram, with the servants following closely behind her.

She gestures towards them.

"Keep the gifts inside."

The servants immediately obey.

After a while, an old man dressed in monk-like attire comes out.

He joins his hands in a welcoming gesture.

"Guru ji is inside..." he says.

Romila nods and immediately pulls her pallu over her head.

"You wait here," she orders the driver.

Then she walks inside.

The moment she sees Guruji, she bends down and touches his feet.

Guruji places his hand over her head.

"Sobhagyavati bhava..."

Romila takes out two Janam Kundlis and places them before him.

"This one is of my elder son, Arjun... and this one is of my younger son, Adhvaish."

This is her routine.

Every month, she comes to Guruji with the birth charts of her sons to make sure there is no looming danger in their lives.

She is extremely possessive about her sons.

Especially Adhvaish.

He is literally the apple of her eye.

Every month, she distributes large offerings to the poor at the temple in his name.

Guruji picks up the two birth charts and begins examining them carefully.

Romila waits patiently.

She expects to hear the same words she hears every month...

That both her sons are perfectly fine.

That their stars are in the right position.

That there is nothing to worry about.

But this time...

Guruji doesn't say anything.

For a really long time, he remains silent.

Romila's patience slowly begins to disappear.

She looks up at him.

His eyes are still fixed on the birth charts.

Then she notices the slight frown appearing on his forehead.

Her heart starts beating faster.

"What happened, Guruji?" she asks anxiously.

Guruji exhales a small breath.

"Everything is fine with the elder son. His upcoming days are filled with joy and prosperity..."

Romila's shoulders relax slightly.

But then she immediately asks,

"And the younger one... my Adhvaish? What about him?"

Guruji's expression turns serious.

"I can't say the same for him, Romila."

Romila's smile disappears.

"The stars are not aligned. He is not safe."

He pauses.

"There is a life-threatening danger looming over his head."

Romila's heart drops into her stomach. Her insides begin churning with extreme fear.

Without thinking twice, she grabs Guruji's feet.

"Please give me a solution, Guruji... please. I will do anything. Anything for my son."

Tears begin rolling down her cheeks.

"Do I have to walk over burning coal? Or live inside water until dawn? Just tell me, Guruji... I will do it."

"You don't have to do anything..."

He pauses.

"It's him who has to."

Romila frowns.

"I don't understand, Guruji..."

"He has to marry within fifteen days. Otherwise, no one can save him."

Romila goes completely silent.

For a few moments, she doesn't say anything.

She carefully processes his words.

Then she shakes her head.

"I don't think he would agree to something like this."

Her voice is filled with tension.

"He is reckless, Guruji. He is a free bird. He doesn't like shackles. He won't agree."

She wipes away her tears.

"He only does everything on his own. He never listens to anyone."

Guruji looks at her.

"Then make him agree. There is no other option."

He says with finality and closes his eyes.