Sana' s POV

𓂃˖˳·˖ ִֶָ ⋆🌷͙⋆ ִֶָ˖·˳˖𓂃 ִֶָ

It's a Friday morning. The first rays of sunlight lit up my room. The dawn chorus of melodic birdsong drifted in. I rub my sleepy eyes and look outside, where a soft pearly glow seeps through the curtains along with a cool breeze. I thanked God for a new day with new hopes.

“Ahh, I have to get up. It's already 7:30 am, and I can’t be late, at least not today.” I bolted upright in bed. “Allah Tala, please help me, it’s a very special day of my life. It’s my best friend Riya's wedding day, and I'm going to be her bridesmaid,” I whispered excitedly, throwing my cover off and running straight to my bathroom like a hurricane to take a quick shower. After a shower I emerged from my bathroom and did my morning routine and mentally took notes on what I have to do today. You know we all need to-do lists.

While wearing my earrings, “I have to go for a little shopping… ughh, so many pending things, why am I so lazy…” After stumbling head over heels, my heart is beating with excitement about attending my Hindu friend's marriage. I don’t believe in religion, like I believe you can find Allah everywhere, and my parents didn’t even stop me either.

I hurriedly went downstairs, grabbed my keys, and drove from there to Riya’s house to pick her up while listening to a song, "Zindagi ek safar hai pal suhana..." It’s one of my favorite songs that reminds me life is so unpredictable.

Riya is my best friend, we have both known each other since we were teenagers. Time really flies faster than we think. Like, I can’t even imagine she is getting married today, but we didn’t even see her soon to be husband, it’s kind of a business merger. I don't know much about this.

She has a twin big brother Riyan, who is also coming with us for shopping. He is smart and handsome too and currently works for his father’s company. He will be the next CEO of his father’s company, but he wants to build his own company.

Riyan is driving the car. I asked Riya how she is feeling. Riya replied while looking outside the window, “I am just a little nervous.” After hearing this, Riyan said with a reassuring smile, “I know you are, but I will make my sister's wedding memorable. I already prepared all the preparations for the dance and Sana will become my dance partner too.” I nodded eagerly and squeezed Riya’s shoulder from the backseat. "Of course I will." And while having fun, we went to the shop and did some shopping.

While going back, Riya suddenly stopped and said, “I think I forgot some things in the shop. " I said, "Ahh, it’s okay Riya stay here, I'll bring it." Riya grabbed my hand and stopped me from walking away. “Sana, I'll do it," she said and she left hurriedly. "All right, then we'll wait for you in the car. Just return soon, or Maa will be upset," Riyan said from behind. I hopped inside the car with Riyan. We waited for her in the car, time slipping away as we grew late, but she still hadn't come back.

Riyan said, "Why, still she didn't come back… I think we should check on her." I nodded.

After a while we went to that shop Riya visited, but we did not find Riya there. Riyan made several calls, but Riya's phone was in the car. We asked the shopkeeper about her, and he said, "The girl with you? She didn’t come here." We are shocked after hearing this and approached other people to ask about Riya, but we are still clueless.

We stood tense in front of our car, the air thick with worry. Riyan raked a frustrated hand through his dark hair. "Where the hell did she go?" I said, scanning the area. "Riyan, we'll find her… don't worry."

After a tense wait, a child popped out of nowhere, tugging Riyan's shirt as he shoved a crumpled note into his hand. "Didi ne ye aapko dene ke liye kaha hai," the boy muttered.

We both shockingly looked at each other, Riyan took the paper from the boy, and I showed the picture of Riya to the child and asked him, “Did she give it to you, and where did you meet her?" He said, showing teeth, "Yes, she did and gave me candies too." then ran away and vanished as quickly as he came in the crowd.

Riyan's eyes flared red with fury as he read it, crushing the paper in his fist. "Riya, if this is some stupid prank, it's beyond ridiculous!" he snarled. "What happened? Why are you so angry?" I asked.

He handed the paper to me. I unfolded it, her familiar handwriting stared back at me. My heart stopped as I read.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I’m really sorry, but I can't do this. I cannot marry him, I don't even know him, and I don't know how to tell you all. Running away is my last desperate choice. Forgive me, please. Don't look for me.

Riya..

It froze me in place. I couldn't help but look up to Riyan. He is also in the same state, but we didn’t lose hope and started searching desperately for her. We prayed, but even after searching for her for hours, we could not find her, so we came back to Riyan's house and explained everything to his parents and showed them the paper. After hearing all this, even his parents were too stunned to speak, and they made every effort to find her, but they are still clueless.

The clock is ticking mercilessly, dashing Riyan and Siddharth uncle's (Riya’s father) desperate searches to nothing. Rashi aunty was crying uncontrollably as the wedding time drew closer. I did everything I could to console her.

Rashi's aunty (Riya's mother) called me and whispered, “Will you help us? I know I am being selfish here, but I have no other way… Can you please go to the pavilion (mandap) today in place of Riya. It's irrational, I know that but you are the only one who can save us from this humiliation. This is a mother's request to you. ”

After hearing all this, I was too stunned to understand and I tried to convince them that “we can't build relationships based on lies. We can talk to them and find out another way to sort this situation,” said Sana.

Rashi aunty pled, “They will not tolerate this insult, and they will ruin us. The groom's side hasn't even seen Riya, they can't even recognize you." Folding her hands, infront of me she continues, "Please, child, only you can save us from this humiliation."

Riyan protested against it, “What are you saying, Maa?" Sidharth nodded and said, "Rashi, try to understand... we cannot make Sana as a replacement for Riya.”

“This is just the Beginning of  unpredictable chaos”.

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Note:- English is not my first language so

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