A strange fear.

Chapter 6: The First Day at Our Destination.

After hours of a tiring journey, we finally arrived at our destination.

The moment our vehicle entered the village, smiles lit up everyone's faces. We children could barely contain our excitement. Endless green fields stretched as far as the eye could see, tall trees swayed gently with the breeze, and the rich scent of damp earth lingered in the air. Far removed from the city's endless noise and chaos, the village possessed a peaceful charm that was impossible to ignore. Our journey had finally come to an end, and we were more than ready to lose ourselves in the warmth and joy of the wedding celebrations.

Once that mysterious man disappeared from my sight, I remained trapped in the grip of fear for a little while longer. But when he didn't appear again, it felt as if I had finally been set free from a prison that had held me captive for centuries. The moment my heart accepted that I was safe, I pushed those terrifying thoughts aside and rushed back to my cousins. Soon, I was laughing, teasing, and playing with them as though nothing had happened, and the rest of our journey passed in cheerful conversations and endless laughter.

Watching me return to my usual self eased my mother's worries. Ever since she had found me sobbing uncontrollably in the hotel, concern had never left her eyes.

Back then, the happiness surrounding me managed to bury the fear deep within my heart. But as time passed and I grew old enough to understand the weight of that incident, I realized it had become one of the darkest memories of my life—a memory that imprisoned my soul forever. Even today, I have never truly escaped it, nor have I ever found freedom from its haunting shadows.

We spent the rest of the journey laughing, singing, dancing, playing games, eating, and talking without a care in the world. With every passing mile, the village drew closer, revealing breathtaking landscapes, fresh air, and a serenity that soothed our weary hearts. The untouched beauty and simple way of life gradually washed away the exhaustion of the long journey, replacing it with quiet happiness.

At long last, the wait was over.

We finally reached the place where everyone would be staying while the wedding preparations continued and breakfast was arranged. It was a massive government school that had been temporarily reserved to accommodate all the wedding guests for the next few days.

The school itself was remarkably beautiful and spacious. A large signboard displaying the school's name stood proudly at the entrance. As soon as we stepped inside, we were greeted by a lush green garden that opened into a vast playground. A little further ahead was the assembly hall. Not far from it stood the library, while directly opposite it was a small canteen. On the other side of the hall was the computer lab, with the science lab facing it. Nearby, there was even a small medical clinic.

As we walked through the campus, we eventually reached the first floor, where ten or twelve classrooms lined the corridor. The second floor housed roughly the same number of classrooms. The third floor was reserved as the girls' hostel, featuring spacious and well-maintained rooms. Above the hostel was the rooftop, where the bathrooms and washrooms were located. Besides that, every floor of the school had its own washrooms, while a dedicated drinking water station had been set up in one corner of the ground floor.

The wedding guests had each chosen a classroom on one of the floors to serve as their temporary accommodation. Our family selected the last two classrooms on the first floor, and for the time being, that was where we would be staying.

Once everyone had settled into their temporary rooms, breakfast was served. The menu included idli, dosa, uttapam, upma, and poha. Everyone helped themselves to whatever they liked. After such a long and exhausting journey, the hot breakfast washed away much of our fatigue, and before long, fresh smiles returned to everyone's faces.

After breakfast, preparations for the Sanchak and Mehndi ceremonies began, as both rituals were to be held together. We children were the first to get dressed for the occasion, and once we were ready, the adults finished preparing themselves as well.

When we finally arrived at the venue, we were welcomed in the most unique and heartwarming way. Rose petals were showered over us, fragrant perfume was sprinkled in the air, and the guests were offered sweets. As for the children, instead of traditional sweets, we were each given large Dairy Milk chocolates. The moment we saw them, our excitement knew no bounds.

As we stepped inside, we found two beautifully decorated stages—one for the groom and the other for the bride. Rows of chairs had been arranged in the center for the guests, while along one side of the venue, food stalls were being set up, offering a wide variety of mouthwatering dishes.

After the meal, the Mehndi and Sanchak ceremonies were performed in their own traditional ways. But to be honest, we children weren't particularly interested in watching them. So, taking advantage of everyone's attention being elsewhere, we quietly slipped outside.

The area outside the venue looked no less than a beautiful amusement park. There were colorful slides, a giant balloon house, and countless fun activities for children. We became so absorbed in playing that we completely lost track of time.

By the time we finally came to our senses, all the ceremonies had already ended, and it was time for us to return to our temporary accommodation.

By the time the ceremonies came to an end, evening had already settled in. We hurried back to our temporary accommodation, only to find several cooks busily preparing dinner for everyone.

A special gathering for the night celebration had been arranged on the second floor, and the sound of lively music echoed throughout the entire building.

Being children, we wasted no time and rushed upstairs, since dinner wasn't ready yet. The adults followed shortly after, and within moments, the place came alive with laughter and excitement. Some captivated the crowd with their melodious voices, while others stole the spotlight with energetic dance performances. The air was filled with cheerful laughter, thunderous applause, and upbeat music, creating an atmosphere no one wanted to leave.

Time slipped away before we even realized it.

Eventually, sleep began to weigh on our eyes, and our empty stomachs reminded us it was time to eat. We headed downstairs, enjoyed our dinner, and returned to our temporary rooms to get some rest. The next morning would be the wedding day, and we needed to wake up refreshed for all the celebrations ahead.

My mother and aunts went to bed with us, while the rest of the family stayed behind, enjoying the lively night gathering until late.

That day ended peacefully...

But little did we know what the wedding day had in store for us.

That night, we drifted off to sleep without a single worry on our minds, believing every fear and hardship was far behind us. None of us could have imagined that the peace we were enjoying was only temporary.

The days ahead were waiting to unfold events that would change not only our lives but the way we looked at the world forever.

After that night, countless sleepless nights, restless hearts, and haunting memories awaited us.

But for now... all of it remained hidden behind the curtain.

And the curtain had yet to rise.