Before I Said Do

The story begins in a grand five-star hotel, where a lavish wedding is taking place. Riya Sharma-twenty-nine, a data scientist-was getting married to Aarav Verma, a thirty-one-year-old software developer. The entire hall looked breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers sparkled above, white and gold flowers covered every corner, and soft lights wrapped the place in warmth. High-profile guests filled the hall, laughing, chatting, celebrating. Everything screamed happiness. Riya and Aarav were seated at the mandap while the pandit calmly performed the rituals. Families sat around their tables, enjoying the ceremony, smiling, clicking pictures. Everyone was happy. Everyone... except Riya. Again and again, her eyes drifted toward the entrance of the hall. Her eyes were red, swollen, shining with unshed tears. They trembled, but not a single tear fell. She refused to let them fall. Somewhere deep inside, fear quietly wrapped itself around her heart. She was waiting for someone. Desperately. Aarav noticed it. He leaned slightly toward her and asked in a low voice, "Who are you looking at so desperately?" Riya looked at him once-just once-then turned her face away and said nothing. The pandit suddenly announced, "Now both of you please stand up for the seven pheras." The moment Riya heard that, her heartbeat started racing. She looked toward the entrance again, this time with even more urgency. But the person she was waiting for still hadn't come. Her hands trembled as she leaned toward the pandit. "Pandit ji... please. Just wait a little longer. Please." The hall went silent. People looked at each other in shock. A bride asking to wait-for someone else? Aarav's jaw tightened. Anger flashed across his face. "What drama is this now, Riya?" he whispered sharply. She ignored him again. Ten minutes passed. Still, no one came. The pandit spoke gently but firmly, "Beta, the auspicious time is ending." Something inside Riya broke. Her shoulders slumped. All her hope slipped away. She felt empty, defeated. Slowly, she closed her eyes and surrendered everything to fate. The pandit nodded. "Let's begin the pheras." Riya and Aarav stood up. Just then- BANG. The main gate burst open. Riya’s eyes flew open. Her heart skipped. Hope rushed back like a storm. She turned toward the entrance—and there she was. The person she had been waiting for. Riya didn’t think. She didn’t care about the crowd, the rituals, the stares. She lifted her lehenga and ran toward her. That woman walked in calmly—slow, composed, confident. Her black outfit was sharp and elegant, perfectly tailored, powerful yet graceful. It suited her aura completely. She didn’t rush. She never did. Riya reached her and hugged her tightly, almost crushing her. “You came… I knew you would come,” Riya whispered, her voice shaking. “Thank you so much… Priyanshi Singh Rajput.” Priyanshi—twenty-seven, CEO and founder of Rajput Empire, Riya’s younger sister—wrapped her arms around Riya and hugged her back, steady and reassuring. “I’m here,” she said softly. “Calm down.” Riya held Priyanshi’s wrist and dragged her toward the mandap where Aarav stood frozen. “Meet my sister,” Riya said. Aarav’s eyes widened in shock. He had no idea. No idea that this powerful woman standing before him was Riya’s sister. Priyanshi already knew everything. She met Aarav’s gaze without hesitation, her eyes sharp, unreadable. “Jija ji,” she said calmly, looking straight into his eyes. “We are giving you our most precious thing—our sister. Remember one thing clearly. If she ever feels even a little pain because of you…” She paused, her lips curving into a faint smile. “I can burn your entire world to ashes.” Riya burst out laughing, taking it as a joke. But Aarav didn’t laugh. Fear crawled down his spine. Sweat appeared on his forehead. Priyanshi glanced at him, then at Riya, and smirked. “Riya, your would-be husband is already sweating.” Still laughing, Riya gently wiped Aarav’s forehead with her dupatta. Trying to act normal, Aarav extended his hand toward Priyanshi for a handshake. Priyanshi immediately joined her palms and stepped back. “Oh no, jija ji. No handshakes.” She looked at him calmly. “Just remember—these hands you see folded today are also capable of cutting off other hands.” Riya laughed again. Priyanshi kissed Riya’s forehead softly, then guided her back to sit beside Aarav at the mandap. She turned to the pandit and said confidently, “Pandit ji, you were saying the muhurat was ending, right? Then why are we waiting? Please complete the rituals.” Without another word, Priyanshi walked to the last table in the hall, sat down like a queen, and ordered herself a drink—unbothered, composed, powerful. The wedding resumed. But the air had changed.  Priyanshi was dressed in a sharp, black tailored blazer—clean lines, perfect fit, power stitched into every seam. It suited her dangerously well. She slipped her hand into her pocket, pulled out a cigarette, and placed it between her lips. Calm. Unbothered. She flicked the lighter, the flame dancing for a second before lighting the cigarette. She inhaled slowly. Then she reached into her pocket again. A photograph. Her fingers didn’t tremble as she held it over the same lighter. The flame kissed the edge of the picture. It curled, blackened, and burned—slowly turning into ash. She watched it until nothing remained. Just grey dust slipping between her fingers. The drink arrived. Priyanshi didn’t wait for anyone. She poured it herself. One glass—empty. Another—gone. Then another. She didn’t stop until the entire bottle was finished. Now her eyes were bloodshot red. They glistened with trapped tears, but she refused to let them fall. She never cried. Not where the world could see. She looked toward the mandap for a moment—at the rituals, the vows, the sacred fire. Then she pulled out her phone. Her fingers moved fast, desperate, deleting photos one by one. Memories erased with every tap. Once done, she locked the phone and placed it on the table. She leaned her head back against the chair, took a deep breath, and whispered, barely audible, “I lost you… oh, I lost you completely.” Everyone else was busy watching the wedding. Laughing. Enjoying. Celebrating love. Everyone’s eyes were on the mandap. Except one. In the entire crowd, there was one man whose gaze hadn’t left Priyanshi even for a second. From the moment she entered the hall, his eyes had been glued to her. He didn’t know why. He didn’t understand it. But he couldn’t look away. That man was Rudra Singh Chauhan. Thirty years old. Heir of the Chauhan Empire. Son of Devraj Singh Chauhan, the fifty-eight-year-old CEO of Chauhan Emperor. This was the identity the world knew. What the world didn’t know— Rudra was ruthless. Heartless. A cruel underworld mafia king. He hated emotions. He despised weakness. He found women irritating, unbearable, unnecessary. He had never thought of loving anyone. He had never allowed anyone close enough to matter. Girls disgusted him. He had never even touched one. And yet— Here he was. Staring at Priyanshi Singh Rajput. Without blinking. Without breathing properly. Even he didn’t know why his chest felt tight… or why, for the first time in his life, his eyes refused to obey him.  Rudra was dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal-black three-piece suit. The blazer hugged his broad shoulders effortlessly, the crisp white shirt beneath it slightly open at the collar, revealing a sharp jawline and a confidence that didn’t need permission. A luxury watch rested on his wrist, subtle yet expensive. His hair was neatly styled, his posture relaxed—but powerful. He didn’t try to look intimidating. It came naturally. Around him, girls whispered among themselves, eyes filled with admiration. “Oh my God… he’s so hot.” “Who is he?” “Look at him—damn.” Rudra didn’t notice any of it. Because his eyes were fixed on one person. Priyanshi. Rudra’s POV I don’t know why I’m looking at her. I have never stared at any girl like this in my entire life—never this desperately. Why her? Since the moment she walked in… what kind of aura is this? That confidence, that calm boldness. Damn. Wait—did I just admire a girl? No. No way. This isn’t possible. I don’t look at girls. I don’t care about them. This has to be a dream. But it’s not. Then why can’t I stop? This is wrong. Very wrong. Okay… she’s beautiful, fine—but so what? Girls are just distractions. Ignore them. Always ignore them. Just five seconds. That’s all. He forced his eyes away and looked toward the mandap—for just five seconds. Then, as if pulled by an invisible force, his gaze snapped back to where Priyanshi had been sitting. Empty. His heart skipped. She was gone. “What—” He straightened instantly, scanning the hall. She wasn’t there. His body moved before his mind could stop it. He stood up, searching. Then he saw her. Priyanshi was walking out of the hall. Without thinking, Rudra followed her. Priyanshi walked through the corridor, eyes red, glassy with unshed tears. Her phone was clutched tightly in her hand as she typed something—deleted something—lost in her own storm of thoughts. She was heading toward the washroom. The corridor was almost empty. Almost. A man stood there, his eyes roaming over her body shamelessly. Lust dripped from his gaze. Priyanshi didn’t notice—she was too lost in her head, too busy with her phone. Rudra saw everything. His jaw clenched. A dangerous rage rose inside him. If that man touches her… I’ll kill him today. The man stepped closer and brushed against her—deliberately. Priyanshi paused for a second. Distracted, she assumed it was an accident and ignored it. Rudra was already moving—fast—ready to break bones. Then the man touched her again. That was it. Priyanshi calmly slipped her phone into her pocket. In the next second, she grabbed the man, lifted him effortlessly, and slammed him onto the floor. Rudra froze. Shocked. She grabbed the man by his hair and dragged him across the floor like he weighed nothing. With one brutal jerk, she smashed him against the wall. Her knee pressed hard against his chest. “Saale,” she hissed coldly. “Zyada masti chadh gayi hai? Itni garmi lag rahi thi ki mujhe chhoone aa gaya?” Her voice was calm. Deadly. She pulled a gun from behind her back. Two shots. Bang. Bang. The corridor echoed. Blood splattered across her face. She wiped it away with her hand as if it were nothing and walked toward the washroom—unbothered, composed. Behind her, Rudra stood rooted to the spot. Stunned.And for the first time in his life— Proud. And strangely… happy.  Inside the washroom, Priyanshi stood frozen in front of the mirror. For a moment, she didn’t recognize the woman staring back at her. The confidence. The control. The crown she wore so perfectly for the world. All of it cracked in one second. She raised her fist and punched the mirror. CRASH. The glass shattered violently, cracks spreading like veins. Blood instantly gushed from her hand, dripping down onto the marble floor. It hurt—badly. But she didn’t feel it. Pain had stopped mattering a long time ago. She grabbed the sink, breathing hard, and then she screamed. Loud. Raw. Broken. Her voice echoed inside the washroom walls, but outside, the wedding music was too loud, the celebration too alive. No one heard her. No one came. And maybe… that was good. Priyanshi’s POV I deleted you from my phone… but how do I delete you from my heart? I want to hate you. I swear I do. But instead, I love you even more. And it keeps increasing every single day. Not anymore. Not today. You left me nine years ago. You moved on with your life. But what about me? Even today, I miss you. Every damn day. What did I do wrong? Why did you leave me? Why did you abandon me like I meant nothing? Love means freedom. And today, I’m freeing you. From my heart. From my mind. From every part of my life where I once gave you space. Today, after nine years, I promise myself— I will never look back at you. Never look at your photos again. Never search for you. You already erased all contacts nine years ago. We never talked again. Never met. Never even saw each other. I kept you alive through pictures. But not anymore. Not anymore. You are nothing to me now. Enough. Her knees almost gave up, but she forced herself to stand straight. Weakness was a luxury she couldn’t afford. She walked out of the washroom, blood still dripping from her hand. The man lay where she had left him. Without hesitation, she bent down, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and tightly wrapped it around her bleeding hand. Then—one last kick. Hard. As if she was kicking away everything she hated. She turned and walked back toward the hall. Behind the wall, Rudra stood still. He had heard her. Every scream. Every broken breath. And it disturbed him. He didn’t understand why she was crying. He didn’t know her story. He didn’t care about people’s pain—never had. Yet today, her screams clawed at his chest, melting something inside his stone-cold heart. Rudra’s POV The way she killed that man… I was stunned. I couldn’t even process it. That level of power, control—inside a woman? She’s not normal. She’s dangerous. And then I heard her crying. My heart stopped. I don’t know why she’s crying. I don’t know what broke her. But there’s so much pain in her screams that even someone like me—someone who doesn’t feel—felt it. I don’t know why… but I want to see her smiling. Not like this. Not shattered. She walked out— Wait. Her hand. That injury wasn’t there before. Did she hurt herself? Why would someone hurt themselves like that? I don’t care what people do to themselves—but that wound is deep. Too deep. Something is wrong. Very wrong. Rudra watched as Priyanshi disappeared back into the wedding hall, blending into the lights, the music, the celebration—hiding her broken soul behind her powerful walk. He followed her. Silently. Carefully. From the shadows. Because somewhere between blood, screams, and shattered glass— Rudra Singh Chauhan had crossed a line he never knew existed.  When Priyanshi entered the hall again, everything was different. The wedding was over. The rituals were done. Now… it was time for vidaai. Riya stood in the center, crying uncontrollably as she hugged her mother. Her shoulders shook as tears streamed down her face. Then she hugged her father tightly, refusing to let go. The hall was heavy with emotions. Even the guests who had been laughing moments ago now had moist eyes. And then— Riya turned toward Priyanshi. The moment she saw her sister, she broke completely. She rushed forward and hugged Priyanshi tightly, crying into her shoulder like a child who didn’t want to leave home. Her hands clutched Priyanshi’s blazer as if letting go would hurt too much. Priyanshi hugged her back. Softly. Protectively. One hand wrapped around Riya, the other gently stroking her hair—slow, calming movements. Like she always used to do when Riya cried as a child. There wasn’t a single tear in Priyanshi’s eyes. Not one. People around them whispered quietly. “Look at her… such a cruel sister.” “She didn’t even cry at her own sister’s wedding.” “Does she even have a heart?” Priyanshi heard everything. She ignored it all. She pulled Riya back slightly, cupped her face in her hands, and looked straight into her tear-filled eyes. “Riya,” she said softly but firmly, “listen to me.” Riya sniffed, trying to control herself. “You are not made to cry,” Priyanshi continued. “You are made to be happy. You are made to be respected. Tears don’t suit these beautiful eyes.” She gently wiped Riya’s tears with her thumb. Then she took Riya’s hand and placed it into Aarav’s hands. Her gaze hardened as she looked at him. “Keep her happy,” Priyanshi said coldly. “Always. If you fail… the consequences won’t be pleasant.” Aarav swallowed and nodded immediately. “I promise.” Holding Riya’s hand, Aarav slowly walked her toward the car. Riya kept looking back, tears still falling, until the car door closed and she was gone. One by one, the guests began to leave. The hall slowly emptied. Priyanshi walked toward her parents and guided them outside. Waiting for them was her car—a black Rolls-Royce Phantom, sleek and intimidating. The polished black body reflected the lights of the hotel, power resting silently beneath its elegance. She opened the door for her parents herself. The car drove away into the night. Across the parking area, Rudra stood still. Watching. He didn’t look away until the black Rolls-Royce disappeared completely from his sight. Only then did he turn. He got into his own car—a matte-black Lamborghini Urus, roaring softly as the engine came to life. As he drove off, one thought stayed with him. That woman… she wasn’t just dangerous. She was unforgettable.  Riya’s POV I was crying… but somewhere deep inside, I was excited too. Excited for a new beginning. As these thoughts ran through my mind, Aarav gently brushed my hand with his thumb, his touch soft and reassuring. “I promise,” he said quietly, “I will never, ever let you feel low.” My heart softened. Yes, I was excited—but I was scared too. The thought that aaj meri suhagraat hai made my entire body tremble. Not in fear exactly… but nervous anticipation. What if I mess everything up? What if I do something wrong? No. Stop overthinking, Riya. Be positive. Author’s POV They finally arrived at Aarav’s home— which was now Riya’s home too. Aarav stepped out first and gently helped Riya out of the car, holding her hand protectively. At the entrance, Aarav’s mother welcomed them with a warm smile, performing their aarti and placing a soft tilak on both their foreheads. The house was filled with happiness. Riya held Aarav’s hand tightly as they entered. Small, beautiful griha pravesh rituals followed—Riya pushed a pot of rice with her foot, entered the house with her right foot first, and everyone showered flowers on the couple. The atmosphere was aesthetic, warm, and emotional. Later, everyone gathered in the living room and played light-hearted games—teasing, laughing, celebrating the newlyweds. Then Aarav’s mother smiled knowingly and said, “Ritika, Shambhavi… take Riya to her room.” The moment Riya heard that— Her heartbeat spiked. Riya’s POV My heart started beating so fast it felt like it would jump out of my chest. Ritika ji and Shambhavi were taking me to Aarav’s room— our room. With every step closer, my nervousness doubled. My palms were sweaty, my breath uneven. Author’s POV Ritika smirked. “Ohooo… so tonight is that night.” Shambhavi laughed. “Tell us honestly—what are you thinking?” Riya stayed silent, blushing hard. Ritika lightly smacked Shambhavi’s shoulder. “Arre, how will she answer this? All answers will be given by Aarav tonight… and in detail.” 😏 Both burst out laughing. Riya’s cheeks turned crimson. Shambhavi added dramatically, “Relax bhabhi, our country follows gender equality very seriously. You can start however you want—because the ending will anyway be done by Aarav.” 😂 Riya wanted the floor to swallow her. Then Shambhavi suddenly asked, “Riya… this is your first time, right?” Riya shyly nodded. “Y-yes…” Shambhavi gasped theatrically. “Oh my God! Then tonight is going to be very scary for you!” Riya panicked. “Scary? Why scary?” Ritika laughed. “You don’t know?” Shambhavi teased, “You’ll find out when it happens.” 😂😂 Riya blurted out, “No no, I want to go back to my parents’ house.” Both laughed even harder. “Now that’s impossible.” Riya’s cheeks were burning red. Riya’s POV At this rate, I swear I’ll die of embarrassment before anything even happens. They finally reached the door. Ritika opened it. And— Riya froze. The room was breathtaking. Soft golden lights. Rose petals scattered across the bed. White curtains flowing gently with the air. Scented candles glowing softly, filling the room with a calm, romantic fragrance. The bed was decorated elegantly, not overdone—just enough to make the moment feel special. It felt warm. Intimate. Magical. “I can’t believe this…” Riya whispered. Shambhavi smirked. “It looks great now… but it won’t stay like this till morning.” 💀😂 Seeing Riya’s terrified face, Ritika and Shambhavi softened. “Relax,” Ritika said gently. “Nothing will happen without your consent.” Shambhavi added, “Or… actually, a lot can happen—but only if you want it to.” Both winked. “Best of luck.” They left. Downstairs The elders were busy chatting among themselves. In the living room, only three men remained— Aarav. Shivansh (his best friend). Sushant (his elder brother). Both were teasing Aarav mercilessly. Aarav buried his face in his hands, laughing nervously, cheeks completely red. Shivansh grinned. “So bro… what’s the plan? Table or bed?” 😂 Sushant added, “Bed or table—your choice. Just don’t embarrass the family name.” Shivansh laughed. “Look at him! Shy little kitten.” Sushant smirked. “Kitten now… but upstairs he’ll have to turn into a lion.” “Slow lion,” Shivansh added wickedly. “Very slow.” They burst into laughter. Just then, Ritika and Shambhavi entered. Shambhavi shouted, “Do you guys know? She’s a virgin!” Aarav’s face turned tomato red. He tried hiding behind his hands. Shivansh whistled. “Bro, jackpot! Enjoy!” Sushant placed a hand on Aarav’s shoulder. “Be gentle. First time is difficult.” Everyone laughed loudly. Aarav’s mother walked in, shaking her head. “Bas, bas. Enough teasing. Let Aarav enjoy a little too.” Everyone laughed again. “Now go,” his mother said softly. “Riya must be waiting.” Aarav’s POV Everyone went to their rooms. And I was left alone in the living room. But my eyes… my mind… everything was upstairs. In our room. I was scared too. My heart was beating fast as I walked up the stairs. With every step, my nervousness grew. Finally, I stood outside the door. My hands were trembling. I took a deep breath… and opened the door. Riya stood near the bed. My wife. I closed the door behind me…