Falling Back in Love: A story of love, lust and lies

Prologue

It's said that a heart that has been bruised once cannot heal again. Is the adage "love cannot happen twice" true?  When a heart yearns to be with someone even after it has been betrayed. Someone capable of mending your heart. Someone who desires to hold you and give you a sense of belonging. Someone who will reassure you of your support. What if, however, that someone is also the one who broke your heart the first time around, and your heart still beats for them?

As the vibrant hues of traditional attire fill the room, a girl sits amidst a circle of women, the air alive with the rhythmic beats of celebration. Yet, her eyes betray a storm of emotions, distant and somber. Surrounded by the joyous chatter of the mehndi ceremony, she finds herself lost in memories of a past she can't escape. Each stroke of henna on her skin awakens echoes of moments cherished and lost, and her gaze grows distant as tears threaten to spill, revealing the weight of untold sorrow etched within her soul.

Hemadri closed her eyes, she traveled to a close beautiful memory that she had shared with someone. She remembered how bold she had ever been and even at present she was a tough girl one who knew to fight everyone who came in her way. The only one whom she couldn't fight was her heart, once which belonged to someone. Someone who had promised to love her deeply and the one who didn't fulfill the promise. But was he all at fault? Wasn't she a part of it? Didn't she accept the tie up as transactional initially? Didn't she want the same? Why was her heart longing for him today when she had left him?

She closed her eyes, allowing herself to be enveloped by the warmth of recollection. In her mind's eye, she saw him—the love of her life, her husband—standing before her with a smile that could light up even the darkest of nights. She felt the familiar sensation of his arms wrapped around her, drawing her close in an embrace that spoke volumes without uttering a word. The memory of their passionate moments flooded her senses, igniting a fire within her soul that burned with the intensity of a thousand suns.

She recalled the way his lips would brush against hers, sending shivers down her spine and setting her heart ablaze with desire. Every touch, every caress, was etched into the fabric of her being, a testament to the depth of their love and the intimacy they shared.

In that moment, Hemadri was transported back to a time when the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them intertwined in a dance of passion and devotion. The memory enveloped her like a warm blanket, wrapping her in a cocoon of blissful nostalgia.

The priest pronounced them husband and wife after the conclusion of the wedding ceremony. They accepted the blessings from their parents and the elders, amid much applause from everyone. Gradually, guests and friends began to congratulate them and had their photos taken.

The groom gazed at her 'wife'. For him tonight, she was the epitome of beauty. This day had been awaited for him. She saw the twinkle in his eyes, and a hesitant smile crept across her face. For the first time in a long time, she flushed. This gleam, this satisfaction on his face, she knew where it came from.

He turned to face the enormous queue of people who were waiting to congratulate them. With a heavy breath, he gripped her wrist tenderly.

"Pandit ji, is this all over, is she my wife now?" He asked, his heart filled with excitement and desire.

The priest answered, "Yes, son, she is all yours," without realising that a cheeky notion was racing through his head.

Hemadri reddened more as the groom grinned, realising that this was the moment he had been waiting for. The time that he had eagerly anticipated for a furious four months. She was aware of his enthusiasm and could see the need in his gaze.

He looked around and then as nobody had anticipated except for Hemadri, he lifted her right away in front of thousands of people. She smiled broadly, but her cheeks were also flushed. No one had anticipated this, so they could hear the guests hooting. He pulled her from the mandap and wrapped her in his arms.