Chapter 4: New Resolve

The auto ride home felt unreal. Bollywood music blared from the driver’s phone, pink seat covers clashing with the thick smell of petrol. Lucknow’s streets teemed with honking rickshaws and vendors shouting, but my mind was far away.

After leaving Priya behind, the invisible gossip faded, but its message was burned into my memory: Priya was no longer the same. A transmigrator had taken over her body after she nearly drowned months ago. Suddenly, Priya was brilliant at poetry, wise beyond her years, and even disguised herself to wander the city. Arjun couldn’t stop mentioning her, even though he knew how I felt.

He’d say, "Priya has changed. She gave money to a beggar today. She’s not bad, just young and mischievous. And she’s so capable, you wouldn’t believe..."

He probably didn’t even notice how his face softened when he spoke of her.

"I made a promise with Priya—she won’t bully you anymore."

But I knew better. Priya still looked down on me, only her tricks were subtler now. She’d feign innocence—"Second sister didn’t tell me, I didn’t know"—and everyone believed her. My brother, my parents, even Dadi favoured her. And Arjun—he paid more and more attention to her.

I wanted to scream my innocence, but years of swallowing my words kept my lips pressed tight. In this family, my truth never mattered.

Lakshmi, worried, broke the silence. "Why is your fate so bitter, madam? How could Arjun do this? Maybe Priya planned it—she always fights with you. Now even your fiancé is being taken."

"Be careful what you say," I warned.

"Yes, but what will you do now, madam? If that Young Master Yadav comes for you again..."

What would I do? The very thought of Yadav filled me with dread. But I realized: I was just a stepping stone in Priya’s story. If I wanted a good life, I’d have to fight for it. No more waiting for miracles—no more letting fate walk all over me.

I straightened my back, new resolve hardening inside me. "Lakshmi, quick, get some sindoor and come with me. We have somewhere to go."

Halfway through the auto ride, we got down and walked, determination burning in my chest. We made our way to an abandoned temple—where I’d find the next piece of my plan.