The Bride they burned

"Everyone thinks they own a piece of Meher. But Rehaan… Rehaan thought she was his religion."

---

NYRA VORA

I was not expecting anyone that morning.

Especially not a man in a three-piece suit holding a bouquet of black roses and a smirk that screamed trouble.

---

> "Nyra Vora?" he asked, voice smoother than Kai's jawline.

> "Who's asking?"

He removed his sunglasses.

Hazel eyes. Sharp jaw.

And a tattoo on his wrist that made my stomach clench.

The tattoo I once traced while we lay in his bed.

> "Rehaan. Rehaan Arora."

Time stopped.

---

FLASHBACK – 8 YEARS AGO

College dorm.

Whispers. Sheets tangled. Promises scribbled in the margins of borrowed books.

> "I'll marry you one day, Meher," he whispered.

> "No, you won't," I laughed.

He kissed my shoulder.

> "Then I'll ruin everyone who does."

---

PRESENT

> "You're dead," I said flatly.

> "Funny, I thought the same about you."

> "You left."

> "You married a devil for a dare."

> "You're not supposed to be here."

> "Neither are you, sweetheart."

---

Celeste walked in holding her coffee—and nearly spit it across the floor.

> "And who the hell are you?"

> "Rehaan. Her first heartbreak," he grinned. "And probably the last man she ever said I love you to without meaning revenge."

Celeste blinked.

> "I already hate you."

> "Good. I love a feisty ex."

Kai entered next, shirtless.

Saw Rehaan.

Froze.

Then looked at me like I'd just smuggled in a nuke.

> "Another one?" he muttered.

> "Relax," I said. "He's just from my pre-dead life."

> "So is hepatitis," Celeste snapped.

---

LATER – KITCHEN CHAOS

Celeste and Kai sat on opposite ends of the table.

Rehaan in the middle, legs spread wide, sipping orange juice like he owned the place.

> "So… who's winning?" he asked, gesturing between the two.

> "Winning what?" Kai said.

> "Her," Rehaan said, pointing at me. "Obviously."

I sipped my tea.

> "You think this is a competition?"

> "Babe, everything's a competition. Especially when the prize is a woman who looks like revenge and smells like trauma."

Celeste:

> "I'm gonna stab him with this spoon."

Kai:

> "Please do. I'll bury the body."

Rehaan, grinning:

> "Kinky."

---

NYRA'S POV – LATER THAT NIGHT

He followed me onto the terrace.

Leaned against the railing beside me.

> "You never called."

> "You never came back."

> "I searched for you, you know. After your death."

> "Too late," I said.

He didn't speak.

Just took out a folded photograph.

Me. Him. College. Laughing.

He handed it to me.

> "Tell me the truth," he said softly.

"Is Aarav mine?"

My fingers trembled.

> "No," I whispered.

He stared at me. Long.

Then… chuckled.

> "Damn. I was kinda hoping I had a secret mini-you walking around being emotionally damaged and better-looking than everyone else."

I smiled despite myself.

> "You're still annoying."

> "And you're still my favorite mistake."

---

MEANWHILE – AARAV'S BOARDING SCHOOL

He sat in art class.

Drawing.

The teacher walked by and blinked.

> "Who's that, Aarav?"

> "A woman from my dreams," he said proudly.

The drawing?

A perfect sketch of Nyra.

Wearing the same black saree from the charity gala.

> "I don't know her name," he said, "but I think… I used to."

---

💥 End of Chapter 17

---