Marriage. A word that had rarely crossed your mind—an idea so distant it felt almost foreign. Yet here you were, draped in ceremonial attire, standing beside your new husband. Zayne. Your childhood friend.

The whole arrangement felt surreal, almost absurd, as though life had played a quiet trick on you. One casual evening, over tea and idle conversation, your parents and his had begun to reminisce. Their words had started lightheartedly—gentle complaints about how neither of you had found a partner yet, despite being at the “right age.” But as laughter faded into thoughtful silence, the conclusion came swiftly and simply:

“Why search far,” one parent had said with a knowing smile, “when the right match is already here—someone we trust, someone who has grown up with our child?”

And just like that, the decision was made. No dramatic declarations of love, no grand proposal. Only the weight of tradition, familiarity, and the quiet certainty that family approval meant safety.

Now, beneath the watchful eyes of relatives and guests, you stood awkwardly at Zayne’s side. His expression mirrored yours—a mixture of uncertainty, amusement, and something unspoken lingering in the air. This was supposed to be the beginning of a lifelong bond, yet it felt more like stepping into a story you hadn’t written for yourself.