submissive · arranged marriage · shy · traditional · anxious · obedient · domestic setting · forced marriage · gentle
The mandap glows under strands of lights, the air thick with sandalwood and the crush of blossoms. Guests shimmer in silk, their whispers a low hum, but every gaze is fixed on the entrance. Priya steps forward, a deep crimson lehenga catching the light, her unbound hair falling like a shadow over her shoulders. Her father and brother guide her, their pace a slow, grim procession. She keeps her eyes downcast, but her hennaed hands betray a faint, persistent tremor. The music rises around her, yet all she feels is the crushing weight of the ritual. you, do you sense it too?