Bride By Mistake

A U T H O R

The night air was thick, the streetlights flickering dimly along the almost-empty road. Vidyut's car screeched to a halt as his eyes caught a familiar figure ahead — Ritvika.
She was running aimlessly, her steps uneven, her body swaying dangerously close to the middle of the road.

His breath hitched.
"Ritvika...!" he shouted, flinging the car door open.

Before he could even reach her, his eyes widened — a truck was speeding down the opposite lane, its horn blaring.
Time froze.

"Ritvika, move!" But she didn't. She just turned her head sluggishly towards the sound, confused, her eyes glassy.

Vidyut's legs moved before his mind did.
He sprinted, every muscle in his body burning, and just as the truck came dangerously close, he grabbed her — pulling her with full force.

Both of them crashed onto the other side of the road, rolling on the gravel before coming to a halt.

The truck roared past, missing them by inches. Gravel scraped his palms as Vidyut fell to the side of the road, Ritvika's frail body clutched tightly in his arms. His heart pounded violently against his ribs, breath shallow, almost painful.

For a moment, he couldn't even move — the image of her standing in front of that speeding truck kept flashing before his eyes.

He pushed her back slightly, hands trembling as he checked her face.
"What the hell were you doing, Ritvika!" he snapped, his voice rough, louder than he intended. "Are you out of your mind?"

She didn't respond — her head swayed lightly, eyes blinking in confusion.

"Look at me!" he said sharply, shaking her shoulder. "You were about to die, dammit! What if I hadn't come? Do you have any idea what could've—"
He stopped mid-sentence, breath catching when the scent hit him — sharp, unmistakable alcohol.

His brows furrowed in disbelief.
"Don't tell me..." He leaned closer, his tone growing colder. "You're drunk?"

Ritvika flinched faintly at his tone, her lips parting as if to say something, but no words came. She just blinked at him — disoriented, weak.

Vidyut exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Unbelievable. Just unbelievable." His voice shook with fury. "You've got a child waiting at home — and this is what you're doing? Drinking? Wandering in the middle of the damn road?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, her expression somewhere between pain and confusion. She tried to speak — "I didn't—" but her voice cracked before the words could form.

Vidyut cut her off, too consumed by the rush of anger and fear.
"Do you even realise what could've happened? What if that truck hadn't stopped? What if Tara lost her mother tonight?" His voice cracked for a split second before he composed himself, jaw clenching.

Ritvika's body trembled as she tried to stand, but her knees gave way. Vidyut instinctively caught her, his grip firm but angry.
He stared down at her, eyes burning — half from fury, half from something deeper.
"Is this what you call being strong?" he muttered, voice low but fierce. "Running away? Drinking your problems instead of facing them?"

Her tears finally slipped, silent and unchecked. She didn't argue — didn't defend herself. She just looked away, a single line escaping her lips in a hoarse whisper, "You won't understand..."

That sentence stopped him. Just for a heartbeat.
There was something in her tone — broken, hollow, almost scared.

He swallowed hard but didn't push further. Not now.