Upstairs, in the room, Nandini turned toward Aanya angrily.
"This all happened because of you, girl," she said sharply.
"Nandini aunty, I—" Aanya tried to explain.
But Nandini left before she could finish.
Aanya moved to follow her, but Aryan stopped her.
"Where are you going? Stay here."
"But, Mr. Aryan, I should—"
"There's no need for your help," Aryan cut her off coldly.
"You've already done more than enough. Just stay here. Don't come downstairs."
He walked away.
Aanya stood there silently, watching him leave.
Downstairs, Shreya asked anxiously,
"Ankitha, what happened? What did Aryan say?"
Ankitha remained silent.
Then she turned toward Devika.
"Devika ji… what happened?"
Just then, Nandini came downstairs, followed by Aryan.
Aravind stepped forward.
"Aryan, what is happening here?" he asked seriously.
"Did you tell Ankitha to call off the marriage?"
Aryan paused for a moment.
"Yes," he said.
Everyone was shocked.
After a brief silence, Aryan spoke again, his voice steady but firm.
"Today, this wedding is called off. Everyone may leave."
The guests began whispering among themselves. Slowly, one by one, they started leaving the venue.
Aravind looked at Aryan sternly.
"What is wrong with you?"
Aryan lowered his gaze slightly.
"Mr. Raichand," he said respectfully,
"I'm sorry for calling off this marriage… and I'm sorry for everything."
Meanwhile, inside the cab, Prerna said anxiously,
"Please drive fast. We've been stuck here for ten minutes."
The driver replied calmly,
"Ma'am, you can see there's a lot of traffic. At this time, there's usually heavy traffic."
Prerna looked at the time and panicked.
Oh no… what will happen now? I just hope Aanya doesn't get into trouble because of me.
Back at the wedding, Aravind stepped forward angrily.
"Aryan, what are you doing? How can you call off the marriage?"
"I'm calling off this marriage because Prerna doesn't want to marry Dev."
Dev froze.
Aravind and Shreya exchanged shocked looks.
"What do you mean she doesn't want to marry Dev?" Aravind demanded.
"She agreed to this marriage, didn't she?"
Dev looked at Aryan, confused and hurt.
"Where is Prerna? We can talk about this.
Ankitha spoke sadly,
"Dev… Prerna isn't here. She left the wedding and went somewhere."
Dev stepped back in shock.
Shreya and Aravind were equally stunned.
"She left?" Aravind asked in disbelief.
"Is this true, Aryan?"
"Yes," Aryan replied firmly.
Dev ran a hand through his hair, trying to process everything.
"Mr. Raichand," Aryan continued, "even we don't know the full details."
"Stop it, Aryan Mehra!" Aravind shouted angrily.
Devika and Nandini were stunned.
Upstairs, Aanya heard the shouting from the room.
"Oh no… instead of helping me, Mr. Aryan…" she muttered anxiously.
"No, no. I have to go downstairs. I have to tell them this is my fault."
She hurried downstairs.
Aravind was still shouting,
"How can your sister leave her own wedding? Tell me!"
Suddenly, a voice interrupted.
"Uncle… please wait."
Everyone turned toward the voice.
It was Aanya.
Aryan looked at her in shock.
Shreya, Dev, and Aravind were stunned to see Aanya standing there—in the bridal dress.
Aanya walked forward slowly.
"Uncle, please don't scold Mr. Aryan," she said nervously.
"He doesn't know anything."
Dev looked at her in confusion.
"Aanya… what are you doing in the bridal dress?"
Nandini leaned toward Devika and whispered in a low voice,
"Why did this girl came downstairs? she will again to create another problem.
Aanya froze. She didn't know what to say.
Suddenly, Aryan grabbed her hand.
"Why did you come downstairs?" he asked sharply.
"Didn't I tell you not to come?"
"Mr. Aryan, I was just—"
"You still haven't answered my question," Dev interrupted firmly.
"Why are you wearing the bridal dress, Aanya?"
Aanya lowered her eyes, unable to speak.
"Answer me, Aanya," Dev said, his voice rising.
"She was helping Prerna," Ankitha said suddenly.
Dev turned towards Ankitha.
Ankitha continued,
"She knows where Prerna went. So that no one would suspect anything, Prerna asked her to help. That's why Aanya dressed like the bride—to pretend."
Aravind and Shreya were shocked.
Aravind stepped forward angrily.
"Don't you have any shame to do something like this?"
Aryan's expression hardened instantly.
Shreya added hurtfully,
"How could you do this to us, Aanya?"
"I'm sorry…" Aanya whispered.
"Shut up!" Aravind snapped.
Aanya froze in fear.
Aryan looked at Aravind seriously, his jaw tightening.
"So you know where Prerna went, right?" Aravind demanded.
"Tell us. Where did she go? Tell me!"
"Uncle, I…" Aanya stammered.
"Tell me!" Aravind shouted again, raising his hand to slap her.
Before his hand could reach her—
Aryan grabbed his wrist mid-air.
Everyone gasped in shock.
Aanya slowly lifted her eyes and looked at Aryan.
Aryan stood firmly in front of her, his grip tight, his eyes locked seriously on Aravind.
"How can you raise your hand against Aanya?" Aryan said angrily, still holding Aravind's wrist.
Dev stepped forward immediately.
"Mr. Aryan Mehra, how dare you hold my father's hand?"
"Then tell your father not to raise his hand!" Aryan shouted back.
The entire hall fell silent.
Aanya looked at Aryan, shocked by his reaction.
Suddenly, Aryan realized what he was doing. He slowly released Aravind's hand.
He took a deep breath.
"Mr. Raichand," Aryan said, trying to control his tone,
"This is between our families. It would be better if we don't involve outsiders."
Aanya looked at him, hurt flickering in her eyes.
"But that 'outsider' is also involved in this, Aryan," Ankitha said sharply.
"She knows everything."
Aryan fell silent.
Aravind stepped forward, his voice cold and bitter.
"It was our mistake to accept this marriage proposal from your family. Even after knowing about your father, we still agreed."
Devika looked at him, then lowered her gaze in guilt.
"We thought it was just him," Aravind continued harshly.
"But now it looks like your entire family lacks character."
Before anyone could react—
Aryan grabbed Aravind by the collar.
"How dare you talk about my family like that?" Aryan growled.
Everyone gasped.
"Aryan!" Devika shouted in shock.
" Aryan, what are you doing?" Dev demanded.
But Aryan didn't stop.
"Don't you ever speak about my family like that again," he warned Aravind.
"Do you understand?"
"And by the way, it was your family who came with the marriage proposal — not mine. So think before you speak."
Devika rushed forward.
"Aryan, remove your hands."
He didn't move.
"Aryan!" she said more firmly.
"I said remove your hands."
After a tense pause, Aryan slowly released Aravind's collar.
The hall remained silent, heavy with anger and humiliation.
Devika turned toward Aravind and Shreya.
"Aravind ji… Shreya ji… I'm sorry. I apologize for everything."
"Mom—" Aryan tried to interrupt.
"Aryan, let me finish," Devika said firmly.
She took a deep breath.
"I'm apologizing on behalf of my son, who behaved rudely toward you… and on behalf of my daughter, who left this wedding."
Aravind and Shreya turned their faces away, hurt and humiliated.
"Dev… please forgive us," Devika said softly.
Nandini, Aryan, and Aanya all looked at Devika in shock.
"I cannot say anything more than this," she finished.
Silence filled the hall.
Dev finally spoke, his voice tired.
"Dad… let's leave."
"But, Dev beta—" Aravind tried.
"There's nothing left to do here," Dev cut him off quietly.
"Let's go. Mom… please."
Shreya looked at him sadly.
Aravind gave Aryan one long, serious look before turning away.
Dev, Shreya, and Ankitha followed him out.
The hall slowly emptied.
Devika sat down heavily on a nearby chair, exhausted.
Nandini looked at her in disbelief.
"Devika, why did you say sorry?" she asked sharply.
"Everything that happened today is because of Aanya.
Are you happy now?"
Aanya looked at her in confusion.
"Why would I be happy, Nandini aunty?"
"I thought this is what you all wanted," Nandini said bitterly.
Suddenly, Aryan turned and looked sharply at Nandini.
"That's why at first you didn't tell anyone that Prerna had gone somewhere. And now you came downstairs and created a bigger scene."
"Nandini Sister-in-law, please stop," Devika said weakly.
"Everything has already happened. Nothing more needs to happen."
"Our family has wronged their family… and even my apology means nothing after what happened today."
Aryan looked at his mother.
"But Devika—" Nandini started.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from the entrance.
"Mom…"
Everyone turned.
Prerna stood at the doorway.
Devika immediately stood up from her chair.
Nandini noticed her and froze.
Aanya whispered softly, almost in disbelief,
"Prerna…"
Aryan's expression darkened instantly.
Without a word, he strode toward Prerna.
He stopped in front of her, a tense pause hanging between them
"Mr. Aryan!" Aanya exclaimed instinctively.
Aryan shot her a sharp look.
"Don't say a word," he said sternly.
"This is between us."
Aanya fell silent.
Aryan turned back to Prerna, his eyes blazing.
"Where did you go?"
Prerna swallowed. "Hospital."
he asked coldly. "Whom did you go to meet?"
"Aahil."
Nandini froze in shock.
Devika looked confused. She clearly didn't understand what was happening.
Aanya looked at Prerna anxiously.
Aryan's jaw tightened.
"Answer my last question," he said, his voice dangerously calm.
"What is your relationship with him?"
Prerna gathered her courage.
"I… like him."
Devika gasped in shock.
Aryan turned his face away, anger and betrayal flashing in his eyes.
---
End Of Chapter 57.