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“Where else would I go on my wedding night if not to my wife?”

His reply scares me, forcing me to step behind. Suddenly his gaze shifts from me, back to the dresser. He crosses me to reach there and picks the Mangalsutra lying lifeless on the dressing table, before turning again.

“Why is this not on your neck?” He asks. When I don’t answer, he continues. “I know you have stayed in London but that doesn’t mean you don’t value the basics of our culture.”

“Shut up,” I yell. “You don’t have to tell me that when you yourself have committed the biggest crime by tricking a woman into something as holy and sacred as marriage.”

His eyes fix on my face for a long.

“I don’t consider this marriage, Aarav and no matter how much you want to enjoy thinking you succeeded, you will fail miserably the day you realize your fault. And that day is not very far.”

He puts the chain back on the dresser and is about to reach me when we hear another door knock and this time the voice is of Mohit. DAMN!! Mohit is back!! He is home!!

I am about to run to the door when Aarav grabs my arm. I turn around to notice the maddening look on his face and it’s enough to scare me again. I am between the Raichand brothers.. this istheirwar.. andIam the bait!! It is at this moment that I realize I cannot greet Mohit like the way I used to, because ritually I am tied to some other man who is as hungry to eradicate the name, fame and dignity of Mohit just with a snap of his fingers.

“Jhanvi…” Mohit calls out, knocking again, whilst I glued my eyes to Aarav’s.

I can’t open that door and let Mohit see I am with Aarav. What will they do? How will they react?

“Open the door, Jaan.” Aarav coaxes, but his tone scares me. “Open that damn door and show that man to whom you belong?”

No!! I can’t do this.

“Jhanvi,” Mohit bangs the door again, harder this time.

My heart races knowing Aarav is reluctant to let this moment go, but this is not how I want to fuel their fights.

“Please go,” I beg Aarav, who smirks challengingly.

“Open the door and let him see us,” he commands again, but I deny instantly.

“It doesn’t matter if he sees us together. I am not yours… I never was…”

I turn my head to see if the door is being unlocked. Mohit must have the keys to this room and he can use it any moment to get inside and check on me. I can’t face him when I have Aarav standing next to me, claiming me to be his wife.

I am still thinking about how to best handle this situation with Aarav still holding my hand when I suddenly feel his lips on my left cheek.

Aarav Raichand leaves an open-mouth kiss on my cheek, so tenderly, as if he knows a little pressure from his side could break me into tears.

“Now you are mine,” he claims, leaving my arm and letting me go. “Now you are Mrs. Jhanvi Aarav Raichand, Jaan. So better act like one.”

With that challenging demand, he walks to the balcony, leaving me alone, shattered, confused and totally helpless about what my next actions should be.

When Mohit bangs the door again, I finally open it for him. My eyes and head hurt. I don’t think I am even glad to see Mohit because probably it’s too late. The worst had happened and he could do nothing to stop it. His war with Aarav Raichand has snatched his fiancée forever, and he doesn’t even know. Tears pool in my eyes again.

“God, where were you?” He cups my face. “Why did you take so long to open the damn door?”

I swallow my tears painfully. The urge to tell him the truth is so heavy, but Aarav’s words echo in my head.

‘Now you are Mrs. Jhanvi Aarav Raichand, Jaan. So better act like one.’

My mind has not even registered that my body uncoils from Mohit’s embrace. I don’t know why I did that? Mohit and I have always shared each other’s pain for years and today when I have such an important thing to share with him, my heart doesn’t let me do so. I am too confused and scared at the moment to even tell anyone else what exactly happened to me today.

“Are you okay, Jhanvi? I got your voicemail and I am sorry I heard it now. I mean, after the conference, I had little network on my phone until my flight landed back in India. What happened? What was it you wanted to tell me? You sounded panicked. Is everything okay with your health?”

The reply is on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t. I don’t think I can share this with Mohit or Daadi now. I would have to tell them everything from the beginning, right from my first meet with Aarav Raichand in his home, the bracelet he made me wear, the dresses he shopped for me, his challenge to make me his wife, the way he tricked me for the wedding stating Jaya, Daadi and Mohit’s life was in danger. I have to tell them all.

“Jhanvi, say something,” Mohit shakes me and I nod.

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