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She keeps questioning but though I have answers to all, my body doesn’t support me to voice them out. Finally, after a few minutes, I speak up with my limp body curled on the bed, energy drained from all this trauma I had to go through.

“He married me Jaya and I couldn’t do anything.”

“Married?” She sounds shocked. “Who married you? Mohit?”

“Aarav..” I shout in anger. The mere name of his burns my tongue, and I wish I could erase every incident that occurred in the past few hours.

Jaya knows who Aarav Raichand is, as he was always in our talks when Mohit grumbled about his stepbrother.

“Aarav? Aarav Raichand? How? I mean.. What are you talking about? Jhanvi, please tell me clearly what happened? All I know is that my secretary told me your marriage is postponed and when I tried to call you back and confirm, somehow my calls never got connected.”

“He did all this. He hacked your phone, Jaya.” I snap.

“Hacked my phone? Who?”

“Aarav. He hacked your phone so that he could marry me and…”

“God!! Stop talking in codes. I don't understand anything. Tell me everything from the start, and please accept my video call invite.”

In a second, I hear the beep on my phone and accept Jaya’s video call. Jaya throws a worried look at me.

“Gosh, what has he done to you? You really married him? How?”

I tell her everything. Right from how Aarav challenged me when I mistakenly arrived at his home from the airport, the dresses he shopped for me, the threats he gave, I tell her everything, including the fact that he bribed her secretary who should not be trusted anymore. Jaya is in shock.

“Holy God. That’s why my secretary suddenly put in her papers this morning and since then, even her phone is dead. I thought she was travelling somewhere in an emergency. Did she dupe me? Damn her!! I am going to fire her right away. No wait. I am going to get her arrested for doing that to me.”

She then focusses on me and exhales.

“Where are you now? Did you tell this to Daadi or Mohit? Please tell them, Jhanvi and get that guy arrested. He blackmailed you to get married. He must be punished.”

I agree!! But I am also aware he has the power to come out unscathed. I have to handle this matter with utmost delicateness. Aarav controls too many strings that can pull down Daadi and Mohit’s efforts for so many years. When I share my insecurities with Jaya, she lashes at me.

“Jhanvi, for once think about yourself and not others. I know Daadi and Mohit mean a lot to you, but this is no more about their safety. Aarav has crossed his limits and you have to stop him before he does something grave.”

Jaya is absolutely right, but whatever I faced today, I have lost every bit of strength in me to stand up and fight for myself. Jaya has always been my strong support ever since we met in London. After a bad breakup with her childhood boyfriend, situations made her bitter, and that’s why she never showed faith in any man again. And though her hatred for Aarav is genuine, I don’t have that courage left in me to tackle this fight.

“I am coming to India,” she assures. “Just give me two days. I will be there and we will fix this together. Okay?”

Relief courses through me knowing Jaya will reach in two days.

“Thanks Jaya. I really need someone here to guide my next actions.”

“I know baby,” her eyes tear with mine. “Don’t worry. Stay strong and I will take care of all this once I arrive. When is Mohit coming?”

“I don’t know. He hasn’t answered my call.”

She frowns. Jaya was the only one who wanted me to be sure before accepting Mohit’s marriage proposal. She thought Mohit doesn’t love me, it’s just friendship and since I didn’t love him too, she urged me to rethink his proposal which I never did. Not after Mohit went on his knees to propose to me in London.

“He hasn’t answered your call? How ridiculous is that? It’s been how many hours since he hasn’t?” Jaya scolds.

“I left him a voicemail,” I answer.

The sudden thought of Mohit and my present marital status brings fresh tears to my eyes.

“He is useless in that case,” Jaya pounces back. “And this was the man who you were so eager to marry?”

“Jaya, stop,” I snap. “Aarav has created enough problems in Mohit’s life and he is busy sorting them.”

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