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I had desired a man like him in my life who would make me his queen and flaunt his love and attention to me, and for some odd reason, I found that spark in Aarav Raichand. Yet, I hate him for what he did to me and that’s never going to change.

I don’t realize when he raises my hand and brings my fingers to his mouth. Without breaking his gaze, the next instant, he kisses my fingers to bring me out of my stupor. Pulling my hand away, I give his chest a hard push. The distance created between us brings back my sanity. Aarav had kissed my cheek the night he visited Raichand Mansion secretly and now he repeated that on my fingers. This has to stop.

“Don’t you dare touch me again,” I warn, but instead of being offended, he leans back on the wall, watching me intently with his hands crossed.

“What about flying kisses? Is that allowed?”

My jaw drops at his intent teasing. It’s a waste talking to him, so I walk away.

“Jaan,” He calls me out and for some odd reason I turn around to see what else he has left to say.

Aarav kisses his palm and blows on it in my direction.A flying kiss.Damn him!!!

I freeze completely at his boldness. He is doing everything he is capable of to annoy me. It’s a waste to argue, so I turn around and leave the washroom.

*******************

An hour passes and thankfully I haven’t seen Aarav Raichand again. Where is he? It’s strange how despite having Daadi and Mohit with me, I cannot focus on them. That’s because Mohit has left my side and is busy drinking alone, hoping to curb his frustration for the business loss Aarav has pushed him into. I tried to stop him, but he patted my cheek and asked me to go join Daadi and leave him alone for some time. I didn’t like his attitude, but I ignored it for that moment. It’s been a few more minutes now and this time I am lost thinking what would be Aarav’s next move? What was his real intention of calling us here? Was it only to make us jealous of his success, or is there more to it?

“Jhanvi.” Daadi touches my arm, making me jerk.

“Yes?” I shudder.

“What’s wrong with you? You look stressed from the past few days.”

That’s becauseI amstressed. There is so much I am hiding in my heart from everyone and I can’t even tell. Before I could frame a reply, Daadi continued.

“I know” she pressed my hand this time. “The wedding is postponed, and then all this nonsense from Aarav is taking a toll on your mind. But I assure you, once Mohit and you get married, everything will be back in place and flourishing again.”

Is there any chance all this can come true? Daadi doesn’t stop at this and shares her other plans that she wants to fulfil after Mohit and my marriage. It hurts me to keep her in so much darkness. I have never lied to her before, never hidden my grief. She has always been the one to shower love upon me after my parents’ death. I shouldn’t be hiding anything from her. Tears spring in my eyes as I finally make my mind to speak to her and tell her everything that happened between me and Aarav, including our marriage.

“Daadi.” I grip her arms tight. “I want to tell you something.”

She gives me a nod with a pleasing smile, thinking I am going to tell her my share of ideas about my future with Mohit. I know she will be hurt when I tell her the entire truth that I have been hiding from them for two days. But I am ready to face that.

“Tell me, Jhanvi,” she coaxes.

“Promise me you will understand my situation and not cut off ties with me.”

My sentence puts her in a dilemma.

“Why will I cut off ties with you? You are going to be the bride of the Raichand family.”

“No. I am not..” I snap.

I want to tell her I am already the Bahu of the Raichands ever since Aarav married me, but words choke in my throat and suddenly the lights turn off.

“Ladies and Gentlemen.”

It’s Aarav’s voice, and a flashlight falls on him as he continues to speak on the center stage.

“Everyone here knows why I threw this party tonight. Mehta’s Company and AR Group have joined hands to do a few projects together. But that’s not the only happiness I wanted to share with you all. There’s more.”

More? What else? I didn’t realize until now that there’s a vast screen right behind Aarav which is connected to some projector. But this is not the time I want to think about him, but to utilize it for a better cause – to tell Daadi the truth.

“Daadi I..”

“Sshhh,” she hushes me. “Let me hear what he wants to say first. I want to see how much low he can stoop to prove his win and our loss.”

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