A year of marriage... an unknown relationship... and a truth that could change everything!<br /> <br /> For Anvika Rathore, nothing was more important than her brother's life, and to save him, she made a deal—a one-year contract marriage. She had to... A year of marriage... an unknown relationship... and a truth that could change everything!<br /> <br /> For Anvika Rathore, nothing was more important than her brother's life, and to save him, she made a deal—a one-year contract marriage. She had to marry the adopted son of a wealthy family, taking her stepsister's place. But fate played a unique game!<br /> <br /> Not the one she was supposed to marry... but Rudransh Marwa, the family's true heir, became her husband. Rudransh was searching for a special girl, and in this search, he made a deal with his brother—but he didn't know that his bride was none other than the girl he was looking for!<br /> <br /> The condition was that they would never meet each other. But destiny had even bigger games in store. Unaware of each other's identities, Rudransh falls in love with Anvika. But when the truth comes out, will the chains of this agreement break the bonds of love?<br /> <br /> Will Rudransh find out that Anvika is the destination of his search? And when the truth is revealed, will this one-year agreement be broken forever... or will this relationship be bound for a lifetime?<br />
Page 1 of 7
Silence permeated the room of a seven-star luxurious hotel. The only sound was that of the girl’s heels, produced by her pacing. Anvika Rathore, a personal stylist, was grooming Rudransh Marwah, a top Mumbai businessman, who was about to attend an awards function.
Anvika was about twenty-two years old; slender, fair-complexioned, with an innocent and beautiful appearance. She had brown, wavy hair that reached her waist, which she had haphazardly styled. She looked lost and sad.
Suddenly, her hands trembled as she worked, when she heard Rudransh’s cold voice.
“What have you done? My shirt… you’ve ruined it? Where’s your focus?” he was extremely angry.
Hearing Rudransh’s voice brought her back to her senses. She stammered,
“I… I am very sorry, sir. I… I didn’t do it intentionally.”
Anvika saw that she had accidentally sprayed hairspray on Rudransh’s shirt, which had caused yellow-black stains on his expensive white shirt.
After looking at Rudransh’s shirt, Anvika’s gaze fell on his face. His beautiful, deep black eyes held immense anger, as if he would end her life right then. It was her mistake, after all. Even an intern would work with more focus, whereas she had been doing this job for a long time.
Before Rudransh could say anything, his gaze suddenly fell on Anvika’s neck, and his eyes narrowed. On Anvika’s collarbone was a small reddish-brown mole; shaped like a flame. At first glance, it looked like a tattoo.
While Rudransh’s attention was fixed on Anvika’s mole, Anvika said in a soft, trembling voice,
“I know I’ve done this for the second time. But there’s an extra shirt available, please change.”
“So you realize you’ve ruined my second shirt too.” Rudransh said, nodding his head, and then looked at the second shirt lying there.
He was initially going to wear that pastel pink shirt, but in her haste, Anvika had dropped it, and it had been ruined under her heels.
“I am very sorry.” Anvika said again. By now, she had apologized to Rudransh countless times, even though she knew well that “sorry” was a very small word for the damage she had caused.
When Anvika looked at Rudransh, he was walking towards her. Anvika panicked. Then, Rudransh came close to her ear and said in a low voice,
“So you want me to spend the whole night with you in this room? That’s why you’re doing these silly things?” As he spoke, she could feel his warm breath on her neck, making her heart beat faster.
Before Rudransh could come any closer to Anvika, Anvika placed her hand on his chest and pushed him slightly away.
In her haste, Anvika had made another mistake. After the way she had pushed Rudransh, it seemed like it was going to be the last day of her life and profession. She stepped back in panic, her head hitting the wall behind her.
Anvika tightly closed her eyes. Then Rudransh came closer and said,
“Calm down, I am giving you another chance, but this will be your last chance. If you mess up after this, it won’t be good for you.”
Rudransh had given her another chance. Hearing this, Anvika’s eyes widened in surprise, as if she was dreaming. The person in front of her was Rudransh Marwah; everyone knew that a mistake in front of him was any person’s last mistake; after that, he wouldn’t leave them fit for work anywhere. He had forgiven someone’s two mistakes today; it was nothing short of a miracle.
As Rudransh turned to change his shirt, Anvika watched him with vacant eyes. He was perfectly built: about 6 feet 1 inch tall, muscular body, fair complexion, beautiful deep black eyes, and handsome facial features. It seemed like he was made by the Almighty with great care.
Looking at Anvika, Rudransh took a deep breath and said in a loud voice,
“Madam, you have only 20 minutes. Is it possible that you really want to keep me here?”
“N… no.” Anvika stammered and quickly rushed to start styling Rudransh.
This time, Anvika was working very carefully; she had no room for mistakes. In about 15 minutes, she had Rudransh completely ready.
After Rudransh was ready and looking at himself in the mirror, Anvika’s gaze was on the two shirts she had ruined.
As Rudransh was about to leave, Anvika suddenly asked in a low voice,
“What would be the price of these shirts? I made a mistake, so I want to pay.”
Hearing her words, a crooked smile appeared on Rudransh’s face. He turned towards her and nodded, saying,
“Interesting, so you’ve shown honesty and admitted your mistake. Well, that’s good. I find people who admit their mistakes without lying to be honest. So, you want to pay for these shirts?”
Anvika nodded in agreement, and Rudransh said,
“Alright, then send five lakhs.”
As soon as Anvika heard the amount, her eyes widened in surprise. The price of two shirts so high?
Seeing her bewildered expression, Rudransh said,
“What happened? Is it too much money and you won’t be able to pay? I could tell. Let’s do this, instead of money, you can pay with something else.” As he said this, Rudransh was checking Anvika out.
Anvika understood very well what Rudransh was talking about. She covered her face in anger; her eyes were downcast, and Rudransh gave her a sarcastic smile and left.
Anvika had not yet recovered from Rudransh’s words when her mobile phone rang. “My Love” flashed on the screen, and Anvika quickly received the call, although her heart was beating fast at that moment.
Anvika gathered her strength and said, “Hello Samyak, are you okay? I’ve been trying to call. You shouldn’t have left without telling me.” It was due to Samyak’s worry that she wasn’t able to work properly today; otherwise, Anvika was not careless.
“This is me speaking, Anvi, Samyak’s mother.” A woman’s deep voice came from his side. She paused for a moment and then said,
“The police found his mobile. They had been searching for him for the past four days… they… they think he is no more.” Saying this, the woman started crying loudly.
Hearing all this, Anvika fell to her knees right there. Tears welled up in Anvika’s eyes; her world had ended. How could the person she loved immensely, with whom she had promised to spend her life, leave her?
Anvika lost consciousness. A short while later, she had fainted while crying and, in this state, muttered to herself,
“You… you are a liar, Samyak Mehta! You promised that we would spend our whole lives together, so how can you leave me in the middle like this? You said we were going to get married soon… no, everyone is lying, they are mistaken, nothing has happened to you. They are lying. Nothing can happen to my Samyak.”
In that unconscious state, Anvika walked out of the hotel. It was raining heavily outside. She was not aware of anything; it felt as if the sky was crying with her, sharing her sorrow. Anvika kept muttering that her Samyak couldn’t leave her.
Anvika was walking in her dazed state when suddenly a car was speeding towards her. She was so out of it that she didn’t even move. Anvika regained consciousness when the car’s headlights hit her eyes, and by then, the car was very close to her.
Anvika could have moved, but it seemed that after Samyak’s departure, her will to live had ended. She remained standing there, waiting for the car to hit her. When the car was very close to her, just about to collide with her, Anvika screamed loudly.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
"Samyak…" Anvika screamed, covering her face with her palms. The car stopped abruptly, having come extremely close to her. The eyes of the person inside the car narrowed dangerously upon witnessing the scene.
Though Anvika couldn't see the person inside the car, the moment the car's flashlight hit her face, the changing expressions of the person inside clearly indicated that they had recognized her.
Unaware that the car had stopped, Anvika still stood with her face hidden in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks, mingling with the raindrops.
The car door opened, and a handsome young man with an impeccable personality, wearing black boots, stepped out. Unmindful of the rain, he walked towards Anvika.
"What are you doing here at this hour?" a slightly angry, stern voice echoed, making even the raindrops tremble. Hearing the familiar voice, Anvika, startled, removed her hands from her face. As she lifted her wet eyelashes, her gaze fell directly on the handsome young man standing before her, who was none other than Rudransh. Wet hair was scattered on his forehead, and he looked even more attractive than ever.
Seeing Rudransh before her, Anvika was stunned.
"Get in the car," Rudransh's voice echoed in her ears once again, and she snapped back to her senses, her gaze still fixed on Rudransh's cold face. In that moment, she felt so desolate and alone in this world, but suddenly Rudransh stood before her, and seeing him, the tears that had been held back in Anvika's eyes began to stream down her cheeks.
"He is dead… he will never come back…"
These words echoed in her ears, her whole body trembled, and tears flowed from her eyes. Seeing her tears, Rudransh felt a strange restlessness in his heart. The cold expression on his face changed slightly, and a softness began to show in his tone.
"Get in the car, Anvika."
For Anvika, Rudransh's presence beside her at that moment was like someone fighting a storm alone finally finding support. At that moment, a flood of emotions was surging within her, threatening to sweep her away, but Rudransh had come as her savior to rescue her.
Without a word, Anvika dragged herself with heavy steps and got into the car. She hid her head in her knees, and tears of pain flowed from her eyes.
The sound of her sobs echoed in Rudransh's ears, making him restless. He closed his eyes slightly, as if controlling his emotions, and said to the driver, "To the mansion."
Hearing him, the driver was surprised for a moment, then quietly started the car. Rudransh leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. At that moment, only the scene of the car coming extremely close to Anvika, but her standing there instead of moving, her tear-filled eyes, her sobs… were playing in his mind. It was affecting him, but why, he himself was unaware.
A short while later, he suddenly felt something heavy fall into his lap, and he opened his eyes in surprise. Anvika's head was in his lap, her arms hanging loosely. Her entire face was red from crying, and tear tracks were visible on her cheeks. A strange sadness and grief were reflected on that beautiful, captivating face.
Rudransh looked at her face silently for a while, then gently tucked the scattered strands of her hair behind her ear with his fingers. Holding her, he leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes.
When Anvika regained consciousness, she found herself in a beautiful room in a magnificent villa. She immediately sat up with a jolt. Her eyes widened as she looked around, but the place was completely unfamiliar to her. Her head was still heavy, and the memory of meeting Rudransh had completely slipped from her mind.
"What is this place?... Whose room is this, and how did I get here?"
Asking herself questions, Anvika got out of bed. She looked down at herself, then shook her head and walked towards the door.
As she stepped out of the room, she found herself in a large living area. Just as she was looking around for the door, a familiar voice came from behind.
"Looking for a way to escape?"
Hearing the voice, Anvika's pupils widened in surprise. She recognized the voice. Suddenly, the scene of Rudransh standing before her in the rain flashed in her mind.
"So, Rudransh has brought me to his house?" Anvika muttered to herself and turned around. Rudransh was standing right in front of her.
A V-neck gray t-shirt hugged his fit body perfectly, slightly damp, accentuating the outline of his muscular physique. White lowers rested loosely on his long, athletic legs, but the confidence in his gait made even that casual look incredibly charming.
Wet strands of hair were scattered on his forehead, with a few drops of water trickling down his sharp jawline. His deep, intense eyes seemed to hide an unspoken secret, and a slight smile played on his lips, making him even more alluring.
He casually brushed his hair back with his palm and walked towards her, his other hand in his lower's pocket. There was a natural grace in his movements. His body language exuded a magnetic charm that compelled anyone standing before him to look at him involuntarily.
When Anvika's gaze fell on him, she even forgot to blink. Seeing this, a mischievous smile played on Rudransh's lips.
"What are you looking at?"
The words hit Anvika's ears, and she snapped back to her senses, taking a few startled steps back as Rudransh was extremely close to her. Rudransh chuckled lightly at the color drained from her face, then put both hands in his pockets and began to look at her with intense eyes.
"First, you ruined two of my shirts, then you suddenly stood in front of my car. When you fainted, I brought you to my mansion, called a doctor for you, and as soon as you regained consciousness, you started trying to sneak away… How many problems have I had because of you in one day? Despite all that, I helped you… Don't you think you should thank me and apologize first."
Hearing Rudransh's words, Anvika realized her mistake and stammered,
"I wasn't trying to run away, and I had no intention of bothering you… I am very very sorry and thanks a lot. Now I have to go…"
"You have to go?" Rudransh asked, taking a step towards her. Seeing the expression on his face, Anvika nodded nervously.
Hearing her answer, a cunning smile spread across Rudransh's lips.
"Why the hurry to leave?… Don't you remember you ruined two of my shirts today? You owe me money for them. You can't leave from here before that."
Rudransh's face held a mysterious look; perhaps something was brewing in his mischievous mind. Anvika became a little worried hearing him, but she didn't let it show and replied with complete confidence,
"Sorry sir, but I don't have that much money right now, but I will compensate you for the shirts very soon. I just need a little time."
Her tone was full of confidence. Rudransh didn't reply but continued to walk slowly towards Anvika, watching her with intense eyes. Seeing him approaching her like that, Anvika got nervous. His cold expression and frightening eyes…
Anvika's heart pounded. She began to drag her feet backward and suddenly fell onto the sofa placed behind her. A smirk spread across Rudransh's lips. Anvika started to get up in a panic, but Rudransh had come very close to her and suddenly leaned towards Anvika, causing Anvika to recoil in fear and create distance between them.
The next moment, Rudransh did something that made Anvika extremely shocked, and she tightly shut her eyes in fear.
To be continued...
Anvika's heart pounded furiously. She dragged her feet backward and suddenly collapsed onto the sofa placed behind her. A crooked smile spread across Rudransh's lips. Anvika scrambled to get up, but Rudransh had reached extremely close to her and suddenly leaned towards her. In panic, Anvika tried to step back, but failed as Rudransh had reduced the distance between them by leaning in.
Anvika gathered courage to push him, but hesitated and felt ashamed, unable to do so. If she extended her hand, her palm would touch Rudransh's broad, strong chest. Just thinking about it made her heart flutter strangely.
Rudransh leaned in even closer, resting his palm on the sofa. As she retreated, Anvika had almost lain down on the sofa, with no space left to move back. Her breath caught in her throat. With wide eyes, she looked at him fearfully, her gaze filled with apprehension. There was an inch of distance between them; thankfully, Rudransh stopped there. He made no attempt to reduce the distance between them and stared at her with intense eyes.
Due to the rain, Anvika's clothes had clung to her body, fully revealing the beauty of her delicate form and attractive figure. Her doe-like eyes and fluttering eyelashes, like butterfly wings; she looked cute, like a scared Barbie doll.
Rudransh's gaze slid from her beautiful form and settled on her collarbone. The birthmark there seemed to captivate him. The changing expressions on his face and the emotions reflected in his eyes were different, difficult to comprehend. The way he looked at the birthmark clearly indicated that his heart yearned to touch it.
Rudransh closed his eyes and took a deep breath, perhaps trying to control his emotions.
As Rudransh's gaze remained fixed on her, Anvika became nervous and wrapped her arms around herself, as if desperate to hide herself in his embrace. The proximity made her heart beat wildly with nervousness, her mind went numb. In that moment, she couldn't understand what she should do.
A mischievous smile spread across Rudransh's lips. He was enjoying teasing and bothering Anvika. He moved a little closer to Anvika, and she, panicking, squeezed her eyes shut. She felt as if closing her eyes would make her disappear, or perhaps Rudransh's gaze was making her nervous, so she squeezed her eyes shut to steady herself.
Rudransh chuckled slightly at her childish behavior and sat up straight beside her. But Anvika still had no awareness of this. She remained lying there, huddled in herself, breathless and scared.
A servant immediately entered and began to dry her hair with a towel. Rudransh stopped him with a look. He took the towel from him and gestured for him to leave, and he immediately bowed his head and departed. Rudransh wiped his wet face and neck with the towel, then, while drying his hair, a prank suddenly sparked in his mind. He carelessly threw the wet towel, which landed directly on Anvika's face. Anvika's eyes shot open in surprise.
Something white appeared before her eyes. She reached out and removed the towel from her face, only to find Rudransh gone. As Anvika sat up abruptly, her gaze fell on Rudransh sitting beside her, a faint smile on his lips, watching her with great interest.
Anvika was surprised by her earlier behavior and restless by Rudransh's actions. Avoiding his gaze, she clung to the other corner of the sofa and, in her nervousness, intertwined her fingers.
"Why weren't you moving from in front of my car and why were you crying so much?" Rudransh suddenly asked. Hearing this, Anvika turned to look at him in surprise.
Rudransh, with a serious expression, raised his eyebrows, and looked at her questioningly. Anvika remembered the moment she received news about Samyak and lost consciousness. Once again, she began to get emotional, but quickly composed herself.
Rudransh was a stranger to her, so she didn't want his sympathy by sharing personal details from her life, nor was there any benefit in telling him anything.
"Tell me... why were you standing in the middle of the road crying like that, and why didn't you move when you saw the oncoming car?"
Rudransh asked again. Strange emotions flickered across Anvika's face. What could she tell him? That fate had snatched away her reason for living, so she wanted to die? No, she couldn't bring her personal life before her client like this.
Anvika took a deep breath and replied without any emotion, "I will pay you the full compensation for your shirt soon... Thank you for helping me so much... Thank you so much. Now I should leave."
At that moment, she wanted to share the state of her heart and the pain she was in, but definitely not with this dangerous and mysterious person whom she didn't even know properly. At that time, she had become weak, she didn't know what had happened to her that she had cried in front of him, but now she had composed herself.
Anvika thanked him and got up to leave. Rudransh didn't even try to stop her. Watching Anvika's retreating back, strange emotions flickered in Rudransh's eyes, difficult to understand. He picked up his mobile from the table, made a phone call, and as soon as Anvika stepped out of the gate, a new, shining car stopped in front of her.
"It's still raining heavily, and I don't trust you; you might stand in front of a moving car again. Get inside, the driver will drop you off."
Anvika, who was staring at the car in front of her in surprise, turned around startled by Rudransh's sudden voice. Rudransh stood a few steps away from her; his expression serious, hands in his pockets, wet hair scattered on his forehead; with his attractive personality, he was staring at her with mysterious eyes.
Rudransh rolled his eyes and gestured for Anvika to get into the car. At first, Anvika was hesitant and confused, then after thinking for a moment, she sat inside, and Rudransh stood there until the car drove out of the main gate, then he came inside, running his fingers through his wet hair. A strange smile spread across his lips, and only he knew what was going on in his wicked mind at that moment.
The car stopped outside Anvika's house. Thanking the driver, she walked inside with heavy steps. The rain was still pouring down and in a few minutes, Anvika was completely drenched.
Anvika's steps faltered at the house gate. She took a deep breath, composed herself, strengthened her heart to face the bitterest reality of her life, and as soon as she stepped inside, many eyes fixed on her. She had taken a few more steps, ignoring them, when a stern, commanding voice hit her ears and her advancing steps froze. The color drained from her face, and beads of sweat shimmered on her forehead in panic.
To be continued…
you must read my novel "destined to be mine"
"Love... a word that was nothing less than a joke to Advay Rathore."
Successful, charming and dangerously handsome — girls swooned over his one smile, but marriage? He ran from it as if from fire.
But when fate brought him face-to-face with Aadhya, the story took a turn.
Aadhya — a beautiful, bold, and proud single mother.
Whose life revolved around her tiny world, Mishti.
Her past was such that she had given up on trusting men. Love, marriage, romance — all seemed like nonsense to her.
But Advay... he turned out to be something else.
He wasn't her past, he was her destiny.
And the most beautiful beginning of this love was Mishti.
This is the story of a love... that started with conflict and turned into destiny.
A story of passion... that taught a broken woman to believe in love again.
"He never believed in love... until she belonged to him."
"Stop!"
A sharp, commanding, masculine voice echoed there. Anvika's forward steps halted; she turned her gaze in the direction of the voice, startled.
A man sat on a sofa a short distance away, one leg crossed over the other, staring at her with his steel-gray eyes. A sharp jawline, rugged stubble, and a perpetually stern expression. His presence created an odd tension. Black tailored suits, an expensive watch, and a deep, authoritative voice—this was Vikas Rathore.
Anyone would be intimidated by his dangerous eyes and aura. Anvika was also a little nervous, but she didn't let it show and said with confidence on her face,
"I am very tired, Dad, I want to rest."
It was clear she didn't want to stay here. As soon as she took a step to leave, the same harsh, commanding, angry voice echoed again,
"Stop where you are, Anvika, I haven't given you permission to leave yet."
Anvika couldn't move forward even if she wanted to. Seeing his stern face and anger-reddened eyes, she felt a little intimidated inwardly.
"Where were you until now? Who did you ask before going out? Is this the time to come home, and in what condition have you returned? Do you consider this house your own father's house that you will do as you please? Do you have any regard for our family's honor and reputation or not? Why aren't you answering now, where were you until now?"
Vikas shouted in anger; Anvika shrank into herself, intimidated. Her lips twitched slightly, but she couldn't answer these questions even if she wanted to, and her silence was like pouring petrol on the fire of Vikas's anger.
Anvika knew that they were powerful enough that they would already know about the accident involving Samyak. They kept full track of her work too. So, when they knew the answers, what was the point of asking these questions? And why were they so angry? Anvika couldn't understand.
"Anvika, why do you always make your dad angry? Why do you upset him by going against him? Come on, quickly apologize to him!"
Sitting next to Vikas was a woman who looked quite modern; she was his wife—Kajal Rathore. Seeing Anvika silent, she reprimanded her angrily, and Anvika looked at her instead of Vikas.
She kept looking at them with silent eyes. Still, her silence didn't break, nor did she give an answer or apologize. Seeing this, Vikas became furious,
"Look, this is your daughter! Who has sworn never to listen to me, to ruin our years of hard-earned honor by doing as she pleases. She has no shame, not even asking for forgiveness."
Vikas stared at Anvika with angry eyes. Mrs. Rathore quickly calmed Vikas down, then turned to Anvika and shouted angrily,
"Anvika, apologize to your dad."
This was her order, and her staring eyes conveyed a lot, which Anvika understood, lowered her gaze, and a faint voice came from her lips,
"I am sorry Dad."
What was the mistake? She didn't know, but she had apologized. Because perhaps asking for this apology was very important for her. Vikas glared at her and turned his face away; he didn't even like looking at her.
"Anvika, come here and sit with us, we need to talk to you about something important."
Kajal's voice was softer than before. Anvika looked up and saw her gesture for her to come there.
Anvika thought for a moment about what they could possibly want to talk to her about that they were calling her over? She looked at herself and wondered if they couldn't see her condition? Suddenly, her mind answered this question: no one here cared about her anyway. A helpless smile spread across Anvika's lips.
"Anvika, didn't you hear? I called you here. We need to talk to you about something very important."
Anger was evident in Kajal's voice, and she had given another order, which was impossible for Anvika to defy. She sat in front of them without changing clothes, completely drenched. Somewhere, she had an inkling that whatever was going to happen next would be bad for her.
"Tell me, Mom, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Confidence was evident in her tone. She had prepared herself mentally.
Mrs. Rathore glanced at Vikas. They had a silent exchange of glances, which Anvika couldn't understand but tried her best to interpret. From their facial expressions, it seemed like a serious matter, and their serious talk meant a new trouble for her. Thinking this, Anvika let out a cold sigh; every day in this house started with a new challenge, and she had become accustomed to all of it.
After a while, Kajal turned her gaze to Anvika and began to speak,
"Anvika, do you remember how the Rathore family reached this point? How much we struggled to get here? Do you know what our condition was before, and how we are getting this mansion, important cars, this luxurious lifestyle today?"
Anvika was a little confused by her words. Before she could answer these questions, Mrs. Rathore continued herself, "The Marwa family trusted us and sought our help at that time, invested in our business, and gave us loans. Because of their financing, the Rathore family was able to overcome that difficult time and move forward, our business was rebuilt. The Marwa family trusted us and gave us a chance. There was just one condition—if we gave the Marwa clan an heir, we wouldn't have to repay the loan."
Anvika already knew about this. She had heard it many times before. She just couldn't understand why all this was being told to her today, what their motive was behind it?
Anvika listened to their entire story, then raised her eyebrows and said, "I know, but why are you telling me all this today? According to that condition, Paridhi's marriage was already decided that she would become the daughter-in-law of the Marwa family, right?"
Hearing Anvika's question, Mrs. Rathore replied with a fake smile, "Yes, we had fixed Paridhi's engagement and it was decided that she would become the daughter-in-law of the Marwa family, but now Paridhi is not well, so she cannot fulfill that condition, she cannot get married."
"So what do you want now? And what's the point of telling me all this? What can I do in all this?"
Anvika looked at them with raised eyebrows and suspicious eyes, perhaps trying to figure out what they actually wanted from her.
Mrs. Rathore turned her head to look at Vikas sitting next to her. Once again, they had a silent conversation, during which their facial expressions changed several times, which Anvika watched very closely. Somewhere, she understood what they were about to say, yet she sat silently, waiting for their answer.
"You will have to marry in Paridhi's place!"
After a moment of silence, Vikas replied in plain words without any preamble, and he didn't just say it; he gave a direct order, which meant she had to do it. She didn't have the right to refuse the marriage.
Anvika's guess was correct. First, she looked at her mom and dad sitting in front of her restlessly, then let out a deep sigh and stood up.
"I will not marry," Anvika refused their order with full confidence, meeting their eyes. Hearing her answer, Vikas's face turned cold. The very next moment, he said something that made Anvika bow her head and accept his order.
To be continued...
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"You will have to do this marriage in place of Paridhi!"
After a while of silence, Vikas replied directly and clearly. He didn't ask her anything; he simply gave an order that was clear: she had to do it. She couldn't refuse the marriage.
Anvika was surprised and very angry when she heard this. How could he do this to her when he knew everything?
"Dad, what does this mean? The relationship came for Paridhi, and her relationship was decided, so how can I do this marriage? How can you make such a decision when you know everything?"
Anvika's face was stern, and her eyes showed not only sadness but also a strange anger.
Her tone and questioning the decision openly didn't particularly please Mr. Rathod. His face turned darker; he frowned and glared at her angrily.
"Anvika, don't forget that the Rathod family gave you this name and identity. Today, you are who you are and where you are because of me. If I hadn't given you a place in my home and my name back then, you would be in an orphanage today. The Rathod family raised you for 18 years. We have been very kind to you, and now it's time for you to repay those kindnesses!"
Mr. Rathod said something today that left Anvika speechless. His face was hard, and his eyes were red with anger.
When Mr. Rathod saw him so angry, Mrs. Rathod became nervous. As she recalled their past, her face turned pale. She immediately turned to Anvika and begged her, showing her helplessness.
"Anvika, if no one from the Marwa family marries into the Rathod family, they will take back the money they lent us before. ... You can't imagine how much they invested. If we try to repay all the debt, we will truly be ruined. ... This villa, car, property, and shares - everything will go away! The Rathod empire will disappear, and our family will end up on the streets. We will lose everything, and then who will pay for Ansh's treatment?"
Kajal had pressed Anvika's weak nerve very ruthlessly. She was her mother; perhaps she knew how to coerce her? Anvika's changing expressions indicated that her words were taking effect.
Anvika felt as though someone had mercilessly pulled out the ground beneath her feet and clenched her heart in a fist. She felt her knees weaken.
She knew how much the Marwa family owed the Rathods and how much debt they had taken from them. If the marriage didn't happen, they would have to return the money, and repaying that debt would leave them on the streets. What would happen then?... In this entire world, if she had someone of her own, it was her brother Ansh, her weakness. For him, she could do anything, but her biological mother could take advantage of her weakness? How could she ask her to marry someone else when she knew Anvika had only loved Samyak and had sworn to spend her life with him?
Anvika's heart grew heavy. Her mind sank into a deep sea of sorrow and despair. She hadn't expected this from her biological mother, but she couldn't openly complain. With weighed-down steps, she slowly moved towards the stairs.
The faces of Mr. and Mrs. Rathod showed tension as Anvika left without answering.
As soon as Anvika left, the second girl stepped in.
She was beautiful, with long, silky hair, deep, captivating eyes, and a mischievous smile that could charm anyone. She looked innocent but had a sharp mind and knew how to take advantage of every situation. Her charm and cleverness made her stand out—a perfect blend of beauty and intelligence, with a bit of slyness. This was Paridhi, Anvika's step-sister.
"Mom, I don't want to marry that boy from the Marwa family. They adopted him; he doesn't belong to that family. He won't get anything from the Marwa empire. Their property, business - he has no claim to it now. If I marry him, I'll spend my whole life as a servant in that house and take care of that disabled person... I can't do this... I don't want such a life."
Paridhi wrapped her arms around Mrs. Rathod's neck. Her face showed sadness and restlessness, and Mrs. Rathod hugged her.
"Don't worry, darling. You won't marry Parth. You're so beautiful, and we've raised you with so much love. We won't marry you off to just anyone. Our princess deserves a handsome prince. My and your dad will solve this problem. If you don't want to marry, your sister will do it. Don't worry at all."
Mrs. Rathod was explaining to her very lovingly. The strange thing was that she loved one daughter so much, but she didn't pity the other. She was worried about one but didn't care about the other. It didn't bother her to ruin one daughter's life to save the other.
"He's not my sister; the Rathod family's blood doesn't run in her veins."
Paridhi said with disgust; she didn't like being called Anvika's sister, and her face turned red with anger. Then, changing her tone, she said:
"If I marry, I will marry Rudransh Marwa because he is the future heir of the Marwa family. He will have all the Marwa family's property, their vast empire, everything."
Paridhi had a different plan. For her, marriage wasn't a relationship; it was an opportunity—a chance to secure her future and live a luxurious lifestyle. She only wanted to marry for money and property.
Meanwhile, Anvika's ears echoed with Mrs. Rathod's words; sometimes she thought of Ansh, and sometimes her heart ached for Samyak. As she entered her room, she closed the door, leaned against it, and closed her eyes. Slowly sliding down, she sat on the carpet. She folded her legs and hugged them tightly, buried her face between them, and her eyes welled up with tears, wetting her feet.
Her heart and mind were tangled in a strange dilemma. There was still no news of Samyak. She didn't know where he was, what condition he was in, or if he was even alive. Before she could recover from the fear of losing her love, her family forced her to marry the Marwa family's eldest son.
If she didn't marry, Mr. Rathod would stop funding her brother's treatment. But if she married... what would happen to Samyak? What about her love? She loved Samyak; how could she marry someone else?
She didn't understand why all this was happening to her. What would she do? How would she overcome these problems? As she thought, her head started aching. She didn't notice how much time passed as she sat there.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, and Anvika jumped out of her thoughts. When she came to her senses, she realized she was still sitting in her wet clothes.
The voice came from outside, and Anvika's expressions changed. She stood up quickly, rubbed her tears off with her palm, and wiped them away. A little while ago, she had looked utterly desperate, but now her face was stern, and her eyes burned with anger.
...To be continued...
You must read my novel "Forced by Destiny".
That bride was made for someone else...
Dreams were in her eyes, but fate had written something else.
And just when her world was about to be built—
Fate played a game that changed everything.
The one who was innocent,
Was tied to someone who didn't know her,
Nor did he want to.
That marriage... was out of compulsion, not love.
For Shantanu, she was just a burden—
A relationship that went against his will,
Tied only by fate.
Every day, disdain;
Every moment, distance...
Every breath, the realization—"I'm his, but not really."
But they say—
What fate brings together won't break, whether you want it to or not.
Time passed...
And behind that cold wall,
Something began to melt slowly.
The relationship that started with denial,
Reached the threshold of acceptance before they knew it.
Sometimes fate takes away what we want...
And gives us what we need.
...
"Anvika, I know you are inside. Can your mom talk to you?"
A voice came from outside, and Anvika's expression changed. She got up abruptly. With great ruthlessness, she wiped her tears with the palm of her hand. Until a while ago, she seemed utterly dejected and disappointed, but now her face was stern, and her eyes blazed with anger.
She recognized the voice. After what had happened downstairs, she didn't want to talk to them. For a moment, she glared at the closed door with anger, then, forced by the continuous voices from outside, she had to open the door.
Mrs. Rathore stood in front of her. She took one look at Anvika and walked inside. She didn't care that her daughter was still in wet clothes; her eyes were red from crying. She was only concerned with business. She made a sad face and acted as if she herself was helpless and distraught.
"Anvika, I know you don't like what I'm saying. You are upset right now and probably hate me for asking you to marry Parth instead of Paridhi?… I don't want this either, I understand what you're going through right now, but what can I do? I am also helpless."
You have no idea the hardships I endured when I came into this house with you and Ansh. The Rathore family gave you their name, educated you, and got your brother treated. You know your brother can never get better in this life. If he is not kept in a good hospital, he won't live much longer.
Hearing such things about her brother, pain flickered across Anvika's face, and tears welled up in her eyes. Mrs. Rathore also had tears in her eyes.
"If we don't fulfill the Marwa family's condition, if this marriage doesn't happen, then your dad will have to sell the company, the house, everything, to pay them. We will go bankrupt; we will lose everything. Right now, because of me, Vikas lets you and Ansh stay here, but if you don't help them in this difficult time, and we become homeless, then they will also separate you and Ansh from their family. You will lose your name, your identity, everything. So, what will you and Ansh do? Where will you go?"
Mrs. Rathore was trying to show that she was very worried about both of them. Wiping her tears, she continued, "I am doing all this for your own good. I know Parth has been adopted by the Marwa family, but he is the eldest son of the Marwa family. When you marry him, you will be their eldest daughter-in-law! Even if he doesn't want his share of the Marwa family's business and property, Rudransh respects his elder brother a lot; he loves him very much. You will not lack anything there. You will be called the eldest daughter-in-law of the Marwa family; you will receive every comfort and luxury with respect."
Mrs. Rathore first tried to ensnare her with emotional appeals and coax her, then she tried to awaken greed in her mind, she tried to persuade her for this relationship by showing her dreams of the future, but there was no response from Anvika. She still stood with her head bowed, completely silent.
Seeing all her plans fail, Mrs. Rathore played her last card and started crying loudly.
"Oh God! My life is so tragic! How much struggle is written in my destiny?... After facing so many problems, I gave birth to three children—one turned out to be a fool whose treatment has been a drain on money for years, the second is so cruel that she is bent on killing her own mother! She has become so selfish that she sees no one but herself. She only cares about herself, and my dear Paridhi… she is so young and naive! She will have to live without her mother… how unfair this is to her!
I have done so much for these children; Vikas has never differentiated between you two and Paridhi. He never let you lack anything, and today when they need you, you are only thinking about yourself. How will I face them now? What will I say to Paridhi that her elder sister is so selfish that she wants to spoil her life? How will I get my family out of this problem? How will I save my daughter's life and prevent my family from being ruined? ... I see no other way but to end my own life now."
Every time Mrs. Rathore put on such a drama, Anvika would give in. Burdened by the favors of the Rathore family, she would obediently accept everything out of compulsion. This time too, Mrs. Rathore felt that her ploy would surely work, so she left no stone unturned in emotionally blackmailing, or rather, emotionally torturing Anvika, but this time, Anvika did not fall for her words and questioned her in a cold voice.
"Mom, Samyak always respected you; he considered you his family. He used to bring you gifts on every festival. You were even going to get me married to him. You used to call him son. Where has your love gone now?... Back then, you always used to ask me about him, but now you don't even mention him? ... Why, Mom? Why don't you care about him anymore? Why haven't you asked me about him even once? How can you ask me to marry someone else?"
Anvika's eyes were red; her face showed many emotions like sadness, helplessness, complaint, and longing. She had stopped herself from crying with great difficulty because she did not want to appear weak at the moment.
"He is dead; what is the point of asking about a dead man? When he is no longer in this world, what kind of relationship and what kind of marriage? If Samyak did not belong to a rich and powerful family, I would never have approved of your relationship. I thought after marriage, all his property would become yours, and your future would be secure, so I let you date him, but now he is dead, so what, will you spoil your life behind him?
Think practically, Anvika. Samyak is no more, so you have to forget him and move on with your life; you have to get married for your family. The Marwa family has a great name. This is a better relationship for you. The Mehra family is nothing compared to the Marwa clan. Your life will be set. Listen to your mother; forget what happened. Remove Samyak from your heart. Now you will marry Parth, and you will become the eldest daughter-in-law of the Marwa family; just think about this. If you don't agree to this relationship, Ansh's treatment will stop, and if anything happens to him after that, you will be solely responsible for it."
The words spoken about Samyak wounded Anvika's heart. She was hurt by her mother's indifference. She had turned relationships into a bargain; Anvika was astonished by her thinking. Mrs. Rathore threatened her and left the room in anger, slamming the door so hard as she left that Anvika flinched. She looked at the closed door with tear-filled eyes; Mrs. Rathore's words echoed in her ears. She had no more strength left.
Darkness descended before Anvika's eyes, and the next moment she fell unconscious on the floor.
Mrs. Rathore's words echoed in her ears. She had no strength left. Darkness clouded Anvika's eyes, and the next moment, she fell unconscious to the floor and wept uncontrollably over her fate. So much pain was imprisoned in her chest, but whom could she tell? The wounds were inflicted by her own people, so whom could she show them?
Anvika still couldn't believe that the woman standing here a moment ago was her own mother. Her mother had said all those things, for whom everything was just money and property. Her mother only cared about herself and Paridhi. She worried about Paridhi's life, but what about her? Wasn't she their daughter? Shouldn't they worry about her like they worried about Paridhi? If not for her, they should have at least thought about their son. How could she say such things about him? Wasn't Ansh their own son? How was she using Ansh's illness to threaten him!
There were many questions, but only one answer, which she already knew. Anvika closed her eyes tightly; tears of pain flowed from beneath her lowered eyelids.
Suddenly, Anvika felt a gentle touch on her cheeks, filled with warmth and love, and a worried voice reached her ears.
"Anvi, why are you crying like this? Look, your clothes have gotten wet. You'll fall ill."
Anvika slowly opened her wet eyelids, and Ansh's beautiful, innocent face appeared before her eyes. Seeing Ansh in front of her, Anvika somehow gathered her scattered self, stood up, and hugged her brother tightly. She had parents, a brother, and a sister, but in this whole family, only her brother cared about her; who cared about her pain, her tears; who couldn't see her in distress.
"Brother..." Anvika whispered softly, sobbing, perhaps wanting to share her pain, but no words came out. Her throat choked, and her eyes began to well up again.
"Don't cry, Anvi." Ansh himself needed support, but today, when his sister was weak, he was ready to be her support. Anvika always took care of him, and today, when he needed it, Ansh was taking care of her. Slowly, he caressed her head, calming her, and receiving her brother's love, Anvika slowly began to calm down.
Anvika composed herself, then helped Ansh sit on the bed. She changed her clothes and then, hand in hand, the brother and sister lay down together. Soon, Ansh fell asleep, but Anvika's eyes had no sleep; a storm of emotions was still raging in her heart.
After putting Ansh to sleep, Anvika sat up and gently stroked his head, looking at him with vacant eyes.
Ever since she had gained consciousness, become a little mature, taking care of her brother had become her responsibility; which she had been fulfilling without any complaint until today. It wasn't easy, but besides him, who else did she have to call her own? He was her everything, but even this companionship wasn't obtained easily.
Ansh was ill. Doctors said that if the treatment continued, after some time, he might be able to communicate like normal people; live a normal life like them. But if the treatment stopped…
Anvika paused abruptly. She didn't even have the courage to think beyond this. She was living for Ansh, she couldn't lose him at any cost.
The bar on the top floor of Marwa Mansion, the most luxurious room in the villa and filled with a mysterious aura. In this room, bathed in soft golden light, expensive crystal chandeliers shimmered, their light casting deep shadows on the dark wooden paneling on the walls.
A long and beautiful bar counter in one corner of the room was made of black marble, on which bottles of various brands and types of liquor were neatly arranged. Soft jazz music played in the background, deepening the opulence of the place.
Behind the bar stood a smart and professional bartender, efficiently preparing drinks. Directly behind him on the wall were glass shelves, stocked with expensive and rare wines, whiskies, and other drinks.
On a king-size sofa nearby, a young man was seated: tall, well-built, and dangerously attractive. His sharp jawline and deep brown eyes made him even more mysterious. His personality seemed even more captivating in perfectly tailored dark suits. His light stubble and smooth yet intense expression made his face even more appealing. There was a strange coldness and arrogance in his eyes, and his gaze was fixed on the glass in his hand. This was Parth Marwa… the elder son of the Marwa family.
Parth looked up at the bartender, and understanding the unspoken request in his eyes, the bartender bowed his head and left. Rudransh was standing near the counter, and now only the two of them were there.
Rudransh gently swirled the crystal glass in his hand; the amber liquid trembled with his movement. The room was dimly lit, and the sharp aroma of whiskey mingled in the air. Rudransh, who had been swirling the glass for a while, lost in thought, now turned his gaze towards Parth sitting on the sofa—he was his elder brother, and as always, the same cold expression was present on his face.
Rudransh raised an eyebrow and asked in a serious tone, "So, you want me to marry the girl you are engaged to, in your place?"
Parth's face also held a serious expression. He replied, taking a sip of whiskey,
"Yes."
"Why?... When your engagement was fixed, years ago, and you said nothing then, what is the problem with this marriage now? That girl was chosen for you, so why are you asking me to marry her?"
Rudransh narrowed his eyes, looking at him intently, perhaps trying to read the expressions on his face. But it wasn't easy to know what Parth didn't want to reveal.
"I don't want to get married; I like this freedom. Responsibilities increase after marriage, for which I am not ready, and there is no specific reason."
"And you think I am ready for marriage? For you, I will compromise my freedom; I will sacrifice my single life. I will marry the girl our family chose for you, just because you don't want to get married?"
Swallowing a sip of whiskey, Rudransh still stared at him with raised eyebrows.
"You have to marry her, for me," Parth replied gravely. Hearing his words, Rudransh chuckled slightly and asked, "But I don't want to get married; how will you convince me to marry now?" There was a challenge in his voice, but struggle in his eyes. Despite trying his best, he couldn't figure out the real reason behind Parth's decision.
Parth let out a long sigh; his forehead creased slightly, revealing his confusion. Then, in a calm but stern tone, he said, "I have officially withdrawn from the race for succession. You are now the head of the Marwa family. Legally, all the property, business, and every asset are now yours alone. I don't want any of it, nor will I ever try to claim my share in the future. I have transferred all of this to you through my will.
Now, in return, all I want is for you to get married. And honestly, I don't think this will be a disadvantage for you in any way."
A faint smile appeared on Rudransh's lips; perhaps he understood his intentions, but before he could say anything, Parth struck the next blow. He said something that shocked Rudransh and made him unable to resist accepting this deal.
A faint smirk touched Rudransh's lips. Perhaps he had understood her intentions. But before he could say anything, Parth began to speak further.
"What if I told you I could tell you about the girl you've been searching for all these years? What would be your decision now? Will you get married, or do you still have a problem accepting my deal?"
Parth's words reached his ears, and he gripped the glass tighter. A strange glint appeared in his eyes—a glint that was extremely rare.
"Are you telling the truth?"
Rudransh couldn't believe it. It wasn't easy for him, and perhaps Parth understood this. The serious expression on his face was enough to tell that every word he spoke was true.
Parth, meeting his gaze, simply nodded.
An awkward silence hung in the air for a few seconds. Rudransh's eyes were a storm of emotions—a dangerous mix of longing, disbelief, and curiosity. Then, taking a deep breath, he placed the glass on the counter and said in a soft but firm voice,
"Alright, I am ready for the marriage."
There was no happiness in this; rather, this marriage had now become his necessity and his means. A means to reach the person whose wait his eyes had been enduring for who knows how long.
Parth seemed to have heard what he wanted. He appeared much more relaxed now. He glanced at Rudransh, then brought the drink to his lips and continued,
"If she doesn't get pregnant within a year, Grandmother will throw her out of the house. She wants her grandchild within the next year; if Paridhi cannot fulfill this wish, then this relationship will end right there, and you won't have to do anything. You just have to compromise your freedom for a year and take special care that Paridhi cannot fulfill this condition, and after a year, you can end this relationship without any problems and return to your old life."
A faint smile played on Rudransh's lips—a smile that held both pain and sarcasm.
He took the last sip of whiskey, then looked directly into Parth's eyes and said,
"One year, huh? Let the game begin."
Parth pushed some papers towards him.
"Sign these, I'll handle everything else."
Rudransh first looked at Parth, then signed the papers.
There was a knock on the door. Anvika was fast asleep; perhaps she was in a semi-conscious state. The voices from outside disturbed her sleep. She fluttered her eyelids, but it was a great struggle to open her eyes. Her head was throbbing; along with her head, her entire body ached terribly, her eyes felt heavy. She felt so weak in her body that she didn't even have the strength to move her fingers.
Who was knocking on the door? She didn't know, but she was annoyed by the continuous sounds. She wanted peace, she wanted to rest, but she wasn't getting a moment's respite here.
Anvika felt as if, instead of sleeping in her bed, she had fallen into a deep pit and was now struggling to get back out. Somehow, using the bed for support, she sat up, and her head started spinning, and darkness clouded her vision. It felt as if there was no life left in her body.
Anvika touched her forehead with her palm; her head was burning like a furnace.
"Uff... what have I done? First, I stood in the rain for so long yesterday, and then I took so long to change my clothes. My head felt hot last night, and now I have a fever."
Anvika said to herself with great regret. She got angry with herself for her carelessness, then somehow got out of bed. Leaning on the wall and things for support, she reached the gate, but even the gate wouldn't open for her. Her hands weren't working; with great difficulty and after much effort, the door finally opened. Forcing her eyes open, she looked ahead and saw Mrs. Rathore standing there with Paridhi at the door.
Anvika was startled to see both of them outside her room and looked at them with wide, astonished eyes, her eyelids blinking repeatedly. So, Paridhi was always looking for an opportunity; she got one, and she started yelling at Anvika.
"What were you doing inside for so long? Does it take so long to open the gate? How long have we been standing here knocking? Can't you hear us? What exactly were you doing locked in the room for so long?"
Anvika glanced at her briefly; it was as if she had no interest in her or her words. Paridhi ranted at her, but Anvika completely ignored Paridhi's taunts and looked towards Mrs. Rathore.
"Mom, why are you here outside my room so early this morning? Was there a problem, or did you need something from me?"
Anvika had a lot of trouble saying even this much, but she was trying her best to manage herself. Her voice had also deteriorated like her health, but no one paid any attention to it.
Paridhi, seeing herself ignored, made a face and turned her head away; perhaps indicating that she didn't even want to see her face. Mrs. Rathore looked at Anvika, whose entire face was red, her eyes looked swollen, and she was standing with great difficulty, leaning on the door.
It was clear from her appearance that she was not well, but Mrs. Rathore didn't pay much attention to it, or perhaps she saw it and ignored it because it was Anvika, not Paridhi, and it didn't really matter to her. She ignored everything and said in a cold voice,
"We came to tell you that Mrs. Mehta called. She said that Samyak's body has been found..."
She said this quite carelessly, but Anvika's mind went completely blank, and only the last line echoed in her ears, "Samyak's body has been found..."
She felt as if there was no strength left in her body. Her breaths became heavy, her heartbeat slowed down, darkness enveloped her vision, her legs couldn't bear the weight of her body, her steps faltered, and she was about to faint. In an attempt to steady herself, she reached out her hand for support to the gate. But even this effort failed, and she lost consciousness, collapsing onto the carpet.
"Ahhh... how much peace I feel today. Honestly, seeing you in this state makes me very happy."
With bitterness on her face and hatred in her eyes, Paridhi looked extremely happy at her suffering. She was her sister, but at that moment, she seemed no less than an enemy. Even Mrs. Rathore said nothing to her; she didn't even pity Anvika's condition, nor did she try to help her up; she just stood there silently watching the spectacle.
Anvika's lips trembled; she didn't have enough strength in her body to gather her scattered self. She was not even aware of her pain. Her heart and mind were numb; Mrs. Rathore's words echoed in her ears, and a sharp pain shot through her heart. Seeing her writhing in pain in such a helpless state, Paridhi smiled and left with Mrs. Rathore. As they left, they glanced at Anvika, but they didn't stop. Anvika was left there alone with her pain.
Anvika watched them leave with teary eyes, then rubbed her eyes with her palms, wiping away the tears. Somehow gathering courage, she dragged herself to the bed, sat down with support, took out medicine from the drawer, and put it in her mouth with trembling hands, and the very next moment, fell back onto the floor.
Anvika was somewhat better than before. Although the fever had not completely subsided, her body was quite weak; it was a challenge for her to manage herself. But at this time, she did not care about herself. She just wanted to meet Samyak one last time, to see him. He was her love; how could she let him go away from her?
Gathering her scattered self, amidst restless, heavy heartbeats and faltering breaths, Anvika called Samyak's mother to ask for his address. Without caring for herself at all, she went out and took a taxi to meet Samyak one last time.
Only she knew what her heart was going through at that moment. All she could see around her was darkness. It felt as if someone had ruthlessly snatched her life away; her breath was still there, but there was no reason left to live; her heart was beating, but it had become a burden. Everything was over. Repeatedly, moments spent with Samyak flashed before her eyes, and the very next moment, she faced the bitterest reality of her life, and she couldn't stop herself from crying.
In a broken and scattered state, she managed herself and reached there. By the time she went inside, Samyak had already been buried. Samyak's parents were standing quietly to one side, weeping; there were some people with them, perhaps friends or relatives. She couldn't even see him one last time; the thought made her eyes well up. Looking at the charming face shining on the tombstone and that killer smile frozen on those pink lips, Anvika felt as if her heart had been brutally wounded with knife-like blows by someone. It became difficult for her to breathe.
Anvika, with trembling steps, somehow managed to hold herself together from falling apart and came near the grave. Standing in front of it, for a few moments, she stared with vacant eyes at the face that used to start her day; without seeing whom she couldn't sleep at night, but now she would never be able to see this face again.
Anvika's eyes welled up; a sharp pain rose in her heart. She knelt before the grave; with a trembling palm, she touched the grave; a drop of tear slipping from her eye fell directly onto the grave. Hiding her pain in her chest, she smiled as she gazed at Samyak. Samyak would have given his life for this smile, but today, this smile was mixed with pain. Her eyes were silently flowing, and their flow told the story of her pain.
"Samyak... how could you do this to me? Didn't you say that after returning this time, you would never leave me again? Never take yourself away from me again?... Then why have you gone so far away from me now? We had sworn to live and die together, so how could you leave me alone like this? How could you do this to me... how could you?"
"You are a big fraud and a liar; you promised me that you would protect me for a lifetime, always be with me, love me, never let go of my hand... You said that when you came back, we would get engaged, you would marry me... I was waiting so eagerly for your return. I had so many dreams for our future, but everything is ruined, all dreams are broken and scattered. All your promises, all your vows turned out to be false like you. You betrayed me..."
"How could you do this to me? How can you leave me alone like this? No, you can't do this. You loved me so much, so how can you leave me?"
Leaning her head against the tombstone, she wept uncontrollably. She was babbling incoherently. Tears were flowing from her eyes. There were so many grievances, so much anger, but the one with whom she had them was not with her today. The person who would lovingly wipe away her tears was no longer with her and would never return. Anvika was writhing in pain, breaking apart. Seeing her condition, everyone felt pity for her.
When Samyak's mother couldn't bear to see all this anymore, she came forward and patted Anvika's shoulders. Anvika looked up at her. Her entire face was wet with tears; a flood of pain was overflowing from her eyes in the form of tears; her nose and eyes were red, and her breath was catching from crying.
Samyak's mother's eyes were also moist. She hugged Anvika and began stroking her head with her affectionate hand.
"Control yourself, Anvika. Samyak has left us now, and those who leave never return. He loved you immensely and always wanted to see you happy. He had made so many plans for the engagement and marriage, but fate didn't give him the time. Perhaps his life was only this long, but if he sees you in this condition, he will be greatly pained. Samyak is gone, but now we have to live for him, gather ourselves, and move forward, forgetting this pain."
Mrs. Mehta was gently explaining and consoling her; she was comforting her. She herself was in pain, having lost her son, but now she had to accept this bitter and sad reality of life and move forward.
Slowly, Anvika became a little calm. She composed herself and separated from them.
"Come, child, it's time to leave now," Mrs. Mehta said in a sad voice, wiping her tears.
"Aunty, I want to stay here with Samyak," Anvika expressed her wish. Her voice was very soft; her eyes were completely vacant and desolate; pain was evident on her face. It was natural for anyone to feel pity for her condition.
It was a small wish; she wanted to spend some time alone with Samyak, to be near him.
"But child, if we all leave, you will be alone here," Mrs. Mehta became distressed upon hearing her words; she tried hard to explain, but Anvika wouldn't listen; she remained adamant. In the end, Mrs. Mehta allowed her to stay.
Anvika sat quietly before Samyak's grave, hugging her knees, hiding her face between them. Her lips were silent, but her eyes were shedding tears. The pain was so immense that even tears seemed to be running short today. Seeing her, Mrs. Mehta's eyes also welled up.
Some time passed. It was time to leave. Mrs. Mehta tried once again to convince Anvika, but she didn't agree. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mehta were worried. Before leaving, they repeatedly looked back at Anvika sitting before Samyak's grave and finally, helplessly, left from there.
Anvika remained seated there; there was no movement in her body, nor did she raise her head again to look at Samyak. Everyone had left, and Anvika was completely alone there.
Anvika didn't realize when evening came and then night. Her pain was so deep that it wasn't abating, and she was completely immersed in that pain, and she was no longer aware of anything. The tears flowing from her eyes had stopped. Her body was burning with fever; so hot that it would burn the hand of anyone who touched it; her eyes began to close, but she didn't move from there. She no longer cared for herself; she had turned away from life and was ready to embrace death.
The next morning, the laborers working in the cemetery were startled to see a girl sitting alone there. They approached Anvika, and as soon as they touched her, Anvika fell straight to the ground, causing all the laborers to step back in fear. Anvika's face had turned black, and perhaps she had now departed from this world.
To be continued…
You must read my novel "Twisted ties of love"
The story of love, betrayal, and a twist of fate that changes everything…
Preeti… an innocent, bubbly girl, whose laughter once lit up the entire house. She had no complaints with life, just wanted a little love.
But who knew that her love would one day become her biggest complaint.
The very next day after her wedding… Prem, the person whom Preeti considered her life partner, left her forever.
No reason, no explanation… just a letter and a lot of questions left for her.
Preeti was shattered.
Her loved ones turned away, society taunted her… and relationships changed their form.
But fate had not revealed all its cards yet…
Then, Ayushmaan stepped into her life again—the man who had been silently burning in love for her for years.
In whose eyes, today, there was still the same love that he never expressed, but lived… in every breath, in every dream.
But now the circumstances had changed…
Relationships had changed…
Now he was not just Ayushmaan, but the name that would be linked to Preeti again—in a marriage of compulsion.
Will this be just a compromise?
Or will true love be born from this compulsion?
Will Preeti be able to trust someone again?
Will Ayushmaan's love be able to mend her broken faith?
And finally, was Prem's betrayal just a coincidence… or part of a bigger conspiracy?
The next morning, workers in the cemetery found a girl sitting there alone. They were shocked. The girl was Anvika, who hadn't gone home. The workers approached Anvika. As soon as they touched her, Anvika collapsed to the ground. All the workers recoiled in fear.
Trembling, one of the workers stepped forward and examined Anvika. Her body was burning hot, like fire. He placed his finger in front of her nose; her breathing was slow but steady. The worker closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. She wasn't dead, perhaps she had fainted due to fever.
It was around two in the afternoon when Anvika, lying in a hospital bed, began to stir. Her eyelids fluttered. She was likely regaining consciousness.
After a while, Anvika slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze went directly to the ceiling. Surprise flickered across Anvika's face. She nervously glanced around. An IV drip was attached above her head, connected to her arm.
"Wasn't she in the cemetery? How did she get to the hospital?" Anvika's face was etched with confusion as she thought this. In the next moment, a thought crossed her mind,
"Did she just faint while sitting there? She had such a high fever yesterday, perhaps that's why it happened, but she couldn't stay with Samyak even if she wanted to?" She felt sad about this. Two drops of tears rolled down her cheeks and disappeared into the pillow.
When Anvika woke up, the nurse checked her temperature, which was now normal. Seeing this, she appeared quite relaxed. "You were unconscious for three days. The fever wouldn't subside. The doctors were also very worried because no treatment was effective, and your life was in danger. But now the situation is under control. Finally, your fever has broken. I must say, you are very lucky to have been brought to the hospital in time and started treatment, otherwise, you could have developed pneumonia."
The nurse kept talking, but Anvika's face remained expressionless. She had lost all interest in life. She remained silent, staring blankly at the ceiling with vacant eyes, offering no reaction.
The nurse watched her for a while and then began to adjust her IV drip. She had been told that this patient had been brought from the cemetery. Looking at her, she felt that while she might appear calm on the outside, a storm of emotions was raging within. She was completely broken. Perhaps she had lost someone very special, someone dear to her heart, and was still in shock.
"Are you okay?" the nurse asked with great affection. Seeing Anvika's condition, she too felt sad.
Anvika's gaze, which had been fixed on the ceiling, now turned towards the nurse.
"Yes, I'm fine... Please complete whatever formalities are required for my discharge. I need to go," Anvika said in a low, weak voice, her dry lips barely moving. Her lips were chapped and painful to speak, but the pain in her heart was greater, something she couldn't express or convey to anyone.
The nurse was startled by Anvika's words and looked at her with surprised, bewildered eyes. "You are not fully recovered yet. You are very weak and need proper treatment and care. You cannot be discharged yet."
"I am fine now. I don't have money to pay the hospital bill. I have to leave from here," Anvika said in a trembling voice. Her face was pale, and her eyes reflected untold pain and helplessness. She knew her condition wasn't good. She knew no one would take care of her at home and she wouldn't receive proper treatment, but today she didn't have the money for her own treatment, nor did she feel like staying.
The nurse looked at Anvika for a while, then reluctantly went to complete her discharge formalities.
Anvika paid the hospital bill. Almost all the money she had went towards the hospital bill. Now, she only had enough money to buy a ticket and go home. Home, where no one cared about her. She had been here for three days, but no one had even come to see her, no one had tried to find her. A place where everyone used her only for their own benefit.
Anvika had no desire to go there; she didn't even want to see the faces of those selfish people, but her brother was in that same house, and he needed her. Thinking of him, she reluctantly left for home.
Anvika managed to compose herself and reached the station. When she went to buy a ticket to go home, she was short of money. She bought the cheapest train ticket and traveled the entire journey standing, leaning against the wall of the train corridor. She didn't sit down for even a second throughout the journey, which made her legs ache. She was still very weak, but Anvika paid it no mind.
The train was so crowded that there wasn't even enough space to stand properly. Several times her head hit the train wall, causing a slight headache and a strange feeling. She just wanted to get off this train as soon as possible.
By the time she got off the train, her feet were numb, she had a headache, and felt like vomiting. She sat on the platform for a while. Then she got up and went out. Outside the station, it was crowded everywhere, and there was a lot of noise, but Anvika wanted quiet and solitude. The clamor irritated her. Seeing people laugh and smile intensified her pain, and her eyes welled up. Leaving the crowd behind, she stumbled forward.
Her fever had subsided a little, but now her entire body was burning with a high fever again. The fever that had been difficult to break for three days had returned with a vengeance. Weakness and fever afflicted her entire body, her head felt like it would burst, and her eyelids kept closing, darkness clouding her vision. She could neither see nor understand things properly. She couldn't even support herself.
While walking, Anvika's foot suddenly hit something, and a slight whimper escaped her lips from the pain. She lowered her gaze and saw a stone lying in front of her that she hadn't noticed, which had injured her foot. A bitter, pained smile touched Anvika's lips. As she started to move forward, her vision blurred again, and cold winds brushed against her body, making her shiver slightly.
She wrapped her arms around herself like a shawl and tried to support herself by stroking her arm with her palm. "Keep moving, Anvika, support yourself, just a little longer... You have to go home for Ansh. It's been three days, who knows how he is, has anyone even taken care of him?"
Despite her own terrible condition, she was worried about Ansh. She let out a deep breath and as she took a step forward, she felt the same dizziness again—as if the ground was shaking, or perhaps her own existence was wavering. She forced her eyes open and looked around. She tried to recognize the way home, but everything appeared blurry. Sometimes she would go in one direction with faltering steps, looking for the way, then shake her head in denial and move in another.
Some time passed like this. She realized she had taken the wrong path again, and as she was about to turn to leave, the deafening sound of a car horn blared from behind. The sound was so loud that her heartbeat stopped for a moment. Startled, Anvika turned back, but by then the car had approached very close and was continuously honking for her to move. As Anvika stepped back in panic, her legs faltered, her head spun with intense pain, and darkness descended before her eyes. She couldn't steady herself; she lost her balance.
She tried her best to save herself, but it was too late. The next moment, with a loud noise, she fell in the middle of the road, and the people nearby rushed towards her in panic, but the next moment, screams escaped their lips.
Anvika swerved as she heard the horn sound and her head started spinning; everything seemed blurry. She tried to force her eyes open, supporting her head with her palm. A blurry face appeared before her eyes. The next moment, her eyes closed, and she fell to the ground in a state of unconsciousness.
A sharp jerk accompanied by a "chirrr" sound made the car stop right in front of Anvika. The person sitting inside raised an eyebrow and changed their expression. As Anvika fell, the person quickly opened the car door and rushed out, covering a considerable distance in a few strides to reach her.
"Anvika," a familiar, cold voice hit Anvika's ears. Her eyelids fluttered; she opened her eyes partially and saw a familiar face. Her lips trembled.
"Rudransh," she whispered, her voice barely audible, and fainted once more.
Rudransh's face showed mixed emotions - surprise and tension. He was perplexed by Anvika's sudden appearance and her fainting spell.
Was it a coincidence or a plot of fate? Anvika's repeated encounters with Rudransh left him bewildered.
Rudransh tried to wake her up by patting her cheek. As soon as his palm touched her face, he jerked his hand back and stared at her in shock.
Anvika's face was entirely red, and her body was burning with fever.
"What is wrong with this girl? She stepped out in such a high fever. Does she have any regard for her life? And why does she always collide with me? What does she want from me?" Rudransh muttered to himself, gazing at Anvika with piercing eyes. He seemed irritated and angry.
Rudransh looked up to see a crowd gathered around. Some people looked concerned, while others tried to take photos. Rudransh's eyes narrowed, and his face showed frustration and irritation.
He ignored the crowd, picked up Anvika, and sat her in the front seat of the car. He fastened her seatbelt and supported her head with the back of the seat.
As he returned to the crowd, his cold expression and furrowed eyebrows made him look intimidating. People quickly moved away, trying to escape his glare.
Once the crowd dispersed, Rudransh started the car and headed towards his mansion. While driving, he kept glancing at Anvika, who had slumped to one side, her head tilted. Her neck revealed a birthmark.
Rudransh's expression remained cold, but his eyes showed a strange sensation. He seemed concerned and irritated at the same time.
On the way, Rudransh called his family doctor and asked him to rush to the mansion to treat Anvika.
The car sped up and stopped at the mansion's porch. Rudransh quickly got out, picked up Anvika, and rushed inside.
The doctor and nurse were already waiting. When they saw Rudransh with Anvika in his arms, they looked surprised and quickly stood up.
Rudransh ignored them and moved swiftly, putting Anvika on the bed. The doctor began examining her and then turned to Rudransh.
"Director Marwa, she has a high fever and cold. She seems weak and hasn't eaten properly for days. I've given her an injection. Once the fever subsides, she'll regain consciousness. I'll leave some medication; please give it to her after she wakes up."
The doctor explained the situation and then asked, "Do you need a nurse to take care of her?"
Rudransh declined, and the doctor left.
The room fell silent, with only Rudransh and Anvika present.
Anvika was unconscious, wrapped in a blanket like a rabbit. Her eyelids twitched, and her eyes had moisture at the corners. Her face showed pain and discomfort.
Rudransh's expression remained cold, but his eyes were fixed on Anvika. He wondered why she had tears in her eyes and what pain she was experiencing.
His gaze drifted to her collar bone and the small birthmark. It seemed to attract him.
A memory surfaced, and his heart stirred. He moved closer, his hand extending to touch the birthmark.
As his fingers approached, Anvika suddenly grabbed his hand.
Rudransh regained consciousness, startled by her grip. For the first time in his life, his heart pounded rapidly, and he felt nervous.
Rudransh's fingers were trying to touch the birthmark, but suddenly Anvika grabbed his hand!
Rudransh was startled and came to his senses, and for the first time in his life, his heart beat rapidly with nervousness. His eyes rose to Anvika's face. He had always been attracted to her birthmark and just wanted to touch it once. He wasn't in his senses, lost in seeing the birthmark, and didn't realize he had come close and done this until Anvika caught him red-handed. If she asked questions, what would he answer? Just thinking about it made him nervous.
Rudransh's gaze fell on Anvika's face and he was startled again. Her hand was clenched by Anvika's fingers, but her eyes were still closed. She was still unconscious and yet could feel his touch. Rudransh's forehead furrowed in thought. What was this? He couldn't understand. This wasn't normal. Anvika was completely unconscious, yet her grip was tight. It seemed like she was very scared and trying to stop her from going away, which was extremely special and important to her.
Rudransh noticed that Anvika's fingers were shaking slightly, and she had brought his palm to her face. Rudransh was startled, feeling a strange sensation within himself, and became perplexed. Anvika's skin was still warm, and her breaths were shaking slightly. And then, from Anvika's trembling lips, a name slipped out - "Samyak..." Rudransh's surprised eyes rose to Anvika's face. Hearing the name of another boy from her unconscious mouth felt like a strange prick in his heart. His face hardened. "Samyak?" Rudransh repeated the name, gazing at Anvika with sharp eyes. She was beside him, but in her unconscious state, she wasn't... she was saying someone else's name. For some reason, Rudransh didn't like it. Annoyance appeared on his face. A strange bitterness appeared in his eyes. The name echoed in his mind.
Rudransh shook his hand free from Anvika's and stood up. His fists clenched unconsciously. Ignoring Anvika, he began to walk away. In her dream, Anvika felt someone leaving her hand, leaving her and going far away. Even in her unconscious state, she began to feel a strange restlessness. Her tears flowed faster, and her trembling lips let out a slow, scattered voice, "Where are you going?... Don't go, leave me... I need you... Don't take me away from you... If you go like this... and leave me alone... what will I do?... I can't live without you... I will die without you... I will die." Rudransh's steps stopped. His body stiffened. He was stunned to hear these words and couldn't understand if Anvika said them for him or for that Samyak.
He turned back and looked at Anvika again, who was crying like a small child and looked so innocent, delicate, and lovely while crying. He took a deep breath, casually glanced at Anvika, and walked out. When Anvika regained consciousness, she found herself in an unfamiliar place. Over these few days, she always felt confused and lost. Every time she woke up, she was in a different place. This time was the same. She looked at the drip on her arm and slowly sat up, carefully removing the needle. She touched her forehead - the fever was gone now. She felt much better than before. She had no idea where she was or who brought her here. She had nothing. The hospital bill and train fare had left her completely empty.
Anvika decided to leave this place. She slowly got down from the bed and opened the door with unsteady steps. As she stepped out of the room, the luxurious villa stood before her, its grandeur no less than a royal palace. Everything was so perfect and expensive that it seemed like it wasn't in reality but part of a fictional world - crystal chandeliers worth lakhs, beautiful wallpapers, precious oil paintings on the walls, and a hand-woven black swan design carpet on the floor, which made the whole environment even more mysterious. As beautiful as this place was, it was equally scary. A strange, suffocating feeling settled in Anvika's heart. "There's something wrong here... I should leave before I get into another trouble." Anvika muttered to herself, her eyes scanning around. As her gaze fell on the gate, she immediately took steps towards it. She tried to open the gate but found it locked. One... two... three! She tried opening all the doors she saw, but none led outside. All doors were closed. Now, her heart started beating rapidly with anxiety. This villa was like an illusion - once trapped, it was almost impossible to escape. Anvika exhausted herself trying to exit. There were many doors, but none opened to the outside.
And then... A door opened behind her. Anvika turned back abruptly and saw a person standing by the window, dressed in a silver-colored shirt and dark brown pants. He stood by the window with a carefree elegance, as if the whole world was in his fist. He held a fine china cup from which he sipped black tea slowly. The golden sunlight filtering through the window and falling on his face and body made him look like a Greek god - more perfect and impressive than any human. His tall, attractive personality, sharp eyes, and soft yet mysterious gaze left Anvika entranced, and for a moment, she couldn't help but stare at him. As soon as she realized this, she regained her composure, but a slight restlessness still lingered within her. "You woke up?" His deep, slightly playful voice resonated in the room. Anvika realized that the one who saved her was none other than Rudransh. The blurry image before losing consciousness cleared up and took Rudransh's form. This was the second time Rudransh had helped her in such a situation. Anvika's feelings changed, and she looked down, saying in a soft voice, "You helped me. I don't remember I was going to collide with your car again. I didn't do anything intentionally. I just had a fever and felt very weak at that moment. I wanted to move away but couldn't, and once again, I caused you trouble. I am very sorry and very thankful." Anvika felt genuinely grateful towards him, but before her gratitude could last longer, Rudransh raised his mischievous eyes towards her and said with a wicked smile, "It's okay... you don't need to thank me or apologize because I helped you as charity." Hearing Rudransh's words, Anvika became perplexed and stared at him with wide eyes. "What do you mean?" When Rudransh answered Anvika's question in such a way that her eyes remained wide open, she stood stunned, her mouth agape, staring at him.
Rudransh’s hands were in his pockets. At Anvika’s question, he stood stiffly and said in a sharp tone,
"It seems you haven't understood. No problem, I’ll explain. Miss Anvika, I am a businessman. I believe in profit and deals. Charity is not my way. I do nothing without reason. First, I assess the potential profit and loss, then I make a decision. Helping you, picking you up from the streets and bringing you home, getting you treated… it was all business, darling. There were no emotions involved. I have helped you, so now you have to pay the price. You have to pay."
Rudransh’s attitude and words were no less than a shock to Anvika. Frowns appeared on her forehead and her eyes widened in surprise.
"What?" Anvika asked in surprise. Seeing the expression on her face, Rudransh took a sip of tea and said nonchalantly—
"Because of you, I had to face problems twice. I helped you, saved your life. Besides that, you ruined two of my shirts… all in all, the amount you have to pay now has doubled. Now you will have to pay ten lakhs, not five lakhs."
His demeanor was normal, but Anvika was in shock.
"What?... Ten lakhs?"
Rudransh nodded with a smile. Anvika’s condition worsened; she held her head and stared at him, stunned.
She couldn’t believe her eyes and ears. This man hadn’t come to save her; he had only looked out for his own profit. He hadn’t shown humanity, but had made a business deal. He had put a price on her life.
"This was not a heroic act. This was a business transaction!" Rudransh said, and Anvika’s face contorted further. The most disappointing thing was that the debt of five lakhs had become ten lakhs. Double! It was difficult to pay five lakhs, where would she get ten lakhs from?
Just thinking about it made Anvika’s head feel like it would burst.
"You’re joking, right?" Anvika’s voice rose slightly, and she looked at Rudransh with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. But this last hope was also shattered.
Rudransh placed his cup down with a faint smile and looked at her with intense, raised eyebrows.
"Do I look like I’m joking?"
Hearing Rudransh’s response, Anvika’s last hope vanished, and her face turned red with anger and despair.
"Oh, this man is a wolf in wolf's clothing!" she thought, glaring at Rudransh. If she had known Rudransh would do this, put a price on her life, she would have let herself die on the street, but never taken Rudransh's help; she wouldn't have given him the chance to save herself and then torment her like this.
Hearing Rudransh’s words, Anvika became so angry that she felt like throwing the money back in his face, shutting him up forever, but she couldn’t do that.
Firstly, she didn’t have that much money. Secondly, if she did, and even harmed a hair on his head, she would sink even deeper into debt. Because the man standing before her was no ordinary person; he was a devil, and no one knew what he would do and when.
Anvika took a deep breath, calmed herself, suppressed her anger, and said, "I... I will pay."
Rudransh was keenly observing the expression on her face, and was enjoying teasing her. Hearing Anvika’s words, he chuckled softly, as if mocking her statement. Anvika stared at him, her eyes wide.
Rudransh put down his tea cup and moved towards Anvika. Anvika started to panic. Unconsciously, she began to step back; her eyes were fixed on Rudransh, who was slowly closing in.
Anvika’s back hit the wall. She looked back in panic. Now there was nowhere left for her to go. Rudransh had reached her. There was only a step between them.
Anvika immediately tried to step aside, but Rudransh was four steps ahead; he was a cunning player, impossible to escape.
Rudransh suddenly leaned down and placed his left hand on the wall, trapping Anvika between him and the wall.
Rudransh lowered his head slightly and looked at the frightened Anvika. For a moment, he stared at Anvika with deep, intense eyes; then, raising his eyebrows, he asked in a cold tone,
"Oh? So you will pay? But you have said this many times before, and still haven't paid, so tell me, when are you going to pay?"
Rudransh was dominating Anvika. With his palms on either side of the wall, he leaned towards her face. Anvika looked like a deer trapped in a lion’s cage, ready to be hunted, with no escape.
Anvika stared at him, her eyes wide, huddled, and scared. She was too afraid to even move.
Rudransh deliberately moved closer to her. Seeing Anvika’s panicked face, he chuckled softly. Then, lowering his head, he whispered in her ear, "If paying my money is impossible for you, then how about this, you pay it with your body?"
Anvika stood pressed against the wall, holding her breath. The moment she understood Rudransh’s words, the color drained from her face; a mixture of anger and surprise appeared on her face.
"Impossible! That will never happen, I will never do that. I will not sell myself by accepting your disgusting and absurd proposal for a small amount of money, do you understand?"
In anger, Anvika’s small nose turned red, and her breathing quickened. She placed her palms on Rudransh’s chest and pushed him hard.
This reaction was sudden. By the time Anvika realized her action, she had already pushed him away.
Rudransh stood a few steps away, hands on his hips, looking at her with a faint smile. Anvika became even more nervous. She composed herself and met his gaze, replying with confidence,
"I will pay all the debts you claim I owe you. My fault ruined your shirts, you helped me twice… you will get the price for everything, but not this way!"
Anvika was serious, but Rudransh’s smile deepened. Suddenly, she noticed mischief in his eyes and was shocked. She had been scared that Rudransh was serious, but he was just playing with her.
Anvika was now getting angry at herself. Rudransh was a Marwa, the owner of Marwa Corporation, the king of the business empire, and the dream of thousands of girls in the world... what was he lacking that he needed to threaten a common girl like this?
Anvika was lost in these thoughts when Rudransh’s steady, serious voice reached her ears, and her eyes widened in disbelief.
"I know you don't have the money to compensate for my losses. You probably won't be able to give me a million in this lifetime, and you're not willing to give yourself to me in exchange for money. So, let's do this. You become my stylist, and your salary will be used to gradually deduct your debt in installments. If you stay where I can see you, I won't have any issues, and you'll have the opportunity to repay your debt along with your work. This way, you won't be burdened all at once, and I won't have to fear you running away and losing my money."
Rudransh stopped joking. He looked very serious at that moment, his gaze fixed on Anvika's face, which, once again, she was looking at him with wide, surprised eyes.
Anvika was confused. She couldn't understand this man standing in front of her; who sometimes treated her rudely, sometimes incurred debt by accepting her concern as a favor, sometimes teased her with his pranks and words, and sometimes said things that left Anvika just staring at him.
He was a mysterious man. Sometimes gentle, sometimes harsh. Sometimes rude, sometimes helpful.
Anvika couldn't understand him, nor could she hate him, no matter how hard she tried.
Anvika left without replying. Rudransh did not try to stop her this time either. He sent his driver with her so she could reach home safely. This behavior of his confused Anvika once again.
When she reached home, everyone was ready to question her again and looked quite angry. But Anvika ignored them all and went straight to her room. She locked the door from the inside.
A week passed in the blink of an eye. Anvika remained locked in her room, lying in bed for a whole week until she fully recovered. The pressure of marriage was still on her. Mrs. Rathore had tried every method, and now Anvika had also made up her mind.
During these days, when she was alone in her room, lying in bed, she shed countless tears, repeatedly recalled moments spent with Samyak, and then buried those memories forever. She had decided to forget her past and move on.
As soon as she recovered, she packed everything, gifts, and memories associated with Samyak into a large box and rented a small apartment. Then, she confined all those memories to that small apartment.
Samyak was no longer in this world, and with him, her love had also died. Now, it didn't matter who she was marrying. If her marriage could provide money for her brother's treatment, then she accepted this deal. She would sacrifice her life for her brother. After all, who else did she have in this world besides Ansh?
She made this decision for Ansh. When she fully recovered, she herself went to Mrs. Rathore, spoke to her, and told her her decision that she was ready to marry into the Marwa family in Paridhi's place.
This was exactly what Mrs. Rathore wanted. She had been trying for so long, and now, finally, her problem was solved. Anvika was ready for this marriage, having forgotten Samyak. Along with Mrs. Rathore, Mr. Rathore and Paridhi were also very happy.
After this, the restrictions and limitations imposed on Anvika were slightly reduced; Mrs. Rathore no longer kept an eye on her. Since Anvika herself had taken the initiative to agree to this relationship, they also showed some leniency and, without any objection, allowed her to visit Samyak's grave a few times. Perhaps they feared that if they didn't, Anvika might refuse the marriage again.
Three months later—
Today, Anvika was once again sitting in front of Samyak's grave with a bouquet of lilies in her lap.
"Samyak, this is the last time I'm visiting you. After this, I will never come here again because I am getting married now. I know I promised you marriage, and if you were here with me, by my side, right now, I would never have had to take this step. But you left me alone, and now it's my compulsion to leave you too."
Anvika placed the bouquet of lilies in her hand on his grave and, caressing it with her palm, looked at Samyak's photo etched there.
"Please don't think I've betrayed you. I still love only you. I can never love anyone else besides you, and I am not marrying this willingly or happily. I am only marrying in Paridhi's place.
The Rathore family wanted their daughter to marry into a wealthy family; Paridhi's alliance was fixed, but now she doesn't want this marriage. The Marwa family had helped us a lot during our difficult times. The Rathore family owes me a lot, and it's about Ansh's life, so this marriage is now being done by me in Paridhi's place.
But I still love only you, and without you, marrying anyone else is meaningless. This marriage is just a formality. Paridhi refused to marry because Parth is an adopted son of the Marwa family, and he has transferred all his family's business, property, and shares to his younger brother. But I have to get married. I don't care if that man is rich or poor, the real son or an adopted son. He is just a means for me to save my brother's life."
Sharing the innermost thoughts of her heart, which she had not told anyone, she became quite emotional today talking to Samyak. She had always dreamed of marrying Samyak, and today she had come to tell him that she was marrying someone else.
Anvika didn't realize when the tears streaming from her eyes began to wet her face. She tried to wipe the tears from her face, but they wouldn't stop.
"When I get married, you be happy in heaven. If you find a nice girl there..."
She suddenly fell silent while speaking. Her throat was choked. She composed herself and smiled at him with heartbroken eyes.
"Samyak, in this life, you broke all your promises, but if we meet again in the next life, don't leave me alone like this again," Anvika wiped her tears ruthlessly and kissed the grave with her lips.
"Now I am leaving. Truly leaving this time, forever! I will never come back here now. Don't miss me too much and wait for me upstairs."
One last time, Anvika caressed his grave with her palm, perhaps trying to absorb the feelings associated with Samyak, and then she quickly ran away from there. Her steps didn't stop, nor did her tears. She was in pain, but if she stopped now, she would become weak. She had made this decision with great difficulty, and now she couldn't back down.
Her heart was breaking as she moved away from Samyak, and she was ruthlessly wiping her tears with her palms. But her pain wasn't subsiding, nor were her tears stopping.
The wedding was the very next day. It was to be a simple affair at the Rathore mansion. Just the signing of the marriage registration documents among family members. Anvika had no problem with this either. For her, this marriage was just a compulsion and a formality anyway. Everything was set, but suddenly something happened that surprised everyone, and Mr. Rathore flew into a rage.
To be continued…y
You must read my novel "Talab Tere Pyaar Ki"
There is longing, there is love… there is a search for your love.
"Ms. Kanchan Rana, how long will you keep running away from me?
All the paths of your life will now lead you back to me.
You made a big mistake...
By disgracing me, Veer Pratap Singh's love, in front of a crowd.
Now, nothing can stop me from making you mine...
Not even you yourself…"
That one night changed everything.
What was once love—is now obsession.
What was once a spiritual connection between two hearts—has now become a dangerous game.
Veer Pratap Singh—a name that refuses to lose in love.
And Kanchan Rana—who chose her freedom by rejecting his love.
But now, every path, every turn, every breath…
is bringing Kanchan back into the circle of that love from which she once saved her life.
But will luck be on her side every time?
Or this time, Veer's obsession… will bring a storm to her life, not love…?
"Talab Tere Pyaar Ki"—
A story that begins in the name of love…
but crosses the boundaries of affection and turns into obsession and madness.
The next day, the wedding was to take place in a simple ceremony at the Rathore mansion. All that was required was for the family members to sign the marriage registration papers. Anvika didn't have any issues with it; the marriage was a formality and a necessity for her. Everything had been decided, but suddenly it was discovered that neither the family nor the groom was arriving. Mr. Rathore took it as a personal insult but said nothing.
Unvika was sitting in her room with her brother Ansh, oblivious to all this. She looked like an apsara, dressed in a deep red outfit adorned with golden embroidery. Her eyes, lined with kohl, and her slight smile seemed to spread moonlight. The soft sound of her bangles and the fragrance of her gajra enhanced her captivating attraction.
"Anvi, are you happy?" Ansh was concerned about his sister; he wasn't happy with her sudden decision to get married.
Anvika smiled in response, perhaps to assure him that she was happy.
"Yes, I'm very happy, brother," she replied.
Ansh had probably asked her this question multiple times, and every time Anvika's response was the same, which left him disappointed. Anvika hugged him.
"I know you're worried about me, and you have my best interests at heart. But what I'm doing, I'm doing for you, and I'm truly happy."
As they talked, their sister Paridhi arrived, looking disapproving.
"If your emotional drama is over, leave your brother and come down; Mom is calling you," Paridhi said, her tone as dry as ever.
Paridhi didn't like Ansh or Anvika and often clashed with them. However, Anvika didn't let it bother her; she ignored Paridhi as usual and asked Ansh to stay.
As she made her way downstairs, she saw a young, attractive man standing in the living room. He was about 28-29 years old, dressed in a black formal suit.
"Is this Parth? And why is he alone? Where's his family?" Anvika wondered.
Paridhi's sarcastic voice reached her ears. "You're really lucky, Anvika! Your wedding is going to be so unique - no guests, no wedding procession, no groom, and now he's even sent his assistant. I must say, such a wedding I've never seen before. It seems Parth has realized he's marrying you, not me, so he didn't even bother to come."
Anvika turned to look at Paridhi, her eyes wide with surprise. Paridhi's mocking smile made her roll her eyes.
Anvika then looked at her parents; Mr. Rathore was angry, while Mrs. Rathore pretended to be happy. Neither of them seemed pleased, but Anvika didn't care; she just wanted to get married.
The man standing there introduced himself as Parth's assistant and handed her some papers.
"Ma'am, the boss couldn't attend due to being busy, so he signed the marriage registration papers and instructed me to bring you to the mansion. You just need to read and sign these papers, and I'll leave you here."
Anvika didn't bother to read the papers; she simply signed them where the assistant pointed. He seemed surprised by her nonchalance.
After signing, she stood up, having packed her belongings earlier. She hugged Ansh goodbye, her eyes welling up with tears. She decided to focus on making a new life for herself and promised herself that she would get her brother the treatment he needed.
The car ride was filled with Anvika's thoughts about her uncertain future. She didn't know where she was going, what the outcome of this marriage would be, or what Parth would be like.
The car stopped in front of a beautiful mansion. Anvika's gaze fell on the grand building.
The assistant opened the car door and offered to help her out. "Congratulations, ma'am. On behalf of Marwa, I welcome you to this mansion and their family. Parth sir has made all the arrangements for you to stay here."
He then explained the terms of her marriage: if she became pregnant within a year, she would become a permanent part of the family; otherwise, the marriage would end, and she would have to leave the villa but would receive alimony.
Anvika had known about these conditions all along. She didn't react; she had expected as much. Her goal was to survive the next year, earn as much as she could, and then secure her future and her brother's.
When she didn't respond, the assistant asked if she had understood the terms. Anvika came out of her thoughts, smiled slightly, and nodded. Then she asked a question that left the assistant stunned.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" he stuttered, taken aback by her confidence and calm demeanor.
Anvika snapped out of her thoughts and nodded with a slight smile. Then she looked at the PA.
"I haven't read the papers, so can you tell me if there was no rule written in it that I have to be confined in this villa for the next one year?"
"Excuse me, ma'am?" The PA looked at her in shock, perhaps not having understood Anvika's question correctly. Seeing her confused, Anvika continued.
"I mean to say, during this one year of the marriage contract, will I have the freedom to work? Will I be able to live according to my own will, in my own way? Will I have the right to focus on my career?"
Anvika asked her questions with confidence and composure. Now the PA understood her and readily agreed.
"Of course, ma'am. You can live as you wish, do as you please. You can continue your work, focus on your career. No restrictions have been imposed on that. You just have to stay here and take care of the honor and prestige of the Marwah family. Before doing anything, make sure that you are now Mrs. Parth Marwah."
The PA took out a key from his pocket and handed it to her.
"Thank you." Anvika took the key and then left from there, still in her wedding dress.
The PA stood there for a while, watching Anvika. He also took her luggage out of the car and then left himself.
"Sir, Parth sir's PA came and has given these papers for you."
Varun handed a brown sealed envelope to Rudransh. Rudransh was currently sitting in his chair, busy looking at a project report. He asked, without looking away from the screen.
"What kind of papers are they?"
"They are your marriage registration papers."
These words reached Rudransh's ears, and his fingers, which were typing on the keyboard, stopped. His gaze shifted to Varun, who was standing in front of him.
Varun pushed the envelope a little further. Rudransh took it and stood up from his chair.
"Sir, the PA was saying that your wife is quite interesting. You didn't even attend your wedding, so wouldn't you like to see and meet the girl who has legally become your wife?"
"I have no interest in it, but you seem quite curious. It seems you are very excited to meet my contractual wife. Go, meet her, and if you like her, you can keep her. I will give her to you."
Rudransh replied nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal to him. But he was glaring at her with his eyes narrowed. Hearing his words, Varun was shocked at first, then nervously said.
"No sir, I didn't mean that. I was just a little curious. If you don't want to meet her, that's perfectly fine."
"I am serious, Varun, I have no interest in that girl, you can have her if you want."
Rudransh's mood seemed lighter now. Still, his words were not to be believed. Varun laughed and dismissed him.
"No sir, I prefer to live my free life. I have no intention of getting married yet. Besides, for some time, she is your wife, so she is my lady boss. I can't even think like that about her."
Rudransh looked at him with a crooked smile, then walked towards his safe.
"Did you ask her? Did she give the villa keys to that girl?"
"Yes sir."
"Alright, let her stay there according to the rules. I only got married for the deal with my elder brother, but I haven't accepted this relationship. This relationship is just a deal for me. She will stay there comfortably for a year, and since there will be no connection between us, there will be no child. After that, we will separate according to the contract."
Rudransh had made a complete plan. Hearing him, Varun hesitantly asked.
"Sir, you are keeping the papers without reading them. You don't want to meet her, but at least read the marriage papers once."
"There's no need," Rudransh replied, putting the papers in the safe.
"Sir, Parth sir's PA was saying that Madam also signed the papers without reading them and didn't react even when the groom didn't show up, and now you are also not reading the papers."
Varun's words reached Rudransh's ears, and his hands stopped while putting away the marriage registration papers. The very next moment, something came to his mind, and a mischievous smile spread across his lips.
"This is great, meaning the girl also has no special expectations from this relationship, nor any interest in her husband. There will be no problem in the divorce later."
Varun was about to say something on Rudransh's statement, but thinking something, he fell silent. Suddenly, Anvika's face flashed before Rudransh's eyes with repeated mentions of his wife with a one-year contract. He immediately turned to Varun and asked, "Is there any special plan for today?"
"Yes, tonight there is a meeting scheduled with Miss from Raichand Industries."
Varun replied instantly. Rudransh's eyes sparkled in a different way, and a mischievous smile spread across his lips.
"The stylist who came last time, go and call her. She will style me today."
Hearing Rudransh, Varun was shocked, "But you already have an exclusive stylist?"
"The temporary stylist who came to my place in place of that stylist last time was quite interesting. I liked her work, and now I want that same stylist to be called."
Rudransh gave that order with a crooked smile. Even now, his mind was only on Anvika. Varun was surprised.
He knew his boss; he was a perfectionist. For mistakes, he only had punishment, not forgiveness.
Three months ago, the CEO's exclusive stylist had to take sudden leave due to an urgent matter, and she had temporarily sent a female stylist in her place. It was that stylist who ruined two of the CEO, meaning Rudransh's shirts... even after that, Rudransh took no action against her and now wanted to call her back.
Rudransh doing this was unexpected. Varun found it strange. But he had been working with Rudransh for years. He was an experienced assistant and knew what to do when. So, without any arguments or questions, he left to follow his orders.
Meanwhile—
Anvika had not gone inside yet. Even after opening the lock, she stood outside, looking with disappointed eyes at the deserted three-story villa. Perhaps this was where she was going to live for the next year, but this was also good.
While getting married, she was worried about how she would face the man who was supposed to be Paridhi's husband. How would she manage this relationship and live with a stranger whom she didn't even know, but who would be her husband. What would she do if he tried to do something? How would she deal with this situation?
Now that he didn't show up, she wouldn't have to face any awkward situation. Since that person also had no interest in this marriage, she didn't have to think much. She just had to stay here for a year, collect money, and then leave somewhere far away with her brother.
Making this decision, Anvika picked up her bag and quickly opened the door.
On the first floor of the villa, there was a large living room, a game room, a kitchen, and a dining room.
On the second floor, there was a bedroom and a study room. On the third floor, there were several guest rooms and an empty storage room.
The house was empty, but the necessary facilities were available.
Anvika had seen the villa in a short time and was now confident that she could spend a year here comfortably.
Anvika dragged her bag into the master bedroom. She looked around the entire room and then moved towards the wardrobe. Now that she had to live here, she had to set up her belongings too. Thinking this, she slid open the wardrobe door and her eyes widened in shock at what she saw inside.
Anvika dragged her bag into the master bedroom. She looked around the room, then moved towards the closet. She had to live here now, so she had to arrange her things. Thinking this, she slid open the closet door and her eyes widened at the sight inside.
The cupboard was already full of designer clothes, stylish shoes, and branded matching bags. Parth hadn't even shown his face to her, but he had arranged all her necessities here.
Anvika smiled sarcastically. Was this a bribe or compensation? Was Parth trying to show her that he would give her all material things, but she couldn't have him? Was he fulfilling his duty as a husband this way, or was he showing off his wealth and status?
Anvika was an independent girl; she didn't like taking favors from others. For her, self-respect and dignity were everything. She glanced at the items dismissively. She didn't want to touch any of these things so that in the future, when she left from here, there would be no questions raised against her.
She pushed aside these expensive branded clothes and hung her own few old, washed clothes.
Just as Anvika was about to go into another room, her phone rang. She took out her mobile from her purse and looked, an unknown number was flashing on the screen. It was her work number, so she received the call without any hesitation.
"Hello, this is stylist Anvika speaking."
From the other side of the phone came an unknown man's voice,
"Hello, Miss Anvika. I am Varun, assistant to Mr. Rudransh Marwa, CEO of Marwa Industries. The CEO wants to appoint you as his personal stylist. He has ordered you to come here right now so that you can start working."
Hearing Varun's words, Anvika was stunned for a few moments. She remembered Rudransh's words and her eyes widened in surprise. Did Rudransh Marwa really intend to repay her by making her work for him? Was he serious at that time? Yes, he was definitely serious, that's why he was calling her.
Anvika answered her own question and thought to herself how her life had become so complicated in a moment. She was now the daughter-in-law of the Marwa family, the sister-in-law of this man in name… but the Marwa family people never considered her a part of the family. Rudransh probably didn't even know she was his elder brother's wife.
This marriage was perhaps the most unique marriage ever, which had become a mere formality; where husband and wife didn't even know each other.
Well, this was also good. No one had anything to do with anyone. She would be saved from getting entangled in the complexities of relationships. Anyway, her goal was something else. The destination was set, and the path was clear. She would earn money quickly and end this unwanted relationship, live her life on her own terms, far away from everyone. She would build her own small world with her brother. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she thought this.
"Okay, I'll come, please send me the address." Anvika immediately agreed. After disconnecting the call, Varun sent her the address.
Anvika quickly changed her clothes, removed her makeup, took a quick bath, and took out a white shirt and blue jeans from the closet.
In less than half an hour, Anvika was in front of Rudransh with her makeup bag.
"Mr. Rudransh, would you like to use any specific brand of products or can I use my own brands?"
Anvika asked in a professional tone, opening her makeup bag, as she would ask others. Since most of her clients came from high society and wealthy backgrounds, Anvika's makeup bag contained products from top international brands. If the client hadn't pre-selected anything and didn't demand a specific brand, she would choose the best products according to them.
"No, there's no specific demand, you can use your products."
Rudransh said carelessly, sitting in front of the mirror, looking at Anvika with interest. Three months had passed since their last meeting. There was a big difference between the Anvika then and the Anvika standing before him now. It seemed she had come out of the shock; she looked confident now.
But he liked to see Anvika uncomfortable. He liked her to withdraw into herself and get nervous when he teased her. Thinking this, Rudransh's lips stretched slightly.
Anvika, unaware of everything, was engrossed in her work. She carefully examined Rudransh's skin. He was a man, but his skin was so fair, soft, and radiant that not just men, but women too would be forced to be envious.
Anvika had styled many men by now, but none of them were as perfect as Rudransh. As a stylist, she could immediately recognize if someone was naturally beautiful or had undergone plastic surgery. There was no doubt that Rudransh had not undergone any plastic surgery; what he had was natural.
Anvika quickly got into work mode. She leaned forward a little to start working, bringing her collarbone and mole right in front of Rudransh's eyes, which once again drew his attention and unknowingly made Rudransh's gaze linger there.
Suddenly, Rudransh felt Anvika's slightly cool fingers gliding on his face. His attention shifted from the mole to Anvika. Where she was touching him, there was a strange ticklish sensation.
Anvika closely examined Rudransh's skin, then casually asked, pulling out a new nutmeg nourishing cream from her bag,
"What kind of event are you going to in a while? If you tell me, I will style you accordingly."
"I'm going on a date."
Rudransh narrowed his eyes slightly and fixed a deep gaze on Anvika's face. He wanted to know if she had asked this question professionally or out of personal interest?
In the next moment, his facial expression changed. Anvika was completely normal. She wasn't bothered at all that Rudransh was going on a date, and somewhere, this fact didn't please Rudransh.
Unaware of Rudransh's intentions, Anvika immediately understood what and how to do it; she immediately nodded in agreement and started preparing him according to the event of this date.
Anvika quickly fixed his hair and created a very attractive hairstyle. Rudransh was already very handsome and attractive, and with the right hairstyle, he looked even more charming and appealing.
Earlier, Rudransh preferred only light styling. But Anvika… she wasn't just a stylist, she was a perfectionist. She did her work with complete dedication. Her eyes were adept at catching details.
Anvika looked at Rudransh with deep eyes and her gaze settled on Rudransh's eyebrow. She nodded slightly and took out an eyebrow trimmer from her bag.
"Don't move." Anvika looked up at him and stepped towards him. Anvika's face suddenly came close to Rudransh's face; the proximity increased so much that the warmth of her breath touched Rudransh's cheek.
Rudransh, who usually kept his distance from girls, felt a strange sensation from Anvika's closeness and unknowingly his arms held Anvika's waist and pulled her towards him, which surprised Anvika and she looked at him with wide eyes in astonishment.
Anvika started to trim Rudransh's right eyebrow with the trimmer slowly. Her entire focus was on her work, but Rudransh's eyes remained fixed on her face.
It was quite strange that Rudransh, who usually maintained distance from girls, had unknowingly allowed Anvika to get so close to him, and he wasn't uncomfortable with it. In fact, her proximity was giving him a unique feeling.
"Was it because of the similarity to his birthmark, which he liked? With which he had a deep and old connection, which attracted him? Which reminded him of someone very special?"
Rudransh wondered to himself. His puzzled eyes remained on Anvika, who was working with full attention. Some strands of hair were scattered on her serious face, which enhanced her beauty but also troubled her. A thought occurred to Rudransh, and his hand moved towards Anvika's face.
At that moment, Rudransh's assistant, Varun, arrived there. He was about to enter by knocking on the gate, but as soon as he raised his head and saw the scene inside, he was shocked.
Anvika's body had almost merged into Rudransh's arms, but her boss didn't seem to object to this closeness. Instead, he appeared lost in her eyes. The two were very close, with Rudransh's hand just about to touch Anvika's face.
Varun's mouth was wide open as he watched this scene. Was this all his imagination? Had he seen something impossible? This was certainly not normal.
Varun found it difficult to believe his eyes. He looked at Rudransh and Anvika, then quickly pulled his advancing hand back.
"No! If I intervene at this moment, if I disturb Rudransh now, he'll definitely be angry and perhaps fire me... No, I won't let that happen. I won't ruin their special moment... I have to leave from here. I'll talk to him later."
Varun thought about all possibilities, muttering to himself, and also scared himself. Then, without making any noise, he quietly turned back and stood outside, keeping watch so that no one else would disturb them or see Rudransh like that.
Rudransh's finger was about to touch Anvika's face but stopped suddenly. After completing the last trim, Anvika let out a sigh of relief. As soon as she looked down, her eyes directly collided with Rudransh's deep, sparkling eyes.
There was something strange in his eyes... something that had increased Anvika's heartbeat. As she averted her gaze, Anvika immediately took a step back. Trying to hide her unease, she attempted to calm herself.
"Now you're ready for your date. You can check if there's anything lacking."
Rudransh's gaze moved from Anvika to his reflection in the mirror. His eyes focused on his well-groomed eyebrow, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. It was a perfect shape, and Anvika had made it happen.
His attraction was already impressive and mysterious, and today, Anvika's touch seemed to have enhanced it. He was already handsome and attractive; now, he looked so captivating that no one could take their eyes off him. Anvika had added a special charm to his personality.
Rudransh turned his head slightly and looked at Anvika, whose face had turned slightly pink, and she was still shying away from his gaze.
"Do I look good? Am I attractive enough that the girl I'm going to meet will be captivated by me at first sight?"
Upon hearing his question, Anvika looked up at him nervously. Her face showed confusion, and she couldn't understand why Rudransh had suddenly asked her that. She blinked her eyes several times, looked at him, and then, with a gentle smile, replied, "You look perfect. I'm sure that whoever you're meeting will be drawn to your attractive face and charming personality."
"Really... do you think so?" Rudransh suddenly stood up and came in front of Anvika. Anvika tried to move back, but Rudransh quickly extended his hand and blocked her path. Anvika looked up at him, startled.
Rudransh trapped her between the wall and his arms, raised his eyebrows, and looked at her with intense gaze.
"Do you really think that no girl can resist my attractive, handsome face and charming personality?"
Anvika became even more confused after hearing Rudransh's question. She looked at him with wide eyes and slowly shook her head. The corners of Rudransh's lips turned slightly, and he moved a step closer to her.
"And you?" Rudransh asked, looking at her with deep eyes. Anvika was shocked and nervously said,
"W-what are you saying?"
"I'm just asking a question. Does my attraction affect you too? Am I so attractive that you can't help but be drawn to me? Are you more attracted to me or Samyak? ... Do you forget him when I'm in front of you?"
Rudransh didn't know himself how and why he had asked these questions. Upon hearing the name 'Samyak' from Rudransh's lips and seeing the comparison between them, Anvika was stunned. She hadn't expected Rudransh to bring up Samyak's name. Her face turned pale in an instant.
Rudransh also didn't realize that his question would make Anvika's face turn so pale. In that moment, he realized his mistake, that perhaps he had asked the wrong question and shouldn't ask any more. It would be better to end the matter here.
Rudransh didn't want to bring up that name again, even by mistake. However, Anvika's reaction gave birth to many questions in his mind.
"Who is this person? What was his relationship with Anvika? What was their story? Why was Anvika remembering him even in her unconscious state? Why was she in pain because of him? Why did her face turn pale and her eyes show a strange emptiness as soon as she heard his name? What secrets are hidden here? How could he, without being near Anvika, affect her feelings so deeply?"
Lost in his questions, Rudransh looked at Anvika's face with deep eyes, trying to read her expression, then turned his gaze away. He removed his hand, glanced at himself in the mirror, and adjusted his tie.
"You're coming with me."
Rudransh almost gave an order, his tone harsh and his face serious.
"A... yes?" Anvika still hadn't recovered from his previous words, and now this. She stood bewildered, looking at him with wide eyes.
As Anvika pondered, a thought suddenly struck her, and her eyes widened.
"Was he taking her on a date? Was this all preparation for him to take her on a date? Was styling just an excuse, or did Rudransh actually plan to take her with him? Were those questions the reason? Did he like her?"
As she thought, Anvika's heart beat strongly, and she took a step back, scared. But before she could react, Rudransh wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Anvika collided with his broad chest.
"No, it can't be." The next moment, she closed her eyes and exclaimed.
"No, that can't be." She screamed, her eyes closed.
Rudransh's voice hit Anvika's ears, causing her to jump up and open her eyes. She was startled to see Rudransh standing far from her.
"What happened to you? Why are you screaming and have your eyes closed?"
Rudransh asked, his voice firm.
Anvika looked at Rudransh with wide, bewildered eyes. She shook her head hastily.
"No, nothing. I was thinking about something."
"Are you going with me, okay?"
Rudransh moved away from there, but Anvika got lost in her thoughts once again.
"Why does he want to go on a date with me repeatedly? Which stylist goes to a client's date? If it were a big event, it would be necessary for the stylist to accompany them to maintain their image. But this is just a date...
Does that mean that the person they are meeting is so important to him that he wants the stylist to accompany him to perfect his styling?"
As this possibility occurred to her, Anvika felt much more relaxed, and all the other thoughts left her mind. However, Rudransh's presence still affected her.
She really wanted Rudransh's attention to shift to someone else so that she could think alone for a while. Perhaps Rudransh understood this. He glanced at Anvika, then turned and walked out.
Anvika was still a bit confused and troubled about whether going with Rudransh would be okay.
"Miss Anvika, your boss called you. Can you please come with me?"
Anvika jumped out of her thoughts at Varun's sudden voice. Her eyes directly met Varun's, who was standing at the entrance, asking her to go with him.
Anvika nodded and quickly gathered her belongings. After putting everything away, she picked up her bag and followed Varun.
As they reached downstairs, her eyes went straight ahead, where a bright blue Lamborghini Aventador was parked.
One bodyguard, wearing a custom-made army suit, respectfully opened the car door, and Rudransh sat inside comfortably.
Anvika, whose eyes had been fixed on Rudransh until now, looked around but didn't see any other car.
"There's no other car here; how am I going with him? Should I walk behind him?"
Anvika said to herself, then slapped her forehead. "How silly you think! How can you walk?"
Rudransh saw Anvika standing by the side of the road, looking like a mad person, making strange faces and muttering to herself. He raised an eyebrow and glared at her with a strange look.
"Why are you standing there thinking? Get in the car!"
Rudransh pointed to the passenger seat. Anvika looked at him with wide eyes, startled.
Suddenly, she realized she was also supposed to sit in the same car as Rudransh, and he was waiting for her.
Anvika pointed to herself, her eyes wide with surprise, and asked Rudransh, "Me?"
She looked cute and innocent at that moment. This unintentionally brought a slight smile to Rudransh's lips.
Perhaps that was why he enjoyed teasing and annoying her—she always looked cute and sweet, like a frightened little rabbit. When she made faces or looked at him with wide eyes, she became even more adorable.
"Yes, you. Get in. We are getting late."
Rudransh replied seriously, hiding his smile, and glanced at his wristwatch, glaring at Anvika lightly.
Varun opened the car door for Anvika. Feeling so special, Anvika felt like she was flying; this was like a beautiful dream. She didn't realize when she got inside and the car started. She was still lost in those feelings.
"I've been working in this field for so many years, as a stylist, I've worked with many people. But in all these years of experience, this is the first time a customer has taken me on a date, given me such special treatment, and the first time I've gone with a client in their car. Am I really dreaming?"
Anvika muttered to herself, then couldn't help but steal glances at Rudransh. Rudransh didn't notice Anvika staring at him; his full concentration was on driving.
His finely carved features and self-assured body language made him even more irresistible. Anyone's eyes would stop on him, and Anvika couldn't escape his charm.
While driving, he looked even more attractive, and Anvika couldn't help but stare at him for a while.
"Tonight, we're going to meet Miss Anahita Raichand of 'Raichand Industries.' Be alert and do what you're told."
Rudransh's deep and soft voice sounded like a violin.
"Ah..." Anvika jumped back to reality, feeling she'd been staring at him for a long time. She quickly averted her gaze.
"Thank God Mr. Rudransh didn't see me staring at him like that; otherwise, what impression would I have made on him? What would he think, that I'm so unprofessional and mannerless? How shamelessly I was staring at him; if he had seen, he would have been angry, but luckily I saved myself, but it won't happen every time, so keep a little control over your eyes and stay within your limits."
Anvika scolded herself. Just then, Rudransh's gaze turned towards her.
"Where do you keep getting lost? What are you always muttering to yourself? And what expression are you making?"
This time, it was Rudransh who scolded her, looking irritated. Anvika looked at him with wide eyes and nodded hastily.
"I'm... not lost anywhere... I was just thinking."
Rudransh glared at her with suspicious eyes for a while, then asked, raising his right eyebrow.
"Did you hear what I said? Did I say something?"
"Yes, I understood."
Anvika replied quickly, trying to hide her nervousness. However, she said that, but in reality, she didn't understand. Instead, she got more confused.
What was the need for a stylist to be alert there? She just had to fix his look; if something went wrong? Was she going to a war zone that she had to be alert?
Rudransh glanced at Anvika, her expressions screaming that she didn't understand anything. However, he didn't bother to explain.
"Don't worry, you'll understand what I mean in a while."
Rudransh said with a killer smile on his lips and focused on driving.
It hadn't been much time when Rudransh's ears suddenly heard a strange sound, and his surprised eyes turned towards Anvika, who was leaning her head out the window, thinking about something. She had her lips pursed, making strange faces. Her hair was scattered on her cheeks, her hand on her stomach, and the wrinkles on her forehead showed her distress.
Rudransh's eyebrows furrowed dangerously, and he slammed on the brakes. Anvika couldn't balance herself and leaned forward.
It wasn't long before Rudransh suddenly heard a strange sound in his ears. His surprised gaze turned towards Anvika. Anvika was resting her head against the window, looking outside. Her lips were pressed together, and she was making peculiar faces. Strands of hair were scattered on her cheeks, her hand was on her stomach, and the lines on her forehead revealed her distress.
Rudransh watched her for a while, then looked away. The car stopped upon reaching the destination, and Rudransh got out. Anvika's gaze remained fixed on him.
"Why is he coming towards me? Is he going to take me inside with him? But why would he take me on his date? Yet, he brought me here, and he's coming towards me. It seems like he's going to be the third wheel and make me sit at his table with him?"
Anvika started muttering to herself as she saw Rudransh turn and walk towards her.
"Get out," Rudransh said, opening the door towards her and gesturing for her to exit. Anvika's eyes widened as she looked at him.
"You go ahead, I'm fine right here. It's your date, what will I do sitting between you two? It will be awkward for me, and I'm sure Miss Raychand won't like me coming with you either. In my presence, you might not even be able to talk properly to each other."
Anvika hesitated and refused to go with him. Her words were logical, but Rudransh's eyebrows furrowed and joined together at his refusal, and his eyes narrowed as he stared at her.
"I am your boss and this is my order. No matter what, but if you are with me, then you have to follow my each and every order..... Got it?"
Seeing his stern, attitude-filled demeanor, Anvika got a little scared and nodded hurriedly.
"Now get out. I think you haven't eaten anything today. I heard your stomach growling. I guess you're hungry and need food more than an argument."
Anvika's eyes widened in surprise. In a moment, her entire face turned red like a tomato. Rudransh had heard her stomach growl; it was so embarrassing for her.
The truth was that she hadn't eaten anything since morning. In the morning, she was caught up in the drama of the wedding, and was so stressed that she neither felt like eating nor had the opportunity. After the wedding, she went to the villa given by her one-year contract husband. But she couldn't even rest there before she was urgently called for work...
Rudransh smiled wryly, gesturing with his eyes, and Anvika shyly averted her gaze.
"Let's go, Anvika," Rudransh said, extending his palm towards her. Anvika first touched her stomach with her palm, then looked up at Rudransh, who was gesturing with his eyes for her to take his palm and step out.
Hesitantly, she removed his hand from her front and stepped out. Rudransh's expression soured slightly, then he shook his head.
Rudransh stylishly tossed his car keys to the bodyguard standing behind him. The bodyguard caught the keys and drove away. Anvika watched all this with wide eyes, trying to fully comprehend the situation.
"Let's go, we're getting late." A faint smile flickered in Rudransh's phoenix-like eyes, and he turned and walked towards the door.
Anvika quickly scratched her head. She looked at Rudransh with confused eyes. He had moved ahead, but Anvika hesitated to follow him. She shook her head and, out of compulsion, followed Rudransh with small steps.
Rudransh wasn't walking fast, making it clear that he was waiting for Anvika and walking slowly for her; but Anvika didn't realize this and, engrossed in her own thoughts, walked behind him.
Anahita, the eldest daughter of Raychand Industries, was counted among the top five famous and successful women. She was a millionaire, and her pride was evident in her personality.
It was no surprise that Rudransh had come to meet her with so much preparation and looked so serious.
Anahita was a young and beautiful girl with a very attractive personality. She also played the piano very well. Millions of boys were infatuated with her and yearned to catch a glimpse of her; but alas, Anahita was not interested in anyone. Her entire world revolved around Rudransh Marwa.
Anvika, who was not very interested in the entertainment world, often saw news of Anahita Raychand in newspapers, where she was seen around Rudransh.
Anvika entered the hotel with Rudransh while thinking all this, without even realizing it herself.
The hotel manager himself stood at the hotel entrance to welcome them.
"Mr. Marwa, Miss Anahita is waiting for you in her room."
The manager greeted Rudransh and informed him. He nodded and moved forward. Anvika, watching him, paused for a moment, but then she too followed him.
She had no other option. Rudransh was her client, her orders. As his personal stylist, it was her duty to be present when he needed her and to follow his orders.
The manager walked with them, guiding them.
"Miss Raychand, Mr. Marwa has arrived." The manager said, opening the door. Rudransh and Anvika also entered the room with him.
Anvika slowly lifted her lowered eyelids and looked up. Her gaze directly fell on the girl sitting on the king-size sofa in the room, with one leg crossed over the other. The girl was wearing a designer dress, looked extremely beautiful, and was sitting with great flair, reading a fashion magazine.
Hearing the manager's voice, Miss Anahita smiled. She removed the magazine and turned her gaze in that direction. As her eyes met Rudransh's, her smile deepened; but as soon as she saw Anvika standing behind Rudransh, her expression changed, and her smiling lips tightened.
Rudransh completely ignored Anahita's expression and came inside with a smile. "Miss Raychand, I am really sorry, I got a little delayed, and you had to wait for me. I hope you won't mind."
Anahita's gaze remained fixed on Anvika. She turned her gaze to Rudransh and smiled slightly. "Mr. Marwa, there's no need for this formality. You're being too polite. I also just arrived a little while ago, so I didn't have to wait long."
After a pause, Anahita pointed towards Anvika and asked, "Who is this? I've never seen her with you?"
Anahita glared at Anvika as if she were her greatest enemy. It was obvious she didn't like seeing another girl with Rudransh. Poor Anvika had gotten caught between the two for no reason, when it wasn't her fault at all.
She immediately took a step to leave, but Rudransh stopped her by holding her wrist. Anvika, startled, turned and looked at him, and Anahita narrowed her eyes and glared at both of them.
To be continued…
You must read my novel "Bawafa Ishq - The Unwanted Marriage"
Two lives bound by unwanted ties...
Riddhima Bhardwaj.... Mumbai's famous fashion designer....... A free-spirited, self-respecting girl who considers marriage a burden. She wants to live her life on her own terms, while Shreyas Oberoi, the CEO of Oberoi Industries and the heartbeat of millions, has his heart beating for someone else.
What will happen when people from two different worlds are forced to live together? Will hate turn into love? Or will this unwanted marriage ruin both their lives?
This thrilling story has its ups and downs of love, hate, deceit, and trust. To find out what turn Riddhima and Shreyas's unwanted marriage takes, you must read this interesting story.
