AUTHOR'S POV:
"Aradhaya, please listen to me; I'll explain everything," Devansh pleaded, following her. His posture reflected discomfort.
"There's nothing for me to listen to, Devansh; it's all over!" Aadhya replied, her footsteps continuing their momentum, her body radiating anger.
Not getting the perfect chance to convince her, Devansh pulled her towards him by her wrist and pinned her against the wall without wasting a second.
As Aaradhya's breathing quickened, happy chills ran down her body, thrilled to have successfully gotten his attention. She was jealous of Anira-damn jealous.
"You can't leave me alone," Devansh said, his voice deep and husky.
While Aaradhya continued her drama, rolling her eyes as if finding his every word unworthy.
"Are you even listening to me?" he asked, grabbing her jaw, bringing their faces closer.
Aaradhya looked into his eyes. Devansh remained silent.
Breaking the silence, Aaradhya asked, "Then why did you agree to this useless marriage? Don't you love me? I mean, why Anira? Why not me?"
"Try to understand," Devansh replied, cupping her face. "It's for our bright future."
"Our bright future?" Aaradhya questioned.
"Yeah, Anira is just a means to achieve it. As soon as the work is done, I'll make her realize her actual place," Devansh said, his face covered in cruelty and a devilish smirk.
Aaradhya lifted an eyebrow, eager to find answers to the questions rising in her mind.
Devansh began explaining his plan.
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Anira and Kashvi finally exited the washroom. As they approached the main venue, Anira was suddenly struck by a strong figure.
Startled, she was about to fall, but comforting hands around her back protected her.
"Ahh," a soft, pained voice escaped her mouth.
"Are you okay?" the male figure asked, his voice filled with care and worry.
"Yeah, I am," Anira replied, adjusting her dupatta. She looked up, locking eyes with the man.
Just as he was about to speak, Kashvi rushed towards her and pulled her toward the stage.
"Chal, late ho raha hai; sab log tujhe hi dhund rahe hai!"
(Let's go; we're getting late; everyone's looking for you).
Anira kept looking back on her way, her mind continuously racing with the same question: "I've seen him somewhere; he feels so comfortable, but who is he?"
Meanwhile, the male figure radiated emotional vibes toward Anira. His face seemed to shout for her to stop and listen to him. There were many unsaid things, and she desperately wanted to hear them.
"The Unsaid Truth."
The ceremony continued soon after Anira and Devansh took their respective seats. Guests began to approach the stage to congratulate the couple.
When the same masculine figure approached, Anira's heart grew restless.
"There's something odd; something I'm missing," she murmured to herself, pulling her hand back after a heartwarming handshake with him.
"Okay, so now we have to leave," Mrs. Thakur's voice reached her.
Anira turned to find Mrs. Thakur looking at her lovingly. Aura nodded and gave a warm smile.
Soon, the Thakurs left the Rajvanshi mansion. It was a tiring day for Anira, but her heart was satisfied. The happiness of getting her love made happy bubbles burst inside her countless times.
She was happy to finally live her dream life, where she could find pace, love, care, attention, and comfort.
Anira was always an ignored child in her household. She never complained but trained herself to adjust to every situation.
Her father, Mr. Rajvanshi, was a strong businessman with a soft spot for his family, especially his children... or rather, his son.
Mrs. Rajvanshi had a greedy nature, always seeking to prove her superiority and claim her right to be treated as a VIP due to her wealth.
Anira was a sharp girl with an independent spirit from a young age. Success in academics came frequently to her, with hard work as her permanent partner and books as her best friends.
However, her success never got noticed or celebrated. The feeling of being left out by her own parents led her to self-doubt and depressing thoughts.
"Why can't I be treated like a normal kid?"
"Because you're a Rajvanshi, and Rajvanshis are extraordinary," was the reply she got every time from her parents.
But looking at her brother, she never got the vibes that the quote carried. Her brother was the prince of the mansion.
"Despite being part of a affluent family, Anira felt like a burden to them. She yearned for love and nurturing, finding solace in her grandmother's genuine care and companionship. Her grandmother was her closest confidante and the only family member who truly understood her.
However, Anira's academic prowess remained unwavering, driven by her innate intelligence and aspiration. She excelled in her studies, clearing the highly competitive CA entrance exam with flying colors. As she awaited the college admissions list, her family's apathy towards her achievement was palpable.
No one acknowledged her hard-won success, let alone offer congratulations. To them, Anira was merely a liability to be married off or utilized for financial gain. But Anira's happiness remained unbridled, fueled by the prospect of embarking on a new life with her soulmate.
With her heart full of joy and anticipation, Anira's radiant energy was unmatched."
Now, Anira sat alone in her room, lost in thought. Kashvi had left for her house an hour ago.
"He's Tejas Bhai," Anira muttered to herself. The male personality was Tejas Singhania, a familiar face. He worked in her father's company, and his frequent visits to their house had made him a familiar figure. Tejas always showed a soft side towards Anira, but she had never taken it seriously.
However, today was different. His touch, his words, and his care had awakened unknown connections within her.
"Why does he feel so close to me?" she wondered aloud. "Is there something I don't know?"
-------------------------------------------------------
In a sleek, elegant office, a man sat amidst an atmosphere of refined luxury. The perfectly designed room exuded professionalism, with immaculately cleaned floors that added to the cabin's charm.
"Are you getting distracted lately?" Abhiraj, a man in his late fifties, asked with genuine concern etched on his face. His voice was laced with fatherly worry.
"You are just overthinking, Dad," Eshanth replied, evading the topic. His gaze drifted toward the large glass window, his eyes unfocused. He fidgeted with a pen, twirling it in his hand, while his legs tapped the floor anxiously.
Abhiraj sighed deeply, studying Eshanth's posture. He recognized the frustration and anger simmering beneath his son's surface. Knowing words would be futile, he rose from his seat and gently patted Eshanth's arm.
"Remember, you're the future Chief Minister. This is your debut year in politics, and as the king of Rajasthan , you have immense responsibilities. A good leader must be attentive to his people. Personal life and problems have no place here. She was just an obsession, Eshanth. Forget her and focus on your duties. You understand?"
Abhiraj exited the cabin, leaving Eshanth with a blank expression. But as soon as his father disappeared from view, Eshanth's face contorted in anguish, revealing his jealousy and pain.
With a sudden burst of anger, he grabbed the glass paperweight from the table and slammed it to the ground. The paperweight shattered into tiny pieces.
"These shattered glass pieces represent my shattered heart," Eshanth whispered, his voice laced with hurt.
"Aryaan!" he bellowed, summoning his assistant. His loud tone was startling.
Aryaan entered the cabin, his voice trembling with fear. "Y-yes, sir."
"Reschedule the meeting with Mittal Sahab for this evening," Eshanth ordered.
Aryaan hesitated, his voice still shaky. "A-are you sure, sir?"
Eshanth's eyes snapped up, his red-rimmed gaze flashing anger. "Who gave you the right to question me?" His tone carried a deadly ultimatum.
Aryaan immediately bowed his head. "I-I was just confirming, sir."
"Don't dare question my decisions," Eshanth's rage intensified. "Do your assigned tasks. Am I clear?"
Aryaan cringed. "Y-yes, sir."
As a member of Rajasthan's royal family, Eshanth was born to lead. His family had held the crown for generations, and now it was his turn to take the reins. Tomorrow's coronation ceremony would mark the beginning of his reign.
Confident in his abilities, Eshanth showed no signs of worry. However, one concern gnawed at him - his lost love. The pain of seeing her with someone else was devastating.
"SHE WAS , SHE IS AND SHE WILL BE MY LOVE FOREVER", NO MATTER WHAT MY LOVE FOR HER IS UNCONDITIONAL GETTING DEEPENED WITH EACH PASSING DAY"
On the other side, Anira was all set to enter her dream world. Clad in a bright blue shirt and Doraemon-printed pyjamas, she looked adorable. Her hair cascaded freely over her face, and her eyes were fixed on the most anticipated part of the book.
Unconsciously, her fingers slipped into her mouth, and she snuggled deeper into the pillow. Butterflies danced in her stomach as she jumped off the bed in excitement.
"They finally did it!!!" Anira exclaimed.
As a hopeless romantic, Anira found solace in fictional characters until she discovered love in real life. Her reactions to romance novels, especially dark romance, were legendary. Kashvi knew how to handle her, but even she sometimes struggled to manage Anira's mood swings.
Happy endings made Anira dance with joy; heart-wrenching separations left her crying all night. While a single swoon-worthy line from the male lead would awaken the sleepy butterflies in her stomach, filling her with emotions.
Anira's phone beeped with an incoming message, but she was too engrossed in her book to notice.
Five minutes later, her phone rang, breaking the silence.
"Paka maat yaar," Anira said, answering the call without checking the caller ID.
(Don't bore me)
"But I haven't said anything yet," Kashvi protested.
"I know you'll have some boring topic to discuss," Anira teased.
Kashvi rolled her eyes. "Are you reading a novel?"
"You know it! I'm on the second-last chapter," Anira exclaimed.
"When did you start reading it?" Kashvi asked, sighing.
"After I got fresh," Anira replied nonchalantly.
"What's the time?" Kashvi asked, frustrated.
"Kyu tere ghar mein ghadi nahi hai?" Anira retorted playfully.
(Don't you have a clock at home?)
"Idiot, it's 3:30 AM!!!" Kashvi exclaimed.
Anira wasn't fazed. "Only 3:30 AM?" she said, disappointed.
"Only?!" Kashvi echoed, shocked.
"Ullu kahinki!!" Kashvi teased, calling Anira an owl.
"Don't disturb me now; I need to finish this book," Anira said, hanging up.
Kashvi quickly reminded Anira, "Don't forget, we have wedding shopping at 9:30 AM sharp. Devansh's mother will be meeting us. Make sure you remember."
"Hn hn, pata hai mujhe," Anira replied carelessly before hanging up.
(Yes, I know)
Kashvi sighed, frustration etched on her face. "Nothing can change her! It's always about her and her fictional men."