I stormed into the house, heels clicking against the marble floor, my chest still rising and falling from the heated encounter with Aditya.
My fingers clenched the fabric of my lehenga as I replayed every damn second of our conversation in my head.
The way he had looked at me. The way he had smirked, knowing exactly how to get under my skin.
The way he had said-I am in your head.
I hated him.
I hated how his words stayed with me even after I had walked away.
I hated that, despite my best efforts, my heart was still hammering against my ribs like a war drum.
"Avni." The sharp voice of my father cut through my thoughts, dragging me back to reality.
I froze, my head snapping up to see him standing in the living room, arms crossed, his expression thunderous. Shit.
I suddenly had a very, very bad feeling about this.
"What the hell were you thinking?!" His voice boomed through the room, making my stomach twist. I flinched, gripping the me lehenga. "Dad, I-"
"Throwing water at Aditya? In front of everyone?" His voice was filled with a rare kind of anger, the one he only used when I had really screwed up. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"
I blinked, momentarily stunned. Out of everything I had expected, this was not one of them. "What I've done?" I repeated incredulously. "Are you seriously mad at me for that? He deserved it, Dad! He-"
"He is your future husband."
Silence.
A cold, deafening, earth-shattering silence.
Dad exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples as if I was the world's biggest headache. "I already told you about it, but of course, you had to make things difficult."
"Excuse me. Yes you said that but i never accepted it." My voice came out dangerously low.
Dad sighed, as if he was tired of this conversation already. "It was decided between me and Mr.Singhania a long time ago. You two are getting married. End of discussion."
A sharp, bitter laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. "You've lost your mind," I said, shaking my head. "You really think I'd marry him? After everything. Nope . never."
Dad's expression hardened. "You will, Avni. And I suggest you drop this attitude of yours before it makes things worse."
Worse?
Oh, he hadn't seen worse yet.
I took a step forward, my hands shaking with rage. "You don't get to decide my life for me. You told me last time that marriage is fixed. i listened but now? Last decision should be mine ! "
Dad met my gaze with an unyielding one of his own. "I already have." I swallowed, my throat tightening painfully.
I turned on my heel, storming toward the stairs, but his next words froze me in place. "If you refuse this marriage, you'll be destroying our family, Avni."
I stopped. My fists clenched.
And then, slowly, I turned back. "What the hell is that supposed to mean . You told me you owe them. But this much?"
Dad exhaled, his tone suddenly lower, almost tired. "We owe the Singhania, Avni. More than you know. This marriage is not just a union. It's a necessity."
I stared at him, my chest rising and falling unevenly.
"You mean to tell me..." I whispered, voice shaking, "that I have to pay for your debts by marrying him?"
Dad didn't answer.
A hollow laugh escaped me. "So i really don't have a choice?" . Dad sighed ."No, you don't. So start accepting it"
I turned again, but this time, I didn't stop. I climbed the stairs, my mind blank, my emotions a hurricane.
I needed to breathe. I needed ......mom.
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Okay sorry.
This is smallest chapter ig. So sorry for that.
Thanks for reading. Please vote and comment guys. I really appreciate that a lot.
Take careð