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Shruti burst the door of her brother's bedroom open.
" How could you do this Bhai?"
Aryan shifted his attention from the file he was reading to her.
" What?" he raised his eyebrows. She fisted her hand and took quick steps toward him.
" How much did you pay to make that artist write your name on her Henna?"
" Did Pakhi find out?"
Shruti rolled her eyes and folded her hands around the chest.
" No, I did. The artist was clever to hide your name. She wouldn't be able to find it unless she tries hard. But why did you do that Bhai?"
He looked back at his face and turned the page while speaking, " a girl should write only her husband's name on her hand."
" She can't be your wife-"
She refrained herself from completing the sentence when he sent an intense stare to her by lifting his thick eyelashes. Her brother is scary, especially when it's about Pakhi.
He closed the file and put it in the drawer.
" Did you get the pictures?"
She hummed unwillingly.
" Good. Send them to me."
Shruti stared at him going toward the bed and sitting on it.
" Bhai, do you think you are doing right?"
" What's not right?"
" She seemed happy, Bhai. Her family will be broken if you do something. Leave them, bhai."
" How was he?"
The audacity of his to ignore her and question her back. She managed to cool her anger then uttered sarcastically,
" Same as you. He's as arrogant as you."
He chuckled and rested his back on the headpost.
" Is that so? He must be disappointed not seeing me."
She nodded, leaving Aryan impressed.
" Bhai, please, he'll be so angry. His hatred for you will grow more."
He shook his head, " there was no reason to hate me, Shruti. He was blinded by a misunderstanding which he did not let me clear. In the end he accused me of killing his girlfriend. He was not the same Jaydev I knew. Sending an invitation to me even though we no longer have a relationship, was a stupid move by him. He wants to defeat me as he knows how much I love his sister. He knows my every fucking weakness and strength."
" What's the point?"
Shruti asked and he exhaled softly,
" For now, I just want her. Jaydev should know I ain't a useless shit who will hide from him."
" What will you do?" she asked curiously and he smiled slightly.
" Marry her."
She sighed and sat on the bed. He stared at her using her mobile and when his phone vibrated he realised she was sending him pictures.
" What did she sound like?"
She looked back at her brother, " she is as sweet as she was before. If there wasn't this enmity between you two, we would have happily brought her home. He and you will ruin her innocence by your hatred. She has nothing to do with this."
" Tell me more about her," he insisted, ignoring her again.
She glared at him, " I won't. You did not pay me much for that."
She stood up and walked out of his bedroom. He quickly grabbed his phone and touched on the newly arrived message from Shruti.
He bit his lower lip, felt his heart skipping a beat as photos started downloading. Someone rang his mobile and he was fast to disconnect the call.
The pictures downloaded and he clicked on the first photo.
His heart fluttered and eyes blinked, looking at her all grown up into a beautiful woman. Her youth seems to be at its peak. Her eyes are deep and intoxicating. Her lips are like lotus flowers. They seemed as soft as petals.
He did not forget to see 3-4 moles on her face. Wherever those moles were, that place looked more attractive.
A smile formed on his lips and he tried looking at her better, spent several minutes in a single picture and still not getting bored. Only he knew how he spent 5 years without a single glimpse of her.
Their marriage was fixed by her parents and his parents but the fight between Jaydev and him ruined everything. He did not allow him to see her. Still, he opposed him many times and watched her secretly whenever she used to wait for her family to pick her up from her senior secondary school.
He put the phone on the nightstand and lay back on the bed. His head rested on the pillow and eyes closed. Smile did not dare to fade away from his lips.
Her face flashed in his mind as he imagined how she would look in his arms. It would be an ethereal view to find her roaming in his house with vermillion of his name on head and nuptial chain around neck.
He'll shower all his love on her which he has gathered from past some years.
The little princess of Chaudhary's is soon going to become his.
So no matter what move he has to pull to marry her.
However, it's time to meet his wonderful best friend.
There, in Chaudhary mansion, Pakhi was eating food from her brother's hand.
" I liked Shruti di. Bhai, have you seen them before? I met them for the first time. They were so lovely."
He hummed.
" Have you? Then why didn't I?"
She uttered the last sentence in a low confused tone.
" Because you were too small at that time. You have seen them but you don't remember. After the death of our parents, they stopped visiting us frequently."
" Why?"
Jaydev shrugged his shoulders and fed her last morsel. He put the plate aside. His gaze landed on her hands. Fresh colour of Henna has covered her hand. The shade will be darker tomorrow.
He was about to get down from the bed but stopped and hurriedly grabbed her both hands. Pakhi looked at her brother confused and gulped down the food.
" What's wrong?"
" This.."
Jaydev stretched her palms and frowned, staring at a particular place. She glanced at her hands then back at him.
" Is it not good?"
He did not say anything and kept staring at Henna.
" How can.."
He blinked once as if he wanted to clear his vision but realised that whatever he read is nothing but a clear cut truth.
Pakhi frowned, reading his expression. He seemed angry suddenly.
" Bhai-"
She stopped in the middle when he suddenly started rubbing a particular design on her palm, unknowingly turning his action harsh.
" Bhai-"
She hissed in pain and he looked at her. Regret rushed down to his spine and he hurriedly cupped her cheeks.
" I am sorry, princess. I didn't mean to hurt you."
He apologised quickly and she shook her head negatively,
" It's okay but what happened?"
He licked his lower lip and wondered if he should let her know the name on her hand. His precious best friend chose to pull his first move and that too under his nose.
" Nothing, you should sleep."
She nodded and drank a glass of water. He took the glass and plate, switched off the lights in her room and left the room.
Pakhi sighed and looked outside the window. She doesn't even have 2 days properly to live in her home.
She was 10 when she stepped in this house to live forever. It's been 13 years in this house. The love she received can't be defined in words. She will miss all of them.
She smiled slightly and fluttered her eyes closed, slowly slipping into her dreamland, knowing tomorrow is going to be another hectic day.
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The wedding day,
Pakhi was ready as a bride and waiting in her room for further notice when Rohini came running.
" Pakhi?"
She stood up, " Ji mami?"
Rohini grabbed her hands, " Jay is going somewhere. Come with me."
Rohini pulled her out of the bedroom and they straight walked toward Jaydev's room. The grandmother and Dravid were also present and Jaydev was scolding someone via call.
" Bhai?"
Pakhi lifted her lehenga a little and walked toward him as he disconnected the call. He turned to her.
" Bhai, where are you going at this time? Baarat is about to come."
She sounded worried and Jaydev cupped her cheeks.
" It won't take me much time. To welcome baraat, everyone is here. Before the beginning of your marriage, I'll return."
She shook her head and moved his hands down.
" But where are you going?"
Jaydev sighed, " I need to go for a murder case."
" But bhai-"
" I'll come back quickly, princess. Don't worry."
" What will we say to Baraati?"
Dravid asked.
" Make any excuse, Mama. Handle the situation here and I'll be back in a while. Make sure everything goes well according to the ritual."
Dravid unwillingly nodded his head. Pakhi held his wrist, not letting him go.
" Bhai, I...I don't feel good," she whispered and looked down. He caught the sight of a long tear escaping her eyes.
The moment was the reason why she was getting so emotional. It's her wedding and if she will not find her brother beside her, she will surely feel nervous.
He pecked her forehead, " I'll be back soon, princess. I promise. Do I ever break my promise?"
She shook her head and he wiped her tears.
" Agar aap meri vidaai Tak na aaye to?"
( What if you did not return till my vidaai?)
She said and looked at his face with glossy eyes. He chuckled, " Aisa bhi ho sakta hai kya bhala?"
( Can this ever happen?)
She again shook her head.
" Alright, no tears. Your groom shouldn't blame me for making you cry, okay?"
She chuckled in between her tears and nodded. She hugged him for a few seconds then let him go. She stared at his disappearing figure and mentally prayed for his safety.
" Come," Rohini made her sit on the bed and called her cousins to give her company until the arrival of Baraat. They laughed, sharing some past memories with one another.
Pakhi was checking the clock from time to time. It had been 1 hour since her brother had left but neither he nor Baraat had come.
" Why hasn't Baraat arrived yet?"
One of her cousins uttered confusedly and Pakhi looked at her. She felt strange, like... something really bad was happening or about to happen.
One by one all of her cousins went downstairs to check the current matter of baraat but none came back.
10 minutes passed and Pakhi got no glimpse of humans in her room.
It would be okay if she dial any of her in-laws' numbers and know where they've arrived.
Her phone was in her bedroom, so she got down from the bed and walked to her room.
She was stairs when she heard,
" GET OUT!"
It was the loud voice of Dravid, her mama. She frowned and tried looking downstairs but people had surrounded her family.
" Jaane ke liye thodi na aaya hu main. Pakhi ko leke jaunga."
( I haven't come to go. I will only leave with Pakhi.)
She heard an unfamiliar voice replying to Dravid in a playful and dangerous tone.
She lifted her lehenga slightly and started climbing the stairs down. Sound of her anklets and bangles echoed in the hall and people turned their gaze at her, slowly making way for her.
She studied their expressions. Their eyes were wide due to shock. She rested her gaze on her family and found their expression similar.
" Beti, tum yahan kyun aa gyi?"
( Why did you come here, daughter?)
Dravid spoke and Pakhi stopped on her track, finding her whole family held at gunpoint.
Her eyes widened and her attention fell on the unfamiliar man sitting on the chair with one foot resting on the knee of another. He's in traditional attire, kurta and pyjama, the colour turned out similar to her red bridal outfit.
She hurriedly looked around and saw so many guards in black suits. They have pointed their guns at everyone present in the hall.
Her heart beat raised and the thought of her brother crashed in her mind. She again looked at the man when she heard footsteps approaching her.
She stumbled backward and stared at the unknown man with a fearful expression.
Who is he? Why is he here? What is his intention? Why has he held everyone at gunpoint?
Many questions clouded her mind and the answer was the huge man in front of her. She spotted a small smirk on the corner of his lips and his eyes scanning her carefully.
His heated gaze was enough to send a shiver down to her spine.
She felt tongue tied. No question came out of her mouth. The man looked intimidating.
Aryan felt his heart pricking seeing fear in her eyes for him. Only if the circumstances were different, he would have made her his bride in a grand manner.
But, her brother desired to test his love for her.
He felt a urge to touch her cheek once and his hand raised for that purpose but before it could land on her cheek, Dravid yelled at him,
" DARE TO TOUCH HER, BASTARD."
Pakhi flinched and looked at her family.
" Mama-"
She lifted her foot to go near them and was able to take 3 or 4 steps forward when a hard grip landed on her wrist.
The touch almost burned her skin and she immediately looked at the owner.
" LEAVE HER,"
Dravid screamed once again. The situation made Pakhi both confused and terrified. Tears gathered in her eyes and she tried removing his grip with the help of her free hand.
" Leave me."
His grip only tightened and she felt two of her bangles breaking in pieces.
" Ahh!"
She hissed.
The more she cried and struggled, the more her family went crazy. Looking at the condition satisfied Aryan Chauhan. He recalled how he was once pleading with them but they didn't let him meet Jaydev even for once.
They disrespected him a lot for the sake of their son and didn't try to hear his side of the story.
" Leave me,"
Pakhi's sob entered his ear and he looked at her.
Her movement stopped and body stiffened when she felt him taking steps towards her.
She lifted her head to stare at his face. The closeness only terrified her. She shivered by his stare.
She felt helpless and weak and suddenly he brought his face a few inches close to her.
" Marry me," he said, leaving no time for argument and went straight to the topic.
She couldn't believe her ears. Her struggle came back and she fought to free herself but couldn't move him even an inch.
Her heart pumped inside her chest and she felt like running away from there.
" Be my wife," he added.
" No, never," she cried out while continuously trying to free herself from his steel grip.
" I am sure you would love to see this," his voice came out sarcastic.
" Hn?"
She immediately replied and at his gesture, a man came with a mobile. She looked at him and blinked as he turned the screen to her.
She parted her mouth and a long tear escaped her eyes when she whispered, ." Bhai."
Jaydev is observing the murder scene. However, a man is seen hidden behind a huge tree with a gun pointed at him.
" Marry me or welcome the dead body of your brother."
" D.. don't listen to him, beta."
Her grandmother spoke hurriedly and Aryan passed her a bored look. More tears escaped Pakhi's eyes and she gulped down the lump forming in her throat.
Witnessing the cruelty of man, she couldn't help but to believe that if she refused he would surely end her brother.
But, how can she marry him?
There was turmoil in her mind. There was no answer and blurriness spread before her eyes as if destiny was not on her side.
She clutched her lehenga with another hand and looked down. She closed her eyes. The voices of her family trying to make her understand almost turned low and images of her parents and brother flashed in her mind.
She can't bear the separation with her brother who raised her like his child. She can't lose him like her parents.
Hence, putting a stone over her heart and betraying so many people, including herself she parted her mouth and gave her answer.
" O..okay."
Smirk grew on Aryan's lips. Silence spread in the hall and Pakhi turned her gaze at her family.
She shook her head side by side, telling them that she had no choice. Tears streamed down from their eyes and they all looked at her with a defeated look.
As per Aryan's order, his men emptied the hall and let only the family member present in his marriage.
He pulled Pakhi to the mandap and ordered the priest to start the ritual as fast as possible.
Here, the wedding ritual of Pakhi and Aryan started, on the other hand, Jaydev felt odd.
He frowned and checked the time on his mobile.
12 AM.
The baraat must have arrived and some rituals must have been completed. His work was almost done.
He spent another hour there, observing and interrogating with the people who witnessed the murder.
Around 1 PM, he started leaving when a man came to him.
" Sahab?"
" Yes?"
The man forwarded an envelope to him.
" That man told me to give it to you," he pointed behind himself and Jaydev saw the car disappearing from his sight.
The man left and he opened the envelope.
He frowned, taking out an invitation letter.
His sister's wedding invitation letter.
His eyes widened and a horrified expression spread on his face, reading a different name on the place of the groom.
Aryan Chauhan.
His heart beat raised and he did not wait a second driving away from there.
Pakhi was silently crying throughout the ritual. Phone rang of family members and Aryan realised Jaydev had got the letter.
The time of the phere was announced. He did their gathbandhan by himself and stood up along with Pakhi whose movement was messy.
He held her hand and led the first 4 rounds around the holy fire.
The marriage is forced, stained with her tears but he will strive to make her life beautiful.
Pakhi gazed at the entrance, wishing to see her brother before the completion of the ritual.
However,
Rajdeep glared at his daughter before going by the taxi because his good gracious son chose to lock his family in the big mansion and take the keys of the cars with himself.
" I am sorry, maa. I..I had no choice. Bhai-"
Ekta pulled her daughter in her embrace who broke into regretful cries.
Pakhi fisted her hands when he tied the mangalsutra around her neck.
Please Bhai be fast.
She closed her eyes with a hope that the next time she opened them she would find her brother.
But, nothing like that happened. She heard the priest Directing him and he did not waste a moment to fill her hairline with the Sindoor.
She felt him wiping the tip of her nose and the priest announced them as husband and wife..
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Jaydev and Shruti's part will be added in every chapter from part 8 because abhi, I want to set their narrative.
There will be scenes but not much.
So, did you like the chapter?
Updates will be on the basis of votes. The more you vote, the earliest updates you will get.
Chapter 3 to 7 available in scrollstack as early access.