Abhimanyu climbed into his car and drove to the office, still simmering with frustration over everything that had happened back at the mansion. Ekansh walked briskly towards his own office, his expression irritated, while Aranv followed, equally tense.
In the garden, Misha and Arthi were seated together, watching Isha pace back and forth, muttering under her breath. Meanwhile, Ishani sat on a nearby bench, as still as a statue, her expression unreadable.
"Bhabhi, what am I supposed to do now?" Isha exclaimed, her face filled with worry. Ishani glanced over at her, looking completely drained.
"Isha, what are you doing? Youâve already agreed to the marriage, so what can we do now?" Misha said, shaking her head in disbelief. Arthi nodded in agreement as Isha sighed and plopped down beside her.
"Bhabhi, I didnât want to upset Dad, but I canât believe Iâm actually going to get married. I donât want this," Isha said, her tone a mixture of frustration and despair.
"Bhabhi, I donât want to get married so soon either,"Ishani added, her voice tinged with sadness. "I donât want to leave all of you." Sheâd recently grown closer to Misha and Arthi, finding comfort in sharing her feelings with them.
Misha and Arthi exchanged glances, both of them sighing in unison.
"Isha, you had a choice. You could have spoken up. Now that youâve agreed to this marriage, thereâs not much you can do," Arthi said in a gentle but firm tone. She knew the decision was final, and there was little that could change it now.
"Ishani, sometimes in life, we get caught between our own happiness and our familyâs wishes. More often than not, we end up choosing family," Misha said, offering a soft smile.
"This marriage would have happened eventually, today or tomorrow. Itâs just happening a little sooner than expected." Misha expressed with smile.
"We canât go back on our promises now," Arthi added with a faint smile, her gaze shifting between the two sisters.
"You both agreed in front of everyone." Arthi said with sigh.
"Isha, Ishani, remember one thing," Misha said warmly.
"Dad loves you both more than anything, especially you, Ishani. He would never choose anything less than perfect for either of you." Misha said with warm smile.
Isha and Ishani looked at each other, the reality of the situation settling in.
"Bhabhi, I know Dad would only make choices he thinks are best for us, but we really donât want to leave everyone behind," Isha said, pouting. Arthi sighed, a reassuring smile on her face.
"Isha, you can always visit us after the marriage," Arthi said, her tone comforting. Isha looked away, still uneasy.
"Exactly! Youâll be able to visit anytime," Misha agreed, and Ishani let out a small sigh.
"But we donât even know them," Ishani muttered, frowning. Misha and Arthi burst into laughter.
"Ishani, when I got married, that was the first time I even met Abhimanyu. I hadnât spoken a single word to him before that day!" Misha said, chuckling at the memory.
"Isha, I didnât even know I was getting married. One moment I was walking into a wedding hall, and the next, I was married," Arthi added with a laugh. "Now thatâs a whirlwind story!" Arthi trailed off with a laugh
"This sounds crazier than mine!" Misha teased, and the two of them shared another laugh while Isha and Ishani looked on in shock.
"Well, I guess weâre lucky Dad introduced them to us at least," Isha said with a resigned sigh, and Ishani nodded.
"Isha, Ishani, marriage is something that will happen eventually. If itâs meant to happen now, then maybe itâs for the best. Who knows? You might find something youâre truly looking for," Misha said with a soft, encouraging smile.
"Accept whatever fate brings with a smile," Arthi added, her voice filled with warmth. "Destiny often has plans for us, and trying to avoid it doesnât change whatâs meant to be. Instead of running, embrace it. You might just find a light, an answer to the questions in your heart." Arthi said with a warm smile as Misha nodded.
Isha and Ishani exchanged a look, their expressions softening as they absorbed Misha and Arthiâs words. Feeling a sense of calm, the four of them stood up and made their way back inside the mansion together.
Vikram Deshmukh sat alone in his office, his mind swirling with disbelief. He still couldn't fully grasp that he had agreed to this marriage. His thoughts drifted back to the day it all began. He was on his way out of the office when he was informed that Mr. Hrudhay Rathore was there to meet him. Surprised by the visit, he went to greet him, only for Hrudhay to put forward a marriage proposal-an idea that left Vikram momentarily stunned.
The rivalry between Hrudhay's sons and Vikram was no secret, and they openly resented him. How, then, had they agreed to this? At first, Vikram had refused, finding the entire suggestion unfathomable. Yet Hrudhay persisted, presenting the marriage not just as a personal union, but as a mutually beneficial deal. Even Vikramâs manager who he respects a lot and a close friend had encouraged him to consider it.
After a week of thinking it over, weighing the benefits and risks, Vikram finally agreed, seeing it as more than just a marriage-it was a strategic alliance.
Adithya sat in his house, lost in thought. He had just returned from the Rathore mansion, where his marriage had been finalized. The irony didnât escape him-he was now set to marry the very girl he found insufferably irritating and foolish. They had met twice, and each time she managed to get under his skin, pushing him to his limits. He had hoped to never cross paths with her again, yet now he was going to spend his entire life with her.
"Damn it," he muttered to himself, feeling trapped. If only he could have refused, but he knew that wasnât an option.
It all started when Hrudhay Rathore had paid him an unexpected visit, proposing the marriage. Adithya had been too stunned to respond at first, so Hrudhay left, telling him to take his time. Unsure of what to do, Adithya sought advice from Anirudh, a father figure and senior officer. Anirudh had encouraged him to consider the marriage, reasoning that marrying a Rathore would allow Adithya to stay close to the family, making it easier to investigate them from within. The idea intrigued Adithya; the Rathores, particularly Aranv, seemed to be hiding something significant.
Adithya sighed, remembering why he ultimately agreed. During the Rathore familyâs recent party, he had observed Aranv Rathore closely, noticing how he left the event abruptly, seething with anger. Adithya was now more certain than ever that the Rathore family harbored secrets, and marrying into the family would provide him with the perfect vantage point to uncover them. For him, this marriage wasnât about love or family-it was a mission, one he was determined to complete.
Aavyan strode into the sleek, bustling office, ready for a meeting that could clinch the deal heâd been after. But his surprise was evident as he spotted Miss Tara Roy nearby, already engaged in a heated conversation with Krisha. With a faint smirk, he approached, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor as he stood just behind her.
"Tara, donât get too confident. Youâre not going to win this time either," Krisha taunted, chuckling. Taraâs eyes narrowed as she turned to glare.
"Krisha Katari, I have every bit of confidence that Iâm going to win," Tara shot back, her voice firm and unwavering.
"Oh really? And how exactly does Miss Tara Roy plan to secure this win, especially when sheâs constantly defending her employees?" Krisha sneered, her tone dripping with venom.
"Iâll win, Krisha, and only then will I bother speaking to you," Tara retorted, her eyes flashing with anger.
Krishaâs smirk grew as she leaned in slightly. "Tara, as long as you rely on your employees to hold things together, youâre fooling yourself. Did you really push them all to the brink just to get this project? How... desperate," she added with feigned pity. Tara clenched her fists, holding her anger in check.
"Look, you donât need to concern yourself with how I manage my team. I know what Iâm doing, and I have no doubt Iâll be the one to win this deal," Tara replied proudly.
"Really?" Krisha raised a skeptical eyebrow, clearly amused by Taraâs confidence. Tara rolled her eyes, no longer willing to entertain the exchange.
"I donât have time to argue with you, Krisha. Now, why donât you step away before I make you?" she finished coldly. Krisha scoffed, tossing her hair as she walked away.
Tara let out a sigh of relief, only to notice Aavyan standing there, hands in his pockets and a smug smile plastered across his face. Another opponent-just what she needed.
"Ready to lose?" Aavyan teased, that smirk never fading.
Tara tilted her head, giving him a bold smile. "Funny, Thatâs my line today."
He raised an eyebrow. "Miss Tara, overconfidence doesnât suit you."
She shot back with a sigh, clearly annoyed. "And neither does arrogance."
Aavyanâs smirk deepened. "Itâs the truth, Tara. Youâre going to lose, even Miss Krisha thinks so."
"Oh, please. Only fools believe in the words of other fools," she replied with a smirk of her own, making him momentarily look away.
"What makes you think youâre going to win this deal, then?" he asked, still unconvinced.
Tara took a steady breath, standing a little taller. "Because Iâm Tara Roy. I poured everything into that presentation, and I prepare the presentation work by myself this time, every detail of the proposal. I know it inside and out, and I worked hard for this," she said with quiet pride.
Aavyan stared at her, a bit taken aback by her conviction, though his expression quickly shifted back to skepticism. Heâd seen her overestimate herself before, but there was something different in her confidence today.
"Canât think of a comeback?" she quipped, seeing his reaction. "Good. Itâs probably better if you stay quiet, Mr Aavyan, because today, Iâm winning this deal." With a final smirk, she turned and walked confidently toward the meeting room. Aavyan scowled but followed her, the challenge heating up as they both entered the room.
Aavyan observed Tara, who radiated overconfidence, and Krisha, who seemed to be waiting eagerly for Tara to fail. With a sigh, he called Advik, who had accompanied him to the meeting.
"What is it, sir?" Advik asked as he approached, seeing Aavyan seated with a thoughtful expression.
"Advik, tell Mr. Mehra that this project must go to Roy Group, no matter what," Aavyan said, casting a smirk toward Tara, who was deeply focused on her file.
"Sir⦠what?" Advik replied, visibly taken aback by the request.
"Just do what I said," Aavyan responded with a confident smile. Advik nodded and left, while Aavyan glanced back at Tara, who briefly looked his way before turning her attention back to her documents.
In the meeting room, Tara sat poised and ready. She felt a surge of confidence-she had taken on all the work herself for the first time, handling the deal and even preparing the presentation single-handedly. Determined to win, she ignored the lingering stares directed her way, brushing them off to focus on the meeting.
Once the meeting concluded, everyone awaited the announcement. Mr. Mehra cleared his throat and declared, "This project will be awarded to Roy Group." Applause filled the room, and Taraâs initial shock transformed into a wide smile. Meanwhile, Aavyanâs faint smile remained, while Krisha appeared visibly stunned.
As business delicates came forward to congratulate her, Aavyan approached with a smirk, meeting Taraâs smug smile.
"Seems like some people are burning up inside-I can sense it," Tara remarked, her tone mocking.
Aavyan chuckled. "Iâm just here to congratulate you, thatâs all."
"Well, youâd better," she replied with a smirk.
"Feisty little thing you are," he replied, still smirking. And Tara glared at him. "Congratulations, Miss Tara."
Tara rolled her eyes. Just then, Aavyan spotted Krisha nearby. "Miss Krisha, donât you think you should congratulate the winner as well?" he asked, grinning.
Krisha paused, forcing a smile as she looked at Tara. "Congratulations," she said in a cold, reluctant tone. Tara chuckled, brushing her off, and walked away, leaving Krisha clenching her fists before she also left. Aavyan watched her leave, satisfaction evident in his eyes.
Moments later, Mr. Mehra approached Aavyan with the Roy Groupâs presentation file in hand, his expression hesitant. "Mr. Rathore, this Roy Group presentationâ¦.." Mr Mehra hesitated.
Understanding the hesitation, Aavyan nodded and called Advik over. "Yes, sir?" Advik asked, frowning.
"Advik, take this file, switch it with our presentation, and give it to Roy Group," Aavyan instructed in a firm tone.
Advik nodded and took the file, while Aavyan turned back, a slight smirk on his face as he left the room.
Abhimanyu walked into his room after a long day, sighing as he shrugged off his coat. After a refreshing shower, he returned to find Misha waiting. She glanced at him, eyes widening before she shouted,
"What the hell?" She turned around, flustered.
Abhimanyu raised an eyebrow, smirking at her reaction. He was half-naked, with only a towel wrapped around his waist.
"Oh, come on, Mrs. Rathore, already flustered by me?" he teased, enjoying her reaction.
Misha spun back with an annoyed glare. "Mr. Rathore, what is this? Go get dressed!"
Abhimanyu arched an eyebrow, unfazed.
"Why would I? Itâs my room. Iâll stay however I like." His tone was casual, but he caught her sneaking a glance at his chest and abs, leaving her momentarily awestruck. Smirking, he took a step closer to her, finding her embarrassment entertaining.
"And I have a feeling, Mrs. Rathore, that deep down, you donât actually want me to get dressed," he whispered, his voice low and husky. Their eyes met, and for a moment, Misha was speechless.
"Wâ¦whatâ¦?"she stammered, unable to find her voice as his proximity flustered her. "Donât flatter yourself. No one here wants to see you half-naked!" she managed, trying to sound defiant.
"Oh, so youâd rather see me fully naked?" he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Her jaw dropped in shock, and she stared at him, wide-eyed.
"Y-youâ¦! Go get dressed!" she snapped, pushing her hand against his bare chest to shove him away. But before she could, he caught her wrist, pulling her close until she collided with his chest, his arm slipping around her waist.
Mishaâs eyes widened as he held her. "Feisty little thing, arenât you?"he murmured, feigning irritation. "Mrs. Rathore, donât lie. Youâre curious, arenât you?"
Abhimanyuâs husky tone made her heart race. "Abhimanyu, this⦠First, get dressed!" she said, trying to wriggle free, but he only chuckled.
"So now Mrs. Rathore thinks she can order me around?" he replied, raising an eyebrow as she let out a frustrated breath.
As he stepped closer, Misha instinctively stepped back until her back pressed against the wall. Her cheeks flushed as he stared at her with an intensity that made her pulse race, his teasing slipping into something deeper.
"Remember, you said weâre strangers. You donât get to tell me what to do," he murmured, his gaze darkening. Misha opened her mouth to respond, but her voice caught, leaving her speechless.
"Whatâs wrong? Don't know how to talk?" Abhimanyu asked with a smirk, watching her cheeks redden. He tilted her chin, guiding her face to meet his gaze, his eyes briefly flicking to her lips before returning to her eyes.
"Speak up, wife," he whispered, a playful smile tugging at his lips. Mishaâs gaze dropped, unable to look him in the eye.
Abhimanyuâs fingers trailed along her jawline, tracing gentle patterns, and she held her breath as he leaned closer, his lips mere inches from hers. Their breaths mingled, and for a heartbeat, the world seemed to stand still.
"Breathe, wifey," he teased, pulling back with a smug smile. Misha, blushing furiously, stormed out of the room, leaving him chuckling tothe himself.
"Mrs. Rathore is easy to make blush," he mused with a grin. Still chuckling, he walked into the closet, got dressed, and settled down with his files, ready to get back to work.
Arnav stood in the hall, his tall frame leaning casually against the wall, waiting in the shadows as he heard her soft footsteps approaching. He didnât make a sound, just watched, eyes narrowing as Arthi stepped into view. Her face was set, eyes straight ahead, a faint tension in her jaw as she moved past him without a single glance, her whole demeanor carefully ignoring his presence.
He felt the stir of something dark and possessive as she brushed by, her gaze fixed resolutely forward, as if he was nothing more than an empty space in the hall. A smirk slowly curled at the edge of his lips, an almost dangerous amusement glinting in his eyes. She thought she could ignore him, thought she could walk past him like that?
Arnav let his gaze trail over her, taking in every detail of stiffness in her shoulders, the way she clutched her shawl closer, every small sign that she was aware of him yet determined not to show it. She could act indifferent, pretend to be untouched by him, but he could sense the way she was holding herself together, fighting the urge to acknowledge him.
It only fueled his possessiveness, a surge of satisfaction rising in him. She could pretend all she wanted, but she was his, bound to him in ways she couldnât escape, no matter how many times she tried to ignore him. And the fact that she thought she could evade him like this, with nothing more than a cool indifference, only made his smirk deepen.
He remained silent, watching her disappear down the hall, his gaze lingering, a predatory gleam in his eyes. Let her pretend to be unaffected, he thought, his jaw tightening slightly. Sheâd soon learn that ignoring him was a game she couldnât win.
Ekansh sat in the restaurant bar, nursing his drink, already halfway to being drunk. He swirled the glass in his hand, lost in thought, when a familiar figure-a model he often flirted with during his visits-slipped onto the stool beside him. Her hand brushed against his, and Ekansh turned to her, his eyes cold and dangerous.
"You seem a little down tonight. What happened, Ekansh?" Reya asked in a low, sweet tone, a faint smile playing on her lips. Ekansh clenched his jaw, his grip tightening around his glass.
"You havenât been around for days. Busy with work, I assume?" Reya continued, smiling as she placed her hand on his shoulder. But the moment her hand made contact, Ekanshâs whole body tensed, anger simmering beneath the surface. He stood abruptly, brushing off her touch as if it burned him. Reya stared, surprised; she had never seen him like this.
"Whatâs wrong, Ekansh?" she asked, still smiling but with uncertainty creeping into her voice.
"You want company, hmm?" she teased, her voice turning seductive as she traced her fingers across his chest. "You know, if youâre angry, I can help take the edge off-" Reya was cut off as Ekansh Jerked her off as she stumbled with shock.
"Donât you dare touch me," Ekansh cut her off, jerking away from her with a dark glare. Reya stumbled back, stunned by his reaction.
"Donât think for a second that youâre in control here," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "I donât appreciate people overstepping their place." Ekansh warned his tone calm yet dangerous.
He leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "You know, I feel like killing you right here for putting your hands on me, as if youâre anywhere close to my league." Ekansh said with a clenched jaw.
Reya gulped, realizing just how far she had pushed. Ekanshâs gaze was sharp, his expression unyielding.
"Donât forget who youâre dealing with," he warned, his tone cold. "Iâm Ekansh Rathore." Ekansh said his tone cold.
With one last glare, he turned and stormed out of the restaurant, leaving Reya standing there, shaken and speechless.
Ekansh stormed out of the restaurant, teeth gritted and fists clenched, fury churning like fire inside him. He tore through the streets in his car, pushing the engine to its limit as he shot back to his penthouse. Slamming the door open, he tore off his coat and flung it across the room, yanking his tie loose and throwing it aside like it burned him. Without sparing a second, he stalked to the bathroom, practically ripping the shower knob as he set the water to scalding hot. The heat blasted over him, but it wasnât enough to drown out the anger boiling beneath his skin, the disgust clawing at him. Her touch. He could still feel it, and it made his skin crawl.
What the hell was wrong with him? He used to seek women out when he was frustrated, used to lose himself without a second thought. But now? Now, any touch felt like it was searing his soul.
After what felt like hours, he finally stepped out of the shower, yanking a towel around his waist as he stalked to the window, lighting a cigarette with hands still trembling from anger. He took a hard drag, breathing out a plume of smoke, his eyes dark as he stared out at the city lights below.
"Why the hell am I like this?" he spat out, his voice a low growl. "I never used to feel like this." Ekansh grind his teeth.
He took another long drag, letting the burn calm the storm inside him, but it barely scratched the surface.
"Iâve been with women before. Plenty of them. None of this used to matter," he muttered, raking a hand through his wet hair, feeling the frustration building again. "But now? Iâm trapped by some stupid piece of paper, tied to a woman I canât stop thinking about-and I canât stand it." Ekansh tone was cold and reasons for his frustration.
His jaw tightened, the realization burning like acid.
"Is it because Iâm married now?" he said, voice barely above a whisper, venom lacing every word. His mind flashed back to that night-her face, the way heâd left her there, alone, in the middle of the night. It haunted him, and it sickened him. He wanted to erase her memory, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldnât shake her image, couldnât forget what heâd done. But regret? No. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to believe that leaving her had meant nothing.
A dangerous calm settled over him as he crushed the cigarette in his hand, pulling out his phone and dialing Advik, his voice cold as ice.
"Get the jet ready. Iâm leaving for France. Right now," he ordered, cutting the call before Advik could even answer.
He threw on a suit with sharp, angry movements, his face set in an expression that warned against anyone crossing him. Moments later, he arrived at the jet, boarded in silence, and settled into his seat, eyes narrowed as he glared out at the night sky. As the jet roared into the air, he leaned back, forcing himself to bury every thought, every feeling that threatened to unravel him. and Ekansh leaned back, forcing himself to abandon the thoughts that had begun to unravel him.
All of you
Late update,
Apologise.
A gift from me to Mr Ekansh Rathore
Respectfully, You all can add yours.
Have a Great Day