36.

Mira’s POV

"Zar, go and call your Dadda" I say, looking at Zar. He stares at me for a second and then runs out of the room, wagging his tail happily.

I finally get some time to rest after a long, tiring day. Today Abhi had called a beautician. They did my hair cutting, manicure, pedicure, face massage and so many other things. I don’t even know what more. It was exhausting. The day after tomorrow is our wedding.

There won’t be any Haldi, Mehndi, or other functions. Only the basic and the most important part—the wedding. It will take place in our garden.

Actually every important moment of our lives has happened there. Abhi proposed to me in that garden. Then, Dev proposed to Jiya there too. It feels like that garden has become a witness to our love stories.

We have invited only a few close friends. Abhi and Dev have also called some of their friends. They said that once we are comfortable, they will throw a grand reception party and invite everyone there.

I hear Abhi’s voice. "Yes, baby?"

I open my eyes and see him coming toward me. He sits in front of me on the bed. Zar jumps up and sits beside me. He has been staying with me most of the time, following me everywhere.

I look at Abhi and ask "I was just asking if everything is prepared. Do you need my help?"

Jiya and I haven’t done a single thing for our wedding. Abhi and Dev are the ones handling everything. They are so busy making everything perfect for us.

Abhi smiles at me and says "Everything is done. Now, we just have to get married. There is nothing else left" I look at him and smile tiredly.

Abhi looks at me and asks "Are you tired?"

I nod my head. "Just a little" I say softly.

He keeps looking at me for a moment, then suddenly pulls my leg and places it on his thighs. Before I can say anything, he starts massaging my foot and leg gently. A deep sigh escapes my lips. It feels so relaxing. His warm hands press against my skin, easing away the tiredness of the day.

"You don’t have to massage my feet" I say, feeling a little guilty. I know he is just as tired as I am.

He shakes his head and looks straight into my eyes, his gaze deep and unwavering. "It is a pleasure for me that I get a chance to massage your feet, madam" he says dramatically.

I chuckle at his words. He always knows how to make me laugh. I pull Zar towards me and hug his warm body tightly. He presses his head against me even more, snuggling close. My eyes, however are fixed on Abhi.

I am lucky. So lucky that I am marrying this man. My man.

"I'm so lucky that I found you" I say, my voice filled with emotions.

Abhi smiles and shakes his head. "I’m lucky… or you can say the luckiest man in the universe because I found you" he replies.

I can’t stop myself from adoring him more. He is just too precious.

"Abhi, you are driving me crazy" I say, feeling overwhelmed by the love I have for him.

He chuckles. "This is my line, my lady" he says playfully.

His words make me smile shyly. Without saying anything, I tap the space beside me, silently asking him to lie down. He doesn’t question it. He just listens. He lies down next to me and pulls me into his arms. I press my body against his, melting into his warmth.

Peace. That’s all I feel. Pure peace.

He places a soft kiss on the back of my head, his lips warm and gentle. Zar is already sleeping beside me. He was very tired today. Jiya and I played with him so much that he completely exhausted himself.

I turn towards Abhi and as soon as I do, I find him already looking at me. His eyes are locked on mine.

A teasing thought enters my mind and I can’t help but say "What if I run away from the marriage?"

The moment the words leave my mouth, his eyes darken. The soft warmth in them disappears, replaced by something intense. Something dangerous. A slow smirk forms on his lips as he leans toward me.

He lifts his hand and holds the back of my head, his fingers gently caressing my hair. I gulp. My throat suddenly feels dry. My heart pounds.

"Then I’ll not think twice to remind you where you belong, my queen" Abhi says, his voice low yet powerful holding a dangerous edge.

A shiver runs down my spine. His eyes don’t move away from mine, intense and unwavering.

"Will you run away from the marriage?" he asks, his tone firm.

I quickly shake my head, knowing very well that teasing him was a mistake. His smirk grows wider, satisfied with my answer. His fingers brush against my forehead before he leans in and places a soft kiss there. His lips are warm, sending a wave of calmness through me.

He wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his embrace. Without hesitation, I hug him back, feeling his warmth surround me. His heartbeat is steady, strong and reassuring.

"You belong to Abhiraj Singh Rajvansh and this Abhiraj Singh Rajvansh belongs to you" he whispers against my hair.

His words sink into my heart, filling me with a deep sense of love and belonging. I hold onto him tighter, feeling safe, feeling cherished.

That is the last thing I remember before sleep takes over. The exhaustion of the day pulls me into a deep slumber but more than that, the fact that I am in my love’s arms makes it impossible to stay awake.

I sleep peacefully, feeling nothing but warmth and love.

Next Morning

I come downstairs after getting fresh and see Abhi and Dev talking to someone. Their expressions are serious as they discuss something but I don’t stop to ask. Instead, I walk straight toward the kitchen because I know Jiya is there.

As soon as I step inside, I find Jiya busy making something. Zar is sitting on the kitchen counter, his small tail swaying as he watches his aunt with curious eyes. His ears perk up every time Jiya moves, as if he’s trying to understand what she’s doing.

"Good morning, guys" I say cheerfully.

Both of them look at me. I walk towards Zar and place a soft kiss on his head. He makes a happy sound, enjoying the attention.

"What are you making?" I ask, noticing Jiya cutting fruits.

She looks at me and then smiles. "Your favorite fruit mix" she says. My eyes light up and a big grin spreads across my face.

"I thought I should make your special dishes because tomorrow you are getting married and I’ll miss my daughter so much" Jiya says dramatically, placing a hand on her chest as if she’s about to cry.

I immediately join her drama. "Yes, Mumma I’ll miss you and your cooking a lot" I say, wiping away fake tears.

I hear a small chuckle and turn to see Zar watching us with amusement. He’s smiling, clearly enjoying our little act.

"Don’t worry, I’ll cook food for you and send it to you" Jiya says, walking towards me before pulling me into a tight hug.

I hug her back, resting my head on her shoulder. Before we can say anything, we hear a small roar.

Both of us look at Zar. He’s staring at us with big eyes, his tiny body slightly leaning forward.

"He also wants a hug" I say, laughing softly.

Jiya and I immediately pull him into our arms. He snuggles between us, his tail wagging happily.

Just then, we hear deep voices from behind us.

"We also want a hug" Abhi and Dev say at the same time.

Before we can react, they both come towards us and wrap their arms around us from behind, joining the hug.

Jiya sighs dramatically. "I love you all" she says, squeezing us tighter.

"I love you too" Dev replies.

Jiya suddenly pushes him away a little and narrows her eyes. "You don’t talk to me. Go and spend your time with your secretary" she says, crossing her arms.

Without giving him a chance to reply, she turns around and walks away, leaving Dev standing there with an amused expression.

"I'm sorry na baby. He just called me to ask about something important" Dev says, walking behind Jiya trying to convince her.

But Jiya is Jiya. She doesn’t look back completely ignoring him.

I shake my head, watching them. They are always like this. Dev messing up, Jiya getting mad, and then Dev running behind her like a lost puppy.

I turn around and see Abhi standing beside me, looking at Jiya and Dev with a pure smile on his face. His eyes hold warmth as if he enjoys seeing them like this.

"Is everything ready for tomorrow?" I ask, looking up at him.

He looks at me and nods his head. "Everything is done" he says softly while moving a loose strand of hair from my face. His fingers brush against my skin gently, sending a warm feeling through me.

"Let’s have breakfast!" Jiya shouts, breaking our moment.

We all walk out and settle ourselves at the dining table. The food smells delicious. The table is filled with fresh fruits, parathas and tea. We start eating, the atmosphere light and happy.

Dev suddenly looks at Jiya, a soft smile on his face. "After some days, we’ll be sitting here as husband and wife" he says. His eyes shine with love.

But Jiya doesn’t even spare him a glance. She completely ignores him, focusing on her food.

Dev sighs and turns to Abhi. "Tell your sister to forgive me" he pleads.

Abhi shrugs his shoulders lazily. "It’s your matter. Don’t drag me into this" he says simply before taking a sip of his tea.

Dev glares at him. "Useless best friend" he mutters under his breath.

Then Dev turns to my baby. "Zar, tell your aunty to forgive me" he says, putting on his best puppy eyes.

Zar, being the innocent baby he is immediately looks at Jiya, waiting for her answer.

Jiya sighs dramatically. "Okay since Zar is saying so, I’ll forgive you this time. But from next time, I won’t forgive you" she warns, looking at Dev.

Zar nods his head seriously, as if he just did something very important.

We all laugh and the conversation flows easily. We eat, talk and laugh about tomorrow’s wedding. Everything feels so perfect.

Our lives are about to change. We are about to step into a new journey, filled with happiness and joy.

But

that’s just what we think.

We have no idea what’s waiting for us after our marriage. We don’t know how evil eyes are already set on us.

We don’t know how people are going to try to break us apart. Right now, we are unaware of everything.

Author’s POV

A man sits on his chair, his fingers tapping against the smooth surface of his phone as he takes a slow sip of his coffee. His lips curl into an evil smirk, his dark eyes gleaming with something sinister.

On his phone screen, a picture of Dev and Abhiraj is displayed. They are sitting together at an award show, their smiles wide, their bond unbreakable.

He scoffs. His fingers tighten around the cup, his grip firm. He tilts his head slightly, his smirk widening.

"I see you both are getting a lot of happiness in your life" he mutters under his breath, his voice dripping with venom. "You both are getting married tomorrow"

He leans back in his chair, resting his elbow on the armrest while his other hand scrolls through more pictures of them. His eyes darken.

"But I’ll make sure you never stay happy. Not as long as I am here"

He sets his cup down on the table with a soft thud. His fingers tap against the screen of his phone, zooming into their faces.

"I will separate you two in such a way that no one will ever remember Dev and Abhiraj as best friends. No one will even know that two people like you ever existed together in history"

A deep chuckle escapes his lips, his body shaking slightly with amusement. His fingers tighten into fists.

"I will make you suffer so badly" he whispers, his voice filled with pure hatred. "I will turn you against each other in such a way that you will kill each other with your own hands"

His smirk turns into a wicked grin. His eyes gleam with cruel excitement as he leans forward, resting his elbows on the table.

"Just wait a little longer" he says, his tone playful almost mocking.

His laughter fills the silent room, echoing off the walls. A deep, evil, bone chilling laughter.

"Boom!" he exclaims, clapping his hands together suddenly, as if imagining the explosion of destruction he is about to bring into their lives.

And then, he laughs again.

A laugh filled with nothing but pure, merciless evil.