10) I think I'm going mad

*hiding behind sofa*

*Maahi kicks author to the side*

*author screams and looks at angry readers*

Um... *gulps*

H-Hi!

*screeches as readers throw tomatoes and eggs at author*

IMSORRYHERESTHECHAPTERPLEASEDONTKILLMEBYEEEE.

Arjun's POV

This was her last wish.

The words echoed in my mind, my head feeling a little dizzy.

My heart clenched painfully in my chest as the old memories invaded my mind. The three of us playing in the garden when I was a kid. Mom cooking delicious food for me. Her reading bedtime stories to me.

My arms were limp on my side and my hands were balled into fists, nails digging in the skin of my palm.

I turned around and looked at dad. His eyes shone with a soft, sad look. The look he usually had when he missed mom.

He knows how much mom meant to me. How her death affected me. He knows I would have done anything for her, no matter how impossible or irrational it seemed. And he bloody well knows if mom had asked me to marry a random girl, I would have.

I had never been in such a conflicted position before. I had to choose, choose between my mind and my heart, whether to live my life or to destroy it.

I looked at dad with steely determination. "Fine. I agree." I said gruffly.

His face lit up on hearing me and he smiled. He was genuinely happy.

"For you, mom." I whispered to myself. "For you."

I peeked one last glance at dad and asked, "What if the girl says no?"

I needed to find a loophole in this somehow. Fast.

But that triumphant smirk on his face said it all. "She won't. I would make sure of it, she won't say no."

He had planned it all.

He had fucking planned it all.

It took everything in me to not yell at him. I rushed out of the room, heading straight for my penthouse, fully intending to keep myself busy with work.

I was reviewing a budget report when my phone buzzed. It was a text from dad.

I took a deep breath.

Was I ready for another earth-shattering news?

Dad's texts had started scaring me more than Sid's texts.

Bracing myself, I opened his text.

'Kiara Sharma - Your fiancée.'

Below it, was an attached photo. I looked at it carefully and

.

.

.

WHAT THE FUCK!?

I almost face-planted on the floor the way I sat up.

It was the same girl. The same girl who stopped me mid-way on a road. The same girl who threw coffee on me.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me." Heat shot through my veins as anger fired up inside me.

I stood up abruptly and started pacing the room, raking a hand through my hair.

"No, no, no, no. NO!" I whispered but ended up shouting and threw my phone across the room, breaking it into pieces.

You have got to be fucking kidding me.

That disaster of a girl?

Out of everyone, dad found her only?

I pulled my hair due to frustration and kicked the chair on which I was seated a few moments ago.

That girl is a complete nuisance! How can dad expect us to marry when we can't even breathe in the same room without feeling the need to rip each other's throat out?

Letting out a frustrated yell, I picked an expensive vase from the side desk and smashed it on the floor. That vase was a gift from some rich businessman in England. I didn't give a shit about it right now.

I wasn't thinking straight. All I knew was I was getting married to the girl I despised with my entire being.

Great! Just fucking great.

My anger had hit the roof. Picking up a statue, I hit it on a painting on the wall, causing a loud sound of shattering and the broken pieces of glass lying on the floor.

After I was done, my home looked as if it was destroyed in a hurricane.

I rushed to my office, trying to find some peace, I knew I couldn't stay at home anymore without destroying anything else.

On my way to my cabin, I bumped into my PA, Peyush. He looked startled at first but his face morphed into fear as he carefully assessed my mood. It was clear that I was angry, very angry. Anyone could tell that by looking into my eyes.

"S-sir... Sorry... I" He apologized, stuttering.

I cut him off. "It's okay."

"Huh?" He looked surprised.

"Do I need to repeat myself?"

"Sorry, sir."

"I need some new furniture, Peyush. Go to my penthouse, take a look around and order what you think is needed. I need you to manage the situation there." I ordered him, remembering my outburst before.

"B-but why sir?" He hesitated.

"Because, you see, I am getting married and I need everything to be perfect for my beautiful to-be-wife." I smiled, sarcasm dripping from my voice but that idiot didn't get it. Unable to hide his surprise, his eyes widened and he resembled an owl with those big glasses he was wearing. I don't know why but I had a sudden urge to laugh on his face.

I think I am going mad.

I didn't know if I was going mad or not. But one thing was for sure, I was totally, utterly screwed.

Kiara's POV

As soon as I came downstairs, the doorbell rang.

"I'll take it." I said to no one in particular.

Opening the door, I came face to face with a very happy Anushka holding 5 shopping bags. This girl is a shopping freak. I pity her future boyfriend / husband. There were moments when I had to physically restrain her from entering a mall. Had I not done so, she would have ended up in thousands of debt.

I am not much into shopping, I mean do you know how tiring it is to wander into 20 different shops just to find a single damn dress. I would rather prefer to sit in my bed reading a novel with a cup of coffee rather than wandering like a stray dog, thank you very much. No offence to the girls who love shopping though. You do you, girl!

"Hi."

"Look who's here." I smiled and she entered. Following her to the kitchen, I found mom and Tina seated on the dining table and talking. I cleared my throat to acknowledge my presence in the room, gaining everyone's attention.

Mom looked at me expectantly.

It's okay, Kia! Everything is going to be fine.

You have a plan, just stick to it.

Breathe in, breathe out.

Breathe in, breathe out.

I inhaled and then exhaled slowly. My anxiety level was at its peak.

Anushka seemed amused by my tactics.

"I agree."

A face splitting grin adored mom's face on hearing my words. She immediately engulfed me in a hug and pressed her lips on my forehead, "You won't regret this, Kia. I promise."

I forced a smile and decided not to say anything further as she went back to her work.

"Um, am I missing something here?" Anushka asked, confused.

Oh no.

Damn!

I forgot to tell her before.

I am dead. I am totally dead. I forgot to tell her about this life changing decision before agreeing to it.

God knows what she would do with me now.

Knowing her, she would probably hang me upside down and then feed me red chilli.

Not even kidding.

"You didn't tell her." Tina asked me producing a tsk tsk sound.

"Tell me what?" Anushka asked, getting more suspicious.

I glared at Tina and glared at her with wide eyes, trying to send mental signals to keep her mouth shut.

But Tina being Tina continued further, "You didn't tell your best friend that you are getting married? What a pity." Tina shook her head with a sorrow look on her face.

Okay, once I get out of this situation alive, I am gonna kill her.

"You WHAT!?" Anushka screeched incredously.

Uh-oh.

"I..I...um.."

Think of something fast, Kia!

Due to my inability to form a single damn sentence without being a stuttering mess, my dear best friend got angrier and on impulse, threw the closest thing to her at me which happened to be a knife. A damn knife! Thank god for her lack of aim, the knife fell on the floor 5 feet away from me.

"You are getting married and you didn't even tell me!" She screamed.

This was my cue to run. So, I ran. I ran towards my living room, shrieking like a banshee with Anushka on my heels letting out a war cry.

"Miss Kiara Sharma! How dare you?" She shouted at the top of her lungs.

"I am sorry." I yelled.

I ran and went behind the sofa and she came to a halt in front of it. She narrowed her eyes causing me to gulp audibly.

"Spill." She threatened me.

"Huh?"

"I said spill."

"I swear I was going to tell you. I even called you in the morning for the same reason. But you were busy helping a girlfriend in need." I blamed her.

Another advice from me - whenever you are stuck up in a situation, just change the topic or blame it on someone else.

"I'm a girls' girl, okay?" She interrupted me. "This is my responsibility."

See, it's so easy.

"And don't try to change the topic, missy."

She just knows me too well.

"You gave me this friendship band, remember?" She got all emotional and pointed to her left wrist, on which was tied a charm bracelet that I had gifted her when we were children.

She wears it daily.

So, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you an amazing talent of my oh-so-dear friend - emotional blackmailing.

"We promised that we would never keep secrets from each other. You remember that best friend oath we took?"

This dramatic diva.

I rolled my eyes at her behaviour.

"No. Why would you? Huh? That's why you hid such a big thing from me. Looks like you don't consider me your best friend anymore. No, no, I get it." She said in a small voice and then looked away from me shaking her head and biting her lower lip.

Drama queen.

I knew she should have enrolled in those acting classes.

"You've got new friends now and you've forgotten me." Anushka shrugged and then a fake sob escaped her lips. To add more to her wonderful act, she wiped her tears which were not even present there in the first place.

Good lord.

"Anu-" I started to speak but she cut me off, "Just go and leave me alone. I would survive somehow in this cruel, harsh world." She exclaimed over dramatically keeping her hand over her head and facing away from me.

"Done guilt-tripping me?" I deadpanned putting my hands over my hips. Had I not stopped her, she would have dropped to the ground and wailed like a damsel in distress.

She peeked one eye open and then said, "No!"

"Anushka, I never meant to hide this from you. Try to understand. It's just that I forgot to tell you before agreeing for this marriage. I was gonna tell you anyhow." I tried to explain.

She scowled like she was thinking something very hard with those crinkles on her forehead. "Fine, I forgive you."

Thank g-

Just as I was going to thank god for his mercy on me, I was tackled on the ground by her. "Oh my god, you are getting married, Kia!" She screamed in my ear.

No shit, Sherlock!

Congratulations on finding out so soon and thanks for telling me, I didn't know about it.

"C-can't breathe." I choked.

"Oh, sorry." She immediately stood up with a guilty face and gave me her hand to help me.

Well, that's Anushka for you. One second she is all set to ride a fighter tank over me and the other second, she is congratulating me for the marriage.

"Wait! Who's the guy? Why are you marrying so soon? Did you have a secret boyfriend you didn't tell me about?" She bombarded me with questions.

"Stop! I'll tell you everything. Call down first."

"Oh, you're definitely gonna tell me everything. I'm gonna make sure I get every single thing out of you. I just need to eat first."

I was scared now.

We both went to the kitchen where mom was preparing food whereas Tina was sitting on the kitchen island with a hand on her cheek and a very expectant face. Her face immediately fell on seeing us and she pouted, "Ah! I thought it would go on a little longer. I was enjoying it."

I narrowed my eyes at her and was going to give her a piece of mind when Anushka interrupted, "Yay! Now, I'll buy new dresses for all the functions and the marriage." She looked ecstatic.

On hearing this, Tina's face lit up and she gushed, "New dresses, shopping, jewllery and food! What else do we need in life? "

Wow! I have a wonderful sister and best friend.

Yes, that's sarcasm.

"Ooh, ooh...and hot guys too!" Anushka exclaimed clapping her hands enthusiastically while Tina smiled dreamily nodding her head.

"I would just pretend that I didn't hear that." Mom smiled at us and left the kitchen while I looked dumb founded at my so called friend and sister. So, they didn't give a damn that I am getting married at the age of 20, all they are concerned about is that they get to wear new dresses and ogle at hot guys.

Anushka picked up a bowl from the table and started eating the cereal in it.

"Start from the beginning. But first tell me, who's the guy?" She asked with her mouth full, leaning on the counter while Tina sniggered at her question.

Well, time to drop another bomb. I held a glass of water in my hands, in case she faints. I didn't want to take any chances.

"Arjun." I said.

"Who?" Anushka scrunched her eyebrows. Obviously, she wouldn't have remembered him and even if she did, she wouldn't have expected me to marry Arjun Singhania even in her dreams. Cue rolling of eyes.

"The same Arjun I threw coffee on. Arjun Singhania." I said.

Anushka stopped mid-bite as she was going to eat another spoon, her eyes popped out of her sockets and her jaw dropped on the floor along with the bowl in her hand. The bowl dropped on her toe, splaterring its contents on the floor but she didn't even react to it as she just kept staring at me with a blank expression for whole 5 seconds. Then exactly 5 seconds later, she finally realized that she had hurt her toe and yelped holding her foot, "Ow!" Rubbing her foot, she looked at me as if she had seen a ghost. "What?" She managed to say somehow after a minute of silence.

I made her sit on a chair and told her everything about Mr. Rajveer's visit. She listened to me patiently and when it was over she gave me a toothy grin and squealed. "My ship has finally sailed!" She fist pumped in the air as I face palmed myself.

"But Kia," Her voice turned serious. "All jokes aside, are you sure about it? Because this whole thing seems like a huge mess."

I bit my lip.

Should I tell her what plan I had in mind?

No, I couldn't do that. I would feel guilty of hiding this from her, but I needed to do that.

And I needed to talk to Arjun soon.

I assured Anushka that I was fine. That I wanted this.

I don't think she believed me but she went along with it. And that was enough for me.

"Well, if everything is settled, you're going for shopping with me tomorrow." Anushka said, scrolling through her phone.

"WHAT!? NO!!" I looked at her horrified.

"No arguments. I didn't ask for your permission, I ordered you." She scolded me like a teacher as I pouted.

"I think I should call Maahi and the others, too. We can go together." She considered as she dialed her number.

"NO!" I shouted as I snatched the phone from her hand and cut the call. "She doesn't know about it. Nor does anyone else." I explained.

She raised a brow. "And when are you going to tell them? "

"Tomorrow, at college." I said unsure.

If this was Anushka's reaction, I don't even want to imagine Maahi's.

"Good luck with that." Anushka and Tina said in unison and sniggered while I racked my brain to find a way to give them the news.

What have I gotten myself into?

And here we areeee. Most of the story is the same as the original draft. I have just added a couple of scenes to make the whole arranged marriage thing look more realistic. Because when I wrote this chapter, I was a kid and had no idea what I was doing. So, need not worry, I'm not changing the story at all. Just adding a few scenes here and there.