20. Shaadi Vivaah?

Worked really hard on this chapter, plus I don't give vote targets (I get self anxious that my book is not that good compared to other authors) so do vote and comment okayy, sorry couldn't write a more longer chp !!!

Anyway, enjoyy readinggg🎀

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"Veda, I know you don't forgive, nor I'm forcing you to forgive me, jo bhi maine kiya vo jayaz tha, aur jo tum abhi kar rahi ho vo bhi jayaz hai," Aadvik said, his hands intwined between each other while his eyes in contact with Veda's.

But Veda no matter what never beleived in forgiving without a reasonable explanation on her face.

"Bro, listen, it's been two days since your rona dhona, and I don't know what to say. You came, you left, you come again after nine damn years. Why? I am asking because I deserve to know, you know how many sleepless nights I've conquered?" Veda argued.

"Do you know that I was away, no? Then why, why did you said that you didn't wanted me? I want answers too Veda, if it weren't for Vihaan then I think I'd be dead today." He sighed yet his eyes gazed at her the same way as they did a decade ago.

"You went away for USA for almost an year. Do you know how much I've suffered? Do you know how I was hurt that you never wanted me and it was just a dare--my feelings? A dare. Our dates? A dare. The moments we spent together? A dare. It was all a damn dare, you could've told me Aadvik when we were still in grade school but you didn't, why?" At this point, Veda was in the verge of crying, she may be the strong woman out on the face yet she was that rotru kid who'd cry on almost anything.

"So we've this point in life where you, Veda, you are declaring me wrong, my feelings wrong? My love for you wrong? Chanda, I wish i could donate you my smart-ass brain atleast it's not bad at reading signals though."

"Aadvik, I feel like we were never meant to be. Sometimes I feel unlucky that I was the one to survive, not her."

"I have always thought that people were nothing but a soul with different layers of mask, when one tears, the another is already there,"

A sad yet nervous laugh rippled through

Veda's throat.

"You never told me the reason why you left."

Aadvik exhaled sharply. "You know I was away, don't you? Then why-why did you say you never wanted me? I need answers too, Veda. If it weren't for Vihaan, I think I'd be dead by now." His voice was calm, but his eyes-his eyes burned with the same intensity they had a decade ago.

Aadvik's rage simmered beneath his calm exterior. No matter what, he had never been the kind of man to raise his voice.

"So, this is what it's come to? You, Veda, declaring my feelings a lie? My love for you-wrong?" He let out a dry chuckle. "Chanda, I wish I could donate you my smart-ass brain. At least it doesn't suck at reading signals."

Veda swallowed, her throat tightening. "Aadvik, I feel like... we were never meant to be. Sometimes, I feel unlucky that I survived. Not her."

"I've always believed that people are nothing but souls hidden behind layers of masks. One tears, and another is already there." A sad, nervous laugh rippled through her.

You never told me why you left."

"You want to know so bad, don't you?" Aadvik's voice dropped, heavy with something raw. "My whole family died. Want to know how? They were murdered. By whom? God knows." He let out a hollow chuckle. "Vihaan was studying law abroad back then, and I was in USA too. The reason? The devastating death of my family."

His words cracked, breaking more with each syllable.

The air around them shifted. People bustled in and out of the café, but amidst the movement, Aadvik and his Chanda remained still--like time had stopped. And maybe, in their world, it had.

Palak Naaz was just an another name in the crowd, amidst the numerous number of business men.

"Abhinav yaar when are we going home?" Palak said, her head dropping a little time to time as she was sleepy

"Thodi der me" Abhinav replied as he took Palak to a nearest table and made her sit on the opposite of him, making them face each other.

"Hmm"

"Tell me about you." Abhinav smiled.

"Huh" Palak's voice haltered.

"Tell me about you." He repeated, his hand's weight on his elbows, his eyes sparkling.

"I am Palak, I am 26 years old, I like collecting papers of cute designs on them."

She said in a sleepy voice, her head was on the table above her hands.

"Bas itna?" Abhinav wasn't convinced, what he knew was that Palak was not--never the girl she wanted to be, it was something personal that not everyone knows, atleast not the world does though.

[A/N : PALAK IS ACTUALLY MEIN EK MYSTERIOUS BANDI, SO IDK KYA LIKHU USKE BAARE MEIN HELPPP😭]

"I like watching Bandhbudh aur Budhbak."

Silence. Absolute silence.

"Hey bhagwaan--Kya--" Abhinav was startled but suddenly Palak's phone ringed, it was Swastika.

Swastika -

~

"Hello? Bhaiii, aree sunnn!!"

Swastika said more like yelled as if she was excited, but Palak hummed in response.

"Abee tu Kaun Talha sun bohot achha gaana hai--Kaun Talha Kaun Talha Kaun Talha Rap Elia to Jaun Talha--"

Before she could sang further Palak hunged up the call, but Swastika called her again.

"Call kat kyuu kiii saalii, bhaii mai bore horhi hu, idhr Vrindavan me pata nhi kaha kaha ghuma rhe hai sar ke upar se jaa rha hai--hello?! PALAK PANEEERRR SAALI MAR KYU JAA RHI BAAR BAAR"

"Yaar Abhinav hai idhr aur Phone speaker pe hai-"

"Abhinandi ki bhen ki--hattt, date enjoy karo."

Palak shook her head in disbelief, even though she loved her friends it was hard for her to tell them she loved them, she never learnt to express herself, despite growing in a house where everyone was love-bombed, she hated love. What is love? kya hai ishq? No one knows kya hai ishq, it's just care and redemption, with a mixture of attraction. Love can never be defined atleast not in words, it's ishq; something beyond the words, love is something that is raw and unexplainable, it is something unexpected, it is something which comes from the least person you'd expect from.

And about arranged marriages? She always despised that, her parents loved each other fiercely but did she mentioned they always fought?-what's the point then? And how do people especially family member's of the bride/groom confirm the wedding?

Meeting the other side for MAX 3-4 hours? How can you know the person's intention in these hours? What if he turns out to be a violent person? What if he forces his dear wife the very next day after the wedding or on the wedding night? You never know, thus, it sounds ridiculous.

"Abhinav, do you think we should announce our breakup?" Palak uttered out of the blue, her that choice shook Abhinav to his core.

"No-wait-why would you think that, Palak?"

"I don't want to drag you into any nonsense of mine, Abhinav." She said, her voice heavy but her eyes were sharp .

"What nonsense? I am your boyfriend, if you are in problem then I am in problem, tumhara dukh merw dukh, tumhrari khushi meri khushi."

"Fake." She corrected.

"Whatever" He said while rolling his eyes.

"Ghar chalein?" He asked, his eyes on her as if she were the only thing that existed that moment.

"Ghar chaltein hain." Palak gave him one of her rarest smiles, the one which only came out around her friends.

Though, the more Abhinav talked to her the more he was curious to know about her, the Palak only she knew not the one that the world knows

UNKNOWN POV :

My next target? Abhinav Randhawa.

He dared to touch my Palak, 'my' Palak.

The one who belonged to me.

The one who saved me the day I was supposed to be dead.

The one who bailed me from the jail when it was supposed to be my trial.

She doesn't deserves me but I saw her first so I am gonna take her anyway.

She didn't see me.

Palak sat amidst the glittering chaos of the event, her laughter blending with the murmurs of the crowd. She looked breathtaking-draped in elegance, lost in conversation, oblivious to the eyes that never left her.

My eyes.

I was there too, hidden among the nameless faces, a ghost slipping through the cracks of her world. She thought she was safe. Thought she had moved on. Thought I was gone.

But I was never gone, I was always here.

Always behind her,

I watched as she tucked her hair behind her ear, the golden bracelet on her wrist catching the light. She still wears it. My bracelet, my mark. She didn't even realize that by keeping it, she had kept a piece of me with her.

I swallowed down the chuckle that threatened to escape. Palak, Palak, Palak...Always so unaware, so foolishly blind to the truth, she never changed, did she? She can hide herself from the world and act all strong she wants yet my sweet venom is still the same innocent 17-year old Palak, ain't she?

My fingers twitched at my side as Abhinav leaned in, his voice too close to her ear, his presence too familiar.

I should've killed him the first time he touched her.

I exhaled slowly, loosening my grip. Not yet.

She was mine, but she didn't know it yet.

I would wait.

I had waited before and got her.

Just this time too, a little wait and bam, my caged princess back to me. A low chuckle escaped from my throat.

And when the time was right-when she finally looked past the crowd, past the ordinary, past the illusion of safety-she would see me.

And by then, it would be too late.

~

"Vihaan, beta," his father said.

Vyom Singh Rajput, the ruler of one of the most feared provinces, Mehwar, though the monarchy had ended, the royal traditions had not.

"Yes, Dad?" Vihaan replied, his head hanging low in respect, not meeting his father's eyes.

"When are you getting married? I heard from Rudrakshi that her health isn't good-she has cancer-and she wants to see her only grandchild's wedding. Also, you've been engaged to Tripti; it's been almost five months," Vyom said, his hands behind his back as he stared at his son, who was sitting on the ground.

"Agar iska man nahi hai abhi shaadi karne ka to rehne dete hain..." Vihaan's mother, Amrit Vyom Ranawat, said to Vyom, though it seemed he had other plans.

"Aise kaise, Amrit ji? Rudrakshi ji ki aakhri ichha hai... Aise kaise na bolega Vihaan?"

"Manzur hai, shaadi ki tayyariyan shuru ki jaye!" Vihaan said, his smirk hidden behind a loving smile as he looked at his parents, who were celebrating and calling everyone.

Vihaan took out his phone and sent a text to Tripti: "see you soon, future wifey."

The flight from Vrindavan to Banaras was hectic, and Darsh took an auto from the airport to his apartment.

Darsh took out his key and unlocked the door.

After opening the door, he stood on the porch and examined his flat, which was full of dust. The moment he saw how much work needed to be done, his mind immediately said no.

Being an aalsi person is hard.

After surveying his room, he went outside to lock the door and return to his previous apartment.

"Darsh?"