18. Dhruv Singhania

Author's POV

Next Morning,

Ishika stared into the mirror, meticulously getting ready, each brush of powder and stroke of lipstick an armor against the chaos churning inside her. She was done caring about anything related to Sahil. Soon, the divorce papers would arrive, and with them, she'd be free of him and his deceit. She would pretend he didn't exist, as if she'd never even heard his name. Six months was all she needed to endure before she could strip herself of the title "Mrs. Malhotra" forever.

The hurt was gone now, buried beneath a new, fierce resolve. All she felt was a simmering hatred-a cold, unforgiving resentment she'd never thought herself capable of. But she wouldn't let that bitterness touch Grandma. Grandma had been the only one in this family who had truly cared for her, the only one who had seen her, cherished her, from the moment she became Sahil's wife.

With a final glance in the mirror, she forced a small, determined smile. No one would see her pain. Not today. She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and stepped out of her room, heading to Grandma's, her steps steady.

Two weeks later,

She walked toward the master bedroom after a long, tiring day and went straight to the walk-in closet to change into something comfortable. After changing, she moved to the foldable sofa she had bought the day she moved in, which she now also used for sleeping.

While she was scrolling through her phone, it buzzed with messages from Sahil's aunt, Kavita Malhotra, informing her about a gathering she was expected to attend the following evening at 4 p.m.

Ishika sighed deeply, feeling a wave of irritation. She had to tolerate it for the sake of this pretense of a marriage. She replied with a simple "Ok, Aunty," and then prepared her outfit for the next evening. Afterward, she ate her dinner in the silence of the mansion.

************

She met Aunt Kavita at the entrance of the grand hotel, where the older woman stood with her daughter, Sakshi, both dressed as if they were attending a royal gala. Aunt Kavita asked about Sahil's whereabouts, to which 'With a smile as fake as her enthusiasm for this event,' Ishika replied, "He's on a business trip, as usual." Aunt Kavita gave her a suspicious look but nodded approvingly, and they proceeded inside.

The hotel was a shrine to opulence, with sparkling chandeliers that looked like they'd been stolen from a palace and decor that screamed, We're rich, and we want everyone to know it. They approached a table filled with the wives of other wealthy businessmen, who greeted them with smiles that didn't quite reach their eyes.

Ishika sat down and picked up the menu, and her jaw nearly hit the floor. A cup of tea for 3,000 rupees? Do they infuse it with liquid gold? she thought, eyes wide. I don't have this kind of money to waste on a beverage that probably tastes the same as the one I can make at home for ten rupees.

With a sigh, she glanced at her wallet and spotted the credit card Sahil had handed her the day he'd nonchalantly said, "here, take this," as she demanded that on the day of divorce filling against his condition to stay with him. A mischievous grin spread across her lips. Tonight, Sahil's going to fund my very lavish escape from boredom.

The conversations around her were mind-numbing. "Oh, did you see the latest collection from that designer?" one woman gushed. "I wouldn't be caught dead in last season's shoes," another sniffed. Ishika nodded along, internally counting the seconds until she could bolt. Twice she tried, using excuses ranging from a phone call to a stomach cramp, but Aunt Kavita latched onto her like a hawk.

Finally, she used the last trick in her book: "Excuse me, I need to visit the washroom." Before Aunt Kavita could protest, Ishika was gone, practically sprinting out of the restaurant area.

She wandered into the hotel's shopping section, marveling at the overpriced decorative items for sale. Who buys a vase for 50,000 rupees? she mused. Suddenly, a deep voice from behind startled her. "Hello there."

She spun around so quickly she nearly tripped over her own feet. A man stood just an inch away, too close for comfort. She jumped back, eyes wide, and managed to stammer, "Hello."

The man smirked, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You don't remember me?"

Ishika frowned and shook her head, indicating no.

He chuckled, a sound that was equal parts charming and annoying. "You're the first person to forget me after meeting me. I'm almost offended."

She stared at him for a moment longer before it clicked. "Oh! You're the guy who bumped into me at that business party!!"

"Bingo," he said, clicking his fingers with a grin. "Nice to know I left such a strong impression."

Ishika rolled her eyes, at his reply.

He stepped forward, a confident smile playing on his lips. "I'm Dhruv Singhania," he announced, his voice deep and assured, laced with that smooth, undeniable authority that turned heads and made people listen.

Ishika's breath hitched, but only for a second. Her eyes met his with a practiced indifference, even as a chill rippled down her spine at the sound of his name. Singhania. Wealth, power, charm-all wrapped in a neat, dangerous package. Singhania enterprises are famous in the country they are one of the competitors of her husband, Sahil Malhotra. She forced a tight, polite smile, the words escaping her lips as stiff as a board, "I'm Ishika Malhotra."

Before Dhruv could flash another one of those heart-stopping smiles, Ishika's instincts hummed with urgency, retreat, now.

The hotel lobby sparkled around them-marble floors polished to a mirror sheen, gold-trimmed décor, and glass cases showing off art pieces that probably cost more than most people's homes. It was all just a glittering mask for the world she couldn't stand.

Without missing a beat, she turned on her heel and walked away, heels clicking with a defiant rhythm as she pretended to admire some ridiculously expensive vase or whatever artifact the rich and bored liked to flaunt.

Her pulse drummed in her ears, louder than the soft murmur of the elite crowd around her. She knew exactly why she was running. Dhruv's practiced confidence reminded her of him-her husband, the man who had turned her life into a prison cell wrapped in a velvet bow. The charming facade, the tailored suits, the way he'd wooed her with a smile that could sell anything... until the mask slipped and the cruelty came out.

Because of him, she'd become a shell of herself-an ornament, silent and watched. Society had loved to chew on her story, their whispers more biting than the truth. Poor Ishika, so naïve. Should've known better. Why didn't she leave sooner? The memory of it all tightened around her like a too-tight necklace, sparkling but suffocating.

Every smooth-talking, high-rolling man made her skin prickle with a reflexive warning, and Dhruv was no different. Ishika would walk on hot coals before letting herself be trapped again, no matter how magnetic that smile was.

Dhruv was persistent, popping up every now and then like an eager puppy. "Do you like it here?" he'd ask with that confident smile. Or, "What brings you here?" as if he thought small talk would win her over. "Did you come with someone?" he tried again, leaning in just enough to show off that jawline.

Ishika barely spared him a glance. "Nope," she said flatly, turning back to study a painting as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.

Dhruv's smile slipped a bit. He clearly couldn't figure out why she wasn't falling for his charm. Most women melted at the first sign of those dimples.

But not Ishika. She kept ignoring him, calm and cool, which only made him more interested. She could feel him staring, confused and frustrated.

Moments later, Sakshi swept into the room, her eyes scanning the space until they landed on Ishika and Dhruv. The sight stopped her cold, and a flush of anger crept up her neck. There Dhruv was, charming and persistent, trying to pull a smile from Ishika. The same Dhruv Singhania who once ignored Sakshi's fluttering notes, casual smiles, and not-so-subtle attempts to catch his eye back in school. He hadn't even spared her a second glance, and now he is here, fixated on Ishika of all people. Ishika, the sister-in-law Sakshi could barely tolerate.

Jealousy twisted in her gut, hot and sharp. What did Sahil ever see in her? she thought bitterly. The perfect, polished world Sakshi liked to keep cracked just a little as she watched Dhruv's attention linger on Ishika.

Then, an idea sparked in her mind, lighting her eyes with a wicked glint. She pulled out her phone, snapping a few pictures of Dhruv leaning toward Ishika, his eyes filled with curiosity and hers cool and indifferent. It didn't matter that Ishika was ignoring him; the pictures told a story on their own.

With a smile that could rival a villain's, Sakshi quickly typed out a message: I caught Ishika with Dhruv Singhania today.

Within moments, the message was sent to her brother, Sahil. Satisfaction unfurled in her chest as she imagined the storm it would cause. The phone clicked off with a snap, and she tucked it away, already rehearsing the innocent expression she'd wear when the chaos started.

With a smirk, she muttered, "Just wait and watch, Ishika. I'll make you pay for catching another man's attention while still married to my brother."

After giving them a final glance, Sakshi returned to the gathering.

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End of the chapter.

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