Author POV

The wedding venue was quiet. Too quiet. No music, no laughter—just silence, as if a wedding hadn't taken place there just minutes ago.

Everyone stood frozen, too shocked to even react.

Pratyaksh and Avyukt looked at Aastha’s brother as if they had already expected his arrival.

Pratyaksh tilted his head slightly and looked straight into Aastha’s brother’s eyes, challenging him.

Seeing that look, Aastha’s brother’s jaw clenched. His hands turned into fists at his sides.

“Main kuch puch rha hu aashu, batao mujhe ye kya hai? Tumne aapne hi bhai ko aapni shaadi ke baare mei batane ka nhi socha huh?” Aastha’s brother said, still looking into Pratyaksh’s eyes.

(I'm asking something aashu, tell me, what is this? You didn't care to tell your own brother about your marriage,huh?)

Aastha lifted her head, but no words came out. It felt like her throat had gone dry.

Shalini stepped forward.

“Aur wo tumhe kyu bataegi, Viraj! Tum uske lagte kon ho?!”

(And why would she tell you, viraj who you're to her?!)

Viraj didn't even look at her.

His entire focus was on Aastha.

He looked at his sister—his pari—studying her carefully.

Why did his delicate little sister agree to this marriage?

And that too without telling him?

Aastha looked at him and whispered softly,

“B… bhai…”

But she couldn't say anything more. She was about to stand up—to run to her brother, to hug him.

But she couldn't.

Because Pratyaksh was holding the edge of her dupatta.

The grip wasn’t even strong.

But she wasn’t strong enough to pull it away.

She lifted her tear-filled eyes and looked at Pratyaksh.

He was already staring at her.

He tilted his head slightly and raised one eyebrow.

“Yahi baithi raho… uthne ki himmat karna hmm, rose.”

(Sir right here....don't your dare to stand up hmm,rose)

Viraj’s blood boiled seeing this.

He moved toward them, glaring at Pratyaksh like he would kill him right there.

Pratyaksh simply leaned closer, his face almost touching Viraj’s, as if this was just another meaningless drama for him.

Before Viraj could reach them, Vikram quickly stepped forward and grabbed his arm.

He leaned close to Viraj’s ear and whispered coldly,

“Jo ho raha hai hone de. Agar kuch karne ki himmat ki… to tujhe pata hai main kya karunga.”

(Whatever is happening, let it happen. Don't dare to interfere because you know what I'll do)

Viraj stopped.

His eyes moved to Aastha.

For the first time in his life… he felt helpless.

He freed himself from Vikram’s grip and walked toward Aastha. Then he knelt down beside her.

He gently cupped her face.

“Pari…”

He kissed her forehead.

A tear slipped from Aastha’s eyes and landed on his palm.

“Ek baar apne bhai ko to bata deti. Aisi bhi kya majboori aa gayi thi jo tumne apne bhai ko hi batana zaroori nahi samjha

(You could have told your brother at least once. What compulsion did you have that you didn't feel it necessary to tell your brother?)

He leaned closer and whispered softly,

“Pari… bas thoda sa wait karo. Tumhara bhai tumhe usse zaroor le jayega.”

(Pari... Just wait for me. Your brother will surely bring you back from him)

Aastha nodded slowly.

“Haan bhai… mujhe aap par pura bharosa hai.”

( Yes brother.... I trust you fully)

Pratyaksh watched the entire scene silently.

Then he spoke calmly,

“Well, Mr. Rajput… I hope you’ll now take your ass and step back, because I want to marry my wife.”

Viraj leaned closer to him and muttered,

“Bas kuch mahine ruk ja… phir apni behen ko teri qaid se main khud chuda kar le jaunga. Ye waada hai Viraj Singh Rajput ka.”

(Just wait for few months..... I'll surely take my sister away from your cage)

With that, Viraj stepped back.

His eyes were filled with unshed tears.

But people knew one thing—

Nothing could make Viraj Singh Rajput look weak.

Unless it was about his sister.

Pratyaksh lifted his hand to fill Aastha’s hairline with sindoor.

But the entire sindoor accidentally fell on her forehead and nose.

Aastha closed her eyes slowly.

When she opened them again, she saw Pratyaksh staring at her.

Pandit ji smiled slightly at the scene but said nothing.

Pratyaksh took the sindoor again with a coin and carefully filled her hairline.

Then he leaned closer to her ear and whispered,

“Welcome to hell, rose.”

Hearing those words, Aastha felt like her heart shattered into a million pieces.

---

After the rituals were completed, both of them stood up.

“Yajmaan, ab aap dono apne bado ka aashirwad lijiye,” Pandit ji said.

(Yajmaan, both of you stand up and take blessing of your elders.)

Aastha stepped forward to touch Mrinalini’s feet.

But before she could bend down, Pratyaksh pulled her back by her dupatta.

“Meri biwi kisi ke aage nahi jhukegi… chahe wo main khud hi kyu na hoon.”

(My wife won't bend down infront of anyone....if that's include me too)

Everyone stood stunned.

Aastha POV

I was led into his room.

My heart was beating so fast.

My eyes were filled with unshed tears.

But I couldn't let them fall.

Not now.

Everything felt so different.

I thought this marriage would finally bring happiness into my life after all the pain.

But instead…

“Welcome to hell, rose.”

Those words echoed in my mind.

But strangely… his actions didn't match his words.

I sat on his large bed.

His room was dark… yet massive.

I looked down at my hands, gripping my lehenga tightly.

Waiting.

Just then, the door opened.

My heart started pounding even faster.

Will he touch me?

No… I can't let him.

My breath became uneven.

My chest rose and fell rapidly.

I didn’t dare to lift my eyes.

Then I noticed something strange.

He was lying on the floor.

My eyebrows frowned.

Why is he sleeping on the floor?u

Isn't he supposed to sleep on the bed?

Isn't he supposed to touch me?

“Relax… don’t worry. I won't touch you.”

His voice broke the silence.

Then he lifted his eyes and looked straight at me.

“Not until the day you come to me yourself.”

My heart skipped a beat.

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

I lowered my eyes and stood up slowly.

“Wh… why are you sleeping on the floor?” I asked nervously.

He tilted his head.

“Kyu rose… tum chahti ho main tumhare saath aakar iss bistar par soun?”

(Why rose you want me to sleep on the small bed with you?)

My cheeks burned.

Before I could answer, he continued calmly,

“Kyunki agar main aaya… to sone ke alawa baaki sab kuch karunga.”

(Because if I come.....then I'll do everything rather than sleeping)

Hearing this, I quickly lay down on the bed and pulled the blanket over myself.

I kept turning from one side to another.

Then I looked toward him.

He was staring right at me.

He didn’t even look away.

Instead, he tilted his head slightly, his gaze intense… almost like he was stripping me bare with his eyes.

My cheeks burned again.

I quickly pulled the blanket over my head.

Third Person POV

Hospital – 1:25 AM

A man entered a hospital room.

A girl lay unconscious on the bed.

An oxygen mask covered her face.

Bandages were wrapped around her body.

Her face looked pale… almost lifeless.

Like a corpse lying silently on the bed.

The man wore a mask and gloves. Green surgical scrubs covered his body.

A woman stood beside the bed.

After checking the patient, both of them stepped outside.

The man tilted his head and smirked.

“Kya hua, vakeel sahiba? Dubara se ek case haar gayi kya?”

(What happened vakeel sahiba? Did you lost the case against?)

The woman’s jaw tightened.

“Shut your fucking mouth, Mr. Thakur.”

She pushed him lightly on the chest.

“At least I’m not like you—wearing a mask for the world while hiding the truth inside.”

The man hissed slightly where she touched him.

Suddenly he grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer leaning towards her ear he said.

“Apne ye haath mere jism se dur rakho, vakeel sahiba….warna mujhe lagega ki tum mujhe aapne bistar pr invite kr rhi ho.”

(Keep your hands away from me vakeel sahiba.....or else I'll think you're inviting me in your bed)

He released her roughly.

She stumbled back, her face red with embarrassment.

“Mujhe tumhe choone ka koi shauk nahi hai, Thakur. Aur agli baar Myra Chaturvedi ke saamne apni ye badhi si shakal lekar mat aana.”

(I don't have any interest in touching you, thakur. And next time don't you dare to bring your ugly face in front of myra chaturvedi again!)

“Jab tak ye case chal raha hai tab tak main tumhe bardasht kar rahi hu. Iss case ke khatam hote hi main tumhari shakal bhi nahi dekhna chahti.”

(I'll tolerate you as long as this case is ongoing. Once this case is over, I don't even want to see your disgusting face.)

With that, Myra walked away.

Avyukt watched her leave.

His jaw clenched.

Then slowly… a smirk appeared on his lips.

“Badi hi tufaani billi hai… uff Myra Chaturvedi.”

(“Such a fierce little wildcat… uff, Myra Chaturvedi.”)

He murmured to himself.

“Tumhari isi ada par to ye Avyukt T

hakur majnu hai.”

(“It’s exactly this attitude of yours that drives Avyukt Thakur crazy.”)

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Thank you for reading this chapter.

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And please vote if you enjoyed it. It motivates me a lot.

Love you all.

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