Chapter - 12

AYUSHMAN'S P.O.V

I don't know what I was doing... I just couldn't control myself.... Her touch.... Her behaviour... Her eyes... Her lips.. everything affects me alot. It's just that I can't control myself and do unnecessary things.... I just forgot that this marriage was forced... I love someone else I love my Ishi .... I was indirectly hugging her then suddenly my phone buzzed. It showed...

Author Ishi posted a chapter.

Suddenly realisation hit me. What was I doing?? I was touching Arohi??? How can I do this....  That's why left her in the couch and started reading the story..... To be honest speaking when I was reading I saw Arohi was looking down and sat there silently. I do felt bad that I left her like that... She didn't have any fault... But still.

As I turned the pages of the chapter, a strange feeling washed over me— the male lead seemed so much like me. It was as if every moment I had shared with Arohi had somehow found its way into these words, etched into the story.

But no, I must be overthinking it... There's no way this could be real, right? Doubt gnawed at me as I tried to reach out, typing her ID into my phone, only to be met with the cold message: No personal messages are allowed. Frustration built up as I scoured Instagram, searching for any trace of her, but her profile was nowhere to be found. It was as if she had vanished into thin air, leaving me with nothing but questions and an unsettling feeling in my chest.

"Where are you Ishi yar..... Please come back to me..."

Dumb!! Open your eyes you clueless potato.

It was all silent. Suddenly Arohi stood up from her place and went to kitchen. I noticed that and followed her.

"What are you doing?" I asked her to make this awkward moment a little comfortable.

But she didn't replied. It made me amused. She ignored me??

Of course! You're the one who left her like a thing and you're expecting that she will talk nicely to you?

"I asked something wife...!!" Ayushman said in a harsh voice.

"Cooking!!!! Can't you see?" Arohi said in a little loud voice.

Ayushman raised his eyebrow.

"You're yelling at me?"

Arohi looks at him with a sharp gaze.

"Oh, really? After everything you've done, you're expecting me to behave properly with you? How can you be so heartless, Ayushman?! I know deep down you’ll never accept me as your wife, but at least don’t push me away like this. It truly feels like I'm just some disposable pen—used when it's convenient and tossed aside once the need is met. This has been my reality from a young age. First, it was Dad, and now it's you--"

Suddenly Arohi stopped and realised that she just spoke back to Ayushman. She put her hand in her mouth to prevent the gasp. Ayushman was listening to it silently. He didn't utter any word.

"I-I-I I'm s..."

"Hello my Laddoos"

Misha and Siddharth entered into the house. Both of their focus went there. Arohi immediately went to them. She couldn't stand there more.

"He-ll-o M-aa... He--llo-papa" Arohi said nervously.

"Hello Aru beta! Why are you stammering and sweating what happened?" Misha asked with a concerned tone.

"Nothing Maa... It's just I was in kitchen and doing work so--"

Ayushman also enters in the living area.

"What I'm hearing Ayu? You're letting her do all the work in the kitchen? Won't you help her?? Is this how I taught you?"

Arohi's eyes went wide in sheer disbelief, her entire body trembling as waves of terror coursed through her.

AROHI'S P.O.V

Perfect timing, as always... Just minutes ago, I said things I shouldn't have, and now Maa is making it worse, taunting him. I can't even begin to imagine how he'll react. Why does everything have to happen at once? Can't you just give me a moment of peace God ji ?—just one second?

Ayushman’s voice was low, chilling, and laced with an almost deadly calm that sent a wave of fear through Arohi. “I was only trying to help, but your precious daughter-in-law wouldn’t let me,” he said, his gaze locking onto Arohi with a piercing intensity that made her blood run cold.

Misha turned her gaze toward Arohi, her voice dripping with a feigned sweetness. "Oh, really, dear? Well then, fine. But Aru, you shouldn't bear the weight of everything alone. You've just come back from the office—you must be exhausted."

Arohi forced a smile, giving a subtle nod, her expression a delicate mask of relief and resignation.

Suddenly, Siddharth cleared his throat, the sound cutting through the tense air, demanding everyone’s attention.

"Alright, everyone I've something to say.....," he announced, his voice carrying a weight of finality. "Ayushman is now not only married, but he also holds the reins of RI and the entire mafia sector. It’s time we crown him as the Mafia King."

Arohi’s eyes went wide in astonishment, her heart swelling with pride as a smile tugged at her lips, thoughts of Ayushman’s incredible achievement filling her with a sense of awe.

Ayushman couldn’t help but smile as the words sank in. He had finally achieved his dream—the one he had fought for, struggled for. But deep down, he knew there was still one dream that eluded him, the one he believed was yet to be fulfilled. Little did he know, however, that fate had already played its hand. God had already woven the threads of his destiny, and in a twist of fate, had united him with the love of his life—his Ishi.

Siddharth’s voice broke through the tension, announcing that the event would take place next week, urging everyone to be prepared. With that, everyone nodded and scattered to their respective places. Arohi and Ayushman quietly made their way to the dining area, where they ate in a heavy silence.

Arohi absentmindedly pushed her food around, her mind miles away. She could already feel the impending storm as they made their way to their room—something was coming, and the mere thought of it made her tremble with fear.

Suddenly, a haunting flashback gripped her. She vividly remembered the day her father, Advik, had cruelly burned her diary—the one thing she held dear... where her stories were scribbled down—just because she had refused to comply with one of his demands. The memories rushed back with a sharp pain, leaving her shivering in the present moment.

Ayushman finished his dinner, his expression unreadable, and rose from the table. Arohi’s eyes followed him, her gaze searching his face for any hint of emotion, but his neutrality gave nothing away. Without a word, he walked toward their room.

Arohi, in a desperate attempt to delay the inevitable, lingered in the kitchen, washing the dishes and tidying up, stalling for as long as she could. But eventually, the weight of time dragged her to their room. She hesitated for a moment before gently pushing the door open, her heart pounding in her chest. To her surprise, the room was empty, the stillness only deepening her unease.

She hurried into the washroom, the cool water offering a fleeting sense of escape from the tension that gripped her. Thirty minutes later, she stepped out, wrapped only in a bathrobe, assuming the room was still empty. But as she pushed open the door and stepped into the room, her breath caught in her throat.

A shadow loomed in the corner, sending a surge of panic through her. He’s here… The thought echoed in her mind, relentless and sharp. Fear held her in place, but after what felt like an eternity, she summoned the courage to glance up. His gaze, cold and intense, was fixed on her bare legs, exposed beneath the robe. Arohi’s face flushed crimson, the heat of embarrassment rising rapidly as her heart raced in her chest, unable to look away.

She stood there, frozen, caught in the whirlwind of confusion, unsure of what to do next. The air felt thick, suffocating, as the silence stretched between them. Then, suddenly, the sound of footsteps broke through the tension, growing closer with every heartbeat.

Arohi’s pulse quickened as she looked up, and there, locked in a steady, unwavering gaze, were those familiar hazel-brown eyes, piercing through her own black orbs. Without a word, he stepped closer, his hand gripping her chin gently but firmly, forcing her to meet his intense stare.

Her face burned with a fierce heat, flushed red with the cocktail of tension and embarrassment flooding through her. "Go get dressed," his voice, low and commanding, broke the silence. The authority in his words sent a jolt of urgency through her, and without another second’s hesitation, Arohi turned and hurried to get dressed, her heart still racing, every nerve alive with the weight of the moment.

Five minutes later, Arohi emerged from the closet, now dressed in a simple yet elegant peach-colored salwar. The soft glow of her nuptial chain around her neck and the delicate vermillion dot on her forehead added a touch of purity, making her look effortlessly beautiful, almost angelic.

As she stepped into the room, Ayushman’s gaze met hers, his eyes sharp, and without uttering a word, he motioned for her to sit on the bed. His silent command hung heavy in the air, and Arohi, with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation, obeyed without hesitation, her heart pounding in her chest.

Without warning, Ayushman dropped to his knees in front of her, his sudden movement causing Arohi’s eyes to widen in pure shock. Her breath hitched in her throat as she stared at him, unable to comprehend the shift in the atmosphere.

His gaze softened for the briefest moment, and then, in a voice that seemed almost too gentle for the intensity of the moment, he whispered,

"Sorry."

The weight of the word hung between them, leaving Arohi speechless, her heart racing as confusion and disbelief tangled within her.

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