Chapter-18

AROHI'S P.O.V

I turned around, and to my utter disbelief, standing right there was none other than Ayushman.

A wave of shock washed over me. Maa, with a hint of surprise in her voice, exclaimed, "Ayu beta, you're here? I thought you said you wouldn’t come?"

Ayushman, with a playful grin, replied, "Well, the meeting got cancelled, so I thought I’d come straight here instead." I couldn't help but smile brightly, feeling the sudden warmth of the moment.

Then, Maa, eager to know, asked, "So, which one did you choose?" I turned to Ayushman, locking eyes with him, before confidently saying,

"The black one."

After that, we went shopping, and to my surprise, Ayushman was on a roll, constantly pointing out what would look good on everyone, showering compliments left and right. I'd never seen this side of him before. I always thought he was grumpy and distant, but today, he was different.

It was clear—family truly meant everything to him. After our shopping spree, we headed to a restaurant for lunch. I excused myself and slipped away to the washroom.

Standing before the mirror, I caught sight of myself... and to my shock, I was smiling. This smile, I realized, was all because of him.

The thought of him made my cheeks flush. Wait—why was I blushing? Was I... falling for him?

As I stepped out of the washroom, out of nowhere, a man approached me with an unsettling confidence. "Oh, what a beautiful lady," he said, his voice dripping with admiration. "My eyes are truly blessed to witness such a sight."

My heart skipped a beat as I scanned the area, realizing I was completely alone. A surge of panic began to rise within me, but I refused to let him see even a hint of fear.

Standing tall, I deliberately exposed my forehead filled with vermillion and neck with nupital chain, my voice unwavering as I said, "I am a married woman, sir. Now, kindly get out of my sight."

The man scoffed, his voice dripping with arrogance, “Oh God, that man is incredibly fortunate, I must say.” A wicked smirk curled across his lips, and then, as if savoring a private joke, he added, “But he doesn't need to know that, does he?”

I was stunned, my mind racing to comprehend the audacity of his words. I slapped him hard accross his face. But before I could say anything, his gaze became dark, his expression now one of utter shock. “You little lady,” he muttered, his eyes narrowing.

I straightened my posture, my voice ice-cold as I replied, “This is just the beginning. My husband... he’s going to do things that will leave you breathless, things you can’t even begin to imagine. He will chop your head off from your body and let it be eat by wild animas”

His eyes widened in disbelief but still asked, "And who is your husband?" A commanding voice bellowed from behind,

“I am her husband.”

The man whirled around, his eyes narrowing, and barked, "And who the hell are you?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Ayushman shot back,

"Your worst nightmare."

With that, he delivered a crushing blow punch to the man's face. In an instant, a group of shadowy figures, dressed in black, appeared from the shadows and swiftly whisked him away.

Turning towards me, Ayushman asked, "Are you okay?"

I nodded, still stunned. "Yeah... I'm fine. But how did you know I was in trouble?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Just a wild guess."

Curiosity gnawed at me, and I blurted out, "By the way, where did they take him? Who are they?"

Ayushman gave a dark, knowing smile. "They're my men. And as for him... he's now exactly where he belongs."

His tone was chilling, so much so that I dared not press the matter further.

"Uh, okay," I muttered, still processing everything. Without a word, he took my hand, his grip firm and reassuring. "Let's go. The others are waiting," he said, his voice calm yet commanding.

I nodded and followed him, though something lingered in the air.

One thing was undeniable—he always held my hand, almost as if pulling me along with him, as though he needed me close.

It wasn't that I didn't mind... no, I actually loved it. There was something about the way his fingers intertwined with mine that sent a flutter through my stomach, something I couldn't quite put into words.

It was a feeling that both unnerved and thrilled me, all at once.

We arrived at the restaurant, and the moment we stepped inside, all eyes turned to us.

The atmosphere seemed to shift, a mix of curiosity and amusement in the air. Maa, with a mischievous grin, teased us, her voice full of playful mockery.

"Oh ho, looks like the two lovebirds are enjoying some quality time together, huh?"

I glanced at Ayushman, my cheeks instantly burning with a fierce blush. His presence was magnetic, and the teasing only intensified the warmth spreading across my face.

Ayushman, sensing my discomfort, quickly released my hand, his voice light but firm. "Mom, it's not like that."

But as I stood there, momentarily free from his touch, a sudden emptiness washed over me. I couldn't help but miss the warmth of his hand in mine—now it felt like something was missing, like a part of me had been taken away.

Ayushman had changed... and not just in small ways. Ever since that argument and what happened yesterday, he was different—softer, more attentive.

He no longer raised his voice at me, and there was a tenderness in his actions I hadn’t noticed before. It was as if something had shifted within him, a warmth I had never expected from him.

And to top it all off, his family—his kind, welcoming family—was showing me the kind of love I had always longed for but never received.

We sat down at the table, and as we began to eat, I couldn’t help but notice that Ayushman was staring at me, his gaze distant, almost as if lost in thought.

His eyes were fixated on me, but it wasn’t just a look of curiosity. There was something deeper, something I couldn’t quite place. It was as if he was studying me, caught up in something only he understood.

AYUSHMAN'S P.O.V

I noticed Arohi quietly excusing herself, slipping away towards the washroom. Mom, ever observant, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Where’s she?" I quickly replied, "She's in the washroom."

But as time passed, I began to feel uneasy. It was getting late—too late for someone to be taking so long. My curiosity, mixed with a hint of concern, surged within me.

Without a second thought, I stood up and made my way towards the washroom area. The quiet hum of the restaurant faded into the background as I walked down the dimly lit corridor. What could be taking her so long?

My heart raced as I reached the door... and then, I saw something that stopped me cold, leaving my breath caught in my throat.

Arohi was standing there, engaged in conversation with... a man? My heart skipped a beat as I hid in the shadows, barely able to contain the rising fury in my chest.

My blood boiled, the heat surging through me as I tried to stay quiet, straining to listen to their exchange. Seeing her with another guy—how dare she? I clenched my fists, but a part of me couldn't resist the pull of curiosity. What could they possibly be talking about?

Then, I heard it—the man’s voice dripping with praise. "You’re amazing, Arohi. Truly exceptional." The words hit me like a slap to the face, and the storm inside me intensified. How dare he? How dare he speak to my wife like that, let alone praise her with such admiration?

I stood there, seething, waiting for Arohi to respond, wondering how she would react to his advances. Would she shut him down? Or would she—? My breath caught, my mind racing with anger and confusion, desperate to know what would unfold next.

I watched in stunned silence as Arohi, with a quiet but firm gesture, pointed to her forehead, letting the man see her nupital chain. Her voice was calm, yet dripping with authority as she spoke, "I’m a married woman, sir. Now, please, get out of my sight."

A rush of pride surged through me as I heard her words. That's my wife. It was a statement of strength, of loyalty, and of defiance. My heart swelled with admiration for her unwavering confidence.

But to my disbelief, the man remained unfazed, his expression cold and unbothered as he muttered, "He doesn't have to know." The audacity, the sheer courage he had to even suggest such a thing—asking out the wife of the Mafia King? Was he out of his mind?

The words hit me like a wave of pure pride. That's my wife. The strength in her voice, the way she commanded the situation with such grace—it was a moment that filled me with nothing but pride. She was untouchable.

As the man, completely unfazed, dared to ask, "Who is her husband?" I couldn’t hold it in any longer. My fury erupted from behind, my voice like a thunderclap in the silence. "It’s me," I roared, stepping forward, my presence like a storm breaking over the room.

The man turned, his eyes narrowing in confusion as he asked, "Who are you?"

I couldn’t believe it. He doesn’t know who I am? The thought barely registered before my blood ran cold with a dangerous calm. Good. It’s better for him that way… for now.

But that would change, and I would make sure of it. I’ll make him know who I am—in my own way. Every word dripped with menace, the kind of quiet threat that sent a chill through the air.

I had already made the call. My men were swift, and within moments, they had taken him to the one place where I could ensure he'd never forget who he was dealing with—my basement.

A place where no one would hear his screams or feel his escape. There, I would deal with him in ways he couldn’t even begin to fathom. His worst nightmare was about to unfold, and he had no idea the kind of hell he was about to endure.

As we returned to the restaurant area, Mom couldn’t resist teasing us, her gaze flicking between our intertwined hands with a knowing smile. I noticed Arohi, her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, clearly embarrassed by the attention. It was adorable, but I didn’t want to make things more awkward for her, so I gently released her hand, hoping to ease the tension.

As we settled into our meal, a strange thought began to stir within me. I had always seen Arohi through a guarded lens, but now, watching her in this quiet moment, something shifted. There was a purity about her, a sincerity that spoke volumes.

I realized, with a sense of clarity, that she wasn’t what I’d assumed. She wasn’t the kind of person to deceive or manipulate—no, she was genuine.

She's loyal. She will not betray anyone till her last breath.There were no hidden agendas, no dark intentions lurking beneath her calm exterior.

She was simply... pure. And for the first time, I felt something stir inside me—a feeling I couldn’t quite define but knew I couldn’t ignore.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated, breaking the tension in the air. I glanced down, my eyes catching the notification—Author Ishi has updated Kismat Connection.

My heart skipped a beat, curiosity igniting within me. For a moment, I hovered over the screen, the temptation to open it overwhelming. But I quickly resisted, shoving my phone back into my pocket.

It's now my family time.....

We finally reached home, and as everyone settled into their rooms, I turned to Arohi and said, "I'm going to take a shower." She simply nodded in response, her gaze soft and distant.

AROHI'S P.O.V

I was wandering aimlessly around the room when my gaze landed on the massive bookshelf. It seemed Ayushman shared my passion for reading.

Curiosity piqued, I quickly walked over and began to explore the collection—books from all over the world, each one more intriguing than the last.

Then, my eyes fell on a diary, its cover simple yet inviting. My Favourite Quotes by my favourite was written on it in elegant script.

Curiosity truly does kill the cat. I was utterly stunned to discover that Ayushman had an affinity for quotes and lines, each one holding a special place in his heart.

And as if that wasn't enough to stir my emotions, the revelation of his favourite—oh, that one pierced my heart ever so slightly.

But now, my mind can’t help but wonder: who could possibly be the one he holds in such high regard?

My heart skipped a beat. I picked it up, my fingers brushing over the pages, eager to see what lay inside. But just as I was about to open it, a voice came from behind, sending a jolt through me.

"So, you also have a habit of reading?" Ayushman’s voice was smooth, almost teasing.

I immediately dropped the diary back onto the shelf, my face flushing with embarrassment. "Y-Yeah... since I was little," I stammered, trying to recover.

Ayushman grinned, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Yeah, I remember. That’s why I called you "Keetab Keedi."

My eyes widened in shock. He remembered that nickname? A strange flutter stirred in my chest as I replied, "Oh, then does that mean I can call you Keetab Keeda?"

I was expecting him to laugh it off or tell me not to call him that, but instead, he smirked and said, "Of course you can. After all, in English, it’s called 'bookworm.'" He winked at me.

Ugh, I couldn’t win against him in this teasing game. His confidence was unshakable, and my heart... well, my heart was a mess.

To be continued...

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