On the other hand before the crowning ceremony... In Suryavanshi Industries.....
ARYAAN'S P.O.V
"Ugh!! It's so much work how did Ayu manage I wonder!!!"
Aryaan stood up from his desk, the weight of work pressing on him. A glance at the clock reminded him that hunger was starting to set in. He needed a break-just a small one. It wouldn't hurt, right?
He stepped out of his cabin, walked to the lift, and descended to the ground floor, heading straight for the cafeteria. Just as he reached the main door, a collision sent him stumbling slightly. His gaze landed on the girl in front of him, her head bowed as she seemed oblivious to her surroundings.
"Watch where you're going, man! Are your eyes lodged in your forehead or something?" she snapped, not bothering to lift her head.
But the moment she did, her eyes met his, and her voice faltered for a split second. "Oh... it's you, Mr. Akhru."
Aryaan snapped back to the present, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. "Ah, Ms. Akhru. I see you're gracing us with your presence. Were you missing me?"
Sakshi rolled her eyes, not even trying to hide the sarcasm. "In your dreams!"
He leaned in closer, his voice a low whisper as he teased, "My dreams, Ms. Akhru, are far from innocent... and if you ever make your way into one of them... well, let's just say, they'll be unforgettable."
Sakshi rolled her eyes in exasperation. "You're absolutely shameless!" she exclaimed, her voice dripping with annoyance.
Aryaan's grin only broadened, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Only for you, Sakshi," he teased.
Sakshi's expression turned incredulous. "Why am I wasting my breath on someone as infuriating as you?" she asked, throwing up her hands in frustration.
Sakshi said, "I'm heading to Ayushman Bhai's room to submit this file, as Arohi specifically instructed me to do so."
Meanwhile, Aryaan, with a mischievous smirk playing at the corners of his lips, casually agreed, his thoughts clearly running a different, more devious course.
Sakshi walked into the reception, her steps purposeful as she inquired about Ayushman's cabin. The receptionist pointed her in the right direction, and without hesitation, she headed for the lift.
Unbeknownst to her, Aryaan was right behind her, shadowing her every move. Sensing his presence, she turned sharply and asked, "Why are you following me?"
Aryaan, with an air of indifference, shrugged and replied, "Nothing, just got some important work with Ayu too." Sakshi, choosing not to press the matter further, simply nodded and let her mind drift back to its own thoughts.
The lift chimed as they reached the floor, and both of them stepped out, coming to a halt just before Ayushman's cabin, where the tension in the air seemed almost palpable.
Sakshi raised her hand to knock on the door, but before she could, Aryaan swiftly pushed it open and strode inside. Her eyes went wide in shock. "What are you doing-?"
She began, but her words faltered as Aryaan, with effortless authority, slid into Ayushman's chair and leaned back, as if it were his rightful throne. "Well, today Mr. Suryavanshi is on leave," he said, his voice dripping with casual professionalism, "so Mr. Rathore is handling all the work."
He turned to Sakshi with a piercing gaze and continued, his tone now low and husky, "So, Ms. Sinha... what's in your file?" Sakshi's throat went dry, and an unsettling knot twisted in her stomach as those words, coated in his smooth voice, seemed to linger in the air far longer than they should have.
Sakshi stammered, the words barely escaping her lips, "Uhh..." Aryaan, his gaze sharp and teasing, cut through the silence with a sly grin, "Ms. Sinha..." The seconds ticked by, and then, with an even more mischievous glint in his eyes, he added, "Ms. Akhru..."
Sakshi, her patience wearing thin, snapped back, "I'm not that! You're the one!" Aryaan burst into laughter, his voice rich with amusement, "See? You replied when I called you that. But when I called you by your real name, you stayed silent."
A deep blush crept up Sakshi's neck, her embarrassment obvious as her cheeks burned. Aryaan, sensing her discomfort, couldn't resist. He leaned in and playfully pinched her cheek, his tone mocking but filled with amusement, "Oh, Ms. Akhru is blushing too!"
Fuming, Sakshi's voice cracked with frustration, "Don't touch me!"
Aryaan, utterly amused, laughed even harder, enjoying the moment far more than he should have.
"I'm going!" Sakshi snapped, turning on her heel. But before she could take a step, Aryaan's hand shot out, gripping her wrist and pulling her back toward him. Their chests collided with a jarring force, the unexpected closeness sending a rush of heat through her.
With a teasing edge to his voice, Aryaan murmured, "You're leaving without even doing your work?"
Sakshi, heart pounding, instantly pulled away from his grasp, grabbing the file with a huff. Her gaze shifted down to it, trying to focus, but her mind couldn't help but wander. Aryaan's eyes never left her, observing her every move.
"Can you please look at the file, not my face?" Sakshi snapped, frustration rising.
Aryaan leaned back slightly, his voice dripping with amusement, "So, you're noticing me that I'm looking at your face Ms. Sinha now, aren't you? I haven't even put in my full effort, and you're distracted."
Sakshi's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're impossible," she muttered, almost speechless at his audacity.
On the other side a different situation.
With Harsh
(Harsh is the person who offered money to Rishika and he took her with him on the wedding day)
Harsh spoke into the phone, his tone cold and calculating, "So, everything's in place, right? No room for error?"
The voice on the other end responded with unwavering certainty, "Yes, boss. Everything's under control. This time, there will be no mistakes."
A dark, satisfied smirk spread across Harsh's lips. "Good, I'm not in India so I don't want any mistakes" he said, his voice dropping to a sinister tone. "When I give the signal, you'll execute the plan... and you'll bring her to me."
The person on the other end simply replied with a low, "Hmm," before the line went dead. Harsh's smirk deepened as he muttered to himself, "Soon, you'll be mine."
In Suryavanshi House....
The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as the preparations for the crowning ceremony were in full swing. Everyone was on their phones, finalizing last-minute details. Arohi, busy helping Misha in the kitchen, could feel the tension building. As evening approached, the buzz died down, and everyone retreated to their rooms to change.
Arohi stepped into her room, only to be met with the sight of Ayushman already dressed in a sharp, black suit. He looked nothing short of stunning-utterly handsome in a way that made Arohi's heart skip a beat. She stood there for a moment, completely mesmerized, lost in her own thoughts as her gaze lingered on him.
Breaking the silence, Ayushman flashed her a knowing grin, his voice teasing. "I know I'm handsome, but you're looking at me like I'm some kind of food to devour."
Startled, Arohi snapped out of her trance, her cheeks flushing as she stammered, "Huh? What... what are you saying?"
With a mischievous gleam in his eyes, Ayushman leaned in slightly and smirked, "Oh, who's asking? The one who was literally drooling over me."
Arohi's face turned crimson as the teasing words hit her, and flustered, she quickly retreated into the closet, trying to hide her embarrassment.
" I'm leaving now and going to change," she said hurriedly, stepping toward the closet.
AYUSHMAN'S P.O.V
As I continued getting ready, I caught a glimpse of her standing by the door, her eyes locked on me with a look of pure admiration. I knew she was too shy to speak, so, naturally, I couldn't resist teasing her.
Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, and the sight was absolutely irresistible. I have to wait for her to finally step out, especially since Mom had asked us to go outside together.
Just as I was lost in the moment, the closet door swung open abruptly-and then I saw...
Arohi emerged from the closet, draped in a stunning black saree. I sprang to my feet, utterly stunned, unable to believe what I was seeing.
She looked nothing short of divine-like a goddess descended from the heavens. My heart skipped a beat. Her gaze was cast downward, the red vermillion dotting her hairline, and the sacred nuptial chain resting delicately on her chest.
But what caught my eye even more was the second necklace adorning her slender neck, a piece that seemed to complement her beauty in a way I couldn't quite explain.
A wave of jealousy surged within me as I stared at the necklace, irrational thoughts running wild-Wait, Ayushman, what on earth are you thinking?! I was getting jealous of a mere necklace!???
Arohi's voice broke through my dazed thoughts, playful and teasing. "Now, who's the one drooling, hmm? and tell me how I'm looking?"
I snapped out of my trance, heart racing. Oh, so now she was being bold, huh? Without missing a beat, I stood tall and proudly declared, "I, Ayushman Suryavanshi."
Arohi's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, the playful spark in her eyes only adding to her charm. I couldn't help but add, "You look absolutely stunning, Wife."
I wanted to say more, something deeper, but I knew it would make the moment awkward.
She smiled softly, her voice warm, "Thank you. And you... you look good too."
I looked at the necklace and found it familiar.... "Is this the necklace..?" Arohi replied instantly.
"Yeah it's Maa's necklace. She told me to wear this. I've also heard that Papa gifted her this on his coronation ceremony" I nodded and smiled.
Without another word, I extended my hand toward her, and with a slight hesitation, she took it. Together, we descended the stairs, the air between us thick with unspoken emotions.
As we reached the bottom of the stairs, Mom's eyes immediately landed on us, her face lighting up with pure delight. "Oh my god," she exclaimed, her voice filled with admiration.
"You both look so elegant-just like you're made for each other."
I glanced at Arohi, her smile brighter than ever, and for a brief moment, I couldn't help but think made for each other... But the truth weighed heavily on me-I loved Ishi.
I quickly shook off the thoughts and tried to steer the conversation away, my voice firm but gentle, "Let's go, Mom. We're getting late."
With that, we all stepped out of the house, the cool air brushing past us as we made our way to the venue. This was the moment I had been waiting for, the day of my coronation.
It had always seemed like a distant dream, but now, it was finally within reach. The excitement buzzed through my veins as I realized-today, everything changes. My coronation ceremony.
AROHI'S P.O.V
Mom's words echoed in my mind, "You two are made for each other..." It made me smile, but only Arohi and I truly knew the truth-we weren't perfect for each other.
He didn't love me. He loved Rishu. The thought stung, a painful reality I had to swallow, even though it cut deeper than I cared to admit.
But I refused to let that darkness cloud the moment. I pushed the pain aside, determined not to let it ruin my day.
Soon, we arrived at the venue, and within seconds, the chaos erupted. Paparazzi swarmed around us, their cameras flashing wildly, while reporters shouted questions, desperate to capture every fleeting moment.
The world was watching-today, everything was about to change.
Suddenly, one of the reporters lunged forward, thrusting a microphone in my face. "How do you feel, Mrs. Suryavanshi, after being the replacement bride of Ayushman Suryavanshi?"
The question hit me like a punch to the gut. My mind went completely blank, as if time itself had frozen. Replacement bride...
The words echoed in my head, and with them, a flood of painful memories rushed back-memories I had tried so hard to bury.
I felt my world tilt, my balance slipping as the weight of it all came crashing down on me. But before I could collapse, Ayushman's steady hand was there, gripping me tightly, pulling me back from the edge.
His eyes, filled with concern, locked onto mine, as if silently asking if I was okay. His touch was the only thing grounding me in that moment.
Ayushman's voice rang out, cutting through the chaos of flashing cameras and eager reporters.
"Listen up, everyone," he commanded, his tone firm and unwavering.
"Let me introduce you to the woman who truly deserves your attention. This is Arohi-
"Arohi Ayushman Suryavanshi."
His words echoed in the air, carrying a weight of finality, as if marking a moment of undeniable truth. Every eye was now on her, and for a fleeting moment, the world around us seemed to fall away.
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