Chapter 12 :
Anika's POV
He was standing in front of me staring straight into my eyes.
We were waiting for our rings to be brought before we tied those promise bands around our ring fingers which held no meaning to both of us.
Not a single emotion could be read in the foggy grey-ness of his orbs if somehow they are written behind them. But I could see one thing. The only emotion he held for me—hatred. The hatred that ran deep in his each and every vein and fibre can burn me down.
I wouldn't have let that furious fire touch me, but I deserved it. I deserved everything he was giving me because as a brother, he had the right to take action against the murderer of his younger brother. So what if Dhruv wasn't dead, he was lying on his death bed.
It was so hard for me to digest the fact that the person who loved me and I loved so much, made promises of our togetherness forever, weren't together anymore. But more to that, what was pricking my heart was that I was marrying his brother.
Tearing away my gaze from him, I looked around the hall.
It was decorated so gracefully that I couldn't keep myself from glancing around. Everything was in white, cream and golden. The enormous glass chandelier in raindrop style was shining brightly. Every person inside the hall was dressed elegantly and well disciplined. Even their hand movements, posture and expressions were classy.
But what was the point when they hid their ugly intentions behind that elegance and high standards?
I scoffed.
I was looking around when Aisha's voice grabbed my attention.
"Bhabhi, here are the rings", she said, standing beside me and him forwarding in between us the golden plate covered in a red silk cloth with some flowers on it which had two red open boxes holding two rings.
Our engagement rings. Meaningless promise making bands.
I released a shaky breath I didn't know I was holding. My eyes met his.
His cold orbs sucked every ounce of warmness in my body leaving me cold and uncomfortable.
I smiled at him before taking out his ring from the box. I didn't meet his eyes but just stared at his hand that reached near me as I slid the ring.
I sucked in an unsteady breath again before forwarding my hand as he slid the ring in my ring finger.
The sound of applause echoed inside the hall but it was as if I had turned deaf. My heart was palpitating rapidly and a nauseous feeling was gradually erupting inside my chest.
I had made the exactly same promise—promise of being his better half. I had made that promise two days before 19th February, more than four years ago.
But it was true. I didn't lie when I had given Dhruv my words. But what I did two days after, it wasn't acceptable. It was as if I willingly wrenched his heart. As if I willingly made fun of his- his honesty and loyalty.
I opened my eyes which I never knew I had closed when I felt a sharp grip around my waist.
Blinking away the tears, I looked up to see my fiancé looking down at me. Yes, he didn't look down at me because I was shorter than him, but because I was actually helpless and he could look down on me.
Turning away my face from him, I smiled at the media clicking our pictures.
The news headlines will be there on both newspapers and TVs tomorrow—
Obsidian Exotics's owner, Mr. Arnav Rai Mehrotra is officially engaged to the owner of The Red Sapphire, Dr. Anika Roy Chowdhury. Let's give them our heartiest congratulations and wish for a happy married life.
Media these days had nothing to do except for poking their nose into the lives of others.
The Roka was done before the rings were brought for the engagement; a contractual engagement.
"Anika beta, here's your grandmother-in-law", said maa, as she stood in front of me with a lady.
The lady was dressed in a high-collar quarter sleeve off-white blouse with cream coloured saree. The borders were done exclusively with golden thread and there were small golden flowers in the mid portion. Her greyish white hair was side parted and tied up into a side twist bun. A white pearl choker was around her neck with a white diamond in between and pearl studs hung from her ear lobes.
Everything was elegantly placed except for the coldness on her face. Not even a mild smile was there. There were wrinkles but she seemed like a really fine lady. A lady aging like fine wine? I guess.
She was of the same height as maa but a little shorter than me.
I smiled at her even if I knew it won't be reciprocated.
Bending down I forwarded by hand to take her blessings when she stepped back. I sighed.
Standing back straight, I smiled at her before passing a glance to maa who smiled at me awkwardly.
"Namaste dadi ji", I spoke joing my hands with a slight bow.
"Enough", that was all she spoke before glaring at me.
"I neither need your greetings nor I'll bless you. I don't bless a replaced thing", she spoke glaring at me.
So I am a thing now? Her grandson already treated me as a mere object and now she hated me too?
I smiled, "I'm sorry dadi ji"
What else was I supposed to say?
She just glared at me for once again before getting down the stage and walked over to papa.
I sighed heavily.
The day ended with him and me meeting and greeting the guests while inviting them to our wedding. He was possessively wrapping his hand around my waist whenever a man named Vivaan came near us or say, near me. Once he'd hate me like he never did and the next moment, he'd be possessive as if someone would steal me.
Vivaan Rai Mehrotra; cousin of Arnav, to be precise, his father's elder sister's only son.
This family was a mess for sure.
After 5o'clock, we all retired to our homes. But he didn't leave before reminding me that—I was just a replacement.
"Don't start expecting things from tonight just because we are engaged. Remember what's the main motive behind this marriage", he whispered near my ear before walking towards his car.
•
10 June, Monday, 2024
10:25 a.m.
"Aapki dadi sas aa rahi hai apni pati ke saath", sais di.
(Your grandmother-in-law is coming with her husband)
(Di — Indian formality for elder sister)
Putting the earring push back properly behind the heavy jhumka, I spoke to her reflection on the vanity infront of me, "Why is that?"
She threw a look of disbelief at me before speaking, "Of course she has to come. She'll give you her blessings you know", she mimicked the word blessings.
I sighed glancing at my reflection.
"Let her be", I replied not finding any other words than those three. I was very tired after a sleepless night and these ceremonies were frustrating me.
Putting the maroon bindi on my forehead, I stood up prior to turning to the floor length mirror.
I was wearing a red halter neck kurti with white sharara pant. A pair of golden hair chain earrings and one ring on each hand was enough in the name of jewellery for me. My hair was open and minimal makeup was enough.
Taking the white dupatta on one shoulder, I walked out of my room, to downstairs since the mehendi ceremony was held at the front yard.
On the way, I met and greeted many guests but as I was about to walk outside, I was stopped by a hand that wrapped across my stomach.
I looked up to meet a pair of hazel eyes staring down at me. His chiseled jaw, sharp eyes and perfect nose—he had everything a model would have. His dark brown hair in pompadour style perfectly went with the off-white loose shirt and the army green trousers. His body was muscular and a strong smell of Louis Vuitton's cologne filled my nostrils.
I smiled at him, "Hi Vivaan".
He did remove his hand but wrapped the other arm around my waist from the back. His handsome smile formed on his face as he spoke, "Goodmorning my lady", an Italian effect is there in his English accent.
"Are you from Italy?", I asked stating the obvious as we walked outside.
He nodded, "Maybe I didn't tell you last time. But yeah, I had been there for ten years but from last five years I've been in Paris. I just stay at my mansion in Italy whenever I get there on off duty", he spoke in his manly tone.
Even if he seemed like a gentleman, he was a big flirt and had a wide fandom of mostly fangirls. Afterall, being a Calvin Klein's ambassador, he had a well body to show off. I've known him from past two years. I met him at a CK's campaign.
I scoffed playfully when my eyes met those grey orbs infront of us.
He was dressed in a white kurta and pajama. His wavy hair was half tied up while those specs are resting on his nose bridge. His dark eyes were boring holes in my body which just threw a quick invisible fire ball at the man beside me.
"Your husband is here, my lady", Vivaan whispered in my ear.
"So?", I asked forcing a smile at him before walking away from there.
I didn't want to talk to my fiancé because all he'd do is remind me of his revenge. I already knew that and I was not running away...from my punishment...for my sin.
•
"Where shall I write sir's name?", asked the mehendi designer when I was laughing at a joke cracked by Aisha and Vivaan.
I...what do I say? Such questions always reminds of the reality of this marriage. Even if it was contract based, I wanted to feel a bit of the happiness everyone was having being unknown to the contract. I knew the truth but still my heart wanted to live the moments, because I was getting married for the first time.
Everything was so colorful but my thoughts seem to dim every happiness.
I took in the look of my hands. It was full of the mehendi designs till the elbows. Just the space in between of my palms were left free because my right hand will have his name and the other would have the combination of our names.
Sucking in some strength, I replied, "Arnav".
Shaitan ka nam liya aur shaitan hazir.
(Took the name of the devil and the devil is present)
I saw him coming near me in full confidence. He walked over to us before sitting down infront of me once he pulled a chair from the nearby table.
I glared at him before diverting my attention to the mehendi designer. I heard some clearing of throats before some giggles. It was Maya di, Rooh, Aisha, Rhea, Aniket and Yuvraj bhai. My other two bestfriends couldn't make it to my marriage functions because of the business trips that kept them occupied.
I just ignored them but shifted on my place because my consciousness is screaming that he's staring at me.
"Done", spoke the mehendi designer. Taking my hands away from her, I was just awestruck at the beautiful and smooth curves. They're just so beautiful. .
And his name in the middle, it was good too. His name was just silently beautiful. According to what I knew, Arnav meant ocean in Sanskrit.
The ocean is just a vast water body—if defined simply.
But if poetically—
It's the land of tears
Shed by the clouds.
Sang in silent waves
Ruined with the majestic surges.
It's deepness undiscovered
Hiding the silent secrets,
It's calmness dropping from heaven
It's power erupting from hades.
It knows no bounds
When shining under the sun
Glittering under the moon
Reuniting lovers
Breaking apart the others.
"Arnika", he spoke out of blue catching me off-guard.
I looked up at him and furrowed my brows in confusion.
"What do you mean?", I asked.
He was looking down at my other hand which will have our combined name but looked at me when I spoke.
"It's our combined name", he replied calmly. I looked at the artist who was looking at me as I nodded my head allowing her to write the suggested name on my other palm.
She surprisingly did it with no effort and bgm mit looked majestic.
Looking up at her I smiled, "Thanks a lot for your hardwork Mrs. Dhanawade. It's really gorgeous. My mama will do the payment", I spoke as she nodded with a smile and left.
"Let me see how my wife has got her husband's name on her hand", he spoke leaning in to hold my upper arm in case not to ruin the mehendi.
I remained silent as he scrutinized the designs before sitting straight and looked into my eyes.
"You know, my name was meant to be written on someone else's hand but you ruined everything", he spoke pointing his finger at me.
I furrowed my eyebrows, "It wasn't me who chose you as my husband. It was you who chose to marry me", I replied calmly.
He chuckled dryly, "I could've handed you over to the cops because I have more than enough proofs but, the thirst of revenge that I'd been holding since past four years wouldn't have been quenched. That's why I had to give up on my marriage just to get back at you", he spoke.
I remained silent taking another blame.
Only if things were in my hands years ago.
I sighed and smiled, "I'm sorry for that. Who's your ex-fiancée?", I simply asked after apologizing. It didn't matter if I was egoistic. Ego can't come in every situation and also, I'd ruined someone's marriage.
He just stared at me blankly when I heard someone speaking, "Arshi. Arshi Arora, my grandson's ex-fiancée".
I looked up to see his grandmother standing there.
I stood up carefully so as not to ruin the mehendi on my feet and smiled before bringing my hands near each other without joining them forming the 'namaste' gesture and bowed, "Good afternoon dadi ji", I greeted her.
"Bas bas kafi hai. Itna bhi natak mat karo ki mujhe lagne lage ki tumne mere pote ko kisi jal me nahi phasaya", she spoke sternly showing me her palm.
(Enough enough. Don't act so much that I start to think that you didn't trap my grandson)
My smile dropped but I remained silent.
"Show me your hands", she demanded, as I forwarded my hands showing my mehendi.
"It's beautiful but it'd have been better if it was Arshi in your place", she spoke before glaring at me and walked away.
This old lady was getting on my nerves. I knew she was much older than me but limits looked good on everyone.
Facing him I spoke, "Ask your grandma to forget Arshi and accept the fact that she has been replaced. Now I'm going to be Rai Mehrotra's bahu and it's the truth. The sooner she accepts, the better for her. I know she's much older than me but I might someday end up disrespecting her and I don't want that", my tone was hard. I had some self esteem and everytime hearing about the ex-fiancée of his, simply made me feel disrespected.
Since my husband was Arnav Rai Mehrotra, so I'll need to stand up for myself on my own.
I was about to walk away from there when a cameraman came to us and spoke, "Ma'am and sir, can you both please come with me?"
I nodded and saw him nodding too. We both followed him and two more people handling the camera system today.
As we all stood at the mansion's backyard, that guy spoke, "Can you both please stand near the waterfall and pose? I need to click some pictures", here comes the irritating thing.
Regardless, I nodded when I heard my fiancé dearest mumbling some profanities before we both stood infront of the artificial waterfall. He slid his arms around my waist before pulling me closer and I rested my upper arms carefully on his shoulders not to ruin my fresh mehendi. Our eyes met.
"Perfect", the cameraman spoke and started clicking our pictures.
Neither I smiled, nor him. It's just too awkward for me to do such things because all my life, I'd been an anti-romantic.
Even without a single spark between us, we found ourselves being lost in each other's eyes. They say—eyes speak a lot. Maybe they do. But the coldness in his eyes, was void of anything, making it hard for me to find something. His hatred was so strong, then—how strong would his love be?
How lucky that girl would feel when she knows that she was loved by him. Every man on earth had the ability to love but they're so lost in their cruelty that they forget about the special presence of the feeling called love in them. Anyone can change themselves if they want but it's just that evilness felt better, maybe.
His eyes on me and mine on him, we loved each other unconditionally and without any bound. We'd choose each other in the crowd and wake up to see each other's faces in the morning—we'd do all these without telling each other but still we knew that we will do this. His hold was soft and full of tenderness, as if he feared I might break if there's even a little bit of harshness. He was a man written by a woman—these would've been true if we had met in another universe at a different time.
The cold breezy air from the waterfall brushed past my skin as I slightly shivered.
I guess he saw it because the next moment, I felt his warm palm on my left cheek. The warmness it had just made me lean against his hand. It's just a kind of unexplained warmness that I just couldn't deny.
But this moment didn't last long when I heard four to five clicks of the camera.
It dawned upon me that I was being manipulated by his warmness. How was that even possible?
I groaned internally before getting out of his grip after cursing.
"Are we done?", I asked the cameraman.
He shook his head with a smile, "No ma'am. The previous shots were perfect but we need a few more shots", he spoke. It must be mami's order or dadi's.
Is sighed but nodded, unwillingly.
We both were asked to go near the stones placed by the waterfall before I sat down on one stone and he sat down on the ground.
How ironic, right?
I placed the backside of my hands on my lap since those sides' mehendi have already half dried. He placed his hands on the ground in between his folded legs before fixing his fake admiring gaze on my hands. It seemed for a moment to me that he was willingly admiring his name on my palm.
I too smiled and click.click.click.
Rubbing off the smiles, we both got ready for the next pose. Now it seems too awkward.
He stood behind me putting his hands on my hips and I just forwarded my hands showing my mehendi. I tilted my head to the side where he had already tilted his head to.
I smiled and closed my eyes to escape the uneasiness I was feeling. Maybe he smiled too since I couldn't see anyways.
click.click.click.
"N-now we are done. I need to leave", I spoke reminding myself to curse myself because of stuttering. I walked away from there with a thumping heart and shaky body.
No matter how much I hated him, he held that strong aura that really made me shake.
As I entered the main area, I saw Maya di nearing me.
"Di what's the time??", I asked shaking my hands because my skin felt stretchy since the mehendi was drying up.
"It's 2:37", she replied glancing at her smartwatch.
"I feel tired. Okay wait, can you first fix these strands falling on my face?", I asked sighing frustratingly.
"Ok wai—", she didn't speak further but I just saw her giving a smug look to me before walking away.
I got confused. What happened to her all of a sudden?
I was about to turn around to go away after shrugging at her unexplained behaviour when Arnav stood infront of me.
I was startled for a moment but composing myself, I said, "What the heck are you doing here now? Did, wait—did you ask di to go away?", I asked when di's sudden behaviour came to my mind.
He just smirked.
I rolled my eyes and was about to curse at him when—when he tucked the loose hair strand behind my ear after closing the distance between us. His warm fingertips slowly brushed past my temple before they touched the back of my right ear.
His one hand wrapped around my waist pulling me closer and the other just rested on my nape.