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Pakhi and her two friends came out of the auto which drove away as they paid him. They looked at the house before them. Jivika Rao's house.
" Now what-"
Pakhi stopped in the middle when her eyes landed on a particular car parked outside the car. She read the car number on the car plate. Her expression turned blank and irritation flew away. It's Aryan's car.
" Let's go."
She looked at her friends who frowned upon seeing her expression.
" What happened?"
Pakhi glanced at the car then shook her head hurriedly and tucked the strands of her hair behind the ear with shivering fingers.
" Let's leave.. he is not here."
She knew how big a lie she was telling. The truth was something she did not want to accept and she was twisting the truth through her words.
" We have come so far. Let us check once," the 2nd friend said and grabbed her hand.
She parted her mouth to say something but couldn't. No word escaped her mouth and she mindlessly followed them. Her heart pumped inside her chest and she could even hear the sounds of her heart beat.
They rang the bell and Pakhi hoped that he was not inside. Maybe she was mistaken. She might not remember the car number properly.
They rang the doorbell once again.
" We will leave after just one check," the 2nd friend and Pakhi felt deaf. She heard nothing. She was more focused on the door which might open soon and give her the biggest shock of her life.
The door started opening slowly and they found a middle aged woman standing before them. Pakhi's heart sank as she found her husband's shoes on the doorstep.
" Who are you?"
The woman asked politely. Pakhi grabbed one of her friend's wrist and requested,
" Let's just go please.."
" Wait."
They talked to the woman which Pakhi did not want to hear. Her eyes burned as water fought to collect in her eyes. She gulped, closed her eyes and opened it. She reassured herself that he must be here for work. And he lied because she dislikes Jivika.
She trusts her husband...
" I will call mam," the woman went inside.
" Let's go," the 2nd friend whispered and Pakhi widened her eyes when they pulled her inside the house without even permission.
" We should not-"
Pakhi was interrupted in the middle as they reached the living room and she saw the scene she can never even dream of.
Aryan hugging Jivika.
" Hey! Why did you three come inside?"
The woman snapped at them and grabbed the attention of Jivika and Aryan. He looked behind and frowned upon seeing his wife, standing stunned in her place.
" Pakhi-"
He stood up along with Jivika. Pakhi's friends scoffed.
" See, Pakhi. Did we tell you?"
Pakhi kept her gaze fixated on her husband. He walked closer to her and got worried seeing water gathering in her eyes.
" What.. happened?"
" Oh please, don't try to act innocent now."
One of Pakhi's friends came in between and did not let Aryan go close to his wife. Aryan stared at her confusedly.
" You were having an affair with another woman by lying to your wife-"
" Shut your damn mouth!"
Aryan pushed her aside, not caring whether he was rude or polite.
" You shut up, man."
Another one jumped in.
" Why are you making such faces now? Your wife has caught you red handed."
Aryan gritted his teeth and glared at them. He made sure to deal with them later and turned his expression softened as his eyes fell on Pakhi.
" Love, it's not like what you think-"
He raised his hand to cup her cheeks but she stepped back.
" Pakhi-"
He moved closer to her but without thinking much, she turned on her heels and ran outside the house.
" Pakhi!"
He ran behind her and followed her to the busy road barefoot along with her friends.
Meanwhile, Jivika made a phone call and said to the person who picked up the call.
" Your work is done. I want her in my house in the next 1 hour."
" Sure," the person replied and disconnected the call.
" Careful-"
He took a breath of relief when she saved herself from the car and crossed the road. He looked left and right and tried crossing the road but it was too late. She booked an auto and left from there.
" PAKHI-"
He stood on the footpath with a defeated look. Pakhi's friend booked a cab and went from there. She misunderstood the situation and he cannot let his woman cry just for something he has not done. He hurriedly ran back to Jivika's house.
He was about to sit in his car when he recalled something. He clenched his jaw and barged inside her house. She was in the living room
He gripped her arms tightly and snapped at her face,
" WHAT THE FUCK YOU DID!"
" Calm down-"
" How the fuck should I calm down? She misunderstood everything. She will.. what if she leaves me?"
Jivika smirked and traced her finger on his cheek, " but you did enjoy the time with me-"
He frowned as she pushed him on the couch. He dared not look at her body. To seduce him, she has worn an exposing outfit.
She looked at the woman- her househelp who smirked and walked away from there.
" What the hell-"
" Shhh!"
She hovered over him, " just 1 hour. I need 1 hour of yours."
Corner of Aryan's lips curved into a smirk. She forwarded her hand which he grabbed and both went to the room nearby. The househelp did not forget to notice them.
She made a call and informed the person, " everything's set. She has got him. His wife has left as well."
" That's good," the person disconnected the call.
Pakhi wiped her tears. Her throat is burning. She badly needed to cry out loud. How can Aryan do this to her? Was his love fake? Means, he really lusted over her body? She is getting flashbacks of the scene at Jivika's house.
She looked around. It's been 20 minutes since she left from there and surprisingly, he did not follow her. It brought more tears to her eyes.
" I will divorce him," she whispered and looked at the road. Just when realisation hit her that the auto driver is not taking her on the way to her destination. This place looked quite deserted.
" Bhaiya, this is not the way-"
She frowned when the driver stopped the auto suddenly.
" What-"
In a blink of an eye, five cars surrounded the auto. She clutched her purse tightly and widened her eyes in fear. She looked at the auto driver before jumping down from the auto but it was such a useless mood because cars were standing at every corner.
She stumbled on her steps when she saw countless guards getting down from the cars. There were not only 5 cars, but 20 and 50 guards.
She felt miserable and so small in this situation. What do they want to do with her? Are they men of Aryan's rival? Will they kill her?
She opened her purse and took out her mobile. She opened the contact and was about to ring her brother's mobile but just then someone held her from behind.
" LEAVE ME.."
She struggled to free herself. Two more held her and her purse dropped from her hands. She gasped as one of them snatched her mobile and crushed it under his feet.
Broke the 2nd mobile.
" LEAVE ME.."
Tears strained her cheeks and no matter how much she tried, she failed in front of these bulky men. They took her with them and pushed her in a particular car. Two men sat on either side of hers.
" Please leave me- uhmmmm.."
They tied her hands and mouth.
" Let's take her to the boss."
She widened her eyes hearing the man sitting on the passenger seat and in a few minutes, all the 20 cars drove away from there. She broke into sobs and found no way to escape because they had held her tightly. Her arm is hurting badly. She is sure they will leave imprints of their fingers.
Because she was crying uncontrollably, one of the men slapped her to shut her mouth. She looked down and her eyelashes drenched with tears. She just hopes.. Aryan saves her like always but how will he? He doesn't even know where she is. Her mobile is not with her.
She was tired of crying for a long time. It had been half an hour and they were still heading to- God knows where. She blinked her eyes, finding them lazy and tired.
She will faint out of shock today. First Aryan, now this.
The journey did not last longer than 35 minutes. Her car stopped. She was in the middle, so didn't know what was happening outside.
Suddenly, she heard a loud blast and a car, which was in the front, flew in the air and fell down. It was burning heavily with a car.
" BACK! BACK!"
She looked around and panicked as all the rest of the cars started reversing their cars. 2 more cars in the front burnt.
What was happening?
Their car stopped one more time. The man sitting on the right side of hers opened the window and looked behind, wanting to know the reason why these cars stopped suddenly.
Pakhi got stilled on her place when a bullet pierced his head. Blood splashed over her clothes and the man's head dropped lifelessly outside the window.
This shock was not enough when more cars started burning, from front and back. Loud gunshots fired in the whole area.
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Shruti came downstairs and found Jaydev trying to put his decision in words in front of his family but it doesn't seem like they were listening to him. They are strangely excited.
" We should let Shruti's parents know, right?"
Rohini earned agreement from her husband and mother-in-law.
" Mami, Mama, Nani? Listen to me, guys first-"
" Now what is left for us to hear, son? You have told us your decision. This means that you are now ready for marriage. Okay, do one thing-"
Rohini searched for a picture in her device. Jaydev sighed frustratedly,
" Why are guys overreacting? I have not announced my full decision yet-"
" See this. We selected this girl for you," Rohini ignored him and showed him her mobile screen.
Shruti's eyes enlarged a little at their excitement and audacity while Jaydev clenched his jaw and did not spare a glance at the mobile screen.
" I do not want to see anyone. I will only marry-"
" I think she's beautiful. This girl is fix-"
" What the hell?"
Jaydev rose from his seat causing everyone to look at him.
" Mera baat sun kyu nahi rahe aap log? Mai sirf Shruti se shaadi karunga!"
( Why are you guys not listening to me? I will only marry Shruti!)
He finally announced his decision in infuriation. Shruti smiled which soon faded when Rohini too stood up and pressurized him to take a look at the picture.
" Look at her photo once. You will instantly agree."
" Mami-"
Jaydev stopped in the middle when his eyes accidentally fell on the mobile screen. Frown disappeared from his forehead and a smirk started carving on his lips.
Shruti tilted her head to take a look but couldn't because of Jaydev whose body became a hindrance between her and the mobile screen.
He grabbed the mobile and nodded. His family chuckled and Rohini sat back on her seat.
" I think you all are right. She's more beautiful. I will marry her-"
" Jay!"
Everyone turned their gaze at Shruti who did not let Jaydev complete his sentence. He shut the mobile screen as Shruti came to his side and grabbed his wrist.
" What are you saying? Have you lost your mind?"
She scolded him, passed him a disbelieving look. He handed the mobile back to Rohini and nodded before saying,
" Maybe. The girl is very beautiful. If you see her you will say that Jay, marry her-"
" Shut up," she whispered-yelled at him and looked at the elders.
" Don't know what he's saying but he has decided not to marry-"
" Not at all. I want to marry that girl only."
" Jay?"
Shruti looked at him with wide eyes. Anger reflected in them. Jaydev shrugged his shoulders, " you can have a look-'
" No," she scoffed and looked away from his face angrily.
Everyone burst into laughter at Shruti. She became confused. Janki grabbed her hand and pulled her beside herself.
" That's you, my dear."
" Huh?"
Shruti glanced at everyone one by one. Jaydev, too, sat down beside Rohini.
" W..what is happening?"
Shruti asked and for sure Jaydev, too, wanted to know the purpose behind their intentions to show Shruti's picture.
" Well, guess what? It was your father- Rajdeep's plan. Aryan explained everything to us. He wanted us to forget everything and accept you and Jay. It was not easy to convince your father but Aryan took care of everything," Dravid said.
Shruti smiled amusingly, " Do my parents accept our relationship as well?"
" Yes, they did," Janki replied.
Smiles formed on Jaydev's face and Shruti controlled herself from jumping with joy.
" We all were just waiting for both of yours reassurance," Rohini replied.
" Let me talk to my parents-"
" Not now, daughter."
Shruti frowned at Dravid's words who added,
" We are going out of town today. We all will go tomorrow to talk to your family, okay?"
Shruti nodded and turned her gaze at Jaydev. Blush climbed up to her face when he winked at her.
" Where are you all going?"
Jaydev asked them.
" To attend a relative function. We'll be back by tomorrow morning."
Jaydev nodded.
After that, Janki, Dravid and Rohini packed their things before departing to their destination leaving the couple alone in the house for a day.
Both of them had a busy schedule to follow. Shruti returned home after finishing her work and was surprised to see her husband already at home.
" You are home?"
Jaydev asked while reading a file.
" Yes," Shruti replied and went upstairs to their room. She came back after 20 minutes in her nightgown then sat down beside him.
A servant came and gave her a glass of water.
" Thank You so much," Shruti smiled at him and gulped down the water then gave the glass back to him.
" What are you reading?"
She asked. Jaydev let out a gentle sigh and flipped the next page.
" Studying a past case."
" What is this case about?"
She put her head on his shoulder. Jaydev took time to answer. A pause followed as he was unsure about her reaction.
" Eisha's case."
Shruti did not react strangely and asked another question,
" Did you re-open her file?"
He hummed and closed the file. She sat straight and watched him curiously when he said further,
" There is strong evidence in her case which is hidden from us. Meaning, we have overlooked something. She can not suicide. She just cannot. I want to work on her case. If I am right, I want to give her justice and find her culprit."
" Where will you start?"
Shruti asked.
" University. Guests of the party she last attended with Aryan. I am sure, I will find something."
" Why don't you take bhai's help in this?"
He sighed and shook his head, " he's already busy with his own problems. I can't put more loads on his shoulder."
She smiled and grabbed his hand.
" I hope you succeed."
He smiled and looked at her face. Amusement flashed in his eyes, staring at her nightgown. Wrinkle appeared on her forehead and she raised her eyebrows,
" What-"
He licked his lower lip and palmed her cheek.
" You look like a meal. I wanna have you so bad."
He tried kissing her but she pushed him and stood up, completely ignoring the butterflies in her stomach.
" Shut up, you pervert."
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her over his lap. His palm came in contact with her jaw and she leaned in to his touch, closing her eyes slowly.
She returned to reality very soon and applied pressure on his chest.
" There are servants. They might see us."
" Fir.. kamre mein chalte hain?"
( Let's go in the room then?)
She put her finger on his lips and shook her head, " no."
She laughed lightly and stood up before running away from there.
" Shruti-"
Jaydev too rose from his seat and followed her.
" Shruti! Come back here. It's not like you can forever hide from me."
Shruti stopped on her track and faced him, " catch me if you can."
She winked at him and continued running away. He clicked his tongue and chuckled softly and ran behind her while calling her name loud.
The man who usually stayed quiet in the house was today running around the whole house, chasing his wife, trying to catch her. The sound of their laughter was lighting up the whole house.
" Shruti-"
He stood, reaching the guest room. He stepped inside and searched for her everywhere.
" Sweetheart?"
Shruti tried hard not to laugh while standing behind him, against the wall. He frowned and looked behind, " there you are-"
" Bye-"
She waved him bye and quickly ran out. He took a deep breath and shook his head in disbelief. He went out of the room and found her standing on the couch of the living room and eating a chocolate, she must have asked from a servant.
" What are you? A five-year-old kid?"
" What do you think?"
She jumped down from the couch.
" For now, just come here."
She shook her head.
" Are Main khaunga nahi tumhe," he said in his defence.
( I won't eat you.)
" Mujhe to isi baat ka dar hai," Shruti replied mischievously.
( I am scared of that only.)
" Huh?"
" Nothing. Leave- ahh!"
She stumbled on her steps while walking backward and fell on her butt on the floor.
" Ow!"
She hissed in pain. Jaydev came and crouched before her.
" Aaya maza?"
( Learned the lesson?)
She rolled her eyes, " whatever."
Gaps escaped her mouth when he lifted her in his arms and walked upstairs to their bedroom.
" What the hell?"
" Kamre mein chalte hain," he said.
( Let's go to the bedroom.)
She joined her cheek with his chest and had a bite of the chocolate, " but we won't do anything."
" This is your misunderstanding."
She blushed and ate one more piece of chocolate to hide her smile.
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