9

Tere jaisa koi mila hi nahi, milta bhi kaise kabhi paya hi nahi.

jahan tak nazar gayi dikha sirf tu hi, tere baad nazar koi aaya hi nahi !

Avanthika sat in front of the mirror, dressed in her engagement attire, her heart heavy with emotions she could no longer ignore. A group of make up artist worked around her, fixing her hair and makeup, but she felt distant, detached from everything happening.

Is this it? Is this how my life is going to be? Am I really going to marry Ishan? The questions felt like a storm raging in her mind, each one more overwhelming than the last.

She bit her lip to stop the tears threatening to spill but knew she couldn't hold back much longer. Taking a deep breath, she talked to the makeup artist standing closest to her, "I'll handle it from here. You can leave now."

The makeup artist hesitated, with a brush in her hand. "But, Your Highness, there are still a few finishing touches left. I must ensure everything is perfect for the ceremony."

Avanthika's voice hardened, though it quivered with emotion. "I said I'll manage. Just leave me alone."

The makeup artist looked unsure but knew better than to argue. She bowed her head respectfully. "As you wish, Your Highness," she said softly before stepping out of the room, closing the door behind her.

As soon as she was alone, Avanthika's composure crumbled. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stared at her reflection. She didn't recognize the person looking back at her. The lavish dress, the jewelry, the flawless makeup it all felt like a mask hiding her true self.

"This isn't what I want," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. "How did it come to this?"

Her fingers trembled as she wiped at her tears, smudging the makeup she had tried so hard to keep intact. For a moment, she considered running, leaving everything behind, but where could she go?

She pretended to adjust her earrings, when flashes of her moments with Abhimanyu took over her thoughts. It was a memory she couldn't push away, no matter how hard she tried.

A few weeks ago, Abhimanyu had a practice match. It was just half an hour before the match. All his teammates were out on the ground, busy practicing, but Abhimanyu was in the dressing room, with her.

His breath was uneven, and his hands were trembling slightly as he reached out to pull her closer.

She whispering while her fingers are tracing his hair. "Abhi, stop. Someone might come in!"

Abhimanyu cupped her face. "I don't care. I need you right now. Just for a moment."

His lips brushed against hers, desperately, hungrily. She tried to pull back but couldn't deny the intensity of his emotions. "you're going to miss the match. What are you doing?"

He pressed his forehead against hers. "I can't focus out there until I'm with you. You're all I think about, Avanthika. How am I supposed to play with this storm in my head?"

With that he again pressed his lips against hers.

"Abhi, stop!" she whispered breathlessly, trying to pull away from him. "What if someone walks in?"

"I don't care," he murmured against her lips. "I need you, Avanthika."

His hands were on her thighs, holding her close as he kissed her with an intensity she couldn't resist. Her heart raced as she clutched his shoulders, torn between the thrill of the moment and the fear of being caught.

Finally, she managed to push him back gently. "Abhi, go. Your team needs you."

Just then, there was a knock on the dressing room door.

"Abhi, are you ready?" one of his teammates called out.

"Just give me a few minutes," he murmured in between kisses, his voice slightly muffled.

"But I hear some sounds. What are you doing?" the teammate asked.

Abhimanyu paused for a moment, his lips hovering over hers. "I'm just checking my bat. I'll be out in a second," he called back, trying to sound calm.

Before Avanthika could react, he grabbed her even closer, his grip tightening on her thighs as he kissed her more desperately.

"Abhi, stop," she whispered against his lips, her voice barely audible. "They'll know!"

"Let them," he whispered back, his breath warm against her skin. "I'm not done with you yet."

Her heart raced, torn between the thrill of the moment and the fear of getting caught. But he didn't care. For him, nothing else mattered right then except her.

Avanthika tried to push him back, her voice trembling. "Abhi, enough. You're going to get us caught!"

But Abhimanyu wasn't ready to let her go. His fingers traced the curve of her face as his lips lingered on hers. "Just one more minute," he whispered. "I can't walk out there without this."

"Without what?" she asked, her voice soft, her resistance faltering.

"This... you. You keep me sane, Avanthika. Out there, it's chaos. Here, it's just us," he murmured, pressing his forehead against hers.

Another knock on the door startled them both.

"Abhi, come on! Coach is asking for you," the voice from outside called out again, more impatient this time.

Abhimanyu sighed, clearly frustrated, and reluctantly stepped back. His hands slid from her thighs as he straightened himself, fixing his jersey. "I'll go," he said.

Avanthika nodded, her cheeks flushed, her lips still tingling from his touch. "Go, before they barge in," she whispered, smoothing her dress and trying to compose herself.

"I love you" he said, winking as he grabbed his bat and walked toward the door.

As he opened it, his teammate stared at him suspiciously. "What were you doing in there?"

Abhimanyu grinned, his usual confidence masking the heat of the moment. "Just prepping for the game," he said casually before walking away, leaving Avanthika breathless and alone in the room.

(Flash bacn ends)

Soon she couldn't hold it anymore and decided to tell Abhimanyu everything that even she is ready to go any extent for him.

Abhinanyu's phone rang just as he was getting ready to leave. Seeing the name on the screen, a smile lit up his face. He quickly picked up the call.

"You called me at the perfect time!" he said enthusiastically. "I'm heading to play a crucial practice match today, if I will score in that I can fight for place in the team and captaincy again. Wish me luck avanthika."

Avanthika hesitated for a moment but managed to say, "All the best."

"Thanks! I'll call you later," he said before hanging up.

As the call ended, Avanthika's hand trembled, and tears streamed down her face. She had called him to tell him about her engagement, but hearing his excitement, she couldn't bring herself to say anything. She knew how much this moment meant to him and didn't want to ruin it. He had worked so hard to earn this, and she couldn't be the reason for his distraction.

Her heart ached, and she couldn't hold back the sobs anymore. She cried uncontrollably, her chest tightening with the weight of unspoken words and suppressed emotions.

A knock on the door pulled her out of her spiral. She hurriedly wiped her tears and took a deep breath.

"Come in," she said, trying to steady her voice.

Her friend entered with a bright smile. "It's time for the engagement, Avanthika. Everyone's waiting for you."

Avanthika nodded, forcing a weak smile, but as soon as her friend left, she glanced at herself in the mirror. Her face still carried traces of sadness, but she straightened her shoulders. She had no choice but to walk out and face the reality that awaited her.

Avanthika took a deep breath and stepped out of her room. Her heart was heavy, and no matter how much she tried to calm herself, the ache in her chest wouldn't go away. As she started walking down the staircase, she couldn't stop the soft sniffles that escaped her. She glanced around the room, hoping someone might notice her, someone who would understand the turmoil she was going through. But everyone was too busy with the engagement preparations. Laughter and cheerful voices echoed around the hall, but none of it reached her. She felt invisible.

Her steps slowed as she neared the bottom of the stairs. She hesitated for a moment before looking up at Ishan.

He stood surrounded by guests, his eyes found hers, and for a brief moment, they locked. He continued smiling warmly at her, as if trying to reassure her that everything would be fine. Avanthika felt a lump form in her throat, but she forced herself to smile back, though it felt far from natural.

With heavy steps, she walked toward him, every movement feeling like she was dragging her heart behind her. When she reached his side, she stood quietly, her eyes darting around the room. She couldn't bring herself to look at him again, nor could she focus on the ceremony that was about to begin.

The sound of clapping broke through her thoughts, signaling the start of the engagement. The crowd erupted into cheers, and the room buzzed with excitement. Flowers were exchanged, photographers clicked away, and people spoke animatedly about how beautiful the couple looked together.

Avanthika felt completely out of place. She stood beside Ishan her hands trembling slightly as the rituals began. Her mind wandered to Abhinanyu's voice on the phone earlier the excitement in his words when he talked about his press conference. She could still hear his cheerful tone, see his face in her mind. The thought stung, and she quickly blinked away the tears that threatened to spill.

As the ceremony went on, she plastered another forced smile on her face, all the while feeling like she was suffocating inside.

The priest stepped forward, his voice echoing through the hall. "It's time for the exchange of rings," he announced with a smile. The crowd clapped, the room buzzing with excitement and joy, but Avanthika stood frozen. Her heart felt like it was breaking into pieces. She clenched her fists, fighting back the tears that threatened to escape. This wasn't how she imagined her life would be.

As the moment drew closer, only one name echoed in her mind, Abhimanyu. Memories of him flooded her thoughts. She could almost feel his arms around her, the warmth of his hugs, the gentle kisses he'd place on her forehead, and the way he always cared for her. He was her everything, and now she was standing here, about to give her hand to someone else.

Ishan extended his hand toward her, smiling patiently. Avanthika swallowed hard and forced herself to move. Her hands trembled as she picked up the ring. With every ounce of strength she had, she placed the ring on his finger, her vision blurring with unshed tears. She immediately closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to regain control of her emotions, silently pleading with herself not to break down in front of everyone.

Then it was his turn. Ishan picked up the ring and gently slid it onto her finger. The crowd erupted into applause, their cheers feeling like a distant echo in her ears. He leaned forward, holding her hand, and was about to kiss it.

But Avanthika pulled her hand back, catching him off guard. She quickly forced a smile, hoping it was enough to hide her discomfort. He gave her a puzzled look but didn't press further. The ceremony continued, but for Avanthika, it felt like she was watching someone else's life play out. Her heart remained somewhere far away, with the person she truly loved.

■

After the engagement ceremony, Avanthika slipped away to a quiet corner, her mind racing with regret and confusion. She leaned against the wall, staring at the ring on her finger. It felt heavy, not because of its weight but because of the meaning it carried. Slowly, she tried to take it off, her emotions bubbling to the surface. But before she could remove it, a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Avanthika," Ishan called out as he approached.

Startled, she quickly dropped her hand and forced a small smile. "Yeah" she replied, her voice barely audible.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" he asked, his tone calm but direct.

She sighed, her patience wearing thin. "No, I'm not interested," she said bluntly and turned to walk away.

"Well," he called out after her, "at least be true to yourself."

His words made her stop in her tracks. Slowly, she turned back to face him, her brows furrowed. "What did you just say?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

He stood firm, his expression unchanging. "It seems like you're not interested in this marriage," he repeated. "Right?"

Avanthika's jaw tightened, and her eyes flashed with anger. "It's none of your business," she snapped. "You came here to marry me, so marry me. That's it."

Without giving him a chance to respond, she turned on her heel and walked away, her heart pounding.

"I know you're angry with me, but it's not really about me, is it?" Ishan said, folding his arms across his chest. "It's because of Abhimanyu, right?"

She stopped and stared at him, shocked. "You know about Abhimanyu?"

Ishan shrugged, his expression calm but firm. "Do you think I'd agree to marry someone without learning everything about them first? I'm not just anyone, Avanthika. I'm a prince, soon to be a king. I have ways of finding out things."

She looked away, blinking back the tears forming in her eyes.

"Abhimanyu seems like a good choice for you," he added, his voice softer now.

Her lips quivered, and a smile broke through her tears.

She walked closer to him and hesitated before asking, "Will you help me?"

"Help you? With what?" he asked, frowning slightly.

"Tell your parents that you don't want to marry me," she said quickly. "That way, this marriage can be called off."

Ishan let out a sigh and shook his head. "I can't do that, Avanthika. Our royal rules don't allow it."

"What kind of rules are these?" she asked, frustration clear in her voice.

He met her gaze seriously. "Our family doesn't speak against a woman or lie, especially about important matters like this. It's part of our code of honor."

She let out a bitter laugh. "Honor? So, I'm supposed to get married to you and pretend like everything is fine?"

Ishan looked at her with a mix of sympathy and determination. "Look, Avanthika, I know you love Abhimanyu. So fight for him."

"I tried," she said quietly, her voice almost breaking. "My parents won't even let me leave the palace. They won't listen to anything I say. And Abhimanyu... he's going through a tough time right now. I can't just show up and ask him to marry me. It would be selfish. He doesn't need more problems."

Ishan studied her for a moment, then nodded. "If that's how you feel, then there's only one option left for you."

Her eyes searched his, desperate for an answer. "What option?"

"We should get married."

His words hung in the air like a heavy weight.

"What?" she whispered, not believing what she'd just heard.

"If you won't fight for him, if you're so sure you'll only cause him more pain, then marry me," he said simply. Then, without waiting for her response, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, stunned.

■

A few hours later, Ishan's family and Avanthika's family were sitting together in the living room, discussing the wedding preparations.

"I believe the bride's wedding lehenga should be gifted by her in-laws as a blessing," Ishan's mother said warmly. "So, we brought this for Avanthika."

She called a maid, who walked in carrying the lehenga carefully in her hands. It was stunning embroidered with gold and silver threads, sparkling under the lights. Everyone admired it, commenting on how beautiful it was.

"This is gorgeous!" Avanthika's mom said.

Ishan's mother turned to her son and smiled. "Ishan, what do you think? Do you think this lehenga will suit your future wife?"

Hearing the words "future wife," Avanthika clenched her fists and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to stay calm. When she opened her eyes, she glanced at Ishan with a mix of frustration and helplessness.

Ishan, noticing her reaction, looked at the lehenga and then back at her. "She'll look pretty in it," he said casually.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the room faded away. Both stared at each other, their emotions clashing silently her anger and his quiet expression.

The families, unaware of the tension, continued admiring the lehenga, while Ishan and Avanthika's unspoken battle.

Avanthika couldn't hold back her emotions anymore. She stood up suddenly, pushing her chair back with enough force to make a noise, and walked out without a word.

Everyone in the room fell silent, surprised by her sudden reaction.

"What happened to her? Didn't she like the lehenga?" Ishan's mother asked.

"It's not like that," Avanthika's mother said quickly, trying to smooth things over. "Maybe she is tired."

But Ishan's mother didn't seem convinced. "It certainly seems like she didn't like it. She just walked out like that so disrespectful," she said.

Before the conversation could go further, Ishan stood up. "I'll go talk to her," he said, cutting off any further comments. Without waiting for approval, he walked out of the room and followed Avanthika.

He found her in the long corridor, walking. "Avanthika," he called out.

She stopped and turned around sharply, her eyes blazing. "What do you want now?" she snapped.

"What was that back there?" he asked, his voice steady.

Her anger flared even more at his question. "How dare you talk like that in front of everyone?" she said, her voice rising. "Do you enjoy humiliating me? Do you think it's fun to mock me in front of both our families?"

Ishan raised an eyebrow, clearly confused by her outburst. Instead of answering her question, he let out a small smirk, the kind that only fueled her more.

"Don't play games with me, Ishan," she said.

He crossed his arms casually, leaning slightly forward. "What games, Avanthika? All I said was that you'd look pretty in the lehenga. Was that such an insult?"

Her fists clenched at her sides. "It's not about what you said! It's about the way you said it, like you're mocking me reminding me that I'm being forced into this marriage!"

Ishan took a step closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "And what do you expect me to say? That I'm thrilled about this? That I can't wait to marry someone who clearly wishes she was with someone else? Let me remind you, you're not the only one stuck here, Avanthika. Even I am going to marry someone who doesn't like me."

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

Finally, Ishan broke the silence, his smirk returning. "Mandap mein milenge," he said softly but firmly, turning on his heel and walking away, leaving her standing there, her emotions a storm she couldn't control.

To be continued

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