chapter 17

Pragya had been browsing through the shops for what felt like hours, her arms laden with bags filled with various items."What are you shopping for? You've been at it for two hours, and I haven't seen you pick out a single traditional dress," Ishan remarked, bemused by Pragya's apparent lack of focus.

"Well, I earn my own money, and I'll spend it however I please," Pragya retorted, her tone firm and unwavering.."I respect girls who are independent and self-sufficient. They're truly admirable," Ishan commented, a note of admiration in his voice as he glanced at Pragya.

Pragya smiled and playfully tapped his shoulder. "Very good, i am proud of you," she teased, appreciating Ishan's acknowledgment of her independence.

As they continued their shopping spree, Pragya explained her purchases. "About the clothes, ti am planning a Western-themed party for our family. That's why I am buying all of this," she explained, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Ishan watched her with admiration, his heart swelling with affection for his wife. "I would touch my parents' feet for finding you for me. You truly embody the ideal wife who loves her husband's entire family," he declared, his voice filled with genuine appreciation.

Pragya's cheeks flushed with warmth at Ishan's heartfelt words. "Now, don't be lazy. Help me pick out something for the Sehgals too," she said, nudging Ishan into action as they continued their shopping expedition together, united in their preparations for the upcoming festivities.

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Anika was sprawled out on the bed, engrossed in her writing, while Advik sat at his desk, focused on his laptop screen.

Suddenly, Anika's thoughts were interrupted by a nagging question that had been lingering in her mind. "Advik, I want to ask you something," Anika said, breaking the silence that enveloped the room.

"Ask?" Advik replied, his attention still fixed on his screen."I was cleaning your study, and I saw a collection of my books," Anika asked, her curiosity piqued as she awaited his response.

Advik's reaction was almost imperceptible, his demeanor tensing slightly at her words. He struggled to find the right words to address her inquiry.

"Oh, your books," Advik finally replied, attempting to appear nonchalant."Yes, my books," Anika confirmed, her gaze fixed on him intently.

"What are you writing now?" Advik asked, deflecting the conversation away from the topic at hand.

"A book," Anika replied, unimpressed by his attempt to change the subject."Nice. When do you plan to complete it?" Advik inquired, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.

"One to two months," Anika responded, her tone indicating that she wasn't going to let him off the hook so easily.

"Okay, all the best," Advik said, offering a half-hearted encouragement."Are you trying to change the topic?" Anika questioned, sensing his evasion.

"No, who said?" Advik feigned innocence, his attempts at diversion falling flat.

"Then are you going to tell me about my books in your study?" Anika pressed, refusing to let the matter drop."Oh, yes, yes. Your books in my study, that's a good question," Advik stammered, his discomfort palpable as he searched for the right words.

"Well, actually..." he began, finally summoning the courage to address the issue that had been weighing on Anika's mind.

"Well, actually, I had a client who owns a bookstore, and on his birthday, he gave books collections of authors as return gifts, so he gave me,"

Advik explained, his voice trailing off as he struggled to find the right words."Okay," Anika replied simply, accepting his explanation with a nod.

"By the way, you are my heart," Advik declared, his gaze softening as he looked at her with affection.Anika's heart skipped a beat at his unexpected declaration, her stomach fluttering with nervous anticipation.

She blinked, trying to process his words."What?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise and confusion.

"Um, your book. It's amazing," Advik quickly backtracked, realizing his slip of the tongue.

"Oh! Thanks," Anika replied, a smile spreading across her face as she brushed off the momentary confusion, choosing to focus on the compliment instead.

Flashback

Advik and his client strolled through the bustling food court of the mall, their successful meeting leaving them in high spirits. As they celebrated their achievement with a hearty meal, Advik's attention was drawn to a nearby bookstore.

Intrigued, he excused himself and made his way inside, his eyes scanning the shelves in search of business books. However, as he wandered through the aisles, his gaze was irresistibly drawn to the Indian romance section.

There, amidst the array of colourful book covers, he spotted the name "Anika Saxena." His heart skipped a beat as he reached out and picked up one of her books, titled "You are My Heart: An Arranged Marriage Tale."

A smile tugged at his lips as he read the title, the familiarity of the theme striking a chord within him. Determined to explore more of Anika's work, he made his way to the counter, where a young woman stood ready to assist.

"Excuse me, I need every book of Anika Saxena. Do you have her collection?" Advik inquired eagerly, his anticipation palpable.

"Sure, sir. Wait one moment," the counter girl replied with a friendly smile, before disappearing to retrieve the books.

Advik waited patiently, his excitement growing with each passing moment as he eagerly anticipated delving into the world of Anika Saxena's captivating stories.

Flashback ends

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In Singapore

Ishan lounged comfortably in the shade, his eyes fixed on Pragya as she engaged in a spirited game of volleyball with a group of college students. He had opted to remain in the shadow, citing the excuse of avoiding a tan from the scorching sun, though his real intention was simply to keep a watchful eye on his wife.

As Pragya chased after a ball that had rolled a bit too far, Ishan's gaze followed her every move like a vigilant CCTV camera. However, his protective instincts were soon put to the test when he witnessed a bold move from one of the college boys.

The boy deliberately placed his foot on the ball, blocking Pragya's path with a mischievous wink. Before Ishan could intervene, Pragya confronted the boy with a fiery glare."What the hell are you doing?" she demanded, her voice laced with annoyance.The boy smirked, his intentions clear as he replied, "Play with me."

Ishan's demeanour shifted instantly as he rose to his feet, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. "I can play with your skull if you want to mess with my wife," he warned, his tone brooking no argument.Sensing Ishan's steely resolve, the boy quickly retreated, leaving Pragya to chuckle at her husband's protective display.

"Wow, you act like a villain in stories," she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Ishan couldn't help but smirk as he adjusted his sunglasses. "What's with your obsession with villains and rude guys?" he quipped, unable to resist poking fun at her.

"Kuch kuch hota hai, tum nahi samjhoge, Ishan," Pragya replied playfully using the famous phrase of bollywood movie before returning to the game with the college students, leaving Ishan shaking his head at her antics. "Crazy girl," he muttered affectionately, unable to suppress a smile at her spirited nature.

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The atmosphere in the Malhotra mansion was warm and lively as the entire family gathered around the dining table for a meal together. Ranya, the matriarch of the family, turned to Anika with a curious expression.

"When will Pragya come?" she inquired, her eyes resting on Anika expectantly.

"Tomorrow," Anika replied, her tone tinged with anticipation at the thought of her sister's impending arrival.

Just then, Anika seized the opportunity to broach a topic of her own. "Mom, actually, there's this businessman named Harish Gupta who invited me to his son's birthday party because his son is a fan of mine. Can I go?" she asked, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

Advik, seated nearby, suddenly coughed, drawing everyone's attention."What happened, Advik?" Prakash, the patriarch of the family, inquired, concern evident in his voice.

"He's my client," Advik interjected, his voice slightly strained as he addressed the family.Realisation dawned on Ranya, and she nodded understandingly. "Oh, okay. Anika, you can go," she said, giving her approval with a reassuring smile.

Advik's mind raced with a mixture of disbelief and indignation as he recalled the conversation with Mr. Gupta. The realisation that his client had invited Anika to his son's birthday party because of her popularity as a writer ignited a surge of protectiveness within him.

In the midst of the flashback, Advik found himself back in the coffee shop, the memory vivid and unsettling. He and Mr. Gupta had been casually conversing about the popularity of books when Mr. Gupta had casually dropped the bombshell about his son's admiration for a certain writer.

"Craze for books is high nowadays," Advik had remarked, unaware of the bombshell about to be dropped.

"Yes, even my son has a crush on a book writer. She writes well, and he wants to marry her," Mr. Gupta had chuckled, completely unaware of the turmoil his words had caused.

Advik had felt a surge of disbelief at the revelation, his mind struggling to process the implications of Mr. Gupta's statement. When Mr. Gupta had mentioned the writer's name—Anika Saxena—Advik had nearly choked on his coffee, his shock and discomfort palpable.

"Are you okay, Mr. Malhotra?" Mr. Gupta had inquired, oblivious to the storm brewing within Advik.

Advik had quickly composed himself, masking his inner turmoil with a forced smile. "Yes, i am fine. I just remembered something important. See you next time," he had replied, eager to extricate himself from the situation.

As he shook hands with Mr. Gupta and bid him farewell, Advik's mind churned with a newfound determination to protect his wife from any unwanted advances, regardless of their source.

“ What the hell, he invited her because his son has a crush on her.Then I will see how he will talk to my wife," Advik thought, his jaw tightening with determination. At that moment, he vowed to keep a vigilant eye on any interactions between Anika and Mr. Gupta's family.