Chapter - 30 ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀꜱʀ

"You do love him—I can see it in your eyes, and I noticed how tense you were when he was shot," Dhruv said, making me smile. Yes, I do love him, and I can't simply stop loving him. But now, I don't think we can be together, no matter how much he regrets his actions or asks for forgiveness. I'll be marrying the man my father has chosen for me, and I have to accept that he's my destined one.

"Alright, Dhruv, I'll take my leave now. Thank you for listening to me and being there during my worst days," I said, my voice filled with gratitude.

"You don't need to thank me for this," he replied gently. "As your friend and as a doctor, it's my responsibility to help you. So promise me, no more thank-yous for things like this, alright?"

I left after bidding him goodbye and headed straight to the penthouse. Normally, I would've gone to my apartment, but Bhai had insisted that I stay with him—and honestly, why not? I wanted to spend some quality time with him anyway.

I arrived at the house and stepped inside to find Bhai sitting on the couch, engrossed in his work. When he noticed me, he looked up and greeted me with a warm smile, which I returned. Without saying much, I headed to my room to change and freshen up.

A little while later, I joined him in the living room. As soon as he saw me, he closed his laptop and stood up. We had dinner together, sharing stories and memories, including heartfelt conversations about Dad. To be honest, it felt really good to be here with my brother. He's the only one in the family who truly cares about me.

After finishing dinner, we both retreated to our rooms, ready to call it a night.

Next Morning

The next morning, I woke up, stretched a little, and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. After a relaxing half-hour under a hot, steamy shower, I felt completely refreshed. I changed into comfortable clothes and stepped out of my room, deciding to prepare breakfast for the two of us.

About 30 minutes later, just as I finished setting the table, Bhai walked in. We sat down together and started eating, the calm morning adding a comforting vibe to our meal.

"Do you want me to come with you, princess?" he asked softly, his tone filled with concern.

I shook my head with a small smile. "No need, Bhai. I can handle it. But if things take a wrong turn, I promise I'll text you."

We then left the house together—Bhai heading to his office while I made my way to the mansion. The car ride was serene, the gentle hum of the engine blending with the soft melody of the music playing in the background.

People bustled about, streets grew busier, and the distant sound of honking occasionally pierced the calm. I leaned back in my seat, letting the rhythmic motion of the car soothe my nerves while I mentally prepared myself for the day ahead.

As the mansion came into view, a wave of nervousness washed over me. My mind raced with questions, uncertainty creeping in with every passing second. Why had she called me here? Was it about my marriage? Or something else entirely?

I tried to steady myself, taking a deep breath as the car rolled closer to the grand gates. Whatever awaited me inside, I knew I had to face it head-on.

I rang the bell, and a servant quickly opened the door, greeting me before I stepped inside. Mom and the others were seated, almost as if they'd been waiting for me. The moment she saw me, she got up and walked toward me, her gaze focused and sharp.

"What took you so long?" she asked, her tone firm, with no hint of concern for how I was doing. "I've been waiting for you."

I couldn't help but sigh inwardly. What could I possibly expect from her?

"I had my breakfast and came here," I replied in a no-nonsense tone, trying to keep my composure.

"Okay, enough of this. Take this and get changed," she said, handing me a royal blue saree.

I frowned, confused. "What for?"

"The guy and his family are coming to see you," she replied flatly, her words hitting me like a sudden storm.

I stared at her, taken aback. "How can you do this to me? Without even asking, you called them here? Do you even care about me?" My voice rose with frustration, the anger bubbling over.

"Ooh, Aanya, don't overreact, please," Anvi Di chimed in, her tone dismissive. "Mom is just following your dead father's wish. If you have a problem with it, go and complain to him when you visit his grave."

Her words stung, and I could feel the heat rising within me, my hands clenching into fists. "How could you say that? Wasn't he your father too?" I shot back, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief.

"What I've heard is that whenever you needed something, you'd go to him and he'd bring you whatever you wanted. And don't you ever speak like that when you're talking about my dad." I said it with a firm, unwavering tone, the weight of my words lingering in the air between us.

"He isn't my father," she replied coldly, "My real, biological father is with me. He's only your father."

I sighed deeply, the frustration building inside me. How could they be so ungrateful? How could a mother do this to her own daughter?

"I'm only doing this because of My father's wish," I added, My voice a little softer but still firm.

I didn't want to hear any more. Without waiting for another word, I turned and walked away, heading toward my room. I couldn't stand being in that room a second longer.

After an hour

I was fully dressed in a royal blue saree, and to be honest, it looked beautiful. Yet, a wave of nervousness swept over me. A new chapter of my life was about to begin, but the absence of Aarav weighed heavily on my heart. It hurt to know that he wouldn't be the one walking this path with me.

Lost in my thoughts, I was startled when Avni Di entered the room. "The guy's family is here, and they're calling you downstairs," she informed me. Then, without waiting for my reply, she left. I let out a shaky breath, pushing aside the whirlwind of emotions, and gave myself one last look in the mirror. My saree was flawless, my hair neatly done. I was presentable—or at least I hoped I was.

With each step down the staircase, the nervousness in my chest grew heavier. I could hear muffled murmurs from the living room, but I kept my head down, unwilling to meet anyone's gaze just yet.

When I reached the bottom of the stairs, my mom came towards me with a beaming smile. "Oh, look! My beautiful daughter is here," she said with rare warmth, her compliment catching me off guard.

"Aanya, you look stunning," a familiar voice chimed in. My heart skipped a beat. That voice—it was unmistakable.

I instinctively lifted my head, and there they were—Siya Aunty, Aarav's mother, sitting gracefully on the couch with Aarav's family around her. And then, my eyes landed on him. Aarav.

He sat beside them, his expression mirroring the shock I felt. Time seemed to stand still as our eyes locked, the air between us heavy with unspoken words and emotions.

What the freaking hell?!

Why are they here?!

I forced a polite smile, masking my inner turmoil. "Hello, everyone," I greeted, taking blessings from the elders like I was on autopilot. Siya Aunty patted the seat beside her, gesturing for me to sit. Without a word, I obeyed, settling next to her while Dev Uncle sat on my other side.

And then, Siya Aunty dropped the bombshell.

"Aanya beta, I'm truly so happy you agreed to marry Aarav," she said with a radiant smile.

WHAT?! My mind screamed. What nonsense is this? When did I agree to marry him?

My heart raced as I turned to my mom, silently begging for some clarification.

And then, like a dagger to my chest, she confirmed my worst fear. "Aanya, Aarav is the guy your dad chose for you," she said softly, her words unraveling every shred of composure I had left.

Tears welled up in my eyes. Why? Why was this happening?

On one side, a tiny part of me wanted to feel happy, like this was some dream I once wished for. But on the other side—the bigger, louder side—I couldn't forget everything Aarav had done. After all the pain he put me through, how could this be my reality?

I sat there, trapped in a whirlwind of emotions—shock, betrayal, and a flicker of something I didn't dare name.

"I guess they should talk to each other in private," Chachi Naina Singh Rajvansh suggested, her voice carrying a note of finality. I wanted to protest, to argue against it, but as I looked around at their hopeful, content faces, my resolve faltered. My heart betrayed me.

He stood up, waiting for me to move. Reluctantly, I followed suit and made my way toward the garden, my steps measured and heavy. He walked behind me, his presence a quiet storm I couldn't ignore.

The garden greeted me with its serene beauty, the trees and flowers glowing softly under the golden rays of the setting sun. Each bloom, each leaf whispered stories of my father's care and love; he had planted these with his own hands, or so I'd been told. Lost in thought, I stared at the garden as if trying to draw strength from its quiet charm.

The sound of him clearing his throat snapped me out of my thoughts.

"This was... unexpected," he said, his tone laced with hesitation.

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips. "Unexpected for me, yes. But not for you, isn't that right, Mr. Rajvansh?" I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm. The smirk on his face faltered and then disappeared entirely.

"I know what I did was wrong," he began, his voice quiet yet earnest. "And even if I apologize, I know it won't be enough to undo the hurt I've caused. But still, I'll apologize—for every word I said that hurt you."

He paused, his vulnerability etched in every line of his face. "Can you just... give it a chance? This marriage, a chance?"

There was something raw in his tone that tugged at the edges of my resolve. He wasn't the man I once knew—this version of him was colder, more distant, yet undeniably vulnerable. And seeing him like this, something inside me cracked, as though the walls I'd built so carefully around my heart were no longer indestructible.

I took a deep breath, willing myself to stay composed, and turned to face him with a mask of indifference, my expression a perfect poker face.

"I'm marrying you solely because of my father's last wish, Don't assume that I love you." I said, my voice cold and unwavering.

For a moment, silence hung heavy between us. Then, without warning, he stepped closer, closing the distance between us. My breath caught in my throat as his presence enveloped me, a mix of warmth and tension.

He raised his hand slowly, his movements deliberate, and tucked a stray strand of my hair behind my ear. His fingertips brushed against my skin, sending a trail of shivers down my spine. His breath, warm and steady, fanned my face, and his intense gaze settled on my lips, lingering there just long enough to make my heart stumble.

"You don't love me," he whispered, his voice deep and velvety, carrying an undercurrent of raw emotion. "But you feel this... don't you?"

I swallowed hard, refusing to move, refusing to answer. His other hand reached up, brushing against my jaw, his thumb lightly tracing the curve of my cheek.

"Every time I'm near you..." he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, "I can feel it, this pull between us. You might deny it, but I see it in your eyes, feel it in the way your breath hitches when I'm close."

He dipped his head closer, his lips grazing the edge of my ear as he whispered, "You might hate me, but your body... it tells me something else."

His words set every nerve in my body alight, a mix of anger and desire twisting inside me. I clenched my fists, desperate to push him away, but the intensity of his gaze rooted me in place.

"You think you know me so well," I said, my voice trembling, though I couldn't tell if it was from anger or something else entirely.

"I'm willing to spend my entire life proving I do," he replied, his lips brushing against the corner of my mouth, the barest of touches, enough to leave me breathless.

But I wasn't ready to let him in. Not yet.

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Guzaare Na Din Raat Hamare

Le Gaye Ho Tum Chain Hamare

Waari Jaoon Main Saari Saari

Mann Raksum Raksum Tan Raksum

Maya Ram Pyarram Ghum Raksum

Jo Ishq Kare Har Dum Raksum

Jo Ishq Kare Har Dum Raksum

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Heyya my lovely readers, I hope you love this chapter and don't forget to comment and vote. I know I've been not uploading the chapters frequently but I can't help it coz of my exams.. I hope you all will understand your author.

And thank you to all my readers for loving this book and and your comments motivate me to write it further and to be honest it is unbelievable but yeah i hope you'll also love it in future. just keep supporting me.

Thank you,

Your Author,

Aeris.