Friction

Ridhima reached Rajawat Mansion, exhausted but restless. The echoes of Veer's proposal for a temporary fake engagement replayed in her mind. She headed straight to her room, shutting the door behind her.

She changed into a simple kurta, her mind clouded with doubt. Sitting by the window, she gazed at the garden illuminated by soft moonlight.

"How did I even agree to this madness?" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with frustration. "Four months of playing house with Veer Arora. What was I thinking?"

Her fingers gripped the window frame tightly. "I must be out of my mind."

Her thoughts wandered back to Veer's confident smirk. "I will call it off," he had said, but his unwavering tone lingered in her ears.

But Ridhima wasn't one to back down. "I can handle this," she reassured herself. "But one thing's for sure—no one controls my life, not Veer, not this deal."

Determined, she stood tall, her jaw clenched. For now, she would play along. But the game was far from over.

Ridhima's phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. Devika's name lit up the screen. She sighed and answered the call.

"Hey, Ridhima. So, is the wedding happening?" Devika asked straight away.

"Yeah, it's happening," Ridhima said in a neutral tone.

"Are you okay with this? I mean... do you even like Veer?" Devika's question caught Ridhima off guard.

"You know I don't believe in love, Devika. It's just a contract for business, nothing more," Ridhima replied calmly, masking any hint of inner turmoil.

Switching the topic, she asked, "When are you coming back from your trip?"

"Tomorrow morning. I'll join you all for breakfast," Devika announced confidently.

Ridhima's tone turned serious. "Listen, Devika, don't do anything reckless with the Rathore family when you're back. They're our rivals, and I know how much you dislike them, but don't mess with them on your own. Got it?"

There was a brief pause before Devika responded, "Yeah, I got it."

"Good. I mean it," Ridhima emphasized before ending the call.

Though relieved by Devika's agreement, Ridhima couldn't shake the uneasy feeling lingering in her chest. Devika was fiery and unpredictable—traits that always came with surprises.

At the Arora mansion, Veer sat at the dinner table with his parents. The usual chatter echoed around him, but his mind wandered back to the brunch with Ridhima. Her sharp words, the fiery gaze, and that inexplicable pull—she was unlike anyone he'd ever met.

"Veer, are you listening?" his father's voice broke through his thoughts.

"Hmm? What?" Veer blinked, snapping out of his trance.

"Ridhima's father and I are planning the wedding for next week," Mahendra Arora announced casually.

Veer froze. "What?" he asked sharply, his voice laced with disbelief.

"A week from now. It's decided," his father confirmed.

Veer slammed his fork onto the plate. "At least ask us first! It's our marriage, not yours. Besides, the project needs to be completed before anything else."

Mahendra's expression turned steely. "No. This marriage needs to happen first."

Veer leaned forward, voice hard. "I won't do it. I'm Veer Arora. Every decision in my life is made by me, with my permission."

Mahendra met his gaze, unyielding. "And I'm Mahendra Arora, your father. If you don't marry Ridhima, I'll reveal your truth to everyone."

Veer's breath hitched. His jaw clenched as silence engulfed the room. Without another word, he pushed back his chair and stormed off to his room, his father's threat echoing in his mind.

The next morning, the Rajawat mansion buzzed with activity. Floral decorations adorned the hall, and the servants moved swiftly with arrangements. Meera and Aarini giggled as they folded intricate invitation cards. Vijendra and Kusum discussed catering options with the event planner.

Ridhima descended the grand staircase, brows furrowed in confusion. Her gaze swept across the vibrant scene before settling on her mother. "What's going on? There's no festival or function. What's all this preparation for?"

Kusum glanced up with a warm smile. "Your wedding preparations, dear. It's happening in a week."

Ridhima froze, her heartbeat quickening. "What?" she whispered, the words barely audible.

Yesterday, she had agreed to Veer's ridiculous 4-month contract plan. How did this escalate overnight into an official wedding plan? Her mind raced.

"This can't be happening. Veer and I had a deal—just a facade for business, nothing real. And now they're planning an actual wedding? What kind of twisted game is this?"

Her thoughts spiraled as she stood motionless, trying to process the whirlwind of chaos unfolding around her.