Chapter 69: chapter 69

SRUTHIUsually, when something like this happens in a movie, they show the moments of the couple spending time together and the protagonist would get all teary-eyed thinking of her first love. I agree Praveen was the first man I loved. Okay, maybe love is a too strong word here. So, let’s just say, he was the first man I had a crush on. Anyhow, the point is that the first memory that comes to mind when looking at the douchebag’s face is the lousy letter he wrote to me on my wedding day. “How dare you hurt my Angel?” he spits out in anger. I cringe at the sappy nickname for his girlfriend or fiancée or whoever that woman is to him. Honestly? Angel? Who even calls their significant other using that name nowadays?“Did she send you to me?” I ask folding my hands across my chest in irritation. I wasn’t prepared to meet Praveen here. A lot has happened since the last time we saw each other. When I think back to the past, I can see many red flags in our relationship. There were red flags that I wasn’t able to know because I made excuses for his behaviour. I should never have agreed to that first date he asked. But, what can I say? I was lonely and was in the mood to try new things. I shake my head to clear my thoughts. “No. I know who hurts my lady,” he says fiercely. Honestly, his protectiveness stings a little because I have never seen him so fierce before. Not even after I was nearly hit by a motorcycle when we went for wedding shopping. He just asked me to brush it off. Making up an excuse for the driver that he was probably drunk. Something tells me that if Madhav had been there, he would have chased that biker down and given him a good beating for being careless on the road. I shake my head to clear the thoughts of Madhav and violence. After waking up from the hospital, many things have changed in me. The first thing is my phobia. I am not scared of the sight of blood anymore. My therapist said when I tried to help Jaya Ma and faced the biggest fear of my life. She told me what I did was too reckless and stupid. She warned that I would have been in a coma for what I did and it was a miracle that I came to live. I huff out a breath and focus on the present moment. “Then, you should also know that she was the one who first approached me,” I answer turning the biscuit packets over and checking for the ingredients. I am not interested in how the biscuits are made but I need something to occupy myself so that he would get the hint and leave me alone. Sadly, he doesn’t get the hint and lingers.“That doesn’t matter to me. All that matters to me is that she is crying after talking with you. I don’t care if you have feelings for me but I won’t tolerate it if you try to hurt my angel.”Argh!! Again that nickname!!If my life had been a soap opera or a drama, then this scene would be that iconic scene where the hero confronts the other woman—who is in most cases his ex-lover—who still has feelings for him. The problem is, Praveen is no hero and I sure as hell don’t feel anything towards him. I am so over him now that I can’t wait to get out of here. I wish I would never see him again in my life. Seeing him only reminds me how much big of a loser I was to fall for his stupid game to woo back his ex. “Why are you so delusional? Me having feelings for you?” I shake my head in disbelief. “I never loved you, Praveen.”Praveen's answering smirk puzzles me, “Sure, tell that to yourself. I know how PR teams work, Sruthi. I can easily identify a PR lie and I knew the story about Madhav and you being in love with each other was a PR stunt to divert the public’s attention away from the fact that you were left alone on your wedding day—” A lump forms in my throat as I remember that day. That is one of the worst moments of my life. I never wanted to go through that kind of nightmare again. I don’t even want to think about what would have happened to me and my brother if Madhav hadn’t agreed to the marriage.“—I have seen you scowl at Madhav in disgust. You want me to believe the lie?” Praveen is still droning on. I sigh. Honestly, I am exhausted. I don’t even know what to do with this man. He dares to show his face to me after everything he did to me.“What do you want me to do now?” I ask in a resigned tone. “Come and apologize to her,” he says cracking his knuckle. “She will do none of that,” a deep voice sounds behind me and Madhav materialises out of nowhere like always. I didn’t even know I was tensed until my shoulders sagged in relief. For this reason, having Madhav with me gives me the courage that I always lacked when I was Praveen. “You will be the one making the apologies for leaving her in a critical situation.”Praveen laughs and then says in a half-hearted apology, “Alright, I am sorry.”Something snaps in me. I am done with people giving me half-hearted things. I hate that he has no remorse for what he did to me. Before I know what I am doing, my legs carry me forward to him. He looks surprised by the expression on my face. I raise my hand in the air and slap him. The sound of the slap echoes in the empty shopping aisle. Praveen looks thundered-shocked and stands still. I hear a snicker from behind and know that Madhav has got my back. That emboldens me further and I raise my knee to hit him in the stomach. “This is for cheating on me,” I said gritting my teeth. Praveen bends over in pain placing his hands on his stomach. At the same time, a shrill pitch sounds in the aisle. Great timing!“How dare you hit my boyfriend?” calls out the influencer and runs towards me. She raises her hand to slap me but Madhav catches her arm.“Now, now, as much as it is sweet to see you come to the rescue of your boyfriend. I think you shouldn’t interfere in this matter.”“Why can’t I? But first, will you let go of my hand?” she asks glaring at Madhav. He lets go of her hand and raises both his hands in a surrender gesture.“Your boyfriend may have been a chivalrous hero to you but he used my wife like she is something to be used,” Madhav’s eyes meet my eye and I am stunned to see the fiercness in them. My heart flutters knowing that I too have someone on my side on whom I can rely. “I suggest that you stay out of this Miss. Pavitra.”Does he know her name? How does he know her name? Is she that popular? I am not sure why I am bothered by the fact the fact that Madhav knows the woman’s name. “And what if I don’t stay out of this?” she asks in a challenging tone. She points to a camera in the corner of the shop and says, “I will get the CCTV footage of your wife attacking Praveen and spread it in the media. I don’t care how Praveen treated her. In my opinion, she deserves it and even more. I won’t stop until I ruin her name.”Madhav’s lips curl into an arrogant smile. I shouldn’t find it attractive in this ridiculous situation but I do. I know he has a trump card up his sleeve when he gives people that smile. “Do what you can do. But, I assure you that the moment you ruin my wife’s name, I will do everything in my efforts to ruin both you and your boyfriend. I agree, Praveen is a more popular figure than me in our country and people would sympathize with you for whatever stunt you pull to ruin my wife’s name but don’t forget who you are dealing with,” Madhav’s voice is low and lethal. The look in his eyes screams murder, “I may not be popular but I have many connections in the dark world and politics. In case you forgot, I would like to remind you that I am the best friend of the ruthless politician in this country and I have learned a couple of tricks from him. I can make things harder for you in the media. Aren't you going to star in a new drama series where you are playing the character of a woman with virtue? Didn't you brag in an interview how the drama character you are playing and the real-life you are the same? Would people think the same if the news of how you cheated my poor wife with his fiancee spread in the media? God forbid, people won't look down on you kindly if they know Praveen used Sruthi as a means to get you back. You may even lose the role.”I gasp. I had no idea Madhav knew these many details about this woman. I watch all the fights leave Pavithra. She looks scared and Praveen calls for her. She goes to his side and I watch her whisper frantically to him. He throws a glare at Madhav who is still looking smug.“What proof do you have?”“Yiueta Hotel. Room number 765,” Madhav answers and I see the blood draining from both Praveen's and his girlfriend’s faces.“Ho..How did you know?” she stammers looking red in the face.“I have my ways of getting information. I can leak the photos of you and him meeting secretly when he was still engaged to my wife. Though your love may be pure and all, cheating is a serious matter and I am sure the public wouldn’t celebrate you if they learned of it. So, be careful with what you say. Even if you had deleted that Instagram post about spending a night with him, it can be recovered.”Did she delete the post? “Apologize and leave without making a scene,” Madhav says.Praveen looks at Pavitra and they have some sort of uncanny communication. I can’t understand their relationship. Do they love each other truly? Or is it an attachment that they have between them? “We are sorry. We won’t disturb you,” mumbles Praveen and the next minute they disappear out of my sight as soon as possible.With a sigh and a lot of questions, I turn to Madhav. He is still looking smug about all this and that is when a realization hits me. “You know about him cheating on me for a long time, didn’t you?” ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥