Chapter 8: 5.

𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙫

The sound of conch shells and mantras filled the air as the priest chanted the final verses. "Vivah sampan hua," Panditji declared, marking the conclusion of the sacred wedding ceremony. Vidyut and Advika, now husband and wife, received blessings from their elders as the rituals came to an end.

As Vidyut approached his room, he found the door blocked by his playful sister, Mishva. "Not so fast, bhaiya! You know the drill. If you want to enter, you need to pay up!" she teased, holding out her hand expectantly.

Vidyut chuckled and pulled out his wallet, handing over a bundle of notes. "Here you go, Mishva. Now, can I go in?"

Mishva grinned, pocketing the money. "Okay, okay, you're allowed. But remember, no freebies next time!"

Vidyut shook his head, laughing as he entered the room. Inside, he found Advika sitting on the bed, her expression serious.

"Advika, is everything okay?" Vidyut asked, concerned.

Advika took a deep breath and handed him a document. "Vidyut, I need you to sign this."

He glanced at the paper, confusion evident on his face. "What is this, Advika?"

"It's a contract," she said coldly. "This marriage... it's not real. It's a contract marriage, and it will end in six months."

Vidyut stared at her, bewildered. "I don't understand. You told me to say no to this marriage, but then you came up with this? What are you up to?"

Advika's eyes hardened. "I told you, Vidyut. I didn't want this marriage, but you and my family forced me into it."

Vidyut felt a surge of anger. "So, you don't care about anyone's feelings? Not even mine?"

Advika looked away, her voice icy. "Appearing innocent doesn't mean I want to get hurt. Emotions are a weakness."

"What about love?" Vidyut demanded, his eyes burning with intensity.

"𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦? Define it perfectly, and I might entertain the notion," Advika retorted, her laugh sharp and unsettling. "𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 is a beautiful betrayal, sweet in appearance but poisonous in experience. It starts with two and ends with countless broken pieces. In the end, it delivers nothing but hurt and undeniable pain."

"So, you don't believe in love. How will you survive in this world, in this relationship, without it?" Vidyut challenged, his tone unwavering.

"Relationships are built on respect and trust, not just love. I will never believe in love. Sign this contract and let's end this charade," she declared, her eyes steely.

"Jaan dena aur jaan lena, both are expressions of love. And I will teach you this, Mrs. Advika Vidyut Singh Rathore," Vidyut proclaimed, signing the contract with a determined flourish. "Let the game begin- 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚. It's an eternal game."

("Giving life and taking life, both are expressions of love. And I will teach you this, Mrs. Advika Vidyut Singh Rathore.")

Advika thought, "There is no such thing as love in this world. Even if people sacrifice their lives, the ones who love them live on. That's why I choose life over love."

Vidyut turned and stormed out of the room, leaving Advika alone with her thoughts.

As he walked away, Vidyut couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal. He had hoped for a real connection, but now he felt like a pawn in someone else's game. The weight of Advika's words pressed heavily on his heart, and he wondered if he would ever be able to break through her cold exterior.

He went to the balcony, the cool night air doing little to soothe the burning rage inside him. His thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and hurt. He had always believed in love, in the power of emotions, and now he was faced with someone who viewed them as weaknesses.

Vidyut returned to the room, determined to confront Advika. "You can't just decide everything on your own!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the small room.

Advika's eyes flashed with defiance. "I had no choice! I won't let myself be hurt again."

Vidyut slammed his fist against the wall. "This isn't just about you, Advika! You dragged me into this. You made me believe in something real."

Tears welled up in Advika's eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. "I never asked for this marriage. You and my family did. This contract is my way of protecting myself."

"Protecting yourself? By shutting out everyone? By treating this marriage like a business deal?" Vidyut's voice broke with emotion. "What happened to you, Advika? Why are you so afraid to feel?"

Advika turned away, her shoulders shaking. "Because feelings only lead to pain. I've seen it too many times."

Vidyut took a step closer, his voice softening. "Not always. Sometimes, they lead to something 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭"

Advika's defenses crumbled for a moment, her eyes meeting his with a glimmer of vulnerability. But she quickly steeled herself. "Vidyut, This is how it has to be."

Vidyut grabbed the contract and tore it in half. "No, Advika. This isn't how it has to be. I won't let you push me away."

Advika's eyes widened in shock, but before she could respond, Vidyut turned and left the room, his heart heavy with unresolved emotions. He needed to cool down, to think about what had just happened. As he walked into the night, he wondered if there was any hope for their future, or if their marriage was destined to remain just a contract.

As Vidyut sat in the dimly lit room of the Haveli, the weight of Advika's words hung heavy in the air. Her mention of their marriage being just a contract, slated to end in six months, felt like a knife twisting in his chest. He had initiated this marriage for reasons that made sense at the time-protecting her, fulfilling obligations-but now, he couldn't ignore the turmoil of emotions within him.

"Why does it hurt?" Vidyut asked himself quietly, his voice barely a whisper in the silence of the room. He had never expected to feel this conflicted, torn between duty and desire. Advika's sincerity, her straightforwardness, had always been a beacon of light in his tumultuous life. Now, her words echoed painfully, challenging his resolve.

He recalled the moments leading up to their marriage-his insistence, his rationalizations. He had convinced himself that it was the right thing to do, the only way to shield her from harm. But now, seeing her treat their union as merely contractual stirred something deeper within him. Guilt gnawed at him-had he pushed her too far? Had he forced her into this against her will, despite her consent?

Vidyut closed his eyes, trying to steady his racing thoughts. His heart, usually guarded behind walls of duty and responsibility, now felt exposed, vulnerable. He had never expected to care so deeply, to feel this attachment grow despite his best efforts to keep emotions at bay. And yet, here he was, grappling with the realization that his actions might have hurt the one person he wanted to protect.

As he sat there, clutching the 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘵 in his hand-the pendant that had become a symbol of their tangled destinies-he couldn't help but wonder about his own feelings. Was it just duty that bound him to Advika, or was there something more profound stirring beneath the surface? He questioned his motives, his decisions, his very identity.

With a sigh, Vidyut realized that he was not just questioning the marriage or its terms. He was questioning himself-his beliefs, his desires, his capacity to love and be loved. Advika had unwittingly unlocked a door within him, revealing a vulnerability he had long buried under layers of pragmatism.

"I never thought it would be like this," Vidyut admitted to himself, the admission heavy with introspection. His heartache was not just about the words Advika had spoken; it was about the awakening of emotions he had long denied. He knew now that this contract, however necessary, had consequences beyond the pragmatic.

In that moment of solitude, Vidyut confronted the truth-he cared for Advika more deeply than he had anticipated. Her words had pierced through his defenses, shaking the foundations of his carefully constructed world. And as he grappled with the complexity of his feelings, he understood that this journey, this marriage, would challenge him in ways he had never imagined.

But amidst the turmoil, amidst the regret and confusion, one thing remained clear-Advika had touched a part of his soul that he hadn't known existed. And as he navigated the storm of emotions within him, he knew that this contract, this marriage, would redefine not just their relationship, but also the very essence of who he was.

He went to his room when he saw the scence infront of him which made him shock and horror covered his face.

Vidyut stormed into his room, frustration radiating off him in waves. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions he couldn't untangle. The fight with Advika had left him unsettled, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of helplessness gnawing at his heart. As he slammed the door shut behind him, he noticed something that made his blood run cold.

Advika was huddled in a corner, trembling violently, her eyes wide with fear. She was murmuring something repeatedly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't leave me, don't please," she kept saying, her hands clutching her knees tightly to her chest.

Vidyut's heart ached at the sight. All his frustration melted away, replaced by a deep concern for his wife. He rushed to her side, gently pulling her into his arms.

"Shh, Advika, it's okay. I'm here. You're safe. No one will leave you, okay?" he whispered, his voice soothing and tender. He held her tightly, feeling her tremors gradually subside under his touch.

Advika's murmurs slowed, and she clung to him, her fear slowly ebbing away. Vidyut continued to whisper comforting words, his hand gently stroking her back. After a while, her breathing evened out, and she fell into a deep, exhausted sleep, still nestled in his arms.

Vidyut watched her sleep, his heart heavy with guilt. "Mujhe dard dena haq hai tumhara, biwi," he murmured softly, his lips brushing against her forehead. "Lekin us dard mein tumko tadapta hua dekhna meri rooh ko barbad kar deta hai."

With those words lingering in the air, he finally allowed himself to drift off to sleep, holding her close.

***

The morning light filtered into the room, casting a soft glow on the newlywed couple. Advika stirred first, her eyes fluttering open to find herself still wrapped in Vidyut's arms. Memories of the previous night flooded back, and a deep sense of embarrassment washed over her. She tried to move away gently, not wanting to wake him.

Vidyut opened his eyes, sensing her movements. He gave her a reassuring smile, trying to ease her discomfort. "It's okay, Advika. Let's not dwell on last night. We'll talk about it later," he said, his voice calm and understanding.

Advika nodded, grateful for his understanding. Vidyut got up and headed to the bathroom to get ready for the day. Just as he closed the bathroom door behind him, his sister, Mishva, walked into the room, carrying a beautiful saree.

"Bhabhi, this is the saree Mom asked me to give you," she said with a warm smile.

"Thank you, Mishva," Advika replied, taking the saree from her. After a brief chat about the saree, Mishva's expression turned serious.

"Is everything okay, Bhabhi? I heard some noises last night... like fighting. Did you and Bhaiya have a fight?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

Advika forced a smile, trying to appear calm. "Everything is fine, Mishva. Just a small misunderstanding. Nothing to worry about," she said, hoping to reassure her.

Mishva looked at her intently, then nodded slowly. "Okay, if you say so. But Bhabhi, I want you to know something. Bhaiya is a good man. He would never hurt anyone. He's very caring, but sometimes his anger gets the best of him. Please, don't misunderstand him."

Advika felt a lump in her throat. "I know, Mishva. Vidyut is a good man. I just... need some time to understand him better."

Mishva smiled, relief evident on her face. "I'm glad to hear that. Give it time, Bhabhi. Everything will be okay."

With those words, Mishva left the room, leaving Advika to her thoughts. She glanced towards the bathroom door, hearing the faint sounds of Vidyut getting ready. Determined to make things right before it got too late, she started preparing herself for the day, hoping to find a way to mend things between them.

---

The morning sun cast a warm glow over the house, signaling a new beginning for Advika. It was her first rasoi, a significant ritual where the new bride cooks for her in-laws. She felt a mix of excitement and nervousness as she made her way to the kitchen, dressed in a vibrant red saree and adorned with chooda, the traditional bangles that marked her as a newlywed.

Vaishnavi, her mother-in-law, greeted her with a warm smile. "Good morning, Advika. Today is your first rasoi. I want you to feel comfortable. You are our daughter now, so no need to stress. Just make something sweet, and the staff will handle the rest."

Advika nodded, her nerves easing a bit. "Thank you, Mom. "

As Advika busied herself in the kitchen, Mishva walked in, her face lit with excitement. "Bhabhi, are you ready for your paghphera? It's a special ritual where you visit your parents' home after the wedding."

Advika smiled, feeling a pang of disappointed. "Yes, I remember. I'm looking forward to it."

Vidyut, who had overheard part of the conversation, misinterpreted it entirely. He thought Advika was planning to leave him because of their fight last night. His heart sank, and he quickly left for his room, his mind racing with thoughts of losing her.

Determined not to let her go, Vidyut paced in his room, feeling a surge of emotions. When Advika finished in the kitchen and entered the room, he acted on impulse. He grabbed her by the arm and pinned her gently but firmly against the wall.

"Abhi se hi mujse dur bhag rahi ho, treasure?" he demanded, his voice a mix of frustration and hurt.

Advika's eyes widened in surprise, then softened as she realized his misunderstanding. She started to laugh, a light, musical sound that eased the tension

"It's just a ritual, Vidyut. Paghphera. I have to visit my parents' house. I'm not leaving you," she explained, her laughter subsiding into a warm smile.

Vidyut's expression shifted from confusion to understanding, and then to admiration as he took in her appearance. "You look beautiful, Advika. The red saree, the chooda... and your smile," he complimented, his voice filled with genuine affection.

Advika's smile faded slightly, sensing his frustration. "Why did you stop smiling?" Vidyut asked, his tone gentle but insistent. "Why don't you show your emotions, Advika? What's happening?"

She took a deep breath, her eyes meeting his. "I'm just... trying to adjust. Why the hell did you care, Vidyut, when you forced me to marry you? Was it just a deal for you?"

"Deal?! Seriously, biwi, you think this is a deal?" he asked, hurt. "You really think it's a deal? I know I forced you to marry me, but I had my reasons. I can't say right now, but I'm trying to give this a chance. Why won't you?"

"Chance unhe diya jata hai jo galti karte hai, unhe nahi jisne gunnah kiya ho," she said, hurt and anger building in her.

(𝘈 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴)

"I know I made a mistake, but will you never forgive me, treasure? I'm ready to mend things," Vidyut started, but Advika cut him off.

"It doesn't matter, Vidyut. After six months, this marriage will end, and then we'll be apart. We can't be together, so staying away will be good for both of us."

"Dur rehna chahti ho mujse kyu? Darti ho ki kahi mujse pyaar na ho jaye," he said, moving closer to her.

(𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘦? 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦?)

"Pyaar?! Seriously, Vidyut, pyaar?! Kabhi nahi. Mein mar jaungi, phir bhi kisi se pyaar nahi karungi. Kabhi nahi," she said, tears glistening in her eyes, making her tense.

(𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦!? 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘪 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳)

"Jab tumhare liye ye rishta koi mayne hi nahi rakhta, to phir ye mere naam ka sindoor aur mangalsutra pehne ki kya zaroorat hai? Nikal do isse," he said, clutching the mangalsutra in his hands.

( 𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘢?)

Advika placed her hands on his, which were clutching the mangalsutra. "Bhale hi mere liye ye rishta mayne na rakhta ho, lekin ye rishta bahar ki duniya walo ke liye mayne rakhta hai aur mein bahar ki duniya walo ko hamare rishte par sawal uthne nahi dungi," she said.

("𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱")

"Sawal to 6 mahina baad bhi uthenge, treasure, jab tum chali jaungi. Badnami to tabhi bhi hogi," he said, hurt and frustrated.

("𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 6 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴 , 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 , 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 . 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦)

"Mere paas abhi koi jawab nahi hai iska. Leave me."

(𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘨𝘰)

"Thik hai, phir jab is baat ka jawab mil jaye, to mujhe bata dena. Lekin yad rakhna, kahi der na ho jaye," he said and went away, making her remember the memories where she heard the same lines.

("𝘈𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳, 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚")

𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴

It was a warm summer evening, and Advika and Maan were sitting on the rooftop of her old house, enjoying the gentle breeze. They often came here to escape the chaos of daily life, finding solace in each other's company. Maan, with his easygoing nature and infectious smile, always knew how to lighten her mood.

"Advika, have you ever been in love?" Maan asked suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence.

Advika chuckled, shaking her head. "No, Maan. I don't think I have. What about you?"

Maan's eyes twinkled with a secret he was ready to share. "Actually, I have. There's someone special. Her name is Mishi."

Advika's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Mishi? I didn't know! Tell me more about her."

Maan's expression softened as he spoke. "Mishi is amazing, Advika. She's smart, kind, and has this incredible smile that lights up the room. I've loved her for a long time, but I haven't told her yet. I'm afraid she might not feel the same way."

Advika nodded, understanding his hesitation. "Love is scary, Maan. It's a leap of faith."

Maan looked thoughtful, then smiled at her. "You know, Advika, love is worth the risk. And it's not just about love. In life, whether it's love or mistakes,

we need to accept them. Jab bhi kisi se pyaar karo ya koi galti karo, to usse accept kar lena. Warna yaad rakhna, kahi der na ho jaye."

His words hung in the air, resonating deeply with her. Maan had a way of simplifying life's complexities, making everything seem so clear. She knew his advice came from a place of experience and genuine care.

"You're right, Maan. I'll remember that," she replied softly, feeling the weight of his words settle into her heart.

𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴

Advika sighed, her eyes moist with nostalgia. Maan's advice had stayed with her all these years, guiding her through moments of doubt and fear. She wondered where he was now, if he ever not gave his life for his love he would be here and comforting her but then it was too late.

As she made her way down the stairs, lost in her thoughts, someone suddenly pushed her.

"You gold-digger bitch...," the voice hissed

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𝘠𝘦𝘩𝘪 𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘲 𝘥𝘪 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘻𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘪

𝘠𝘦𝘩𝘪 𝘳𝘢𝘣 𝘥𝘪 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘻𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘪

𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘯 𝘫𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘢

𝘠𝘦𝘩𝘪 𝘬𝘩𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘻𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘪...

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