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“I thought you should be the first one to know from our outside circle. That’s why I came straight here.”
She got engaged? Does she even know what she’s doing? Despite having a clue that she could be Jhanvi, she let another man put a ring on her finger? Is that why they had a small party at their Villa last night? Because she was effing getting engaged to Rudra Singh? The moment she brings the sweet to my mouth, I shrug off her hand so hard that the box drops down with all the sweets scattered on the floor.
“Oops,” she sighs. “You wasted such delicious delicacies, Aarav. But never mind. I wasn’t here to feed you either. Just wanted to make my point clear. I am off limits now. Hope you get the hint and back off at least now.”
She dusts her palms and then takes a step away from me to leave when I grab her hands and haul her to my body again. She winces at my tight grip but I don’t bother to loosen it.
“How could you?” I bark.
“Knowing what a manipulative person you are, you still thought I would believe you?”
Khushi pushes me off with force and steps behind.
“How much time would you need to spike my food at the conference and spray something harmful on my gold chain to make my skin itch and rash?”
What? Is she serious?
“Rudra brainwashed you against me, didn’t he?” I snarl, taking another step forward.
“He didn’t have to. I just didn’t bother to know about your past much, he did. I know how you married Jhanvi by playing tricks with her. And now that I have her face, you want to use those same tactics on me.”
Jesus! I want to shut her mouth for accusing me so badly but I can’t because she is still my Jaan and venting out my frustration on her is going to turn things bitter between us. So, to curb the anger burning inside me, I smash my arm to the glass vase on my table which breaks down and scars my fingers. Blood oozes out of my thumb in no time.
“Aarav?” The reflex with which she snaps reminds me how Jhanvi reacted every time I hurt myself. As if Khushi forgets who she is and why she came here, she instantly grabs my wrist to check the scar and is still thinking what to do about it, when I raise my arm gently from hers and rub my bloodied thumb on her forehead partition, marking her with my blood instead of Sindoor (vermillion). She freezes on the spot as she touches the blood on her hair partition while all I do at the moment is admire how beautiful she looks as my bride again.
“You can wear any man’s ring on your finger, but you can’t neglect the truth that you are still my wife.. Aarav Raichand’s wife,Jaan.”
She is about to intervene me for calling her Jaan again but I don’t let her speak.
“I know you dislike me calling you Jaan, and that I even had promised you that I won’t call you so until you want me to, but if you do such things to get me off your back, I can go back on my words too.”
She clenches her teeth and trust me; she looks even more beautiful whenever she’s angry.
“I’ll call you with whatever names please me and you won’t be able to stop me or resist that either, Jaan.”
A strange discomfort flashes on her face as she connects the possibility of what I might do hereon. It was she who challenged me to bring the war and I’m happily laying it at her feet. Her gaze levels with mine and her condescending stare burns me again as she rubs the blood from her forehead glaring at me.
“Rudra was right. You are a monster.”
“And a beauty like you always belonged to a monster like me.” The languid carnality in my stare flares a scorching flame across her skin. “Even the prospect of owning something excites me. Since you are already mine, imagine how obsessed I am with you, Jaan. My fetish for you is one of a kind. I don’t care who you begun your day with, but I promise, you’ll conclude your night with me.”
Pushing me out of her way, Khushi marches out of the door. Though she leaves, the thought that she got engaged to Rudra doesn't leave my head. Now the urge to bring her back in my arms runs deep in every fiber of my body. I don’t think I have enough patience left.
**************
The same night, I meet a few international delegates who were here for doing business with AR Group, for dinner. Once they leave and I am heading back to my car with Aman, we see Rudra Singh speaking to someone on our way. The moment he sees us, the grin on his face deepens and he excuses that person to reach us. He better realizes I am in no mood for his boasting on the engagement thing.
“Mr. Raichand. What a pleasant surprise that we meet here again.”
I clench my fingers but Aman presses my shoulder hard. I know what that gesture means. He wants me to act cool. Rudra Singh is my rival and one wrong move can bring me in the bad light before the media.
“Hello, Mr. Singh.” Aman greets him on my behalf.
“Hello, Aman. Did you get the sweets that Khushi brought today at your office?” Rudra mocks.
I scan the place around. Four CCTV cameras all angled in our direction. Still, I don’t mind punching this man if he speaks a word more to prick my already aching heart.
“No,” Aman curtly responds. “And excuse us. We are getting late.”
