Page 20 of Forbidden

CHAPTER 10

Jhanvi

Though I could hardly get sleep last night and the memories of my wedding with Aarav Raichand haunted me throughout, I didn’t want to spoil my present and future by letting Aarav have an upper hand over me. I don’t consider that marriage because Aarav tricked me into it. Once Jaya is here, we will figure out how to tell Daadi and Mohit and end this chapter of my life lawfully. I want to punish Aarav for the gruesome path he chose to avenge the Raichands. He could have done anything to get to them, but not use me as his pawn. I will not let him use me in any way to fulfil his mission.

With that determination, I begin my day. When I come down, devoid of any marital signs on me which can make Mohit and Daadi suspicious, I already feel like I’m cheating them. These two are my family. They deserved to know. Mohit is scowling at his assistant, who is home and holding some files in his hand. Even Daadi looks restless.

“Mohit, calm down. We know that man wants to destroy us. What else did you expect?”

“Daadi, I won’t tolerate this nuisance. The Mehtas worked for 5 years with us and now suddenly they broke all ties with our company and joined Aarav’s?”

“That’s called business. They chose their side,” Daadi explains.

I connect the dots. So once again, Aarav snatched a client from the DG group. That man is hell bent to destroy us. Mohit advances towards his assistant and snatches some invitation card to read.

“See the guts of this man. He has thrown a party to celebrate his win and has invited us.”

He tears the card and the pieces scatter everywhere on the floor. Though they have acknowledged my presence, I don’t interfere. Daadi gestures to the assistant to leave and once we are the only ones left in the drawing room, she turns to Mohit whose anger is uncontrollable.

“He wants to poke us and we are giving him a chance to do so,” Daadi mentions.

I know she is right. Aarav just needs their attention and can do anything to have it on him.

“We should go to that party tomorrow.”

Mohit refutes Daadi’s suggestion.

“Are you serious? You want to celebrate his victory? I am sorry Daadi, I am not that kind and patient. The moment Aarav comes before me, all I would want to do is punch his face or rather kill him.”

My heart aches to listen to his words. So much hatred Mohit has for Aarav and vice versa. What is all this for? Only because they are stepbrothers?

“Mohit, stop speaking rubbish,” Daadi shouts. She has finally decided to take things in her control. “If we don’t attend this party, Aarav will get another chance to mock us and we won’t give him that. Plus, all top companies are invited, which means our absence will create a buzz in our circle that we are defeated by him and society will get an opportunity to backtalk. We should not give Aarav another reason to be happy if this happens. So, the decision is made. We are all going to attend that party tomorrow.”

“All?” I finally poke.

I can’t believe Daadi wants me to accompany them to Aarav’s party. I can’t.

“Yes, Jhanvi. We all. You are a part of this family and I want you to meet a few of our business associates.”

“But Daadi, I … What will I do there? I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“It is,” Mohit intervenes. “Daadi is right. I want people to see us together and divert their minds from our losing business.”

What? Mohit wants me there only for diversion? Is that really what he means? Daadi reaches for me and grips my arms.

“I want everyone to meet my daughter-in-law.”

My eyes pool with tears as she calls me that. Daughter-in-law. Yes!! Though I am married to Aarav Raichand now and not Mohit, I am still her daughter-in-law. But once the truth is out, will she accept me? Not letting my tears fall, I quickly pulled her for a hug. That’s the only way I could gather some strength for myself to attend the party tomorrow and face that man again.

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The word Lavish seems tiny and less relevant to what I am seeing right now before me. Aarav organized the party at the lawn of a seven-star hotel property and all the VIP guests are around. It’s like he has invited the entire city to celebrate his success. I get down the car with Daadi and Mohit, curbing my fears from surfacing on my face. This will be the first instance when Aarav, me, Daadi and Mohit will all be together at the same place, facing each other. It doesn’t give me good vibes.

“Hello Ma’am. Welcome to Raichand’s party,” a man in a white suit, specially hired to welcome the guests, greets us.

He passes me his sweetest smile and I believe there’s no other reason why he smiled only at me and not at Daadi and Mohit. With Daadi at the center, we keep walking ahead. I text Jaya to tell her I am here at Aarav’s party with the family. She has taken a flight to India and will land in an hour. I have sent her a car to pick her up from the airport and specifically told her to be careful. Ever since Aarav tricked me that he had abducted Jaya the other day, I cannot take further risks.

My phone beeps with an incoming message. It’s from Aarav and though it scares me a bit, I still open it, wanting to know what he wants to convey? I swear if he threatens me to leave Daadi and Mohit’s side and join his, I will lash him out, expose his truth before all the people here, and then see how he saves his dignity.

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