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“We are not going anywhere today. Look at yourself. You can’t even walk on your own. I am sorry, but I can’t risk that. I will take you to Raichand Mansion tomorrow, but tonight you need rest. And both Daadi and Mohit need to calm down a bit before they hear you out. So let this night pass. Tomorrow we will meet them.”

Maybe she is right. I need rest and have to regain all my energy and strength to fight back this misunderstanding which Aarav has created so effortlessly between me and my family.

*****************

I don’t let Jaya sleep in any other room but the one I am presently occupying. I’m not sure if this is Aarav’s bedroom or a guest room but fortunately, I don’t see him again tonight, which only gives some relief to my aching heart. It takes another hour for me to actually feel sleepy despite having such an exhausting day. After Dad’s accident, I couldn’t sleep for days and my doctor had prescribed some smaller dose of sleeping pills, which helped me rest. Later I stopped taking them when my symptoms of insomnia subsided, but now after this second gruesome incident of my life, I think those symptoms are returning.

It’s dark and I am still in sleep, feeling extremely cold. My body shivers and I badly want to cover myself with some thick warm quilt. I have this silly habit of pushing away my duvet in my sleep and then at times like these when I am restless and weak, I catch cold and fever if I don’t keep myself warm. But even to open my eyes or make any hand movements to cover myself again seems exhausting and painful today. Can’t believe I am that weak. All because of Aarav Raichand. I will never forgive him. Never!! Suddenly, I feel warm. Yes!! I don’t shiver anymore. I feel better as my body is covered again with some thick comforter. How? I didn’t even move my arms. Maybe Jaya did it. She is sleeping next to me. Yeah, this has to be her. Can it be someone else? Who? Aarav?

My eyes dart open in fear and I sit on the bed with a jerk at the thought of Aarav entering this room and covering me up. The room is still dark. Jaya is snoring, and the door is locked. But I have a fluffy comforter on my body. Who put this on me if Jaya is sleeping? Was Aarav here? Or maybe Jaya did it before sleeping and I didn’t realize it. I hope it was her. I don’t want Aarav anywhere near me again. That man scares me. He ruined my present, broke my relationship with Daadi and Mohit. I hate him so much. In a single moment, my life changed forever. All I ever wanted was to feel chosen. Aarav chose me but for his revenge. How Unfair. I can never make peace with this marriage. Never.

******************

I wake up this morning to Jaya’s voice. She speaks to someone at the door and doesn’t seem happy. There are bags in her hands when she shuts the door, which she puts on the table.

It feels alien to wake up in this mansion and in a second all the memories of who got me here and why flash in my head making the feeling even worse.

“Who was it?” I ask, rubbing my eyes.

“Some maid. Seems the breakfast is ready, which I obviously couldn’t deny considering you need to eat, but I told her to send the breakfast in the room as we both have no joy in sharing it down with Aarav Raichand.”

I stare at the bags again.

“What are these?”

“Aarav has sent you some clothes, toiletries and oh my god-” she fishes through the bags and her eyes widen in shock. “He has shopped even your inners? Like seriously? How… cheap!!”

What? I get down from the bed and reach the bags to check if she really means all that. And yes, Aarav has sent me all of this, including some cosmetics, perfumes, and so much more of my favorite brands.

“He’s insane.” I snap.

Jaya nods.

“What do you suggest we do?”

“I am not wearing these.”

Jaya supports my idea. I check my phone, which has no message from Mohit or Daadi. I can’t fathom what they might have gone through knowing I married Aarav, but I am confident once they know on what conditions I had to marry him, they will forgive me. And then? How will that change any of my present? What will be my next actions? My head spins at that thought, which I suppress for now. First things first. Speaking to Daadi and Mohit should be my priority now.

After a quick shower, I wear one of Jaya’s dresses. Obviously, as she came directly to see me from the airport, she had her bags loaded with her which she packed again after we had a quick bite of sandwiches and juices in the room. Thankfully Aarav has still not shown up which is relieving and neither he coaxed us to have breakfast together with him. But though this distance between us should ease me, it scares me too. Every time Aarav is so silent and calm, it only means he is plotting another storm.

“Where are you leaving?”

The unknown voice of a man as Jaya and I get down the stairs to leave this place, jerks us both. I have never been this scared of any situation before and now it feels like even an unknown voice is enough to bring out my fear.

I see a handsome man dressed in a suit, less expensive than the ones Aarav wears, blocking our way out. He smiles at me, but I choose to ignore him.

“How are you feeling now, Jhanvi?”

His voice is much smooth and concerned unlike Aarav’s, whose tone is always domineering.

“She is fine,” Jaya responds on my behalf.

He shifts his gaze to Jaya and the smile fades.

“I didn’t ask you.”

Do they know each other? I am confused. Well, it’s obvious that Jaya behaves the same with almost every man she meets ever since her breakup, but it seems like the feeling of hatred here is mutual between them.

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