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“Out?” Me and Jaya both shout together, almost scaring the maid.

“Ye-yeah. He asked me to convey it to you. He will be back home around 06:00 pm today.”

She keeps the bags in the room and leaves.

“What the heck is he playing at this time? Where can he take you?”

“I don’t want to go anywhere with him,” I tell Jaya who nods in agreement.

“But you have no excuse, Jhanvi. It was you who agreed to come here and pretend to be nice and accept this marriage. So now, go with the flow.”

I’m nervous. Jaya sits next to me.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Jhanvi? This is so not you. Pretending. Faking feelings and all. I don’t understand why you agreed to do this in the first place? You could have told Mohit to find another way to deal with Aarav. Why you? I feel both these men are using you in their revenge.”

“Not Mohit” I snap. “He is just finding a way to settle all this.”

I don’t want to think Mohit is using me too like Aarav is.

“And what happens once all this is over?” Jaya asks. “What about your future with Mohit? Is he still willing to accept you as his bride?”

Bride? I don’t know. For all that’s in my head right now is that I am Aarav Raichand’s bride. At least that’s what I have to pretend to be and accept until Mohit earns back what he lost.

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

It’s evening and I am still staring at the dress which Aarav has asked me to wear tonight. It’s a red salwar suit with a thin lace on the Dupatta, typically worn by a newly married woman. I can still wear it, but what scares me is the Mangalsutra (marital chain) and the minimal jewelry he has sent along with it. Not to forget there’s also Sindoor (Vermillion). Aarav wants me to deck up as his wife tonight. He probably wants to flaunt me wherever he is taking me. I still have no clue where that would be but spending some time alone with Aarav Raichand is giving me goosebumps. It has always given me a distinct feeling inside my body when Aarav is around, ever since the first time we met when I didn’t even hate him. One thing that didn’t change from then to now is my fear of his strong persona. I have been friends with many men so far, but none of them was like Aarav Raichand. He is unique, scary in every odd way. But there’s no point stepping back now. I have to do this for Mohit and Daadi. Just an hour back, I informed Mohit about this suddentake-me-outidea of Aarav and what surprised me is the fact that Mohit didn’t even pretend to be jealous. Was he really so blind in his revenge that he had lost his feelings for me?

I check my watch. It’s fifteen minutes to six. I have little time so I ignore all other thoughts and start getting ready. Jaya had a few work calls to make, so she is busy in her room. Poor her, she has to handle both my problems and her work stress together, as she has no plans to fly back to London until she has sorted my mess. It’s hard to find a friend like her. I am also intrigued by this man called Aman Mathur. There’s little innocence on Aman’s face as far as I have seen him until now, nothing that I ever found on Aarav’s.

I wear the red salwar suit, leave my hair open and pin-up the Veil on one side of my shoulder. It’s hard to avoid the jewelry Aarav sent me because I don’t want him to be suspicious, I’m not interested in being his wife. So, I wear a few bangles and also matching earrings, giving myself a last look in the mirror. I look different. Had I been married to Mohit, maybe I would have felt different too.

The door opens, and the sudden glimpse of Aarav in the mirror burns my throat. In a grey suit, the man looks all business, but what catches my attention is his casual pose. Leaning against the doorframe, with one hand in his pant pockets, he stares at me like he has every right to do so.

“I didn’t hear a knock,” I mention turning to him.

“Didn’t know a husband needs permission to enter his wife’s room.” He unbuttons his coat.

Aarav always fools me with his one-liners, but not this time.

“Between us, it’s a must.” I declare, staring at him as he takes a step inside.

“Then I suggest you lock the door, Jaan. Knocking is not my thing.”

Jaan!! The way he calls me, Jaan, irks me especially when he is so bossy all the time.

Before he can step further inside, or reach me, I show I am ready. “Let’s leave.”

I hoped he would stop crossing the distance between us and follow me out, but instead, he reaches me and stands closer.

“You forgot something.” Saying that he picks the Mangalsutra and before I can object, which I don’t think I could, he ties it again around my neck. His knuckles brush my nape, but I am glad he is more bothered of hooking the chain rather than focusing on our bodily reactions. “And.." he adds, leaning back to the dressing table. He takes a pinch of Sindoor and applies it gently on my forehead partition. The whole world just collapses at my feet as he marks me as his wife again.

“Now you look like Mrs. Jhanvi Aarav Raichand.”

I create some distance between us immediately at the reminder of my new identity and grab my purse. Without another word, I stride out of the room. It’s too much to bear that I am Raichand’s Bahu but not Mohit’s wife but his stepbrother’s.

It’s just not the two of us in the car. Madan, the same old driver, will drive today. Though he smiles at me when he opens the car door, I don’t.

I don’t think I can ever warm up with anyone related to Aarav.

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