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I don’t care if I am sounding rude, but I need to know everything she’s doing or going to do in the future.

“Sleeping pill,” she finally says. “I have problems getting sleep when things are so traumatic around me.”

I don’t like to hear that especially realizing I am the one responsible for it.

“You were supposed to gift me Aarav, which turned out to be another hurtful moment for me. Raichand Mansion?” she scolds. “Seriously? Do you think snatching that house from Daadi and gifting it to me will be a pleasant wedding gift for your wife, who is so much connected to that family? Wow.”

She claps, laughing sarcastically whilst all I do is just watch her.

“You said you wanted to work on this marriage, didn’t you?” I query.

Jhanvi is offended by my question.

“Yes. But I won’t blindly trust you and your silly actions. I am not one of those wives who bows their heads at every command from their husband. You can hate the world but can’t force me to hate people I have loved so far.”

That’s the problem I’m aware of. She’s supporting the wrong team and will never realize that so soon. But I like her feistiness. This is what I always loved about her. She never accepted my decisions without challenging me.

“You know what, Jaan?” I block her way out. “You need to get your beauty sleep because the day after tomorrow, we need to look fresh and happy in our wedding reception.”

She gives me another loathing look before taking a step closer to me. First time!! For the first time, it’s she who did this. She’s always the one to put a distance between us otherwise.

“I don’t know what you want to prove by celebrating our wedding reception right under the nose of Daadi and Mohit. Sure, it may give you that winning feeling, but don’t expect me to enjoy that day at all. Consider it yet another event in which I am forced to participate.”

Clearing her point loud enough, Jhanvi walks out of the kitchen. I can very well understand her state, but nothing can derail me from flaunting her and my takeover of the Raichand mansion which I have longed to happen for years. Not even Jhanvi!!

CHAPTER 18

Jhanvi

I couldn’t sleep. That’s exactly why I had to take the sleeping pill and despite that, I am still not sleepy. Jaya had offered to stay in my room after what happened today, but I can’t always use her as my support in every fight I have. Wish Mohit had not coerced me to stay with Aarav. Technically, I feel there’s not much difference between Aarav and him. He is using me to win this war between the stepbrothers, just like Aarav is. It’s like I have no stand of my own, no support, but there’s still a ray of hope that one fine day things will settle down and I will be freed from the brother’s rift. After coming here, I used that secret mobile to make calls to Mohit. He was not in the right state of mind to speak to me. Of course, he had lost the house which belonged to his ancestors, but wasn’t this all because of his negligence? If he hadn’t made wrong decisions in the business, Daadi wouldn’t have to keep the mansion under a mortgage and Aarav could never use that opportunity to take over. I told Mohit I would leave all this and come back to them but he strictly denied me doing so. Now, after losing the mansion, Mohit wants to strike hard on Aarav and his business. I’d thought Mohit would be disappointed seeing me wearing Sindoor and Mangalsutra today which claimed me to be Aarav’s wife and not his, but he didn’t even discuss that topic forget sympathizing over the fact that our future together was still uncertain until all this is over. I don’t know what’s happening and where this is all going to lead me. I just hope it takes me anywhere but not to Aarav Raichand. I don’t think I can bear that. Ever!!

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The next day I don’t see Aarav at all, which means my day goes just fine. I have loitered in the Mansion, and even found the drawing room where usually Aarav leads his business from when he is home. Mohit wants me to sneak into that room and see if I can find anything, but I hate snooping. But he’s pushing me so much that I want to literally cut him off, cut this deal off between us to fake being good to Aarav and this marriage.

With a heavy heart and trembling footsteps, I walk inside the study room. It’s big. Big enough to accommodate a large mahogany desk, and the complete office cabin set up. There is a five-seater couch to my left and a mini-bar on my right. The bar has a unique collection of wines and other spirits which I suppose is for the informal meets Aarav conducts from this place. That also reminds me I have a lot to check upon my next charity project. Nothing huge but the one who can bring some good cause to mankind. Dad has left me a lot of money and though the business was running smoothly after him, I knew it would never catch my interest, neither I was prepared to run an empire that huge, solo. So, once I graduated, I had enough rights to make some significant decisions. With the help of Daadi and Mohit, I let another growing company takeover mine and invested that money to open Sikand Charitable Trust which mainly focused on sponsoring free education and meals to most of the needy organizations in India. But now we want to grow and do something more. My team was looking for those small associations here in India, which really needed help. And me being the head, and the one to sign those cheques have to be a part of every decision making. The present mess had made me less productive and more of a loser, so maybe I could work on that first.

I see a glossy invitation card on the table which I pick to read. It’s my wedding reception invitation which is planned for tomorrow at Raichand Mansion. I still can’t believe Daadi has lost rights on that house. I can only fathom what she and Mohit must be feeling right now.

“What are you doing here?”

Aarav’s stern voice drops the card from my fingers. I quickly lean down to pick it up and realize he’s already there to pick the same. His thick hot fingers touch mine and I instantly withdraw, getting back on my feet.

“I don’t like anyone sneaking in here. So, you better have a good reason, Mrs. Jhanvi Aarav Raichand.”

Oh! Is he suspicious that I am here to sneak into his business secrets?

“You should have locked this room if you don’t like uninvited visitors,” I say, tucking the strand of hair behind my ear. I had a haircut this morning at Jaya’s insistence. She took me to the Salon, for a relaxing Spa treatment. I needed it as much as I needed to get away from Aarav for some time.

He keeps the card on the table without breaking our eye lock. It’s always hard to read what he has in mind, but right now I could say he was admiring my new look.

“You look… different.” He leans closer. “You smell like roses.”

Flattery!! He is using it to change my mood. I immediately hold my arms between us so he doesn’t get any closer. Aarav stares at my hand and then glares back at my face.

“Women who want to work on their marriage don’t always remind husbands of their boundaries.”

Hahha! Good one.

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