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“Got upset so soon?” I ask. “I haven’t even started demanding yet.”

Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pull her to my chest, with my other arm holding hers as we dance in sync with the others. Jhanvi shivers when I purposely press my palm to her skin at the lower back, urging her to keep contact between our bodies.

“Aarav you are… misbehaving.”

“Am I?” I pull her even closer.

She resists this time until I let her put some distance between us, but I ensure she is still in my circle of reach, with her hand still in mine and the other on my shoulder for support.

The anger that I’d wanted to vent out on Mohit, comes hurling out on her.

“You came with a motive back in my home, Jaan. Remember?”

Now she freezes. Her lips part in surprise. For a second, she thinks I know she is faking all of this to earn something in return for Mohit, but she still doesn’t give up. I hate that she feels things are still in her favor.

“My motive was to accept this marriage between us. I don’t recall anything apart from that.”

Perfect Lie!!But I grin. I twirl her around, with the music only to pull her back to me the next second. This time both her palms shift to my chest, grabbing a fistful of my white shirt for support.

“Then let’s see how desperate you are to get what you want, Jaan. Prove me that tonight.”

She squeals as I end my statement and stares at me in a mix of disbelief, fear and confusion.

“Kiss me,” I command.

Her brows twitch high.

“What?”

“You heard it. I asked you to kiss me. Here. Right now, before everyone. As it is, I don’t think anyone around us is interested in noticing us in this dim light. So…” I pull her closer. “Kiss me.”

Her eyes fill with dread as she tries to read what’s going on in my head. I don’t care if I am forcing her to do this. I am too enraged, and exceptionally hurt seeing her coming out of Mohit’s bedroom when the last thing she told me was that she wants to giveourmarriage a chance.

“You are drunk.”

“So? I can still kiss you well, even if I am drunk. And this is the first step you need to take to make me believe you aren’t playing me, Jaan. I am asking you nicely for the last time. Kiss me.”

“No,” she throws a loathing look at me and is about to get away when I slide my arm around her slender neck and crash my lips on hers. She freezes for a few seconds at first to realize this was really happening.I amkissing her. Doesn’t matter if she surrenders to me or not.I amkissing my wife. She’s grabbed my shirt so hard that I wonder if it’s already torn. But I don’t care. All I know is that Mohit Raichand is watching us and burning in jealousy. This is exactly what I wanted him to see.

I feel wetness on my cheeks, and it doesn’t take me long to realize they are tears.Jhanvi’s tears.I instantly pull away from her and see her eyes flood with tears. Even in the dim light, they shine so brightly, cursing my actions.

“Jaan,” I am about to scoop her in my arms again to soothe her cries, but Jhanvi steps behind giving me the most wretched look I deserve and runs to the exit.

No No No. What the hell did I do? In my rage, I literally did the most hurtful thing to a woman.. to my wife.. my Jhanvi. Damn!! I run behind her.

Please stop.

My mind begs her to stop, but she doesn’t until we are far from the mansion. I almost run to catch up to her speed and slow down when she stops.

“Jhanvi,” I say, reaching closer, and the next instant, she turns around and slaps me hard.

F***!! I deserved that. She isn’t an ounce guilty of her action and nor does that rage me. I take a step closer.

“Slap me again, if that soothes you somehow.” I mean it.

“Don’t. Don’t even think this physical pain is anywhere comparable with what you gave me.”

Fine. I agree with that even, but I won’t let her paint me the only villain here.

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