𝟓: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

"mere jaisa ishq mein pagal, phir mile ya na mile kal."

Tears streamed down my cheeks while papa stood like a stone in front of me.

"Papa, you can't do this to me! Just for the sake of a political alliance, you're forcing me to get married?" I asked, turning around to find others, Sakshi di, jiju, and even my chacha and chachi ji.

I thought that at least they will stand by my side, but today, they were at papa's side too.

I forgot that my entire family is narrow minded. They can never understand what I feel.

"I wish anything was in my hand, angel," papa said, shattering my heart into pieces.

"It's in your hand only, papa! What bhaiya did was wrong and-"

"Don't say anything about Aryan. Whatever he did, he's still my son. Do you even know what the police do with him everyday? Nirwan Malhotra has asked them to take him on remand for sixteen days continuously, it's been ten days already and now I can't bear to see him in that state!" papa shouted, making me flinch and more tears rolled down my cheeks.

I looked hopelessly at Sakshi di, who remained standing like a stone too. I know she wouldn't help me, because she is attached to Aryan bhaiya as well.

I'm the youngest child but at what cost? They don't respect my opinions at all.

"Lekin humein lawyer banna hai, papa! Hum shadi nahi kar sakte!" I protested, while he closed his eyes.

[But I want to become a lawyer, papa. I can't get married!]

"I know, I know everything. But I can't help it. I can't let Arora Supremacy get shut down easily," papa replied, opening his eyes and glaring at me again.

"So just for the sake of your party, you're ready to give away your daughter to any random man?" I asked, standing up on my trembling legs.

"He's not some random man, Aakriti! He is Nirwan Malhotra!"

I froze at my spot at the mention of his name. Nirwan Malhotra?

Nirwan Malhotra?

Did I hear him right?

Nirwan Malhotra wants to marry me?

No, wait, papa said it's because of a political alliance, so obviously it has to be a leader.

But why Nirwan Malhotra?

"No, papa, I won't marry him-"

"I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. Either agree on this marriage or watch us serve as their servants. What do you want? Your family licks the Malhotras' shoes?"

I breathed heavily, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't even think of anything. I wasn't even able to process what to do.

If I don't agree, they will make my life a living hell.

If I agree, it will obviously make no difference but at least I'll get a way to stay away from Aryan bhaiya and my family.

The family which is like a curse to me now.

I never thought I'll be standing at this point of my life where I'll be forced into a marriage by my papa who I once used to call my superhero.

"Okay, I agree with this marriage," I replied coldly, wiping my tears with the back of my hand.

☆

I walked inside the Malhotra mansion, my heels clicking against the black tiled floor.

It's the second time I'm here, the last time I came, I never thought I would come back for a reason like this.

I saw a woman descending the huge staircase with a smile. She was Anandi Malhotra, I saw her on the TV.

"Namaste, Aakriti beta," she said with a small smile.

"Namaste, aunty," I greeted back while joining my palms, plastering a fake smile over my lips.

"Nirwan was waiting for you to come, but you were late so he went to the gym," she said, while I sighed.

Thank god he went, I should leave too.

"Okay, I'll come later-"

"No, the gym is upstairs. You can go and meet him there," she stopped me in my tracks and my heart started beating rapidly.

Who owns a gym in their house?

I nodded awkwardly and a servant approached me, guiding me upstairs to the gym.

Has Anandi Malhotra accepted me? Does she know about this marriage of convenience? If she does, how can she act so nice and good as if this marriage was normal?

The servant stopped in front of a big door leading to the gym and excused me.

I bit my lip and looked down, I was wearing a red suit, and I think I looked pretty simple.

I fixed my dupatta and took a deep breath. I raised my trembling hand and knocked on the door of the gym, but got no response.

I knocked again, and this time, the door opened slightly. I pushed the door slowly and it flung open, and what I saw next made my eyes widen.

Nirwan Malhotra was standing all shirtless, holding a really huge and heavy dumble with both his arms high above his head. He was only wearing shots underneath, and the sight of his exposed body forced pink tint to appear on my cheeks.

I immediately turned around and closed my eyes, while I heard the heavy sound of the big dumble being kept on the floor.

I heard the sound of his heavy breathing, "Turn around."

I turned around and found him staring at me, still shirtless. I turned around again, feeling even more embarrassed, "A-aapki shirt...?"

[Y-your shirt...?]

"Turn around," he repeated the same words, while I kept my palm on my eyes and turned around.

I parted my fingers and looked at him slightly. He was wearing his shirt, buttoning it while staring at me.

I stood straight, clearing my throat, "I came here-"

"Come with me," he said before walking out of the gym. I followed him outside and he took me to another room.

He opened the door and I realised it was probably his office. He sat down on the main chair and I sat in front.

It feels like we are here to discuss something way too formal.

"What is your answer?" he asked once we both were comfortable in our seats.

My heart was pounding in my chest, "I'm okay with this marriage."

He let out a sigh, "You are sure you're not forced to agree?"

My breathing and heartbeat fastened; should I tell him that papa forced me?

No, if papa gets to know this, he will make my life a living hell.

I immediately shook my head, while he nodded.

"Okay, so since you've agreed to get married, there are a few things I want you to keep in mind," he said in a cold and stern tone, while I attentively nodded.

"This marriage is because of a political alliance saying that your party will join us and we will work together as a strong government against others, and also, you're just my wife in terms. My family wanted me to get married, so I'm doing it. You don't have any right on me. You can never act like my first wife," he said.

First wife? He already had a wife before?

Why didn't anyone tell me that earlier?

Tears welled up in my eyes at his words, this marriage would fetch me nothing. His family may accept me and I can win their hearts but I know I can do nothing to win his heart and make my place in his family.

I nodded slowly, trying to hide the pain I was feeling inside my chest.

"I-i need to say something as well," I said, while he nodded for me to continue.

"If you're not accepting me as your wife, then you have to allow me to continue with my studies to become an advocate. I can't give up on my own dreams," I stated confidently, while he nodded.

"Your studies will not be interfered with anything from my side," he finished, while I nodded slowly.

"Okay, you can leave now. Your father will be notified about the further things," he said, while I nodded and stood up, before walking out of the room.

☆

I sat on the stool, feeling numb and weak. Every other guest present at the ceremony was coming to me and applying haldi on my hands, legs, and slightly on my cheeks while praising and congratulating me.

There were also the other locals invited to our wedding, which completely meant that my family wanted to show off.

This marriage was just a way to sign the political alliance so that people can know that both the parties were together.

But did they care about our opinion?

The tent was huge, there were two compartments, one for me and the other one for Nirwan ji.

Nirwan ji. I have to call him that now.

There was a curtain between both our compartments, so we couldn't see each other. People applied haldi to me before him, and once I was done, they took the same bowl to Nirwan ji's area and they started the same rituals with him.

Surbhi came towards me when everyone was busy on the other side.

"Aakii, I know what you're going through, I wish I could handle everything. But you have to be strong. I know jiju will not hurt you but-"

"I know he won't. But I can't say he's a good man either. When he talked to me personally, I realised that he is forced into this as well. Everyone is using me for their own benefits," I said, tears welling up in my eyes.

She nodded and wiped a tear that escaped my eye, "You're strong, Aakii, you're really strong."

"I'll make sure I fight for myself when I become a servant of the law. What they are doing is completely wrong!" I said, my tone was full of hatred.

"I saw Aryan bhaiya here, but he was busy in his own work and didn't even come here," she said, while I chuckled sadly.

"That's his bitter truth, Surbhi. He was never so attached to me. He never loved me like his own sister since childhood. I don't know what odds I had that it was always difficult for him to love me," I said, while she squeezed my shoulder.

"There's no use in saying all this now, Aakii. Stay strong and fight for yourself. Everything will be okay soon," she left before saying those encouraging words.

☆

Tomorrow, our wedding is just tomorrow.

Tomorrow, he will mark me as his wife but at what cost? Just the mangalsutra and sindoor will mark me as his wife, but not his heart.

Those seven rounds in the mandap will mark me as his wife, but he will think it all as a game.

"Ma'am, what is the name?" the mehendi artist asked me while I was snapped out of my thoughts.

"Nirwan," I told her the name and she nodded before writing his name on my hand.

"Yeh bakwas mujhe nahi karni!" I heard his familiar voice from the other side of the tent.

[I don't want to do this rubbish ritual!]

"Nirw, thodi mehendi toh lagwani padegi na!" Anandi Malhotra spat at him.

[Nirw, you need to apply a little henna!]

"Mai yeh shadi kar raha hoon, wahi bohot hai!" he roared again, and a shiver ran down my spine when I heard that deep and dark voice of him.

[I'm getting married, that is enough!]

I would surely pass out if he ever yelled at me like that.

His personality scares my soul to death. I'll have to be kind and gentle around him, because one wrong move of me will make him go mad.

Anandi Malhotra walked from that area and our eyes met. She smiled and walked towards me, looking down at my mehendi.

"Your hands and legs are looking so beautiful! You will surely look like an angel tomorrow," she praised while applying kohl behind my ear from her eye.

I smiled sadly while she excused me and walked away.

Angel. The nickname my papa gave me the moment I was born. And since then, he has been calling me that.

But I didn't hear him calling me 'angel' after that day when he helplessly asked me to get married.

"Ma'am, the mehendi's colour is dark. Sir will surely love you a lot," the mehendi artist said, and the other artist working on my legs nodded while giggling.

I gave them a fake smile too.

Love and him?

How can he love me when his first wife is still in his heart?

I don't even know what happened to his first wife. I tried to ask many people but no one told me and asked me to keep my mouth shut.

Maybe I'll ask Nirwan ji myself if we ever bond up in the future.

☆

Sakshi di fixed my ghunghat while I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

I was sitting silently, feeling nothing but nervousness inside me.

I can't face him, my heart is beating so fast that I might faint now if I ever see him.

"Everything will be okay, Aakii," Sakshi di said while squeezing my shoulders.

"Nahi chahiye, di. Humein koi zarurat nahi aapke is jhoothe pyar aur humdardi ki," I replied coldly, while she widened her eyes.

[I don't need it, di. I don't need your fake love and sympathy.]

"Why are you saying like that? I'm your sister!" she said, while I chuckled bitterly.

"Sister? Where did this sister go when I was begging papa to not force me into this marriage? Where were you, di? I looked at you with hope in my eyes but all you did was stand like a stone and stare at me! I never expected this from you. Never!" I blurted out, while she looked down.

"I know what I did was wrong, Aakriti. But what can we do now?" she said, looking up at me again.

"Yeah, nothing can be done now. So let's forget we were sisters in some world," I said harshly and stood up when Surbhi and Anandi Malhotra walked inside the vanity room.

Surbhi probably sensed the tensed up environment, but there was no time to ask what was happening.

"Aakriti beta, it's time for your entry," Anandi Malhotra said, while I nodded with a fake smile and exited the vanity room.

I entered the main hall where the guests were waiting for the bride. I spotted Nirwan ji already standing on the stage.

I clutched my lehenga tightly and walked firmly on the stage, and stood beside Nirwan ji. He was so taller than me that one more Aakriti like me could sit on my shoulders to reach his face.

The photographer started clicking our pictures from various angles and the crowd applauded.

There was a young man standing at the side of the stage, probably the announcer.

"Mr Malhotra and Ms Arora, please move to the mandap for the main ritual," the announcer said, and I saw Nirwan ji forwarding his hand to me.

My heartbeat fastened even more, my breathing getting uneven. I gave my hand into his, his grip on my hand firm.

I clutched my lehenga from my other hand and we walked down the stage, walking towards the mandap.

I'm getting married to him tonight. I'll be Aakriti Nirwan Malhotra in no time.

Hey Mahadev, please make this a start of a peaceful life. I trust only you and your miracles now.