Arranged Marriage to Kill Him

Chapter 26 : Start of a Real Marriage

Ahanay had avoided Naina for both their sake because each time he saw her in that torn dress, anger swelled within him that threatened to burst and kill the man who did this to her. His control to not look at her blinded him as he walked around the hall, meeting his business partners and not noticing Naina talking to a suspicious waiter at the counter. He knew she was there, her presence was larger than all people in this room. Her presence sat heavily on his chest, urging him to look at her, but he didn't. He was too angry to give in.

Or so he thought. As the electricity of the night fizzled into the drowsy drunkenness of midnight, Ahanay's gaze broke away from the stout, rich CEO of an old oil company and to a flurry of red exiting the hall, leaving embers burning behind. He noticed Priya right there with a strange smile as she swirled golden champagne in the wine glass. He had never seen her smile like that, a smile that tried to suppress a dark, thrilling joy, but the joy creeped out and pulled violently at the corners of her lips. Did she. . .?

Excusing himself, he strode to her and grabbed her arm, looking straight into those angelic eyes that had lost their serenity. He didn't have to ask her, he knew. Before she could defend herself, he ran outside as pure instinct kicked in as if his love was instinctual, searching for his little demon. Arriving at the entrance of the mansion where none of the security guards were visible, he quickly ran out, seeing his demon trapped in a heated conversation with a masked man who also happened to hold a knife.

As he yelled at her to get away and threatened to murder the murderer, he climbed down the stairs. Naina did exactly the opposite of what she was supposed to, suddenly spewing some pithy statements about Gandhi and whatnot. With every step-down, his own blood pumped inside, hot and angry. The idea of anyone who dared to touch her was enough to make him see red. On top of grabbing her by force, the masked man pressed a knife against her throat. That. Was. It.

Before Ahanay could demonstrate some judo and boxing that he had learned since childhood, Naina took care of the man in her own, special way. As she vomited on him and he released her, Ahanay quickly pushed her behind him and grabbed the man by his collar before he could flee. Swinging his arm to deliver a perfect punch on his nose, the murderer fell to the floor. Placing his foot on the hitman's head, Ahanay was ready to crush him to death.

"---and the handsome man takes down the weird man with just one punch! This is Naina speaking, live from-from---" Naina's stupid commentary drew Ahanay out of dangerous thoughts as he took a sharp breath, reminding himself of being civilized and smart. Stooping down, he picked up the hit man, ripping open his mask. Instantly, there was a switch of recognition in his mind. He had seen this face somewhere . . . This face . . .

"Priya memsaab sent me," said the man with trembling lips, a stark contrast to his bulky frame.

"Priya?" Naina's voice caught Ahanay's attention, alarming him. She shouldn't know.  With another swift swing of his arm, Ahanay knocked her down. Naina passed out immediately on the spot.

"I have never hit a woman." The murderer looked at Ahanay in shock and Ahanay winced, explaining himself, "During college days, I struck many drunk fool friends of mine down like this. They stop being a nuisance, have a good night's sleep, and wake up forgetting that they were knocked down. No bruise." He bent down to check if Naina was still breathing. "Besides, she can't know that this was Priya's plan. I'll deal with Priya myself."

"Why aren't you letting me kill her?"

"Because," Ahanay said, never completing that sentence. "Next time you dare to lay a finger on her---"

The murderer clasped his hands together, his eyes begging. "Even for crores of rupees, I'll refuse to kill her. She's too difficult."

"Good," Ahanay said, picking up Naina in his arms, bridal style. "She's mad, but she's mine."