Arranged for love

Chapter 8

Author's pov

Srivantika just stands there dumbfounded. She and Kiara are long lost besftriends, literally. They met in a book club in London and they have been there for each other throughout their career. They even moved back to India two years ago around the same time. Each of them different reasons but their life story and timeline has always had a similarity. But this right now is straight crazy.

Last seven eight months have been difficult for both of them. With Srivantika getting married and Kiara finding out about her grandfather's condition they haven't been able to keep up with each other that much.

Meanwhile, Kiara just stands there looking at her, ignoring all the melodrama. They used to be inseparable but Kiara couldn't even attend her wedding because she had to rush to Agra, her grandfather had gotten a heart attack.

Arnav Roy. She had told her about her busy and cold husband the one time they had met after she had gotten married. But she never thought that they are the same Roy family, oh god.

She leaves Rihaan's side and rushes towards Srivi who opens her arm seeing her coming towards.

"Hi," Srivi says as soon as she wraps her arms around her. They both have little tears in their eyes. It's been 2 months since they last saw each. And they had just met twice after she had gotten married. Srivi never said this directly to Kiara but she knew her mother-in-law was a B I T C H.

Kiara hated Srivi's sasural. They had taken her bestfriend from her and Srivi had stopped sharing details about her life with her. She knew she wasn't happy but she didn't know she would end up having the same sasural as her.

"This is your family?" Kiara asks her breaking their hug. Kiara didn't know why she asked the obvious, maybe because she didn't want to hate her future family even before meeting them.

Srivi nods and she knows her bestfriend, she can read her expression changing and ready to fight all of them for her. But she didn't want to fuck things up for her. "Ki, please. You are getting things wrong. Just because certain people aren't welcoming here doesn't mean the whole family is like that. You would like them, give it a chance okay?" she tells her in a low voice almost whispering.

Everyone has gone silent by now, watching the both of them with curious eyes. Vibha didn't think of this possibility while making her plan. And if possible, Nandita watches her daughter-in-law with more hate than ever.

Srivi doesn't get phased by any of it. It's roz ka drama for her now.

They hear a throat clearing loudly and break out from each other.

"Dadaji, this is Kiara, my bestfriend," Srivi introduces her with the biggest smile. And Arnav looks at her wife like he has seen a ghost. He has never seen her smile at all far rather THAT big.

'You barely see her, you have never held a conversation with her, why would she smile for you, jerk?' he thinks to himself.

Rihaan is horrified. His Bhabhi is stealing all his limelight. Kiara had to be introduced as his first not as someone's bestfriend for god's sake.

'She is not yours. This is a ruse to take revenge, remember, lover boy?' shut it. For the plan to work they have to look in love. She should be rushing, falling, slipping in his arms not his Bhabhi's. They have roles to play.

"And the love of my life," Rihaan finally speaks up breaking Kiara out of her haze. He looks at her sweetly but she can see the underlying anger and annoyance in them.

'Ek pal ki Khushi bardaash nhi hai is insaan ko meri. Khadoos,' she thinks to herself.

She goes and touches the feet of all the elders while no one says much they all try to smile or put a hand on her head as a gesture except for Nandita. She takes two dramatic steps back as soon as Kiara bends to touch her feet.