"I am not your puppet I am not going to continue this relationship as if nothing happened I will never consider her as my wife"
Is this all a joke to you this marriage and stuff first you forced me to get married and when the bride ran away you tied...
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"Let's give this marriage a chance," he said, his voice carrying a note of determination.
I lifted my gaze to meet his, surprised by his sudden change of heart. Why now? After leaving me on our wedding night and ignoring me for six months, why did he suddenly want to make things work?
"Umm... I... don't know," I stammered, unsure of how to respond. I needed time to process everything. Being married to the king of Pratapgarh and being thrust into the midst of such a powerful and influential family was overwhelming. I needed time to figure out what I truly wanted.
It felt surreal, adjusting to this new life of luxury and opulence. Coming from a humble background, I never imagined myself in such a position. His family had showered me with affection and material comforts, but it all felt alien to me. I didn't know how to navigate this world of excess and extravagance.
I remembered the initial days of my marriage when the palace maids whispered about me, dubbing me the "Modern-day Cinderella."
As he searched my eyes for a response, I found myself lost in the depths of his mesmerizing green eyes. There was something about them, a magnetic pull that rendered me speechless and made me forget about everything else around me.
I found myself nodding in agreement, and his lips curved into a smile.
"Great. Then let's start," he said, his tone filled with determination.
Confusion furrowed my brows as I asked, "Start what?"
His gaze softened as he looked at me, and for a moment, I saw a different side of Avivansh Pratap Singh. He was not the same man I had known for years. I remembered when he was engaged to my sister for three years; he never spoke to her with such warmth. I recalled the Holi celebration at the palace when he remained untouched by colors, refusing even my sister's attempts to apply them on him. She was furious at the time.
If he were a subject, I would have earned a PhD in understanding him by now. I had dissected every article and business news about him. Indeed, he was a business tycoon with immense power. Yet, behind the walls he had built around himself, there seemed to be layers waiting to be explored.
"We can start being friends," he said softly. "You and I have a long life ahead. While our marriage was forced upon us, as you said, we did it for our family. The reception will make our marriage public, and Pratapgarh will know us as king and queen."
He continued, "I want to ease the awkwardness between us. I don't know what the future holds for us, but we can start by being friends. I don't expect anything more from this marriage."
His words pierced my heart, and I felt a pang of sadness. It's okay, Avni,I told myself silently, "You don't have to hold onto false hopes."
"Okay, let's be friends," I said, extending my hand for a handshake, and he took it as we agreed.
"Bhabhiiiii..." Kirtee's voice interrupted us as she approached. I immediately withdrew my hand and stood up.
"Oh, bhaiya, you're here too?" she exclaimed upon noticing him on the couch.
"It's good you both met here," she continued.
"Oh..." he responded.
"Excuse me, Bhaiya, I'm taking your wife from you now. I need her to get ready, and you'll have her back after the reception," Kirtee said, grabbing my hand and pulling me away.
"Fine, you can take her, but make sure to return my wife intact," he said with a smile.
Every time he referred to me as his wife or himself as my husband, I felt a flutter in my stomach and my heart skipped a beat.
"Copy that," Kirtee replied, and she whisked me out of there.
I got ready in a white saree with a red border and intricate work on the jari. The personalized designer and makeup artist had finished their work, leaving only the jewelry for Kirtee to bring.
As I admired my reflection in the mirror, I felt pretty. I hadn't had the chance to get ready properly on my wedding day due to the rushed circumstances.
Kirtee entered with a box in hand, followed by Kashish. My heart leaped at the sight of her.
"Surprise!" Kashish exclaimed, hugging me tightly, and I returned the embrace.
"You're here! I thought you guys were coming next week," I said, surprised.
"Dadisa called us last night and demanded that we come home. We booked the first flight available," Kashish explained.
"And I didn't want to miss the reception party. It's finally happening!" Kirtee added.
"Thanks to Dadisa," Kirtee exclaimed.
"You look so pretty, Avni," Kashish complimented me, and I smiled, thanking her.
Our bond had grown stronger over the past few months. Initially, Kashish used to call me "didi," which felt awkward. But after some persuasion, she agreed to address me by my name. Now, we formed a little girl group with Kirtee and me, occasionally joined by Yuvaan, who forced himself into our gatherings.
They made me sit down and began adorning me with the family's ancestral jewelry. Kirtee noticed the anklets and asked about them.
"Who gave these to you?" she inquired, her expression changing.
"He gave them to me as a gift," I replied, showing her the anklets.
"Is it true, bhabhi?" she asked, and I nodded.
"It's okay, bhabhi. They're the most valuable thing for him," Kirtee replied cryptically.
"What...?" I started to ask, but she cut me off.
"I won't say, but you should know that if he gave you these anklets, you're special to him. They hold a lot of significance," Kirtee said.
I looked at the anklets, wondering what made them so special to him.
"It's okay, bhabhi. He'll tell you one day. But promise me one thing: you'll always stay by his side," Kirtee said, her tone serious.
Concerned by her sudden change in demeanor, I took her hand in mine and promised, "I promise."
To be continued
Glimpses of their reception
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