Hateship

3

Aarohi was deeply engrossed in studying the case files spread out on her desk, her mind racing with legal arguments and counterarguments. The sudden, piercing sound of shattering glass broke her concentration, making her jump in her seat. She rushed out of her room to find her mother standing in the hallway, her face frozen in shock.

The source of the commotion was a broken glass vase lying in pieces on the floor. As Aarohi followed her mother's gaze, her eyes widened in disbelief. Her brother, Aarav, stood at the entrance, beaming with happiness, alongside a girl in a stunning marriage attire. The girl's beauty was undeniable, with piercing brown eyes and raven-black hair adorned with intricate jewelry. But Aarohi's shock stemmed from the fact that her brother was married - a secret he had kept hidden from his family.

Aarohi's mind reeled as she tried to process this unexpected revelation. She felt as though she had been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her. Her eyes darted to her mother, who looked equally stunned, and then back to her brother, who seemed oblivious to the commotion he had caused.

"Aarav, what...what is going on?" Aarohi stammered, trying to find her voice.

Her brother's smile faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "Aarohi, Mom, I...I wanted to surprise you. I got married yesterday."

The room fell silent, with only the sound of shattered glass and heavy breathing filling the air. Aarohi's eyes locked onto the girl, trying to read her expression, but the girl's face remained serene, her eyes sparkling with happiness

The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on the newlyweds. Aarohi's father, his face red with anger, demanded to know who the girl was. "Who is this...this...girl?" he thundered, his voice echoing off the walls.

Aarav stood tall, a proud smile still plastered on his face. "Dad, Mom, I want you to meet Payal Singhania, my wife," he announced, his voice firm.

Aarohi's eyes widened in horror as she processed the name. Singhania? As in, Vidyut Singhania's sister?

Her father's face turned a deeper shade of red. "Singhania?!" he exclaimed, his voice incredulous. But he took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "Aarav, Payal, please...explain this sudden marriage."

Aarav's smile faltered for a moment before he began his explanation. "Dad, Mom, Payal and I...we've loved each other since college. We met in our second year, and...it was like the whole world had come to a standstill. We knew we were meant to be together."

Payal's eyes sparkled with tears as she nodded in agreement. "We've been together ever since, secretly. We didn't want to hurt anyone, but we couldn't help how we felt."

Aarav's father, still trying to process the sudden marriage, turned to his wife and nodded discreetly. "Let's talk about this in private," he said, leading her towards their bedroom.

Aarohi, curious about their reaction, followed them at a distance. She waited outside their room, hesitating for a moment before deciding to listen in.

As she pressed her ear against the door, she heard her father's voice, low and calculated. "This marriage could be a game-changer for us, Priya. Vidyut's influence and power...we can't let this opportunity slip away."

Her mother's response was barely audible, but Aarohi could sense her agreement. "We'll have to be careful, though. We don't know what Vidyut's true intentions are."

Aarohi's father chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. "Intentions don't matter, Priya. What matters is what we can gain from this alliance. And I intend to gain everything I can."

Aarohi felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized the true extent of her father's ambition. She knew she had to be careful.

As the family struggled to process this new development, Aarohi felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She had been tasked with collecting evidence against Vidyut Singhania, and now her own family was tied to him through her brother's marriage to his sister. The coincidence was unsettling, and Aarohi couldn't shake off the feeling that her family was somehow trapped in a web of deceit.