Marriage Of Revenge

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Seeing him leave, Aproova's eyes softened. In a choked voice, she whispered to herself, "I’ve always held it together, Neel. How do I explain to you that.. I only fall when you’re there to hold me. I only get into trouble when you’re there to save me. But.. you’ve broken my heart, Neel.. You’ve shattered it..." Tears streamed down her face as she spoke.

The Next Day

It was 6 PM, and laughter echoed through the Shekhawat Mansion. Vihaan was teasing Aproova, who tossed a pillow at him and said, "Shut up, you fool!..." as she pushed back a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Arshad and Riyan were sitting nearby, laughing along. Aproova stood up, adjusting her blue kurti, and said to Riyan, "Alright, bhai, I’m leaving now. Need to study too..." She smiled warmly.

Riyan nodded and told Vihaan, "Vihaan, drop Aproova off..." Vihaan had just stood up when Aproova interjected, "No need, bhai. I’m afraid if I lose control on the way, I might stab him twenty times..." she said with a dangerous smile at Vihaan.

Vihaan clutched his chest dramatically, sinking back onto the sofa, "I knew it, you’re totally crazy..." His expression was as if he had seen a ghost. Aproova and Arshad burst into laughter at his reaction.

Riyan shook his head in mock defeat and asked Aproova, "Will you take the driver or drive yourself?..."

"Of course, I’ll drive myself..." Aproova responded cheerfully.

Riyan nodded and closed the file in his hand. "Actually, no..." he stood up. Aproova’s happy expression fell, and she pouted like a child, "Why??..."

"Because we’re both going together..." he handed her a file. "Go grab your bag, we leave in five minutes. I need to go to the office, so I’ll drop you off on the way..."

Aproova nodded and, as she left, picked up a pillow and tossed it at Vihaan. It hit him square in the face, making Aproova burst into laughter as she walked to her room.

Meanwhile, in Riyan's Room

As Riyan gathered three files from his table, his eyes wandered to the balcony. The memory of being close to Amaya flashed in his mind. Shaking his head, he muttered, "Why am I thinking about pointless things But.. where did Mrs. Shekhawat go?..." Remembering she had gone out, he checked the time and called Neel, but Neel didn’t pick up. Sighing deeply, he said, "Everyone's acting strange – Arshad isn’t working, Neel’s not picking up, and Madam’s been missing for four hours..."

As last night’s events replayed in his mind, a sinister smile spread across his lips. "Let’s see what lengths you’ll go to complete your dear father's unfinished business, Mrs. Amaya Riyan Singh Shekhawat..." His eyes darkened, enough to frighten anyone who saw them.

On the Other Side

Aproova hurriedly packed her bag. She had just put her charger inside when her phone rang. It was her best friend, Roopa. Smiling, Aproova answered, "Yes, yes, Roop, I’m on my way. Leaving the house now..."

From the other side came a sweet voice, "Appu, hurry up, I’m starving..." Hearing this, Aproova laughed and replied, "Okay, okay, I’m coming!" She hung up and glanced at her phone’s wallpaper. Seeing it, the smile on her face grew even wider. Stroking the screen gently,

she murmured, "jarooree nahin ishq mein baahon ka sahaara mile, kisee ko jee bhar ka mahasoos kar lena bhee ishq hai..." Her eyes were lovingly fixed on her wallpaper, which was a picture of Neel. He was wearing a white shirt, his hair messy, and joy was evident on his face.

(Love doesn’t always need the support of an embrace. Sometimes, just feeling someone fully in your heart is love)

Aproova locked her phone and saw her lock screen wallpaper. It was a black-and-white photo of herself, gazing sideways, her eyes gleaming with happiness. She was wearing a red one-piece dress, her hair loose.

Looking at that picture, Aproova whispered, "One photo, two stories..." She recalled the scene behind the photo.

Once, Neel and Aproova had attended a party together. They were sitting next to each other, teasing each other. Neel had taken off his coat and laughingly said, "Go, grow taller first, little one..." as he ruffled her hair. Aproova slapped his hand away and retorted, "And what good has your height done? You still have to clean ceiling fans..." She ruffled his hair in return, making his hair fall messily over his forehead.

Neel stared at her in warning, and noticing his expression, Aproova gave a mischievous grin. Narrowing his eyes, Neel said, "Don’t you dare..." Hearing that, Aproova burst out laughing and said in a low voice, "Imagine if everyone saw a picture of Mr. Neel Ahuja cleaning ceiling fans..." and laughed again. Neel, watching her laugh, couldn’t help but join in, saying, "If that happens, I’ll jump off a mountain..."

For a moment, Aproova looked at him in silence before they both burst into laughter together.

Seeing them, Roopa had said, "Guys, let me take a picture of you two. Look here!.." Neel looked at the camera while Aproova gazed lovingly at him.

Remembering this moment, Aproova let out a soft laugh. But as she looked at her photo again, her smile faded. She had set the photos as two photo on her wallpaper – her picture in black-and-white on the lock screen and Neel’s colorful photo as the home screen wallpaper.

Aproova always said that her life had become like that black-and-white photo, and Neel was the colorful part of it.

As she was lost in these thoughts, she heard Riyan’s voice, "Aru, hurry up!..."

"Coming, bro!" Aproova quickly packed the remaining items and grabbed her bag, ready to leave when a sudden loud crack of thunder startled her. For a second, she was scared. She walked to the window, pulled back the curtains, and saw dark clouds filling the sky, lightning flashing.

Sighing deeply, she whispered, "Whose heartbreak are you mourning with them, God? Just make sure the one whose heart breaks doesn’t shatter completely..."

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Stay tuned for more in Marriage of Revenge

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