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A A V Y A
Jhanvi hugs me as I try to calm her. The sound of her sobs blends into the sound of music as she cries. “I don't want to marry him, Aavya. I–I can't.” The sounds of firecrackers reached our ears followed by the loud sound of dhols as she flinched.
Jhanvi is a bubbly girl, she is a sunshine like Atharv pretended to be, but I know, I know, how broken my friend must be after this betrayal. “He’s here, what do I do?” She broke the hug, rushing towards the window and peeked outside.
“Should I show my family this video? Will they agree to cancel the wedding? B-but Atharv is a psycho..he will manipulate them or they’ll force me to marry him because the guests are outside.” She cries, running her hand into her braided hair. The red rose slipped down her hair falling on the ground as she walked towards me stepping on the rose.
“My f-father, you know what kind of man he is. Besides that Atharv helped him a lot in business so I am sure he’ll force me to marry him.” She says, hiccuping as I cupped her cheeks.
“Jhanvi, we won't let that happen,” I said, my voice firm. “We'll find a way to stop this wedding, no matter what it takes.” Jhanvi looked at me, her eyes filled with desperation. “But how, Aavya? My family will never listen to me. They'll just think I'm being dramatic or that I'm making excuses. They say anxiety.”
I took a deep breath, thinking quickly. “We'll show them the video,” I said. “We'll make them see the truth about Atharv. And if that doesn't work, we'll find another way. We'll go to the police, or a lawyer, or someone who can help us.” She shook her head, wiping her tears which seemed to be a waste since a new batch of tears slipped her eyes.
“Your father supports you, Aavya…not mine. He has that old school type of thinking. According to him, I already ruined his image by doing a love marriage. It took him a lot of time to accept Atharv and now he'll know that I refused to marry him…no..we’re not doing this. I'd rather run away from here.” She took a few steps back.
“And? Where will you go? Huh?”
“I have a place in my mind. I will stay there for a while and come back–” Our words were cut off when a knock was heard. “Jhanvi…beta, are you ready?” Her aunt says as she wiped her tears.
“Give me 10..10 minutes Aunt.” She replied. We stayed for her aunt to go and once she was gone, Jhanvi looked at me. “You go. I don't want you to be involved in this.” I tried to fight her but she pushed me outside and locked the door.
✧
“Anything else that could help?” I asked my secretary, Sameer. “No ma'am but if you have proof of his criminal records, you can file a case.” He replied as I walked towards the balcony when my eyes fell on Vihaan, he was smiling like the sun. Playing with a little girl.
“We have a video.” I said and Vihaan turned towards me, looking at me as his smile disappeared. His gaze turns intense as if his gaze has the power to take my life. “Then send it to me, I’ll look forward to contacting the officers.” I nodded.
