Reyansh's POV
Ever since last night's drama...
My mind had been completely messed up.
Seriously...
How low can someone stoop for money?
One sister runs away...
and the other quietly sits in her place and marries the groom like nothing happened.
Every time I thought about it, my anger came rushing back again.
And the worst part?
I couldn't even sleep properly last night because of that girl.
I didn't WANT to think about her.
But no matter how much I tried to ignore it...
Her crying face kept appearing in front of my eyes.
Those trembling hands.
Those terrified eyes.
Damn it.
I knew all of it was probably just drama.
Girls like her knew exactly how to gain sympathy.
At least that's what I kept forcing myself to believe....
Early in the morning, I went straight to the gym to clear my head.
But even while lifting weights, my mind wasn't calm.
Punch.
Lift.
Repeat.
Still-
That balcony scene from last night kept replaying inside my head.
The way she silently sat there in the cold.
I aggressively ran a hand through my sweaty hair in frustration.
"What the hell is wrong with me?"
Why was I even thinking about her this much?
After finishing my workout, I walked back toward the room while wiping sweat from my neck with a towel.
And the moment I opened the door-
I saw her.
Madam had already woken up.
For a second, I stopped near the entrance unconsciously.
She stood wearing a simple red suit with wet open hair falling all over her shoulders.
No heavy makeup.
No fake attitude.
Nothing.
Just...
Simple.
And weirdly beautiful.
My eyes stayed on her longer than they should have.
Something about the way she looked this morning felt different.
Fragile.
Like she hadn't slept all night.
For a second, I just kept staring at her silently before reality hit me.
"What are you doing, Reyansh?"
I immediately looked away and tightened my jaw.
No matter how innocent she acted-
I knew better.
People like her were dangerous.
So without saying anything, I quickly got ready and went downstairs for breakfast.
And as expected-
My brothers had already started their nonsense.
Arjun and Aarav seriously had half a brain combined.
Especially Arjun.
That idiot was acting like Kirti was some five-star dessert.
"Red velvet pastry..."
I swear sometimes I wonder how he even survives in corporate meetings.
But somehow...
While everyone was laughing around her...
Kirti just sat there quietly.
Nervously.
Like she was scared of doing something wrong.
And again-
That strange irritation inside me returned.
Not anger.
Something else.
Something I didn't want to understand.
Then came the pehli rasoi drama.
Honestly?
I wasn't even paying attention at first.
But the moment I tasted the halwa-
I paused.
It was actually good.
Very good.
Homemade.
Warm.
Comforting.
The kind of food that doesn't just fill your stomach...
it calms your mind.
For some reason, that annoyed me even more.
Because every small thing about her kept contradicting the image I had made in my head.
And then...
Everything changed.
The moment mom tried making her wear those bangles...
Kirti suddenly flinched in pain.
That small sound-
That "ahh"-
Instantly made everyone look at her.
And when mom pulled up her sleeve...
I froze.
Those marks.
Those cuts.
My grip on the spoon tightened immediately.
Because I knew exactly how those injuries happened.
Last night.
Me.
I did that.
The flashes came rushing back instantly-
Me grabbing her wrist harshly.
The bangles cutting into her skin.
Her trembling.
The blood.
"Shit..."
For the first time since morning-
The guilt I'd been trying to ignore hit me properly.
And somehow...
Seeing those marks in daylight looked far worse than last night.
Mom instantly started questioning her.
Everyone did.
And honestly?
A part of me thought she would immediately blame me.
She had every right to.
Hell, even I would've blamed myself.
But then-
She lied.
"It happened while doing chores at home..."
I looked at her immediately.
She didn't even glance at me while saying it.
No complaints.
No accusations.
Nothing.
And that confused me badly.
Because if she really wanted sympathy...
if she really wanted to manipulate everyone...
Then why didn't she expose me?
Why protect me?
For the first time-
I genuinely didn't know what to think anymore.
And I hated that feeling.
I'm not someone who gets manipulated emotionally.
I know how people work.
Especially people who chase money and status.
But this girl-
Every time I tried to hate her properly...
She did something that completely ruined my logic.
And honestly?
I regretted last night.
Maybe not the anger.
But the way I behaved.
Locking her outside.
Hurting her wrist.
Making her cry like that.
I crossed a line.
And somewhere deep down...
I knew it too.
But even after realizing all this-
I still couldn't trust her.
Not yet.
Because no matter how innocent Kirti looked...
A part of me still believed there was something I wasn't seeing.
--------
AUTHOR POV
Kirti and Reyansh quietly walked back toward their room.
Or more specifically-
Kirti walked behind him like a nervous criminal being taken for punishment.
Her mind was completely blank.
Only one thought kept repeating again and again inside her head.
"Will he start insulting me again...?"
"I didn't even say anything downstairs... then why do I still feel scared?"
But then again-
This was Reyansh Oberai.
There was absolutely no guarantee about what mood he would be in next.
Kirti internally wanted to cry.
"Why am I suffering this much for something I never even wanted..."
Lost in her thoughts, she unknowingly stopped near the doorway instead of entering the room properly.
Meanwhile Reyansh had already walked inside.
After placing the first aid box on the table, he turned around-
Only to find Kirti still standing at the entrance like a lost child.
For a second, he simply stared at her.
Then finally spoke in his usual calm tone,
"What now?"
Kirti blinked.
Reyansh raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Are you planning to stand at the door the whole day or come inside too?"
Kirti immediately snapped out of her thoughts.
"Oh-"
Feeling embarrassed, she quickly stepped inside the room quietly.
The atmosphere instantly became awkward again.
Kirti nervously stood near the couch while Reyansh opened the first aid box.
Without looking at her, he spoke,
"Sit here."
Kirti looked confused.
"Hm?"
Reyansh finally looked up.
"Sit. And pull your sleeves up."
Kirti's eyes widened instantly.
"What? N-no... it's okay. It'll heal on its own..."
Her voice came out small and nervous automatically.
Reyansh stared at her blankly for two seconds.
Then replied dryly,
"No, it won't."
Before she could argue again, he added,
"And didn't you hear what mom said downstairs?"
Kirti immediately went quiet.
Reyansh sat down on the couch and opened the medicine bottle.
"Honestly... when the injuries were this bad, why didn't you do first aid earlier?"
Kirti awkwardly looked down.
"I... couldn't find the first aid box..."
Then quickly added softly,
"I really searched for it..."
For some reason-
That tiny explanation made Reyansh pause for a second.
The way she said it sounded so genuine that it almost felt stupid to suspect her.
Almost.
Without saying anything further, Reyansh suddenly grabbed her wrist gently.
And the moment his warm rough fingers wrapped around her hand-
Kirti completely froze.
Her breath got stuck instantly.
Because last night...
Those same hands had hurt her badly.
And now-
The same hands were holding her carefully.
The contrast itself made her heart beat unevenly.
His hands felt warm.
Strong.
Rough from years of workouts and boxing.
And somehow...
That simple touch affected her more than it should have.
Kirti quietly sat there staring at him while Reyansh cleaned the wounds carefully with cotton.
The moment antiseptic touched the cuts, she flinched slightly.
Reyansh immediately held her wrist more steadily.
"Relax," he muttered subconsciously.
Kirti's eyes widened slightly hearing the softness in his voice.
For a few seconds-
Neither of them spoke.
Only the sound of cotton brushing against skin filled the room.
And strangely...
The silence didn't feel suffocating this time.
Meanwhile Reyansh himself looked irritated.
Not at her.
At himself.
Because every fresh mark on her wrist reminded him of last night.
The anger.
The force.
The blood.
"I messed up..."
The thought irritated him badly.
After finishing the dressing halfway, Reyansh finally broke the silence.
"By the way..."
Kirti looked at him carefully.
"You didn't need to lie downstairs."
His voice turned calm again.
"I would've handled it. It was my mistake."
Then after a pause-
"And I didn't need your fake favor."
Kirti quietly stared at him for a moment.
Then softly replied,
"I didn't lie for you."
Reyansh's fingers paused slightly over her wrist.
Kirti slowly looked down at the bandage while speaking honestly,
"I lied for myself."
His brows frowned slightly.
Kirti continued softly,
"I didn't want your family to think I'm weak... or that I can't even take care of myself after marrying their son."
Her voice wasn't dramatic.
Wasn't manipulative.
Just painfully honest.
For a second-
Reyansh simply looked at her.
Then suddenly a small humorless chuckle escaped his lips.
"Nice."
Kirti looked confused hearing that tone.
Reyansh leaned back slightly before speaking coldly again,
"Then I hope you continue taking care of yourself in the future too."
The softness from a few moments ago disappeared instantly.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"Because I'm not that easy, Kirti."
Her heartbeat slowed again.
Reyansh's eyes darkened.
"What you... your sister... and your family did..."
His grip around the bandage tightened slightly.
"I'll make sure I take revenge for it properly."
The moment he mentioned her sister-
Kirti's eyes widened immediately.
"No wait- you're misunderstanding everything, Miya di didn't-"
But before she could complete her sentence-
Reyansh stood up.
The emotional moment shattered instantly.
He closed the first aid box and placed it aside before speaking coldly,
"There. Done."
Then looking once at her bandaged hand, he added,
"Don't get the dressing wet."
And after a small pause-
"Rest."
That was it.
Just like that-
The strange softness between them disappeared again.
------
As soon as Reyansh walked out of the room, Kirti's mind started replaying every single word he had said.
"Whatever your sister and your family did... I'll take revenge for it."
That one sentence kept echoing inside her head again and again.
Kirti slowly looked down at her bandaged hands while her heart filled with fear.
"What if di gets into some problem because of me...?"
"What if Reyansh actually finds her...?"
"What do I even do now...?"
Her mind was completely messed up.
She wanted to fix everything.
But she herself didn't know how.
She had somehow entered a life where every single step felt dangerous.
Lost in her thoughts, she kept staring blankly at the floor until suddenly-
Knock knock.
Before she could say anything, the door slowly opened.
Nisha walked inside carrying a tray in her hands.
A glass of haldi milk.
Medicines.
And a small bowl of fruits.
The moment Kirti saw all that, her eyes widened slightly.
Nisha immediately smiled softly seeing her awake.
"Arey no no, don't get up beta," she said lovingly when Kirti tried standing up quickly. "Rest karo. I brought medicines for you. Your hands must be hurting a lot."
Kirti slowly sat back down on the bed while staring at the tray silently.
Something inside her chest started hurting strangely.
Not because of pain.
But because nobody had ever done something like this for her before.
No one had ever entered her room just to check whether she was okay or not.
Nisha carefully kept the tray beside her and sat near her lovingly.
"Take this milk first," she said softly, "it'll help you feel better."
Kirti looked at her for a few seconds before forcing a small smile.
"I'm okay mummy ... you really didn't have to do all this for me..."
The moment those words left her mouth, Nisha frowned immediately.
"How can you say that?" she said gently while caressing Kirti's head. "My daughter is injured and I should just sit quietly? Impossible."
Daughter.
That one word hit Kirti so deeply that her throat instantly tightened.
She quickly lowered her gaze before tears could fall again.
Nisha noticed the sudden silence on her face and her expression softened even more.
"What happened beta?" she asked worriedly. "Do you need anything else? Tell me honestly."
Kirti immediately shook her head.
"No mummy .... this is already more than enough."
Her voice turned slightly emotional.
"I'm really happy that you came..."
For a second, Nisha just looked at her quietly.
And somehow... she understood.
This girl wasn't used to care.
She wasn't used to softness.
She wasn't used to being loved openly.
Nisha's heart melted instantly.
She gently held Kirti's cheek and smiled.
"Pagal ladki," she whispered affectionately. "Now stop overthinking and take your medicines."
Kirti nodded obediently with a tiny smile.
After a few seconds, Nisha suddenly remembered something.
"Waise beta," she started casually, "tomorrow is your muh dikhai."
Kirti froze instantly.
"Muh... dikhai?"
Nisha nodded.
"I was planning to keep it this evening only, but after seeing your condition I shifted it to tomorrow. That's okay na?"
The moment Kirti heard about another function, nervousness instantly filled her chest again.
Meeting more people.
More judgments.
More stares.
Her fingers tightened nervously around the glass.
Nisha immediately noticed the fear on her face.
"Hey hey..." she said softly, "don't get tense. They're all our close relatives. Nobody will say anything wrong."
Then smiling reassuringly, she added-
"And even if someone dares to, we all are with you."
Kirti looked at her quietly.
Why were these people trusting her so easily?
Why were they treating her so nicely when even her own family never did?
Before she could think more-
The room door burst open dramatically.
"Mommmm!"
Riya entered the room excitedly with Ira behind her.
The moment Riya saw Kirti sitting quietly with the milk glass, she gasped dramatically.
"Oh my god bhabhi!" she exclaimed. "You're looking so cute while drinking haldi milk. Full sanskari bahu vibes!"
Kirti instantly got embarrassed.
Ira rolled her eyes at Riya.
"Please ignore this overacting creature," she said while sitting beside Kirti. "She woke up extra energetic today."
Riya ignored her completely and directly sat beside Kirti while holding her arm carefully.
"Mumma, why are you boring bhabhi with medicines and emotional talks?" she complained dramatically. "Come on bhabhi, let's go to mumma's room!"
Kirti blinked in confusion.
"For what?"
Riya grinned mischievously.
"To decide tomorrow's muh dikhai outfit obviously!"
Ira immediately joined in.
"Yes bhabhi, you're not escaping. Tomorrow everyone's eyes are going to be on you."
Riya nodded proudly.
"And we need our bhabhi to look so pretty that even bhai forgets how to breathe."
Kirti instantly choked on her milk hearing that.
"M-main?"
Both sisters burst out laughing seeing her flustered expression.
Nisha shook her head helplessly.
"These two won't let anyone stay serious for two minutes."
Then she looked back at Kirti lovingly.
"Go with them beta. Sit comfortably and choose whatever saree you like for tomorrow."
Kirti wanted to refuse.
Honestly, she didn't even feel worthy of dressing up anymore.
But looking at their excited faces...
She simply couldn't say no.
So slowly, with hesitant little steps, Kirti got up from the bed and walked with them.
______
The entire afternoon passed in chaos, laughter, outfit discussions, jewelry selections, and endless planning for tomorrow's muh dikhai function.
For the first time since entering Oberai Mansion...
Kirti didn't feel completely alone.
Riya and Ira practically refused to leave her side even for a second.
At one point, all three girls were sitting in Nisha's room surrounded by sarees, lehengas, heels, makeup boxes, and jewelry sets scattered everywhere.
Riya held up a baby pink saree dramatically.
"No no no!" she gasped. "Bhabhi will look too soft in this. We need something dangerous. Something that screams-Reyansh Oberai's wife."
Ira immediately snatched the saree from her hand.
"You watch too many dramas," she deadpanned.
Kirti sat between them completely confused while holding a blue saree awkwardly.
"I think this one is nice..." she said softly.
The moment both sisters looked at it, they screamed together-
"TOO SIMPLE."
Kirti blinked innocently.
"What's wrong with simple?"
Riya immediately held her shoulders dramatically.
"Everything, bhabhi. Absolutely everything."
Ira burst out laughing while Kirti just stared at them helplessly.
Honestly...
This kind of warmth felt strange to her.
Nobody had ever fought over clothes for her before.
Nobody had ever cared whether she looked pretty or not.
But these two...
They were treating her like she had always belonged there.
Hours passed exactly like that.
At one point, Riya started showing Kirti old embarrassing childhood pictures of Reyansh.
"See this!" she laughed loudly. "Bhai used to cry if his hair gel finished."
Kirti's eyes widened slightly before a tiny laugh escaped her lips unknowingly.
Ira immediately gasped dramatically.
"Oh my god."
"Bhabhi laughed."
Riya clutched her heart.
"Historic moment."
Kirti instantly got shy and looked away while both sisters started teasing her nonstop.
Slowly...
Without even realizing it...
The heaviness inside her heart started becoming lighter.
After so many years...
She was laughing freely.
Meanwhile downstairs...
Nisha and Meera were arranging a few things for tomorrow while discussing dinner.
Meera placed the tea tray on the center table before sighing softly.
"Bhabhi," she started carefully, "I was thinking we should keep dinner light tonight. Everyone has been eating heavy food since the wedding functions started."
Nisha nodded immediately while taking a sip of tea.
"Yes, that's better honestly. Even I'm tired of rich food now."
Then after a small pause, Meera looked toward upstairs thoughtfully.
"But... one thing I'll say..."
Nisha looked at her.
"Hmm?"
Meera smiled faintly.
"That girl... Kirti... she's really trying."
Nisha's expression softened instantly.
"I know."
Meera sighed while stirring her tea slowly.
"At first I honestly misunderstood her badly. I thought maybe she purposely sat in her sister's place..."
Then shaking her head slowly, she added-
"But after observing her today... I don't think she's capable of hurting anyone."
Nisha smiled proudly hearing that.
"She's broken, Meera," she whispered softly. "And broken people either become cruel... or extremely soft."
"And Kirti..." she paused lovingly, "is extremely soft."
Meera nodded silently.
"But Reyansh..." she said worriedly. "He's still angry."
At that, Nisha sighed deeply.
"That boy has been carrying trust issues for years. And now this sudden marriage..."
She shook her head helplessly.
"He's confused."
Then after a pause, she smiled faintly.
"But one thing I noticed today..."
Meera raised her eyebrow.
"What?"
Nisha's lips curved knowingly.
"He was watching Kirti."
Meanwhile upstairs...
The room had finally gone quiet.
After hours of talking and laughing, the three girls somehow ended up exhausted on the huge bed.
Kirti sat in the middle while Riya rested her head on one shoulder and Ira on the other.
"Bhabhi..." Riya mumbled sleepily, "tomorrow you'll wear the maroon saree only..."
"Hm..." Ira added half asleep, "and don't listen to Riya's makeup ideas..."
Kirti smiled softly while looking at both of them.
"You both are impossible."
Within minutes...
All three unknowingly fell asleep together.
A few hours later...
Nisha climbed upstairs thinking-
"These girls have gone suspiciously quiet..."
But the moment she opened the room door-
Her steps stopped.
Riya and Ira were tightly holding Kirti while sleeping peacefully beside her.
Kirti herself looked exhausted, yet strangely calm for the first time.
Nisha's eyes softened emotionally.
The sight looked so beautiful.
Like these girls had accepted Kirti into their hearts without conditions.
Slowly smiling to herself, Nisha carefully switched off the lights and quietly walked out without disturbing them.
Downstairs...
The evening slowly settled over Oberai Mansion.
On the other side-
Reyansh sat inside his study room, frustration clearly visible on his face while working on his laptop.
Multiple files were spread across the desk.
His phone kept buzzing nonstop.
Emails.
Business reports.
Meeting schedules.
But today...
Nothing was entering his mind properly.
His jaw tightened while looking at the unfinished presentation on screen.
"Damn it..."
He rubbed his forehead irritably.
Ever since last night, his concentration was completely ruined.
Everything kept disturbing him.
Suddenly his phone rang.
The moment he saw the caller ID, his expression darkened instantly.
He picked up immediately.
"What?"
His cold voice echoed inside the room.
On the other side, his secretary spoke nervously.
"Sir, we're still trying to trace Mia's exact location but-"
Before he could finish-
"What do you mean still trying?" Reyansh snapped angrily while standing up from his chair. "It's been hours."
"Sir actually the number is switched off and-"
"I don't care."
His voice turned dangerously calm.
"I want her location as soon as possible. Use contacts. Use money. Use whatever you want."
Then clenching his jaw, he added-
"I need answers."
And without waiting further-
He disconnected the call.
"Fuck..."
He threw the phone on the table frustrated.
"Nothing is making sense anymore."
For a few seconds he just stood there silently while memories started flashing in his head again.
Mia disappearing.
Kirti sitting in the mandap.
Vikram supporting her.
Everything felt messed up.
Taking a deep breath, he finally walked out of the study room and headed toward his bedroom.
But the moment he entered-
He noticed the room was empty.
Kirti wasn't there.
For some reason...
his eyes unconsciously searched for her first.
And that realization irritated him even more.
"Great," he muttered sarcastically. "Now I'm searching for her too."
Annoyed, he sat down near the couch and opened an important file to continue working.
But before he could focus-
A phone started ringing somewhere nearby.
He ignored it once.
Then again.
But it kept ringing continuously.
Reyansh frowned in irritation.
"Who the hell..."
He stood up and started looking around before finally noticing a handbag lying near the couch.
Kirti's handbag.
The ringtone was coming from inside it.
He bent down and opened it carelessly.
But just as he pulled the phone out-
The entire bag accidentally slipped from his hand.
Everything inside scattered across the floor.
Lip balm.
Hair tie.
Small diary.
Medicines.
A folded dupatta.
"Damn it..."
Reyansh crouched down to pick everything up quickly.
But then-
His hand suddenly froze midair.
His eyes landed on something small lying near his shoe.
A pregnancy test kit.
Positive.
For a second-
His entire body went still.
His breathing stopped.
"What the..."
Slowly, he picked it up with trembling fingers.
Positive.
His mind completely blanked out.
And within seconds-
Every single moment from the past few days started flashing before his eyes.
A horrifying po
ssibility entered his mind.
His grip around the pregnancy kit tightened.
"No..."
His eyes darkened dangerously.
"No fucking way."
______
"Thank you so much for reading this chapter 🤍✨
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