Sonakshi stood in front of the mirror and took a deep breath. She couldn't compare herself with the girl she saw in the mirror.

The girl in the mirror looked like a happy girl a person content with life.

But was she?

It had just been a few weeks. A few weeks since she had come here.

How could her life change so much in a few weeks?

FLASHBACK

A month ago

Sonakshi returned to Delhi after completing her MBBS degree. She had come home to surprise her family and tell them that she had been accepted for MS in an American University with a scholarship.

Ever since her mother Asha's demise, Sonakshi wanted to be a doctor. She had cried at the loss of her mother. She had been angry at the negligence caused by the doctor in treating her mother. She moved away from Delhi to study MBBS in Mumbai much to the dismay of her father Rajesh Saxena.

She was now coming back to her father and brother, both of who were handling the Saxena empire.

A few days ago, her brother Kunal had called up to ask her how she was. Ever since she had left Delhi, her brother and father had hardly kept in touch with her. Her Aunt Diya had been her support all this while.

She reached home and was welcomed warmly by her father and her brother.

A bit too warm.

The next day she was called into her father's study. Even Kunal was present in the same room. They both looked nervous.

"What happened? Why was I called here?" she asked both of them.

"Sonakshi," Rajesh started, "How do I say this?"

Rajesh turned to look at Kunal for help.

Kunal shrugged.

Sonakshi narrowed her eyes at them.

"Sonakshi, it is very difficult for me to say this but it is the need of the minute. This is for our company." Rajesh said.

Sonakshi knew that the company was in a bad condition. Saxena Enterprises was involved in a recent scandal.

Apparently, a manager of the company had bribed someone to give a special project to the company for which The Dixits and The Saxenas were fighting for.

Dixit.

That surname made her angry without a reason.

Ever since she was small, she was taught Dixits belong to the list of the enemy.

Anyway, the incident was telecasted all over the news. During that time, Sonakshi had tried to contact Kunal and her father but none of them picked her to call up. It was just a few days ago that Kunal had called her to ask about her wellbeing.

Now how was what happened in the company related to Sonakshi?

The company was in losses now. The sales of the company were falling and the market shares had dropped to a very low rate.

Though the business world was not followed much by the media portals, this scandal had caught the attention of all people. Sonakshi had never been close to the company but her being the daughter of Rajesh Saxena was followed by paparazzi. She was not spared from the pathetic questions by the interviewers.

Once she was out for her routine morning jog, she was recognized by a few reporters. They surrounded her and again started asking her innumerable questions.

She ran pushing the reporters aside and running into her car with the help of her friend Natasha.

After some silence, her father spoke again, "The recent scandal has caused heavy damage to the empire. The empire that I built from scratch with the money I had got by selling your mother's jewelry has collapsed. This scandal has not only hit our finances but also our reputation. The Saxena name has been maligned. We are on the verge of bankruptcy."

Sonakshi saw tears in her father's eyes for the first time after her mother's death. Kunal too had tears glazed in his eyes.

O.K What the hell was going on!

How come my father and brother realized that I belong to the family?

Sona! Something is really fishy for sure.

"We have never imposed any decision on you for your whole life Sona. Today, I beg you for a favor." Dad said sitting down on his knees and placing his hands to beg her.

She was shocked.

Shell Shocked.

She did not want her dad to beg in front of her.

No child would want their parents to beg in front of them even if they are on bad terms with them.

"Dad," She said making him stand up, "You are my father, I would do anything to save the company built from Maa's jewels."

Dad looked at Kunal apprehensively.

Kunal just shrugged and looked away.

Dad then looked at her straight in the face, "The Dixits have agreed to help. They want a merger. Not just professional but also personal. They want you and their son Devrath to be married."

"What in the world!" she screeched hearing what her father had just said from his mouth.

It was now Kunal who spoke, "They want a marriage between the two families. You marrying their son can save us, Sona."

Was this my brother?

Was this the same person to whom I used to tie a rakhi in my childhood?

How did we become so distant?

How could they do this to me?

"Kunal! Do you realize what you are asking me to do? Marry a stranger! Marry an enemy! This I can't do," She said and started walking out of the room.

"How can you be so selfish Sona," Kunal said out loud. Gone was the desperation in his voice that was present a few minutes ago.

"I am being Selfish?" she yelled not caring that he was older than she "Why should I pay for your mistakes? Your manager paid a bribe. Got caught. So why should I bear the brunt of someone else's actions?"

"How is marriage a punishment?" Kunal asked irritated.

"Oh, so marrying a stranger is not a punishment, right? Why don't you marry Neha Dixit? They said they want a matrimonial tie, right? Go on, Marry Neha," she yelled.

"I love Arpita," He yelled.

"Kunal. You will marry Arpita Malhotra, the girl you love and I have to marry a person I don't know about for even a minute? How is that fair? And why are you all suddenly trusting our sworn enemy?" She asked them.

"You need not understand the decisions we take on the business front," Kunal answered back.

Sonakshi could not believe what Kunal was saying, "I don't need to understand your business decisions but I need to pay for your mistakes?"

The word war between Sonakshi and Kunal intensified. They did not look like rivals but looked like rivals thirsty for each other's blood.

"Enough," The voice of Rajesh cut through the room.

There was silence in the room again.

"You were our last hope, my last hope," Rajesh says in a small voice and leaves the room with Kunal.

Sonakshi could not sleep properly the whole night.

There was a range of emotions in her heart.

Anger that she had been expected to sacrifice her happiness.

Confusion as her father had taken such a step.

Anguish as she felt completely alone.

She had always wanted her father to love her like he had loved Kunal.

But for her father, Kunal was his diamond.

Kunal was just Perfect.

She missed her mother a lot at that moment. Only she was the one who had always soothed her pain.

In her heart she knew, what her father and brother had asked from her was wrong, or was it not?

They wanted to save something they cherished, they built.

Before Dawn, Sonakshi had made her decision.

"I am ready for the wedding," She said at the breakfast table.

Neha's eyes widened as she heard what Vishal and Ishwari, her parents were saying to her elder brother Devrath at breakfast.

They were talking about his marriage!

To Sonakshi Saxena!

A Saxena!

Her eyes were stuck at the face of her brother who seemed to be deep in his thoughts.

"Do you think it is the right thing?" Dev asked his parents after a few minutes of silence, "I mean the Saxenas have taken a bad hit. How will a merger be profitable for our company? What do we gain from this?"

Neha's jaw hit the floor when she heard her brother speak.

Their parents wanted him to marry Sonakshi, A girl that he had never met. A girl who was supposedly the daughter of the enemy and all he was worried about was business!

"The scandal will die down soon." It was Ishwari who spoke now, "There have been many instances of bribes in our company but we have never been caught, unlike the Saxenas. I know their current market value is low but this merger will benefit us. Rajesh Dixit has many connections. I hate to say this but he has exceptional business acumen. This is the right time to strike. When they are weak. We will control most of the Saxena empire and Rajesh Saxena will be indebted to us forever."

Dev nodded slightly understanding his mother's strategy.

"We will use the media to make your marriage look like a marriage of two souls made for each other who fell in love despite the rivalry between the families." Ishwari completed.

Neha felt numb.

Her mother was so insensitive!

All that mattered was Business.

"But why do we need a marriage between the families? We can just put our terms forth to Rajesh Saxena. We can takeover on our terms," Dev said eating his grilled sandwich.

Vishal spoke now, "It will win the hearts of the people. It creates a strong brand value for us. The headlines would be RIVAL FAMILIES UNITE FOR THE LOVE OF THEIR CHILDREN. We would be identified as a business group who understands human feelings."

Neha looked shocked.

She knew her parents were called the POWER COUPLE but they were looking like cruel vultures to her.

What she was not expecting was Dev's reaction.

When had her brother turned so cold-hearted?

He was not the same anymore.

She knew he had changed but considering marriage as a deal was something that Neha could not digest.

She excused herself from the table as the discussions of the 'PROPOSAL' continued.

It did not surprise her at lunchtime when her mother informed her that Dev had given his consent for the marriage.

FLASHBACK ENDS

"Sona, the wedding ceremony has begun. You have been called," Arpita said entering Sonakshi's room.

Sonakshi nodded and wiped the small tears that had formed in her eyes.

She looked at her reflection just once more.

She was dressed in an expensive bridal dress.

It had been specially made for her.

It had been her mother's design.

Her neck and ears were decked with jewels and diamonds. Her hair had been styled for hours by hairstylists.

She looked like a real-life goddess.

"You look beautiful," Arpita said softly in her ears.

A beautiful lamb for slaughter.

She took a deep breath and walked out of the room with Arpita.

HI READERS👋

I AM BACK WITH THE 1ST CHAPTER!!!

TELL ME HOW YOU FOUND IT!

WORD COUNT: 2151 WORDS

I HAVE BEEN REALLY HAPPY AT THE RESPONSE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GIVING ME😘

I WANT GENUINE COMMENTS AND LIKES.

LIKE MY OTHER BOOK, THIS BOOK WILL BE UPDATED MOSTLY ON SUNDAYS, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW YOU MIGHT GET LUCKY!!

Sonakshi as you have seen never wanted this marriage. But she wanted love from her father and hence she took this decision. Don't judge Dev on the small glimpse of his character that I have given of him.

I want to thank all of you for spending some of your precious time reading my book 📖 ❤ ♥ 💖 💕

I would just like to tell people that it takes just one click to like someone's work. That might mean a lot more to them than it may mean to you. Please I hope you get what I mean.

ALL MY READERS, I LOVE YOU ALL😘💖

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