Advika's POV

Standing in front of the wardrobe, I sighed in frustration because I couldn't decide what to wear.

On top of that, Shravan has strictly asked me to look decent because this is the first time that I am going to attend an event as his wife. He was talking as if I usually looked like an animal.

"I can't do this."

"That's exactly why I am here!" Came the chirpy voice of Arya.

"Arya?" I was a bit surprised to find her in my room.

"Shall I go back and knock on the door?" she teased.

"Oh, no! This is your place. You don’t need to knock," I replied quickly, motioning for her to come in.

With a wide smile on her lips, she entered and started looking for a dress in my wardrobe.

It had been three weeks since we returned from Mumbai and found Arya in one of the most vulnerable states I’d ever seen her in. She had cried—a lot—but somehow, she was pulling herself together, piece by piece. She’d even enrolled in college and was looking forward to new beginnings. That lively smile of hers seemed to be her shield, though I knew she was not completely over it.

She pulled out a dress and turned toward me, holding it up with a triumphant grin.

"This!" she exclaimed. "This is perfect! It’ll show off your confidence and that killer figure of yours."

I looked at the dress skeptically. It was a sleek, midnight-blue bodycon dress that hugged every curve. The neckline dipped slightly, just enough to be tasteful yet bold. The hemline fell just above my knees, with a small slit on one side.

"Don’t you think it’s a bit... revealing?" I asked hesitantly.

"Oh, come on! You’ll look katto maal in this!"

"Katto what?" I blinked.

"Sexy!" she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

I shook my head. She and her terms!

"Now go and change into it quickly."

Left with no other option, I changed the dress, and when I came back, I found her setting the jewelry and makeup on the dressing table.

Arya’s face lit up like a Christmas tree as soon as she saw me. 

"Someone’s going to give her husband a hard time tonight,"  she said with a wink.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I looked down, fiddling with the hem of the dress.

"Come on, let’s get you ready," she said, pulling me toward the chair.

Arya did light makeup that highlighted my features without being overdone. She styled my hair into loose waves, letting them fall over my shoulders, and paired the dress with matching jewelry. I don't know what I would have done if Arya wasn't my side. She is a friend, a sister, and a cheerleader all rolled into one.

Standing up, I wore the heels and was amazed at how beautiful I actually looked.

Suddenly the door opened and Shravan came inside, "Advika are you-"

He stopped mid-sentence as his eyes landed on me.

I turned toward him, suddenly feeling self-conscious under his intense gaze. His lips parted slightly as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out. His eyes slowly traveled from my face to my dress and back up again, lingering on me more than they ever had.

"Close your mouth, Shravan," Arya teased, walking to him. "She is all yours; maybe you can cancel attending the event and keep her to yourself for the entire eve..."

"Arya..."

But before he could finish, Arya dashed to the door, laughing "Enjoy you two"

Shravan stared at me for a few more seconds, his intense gaze making my heart race,  before blinking and licking his lips. He opened his mouth as if to say something but then closed it again. Without another word, he turned around and muttered, "Let’s go."

Seriously? Can he ever compliment me?

Shaking my head slightly, I followed him out and slid into the car. The ride to the event was quiet, but I could feel his eyes on me the entire time. I pretended to look out of the window, anywhere but at him. I am still not over the way he talked to me on the last day of our trip.

We are in a fake relationship and I should remember that.

Shravan took my arm when we reached the venue which was grand and decorated elegantly. I forced a polite smile when Shravan introduced me to his business associates, playing along with the role I had to fulfill.

"Mr. Shravan Singhania" someone called him.

"I will be right back" he murmured in my ear.

And before I could say anything, he went away leaving me alone in the middle of unknown faces. I was casually looking around when I spotted Aditya. He was looking at the surroundings of Shravan. I can't stop myself from walking up to him.

"She’s not here," I said, shifting his attention to me.

He looked a bit taken aback because, of course,, he wasn't expecting me. Somewhere, I suspected him to be Arya's boyfriend, but I didn't expect him to turn out soul evil.

"The one your eyes are searching for," I clarified. "She’s not here."

Aditya’s jaw tightened, and he gulped audibly.

"Yeah, how can she be here when she’s... enjoying herself elsewhere."

My eyebrow shot up, completely surprised by his comeback.

"Whom are you fooling Aditya? Me or yourself?"

His lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t respond.

"You clearly want to know how she’s doing," I said, my tone softer now but still pointed.

Aditya sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I might have broken things off with her, but... at some point, we were friends. I do care..."

"Oh come on, Aditya," I cut him off. "...if you had really cared, you wouldn't have broken her heart like that, especially when you knew that there was no one home."

He froze, my words hitting him like a punch to the gut. He looked away, guilt flashing across his face.

"I didn’t think..." he started, but his voice trailed off.

"No, you didn’t think," I interrupted, my voice firm but not unkind. "You didn’t think about what she needed, about how vulnerable she was. You only thought about yourself"

He looked anywhere but me. I can see he was guilty and confused. There are so many beautiful girls at the party, but his eyes are searching for Arya, which clearly means he also hasn't moved on yet.

"I don't know what made you take such a wrong decision, but I hope that you regret it and feel the same pain that you have given to Arya!"

"Adv..."

He wanted to say something but before he could, I turned around and walked away from him.

Standing at the corner, I was waiting for Shravan when I felt an intense gaze on myself which made my skin crawl. It felt too familiar, like the ghosts of a nightmare I had tried to bury long ago.

I gulped and looked around.

My breath caught in my throat and my eyes widened when I spotted him.

What is he doing here?

Suddenly it felt like someone has sucked out the oxygen from my lungs. And to make it worse one side of his lips curled into a cruel smirk.

My head started spinning, all the visuals from the past played in front of my eyes like a movie. My vision blurred momentarily, and it felt like the ground beneath me shifted.

No. No, it can’t be him.

I gripped the edge of the nearby table for support, my knuckles turning white, my breathing turning shallow.

Advika, look away... Look away, Advika.

I forced myself to look around, to find Shravan but he was nowhere to be seen.

I could still feel his intense gaze on me. I need to run, I need to escape or I will faint!

Without thinking, I turned on my heel and pushed through the crowd. My chest heaved up and down as I locked myself inside the washroom.

I leaned against the washbasin, pressing my cold palm against my thudding heart.

“He can’t hurt me anymore,” I whispered to myself "I’m not the same girl. I’m stronger now.”

I repeated the words like a mantra, trying to steady the storm inside me. Closing my eyes, I took deep breaths. But the image of his smirk, the way his eyes bore into mine, refused to face.

"You're not weak, Advika. He doesn't have any power over you anymore"

Opening my eyes, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I am now grown up into a strong lady. I shouldn't let my past traumas affect my present and future.

Taking another deep breath, I unlocked the door and stepped out of the restroom.

My heart sank in the pit of my stomach when I realized that I was alone in the long corridor. Clenching my fists to my side, I stepped ahead, but I could take only two steps when I heard the clicking of shoes against the floor.

I froze to my place when suddenly he appeared from nowhere, that dirty smirk was still playing on his lips.

"Missed me, baby girl?"

~~~~~~~

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