Hai ..

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Chapter 69 is available in scrollstock, have a look .

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Pallavi's POV:

The church bells had stopped, leaving a deep silence that wrapped around us. We'd just exchanged our vows, words that bound us together forever. Friends and family cheered, their voices full of joy, but in my heart, I felt something strange. It was like someone was watching me ,, someone familiar, yet hidden.

He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. That kiss, so warm and gentle, felt like a promise. But even then, that feeling wouldn't go away. I opened my eyes and looked around the hall, searching for... I didn't even know who. But all I saw were happy faces,, no one that matched the watchful eyes I'd felt.

Abraham Bhaiyya and Aman Bhai came over, hugging us, their smiles bright and proud. "Congratulations!" they said, and I managed a smile. But my heart was restless.

Finally, we left the church, got into the car, and started toward the resort. He took my hand, his fingers wrapping around mine. He squeezed it, his touch full of warmth, a silent reminder that he was here with me.

"All good?" he asked, his eyes searching mine, concern softening his face. I nodded, forcing a smile, but it didn't reach my eyes. He noticed, I could tell. But he didn't press me. He just held my hand, letting me have my space.

When we reached the resort, he walked me to our room, his steps steady beside mine. Just as I thought he'd stay, he gently said,

"I have something important to handle. I'll be back in an hour." Then he left, leaving me alone with the quiet ...
and that strange feeling lingering, stronger than ever.

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Author's POV

Few minutes ago..

The tension in the air was palpable as Anirudh stared intently at the screen of his phone, his brow furrowed with concern.

"What are you doing, Shalini? Tum khud ko confuse kyu kar rahi ho?" he asked, his voice steady but filled with urgency. Shalini's face lit up by the glow of the video call revealed the turmoil swirling within her. She was in Santorini, a beautiful location that should have been filled with joy, but instead, it served as a backdrop for her emotional conflict as she prepared for an ad shoot.

"I'm not confused, Anirudh. I still love Krishna, and I always will," Shalini replied, her voice trembling slightly as she wiped away a tear that had escaped her defenses. The vulnerability in her words tugged at Anirudh's heart; he could see the pain etched on her face, the struggle between her past love and her present reality.

"Dusron se jhoot bolna asaan hai, Shalu, lekin khud se jhoot bolna mushkil hai," Anirudh said gently but firmly.

""I saw a picture of you both. You were so lost in each other that you forgot the whole world." He paused, letting his words sink in. "Trust me, Aman is a good guy. "And as far as I saw, there is love for you in his eyes. Don't ruin your future by getting stuck in your past."

Just as he finished speaking, something caught his eye. "One minute, Shalini. Someone just passed behind you, and they..." Anirudh's voice trailed off, instinct kicking in.

"Koun?" Shalini asked, her brow knitting in confusion as she turned to look behind her.

"Tum uss black car ko follow karo, jaldi!" Anirudh instructed, his urgency rising. Without hesitation, Shalini flagged down a taxi, her heart racing.

The black car stopped near a church, and Shalini's pulse quickened. She watched as a young man and woman stepped out and walked inside. Although she was still on the video call with Anirudh, she couldn't see their faces, but something compelled her to follow.

As she entered the church, her heart sank. There stood Pallavi, glowing with happiness, beside a man she didn't recognize. They were exchanging vows, committing to one another in front of family and friends. Shalini felt her breath hitch in her throat when she witnessed the moment the man leaned down and kissed Pallavi softly on the forehead. Time seemed to freeze, the world around her fading into a blur.

Anirudh, still on the line, watched in disbelief as the scene unfolded. His heart shattered into countless pieces. He had been there for Shalini, trying to guide her through her confusion, but now he was grappling with his own pain. "Shalini," he whispered, though he knew she couldn't hear him.

Shalini's hands trembled as she tried to process what she was seeing. The joyful expressions on the faces surrounding them felt like daggers in her heart. She stood frozen, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her, grief clashing with disbelief.

Just as she regained her composure and looked back at her phone, she saw that the call had ended. Anirudh had cut it off, unable to show his pain any longer. The silence between them felt like a chasm, heavy with unspoken words and shared grief. In that moment, both felt the weight of what they had lost, love, friendship, and perhaps the chance for healing.

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Arjun's POV

The bar was dimly lit, with a low hum of chatter and clinking glasses filling the room. I sat alone at the corner booth, nursing a drink that I had no intention of finishing. It was strange to be here again ,, ever since Pallavi had entered my life, I'd stopped drinking.

"Her eyes hold enough intoxication; why would I need anything else?" I muttered to myself, a bitter smile tugging at my lips.

Tonight, though, was different. I wasn't really drinking; I was pretending, hoping that by immersing myself in the noise and chaos around me, I might drown out the turmoil inside.

"Maybe if I sit here long enough, surrounded by strangers, I can forget her pain..."

But that was just wishful thinking. I wasn't worried because Pallavi was hiding something from someone else; I was upset because she was hiding it from me. I could see it in her eyes ,, she was lying. And yet, for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why. How had we come so far that a single lie from her would hurt me this much?

And if one of her lies could cut this deep, what would happen if all my lies came to light in front of her? The very thought gnawed at me, clawing from within.

Realizing I couldn't handle this alone, I picked up my phone and dialed Abhram's number. He answered on the second ring, his voice laced with surprise.

"Yeah, Arjun, what's up? You're calling this late?"

"Where are you, Abhram? I need to talk to you about something," I murmured, fighting to keep the frustration out of my voice.

"Actually..." he hesitated, sounding preoccupied. "Things are a mess here. A girl from Aman's team, Ms. Deshmukh, has been missing since this afternoon. Aman and I are trying to track her down."

I stood up from my chair, my body tensing at his words. "What do you mean, she's missing? Did you report it to the police? And why didn't you tell me earlier?" I snapped, my voice rising in anger.

"I thought you'd be with Pallavi, so I didn't want to bother you," he replied, a hint of apology in his tone.

"f*ck . Share your location right now, I'm on my way," I barked before ending the call. A second later, a message popped up with their location.

I hurried to my car, sliding into the driver's seat. Vipul, had left with Naina to drop her off safely, so I was on my own. It wasn't long before I arrived at a beach in Santorini, spotting Aman frantically showing Shalini's photo to tourists, as if his life depended on finding her.

I exchanged a glance with Abhram, silently questioning if he thought what I was thinking. He nodded in silent confirmation. We both followed Aman onto the sandy shore, watching as he moved through the crowd, desperately searching.

"Aman, maybe she's not here. Let's check the other side," Abhram suggested gently.

But Aman shot us an intense look, his face contorted in frustration. "I can feel her presence, dammit!" he shouted, the desperation evident in his voice.

After a few minutes of searching, we finally found her ,, Shalini, alone and swaying slightly, lost in a drunken stupor. Without a second thought, Aman ran to her and wrapped her in his arms as if he had found the very air he breathed. She was muttering something incoherent, her words slurred and her gaze unfocused. I couldn't make out what she was saying, but I could see the anger simmering in Aman's eyes. They exchanged heated words, their voices a mix of frustration and unresolved tension, until finally, she sagged in his arms, her head heavy, and he scooped her up effortlessly.

The three of us got into the car, with Shalini resting in Aman's lap in the back seat. He cradled her head, his fingers gently stroking her hair as though she were the most fragile thing in the world. Abhram and I exchanged a look ,, we could see it now, just how deeply Aman cared for this girl. And yet, she seemed unwilling to accept her own feelings for him.

What could be holding her back? Aman was everything a girl could wish for,, steady, kind, strong. What could possibly make her resist someone like him?

Suddenly, Shalini murmured something that made my grip tighten on the steering wheel.

"Pallavi, why did you do this to me? Why did you betray Aniruddh? Don't you know that he loves you? Or...or can't you see his love at all?"

I slammed the brakes, the car jerking to a halt. Her words echoed in the silence that followed, piercing through the haze of confusion and worry.

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The night was silent, yet the tension was palpable. The coldness in the air mirrored the storm brewing within me. I grabbed Aman by the collar, my grip firm and unyielding, fury blazing in my eyes as I locked my gaze with his.

"What are you saying, Aman?" I roared, each word echoing through the quiet night. I caught his glance darting back to the girl asleep in the backseat, her face serene and unaware of the chaos unfolding.

"Yes... she's Shalini, Pallavi bhabhi's friend. And Anirudh-he's the same man who once loved bhabhi," Aman murmured, almost as if he didn't want to face the weight of his own words. His voice cracked, and in a moment of vulnerability, he placed his hand over his head, as though he were trying to shield himself from the harsh reality.

My mind reeled. "And just how long have you known this, Aman?" I bellowed, voice low but laced with danger. His silence, however, screamed louder than any words ever could. His gaze remained fixed on the ground, shoulders tense but unyielding.

A wave of realization hit me like a tidal force. Narrowing my eyes, I scoffed. "Don't tell me... you know something even worse?"

Aman hesitated, then whispered, "Khailash Mathur."

The name sent a cold chill down my spine. Years ago, I had killed his son-a man who had misused my technology, selling it to rival countries, betraying both his nation and me. I'd ended him, making an example of his treachery in front of those who dared cross me. Since that day, Khailash Mathur, the DGP of Mumbai, had been waiting for an opportunity to destroy me.

Aman's voice cut through my thoughts. "Khailash Mathur assigned Anirudh to Mumbai for a reason. Because-"

I interrupted, piecing the truth together on my own, each word laced with bitterness. "Because he knows Anirudh is searching for Pallavi. If Pallavi learns the truth about me amidst all of this, she'll leave me for Anirudh. He's trying to hurt me, to take his revenge by driving Pallavi away from me, isn't he?"

The atmosphere was tense. Abhram and Aman kept glancing at each other, clearly hiding something. I'd had enough of their side-eye exchanges and vague responses.

I took a deep breath, my voice hard as steel. "What's there to be afraid of, huh? My relationship with Pallavi isn't so fragile that it'll break because of some random person."

Abhram shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Well, if it's just about that, then we're not afraid either."

I shot him a glare, frustration bubbling over. "Will someone explain to me what's going on here?" I asked, trying to keep a grip on my patience.

Abhram exchanged another look with Aman. This time, Aman shook his head, gesturing for Abhram to handle it. Watching this silent exchange, my patience snapped.

I reached into the dashboard, pulling out my gun. I wasn't planning to hurt anyone, but maybe a little scare would get them talking. Just as I was about to fire into the air, Aman lunged forward, grabbing my arm.

"No, no, no!" he shouted, looking genuinely panicked.

He took a breath, glancing nervously between me and Abhram and then that girl Shalini . "Listen, if she wakes up and finds out about this, she'll kill us! I'll tell you everything, just...put the gun down."

I let out a frustrated sigh, lowering the gun. "Then start talking," I demanded.

Aman threw a quick look at Shalini before he started. "Alright, here's what happened..."

Flashback:

Author pov

The day before Arjun's wedding, Goutham, Mahesh, and Avinash had cornered Aman. Coincidentally, Abhram was with him.

"Now, tell me honestly, what is Arjun planning?" Avinash asked, his voice too sweet and polite, the kind that sends a chill down your spine. Aman's face went pale.

"Uncle, there's no plan! Arjun is marrying by his own choice; there's no scheme behind it!" Aman insisted, with Abhram nodding in support.

"Oh really? So I must have horns growing on my head if you expect me to believe that," Avinash replied, raising an eyebrow.

Abhram, clearly curious, blurted out, "Wait, really?"

The other uncles rolled their eyes, and Goutham leaned in with his usual emotional blackmail. "Listen, Aman, Abhram, if you both care about Arjun's well-being, you'll tell us what he's planning."

Caught between loyalty and guilt, Abhram and Aman finally spilled the beans about the contract marriage.

Avinash shook his head, muttering, "I knew it. That boy never learns. So, what do we do now?"

Seeing the worry on his friend's face, Mahesh's lawyer instincts kicked in. He smirked and pulled out a fresh set of papers from his bag. "Simple. We swap out his contract for this one."

Abhram took the papers, reading over them. His eyes widened. "What does this say?"

Mahesh grinned. "If Arjun even thinks of divorce within a year, he's out of the family. No inheritance, not a penny. And if Pallavi decides to choose someone else, Arjun will have no right to object or interfere in her life. Oh, and we'll also slap a section 420 cheating case on him just for good measure."

Abrahm and Aman stared at each other, speechless. But Goutham wasn't done. He added in his usual not so serious tone " "Kya hum aise lagte hain jaise humne Arjun ko sadak se utha liya ho? Ya jaise wo kisi dushman ka beta hai jise hum barbaad karne ki koshish kar rahe hain?"

"Do we look like we picked Arjun up off the street? Or that he's the son of an enemy we're trying to ruin?"

Avinash added, "Agar humein mere us ziddi bete ko seedha karna hai, toh humein thodi chaalaaki dikhani padegi. Aur hum yeh bhi dekhenge ke hamari bahu ke saath kabhi galat na ho. Ab tum dono... uske sign us contract par le lo aur Mahesh ke paas chhod do."

"If we want to straighten out that stubborn son of mine, we'll have to be crafty. And we'll make sure our daughter-in-law is never wronged. Now, you two ,, get his signature on that contract and leave it with Mahesh."

End of Flashback

Back in the present, I stared at Aman and Abhram, speechless, trying to process everything they had just told me.

Abhram glanced at me nervously. "And now...someone has stolen those papers from Dad's safe."

I closed my eyes in frustration, trying to process the potential fallout.

Aman started, "If those papers end up in the wrong hands, then..."

"Then they'll reach Pallavi, and she'll think I'm only pretending to love her for the property and legacy," I muttered through gritted teeth, aiming my gun between Abhram and Aman's legs.

"Arey, humari nahi! Apne future bacchon ke baare mein toh socho!"

"Arey, not us! Think of your future children at least!" Abhram yelped, trying to reason with me.

My eyes narrowed. "What do my future kids have to do with this?"

"Arrey, ab ho ya baad mein, bachche toh tumhare hone hi hain, right? Aur unko best friends chahiye honge! Uske liye Aman aur mujhe bhi zinda rehna padega taake hum apne bachche produce kar sakein, apni apni biwiyon ke saath of course!"

"Well, whether it's now or later, you'll have kids, right? And they'll need best friends! For that, Aman and I need to be alive to produce our own kids too, i mean with my respective wives ofcourse" Abhram replied, his 'selfless' logic completely misplaced but somehow amusing.

I let out a sarcastic laugh, pointing the gun away from them. "Oh, toh ab mujhe intezaar karna padega jab tak tum dono meri life barbaad karte raho, sirf isliye taake ek din tumhare bacche bhi mere bacchon ki life barbaad kar sakein?"

"Oh, so now I'm supposed to wait while you two ruin my life, just so that one day your kids can ruin my kids' lives?"

My shout must've been loud enough because, suddenly, Shalini started to stir awake. Her eyes barely open, she glared at me, and I knew I was in for it.

"see, she's awake. I'm out of here!" Aman panicked, already halfway out the sight. "She's going to curse me out in Hindi, and I don't want to stick around to lose whatever's left of my dignity." he ran from there like he was escaping from any pagal chudail ...

With that, Aman bolted out of sight, and Abhram somehow managed to disappear without a trace.

Shalini's eyes landed on me, half-asleep but clearly agitated. She launched into a string of Hindi curses, her accent thick and passionate.

"Kya samajh ke rakha hai apne aap ko? Yeh tumhara naya shauk hai kya gun leke mujhe darane ka? Arre khud ko James Bond ka latest version samajhte ho kya? Chup chaap meri neend kharab karke yaha khade ho tum! Aur yeh dono jo gadhe bhag gaye, unko bhi main dekh lungi!.

Tumhe daante keliye words bhi nahi mil rahe hai,

"Arre buddhi bhrasht insaan!"
("Oh, mindless human!") Yaha khade khade kya dekh rahe ho ,

"Hai re moorkh aadmi!" ("Oh, foolish man!")

"Tum jaise jadbudhi toh rare hain!"
("Dull minds like yours are rare!")

"Arre anmol gadhe!"
("Oh, precious donkey!")

"Tum toh ekdum maha-jad jeev ho!"
("You're the ultimate dense being!")

"Arre nishkriya jeev!"
("Oh, inactive creature!")

"Tumhari akal toh ghaas charne chali gayi hai!"

I barely understood half of what she was saying, but I got the gist. She was furious. And she showed no signs of stopping.

Finally, when I couldn't take it anymore, I reached into the car, grabbed some tape, and wrapped it over her mouth, then tied her hands and feet. She glared at me with wide eyes, but at least she was silent.

I took a deep breath, driving straight to the resort. As I glanced over at her, fuming yet tied up, a part of me couldn't help but sighed at the absurdity of the situation.

The last time was my first wedding night, and Pallavi had thrown me off the bed. And here I was on my second wedding night, dealing with my wife's best friend cursing me out instead.

"What luck, Arjun Srivastav, what luck," I muttered, shaking my head.

Finally, we pulled up to the resort, and I got out, preparing for whatever chaos awaited me next.

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So that's it for today i hope you like it..

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