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The chapter is going to be dramatic (⁠ﾉ⁠'⁠･⁠ω⁠･⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠ ⁠ﾐ

Author's pov
She bit down her lips since everyone's eyes were now fixed on her, which held a different swirl of emotions and questions and accusations.

It was going crazy. She was going crazy.

The veil on her head felt like a whole mountain of burden. The warmth of the holy fire seems to burn her skin. It was engulfing her in something which she knew will burn her entire self.

Her eyes fell on her hands that were sloshy painted with henna and it was loudly reciting the story of what her future is going to be painted with. And she knew like the ruined henna on her hands, her dreams, her future everything is ruined. She's ruined.

F E W H O U R S A G O~~~

Mishika's eyes were bulging with disbelief while she tried to process the things happening around her.

'They can't be serious right ?' She thought to herself. Her body was rigid. She was struggling to not let the affect his pointed eyes were having to appear evident. She wanted to groan out loud and pull her hair out. Her head was already exploding as if elephants had decided to do salsa there. The reason being constantly under the shower for straight three hours.

"Lara is nowhere to be found. The marriage is in a few hours and you are asking me to stay calm." She flinched at the tone of her bade papa. Her head hung low and again tears started blurring her vision. Why was he dragging her parents into this ? She hated that helpless look on her father's face.

The first thing she noticed after she stepped out of the bathroom was his dark eyes. Though when her subconscious mind hinted to her about the presence of other people in the room, she quickly tore her gaze away. Her stomach churned at the enraged sight of her bade papa and badi maa. Her parents looked anxious, meanwhile Aarav, then he was cool as a cucumber.

"She must be around. We will find her." Her voice was shivering and her palms were sweaty.

"You better do it." Rajeev grunted in a clipped tone. His eyes went on the devil who very audibly scoffed on his words. "Young man don't forget you are equally in this mess." Aarav rolled his eyes clearly showing no attempt to hide his nonchalant attitude.

"Challenging me ?" His face was dripping with mockery and Rajeev gritted his teeth.

"Don't show me that attitude."

"Sure. Try me." Aarav's eyes were also blazing like Rajeev. At last Rajeev had to avert his gaze realising how adamant Aarav was. Totally unfazed about the thick tension in the room, Aarav strided out as if nothing was wrong.

'This man seriously has some serious issues.' were Mishika's thoughts.

But right now she should be thinking about Lara's disappearance. She quickly searched for her phone and dialled Lara's number. The ring continued but no one picked.

'Please pick up. Please.' Mishika chanted in her mind.

Mishika, for a second, couldn't believe it when after so many attempts Lara accepted her call. And before she could hang up, Mishika jumped in. "Di where are you ?" Everyone's eyes turned to her as they realised the call was finally connected.

"Wasn't it enough, Mishika ? Stop troubling me."

'Me ? What did I do ?' were the first words that Mishika wanted to speak.

"Di your wedding, it's in a few hours. Everyone is looking for you." She didn't know why she pleaded for her to come back so desperately. But she did. She was following her gut feeling this time. Nothing felt right.

"Seriously Mishika! You expect me to come and marry the man whom I caught so inappropriately with my closest cousin." Lara's tone was so venomous that Mishika felt her chest stinging. This wasn't going the right way.

"Di_." Mishika was taken aback when Rajeev pulled the phone out of her grasp before taking it under his charge.

"Lara get yourself here. Right now.", he gritted out.

"Dad, don't get worked up."

"What do you mea_"

"Dad at the end I'm your daughter and if I'm doing this then I must have planned something." Upon his daughter's assurance Rajeev relaxed but kept the stoic expressions on.

"This is win win. I've found someone better and richer." her voice turned hushed as she walked away. "Aarav yet isn't on very good terms with his father and it won't be favourable for us since Anubhav uncle still doesn't trust him fully to make him the authoritative for his wealth and property." Through her shoulder she threw a sugar coated smile at Kasem Zhu, the man in whose room she was. The same man she was with last night.

Rajeev hummed and by his peripheral vision took a glance to assure that this wasn't turning suspicious. "But I still need the alliance to strengthen my relationship with Oberois."

"That's why we have Mishika. Aarav doesn't do commitments. It's evident that he lusts for her and we can use that to our favour. Let Mishika be the trophy wife and you get the alliance too. He will anyway throw her away once he is done." A vicious smirk pulled upon Rajeev's lips. He let out a proud grunt satisfied and pleased by his daughter's words.

"Two hours. You have two hours to coax my daughter back or you will face the consequences." his voice was now turned towards Mishika this time as he threw a pointed look at his younger brother and his family.

"Par Bhaisahab_" Kabir tried to defend but Rajeev showed his palm dismissing him the very next second.

(But big brother_)

Mahima and Rajeev swapped a knowing look stepping out of the room, leaving tension and misery hanging behind back in there.

Mishika held her head not knowing what to do. She couldn't understand why everything turned out so disastrous. How and why is she being pushed in all this ?

"Kabir do something. " Preeti rushed to hold her daughter whereas Kabir paced restlessly.

"I tried to_"

"That wasn't enough Kabir. I know my daughter will never do such a thing. They are dotting everything on Mishu." Mishika clings to her mother further like a helpless child looking for a safe place. Kabir breathed out an exasperated sigh.

They can see where all this is going. If Lara won't be back in time then Mahima and Rajeev might push Mishika in her place. And Kabir doesn't want that. He is not at all pleased by Aarav's behaviour and attitude. "I think I know where di might be." Her words felt like a flame of hope that instantly caught their attention.
~
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Kabir again pressed the bell, impatiently waiting for someone to open it. Mishika and Preeti stood closely bedside him.

Back then when Rajeev gave Mishika her phone back, Mishika instantly dialled Lara's number. Lara though picked up the call but dismissed it in an annoyed tone. But much to Mishika's luck she heard a male voice in the background giving food orders to the hotel service and the room number caught her attention.

A little later a man appeared from the other side of the room in a bathrobe. "How may I help you ?" The hint of variation of accent highlighted when he spoke. He was tall and muscular but the approach of unknown faces at his hotel room intrigued him.

Kabir cleared his throat avoiding the visible hickey on the man's chest realising what they were interrupting. And no matter how eagerly he was searching for Lara, a part of him that moment wished that his niece wouldn't be there. "Sorry to barge in. We are looking for Lara, Lara Singhania. In case you know about her whereabouts ?"

Kabir saw the frown appearing on the man's face but his hopes shattered when the man called out for Lara. Within a minute Lara walked in there, wearing the same kind of bathrobe. "Why are you here ?" she spoke in a clipped tone, finding her uncle and his family over there.

"Beta we were looking for you. It's your wedding tonight." Preeti gushed as if persuading a small child. Lara mentally rolled her eyes.

"Chachi, thank me. I'm gifting my sweet cousin the man she was desperately trying to hit on since last night."

Preeti curled her fist in anger but stopped when Mishika squeezed her shoulder and shook her head. "Beta you are taking it the wrong way. It is a misunderstanding." Kabir tried to explain, his words cautious.

"Whatever it is. I don't go for used things. And especially if it has been used by something lower than my level." Anger flew in Kabir's veins and he shot a glare in Lara's direction. "You guys may leave." Pulling Kasem by his arms Lara was about to shut the door when she stopped "And don't disturb me anymore or I'll have to call the security." And with a bang she closed the door on their face.
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"Bhaisaab, Lara_ we found her. But she_ she just won't listen" Kabir couldn't bring himself to speak about the condition he found his niece.

"So what do you expect, Kabir ? My sweetie must be upset. Her own cousin trying to hit on her future husband is so disheartening for her."

"Bhabhi please. She looked nothing close to heartbroken." Preeti couldn't control. These Singhanias were openly trying to frame her daughter as a homewrecker.

The room fell silent when the authorised footsteps thumped against the marble floor. Anubhav walked in the vanity room with his wife Yami trailing behind. And Aarav followed them with a bored expression.

"The guests are already here, Rajeev. Where is your daughter ?" His calculative eyes are able to make anyone squirm on their spot.

Rajeev after composing his expressions stepped forward. "Mr. Oberoi, ask your son. My daughter is heartbroken by his infidelity."

"Don't play that Mr. Singhania. I don't like to be played." Aarav seethed glaring directly in Rajeev's eyes. "Playing is my thing and I'm the player here." he added, throwing a quick yet discreet glance at Mishika. Her heart skipped a beat under his gaze.

"Aarav behave." Yami pulled her son back, sensing his outspoken remarks will only fuel her husband's anger.

"Enough of the drama. Tell the guests no marriage is happening." Anubhav turned to leave and Rajeev's face lost its colour by his announcement. He quickly lunged to stop him.

He halted, blocking Anubhav's way. "Mr. Oberoi, listen to me. We have a better way. Please." Anubhav reluctantly stepped aside with Rajeev deciding to hear out Rajeev's thoughts.

"We haven't publicised much information and pictures of the wedding and the functions. Mishika is my niece and we can get her married to Aarav."

Anubhav itched his stubble taking a glance at the petite girl who looked anxious. "What about her and her parents ?"

Rajeeve mentally smirked "Don't worry. My brother is okay with it. It would be his good luck to get his daughter's name aligned with the Oberois." Anubhav curtly nodded. He wants to put his son's name as family man so that he can stabilise the hindrance in his career. For that this marriage is much needed.

"Aarav get ready. Quick." Aarav's head snapped in his father's direction, eyes holding dubiety. "You are marrying Rajeev's niece." Mishika, Kabir and Preeti's eyes etched like saucers.

Whereas Aarav let out a loud grunt of disapproval. The sudden noise made by him made Mishika jump on her spot. "I'm not marrying her." He gritted.

"Get ready." Anubhav repeated.

"Anyone but Mishika." He exaggerated desperately. If it was possible then the looks in his eyes could have cut anyone into slits.

Mishika felt her heart dropping in the pit of her stomach. His blunt rejection felt like a bucket full of humiliation being poured upon her. How can he be so remorseless ? She isn't a thing that he keeps getting his ways with and then discards her like she meant nothing.

"Bade papa_" she had enough of them treating her like she is something worthless. She doesn't deserve this. Rajeev glared at her and ushered near her. In the meantime the Oberois left the room.

"Don't test my patience Mishika."

"Bhaisaab, my daughter will not marry that man."

"Be thankful Kabir. Your daughter is getting aligned with The Oberois. I don't think you'd ever get that rich in-laws for her"

"Not everything is about money, Bhaisahab." Preeti was trying hard to keep her tone respectful.

"Then let's make it about money. You owe me the money I gave you for her treatment. I've all the legal papers for your house." Mishika visibly turned pale upon the mention. She felt as if someone just knocked the air out of her lungs. Only if they knew what the treatment was actually about then she doesn't doubt that they could have gone dirtier to turn the tables in their favour.

~~~B A C K T O P R E S E N T

Mishika's breath hitched as he leaned forward making every cell in her stiff. The vermilion was already making her head pound and now the mangalsutra felt like a chain around her throat which was strangling her.

(nuptial chain)

Her breathing was getting uneven and she felt hard to breathe when his musky hot breath fanned on her skin. The panic inside her was rising with every passing moment and his blank eerie eyes were only making it worse.

"You have called this upon yourself. Happy tying with your personal inferno of nightmare, wife."

Word Count- 2232

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Signing off
~T.R