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Our conscience or Our desires???

In case I forgot to mention precisely, I've added the warning in the description, so prepare your self of what will unfold in the future

Surrounded by a bunch of her colleagues, Mishika constantly forced her lips to smile. Another fist of laughter bursts into the ambiance when another one of them makes a coquettish remark to tease the newly wed. Shifting uncomfortably on her seat, Mishka's gaze met with Sitara, who shot an apologetic smile at her way and held her ear. Letting out a genuine smile Mishika tried to assure her.

"Tell us Mishika, where you guys are planning to go for honeymoon ?" Heat crept to Mishika's cheeks and she dipped her head low, an attempt to avoid their teasing eyes.

Suggestions of different suitable places echoed in the air and when everyone around seemed to enjoy the moment, Mishika was indulging more and more into discomfiture. Her relationship with her colleagues was more professional, but once her marriage's news heated up in the air, they all decided to bunch around her and playfully demanded for a treat, which Mishika couldn't deny.

Her fingers suddenly turned cold when someone asked for her husband's name. "Don't worry Mishika. No one will steal your love. You can at least tell his name." Came a teasing voice, giving Mishika a tough time to stifle the scoff that was ready to fly through her lips.

Mustering a puff of required air into her lungs, she managed to utter his name. "Aarav" And thankfully no one pestered to know his full name since now they got busy teasing her by her husband's name.

Steadily Mishika grew a little lenient to her surroundings and her replies gradually became more quicker than before yet the nervousness was wrecking her from within.

"What does he do ?"

"Working in the corporate world like us." A mental note of appreciation was made by Mishika for herself on the wise and calculated answer she came upon.

The tension gradually evaporated off Mishka's pores as the lunch hour edged to its finish time, and not long after everyone scattered away.

Finding Mishika finally alone, away from the unnecessary attention, Sitara quickly rushed to her. "It just slipped out my mouth." Her eyes etched wide and she looked like a puppy desperate for attention. "I'm seriously sorry."

Mishika yet for another time assured Sitara. She made up a story that she wasn't too excited about the marriage since it was an arranged one.

All these, rightnow were least of her concern. Back inside her head she was engrossed in dwelling about something else. And even God knew that those bugging thoughts somewhere were connected with her Nightmare husband.
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The lento chords in the ambiance were highlighting the extravagant yet awestrucking decoration of the Pathak Villa. Stuck between the hubbub of rich strangers Mishika felt her self consciousness skyrocketing.

She chose a distant corner for herself so that she can avoid the continuous quibbling stares, her insides still twisting as she heard a few ladies gossiping about her being the swapped bride. The urge to tell them that she had no choice was at peak but she was wiser than that, the truth from her mouth will only go deaf to their ears.

The change of the soft chords to sensual music suddenly embraced the hall into a romantic aura making few to squeal. And soon enough many couples were already in the middle of the hall grooving their bodies in the arms of their beloved.

Biting her lips Mishika attempted to push back the sudden surge of turmoil emerging in her heart. She might have stopped believing in fantasies, but she did wish to have a normal life. And she knew that her marriage was anything but normal.

"In such an environment you are standing all alone." She was torn away from her thoughts by an unfamiliar voice. "You must be Aarav's wife."

Mishika raised her eyebrows, intrigued by the stranger who appeared out of nowhere and was initiating conversation with her.

"Only an idiot like him can leave his newlywed all alone between a bunch of strangers." His tone was playful when he waved his hand animated-ly.

"By the way I am Veer." Mishika's eyes moved on Veer's face and then to his outstretched hand. Hesitancy was evident in her posture and as if sensing her indecisiveness he pulled his hand back with a warm smile.

"Don't tell me that cavemen have threatened you to stay away from all male species." Ducking her head low, a soft laugh rumbled from Mishika's throat catching the playfulness in Veer's words.

Surprisingly Veer didn't leave but stood beside Mishika nonetheless their attention fixed on the couples dancing. Back and forth he made some small talks that eventually made the uneasiness to vapour out of Mishika.

"You know my wedding was fixed for the end of this year." Upon hearing him breaking the silence Mishika turned her gaze to him. "I loved my fiance a lot. Everything was going so perfectly. Until Aarav decided to take interest in her."

Mishika's throat parched and she gulped dryly. Her lashes fluttered and she tried to look for playfulness on his face but found nothing. His face was morphed with impassiveness while he stared blankly at the couples and his words were reflecting lesion.

She visibly flinched feeling sudden warm breaths aerating near her neck. "Hello wife." Still startled by Veer's confession, she didn't realise when Aarav reached there and now his face was in the dip of her neck. "Missed me ?" Feeling of his warm lips over her open collar bone made her senses ripple with shivers.

A small crescent emerged at the corner of Aarav's lips, liking the instant reaction of her body in his presence. Meanwhile through his peripheral vision he glared at Veer who gave a deadpanned look to him.

She avoided gazing at the two men around her, her cheeks coating with rosy hue as Aarav held her waist and ushered her to walk. "Now come on wife, I need to change." Her head was somewhat still spinning with Veer's previous words yet she gave him a small smile before languidly leaving with Aarav.
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"Here" she turned to hand him the mannequin bag, but stopped, finding his hawk eyes intensely fixed on her, taking in every inch of her. "You should change." her quivering voice handed him the satisfaction to smirk.

His legs deliberately inched closer to her and her breath hitched feeling his rough palms covering hers over the bag's strap. In no time he was close and his dark charcoal eyes were hitched on analysing her face from closely, the way he once used to do. And the mere thought made her heartbeat pace.

"The ceremony is about to start." She reminded, her eyes wavering away from his.

But the next moment she shrieked, noticing him pulling his shirt off. "What are you doing ?"

"Changing"

His nonchalant reply made her eyes etch with disbelief. "Here ?"

"I don't see any audience here ?" Tone filled with sarcasm, he chided in. "Plus only we two are in this room." She almost felt her heart halting seeing his hand reaching down and he began to unzip his pants, she instantly turned around and covered her eyes.

"You could have simply left the room." Feeling a surf of vibration when he laughed against her back caused goosebumps to form on her body and her face to heat up in embarrassment. The melody amazed Mishika that hearing the devil laugh so beautifully would make even God's divine messengers envious.

Caught up in her thoughts she didn't see him serpentining his arms around her stomach. His face lowered in the crook of her slender neck that had his attention since he laid eyes on it that evening.

"Damn" rigidness bolts her body when he sniffs onto her neck, her coco-honey fragrance taking toll on his senses. "Shame if you don't get addicted to this lethal drug."

Jolt of panic ran down her spine thinking if he is into drugs and all. Amusement brimmed on his face seeing her naivety, his grasp around her grew firm to cease her struggles.

"And lethal addiction only leads to destruction." Her struggles died on their own as his words futilely veiling the sweet sinister desires of his coursed her senses to quiver.

Very painfully slow the tip of his nose teased her cheekbones causing her lips to part and heave for steady breaths. Her insides did some weird flips.

Dancing on her bare tummy, his fingers skilfully skidded up. Sudden memory of those hands gliding across her bare skin moving closer to the untouched places sliding her t-shirt along, flashed before her closed eyes.

Thunderstruck by the memory Mishika tore herself away from him before his hand could reach her breasts. A very familiar pain shot through her nerves as she looked away and panted hard.

Watching her heaving so frantically as if panting for life and her face puffed red, left Aarav baffled and clueless. His legs unknowingly stepped closer, concern momentarily flickered across his dark orbs.

"Keep your hands to yourself." with stink eyes, she shot at him and scooted away creating more distance. All the concern died in darkness and anger rushed into his veins. However before he could have his moment of lashing on her, she was already gone.
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"Mishika bhabhi" smacking her lips in annoyance Mishika focused her eyes on the person she would least wish to come across.

(sister-in-law)

The she-devil had a knowing smirk on her lips and her frame fitted in the golden Indo-Western outfit, with her above-shoulder length curls dancing beside her beautiful visage can put angels to shame.

"Are you enjoying your married life or not ?" Her fingers swirled the glass in her hands, meanwhile her dark eyes were agonisingly raking through Mishika's ill-at-ease state. "I hope my brother is not giving you a tough time."

"For God's sake, it's your sister's engagement." The glass of liquor was snatched away from Rhea's hand by her mother, Rasmika Pathak, who looked furious. "Behave a little civil. No more drama please."

Arrogantly ignoring her mother's plea, Rhea let an insolent chuckle fly past her lips. "You didn't consider when I said marry your daughter with a boy with a different name. But no_"

"Rhea" filled with warning, Aarav's voice cut short Rhea's words, making her visibly grit her teeth.

"Oh dear! I'm sorry for this. I'm Aarav's real Masi." Joining her hands, Mishika smiled at Rashmika, a futile attempt to hide her frown. Whereas Aarav itches his chin and squeezes his eyes to not let his already bubbling anger fuel more.

(maternal aunt)

"Behave" with a last warning, Rasmika made her way to the to-be-bride's room and in meantime she passed a knowing look to Aarav that meant to handle her.

The hall ruptured with cheers and claps when the couple finally exchanged the rings. Being one of the close cousins Aarav had to grace his presence along with his wife on the podium beside the Pathak family. His arms, all the time remained around her waist, which she couldn't brush off even when she wanted to.

"Hii bhabhi" an excited Ritika beamed at Mishika whereas Rhea from beside rolled her eyes. The resemblance in the features of these two sisters became more easy to point out since both were standing beside each other, but their expressions and aura were vocalising different volumes.

"I was waiting to meet you." A smile took over Mishika's lips, Ritika was very much reminding her of Sitara. "And meet my fiance Ishan."

Pleasantries were exchanged and pictures were clicked, then they retired to have dinner.
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The sound of clicking heels on tiles made Aarav aware about Rhea who was approaching him. Nonetheless his eyes remain fixed at his wife who was in the backyard where many other guests were taking strolls.

"For how long are you going to be upset with me ?"

Seeing Aarav ignoring her infuriated Rhea but she inhaled a few breaths to keep her calm.

"Come on bhai. You've been obsessed with her for years. I know you better than you know yourself so don't give me the crap that you're over it."

His grip around the railings turned steely and he glared at Rhea with barefaced warning. Noticing his grim expression Rhea laughed with retort-fullness. "Afterall getting over it is not a breeze."

"I haven't forgotten about the stunts you pulled throughout the marriage." Ignoring her remarks, Aarav chided and clicked his neck to get rid of the annoyance.

"This pretence won't work in front of me, Aarav. We both know each other better than that."

Aarav and Rhea have been glued to each other through all bumps and plains. Both are twisted in their own ways. Every dark secrets and forbidden desires that lay beneath the layers of their insanity may be veiled for the world, but are bare for them to know.

"We both, at the end, will have something that will look less twisted for the world." The reasoning in her tone made the mystical glim of her eyes brighten up further.

Growling at her words, which were more like open invitation of forbidden allures, Aarav's voice turned loud when he said "Don't go back there."

The smile dropped from Rhea's face and grim took over it. "If things happened, who will you save this time ?"

Waiting for his reply, Rhea was getting impatient but Aarav just continued glaring at her. The vein on his neck popped out showing his attempt of caging the surging emotions within.

She stomped her foot aggressively since he, without giving any reply, turned his gaze back to the backyard, his eyes once again fixed over his wife.

Chapter Word-2274

Doesn't lethal addictions actually lead to destruction? ⚠️

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Be cautious, there's a lot hidden in the darkness ᕦ⁠༼⁠ ⁠~⁠ ⁠•́⁠ ⁠ₒ⁠ ⁠•̀⁠ ⁠~⁠ ⁠༽⁠ᕤ

Signing off
~T.R