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"It was a mistake," you said. But the cruel thing was, it felt like the mistake was mine, for trusting you." 

 - David Leviathan.

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In the Reception hall,

The party was going on full swing, with the Singh family dancing on the joyful moment of their lovely daughter's happiness.

At the buffet table, Karthika was greeting and talking heartily with the relatives and listening ardently to their complaints as usual.

It was usual in the Singh family to not let go of even the slightest of the mistake being unknowingly appeared in every party, that they would attend.

As the evening turned to night, Sandhya was exhausted with the continuous dancing with her friends and wanted to relax her feet.

"...Sandy?..." she turned to see the person and her eyes widened on how could he know about her wedding.

"...Raj?...what are you doing here?..." Sandhya grabbed his hand and moved to the lone corridor, glancing around for family.

"...Sandy...I missed you...why are you doing this?...was our love so weak?...that you decided to choose money over my pure love, huh?..." Raj's whining was irritating the woman who gritted her teeth with getting frustrated with his presence.

It was true. Raj and Sandhya were in love from their college time, but it was only a puppy love; according to Sandhya. She had some ideals about her future partner – rich, handsome and well-settled. Love would eventually follow with time as their marriage would progress. Keeping these ideologies in mind, Sandhya had abruptly broken up with Raj who had not taken it in the right sense.

He did love her with his whole heart. He was everything that a woman would want in her life partner, but not rich according to Sandhya. He had tried his level best to forget her but when she proclaimed her true love towards Rakesh, totally denying Raj's love; it broke him totally.

"...Please Sandy...don't this to us!!...please...." Raj pleaded her with his flowing tears and tried to catch hold of her hand when...

"...leave!...right now!...how dare you come here and try to ruin my happiness, huh?...filthy roadside Romeo!!...listen beggar!...I rather be lonely than be with a useless wretch like you!!...begone!!...or I will call the guards to drag you out of here!!...humph!!" as she tried to move out of his presence, Raj pulled her towards his strong self and whispered.

"...don't make me bad person, Sandy?!!...I am asking you pleasantly!!...come with me...right now!!..."

"...*Chuckles*...seriously?!!...don't forget, I am Sandhya Singh...the only daughter of the most renowned businessman in the city...one flick of my finger and you will be behind bars...do you want that...Mr. future failed lawyer?!!..." her pricking words did make Raj's eyes redden with hatred for her, but he composed himself and glanced around.

He smirked looking her up and down whispering "...ok?...Fine...um...how about a little treat for your friend, hm?"

His sudden demeanour puzzled her but saw that he was genuinely smiling with his hands in his pocket.

She nodded with a doubtful stance and asked him if he was really going to forget about their past. Raj smiled with a nod assuring her of his real intention which was only friendship.

'...maybe the threatening did work...well, it won't hurt to have a friendly chat with him...' the thought whirled on her already tired mind. So, without thinking twice, Sandhya smiled and signalled him to the dance floor, holding his hands.

"...hey?...isn't that your sister's ex?..." Dev asked Shivaay who was enjoying his drinks peacefully while talking with his girlfriend on the phone. Gayatri didn't get the opportunity to attend the grand Singh party as her back paper exams were on the same dates.

Shivaay didn't like the sight and thought to interfere but...

"...Son, meet Mr. Doshi...Mr. Doshi...this is my son, Shivaay..." As Pratap approached his pride, his guest could only see the glitter in the youth's eyes which so represented the older version of Pratap.

As Doshi made his acquaintances with the Singh men, Raj glanced around the party and saw that most of the family members were busy in their own world. Perfect time for him to proceed with his plan.

Sandhya was resting her head on Raj's shoulder as he moved towards the hotel corridor. He was in between trying to not come under the eyes of the hotel staff and worst any of the family or their friends.

As he opened her suite room, he smirked the last time and slyly went inside with her fainty self in his strong arms.

Shivaay's room,

He kept the call with Gayatri and went to take a shower before his slumber.

Thud! Thud!

*murmuring*

He couldn't decipher from where the loud noise was coming, and he searched for the sound.

His ears then went to the wall which was the only barrier to the next room, which had the similar sound resonating.

'...go harder!...' hearing those sinful words, he gulped and muttered '...shameless creatures!!...yuck!!...'

He cursed the couple across the room who were quite loud in their sensual time. Sensing that he won't get any sleep with them in the neighbourhood, he shifted to his bestie Shyam's room. Shyam shared the room with Akash who was a heavy snorer and had opted to stay with the night owl Shyam than his light sleeper brother Shivaay.

Sandhya's room

Raj gave his last push and saw that she was totally washed out, making him smirk at his well laid plain. He slumped on her side whispering '...bitch!...serves you right...now we will see... in 9 months...how you will deny my love...with my little offspring...*evil chuckle*...'

He then moved to wash himself clean before he could have an escape from the room. Raj knew exactly how to wring the not-so-smart Sandhya in his finger with just his seedling.

She would not dare to get rid of the child, as he was well aware of her naïve nature.

The next morning

Sandhya was getting her bridal lehenga being softened by the beautician as she checked herself in the long mirror.

"...the other side too...Mhm...and just make sure that that entrance has no intruders trying to steal my limelight!..." she glared at her assistant who nodded her head at her words and communicated the same to the wedding area.

As the parents welcomed the groom in the wedding hall, with their array of guest who were feeling the glam of the Singh exuberating in the wedding arrangements of their only pampered daughter.

Rakesh snickered as the relatives eyed on the new bride and her royal demeanour which was going to blessed with the Rakesh Bhatia and his well-known family pride.

Rajendra Bhatia watched how his son was smirking with his evil smile, letting the people suspect their real intention.

"...wipe off that stupid grin from your face...idiot!...do you want that muscle boy reach out to your neck, huh?" Rajendra whispered near the groom who glanced at Shivaay, and his radiant smile.

It was true, Shivaay was quite well built for a 19-year-old footballer and his one punch was enough to make the person see stars in the daylight.

"...Dad...I was..." Rakesh wanted to explain his happiness to finally wed the rich only daughter of the Singh family which would help their drowning family business boom with just the name tag.

"...shut it!!...behave...and don't forget...no drinks tonight...not till we reach the city...got it?!!..." the father was advising his son on knowing the surrounding and working out his way into the hearts of the modest Singh family.

Rakesh did speak after that and maintained his stance as the well-behaved groom of the Singh family.

At the bidai, Sandhya was crying as her mother blessed her while tightly hugging the pampered daughter whispering sweet good wishes to the new bride.

Rakesh just smiled and consoled his mother-in-law who requested him to take care of their princess well.

"...Mom!...don't worry...your princess is safe with me...." As Rakesh spelled those comforting words, Karthika felt relieved that finally her daughter would get the well-deserved happiness.

Mumbai

Rose apartment

Gauri was making her origami bird with the color paper to decorate her wind chime. She would often entertain her sorrow with one or the other crafts work that would engage her.

"...Bunky...here...have this..." Vyjanthi approached the quiet girl, sitting near the balcony of their apartment.

As Gauri drank the milk with much likeness, Vyjanthi smiled seeing the way how her daughter was a milk baby, enjoying the special almond flavoured milk. Gauri would love the different way her mother would make her have milk and lactose products, clubbed with her immense love.

It was evident that the girl had quietened down with the aftermath of her mother being prey to her tantrums. So, for the sake of her mother's peace, Gauri opted to stay a little humble and silent till she would leave her house.

Siddarth didn't waste time and looked out for different reasonable boarding school for his stubborn kid. As he found one in Darjeeling as promised and thought to do the deed asap.

In the evening,

Vashishth put his glasses down on his study table as he finished his assignment. He hoped to get at least A+ for the efforts that he had put to acquire the first place in the school.

"...Vyjanthi!...get some cold water!!.." Siddarth slumped on the couch as he loosened his tie with a smirk.

Vashishth was talking his dilemma on not able to type a perfect essay for his desired college that he had planned for his MBA. Siddarth promised to help his pride and was explaining him some suggestions.

"...Listen...about Gauri?..." Vyjanthi was about to put forward her viewpoints but saw the way Siddarth interrupted her.

"..oh yes...about that...I have found the school. We will go the next week...pack her things, hm?" saying his decision, he walked towards the washroom, totally ignoring the silent tears falling from the child's eyes.

Gauri had been standing near the corridor, as her mother approached her always fiery father.

Gauri had developed a sense of protectiveness towards her mother after the incident, making her alert 24/7.

Around midnight

"..." Vyjanthi washed her face as she glanced over her husband who snored immediately after their time together.

She was the submissive wife who would nod at the slight glare of her husband, making it impossible to live a normal wife without a constant fear.

"...Maa..." as Vyjanthi hugged her sleepy Gauri, the child whispered "...don't worry...I am ok with anything...just don't forget to write to me...every day..."

The honest mature words made the helpless mother hug her tighter, and hummed in response.

Vyjanthi had known from a long time that sleeping alongside her daughter was much more peaceful than being a continued doting wife, even during the night.

The next day

Singh Mansion

Karthika kept the call from her daughter who sounded happy with her honeymoon frenzy in Singapore.

"...just don't eat non-veg, tomorrow...its Tuesday...ok?" to which Sandhya laughed mockingly at her mother's traditional norms which would not touch the glam girl.

"..." Karthika creased her brow as the maid announced the arrival on a known person, who had forgotten the way of the mansion long back, since...

"..." Vyjanthi glanced around the grandeur of the mansion as they drank the cold orange drink offered to her by the humble maid.

With Gauri running off to play with Blacky the dog as per Karthika's insist to let Vyjanthi talk to her freely with her bestie.

"...Vyju?..."

As the mother explained her problem, Karthika could only rub her forehead on how to solve the issue without much suspicion.

"...hm...Vyju...as far as I know...the boarding school where Siddarth-ji has taken admission for our Bunky...is quite ok...but...regarding their strict nature?...it's somewhat true..." the words made Vyjanthi tensed more on how her daughter would be able to survive the hard life with no one to even pacify her. Being in the boarding school was okay for normal students but not her Gauri who she knew was now at the verge of losing her only sanity.

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Hello my dear Readers❤️

Presenting to you 'The Gifted Wife' - a hate-love-hate story with a twist.❤️

I hope to give a side of the story that is very close to my heart. ❤️

A glimpse of the reality on how a heartbroken child is given the endearing love that she truly deserves from her enemy. ❤️

Do give your support and love for 'His' efforts to win 'Her' smile which he desires ❤️

Lots of love 💖

Take care 💖