Chapter 6

"Truth is everybody is going to hurt you, you just got to find the ones worth suffering for."

When Dhruv had reached his home in the evening, he saw how happy and contented his family was who were all busy preparing for tomorrow's meeting. He sighed at that and was just going to his room when his Dadi stopped him and hugged him lovingly.

"I'm so much happy for you Dhruv that we got such a beautiful and kind girl as our daughter-in-law. You're really lucky to get her. She is really a gem. I know all this is so sudden child and I apologize to you for that but I promise you this time Beta, that this girl is the best for you. My gut feeling is saying that she'll bring so much happiness and prosperity in this house," Dadi's eyes shone with pride and all the time there was a constant smile on her face, by that Dhruv knew that Ayushi had really enchanted them all with her sweet nature and innocence. He fake smiled at his Dadi and moved towards his room to freshen up.

Later in the night, all he could hear was the praises of Ayushi. Ayushi this, Ayushi that. Everyone was just too involved to arrange everything, from fruits to sweets to the engagement ring as well because it was decided that after both Dhruv and Ayushi meeting in private, they both will be engaged as tomorrow, it was the most auspicious day for it to happen. They all knew that Dhruv had already agreed and Ayushi will agree too as they knew their son was a charmer, so it didn't take them much time to decide about all this.

On the other hand, Ayushi's family too was busy preparing for tomorrow's event. Although they didn't like Ayushi, thinking about the rich in-laws that she had got, they were arranging everything so nicely and beautifully that even Ayushi was shocked seeing all the arrangements, because they were like they loved their daughter so much but it was not the case. She knew them better.

Ayushi was sitting in her room with her Heena applied hands to put on drying when her stepmother entered inside the room and asked the other girls to vacate the room as she had to discuss something very important with Ayushi.

"Listen here you useless. Since we've already forgiven you for breaking the alliance with that Aryan boy because you've got a thousand times richer family than them, so this time if the alliance is broken, I'll not regret to kill you. Do you get that? Already because of you, we've to hear so many abuses, but this all can be compensated only when this marriage will happen and if you'll create any nuisance this time, then remember that I'll literally send you to brothels, because I just want money, to heck with you and your life," her stepmother's venomous words just killed Ayushi again. How much low could she stoop for just some money? Ayushi looked at her with disgust and controlled her tears because she knew that this good for nothing lady is nothing but the most poisonous snake in a human's body.

She laid on her bed and closed her eyes, remembering all those sweet moments which she had spent at her maternal uncle's house. How happy she used to be there. Then suddenly she thought about the envelope which was given by Grandma in the morning. She rushed towards her side table and pulled out the drawer and took out the envelope which contained the bio-data of her soon-to-be husband.

Ayushi opened the envelope and the first thing she saw was the photo of her soon-to-be husband, standing in his all glory with God-like features. She just released a breath which she didn't know she was holding for so long. She was attracted the most to his eyes. His eyes were deep like the ocean, where she could drown herself all day. She hadn't felt any of such kinds of things for Aryan, he was handsome but not as handsome as Dhruv but that kinda connection she never felt with Aryan which was she feeling by just seeing the photo of Dhruv.

She didn't know why but her heart stopped pumping blood for a few seconds, she felt like that only. She felt a deep connection with this man who was smiling so softly in this photo. He was so handsome. Her mind screamed. Today in the morning, when Aryan's mother showed the newspaper, her all attention was on the arms that were around her and not the holder of those arms but now she was noticing his well-crafted features, very carefully. He was really so handsome, girls would kill to be married to this man, and now this man was going to be her husband. She sighed and calmed down her racing heartbeat.

With great difficulty she kept his photo aside and started reading about him which was printed so beautifully in his bio-data. She gasped when she read his full name, Dhruv Singh Rajput, the richest man of Bhopal and the third richest man of India. That's why her family was all engaged in full swing for the preparation as they wanted to impress them. She read further and got to know that he did his graduation from IIT and then his MBA from Harvard. For sure, her husband was a genius. Reading further she got to know, that her husband was the CEO of "Aryavrata Pvt limited", which was a grand empire whose main attraction was real estate and hotels and resorts business and then some other big businesses. Wow. Her husband was really so successful. She read further and further and even she didn't know when her eyes closed and she reached the land of dreams.

****

Preparations were going on full swing, from food to decorations, everything. It was decided that after Ayushi and Dhruv meet each other in private in Ayushi's house, then after that they all will move towards the Grand hotel where their engagement will take place, where their all relatives along with the media is invited cordially.

Ayushi was dressed in a beautiful maroon colored silk Sari which had embroidery on its border only which was giving a very beautiful and elegant look to Ayushi. Her make up was done by her stepsister Ankita. She was looking breathtaking and very innocent too.

On the other hand, Dhruv wore a sky blue shirt along with beige colored Khaki pants, looking handsome as ever. His family teased him how lucky he is to get such a beautiful wife and he just fake smiled at them.

After taking the gifts and other items, they moved towards Ayushi's house.

Finally, after fifteen minutes of a car ride, Dhruv along with his family arrived at Ayushi's house and was warmly welcomed by Ayushi's family. After sharing all the pleasantries, Ayushi was finally called and there she arrived with small steps with her sister Ankita on her side.

Dadima, along with Dhiraj, Pratibha, and Payal, was so amazed and felt proud of their choice when they saw her looking so beautiful in that maroon sari. Dhruv too felt so much different emotions building inside him when he saw her. She was looking just so breathtaking and gorgeous. He couldn't take his eyes off her, she was looking that much beautiful. With difficulty, he moved his gaze away.

Ayushi reached them all with small steps and like a good mannered Indian girl, touched the feet of all the elders and finally after taking their blessings, settled beside Payal and Pratibha, because Payal just wanted to talk so much with her soon-to-be Bhabhi (sister-in-law).

Ayushi just glanced towards Dhruv's side out of curiosity when she saw that he was already staring at her. She immediately moved her gaze away and started answering the simple get-to-know-each-other kind of questions asked by Payal and some by Pratibha.

Dhruv was observing her from the corner of his eyes that how elegantly she was carrying herself in that sari like she was a pro in that and then he remembered about Chandani who couldn't even carry herself in a simple salwar suit, forget about the sari.

After Payal's bickering was over, with loads of teasing and laugh, finally Ayushi and Dhruv were allowed to talk in private for which Dhruv was waiting for so long. Ayushi stood up and moved towards his side so that he could follow her suite.

They moved towards the garden and settled down on the chairs, facing away from the house. Ayushi's heart was pumping out so loudly that she could hear her heartbeats. She was really so nervous, maybe because of what happened when she went along with Aryan. She shuddered at that thought and took a long breath.

Dhruv was observing her keenly, as he was very well in Human Psychology, he knew that this girl was hell nervous now.

"Calm down," he spoke in a gentle tone, and that caused Ayushi to look in his direction, and unknowingly they both stared at each other for how long even they didn't know. Both felt some kind of connection but as they always say that humans are careless, so they pushed that thought away.

"Let me be very clear, Ayushi. I don't want to marry you, I love some other girl and I love her dearly. But because my family is so much enchanted by you, and also because of yesterday's newspaper clip, they want both of us to be married. They'll not accept no from me and even I don't want to disappoint them, but please you just reject me and tell them all that you didn't like me," Dhruv's words were like arrows on Ayushi's heart.

She had never thought that something like this could happen to her. Her stepmother's words were still ringing in her head that what she will do to her if this alliance is broken, she just shuddered at that. She knew the greed and power of her stepmother, that lady could do anything to make money, anything.

"I cannot say no, Mr. Dhruv, even I'm compelled to marry you," Ayushi spoke in a mild tone because from inside, she was fearing of the warning that her mother had given her last night.

"Why? If it's about that newspaper clip, then I assure you that I'll arrange everything for you to leave this city and settle in another one where no one knows you, even you can get a job in one of my company's branch and work there, but please say no to this marriage," Dhruv again tried to make her understand.

"No, I cannot do this," Ayushi spoke out shivering badly, remembering the time when she tried to move away from her parents' house, how badly she was beaten and bruised up. If she'll run away from this city, she knew that anyhow her family will get to know about her location and track her down, they are that dangerous.

"Fuck! I don't want to marry you, can't you understand that? Just say no for God's sake," Dhruv bellowed at her standing abruptly from the chair, which fell down because of the impact of his anger.

"Even I'm bounded, I cannot say no for this marriage," Ayushi spoke out timidly as she was afraid of the man who was now glaring at her so harshly.

"Chandani was right, you're a fucking whore, a fucking gold digger who just wants to get in my pockets so as to acquire all the money and property under my name. You're so shameless and manipulative that you just enchanted my whole family around your little fingers. You're so slutty that to get into my pockets, you did all the drama of sexual harassment and all against that man. You'll not say no, right? Then even I'm ready to marry you, now the game starts, you whore. I'll make sure that you repent each day that why you said yes for this marriage. I'll make your life a living hell you bloody whore!" Dhruv roared out loudly with abhorrence and hatred in his every word for Ayushi and on his way to the house, he pushed her roughly on the ground and Ayushi's elbow got scratched against the concrete floor, with blood oozing out like water from a river.

More than the physical pain, Ayushi was feeling the pain which was caused by his harsh words, such words that her stepmother even didn't use on her. She cried because of the agony and pain she was feeling now which she had never felt before. His every word killed something inside her. She was in immense traumatic pain. That pain which she hadn't felt ever.

On the other hand, Dhruv remembered the conversation that had happened between him and Chandani yesterday. How right she was! His angry mind cursed Ayushi again and again.

"Dhruv, what am I seeing in the newspaper? Who's that girl whom you're carrying so lovingly?" Chandani was fuming in anger now and Dhruv could guess it by her voice even though when she was not in front of him.

"Chandani, listen. It's just a misunderstanding. I'll tell you everything but not overcall. Let's meet up somewhere. Please," Dhruv sighed out restlessly because even he was tensed now because he knew that it was the final call for his marriage with that girl because his family adored that girl so much, and he knew how much protective and amiable his family becomes when it comes to dignity and integrity of some other person and that too a girl. He knew that they'll not back out now. Not at any cost.

"Okay. Meet me at my place and be alert to the media this time. I love you," Chandani spoke out and cut the call, leaving Dhruv alone in his own turmoil of thoughts and just thoughts.

Dhruv was, again and again, getting the same picture of Ayushi in front of his eyes when she was crying uncontrollably, hugging her knees to her chest, yesterday. How much vulnerable and pathetic she was looking! His heart was crying too, even he didn't know why. He tried to clear his mind but again & again her innocent and vulnerable picture was occupying his mind. He definitely needed some fresh air, so he immediately called his Personal Assistant and asked him to postpone all the meetings. And he rushed outside, towards his car and instructed the bodyguards to not follow him today and then raced his car towards Chandani's house. He needed to sort out everything now.

After parking the car, he took out some goggles and a fake beard, so that no media could recognize him. After fixing them on correct places, he finally moved out of his car and moved towards Chandani's flat which was located in one of the posh locality of Bhopal.

After ringing the doorbell, Dhruv stood there, preparing himself to tell everything to Chandani, how this happened, and about his alliance with that girl too. He sighed tiredly.

"Hi," Chandani greeted him with a poker face on and let Dhruv thrive inside her house.

"Let me bring some coffee for you," Chandani was going towards the kitchen when Dhruv pulled her towards himself and hugged her tightly as his life depended on it. Chandani reciprocated the hug and hugged him dearly. They were meeting after so many days, both were busy in their lives, Dhruv in his business, and Chandani was attending her cousin's wedding in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

"Come sit, let me explain that what actually happened yesterday," Dhruv broke the hug and sat on the sofa and told her about everything that happened with him yesterday leaving the marriage part.

"I just knew it that you cannot cheat on me ever. I love you so much," Chandani hugged him again and sighed in content.

Dhruv felt restless now. He knew that he had to now disclose about his marriage thing to Chandani. Because she needed to know.

"My marriage is fixed by my family with Ayushi," Dhruv spoke out after bringing his all courage together, which left Chandani in utter shock.

"What?" she stood up from the sofa and shrieked out.

"Yes, to protect that girl's image from being tarnished by the society and its people, they've come to this decision and I don't know what to do about this," Dhruv rubbed his forehead and sighed tiredly.

"What will you do now?" Chandani asked him in a broken voice, which caused Dhruv to look at her eyes which were now full of tears.

"Sshh. Don't cry we will tackle this problem," Dhruv tried to hold her hand but she pushed his hands away and turned her back towards him.

"Chandani please listen to me for once, you're aware of my family that how much they think about others, how much old-minded and innocent they are to fall in the traps of greedy people who are always in search of people like us. We'll try to get away of this," Dhruv consoled Chandani who was now crying in his arms.

"I don't want to lose you," she whispered against his chest with a weak voice.

"And we'll never lose each other until death does us apart," Dhruv whispered softly, thinking about what to do to get out of this alliance so that his family is not hurt.

"You should talk to that girl tomorrow about us. That you love me and you cannot marry her. Maybe then she can help you and say no for this marriage," Chandani brought up an idea and even Dhruv thought that it can be done. From how much he had known Ayushi, he knew that she was an understanding person. She'll surely understand.

"Yeah, you're right, Chandani. I think we should give it a try. But what if she doesn't back off for this marriage because we both are aware of today's news. No girl would want to hear all the bad words of society thrown at her," Dhruv presented his worry in front of Chandani and she just made a face at that.

"Then compel her, force her to say no to this marriage because you're just mine Dhruv. Just mine. And I'll not let anyone snatch you away from me," Chandani spoke out possessively and hugged Dhruv tightly in her arms.

"Umm, I don't know Chandani, I really don't know anything," Dhruv spoke sadly.

"Let's just talk to my parents then. Come with me to my house and then I'll tell them all that I love you and want to marry you only," Dhruv's possessiveness for Chandani was now taking a new form in Dhruv.

"No Dhruv. I don't want to meet your family. You remember once our whole gang of friends went to your house and I don't know why but your grandma disliked me for no reason at all, and even your father wasn't fond of me. I was very upset after that, pondering again and again that what mistake I did for this behavior towards me. I don't want to face them and insult myself. They can accept that gold digger but not me. These kinds of girls exactly knows to where to hit the cord and that girl perfectly knows it," Chandani declined the idea proposed by Dhruv.

"But one day you've to face them, Chandani. They're my family and once you'll be my wife, you've to live with them. So why not now? And about her being a gold digger, I know very well that my family will never believe me if I'll say that she is a fucking gold digger. She has lured them all in her charm" Dhruv exasperated out loudly making Chandani flinch and move away from his arms.

"But they don't like me. How will they accept me?" Chandani started crying in Dhruv's arms making him weak.

"Don't cry please," he calmed down and spoke in a soft tone.

"I've got a plan," Chandani declared out confidently and Dhruv signaled her to go on.

"But firstly, you've to tell me how much you love me?"

"I love you so much Chandani. You're the first love of my life and I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Dhruv declared his love for Chandani and she smiled at him knowingly.

"For me what can you do?" she again asked him a very typical question that a lover asks from her partner.

"I can do anything for you, Chandani. Even if I've to kill someone for you, I'll do that gladly," Dhruv spoke in a determined way.

"Then marry that gold digger girl," she declared nonchalantly.

"What?" Dhruv asked her shockingly.

"Yes, marry her. If she doesn't agree for not marrying you, force her again to say no but if she doesn't say no, just marry her, and then I'll tell you what you have to do," Chandani spoke out venomously because she hated that girl.

"But at least tell me what's your plan?" Dhruv didn't want it to be in suspense.

"That girl tried to separate us by coming in our lives and did all this publicity stunt to marry you, so don't you think all this is quite fishy? She lured your family first and through them only she reached you, so as to marry you and be the wife of the richest man of Bhopal and the third richest man of India. I don't know why but she seems to be too fake. All those incidents, everything you told me is so much like some planned incidents and not some coincidences. She planned all this along with her family so as to get into your pockets. A gold digger bitch she is," Chandani spoke her heart out in front of Dhruv whose eyes were widened now after hearing all this.

"Hey Dhruv, what happened?" Chandani asked him when she heard no words from his side.

"You're absolutely right. Yesterday, I heard them talking about some big fish being caught, and then her mother proudly had told her daughter that she's a step ahead of them for catching big fishes in her trap. I didn't pay much attention to that but now I'm getting everything that why this girl suddenly came into my life. That fucking whore!" Dhruv bellowed in anger because the person he hated the most was Gold diggers and liars. And according to him, Ayushi was both. Yesterday, he didn't pay much attention to their words but today after hearing Chandani, his mind suddenly played all those words which he heard yesterday when accidentally he had to cross their room again as he had to use the washroom which was near the room.

"I'll not leave that girl. She has trapped my family around her fingers, using her innocent face and fake goodness. I'll make her life hell for playing all these game with me and my family," Dhruv's anger was now on its peak.

"See, I was right about that girl's nature. That girl! You should just punish her so much. She lured your family and now see, how much they love her that they even decided to marry you off to her. Your family is too innocent to fall in such a trap," Chandani huffed out in anger.

"I promise to you Chandani for all those tears, sadness, and gloominess that you endured today and for what she did with my family by luring them in her fake kindness, I'll punish her so much that she'll think twice before even glancing at a rich family. She has to pay now for what sins she committed. I'll make her life a living hell. It's my promise to you," Dhruv pledged against Ayushi to take revenge on her with his voice so powerful and dominating that even Chandani couldn't believe that Dhruv was saying all this.

"I love you so much," Dhruv declared his love for Chandani and hugged her tightly.

"I love you too," she whispered against his chest and smiled evilly.

****

Ayushi cried out in pain, she had lost her strength to fight against anyone. She lost the fight for survival.

~**•**~

Please don't forget to leave your comment and voting is your birthright!