The grand Raghuvanshi Villa was abuzz with excitement as it was transformed into a breathtakingly beautiful bride, adorned with intricate floral arrangements, sparkling lights, and delicate drapes. 

The air was electric with anticipation, as the entire household was busy with the preparations for the most awaited wedding of the season - the union of Vivaan Raghuvanshi, the youngest scion of the illustrious Raghuvanshi family, with Saanvi Malhotra, the lovely daughter of their esteemed business partner. 

However, amidst all the fervor and excitement, the groom-to-be, Vivaan Raghuvanshi, lay sprawled on his bed, fast asleep, completely detached from the hustle and bustle surrounding him.

 The impending wedding, which was supposed to be the most significant event of his life, held little to no significance for him. Marriage, in his opinion, was nothing more than a grand social gathering, where relatives and friends congregated to indulge in merriment and feasting. 

Vivaan's lack of enthusiasm for the wedding stemmed from the fact that he had no say in the matter. 

The union had been orchestrated by his family as a strategic business move, aimed at consolidating their partnership with the Malhotras and expanding their business empire. For Vivaan,

 the wedding was merely a business transaction, a means to an end, devoid of any emotional connection or personal significance. 

............

VIVAAN 

I groggily opened my eyes to find my mom, Jaya, standing over me with a bright smile on her face. "Vivaan, wake up! It's your wedding day, for goodness' sake!" she exclaimed, her voice dripping with excitement.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the sleep. Why did I have to get married today? I thought to myself. I wasn't even sure if I was ready for this.

 Marriage, to me, was just a business arrangement, a way to secure our family's future. But my mom seemed to think it was so much more than that.

"Mom, just five more minutes... You know I'm not exactly thrilled about this marriage," I protested, pulling the pillow over my face.

My mom chuckled and playfully pulled the pillow away. "Oh, Vivaan, don't be dramatic. Get up, or I'll have to resort to more... persuasive measures," she warned, threatening to pour a bucket of water on me.

I sat up, rubbing my eyes again. Why did my mom always have to be so dramatic? "Fine, mom. You win. And, by the way, I hate you," I said with a grin, knowing it was all in jest.

My mom smiled and kissed my forehead. "And I know you love me the most, my baby." She gazed at me with warmth in her eyes. 

"Vivaan, I know you think this marriage is just a business arrangement, but I want you to give it a chance. Maybe, just maybe, you'll find the happiness you've been searching for."

I looked away, trying to hide my skepticism. I highly doubted that I would find happiness with Saanvi Malhotra, the woman I was about to marry.

 But I knew my mom wanted the best for me, so I nodded and forced a smile. "I'll try, mom," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. 

My mom's face lit up with a warm smile. "That's all I can ask for, my baby. Now, get ready. The Malhotras will be arriving soon."

I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my tie for what felt like the hundredth time. My mind was a jumble of thoughts, but one kept repeating itself: I'm really doing this. I'm really marrying a woman I don't even know.

Saanvi Malhotra. The name sounded familiar, but the face was a blur. We had met only a handful of times, and each time had been a formal, awkward affair. I couldn't even recall the color of her eyes.

My mom, Jaya, had always said that this marriage would be good for our family's business. That it would secure our future and strengthen our ties with the Malhotras. 

But as I stood there, staring at my reflection, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was making a huge mistake. 

I thought about all the things I didn't know about Saanvi. What were her interests? What made her happy? What were her dreams? I had no idea. And yet, I was about to spend the rest of my life with her.

I stared at my reflection, my eyes burning with a mix of emotions. I had told myself repeatedly that I didn't care about Saanvi, that I was only marrying her for the sake of my family's business. But as I stood there, my heart refused to accept that lie. 

I hate her, I told myself again, trying to convince my heart to fall in line. But it was no use. My heart knew the truth - that I didn't hate Saanvi, I just didn't know her. And that was the problem.

I thought about all the times I had seen Saanvi, all the times we had exchanged awkward smiles and stilted conversation. 

I didn't know what she liked, what she disliked, what made her laugh or cry. I didn't know anything about her, and yet I was about to spend the rest of my life with her.

My heart was rebelling against me, refusing to accept the fact that I was marrying a stranger. It was as if it knew that there was more to life than just a business arrangement, that there was more to love than just a contract.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. But it was no use. My heart was screaming at me, telling me that I was making a mistake, that I was settling for a life that wasn't truly mine.

And for the first time, I wondered if I had the courage to listen to my heart, to follow its desires and dreams. Or would I continue to follow the path that had been laid out for me, a path that led to a life of duty and obligation, rather than passion and love?

.......

The sound of Agastya's thunderous voice echoed through the halls of the Raghuvanshi estate, sending shivers down the spines of the staff and family members. "Kiara Raghuvanshi!!" he bellowed, his anger and frustration palpable.

Kiara, who had been busy with her daily routine, came running to attend to her husband's summons. "What happened, Agastya ji?" she asked, her voice laced with concern and a hint of fear. 

Agastya, his face red with rage, glared at Kiara. "Where the hell did you keep my file, you insane woman?" he demanded, his voice dripping with venom.

Kiara, taken aback by Agastya's sudden outburst, looked around nervously. "Which file are you finding?" she asked, trying to placate him.

Agastya's anger seemed to escalate with each passing moment. "The Khurana one!" he roared, his eyes blazing with fury.

Kiara, trying to remain calm, replied, "I was cleaning the room today, and I put the file in your library."

Agastya's face turned purple with rage. "Hell! Fucking how many times have I told you not to touch my things?" he shouted, pinning Kiara to the nearby wall and hurting her arm and back.

Kiara, tears streaming down her face, apologized profusely. "I'm sorry, Agastya." But Agastya was beyond reason. "Do hell with your sorry!" he spat, his voice dripping with contempt.

Just as Agastya was about to continue his verbal assault, a voice behind him intervened. "Stop it, Agastya! Leave her alone!"

It was Mrs. Kalyani Raghuvanshi, the eldest member of the Raghuvanshi family and the matriarch of the household. She strode into the room, her eyes flashing with anger and concern.

"How many times have I told you not to shout at my daughter?" she demanded, her voice firm and authoritative.

Agastya, still seething with anger, tried to protest. "But, Dadi..."Kalyani cut him off, her voice rising in anger. "Shut up! Look, I don't want to see a single tear in my daughter's eyes. So, just stop shouting at her before I chop off your tongue!"

Kalyani's words were like a slap in the face to Agastya. He looked taken aback, his anger momentarily stunned out of him.

Kalyani, taking advantage of the momentary silence, turned to Kiara and caressed her hair. "Come, beta, let's get out of here. You don't deserve to be treated like this." As Kalyani led Kiara out of the room, Agastya's anger and frustration boiled over once again. "I don't know what black magic she has done to my family," he muttered to himself, punching the wall in anger.

"Enough, Agastya!" Kalyani's voice rang out from the doorway. "She hasn't cast any black magic spells on you. Stop thinking nonsense and get ready quickly. Today is your brother's wedding, after all."

Agastya's face turned red with anger and embarrassment as he realized his grandmother had overheard his outburst. "Mind your own business, Dadi," he growled, trying to save face. [rude agastya!]

But Kalyani was not having it. "I am minding my own business, Agastya," she said sternly. "And my business is to make sure you don't treat your wife like dirt.

 Now, stop thinking about your own ego and get ready for your brother's wedding. Today is a big day for our family, and I won't have you ruining it with your tantrums." 

Agastya's face darkened with anger, but he knew better than to cross his grandmother. He took a deep breath and tried to compose himself. "Fine, Dadi. I'll get ready."

Kalyani nodded, her expression softening slightly. "Good. And Agastya?" "Yes, Dadi?" he replied, looking up at her. " Try to be civil to your wife today. She's been through enough already."

KIARA

I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief as I followed Dadi Kalyani out of the room. Agastya's anger was still palpable, and I knew that if we had stayed in that room for one more minute, things would have escalated further.

As we walked downstairs, Dadi Kalyani put a comforting arm around my shoulders. "Don't worry, beta," she said softly. "I won't let him hurt you. You're safe with me."

I smiled weakly, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Dadi Kalyani. She was the only one in the Raghuvanshi family who seemed to care about my well-being. Everyone else, including Agastya's parents, seemed to be too afraid of him to stand up to him.

As we reached the bottom of the stairs, I could hear the sound of laughter and music coming from the living room. It was a stark contrast to the tension and anger that had filled the room upstairs just moments before.

"Come, beta," Dadi Kalyani said, leading me towards the living room. "Let's go and join the others. Today is a happy day, and we shouldn't let Agastya's behavior ruin it for us."

............. 

Riddhima Raghuvanshi sighed inwardly as she entered the room she shared with her husband, Vihaan Raghuvanshi. 

"God, this man!" she thought to herself, shaking her head in exasperation. The sound of Vihaan's raised voice still lingered in the air, a testament to the argument they had just had.

 Riddhima's eyes rolled heavenward as she wondered how she was going to deal with her husband's temper today.

Riddhima's eyes flashed with annoyance as she recalled the argument she had with Vihaan just moments before.

 He was being rude to her yet again, and she was tired of it. She remembered the words she had spoken to him, her voice firm and resolute. 

"Vihaan, we are married, but that doesn't mean you own me. Stop being rude to me." The memory of her words brought a sense of satisfaction, but it was short-lived. She knew that Vihaan's behavior wouldn't change overnight, and she steeled herself for the next confrontation.

A pang of sadness hit Riddhima's heart as she thought about her late father. "I miss you, Dad," she whispered to herself, a lump forming in her throat.

 Memories of her father's warm smile and gentle guidance flooded her mind, and she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of loss. 

Her father's passing had left a void in her life, and she often found herself wishing he was still there to offer his love and support.

RIDDHIMA

I sighed inwardly as I walked into the living room, trying to shake off the lingering frustration from my argument with Vihaan. I knew that today was a special day - my brother-in-law's wedding - and I didn't want to let my own personal issues ruin the celebration. 

As I scanned the room, I spotted Kiara, my sister-in-law, chatting with some of the other guests. She looked a bit pale and drawn, and I wondered if everything was okay. I made a mental note to catch up with her later and see if she needed any support.

Just then, Vihaan appeared by my side, his expression contrite. "Hey, I'm sorry about earlier," he said, his voice low and husky. "I know I can be a bit of a jerk sometimes."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by his apology. "A bit of a jerk?" I repeated, trying to keep my tone light. "That's an understatement."

Vihaan chuckled and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close. "Hey, I'm trying to make an effort here," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Don't make it too hard for me."

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help smiling. Despite his rough exterior, Vihaan had a soft spot for me, and I knew that he would do anything to make me happy.

'......................

Kalyani Dadi is a sweetheart.

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT AGASTYA AND KIARA (AGIARA)?

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT VIHAAN AND RIDDHIMA (RIHAAN)?

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT VIVAAN AND JAYA?

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT KALYANI AND KIARA?

YOUR THOUGHTS ON FIRST CHAP?