"Hello, Uncle. How are you doing?" asked Samhita to her soon to be father-in-law.

She called him the other day saying that she wants to talk to him about an urgent matter concerning both the families. He gladly accepted and told her to meet him later in the afternoon the next day. So, here she is, pleasant as you please as if nothing life-altering had happened in the last 48 hours of her life.

"I am fine, beta. Please take a seat. You wanted to talk about something important?" he said taking his seat on the sofa.

She took the opposite seat so that she could observe his expressions.

"Yes, Uncle. I will not beat around the bush. I wanted to talk about Karan and Samarth. What do you think they are doing, Uncle?"

The confused expression on his face vanished and his eyes glittered with a malicious glint. He must have thought that she is in his league of torturing Samarth.

Fat chance of that ever happening, idiot uncle.

"I don't think but I know they are in the wrong, beta. I also know that Samarth should be treated for his illness."

If he takes any treatment of your sort, that boy could be found only in the graveyard, you dumbo.

"Okay, Uncle. Tell me how can I help you in making everyone understand that who is in the wrong?"

"Take any way possible, beta. But everyone should understand who is right."

"I'm on it, Uncle. Thank you for meeting me."

"It's a pleasure, beta."

"And also, reputation is very important for us, isn't it, Uncle?"

"You're right."

'Reputation is really important, Uncle and you will know how much it is worth as well!' she thought and left the place.

***

As a party was already planned to celebrate Karan and Samhita's engagement, Karan couldn't do anything but attend the party. He is already fidgeting thinking how Samarth will cope up in his absence. It's not that his brother is dependent on him but the anxiety is ever-present when you confront the situation like the one he had. He asked the help of one of Samarth's friends to look after him while he is wandering in the party.

Well! He is not so aimless if he thinks of it now. Amidst all this, he did not forget the revenge he had planned for his fiancée. She didn't want to be introduced as his fiancée and also he is still in PG list, right?

Well then, sweetheart, by the end of the night you will introduce yourself as my fiancée and nothing else. – He thought evilly.

And so it starts...

"Hello, Uncle." He called some random uncle and walked to him dragging Samhita alongside him. "Did you know Samhita is my fiancée, I'm so lucky to have her in my life."

That uncle didn't understand why the elusive elder son of Pratap is introducing himself this way and why is he gloating this as if it is an achievement. Karan could easily read the uncle's expression and smiled serenely at him and moved on all the while dragging Samhita behind him.

If Samhita is anyway confused or irritated or bewildered by his behaviour, she didn't show it on her face and continued to smile as if it is a daily occurrence.

He continued to introduce her as his fiancée over and over to anyone who caught his eye. He even upped his game by possessively placing his hand on her shoulders whenever he introduced her.

Karan could see her fraying nerves and severed patience when her eyes glittered with such anger he thought he would have been burnt if she had the power. He smirked evilly too.

"You didn't want to be introduced as my fiancée, sweetheart. Now everyone knows how smitten I am with you that I couldn't keep my hands off you and claim you as my life partner every chance I get. How's it for my revenge, Samhita?" he whispered in her ear.

Anyone who is observing them will think that he is whispering sweet nothings in her ear but only they both know the extent of their revenge. It seems everyone's eyes are on them, they all giggled and whispered. Some aunties even came up to them and said to take it slow at least until the end of the party.

How cool is this revenge!

Karan thought he had won until Samhita stepped on his shoes with her 3-inch heel. Although the leather took most of the brunt, he couldn't help but wince a little at the vicious pain those heels caused his toes.

And all this time, the she-devil is smiling so innocently that no one can think she is literally dancing on his toes with a sword, otherwise called her heels.

He carefully pulled his face back to a serenely smiling one and turned her to bring her closer so that she can step back. She started to leave his side and go somewhere and his immediate reaction is to follow her. But she-devil stopped him.

"I'm going to the washroom. Do you want to join me there and ravish me, perhaps?" she asked him innocently.

His eyes popped up wide open and he couldn't talk for a few seconds. When he opened his mouth, it came as a squeak, but he managed to get the words out at least.

"No, thank you. You go and do what you have to do and I will stand here and miss you till you reach my side." He said with a wink.

She huffed and left the place. He could practically see fumes coming out of her ears.

What fun it is to irritate her! He thought and laughed inwardly.

***

Samhita is fuming all the way to the washroom. After she finished the business, she stepped out only to find her father-in-law with his usual rage-filled expression.

"What have you done, you bitch?" he snarled.

She should have placed a facer for talking to her like that, but it will be healed in some amount of time and she didn't want to give him that temporary pain. She also expected this confrontation but not in the middle of the party. It seems uncle cannot control his emotions.

"Tsk tsk, Uncle. Is that a way to talk to your favourite daughter-in-law? I'm really sad to know you use such foul language."

"You know why should I have to resort to such language, you mannerless woman! What did you do that all the guests are gossiping about Samarth and the way he was treated here?"

"Uncle... Just lower your voice, okay? You don't want to cement the gossips by airing your dirty laundry in the hallway. And also, I wanted to preserve your reputation, Uncle. What's so wrong in that?"

"Wrong? What's wrong is that I considered you to be a broken woman after your broken engagement and thought to use your weakness to flush out some of the money from your father. And what reputation are you talking about, you bitch! There is no reputation remaining now. You destroyed everything, you unworthy piece of shit! If only I had listened to your ex-fiancé, I wouldn't be standing in this position." Seeing her shocked expression, he continued, "Oh yes, that dirty piece of your ex-fiancé came to me saying how you openly wanted him to satiate your desires and as he didn't accept that, you broke the engagement." He smirked maliciously knowing that he hit a weak spot.

"That's a lie." She whispered.

"Of course, that's a lie, sweetie. You think anyone will investigate what's the truth when this gossip spreads. Even my son could not stop the wagging tongues which will reiterate this story every chance they got. And I will take my pleasure knowing I took another person with me to the hell of your making."

"You don't dare."

"I don't?" he laughed then and that sent chills in her spine, "try me and you will know to which lengths I go to save my reputation." He said and left her there looking at the space he just stood.

She knew she should go out and mingle with the guests but she couldn't do anything but stand there like a frozen statue. She didn't know how much time she stood there until her brother came to take her back outside. He kept asking her what's happened but she couldn't reply. How can she? If her brother knows what her ex-fiancé has been sprouting about her, he will definitely kill that vicious snake. She didn't want that and she also didn't want the rumours to be spread about her. What should she do now?

By the time they reached outside, there is a commotion near the drinks table. They went to see what was happening and she saw that her ex-fiance and her current fiance has been having a face-off.

"Talk rubbish about her again, you will never be able to see the next sunrise, you asshole."

There is no doubt who she is. She also understood that her ex came to spread the vile rumours Karan's father just left her with. What is Karan doing? Why is he issuing challenges in front of so many people? Doesn't the man get the gravity of the situation? She was about to interrupt them when Karan spoke again.

"You want to run your motor mouth, don't you? Then meet me at my club tomorrow early in the morning. We will have a boxing match and the winner can do whatever he wants. Do you accept to the terms, asshole?"

She knows that her ex is all bluster and he couldn't even lift a single finger for signing a document and now he's issued with a challenge that he cannot back out without looking like a fool and also a liar in front of all these people. He revels in people talking about him and to save his face, he accepted it.

She tried to stop both of them and convince them to think again but they are not in a position to listen to anyone. She sighed and took a step back. Her father announced the end of the party and all the guests left taking a chunk of information to be gossiped about.

Samhita and her family reached their house and she went upstairs to her room to have a good cry on her fate. Why is this all happening in her life? Why can't she have a simple and uncomplicated life? What if something happens to Karan tomorrow? She will not be able to forgive herself if anything happens to him because of her. He and Samarth are getting back together and nothing can happen to that relationship. She decided to go to the match tomorrow even though Karan stood firm when she announced her decision earlier. He thought she shouldn't be there and because she knows her ex doesn't play fair, she should be there to make Karan understand one last time that the boxing match wasn't worth it if it destroys the already fragile bonds.

Her father is calling her to come down for a drink and as she couldn't deny anything her father asks, she went and sat on the sofa while her father is making her a drink. She knew she should have the drink to settle her frazzled nerves and so she accepted it.

"You know Karan is trying to save your reputation, right?"

By this time, her brother also joined them and he denied the drink their father offered.

"How is he trying to save my reputation if he cannot listen to the reason?"

"What reason? That man is doing all he could to knock some sense in that empty-headed asshole. I don't know what I saw in him to fix your alliance with him in the first place."

Her father, as a rule, doesn't curse. But there is an exception to everything it seemed. She thought to make an exception herself. And so, she said everything that has happened to her with her ex-fiance and also the present father-in-law. She didn't think there is any point in hiding the important details of her life from her closed ones. Both her father and brother were enraged and she tried to calm them as much as possible. But still, there is underlying anger.

"So, you now know why I should stop Karan from fighting this, there is no point, Papa. He will only get hurt and then the rumours will spread anyway."

"I still don't think you should stop this from happening, Samhita. He is fighting for your honour, after all. You should know that no man makes it his job to fight whoever comes in his path. You should have listened to that man talking about you in such a cheap way. Karan heard them and intervened and he tried to make the idiot understand that it is no way to treat a woman but did that idiot listen? No, instead he went on about how you wanted sexual pleasures from him and when you were denied, you broke the engagement. Even though society knows the nature of that man, they still listened to that rubbish and were looking at you as if you are in the wrong in this whole scenario."

"And also there is one thing that was missing in your previous engagement, di." Her brother joined the discussion. "There is no respect in that relationship but Karan respects you for what you are. That guy may be crazy and may irritate you with his craziness – yes, I did see what he had done tonight, following you like a puppy or dragging you to wherever he went – but remember one thing, he didn't disrespect you in any place. If he did, he would have met with both Papa's and my fists."

This brought out a small laugh from her.

"I think I will take rest now. Tomorrow morning, I will attend the match and support Karan." She said earning wide smiles from both her father and brother.

She went to her room and messaged Karan to send the address of his club so that she can reach there. He messaged her back to think again but she was adamant. He finally accepted and sent her the address.

That night she slept fitfully and woke up when the first rays of sun hit her window.

*** 

I know it's kind of a filler chapter, please be patient with me. And also I don't condone violence or violent acts towards another human being per se, but I thought the ex-fiance guy(whom I have yet to name) should be knocked some sense into his head. He didn't want to listen to words and Karan thought to make him listen with his fists. So sorry if I hurt anyone's sensibilities with that. 

That is the end of third chapter, thank you for reading. 

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Until next time, take care and stay healthy.