In the evening, when Vidyut entered the bedroom, Mandira was lying on the bed. She had changed into a white salwar kameez.

“Did you forget we have to visit your house tonight? Get up and start getting ready,” He told her before entering the closet.

“I feel sick. I don't want to go anywhere,” Mandira grumbled.

Vidyut came back outside with a smirk flashing on his face. He began taking slow steps towards her as he asked, “So my real wife lives in your house? And you are afraid that we will cross paths and I'll kill her,” By the end of his sentence he was towering over her.

He sat down on the edge of the bed. Mandira got up and leaned against the headrest. She was alert now that he very easily figured out the reason behind her excuse.

“Get ready yourself... or I won't mind dressing you up,” His hand reached towards her sleeve. But before he could touch her shoulder, Mandira slapped his hand away and ran to the closet.

“I'll do it myself,” He heard her panicked voice and chuckled, amused at her reaction.

✿ ✿ ✿

“Why are you carrying a gun?” Mandira asked Vidyut when she saw a gun in his pocket as he drove the car.

“To kill my real wife,” He replied quite casually, as if he wasn't talking about murder but food.

“Are you kidding me?” Mandira frowned at him.

“I'm serious. The girl with red nail paint will be my wife. I'll kill her, marry with you in a temple secretly and then you'll become my legal wife as you should have become in the first place.”

“Vidyut, stop this bullshit. I'm already sick of your empty threats,” She lashed out at him.

Vidyut smirked, “Empty threats, huh?”

They had reached the Thakur Haveli by then. Vidyut entered the main gates of the estate and halted his car in front of the entrance. Mandira was the first one to step out of the car. Wearing that red saree with golden borders she looked like a rose. Vidyut quickly matched her steps and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Can you stop touching me? You are making me uncomfortable,” Mandira protested.

“No, I won't. You decided to play my wife without a marriage. Now bear with my advancements,” He passed her a smile that made her feel like punching him and they entered the house.

The atmosphere of Thakur Haveli was a bit awkward. All of them were ready to put an act. The act of not knowing anything. That Mandira never married Vidyut. They can't afford Vidyut Mathur's wrath. Only if they knew that he already knows.

“Ah, Damad ji!” Mandira's parents welcomed their son-in-law. Looking at Vidyut's hand possessively wrapped around Mandira, they assumed that their secret was safe. While Vidyut was busy mentally murdering them for deceiving him.

Mandira was both, scared and amused. Scared because her parents had no idea that the truth was already revealed. And amused because they looked like idiots in this scenario.

They were directly taken to the dining table. Soon Suraj also joined them. The helpers began serving the food. Mandira's dull eyes shone at the sight of Malai Kofte. While Vidyut stopped the helper who was about serve him that unhealthy dish. He took the Kaddu ki sabzi instead. Mandira scrunched her nose looking at the Kaddu served in his plate. Vidyut saw her making faces at his food.

“My Kaddu is healthier than your Malai Kofte,” He remarked.

“This Kaddu has more sugar than a Laddu. I bet it will cause you diabetes,” She made a face again.

“Stop bluffing. Before I get diabetes, you will get a heart attack from eating this.”

“Even if I get a heart attack, the reason will be you, not the Malai Kofte,” She told him sassily.

“Eat quietly. Or I'll shoot you before that girl,” His threat put an end to their lighthearted moment. Mandira again grew serious. She just hoped Vidyut and Devika don't encounter each other.

“I don't see my real wife anywhere,” He whispered in her ear.

“Can't you let me eat in peace?” She whisper yelled at him.

Her parents and brother were noticing how Vidyut and Mandira were whispering to each other. It appeared like they had gotten comfortable with each other in just a day.

When the dinner was done, Mandira went upstairs with Suraj. After they left, Vidyut went to the garden to take a stroll.

✿ ✿ ✿

Suraj entered his bedroom with Mandira by his side.

“What do you want to talk about?” He asked her.

“I need my phone. I left it at the hotel,” Her phone was left at the hotel where Suraj found her and dragged her back home.

“Okay, I'll contact the hotel tomorrow,” He nodded and continued, “Is that all you wanted to ask?”

She shook her head, “There's more.” After taking a pause, she continued, “Vidyut knows I'm not his wife.”

His eyes widened in shock, “How!? How did he find out?”

“He had noticed Devika's red nail paint on the Mandap. Seeing my pink fake nails, he figured it out.”

Suraj held her shoulders carefully, “Mandu, did he hurt you? Tell me honestly.”

Mandira's eyes instantly filled with tears, “He choked me.” She sniffed.

Suraj grimaced and pulled in his little sister for a hug. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought you back.”

“I came back willingly, Bhai. I couldn't just let Devika die for my mistakes. Just promise me that you will marry her as soon as possible.”

“I will,” He promised her.

And they ended the hug.

“I didn't tell him about Devika. He said he will kill her.”

“Don't worry, I'll keep her safe.”

“Bhai, how's Devika?” She asked. She really wanted to meet Devika but then she didn't want Vidyut to find out about Devika being his real wife. So it was better to stay away from Devika for the time being.

“Gloomy. She cried whole night. Right now she must be sitting in the garden like every night.”

Mandira smiled and moved to the giant window of Suraj's bedroom from where Suraj stared at Devika every night. She could see Devika sitting under the mango tree. Mandira had a wide smile on her face. She was waiting for Devika to look in her direction. But Devika didn't. Mandira was about to turn around and leave when she saw Vidyut heading towards Devika.

And instantly his gun flashed in front her eyes and his words rang in her mind.

“To kill my real wife.”

He was carrying the gun to kill Devika. But she couldn't just let her friend die.

“Bhai, give me your gun. And silencer too,” She ordered her brother.

Suraj was sitting on his bed. He didn't see what Mandira witnessed. But when he did, he quickly pulled out the gun and silencer and handed them to his sister who immediately ran downstairs.

✿ ✿ ✿

Vidyut was strolling in the garden when he saw a girl around Mandira's age sitting under the mango tree. And there came this thought in his mind. She could be his real wife.

He smirked and headed towards her. He was only seven steps away from her when she noticed his presence and stood up. Vidyut noticed how her calm demeanor changed in his presence. She tried to stay calm but her eyes screamed the terror she felt.

“Are you Mandira's cousin or something?” He asked while looking down at her hands.

Red nail paint. The very same shade of red he had seen on the bride's nails.

“No, Jija ji, I'm her friend. My father is Kishore's uncle personal bodyguard,” She tried to sound friendly, in an effort to hide her fear.

“What's your name, Saali Sahiba?” He smirked.

“Devika,” She replied.

Vidyut chuckled deviously and pulled out his gun. Devika's heart stopped beating when Vidyut aimed his gun at her.

“Listen to me very carefully. No soul should know that you are my real wife. And if you ever tried to come between me and Mandira, I swear I will kill- Ahh!”

The gun fell down from his hand as a bullet hit his right arm. Vidyut fell down on the ground and winced at the intense pain. He saw Devika glued to her place like a statue out of shock. And then he saw Mandira running towards him. With a gun in her hand.

It was Mandira who shot him. But then why was she crying?

•••

Oops, Mandira shot Vidyut 😢

What will be Vidyut's reaction? 🙁

What if he hurt her too? 😣

Any guesses? 🤔

Who is your favorite character so far? 😀