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I'm still reeling from the shock. Just yesterday, I was about to tie the knot with Sanya, and now I'm married to Anisha... When Janav called to inform me about, my concerns shifted to Anisha's well-being, knowing Sanya had tried to harm her.

I wonder if Sanya's family, who deceived us, is she aware of our union. But for now, I want to cherish this new chapter with my unexpected bride.

A smile spreads across my face as I acknowledge the divine intervention. God indeed is the ultimate storyteller, weaving intricate tales with diverse characters, always knowing who belongs together.
"Thank you, God."

"If you're done daydreaming, we should investigate what Sanya is up to..." Vidharth uttered, his lips curled into a playful smile.

"Yeah..." I murmured, rolling my eyes.

We returned to the room, only to find a distraught Sanya rushing out, her lips bloody. We exchanged a curious glance, wondering what had transpired inside.

"Looks like no one needs us in there..." Vidharth commented, his tone laced with sarcasm.

What's that supposed to mean?" Jarek questioned

"You'll get to know soon." I heard Anisha's voice.

"Seems like someone is definitely going to be in trouble.." Vidharth remarked, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

After exchanging a few words between Vidharth and Anisha, I intended to confide in Anisha about Sanya, but Jarek's phone rang, interrupting me mid-sentence.

He answered, speaking in a language I couldn't understand, but his tone and expressions suggested it was a serious conversation.

Anisha's concerned gaze caught my attention, hinting that something was amiss. When Jarek turned back to us, his trembling hands betrayed his composure, and Anisha's questioning look only elicited a shocking response from him, leaving her stunned as well.

They decided to leave, and I wasn't able to stop them. I could understand that if her uncle had taken her under his wing after her parents' death, they would be very close. Vidharth offered Jarek a lift.

At first, they declined, but when we urged him, he didn't resist much; he was clearly not in the mood for an argument right now.

Vidharth took Jarek and the other man, whose name is Matteo which I got to know now, in his car, and Anisha was left with me.

"Should I come with you?" I inquired, breaking the silence as we left the hospital premises, snapping her out of her thoughts.

After a long pause, she uttered, "I think you need to handle some matters here that are more important..." She was right, but I couldn't help but wish she'd just assent.

I hummed in agreement, and she continued, "You need to tell your family that you didn't marry Sanya, and considering the circumstances, you'll have to confront the Malhotras too." She seemed to read my mind.

"How did you know my family doesn't know?" I pondered, surprised.

"I met Janav in the parking space," she revealed, her eyes locked on mine.

"Oh," I muttered, feeling a mix of emotions.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure to clear things with the Malhotras," I declared, my eyes locked on hers with determination.

"Look at the road," she admonished, breaking the spell. A chuckle escaped my lips.

"Sure," I acknowledged, returning my focus to driving.

"So, can I at least get your number?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

I felt her gaze on me, and she seemed to hesitate for a moment.

"Your number?" she echoed, her voice laced with amusement.

"Huh??" I queried, my eyes questioning hers.

"Your mobile number, dear…" she murmured, her voice trailing off as I realized what she had just called me. Our eyes met, and I could tell she was aware of the word too.

"It's just a habit. Don't overthink it," she reassured me with a smile.

I handed her my phone as it rang in my pocket.

"Could you check who it is?" I requested.

"It's me," she revealed, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Ohh!" I exclaimed.

"Save your number," I instructed.

"Password?" she quired.

"The Conjuring," I replied, a hint of mischief in my voice.

"What?" she pondered, confusion etched on her face.

"The Conjuring is my password," I clarified, a grin spreading across my face.

"You know you're weird," she teased, a playful glint in her eye.

I chuckled, unfazed. "I love watching horror movies. Maybe next time we can watch it together."

"Space or not?" she inquired, ignoring my offer.

"Space," I affirmed, my eyes locked on hers.

"Okh!!" she exclaimed, a mix of surprise and amusement.

After deleting the contact information several times, she finally asked,
"What should I save it as?"

"Ayla.." I murmured.

"What?" she responded, her tone curious.

"But it's not my name.." she pointed out, a hint of confusion in her voice.

"I know," I acknowledged, my eyes locked on hers.

"What does it mean?" she queried, her curiosity piqued.

"I want to ask something too..." I countered, my voice playful.

"Ask away..." she replied, her tone casual and inviting.

"What is your real name?" I asked, my tone gentle but curious, as I noticed her body language shift subtly from the corner of my eye. Her shoulders tensed, her posture straightened, and her gaze narrowed ever so slightly, betraying a hint of wariness.

I had suspected it from the start, but now I was certain - she was not who she claimed to be. The moment we met, I sensed a disconnect between her profession and her demeanor. Her poise, confidence, and air of authority whispered secrets of a different story, one that didn't involve wedding planning.

She exudes an aura of authority, a palpable presence that commands respect, like an invisible mantle that surrounds her. At first, I dismissed the feeling, attributing it to my imagination, but the sensation persisted, refusing to be ignored.

I sensed that she was hiding her true nature, that there was more to her than met the eye. The man standing at the entrance, his eyes fixed on her with a mix of loyalty and admiration, was undoubtedly her associate, and Jarek's calm confidence in the face of danger hinted at a similar backstory. These were not ordinary individuals, capable of navigating high-stakes situations with ease. It was clear that they were not intent on harming us, or she would have kept Vritika's whereabouts secret.

"I'm neither blind nor deaf, Ava, nor a naive newcomer to this messed-up world," I declared, my voice slightly raised and laced with frustration.

She turned to me, her eyes locking onto mine. "You know I lied, yet you're still giving me a chance. Why?" she inquired, her soft tone laced with curiosity.

"Because, no matter what, we're tied together now, sweetheart," I murmured, my voice filled with a mix of emotions.

She averted her gaze, her eyes fixed on the window. "Shubhra... that's the name my parents gave me," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Ooh!" I exclaimed, my curiosity piqued.

"Hmm," she murmured, her gaze still distant.

"But Jarek called you Ava, right?" I queried, my brows furrowed in confusion.

"It was the name my uncle gave me when I went to Italy," she revealed, her voice laced with a hint of nostalgia.

"Why?" I probed, my curiosity getting the better of me, my eyes locked onto hers.

"He said I'm not safe with that name," she revealed, her words puzzling me as I struggled to grasp the full context.

"Well, then why are you telling me? Shouldn't it be a secret?" I queried, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"I just want to play fair." She shrugged nonchalantly.

A chuckle escaped my lips at her unexpected response.

"We're here," she muttered, her gaze fixed on something ahead.

"Let's go," she urged, her tone decisive.

"Hmm," I murmured, my thoughts still tangled in confusion.

She bid us farewell, leaving me with more questions than answers. Why was she unsafe? And from whom? My mind raced with possibilities.

I flinched as a hand came to rest on my shoulder. "I need some rest too," Vidharth muttered, his puppy eyes persuasive.

"I'll have to face everyone alone at home now," I replied, a hint of resignation in my voice.

"Sorry, buddy, but you know I really need some rest," Vidharth empathize, his tone apologetic.

"I know, man... and thanks for your help," I acknowledged, my gratitude genuine.

Vidharth chuckled. "Shut up with the thank you, buddy! Did you forget the rules of friendship? No thank you, no sorry in friendship..."

"Yeah, I remember... but still..." I smiled wryly.

"Yeah, I remember, but still..." I trailed off, a hint of nostalgia in my voice.

Vidharth smirked. "And by the way, this thank you belongs to your lady luck," he teased, his eyes glinting with amusement.

With that, he drove off towards his house, leaving me to ponder the mysteries of the day.

As I entered my car, my phone buzzed with an incoming text.

I glanced at the screen to see a message from her:

"I'll tell you everything when I return..."

The text was from her, and a genuine smile spread across my face. She was willing to give our marriage a chance, and that knowledge filled me with joy. I felt elated, like I was walking on air.

"And you should get some rest,you definitely need that." she texted ,I chuckled reading that,

"Playing the good wife, huh?"I teasingly replied,

"Whatever..." She responded

My heart felt lighter, filled with a sense of hope and renewal. I couldn't wait to see her again, to start anew, and to build a life together.

I drove back to the palace, only to be met with a tense atmosphere.

I knew there would be consequences for telling Vritika, and soon Janav confirmed my fears.

Yeah, I would have told them, but at least I would have established a foundation, and Anisha was not even here...

As I entered the hall I saw Papa, Kaka, Maa, and Kaki were all present their eyes fixed on me as I entered with a mix of concern and anticipation.

Janav and Ariv sat on the stairs...

I mentally prepared myself to face all the questions that would be thrown my way.

"Where is Vritika?" I inquired, preempting the barrage of questions I knew they had been eagerly waiting to ask.

"She's resting," Maa replied, her voice calm.

I nodded and sat down in a nearby chair, bracing myself for the inquiry that was to come. "Ask away, I'm ready," I announced, looking at them resolutely.

Dad was the first to speak up.
"Where is she?"

Mom's eyes narrowed.
"Did she decline to accept the marriage?"

Kaka's brow furrowed.
"Did she not want to stay here with us?"

Kaki's voice was laced with concern.
"Should we talk to her or her family if they're the reason for her reluctance?"

"Her uncle got hurt in an accident, that's why she needs to leave," I explained, interrupting their ominous speculations.

"Is he fine now?" Mom inquired, concern etched on her face.

"His condition was critical," I elaborated, my voice measured.

They collectively sighed, their faces somber. "So, what is her decision?" Kaka queried, his eyes narrowing.

"She needs time," I stated, my tone neutral.

They sighed again, this time in unison. "We need to confront the Malhotras about this," Kaka declared, his voice firm. Dad nodded in agreement.

Kaki's eyes flashed with indignation. "Look at the audacity of that girl, she came here even after everything..."

Ma's voice was calm and reasoning. "We should not judge her without knowing the whole picture," she cautioned, her gaze sweeping across the room.

"I understand, bhabhi, but how could she have the audacity to come here and pretend like nothing's wrong after everything that's happened? None of the Malhotras have even bothered to call us or offer an explanation. They think they can get away with it just because they have connections with the Rajvansh family? We also have influence and a reputation to uphold. Our reputation is at stake here, and what they did was cheating. They've toyed with our son's life and disrupted that poor girl's life entirely. Her world has been turned upside down in just a day..." She huffed.

"Riddhika is right," Dad agreed.
"They've not only tarnished our reputation but also played with the lives of these children. And still, they have the nerve not to even contact us."

"Did she come to the hospital too?" Kaki asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Yes, she did." I nodded and she gasped.

"Did she do something to Anisha?" Kaki's voice was laced with concern.

"I think they got into a fight," I replied, with a measured tone.

"Look, bhabhi, at the courage of this girl! Her family toyed with that girl's life, and she still had the guts to stand up to her. I'm telling you, she didn't leave Anisha's side for a single minute during the entire wedding. I think they planned it beforehand."

"You're right, Riddhika, I noticed it too," mom agreed.

"Is Anisha okay now? I heard she fainted," Maa asked, concern etched on her face.

"Yeah, she's better than before," I responded.

"Why did she faint?" Maa quired, her eyes widening.

"Due to the drugs they gave her," I explained, my voice laced with anger. Mom sighed.

"Look, son, we're not pressuring you. I know this situation isn't ideal for anyone, but... our family has a no-divorce policy. I'm not saying you two should be forced to stay together, but you should at least give it a try," Mom said, her tone gentle and filled with warmth.

"I know, Mom! And I'm waiting for her response, but I didn't think it was the right moment to inquire about her decision," I explained.

"You should get some rest now; you haven't slept in a long time," Kaki declared, her eyes filled with concern as she gazed at me.

"Yeah!" I acknowledged, leaving the room to check on Vritika. After a brief conversation, I headed to my chamber, where I freshened up and then immersed myself in the warmth of the comforters.

The next day, I awoke to the sun's rays streaming into my room, illuminating the space.

I woke up, freshened up, and prepared to return to work. The wedding had disrupted my schedule, leaving me with unfinished tasks. I needed to address the issues with SYL Corporation too, to get to know what they want. I was determined to uncover the reasons behind the Malhotras' malicious intentions.

While Kaka and I had initially advocated for a forceful confrontation, Dad's long-standing friendship with Madhav Malhotra had led him to urge a peaceful approach, which we reluctantly adopted. I muttered under my breath, "Peaceful resolution, my foot..."

I entered the hall, where everyone was gathered, just as Mr. Malhotra walked in with Rudra.

"How nice to see you here, Madhav. We were just about to leave to meet you, since you've conveniently disposed of your phones."
Kaka's sarcastic tone filled the air.

"I'm not guilty about anything that happened. I've come to settle the score with that girl. How dare she slap and threaten my daughter?" Mr. Malhotra feigned innocence:

"Who slapped your daughter?" Maa's eyes narrowed.

"Your daughter-in-law..." Mr. Malhotra smirked.

"I'm proud of her; she did a perfect job. Your daughter must have done something to deserve that," Kaki said, earning a glance from Maa, which she shrugged off. Malhotra's jaw clenched.

"We'll discuss that later. First, tell us why you did it," Dad asked authoritatively.

"I don't owe you an explanation," Malhotra replied.

"Madhav, our politeness doesn't mean we're harmless. As Randhawa's, we prioritize our reputation and pride. Answer our questions politely, or face the consequences," Dad warned.

Malhotra's expression turned uncertain, his eyes furrowed. "How can you still threaten me, Abhyant, after everything?"

"What are you talking about, Siddharth?"

Malhotra's eyes locked onto Dad's, a fleeting uncertainty visible. "You tried to kill my daughter..."

Why would we try to kill her?" Dad tried to reasoned.

"Oh, really? Then what about the engagement ring?" he snapped.

I finally spoke up, "What about it?" after remaining silent for minutes, and everyone turned to acknowledge my presence.

"Don't try to act smart," Malhotra sneered.

"I'm genuine, I have no idea what you're talking about," I replied.

"You're saying you didn't know the ring you gave my daughter contained a stolen diamond?" He pressed on.

"What do you mean? It wasn't stolen! Sanya and I purchased it personally. She was there, you can ask her," I defended.

"The diamond you gifted her was a stolen York Corporation diamond, containing special information. My sister was kidnapped because of it, and the kidnappers threatened us not to tell anyone. If she hadn't reached the mandap, everyone would have found out, and we couldn't take that risk. So, we decided to switch the bride." Rudra explained.

"What?" I exclaimed, astonished by the revelation. "I mean, what the..."

"You should have come to us first, Madhav," Dad said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"I thought you were involved too," Malhotra replied, a defensive tone evident.

"How could you believe such a ridiculous thing, bhaisahab?" Mom intervened, her voice laced with disbelief. "Sanya is like our daughter; why would we risk her life?"

"I don't know that, but it doesn't matter to me anymore." Malhotra shrugged.

Dad's expression turned resolute.
"Okay, we'll look into this ourselves."

______________________________________

"Is this for real?" Vidharth asked, disbelief evident in his voice.

"That's what Madhav Malhotra said," I replied.

"Means, bro, literally, that diamond is the reason?" Vidharth asked, seeking clarification.

"Yeah!" I affirmed.

"We need to investigate ourselves to confirm," he urged, a determined look on his face.

"Yeah, I've already got my people working on it," I assured.

______________________________________

I dialed a familiar number, and on the third ring, a solemn voice answered.

"What's up?" he exclaimed remaining his tone professional.

"Everything's fine, what about you?" I inquired.

"Same here!" he responded.

"I need a small favor," I declared, getting straight to the point.

"Well, sure! What do you need?" he wondered.

"I want to meet the big shot behind the curtains of your company," I stated.

"You want to meet the boss?" he queried, slightly surprised.

"Yeah, can you fix a meeting?" I requested.

"Okay, but it'll be quite hectic!" he cautioned.

"It's fine, I'll make it work," I assured him.

"Thanks." I thanked feeling grateful.

"We serve each other on mutual interests..." he remarked.

"I'll call you after fixing the meeting," he promised before hanging up.

"Sure thing!" I affirmed, already looking forward to the meeting.