Dhriti's POV

I looked at my phone for the umpteenth time and started thinking again if I should inform Akshat or not. I have never hidden anything from him and I feel like only he can help me. But the threats of that monster were still ringing in my ears.

If he can hurt my parents then he won't think twice before hurting my friends.

I have made up my mind that I will accept his proposal not like I have a choice but I don't want the things to take an ugly turn. I don't want him to do any bad thing to get me. Moreover, I don't want him to hurt anyone.

I will give myself, willingly to him but my soul and my heart will always hate him.

I know I can't fight. Though, I can run away from here but I can't leave my parents alone. I can't put their lives in danger when I already know that at the end, he will find me and I don't even want to think about the consequences.

I was sitting on my bed hugging my knees to my chest and tears were again flowing from my eyes. Thank god, today is a holiday. I can't even think about going to hospital in this condition.

I decided to go to maa papa's room and spend some time with them. Only their presence can make me feel better.

I stopped on my tracks when I heard a very familiar voice. The same voice which has been haunting me since two days. My feet froze and I couldn't fathom what was happening around me.

A sharp pain shot through my head and my body turned cold. I backed against the wall and started taking deep breaths. My heart was beating wildly inside my chest and I could feel myself sweating.

Slowly, still hiding behind the wall, I peeked towards the hall.

"Hello aunty! I am Abhimanyu"

My breathing almost stopped seeing him at my door.

"What is he doing here? Is he here to harm my parents?"

All these thoughts were roaming in my mind making me more scared.

"Abhimanyu Singh." came Maa's shocked voice to which he nodded. Obviously she would be shocked seeing the famous businessman at her door.

"I am here to talk with you and uncle." he said looking behind maa as papa was now standing behind her looking shocked and suprised.

"Umm..ok please come inside" Maa said gesturing him to come inside. I quickly hid behind the wall again before he could see me.

"Please sit" This time it was papa. I slowly peeked again and found him sitting on the sofa comfortably and my parents were sitting in front of him.

"Actually uncle, I am here to ask for Dhriti's hand for marriage." My eyes widened hearing his words.

I was yet to prepare a proper explanation for my parents. I was not ready for this and on top of everything, my parents were not ready for this.

"What? How do you know my daughter?"

Came Papa's stern voice making me palm my face. He doesn't use this tone often but when he does, it gets so hard to calm him down.

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Came Abhimanyu's voice and there was a hint of irritation in his voice.

My heart was thumping loudly inside my chest as I knew, now papa will call me but what will I tell him that he threatened me to marry him by taking their names?

"DHRITI"

I flinched hearing papa's voice. My shaky legs were about to give up but somehow I steadied them and wiped my tears. I took few deep breaths to calm my nerves down. After few seconds, I started climbing downstairs, my eyes were fixed on my father.

His face held a serious expression. Beside him, maa was looking somewhat scared.

I didn't want to look at Abhimanyu's face as I knew I will either cry or shout the moment I will look at him.

"Abh-himanyu?"

I clenched my fists while taking his name. I couldn't show in front of my parents that I don't know him or I hate him. I had to play along.

"Yes." He said proudly.

"You know Abhimanyu Singh?" Papa asked

"J-ji" I whispered looking at him. My whole body was shuddering badly as I was feeling like I am about to faint.

Tears of shame filled my eyes seeing the look of disappointment on my father's face. The only thing I never wanted to witness in my life.

He looked at Maa, who was looking equally baffled.

"How?" He questioned after sometime.

"W-we..m-me-et...i-in..my-y..h-hosp-pital" I lied.

Yes, I lied to my father for the first time in my whole life just because of this man.

"I was about to..to tell you." My voice broke at the end as tears started sliding down my cheeks.

"Tell me when?" His voice raised making me flinch.

"Listen, Mr. Sharma. She was about to tell you about us soon." The devil intervened making my father more angry.

This was getting out of hands now. Papa's anger knows no bounds and Abhimanyu is a devil.

"I am talking to my daughter, Mr. Shekhawat." Papa gritted.

"Today only." I said immediately. "I was about to tell you everything today only. I wanted you to meet him. I am sorry, Papa."

He kept looking at me in silence. I was praying to God, mentally slapping myself to make my parents suffer because of me.

Without uttering a word, Papa left from there. I looked at my mother helplessly to which she just shook her head and followed him to their room.

I held his hand and dragged him outside.

"Why?"

I asked as soon we were out of my house. Tears of frustration clouded my vision.

He just shrugged casually taking steps in my direction. At this point, I was not scared about my safety but of my parents' safety.

"I made it easy for you. Didn't I?"

I wanted to slap him so badly but the aura he holds didn't let me do this.

"I don't give a damn if your father approves or not. We will.be getting married next week and that's it!" He stated taking another threatening step towards me.

The rage and determination in his eyes scared me so much. I didn't want my parents to witness this side of him.

"Please...leav-ve. I will talk to my parents. Give me some time, please." I pleaded.

I flinched as he pinched my chin using his thumb and forefinger. He made me look at his deadly eyes.

"Don't test my patience, Dhriti." He muttered.

I shivered feeling his hot breath on my face. It burnt my skin.

"Pl-lea-ase..."

He left my chin and stepped back making me heave a sigh of relief. Soon, he turned around and left in his car.

I breathed in the air like a starving person. His presence suffocated me badly.

The biggest task was to convince my parents. By no means, I would let them see the real side of Abhimanyu Shekhawat.

Ever.

I knocked on my parents door with lowered gaze. I was truly ashamed to look into their eyes. I have disappointed them, no matter internationally or unintentionally.

"Why did you hide this, Dhriti?" Maa asked grabbing my arms.

Papa was sitting on the bed quietly. He was not even looking at me while my eyes were looking at him only. How badly I wanted to hug him and tell him every single misery of mine.

"I am sorry, Maa. I never intended to hurt you."

She sighed leaving my arms and sat beside my father.

I closed my eyes and prepared myself to endure everything they would say to me.

I knelt before my father and placed my hands on his legs. Placing my head on his lap, I hid my tears.

"Please forgive me, Papa. I..I really like him. He is a nice guy. I know, I shouldn't have kept this hidden from you for so long but...I was not sure about this."

I wanted to bite my tongue till it bleed for uttering such lies. I said whatever came in my mind.

"I am not angry at you, Dhriti. I am..I am just disappointed that you didn't share this with us. I got to know about this through him and not my own daughter." He finally spoke after sometime. "Don't you trust us?"

I instantly looked up at him and desperately shook my head.

"Don't say this, Papa. Please don't. I do trust you two. I am so sorry.." I folded my hands before them.

He held my hands and shook his head. I could see the tears glistening in his eyes. Holding my arms, he made me sit on the bed between him and Maa.

"We always wanted to find the perfect guy for you. Never wondered you would do our task." Maa chuckled wiping my tears.

I smiled though my heart cried.

"Call him for dinner, tonight."

I felt relieved hearing his words. Atleast, he was ready to meet Abhimanyu.

"Thank you."

I hugged them feeling emotional seeing the support of my family. If it were for some genuine guy, I would have felt so happy but the situation was entirely different here.

Now, I just wish he won't mess up..

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