THIRD PERSON'S POV

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He swirled the liquid in the glass and took a strong puff of his cigar. His gaze was fixed on something or more like someone, whose picture was displaying on his phone. Someone who has become the centre of his world, lately. Someone who is making her appearance in his dreams as well.

He traced her lips, eyes, cheeks and hair by the tip of his finger. He could feel the softness even from here. She was looking cute in the picture. Wearing a blue hoodie, she was grinning while looking at the camera.

It was not hard for him to find her pictures.

Well, he tried. He tried his best to avoid her, to avoid thinking and imagining her but atlast, he failed. Failed miserably.

Somewhere, he knows he is not the best person for her but then the thought of someone else's arms wrapped around her, doesn't set well with him. He feels anger, jealousy and immense hatred towards the man whoever dares to touch her.

Crazy, right?

He doesn't know if he should blame himself for loosing control over himself or blame that innocent girl who has no idea how badly she affects this tough man.

His adam apple bobbed up and down as he gulped the bitter liquid slowly.

Her voice was still ringing in his ears. Her smile was still flashing before his eyes.

"What are you doing to me, Dhriti?" He tasted her name on his tongue and felt immense pleasure by doing so.

Her name is sweet just like her.

A name so unique and unusual at the same time. Strange, he never heard this name before. But then, everything about her is so unique apart from her name.

He needs her, he yearns for her and it is getting tougher now to stay away from her anymore.

Is this the beginning of something beautiful or something disastrous? Only time will tell...

.

.

Her body was there, sitting among the crowd but her mind was somewhere else. Occupied by his thoughts, she didn't know what was happening around her.

"Where did you guys go last night?" Akshat asked taking a bite from the apple.

Risha blushed looking at Shaan who gave her a wink in return.

"Umm..the new restaurant and it was really good." She answered to which Akshat nodded.

"Fuck this single life." An annoyed Akshat groaned throwing his head back.

"You need to get laid, dude. You don't need to have a girlfriend for that." Shaan said.

"Sometimes, I forget you were a Playboy." Risha muttered glaring at her boyfriend.

Dhriti's trance broke hearing their usual banters. She tried to smile but failed miserably. They all were having lunch in the hospital canteen.

Their banter is usual. They fight like cats and dogs and then after sometime, they talk as if they are best of friends. So, she didn't pay much heed to it and also, she had other things to be worried about.

She was holding a book and was trying to read.

No matter how hard she tried, she still couldn't concentrate on the lines.

"Why were you asking?" Asked Risha looking at Akshat and he started smiling nervously.

"Actually..I am thinking to go on a date and I will go on that restaurant."

Shaan gave him a mischievous look. Akshat frowned slightly observing no change in Dhriti the moment he mentioned about his date.

He was expecting a surprising look or an angry glare from her. But got none. She sat there unmovable, her eyes fixated on the book.

No, she was not engrossed in that book. He knew better. There was something else.

"Where were you, Dhriti, yesterday? I was calling you in the evening" Risha questioned gaining Dhriti's  attention.

"Ohh..sorry! Few guests had come."

Honestly, she doesn't even know where her phone was lying yesterday.

"Did you meet Abhimanyu? The Abhimanyu Singh? Lily told me he was there in Dr. Sahay's cabin." Risha asked.

Dhriti opened her mouth to say something but found no words. She didn't know if she should tell them the truth or continue to hide it.

But then, if she lies her friends might get suspicious as Lily knows Abhimanyu was in the cabin and she went there just at the same time.

"Yes, I did." She answered.

"Why didn't you tell us? I really want to meet him. He is such a nice personality." Risha said.

Dhriti just smiled in return not knowing what to say. Nice personality? If only she knew how nice that man can be.

Feeling a pair of eyes on her, she turned her gaze towards Akshat only to find him staring at her silently. His eyes held suspicion and..something close to fear.

She gulped trying to maintain a calm posture. The look in his best friend's eyes was enough to disturb her. She couldn't understand why he was looking tensed.

Was it because of Abhimanyu? Or something else?

The lunch hour got over and soon they all got back to their respective work.

*****

Her palms were sweaty and cold. There was a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach. With each step, she was taking towards the garden, her heart was beating crazily.

Akshat called her and asked her to meet him in the garden. Now, she didn't know why was he sounding so serious on the call but her heart was continuously telling her that it was related to Abhimanyu Singh.

"Hey!" She approached him, trying to sound as normal as possible.

His back was facing her while he was staring at the tree which was shedding it's dried leaves.

She was taking deep breaths to keep herself normal as he was still not facing her.

The moment he turned around, she knew something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

His eyes were hollow and it was totally unlikely of the usual cheerful and carefree Akshat. The one she knows since childhood.

"What happ--"

"Stay away from him."

He interrupted before she could complete her question. Her eyes widened and lips parted in shock. The sternness in his tone scared her.

Does he know about Abhimanyu?

She wondered gulping audibly.

"Wh-what..what are you talking about?" Dhriti faked a laugh and asked nervously licking her lips.

Akshat eyed her silently before letting out a sigh.

His eyes softened and the creases on his forehead vanished.

"I..I am sorry. I just..." He sat on the bench and palmed his face.

Her heart was throbbing wildly inside her chest. If Akshat knows about Abhimanyu then he will definitely tell her parents and won't let her get married to that monster.

She took a deep breath and sat beside him. Holding his hand, she squeezed it lightly.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Just stay away from that person, Dhriti. You don't know him but...I do." He started looking at her in seriousness.

She felt relieved realising he doesn't know the reality.

"And..don't go inside that Sahay's cabin again. That too alone, he invites unwanted guests." He spoke the last lines while getting his teeth.

"I won't. Promise." She smiled thanking the almighty that Akshat was still unaware about the situation between her and Abhimanyu.

"But...how do you know him?" She wanted to know about Abhimanyu and the things he did for which Akshat hates him so much.

"Just a corrupt businessman." He replied.

"Leave that. Let's not talk about him." He further added to which she nodded.

"Come, I will drop you today." He said getting off the bench.

The thought of Abhimanyu immediately came in her mind. Her heart told her to not go with Akshat. She couldn't take any chance.

"No no..I..actually Maa is in the market, waiting for me. We will do some shopping together." She explained wearing a joyous expression in her face, so she could look excited.

"Oh..okay okay." He said eyeing his watch. "You should leave now. It's getting dark."

They both went towards the main gate together and then Akshat sat on his bike saying goodbye to Dhriti while she held an auto.

.

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ONE WEEK LATER...

A drop of tear fell on her henna cladded hands. The colour of her henna was dark. Her mother teased her saying her husband would love her always.

But..only she knows the truth.

One week passed in the blink of an eye. Her mind still couldn't accept this bitter reality that she will be officially his tomorrow.

She was already having his name written on her hands. The name of that monster. The name she hates from the depth of her heart.

She doesn't have much relatives. Neither from her father's side nor from her mother's side. Her parents were single child to their parents and her grandparents died when she was really young.

Only few neighbours and few friends were invited to the wedding and functions.

She begged Abhimanyu to not make this wedding a huge deal by inviting the media and thankfully, he agreed without saying anything.

She doesn't want her friends, especially Akshat to know about her wedding. It will break his heart and moreover, it will land him into trouble.

Abhimanyu has already threatened her regarding her family. She doesn't want to add another person in this list.

She will vanish after this wedding. She won't ever show her face to her friends and will never contact them. If that's the only option left to keep them safe.

She doesn't know and honestly, she doesn't even want to imagine what Akshat will do once she starts ignoring him but as for now, she will stick to her plan.

Her gaze wandered around her small room. The room is small yet it holds so many memories in each and every corner.

Strange. Isn't it?

The smile vanished from her lips as soon her gaze fell upon the lehenga which was kept on the small sofa. Finely wrapped in white glittery paper.

How badly she wanted to cut it into pieces and burn it afterwards. She again looked at her hands and a sob left her mouth.

"Y-you..yo-ou don't lo-ove me.." She hiccuped scratching her palms by her nails. An attempt to remove the henna.

"It's just a facade. This..this dar-rk colour. Yo-ou are a monster." She cried once she got tired of scratching her palms.

Her delicate hands turned red but the henna didn't fade.

It was still there to make her realise that she was going to be his bride no matter what she does. She won't be able to escape this.

She won't be able to escape him...

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The next chapter will contain their wedding.

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