Aryan sought solace on the terrace, lighting a cigarette to unravel the complexities of the evening. Smoke curled around him as he inhaled deeply, contemplating in the quiet solitude beneath the night sky.
Sameer approached Aryan, standing beside him, and tapped his shoulder, snapping him back to reality.
Sameer, with a concerned expression, said, "Aryan, what happened back there? Why are you so agitated?" He further added, "I shared about Disha because I saw her with a guy. If there's something between them, maybe you should reconsider marrying her. It's better to know the truth."
Aryan took a deep drag of his cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke. He replied, "Sameer, it doesn't matter. My decision stands. I don't want interference in my personal matters."
Before Sameer could continue, Aryan cut him off sharply, "I have made my decision, and I'm marrying her. That's final. It would be wise if you keep your suggestions to yourself."
Aryan left for his room, ensuring to crush the cigarette under his shoes as a final act of frustration.
Aryan entered his room, the echoes of the day's events still lingering in the air. With a determined stride, he proceeded to the bathroom, where the sound of running water soon enveloped the room. Emerging from the shower, he changed into comfortable night attire. The subdued glow of the bedside lamp revealed a mobile phone resting on the side table, and with a purposeful reach, he grabbed it to initiate a consequential call.
Aryan dialed his PA's number, and as the call connected, he issued a decisive command.
Aryan sternly spoke into the phone, "I need you to compile all the details about Kunal Malhotra, his actions, and where he has been today. Make it thorough, and don't miss any details."
Aryan, after conveying his instructions, swiftly ended the call without waiting for any response from the other party.
Disha awoke a bit later than her usual time, her eyes slightly swollen from the emotional turmoil. Reluctant to leave the bed, she lay there, feeling emotionally drained. As the flashbacks of the previous night inundated her thoughts, the image of Kunal sparked concern. Hastily, she sat up, dialing his number to inquire about his well-being.
Disha's calls went unanswered initially, heightening her worry. With persistence, she tried again, and relief flooded in as Kunal finally answered the call.
Without listening to anything, Kunal, with bitterness in his voice, said, "Don't call me again. You're getting married, so just leave me alone to deal with my own emotions."
Disha, feeling a deep pang of regret, couldn't find the words to respond as Kunal disconnected the call abruptly. The weight of her choices and the consequences they brought settled heavily on her shoulders.
Disha, while getting ready for the day, attempted to shake off the emotions from the previous night. The sound of the blow dryer acted as a distraction, but the impact of the events lingered. Dressed in a pink knee-length dress, she concealed her inner turmoil, preparing to face whatever challenges the new day held.
Disha, adding the final touches to her appearance with lipstick and kajal to conceal the signs of the emotional turmoil, proceeded to the living room. The clock was ticking, and by 11, she had an appointment to meet Aryan.
Disha, in the living room, weaved a tale for her mother, explaining that she was stepping out to meet friends and extend invitations for her upcoming engagement.
Disha agreed to her mother's request to bring the lehenga on her way back home and promptly left the house, hoping to avoid any inquiries about the events of the previous night.
Disha arrived at the bus stop and took a seat, pulling out her phone to double-check the address and ensure she was heading in the right direction.
Aryan, awakening with swiftness, prepared himself for the day and departed for work. Despite Nita's efforts to detain him, he gently declined her concerns and left the mansion.
As Aryan entered his cabin, his PA awaited him, ready to share details. Initially disinterested, Aryan's attention piqued when his PA mentioned Disha's meeting with Kunal.
After his PA finished speaking, he handed two USB drives to Aryan—one from the coffee shop and the other from the location where Kunal's car had stopped on the dead-end road. These drives contained CCTV footage capturing activities at both locations, offering potential insights into Disha's interactions with Kunal.
Aryan motioned for his PA to leave, As the drives were loaded into his laptop, Aryan's eyes focused on the screen. The footage revealed moments of Disha and Kunal at the coffee shop, their interactions, and later, the scene where Kunal's car had halted on the desolate road. Aryan's face remained unreadable as he scrutinized each frame. The intensity of his gaze reflected a mix of suspicion and disdain.
Aryan's gaze turned icy as he witnessed Kunal embracing Disha in the footage. The coldness in his eyes intensified as he observed Disha not resisting the hug or breaking away from it.
In the heat of anger, Aryan abruptly slammed the laptop shut, the loud noise resonating with the internal turmoil that gripped him. The forceful action mirrored the intensity of his emotions as he grappled with the unsettling footage he had just witnessed.
A sense of determination filled Disha as she stepped out of the bus and made her way to Aryan's office building. The reception area greeted her with its corporate ambiance, and there, Aryan's PA stood, ready to receive her. The atmosphere carried a subtle tension, reflecting the underlying complexities of their meeting.
Aryan's PA to Disha: "Ma'am this way, please," pointing towards the exclusive elevator. Disha nodded and started following him.
As Disha rode the elevator and walked to Aryan's office, her heart raced with nervousness. The sound of her heartbeat seemed to intensify, matching the increasing tension. It felt like her heart could burst at any moment, adding to the overall sense of anticipation and unease.
Disha found herself standing outside Aryan's cabin after his PA knocked on the door and left.
"Come in," Aryan's cold voice echoed as Disha nervously stepped into his cabin.
Aryan, consumed by the documents before him, was disrupted by the deliberate cadence of Disha's approaching steps. As he glanced up, his eyes were unwittingly ensnared by her captivating presence. Disha, with an air of effortless elegance, possessed a beauty that stirred a subtle storm in Aryan's stoic demeanor. Her every movement, graceful and poised, seemed to cast a spell, momentarily diverting Aryan's attention from the paperwork that demanded his focus.
The subtle play of light accentuated the contours of her features, while her eyes held a certain depth that beckoned Aryan into their mesmerizing depths. His gaze involuntarily traced the curve of her lips, subtly accentuated by a hint of color, and observed the rhythmic movements of her chest as she breathed. The knee-length dress she adorned not only showcased her slender legs but also emphasized the smallness of her waist. Each detail, meticulously on display, contributed to the symphony of her beauty that unfolded in his cabin, momentarily eclipsing the business at hand.
Disha approached Aryan's table with measured steps, and as Aryan caught her gaze, he nervously gulped and quickly averted his eyes, pretending to be engrossed in the papers on his desk.
Disha stood there for a moment, and Aryan gestured for her to take a seat.
Aryan's mind involuntarily replayed the scene of Disha's interaction with Kunal which increased the tension in the room, and Aryan found himself grappling with the surge of displeasure that surged within him.
Aryan, without looking up from his papers, inquired with a hint of impatience, "What conditions do you have in mind for this marriage?"
Disha, summoning her courage, stated, "I'm not here to discuss conditions. I've come to inform you that I don't want to marry you."
Aryan coldly questioned, "Why the sudden change? Yesterday you were willing to marry me for your family's happiness. What's different now?"
Upon hearing Aryan's cold voice, Disha felt a surge of fear overpowering her, draining away the courage and fierceness she had mustered. As she opened her mouth to respond, the words stumbled out, and she began stammering, "I... I don't..." The atmosphere in the room intensified, with Aryan's piercing gaze making it difficult for her to articulate her thoughts.
Aryan leaned back, his eyes piercing into Disha, "So, spill it out. What's the sudden change of heart? Did you realize you're making a mistake, or did someone else plant doubt in that naive head of yours?"
Still attempting to gather confidence for her response, Disha opened her mouth to reply, but Aryan cut her off, saying, "Let me help you with the answer since you seem unable to say it."
Disha felt confused by Aryan's words, and Aryan turned the laptop towards Disha, pressing enter key, As the video played on a loop, Disha's confusion deepened. Aryan's icy gaze was fixed on her, adding to her discomfort. The scene of Kunal's embrace replayed relentlessly, making Disha acutely aware of the scrutiny and judgment in Aryan's eyes.
Aryan rose from his seat, each step echoing with an unsettling gravity as he advanced toward Disha. He sternly questioned her, "Is this the reason for the sudden change in your decision?"
Terrified, Disha rose from her seat, slowly retreating as Aryan advanced, her steps faltering until her back met the unyielding wall.
Disha, captured between Aryan and the wall, felt the pressure of his hands on both sides, leaving her with no escape. Aryan continued, his voice low and menacing, "You thought you could just change your mind? You thought you could walk away after what I saw? You don't know what consequences await if you try to defy me. Your family's happiness will crumble at my command."
Disha, standing in such close proximity to Aryan and hearing his cold voice, felt her heartbeat quicken. The rising tension made her chest movements more pronounced and easily noticeable, adding to the intensity of the moment.
Aryan continued, "So, let's make things clear. You will marry me, and you will do it willingly. Otherwise, your family and everything you hold dear will crumble. The choice is yours, but remember, crossing me will lead to consequences you can't even fathom."
Disha's tears welled up, and as regret clouded Aryan's expression, he took a few steps back, releasing her from his grip. Not before slamming his hand on the wall, the echo of his hand slamming against the wall lingered in the tense air, leaving Disha visibly shaken in its aftermath.
Aryan, visibly frustrated, ran his hand through his hair and walked toward the full-length glass window. He stood there silently, providing Disha with some space to collect herself. The transparent barrier allowed the outside world to be a mere glimpse, contrasting with the emotional tension within the room.
Disha stood there, wiping away her tears, realizing that she couldn't call off the wedding now without facing severe consequences. With a deep breath, she tried to compose herself, aware that the decisions she made in this moment would have a lasting impact on her life.
Disha walked towards Aryan's table, grabbed a pen and a blank page, and began writing down her conditions.
**Disha's Conditions:**
1. The husband must not touch the wife without her explicit consent.
2. The husband is not allowed to exhibit possessiveness over the wife.
3. Both husband and wife are obligated to respect each other's families.
4. Mutual faithfulness is a non-negotiable aspect of this marriage.
5. Both parties are required to respect each other's personal space and refrain from unnecessary interference.
Disha sighed, acknowledging that most of the conditions had already been breached, yet she sought a semblance of peace of mind, hoping that Aryan would, at the very least, grant her that much solace.
Aryan's gaze lingered on Disha as she read the written conditions. The composed demeanor she maintained, despite the tumultuous situation, warmed a part of his heart. Disha, sensing his gaze, turned to meet Aryan's eyes.
Disha, having written down her conditions, signed the page and handed it toward Aryan, silently urging him to read before affixing his signature.
Aryan, after reading the conditions, signed the page and returned it to Disha, signifying his acceptance of the terms.
Disha, without uttering a word, took the page and left the cabin, the confrontation with Aryan leaving her in a state of fear.
Aryan felt a twinge of sadness as he watched Disha leave without a word. He couldn't shake off the realization that his own actions had driven her away, as he had anticipated.
Aryan pondered in his chair, acknowledging that he could provide Disha with everything except love. The weight of his own issues, rooted in past experiences, haunted him, causing uncontrollable anger and mood swings. He resolved not to burden Disha with problems that had nothing to do with her.
Lost in the rhythm of his tasks, Aryan delved into his work, creating a shield against the emotional complexities that surrounded him.