It was the wedding day of the underworld's socialite, Jhalak Chaudhary, but there was no groom in sight.

The groom, Ahit Rajvansh, had been in a vegetative state since a car accident six months ago. His doctors had predicted that he wouldn't survive past the end of the year.

Grieving over her son's impending demise, Ahit's mother had arranged his wedding before his untimely death.

The Rajvansh family was one of the wealthiest families in the world, but no woman would willingly marry a man knocking on death's door.

Dressed in a red bridal lehenga, Jhalak sat in the vanity room, her slender frame adorned with impeccable makeup that accentuated her pale beauty, making her look like a delicate blooming red rose. Yet, there was a restlessness in her almond-shaped eyes.

With only 20 minutes left before the reception, Jhalak scrolled through her phone screen, anxiously waiting for a text message.

Before being forced into marrying Ahit, she had a boyfriend—a cruel twist of fate revealed him to be Ahit's nephew, Kabir Rajvansh.

They had never made their relationship public.

Jhalak had texted Kabir the night before, hoping they could elope together. She had waited all night, but his reply never came.

She couldn't wait any longer.

Jhalak stood up from her seat, clutching her phone tightly, and made an excuse to leave the room.

She hurried down the hallway but came to a halt as she passed by a slightly ajar door.

Jhalak froze upon hearing her sister Kiara's voice, laughing gleefully from inside.

"I'm sure my foolish sister is still waiting for you to show up, Cole! Maybe you should go make her even happier. What will we do if she changes her mind and decides to back out of the wedding?"

"Do you think she has any options left now that things have gone this far?" Kabir said, holding Kiara in his arms and brushing his thin lips against her neck. "Even if she tries to back out now, the guards will drag her back to the altar by the neck!" 

Kiara let out a wicked laugh and added, "If Jhalak finds out that you've been spending every night with me, she'll lose her mind!" 

A sharp thunderclap seemed to echo in Jhalak's head. She took a step back, nearly losing her balance. 

Clenching her fists tightly around her lehenga, she fought to hold back her tears. 

When her company went bankrupt, her father was hospitalized. 

Her stepmother, Ketaki Chaudhary, turned against her, forcing her into this marriage with the Rajvansh family to exploit the situation. She had pretended that the marriage was for the Chaudhary family's benefit, but Jhalak knew it was Wanda's way of getting rid of her! 

What hurt the most was the betrayal by the man who had claimed to love her. 

It was no surprise that Kabir had insisted she go through with the marriage. He had promised to marry her once Ahit passed away, but it was all a cruel lie. 

Her hopes and dreams shattered, leaving her struggling to breathe. 

As the voices in the room grew louder, Jhalak clenched her fists, her eyes growing cold as ice. 

For years, she had endured the bullying of her stepmother and stepsister for her father's sake. She had tolerated all sorts of injustices for her family. 

She had been foolish and naive. 

---

The wedding mandap was beautifully decorated, and the priest was chanting mantras. 

Clad in her bridal attire, holding the floral garland in her hands, Jhalak walked down the aisle while a soft, romantic song played in the background. 

But instead of a groom waiting for her, there was only his sword. She was marrying Ahit's sword. 

The crowd looked stunned, but Jhalak paid them no mind. 

From that moment on, she was Jhalak Ahit Rajvansh, and he was hers. 

However, her husband, who once ruled the underworld in the palm of his hand, did not have much time left to live. 

---

That very night, after the wedding, Jhalak was sent to Ahit's mansion. 

Located in the heart of the city, it was worth over 100 crores. 

Before Jhalak could fully grasp the layout of the grand estate, Deepa led her to the master bedroom. 

Her eyes immediately fell on the man lying on the massive bed. Slowly, she approached, carefully taking in his face. 

Ahit's chiseled features stood out on his sunken face, exuding an air of regal nobility. 

His skin had turned abnormally pale, as he spent all his time indoors, but his handsome face made anyone unable to take their eyes off him.

If he hadn't been ill, Jhalak would never have become his wife.

Before he was bedridden in a car accident, Ahit was a powerful man in the country of Arydel. The Sterling Group, which he headed, was one of the top ten corporations in the country.

It was rumored that he was ruthless and tyrannical and had legal business as well as dealings with the underworld. Anyone who got in his way would have to pay a heavy price.

Jhalak had never thought that she would marry a man like Ahit.

Just when she was lost in thoughts, the bedroom door opened.

It was Kabir!

"I'm sorry Jhalak! I was very busy today and somehow managed to meet you," Kabir said as he came near Jhalak with a look of sincerity on his face.

"I just married your uncle," Jhalak said coldly. "Do I need to teach you how to address me?"

"I know you're crazy. I didn't run away with you because I didn't want you to live a difficult life. Uncle Ahit is almost dead, so you won't have to lift a finger marrying him. Once he dies, I'll get a good lawyer and make sure you get his entire estate!"

Kabir eagerly held Jhalak's hands and said, "When that happens, everything he has will be ours!"

Jhalak remembered the scene he had seen earlier between Kabir and Kiara and felt a wave of hatred.

"Let go!" She shrugged off his hands, yelling loudly.

Kabir was shocked by her sudden cry. Was this the same Jhalak he knew?

Jhalak was always gentle and kind, and she would never raise her voice at him.

Had she found out something?

Kabir felt a pang of guilt and moved closer to Jhalak hoping to explain something to her.

The next moment, his sight was drawn to something behind Jhalak. His eyes widened in disbelief as if he had just seen a ghost.

"She… She…" Kabir stuttered.

Ahit, who was lying on the bed, slowly began to open his eyes.

Under the light of the crystal chandelier, Ahit's obsidian-black eyes were deeply magnetic and dangerously intense. 

As always, his gaze carried a chilling power that sent shivers down anyone's spine. 

Kabir's face turned pale as he instinctively stepped back. 

"Jhalak... I mean, Aunt Jhalak... It's late, so I won't disturb you and Uncle Ahit any longer!" 

Drenched in cold sweat, Kabir bolted out of the room as if his life depended on it. 

Jhalak's heart pounded as she watched him flee in panic, her body trembling uncontrollably. 

Was Ahit awake? Wasn't he supposed to be dying? 

She wanted to speak to him, but her voice refused to emerge. She wanted to look at him closely, but her feet felt glued to the floor. 

A wave of fear washed over her, leaving her with no choice but to retreat. She turned and ran toward the stairs. 

"Deepa ! Ahit is awake! He opened his eyes!" Jhalak shouted. 

Hearing Jhalak's voice, Deepa rushed up the stairs. 

"Master Ahit opens his eyes every day, ma'am, but that doesn't mean he's awake. Look, he isn't responding to anything we say," Deepa explained with a sigh. "The doctors have said that the chances of someone in a vegetative state waking up are extremely slim." 

Jhalak still felt uneasy and asked, "Can I leave the lights on at night? I'm feeling a bit scared." 

"Of course," Deepa replied. "Get some rest soon. You'll need to visit the old mansion tomorrow. I'll wake you up in the morning." 

"Alright," Jhalak responded. 

After Deepa left, Jhalak changed into her pajamas and lay down on the bed. 

Sitting stiffly beside Ahit, she stared at his strikingly handsome face. She reached out and waved her hand in front of his eyes. 

"What's going on in your mind, Ahit?" she asked, but there was no response. 

A sudden sadness overcame her. Compared to everything he had endured, her own pain seemed insignificant. 

"I hope you wake up soon, Ahit. If that scoundrel Kabir gets his cold, filthy hands on all your money, you won't be able to rest in peace." 

Just then, Ahit's eyelids fluttered shut. 

Jhalak gasped, her heart pounding in her chest. 

Some people remain conscious even in a vegetative state. Had he heard what she just said? 

She lay down beside him, still restless. After a while, she let out a sigh. 

She was now officially Mrs. Rajvansh , and for the moment, no one would dare to bully her. 

But what would the Rajvansh family do to her once Ahit was gone? 

The thought sent chills through her. 

As Ahit's wife, she needed to use her position to reclaim everything that had been taken from her while he was still conscious! 

Whoever had wronged her in the past would have to pay the price!