Anita, seated beside Akash, turned to Priya with a curious look. "Priya Di, where is your husband? Won't he be attending the engagement?"
Priya paused mid-chew, her fork halfway to her mouth. She swallowed quickly and replied, "No, no. He won't be able to attend because of work. As you know, the engagement was scheduled at such short notice, but he'll definitely be there for the wedding."
Anita nodded, and she resumed stirring her tea absentmindedly.
Akash, who had been quietly eating, glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. His voice was not up to a murmur as he told her, "It slipped my mind. I bought a phone for you. It's in my room. Pick it up when you're going in."
Her lips curved into a smile. She leaned slightly closer, and she replied in a whisper, "Don't have dinner after the engagement. I've made arrangements for us."
His brows lifted and his lips broke into a broad, amused grin. "What kind of arrangements?"
"It's a surprise," she replied and then her focus returned to her plate.
He chuckled lightly while leaning back more in his chair. "Sure. I won't ask further." He then paused, and his expression became serious as he added, "Before I forget again, today's your father's first hearing at court. His defense lawyer isn't extremely sharp, so the case won't drag on for long. You'll get your justice soon."
Her eyes softened and she dispatched him a grateful smile.
****
"Divya, your phone's been ringing nonstop. Aren't you going to pick it up?" Anita asked, glancing up from her phone.
Divya was stretched out on the bed, popping fries into her mouth. She shook her head dismissively. "It's an unknown number. I don't answer those."
"But it keeps calling," she prodded, setting her phone aside. "What if it's urgent? What if it's Rajesh?"
The fries froze halfway to Divya's mouth.
Her expression shifted, and she slowly put the food down, looking at Anita. "Do you really think he would call?" she murmured.
Anita shrugged, "I didn't know him well enough to say, but... it's possible, isn't it?"
Her face tightened. "If it's him, he's too late. Whatever love I had for him is long gone. I don't want to be tied down in a relationship again, especially marriage. I just want to live my life, have fun, and enjoy my freedom without any responsibilities."
Anita frowned, her brow furrowing while she looked at her. "What are you saying? Marriage is a beautiful thing. Look at me and Akash." She muttered, "In fact, speaking of him, I hope you've made sure everything is going to be perfect for tonight."
Her lips curled into a confident smile. "Don't you trust me?" she asked.
****
The engagement hall was breathtaking.
There were lots of crystal chandeliers that hung high above.
In the center of the room, a massive floral arrangement stood proudly on a round table, covered with a silky ivory cloth.
Guests were everywhere, mingling, chatting and laughing.
There was also soft music from a live string quartet in the corner.
The women looked stunning in their gowns flowing in elegant fabrics of silk and velvet matched with jewelry that sparkled like stars.
While the men wore perfectly tailored suits in deep colors—black, navy, and grey. Their shoes shone.
At the center of it all was the engagement stage, slightly raised and draped in luxurious fabric. A golden arch decorated with cascading flowers framed the backdrop, with the couple's initials—AA glowing brightly.
Waiters moved smoothly through the crowd, carrying trays of champagne and appetizers.
****
"Anita, are you ready yet?" Akash's mother asked while she stepped into the room. The moment her eyes landed on her, she stopped in her tracks, and her mouth fell open.
Anita stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the straps of her white gown.
The gown hugged her figure perfectly while flaring out at the bottom in a way that was both elegant and regal.
Her long, shimmering and dangling earrings sparkled with every movement she made.
Her hair was grounded into a dapper bun, with a few soft strands framing her face.
"My beautiful daughter-in-law," Akash's mother said, her voice filled with genuine admiration.
She turned and a shy smile spread across her lips. "Thank you, Ma. I hope it's not too much?" she asked, smoothing her hands nervously over the gown.
Just then, Akash appeared at the door and halted when he saw her. He had worn a black suit with a bow tie.
His hair was neatly styled and that made him look like a prince straight out of a fairytale.
"You look..." He paused, struggling to find the words, his eyes drinking in her every detail. "You look absolutely stunning."
She laughed nervously, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You look good too," she mumbled while lowering her gaze shyly.
His mother beamed with happiness and she stepped back to admire them both. "You two are a perfect match," she said proudly. "Let's not keep everyone waiting. The guests are eager to see you both." she added.
****
The hall became quiet after they entered, and all eyes turned to them.
Gasps of admiration and murmurs of approval flew amongst the guests.
They reached the center of the stage and the master of ceremonies stepped forward with a microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen," he announced cheerfully, "this is the moment we've all been waiting for. Please welcome Akash and Anita!"
The room erupted in applause, and Anita became nervous.
Akash gave her hand a reassuring squeeze by which she looked up at him with a wide smile she couldn't hide.
The applause echoed through the hall while they took their places on the stage.
The golden arch behind them, adorned with cascading flowers, framed them like a picture-perfect couple.
She glanced at him, her heart beating faster than she'd expected.
The master of ceremonies continued, his voice very cheerful and lively. "Tonight, we celebrate the love and commitment of this beautiful couple. Let us now begin with the ring exchange which marks the symbol of their promise to each other."
Her palms became clammy after the room became silent.
Akash noticed and leaned in closely at her, then whispered so only she could hear. "Relax, okay?"
She nodded, and smiled.
The rings were brought forward on a silver tray lined with velvet.
The diamonds sparkled under the lights, catching the awe-filled gazes of the guests.
He took her hand gently and slipped the ring onto her finger with ease, his eyes never leaving hers.
There was a collective murmur of admiration from the crowd, followed by a round of applause.
She picked up the second ring, her hands trembling slightly, though her smile remained.
As she slid it onto his finger, he winked at her with a smile, which made her giggle softly.
The room burst into cheers and applause after they turned to face everyone.
Petals fell from above, showering them in colors of pink and white, while the string quartet began to play a romantic song.
Anita's mother stepped forward, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. "You both look so cute," she mumbled. "May your happiness last forever."
Akash's father joined her. "Welcome to our family, Anita," he said warmly, placing a hand on her shoulder.
By the corner, away from the lively crowd and bright lights, Divya leaned against the counter of the bar.
"Prepare an icy whiskey," she told the bartender.
He nodded and immediately grabbed a glass and poured her drink.
Meanwhile, Raghav had been searching for her during the exchange of rings.
His hands were stuffed in his pockets as he walked through the crowd.
Finally, his eyes caught her figure by the bar where her back was facing him.
The bartender slid the whiskey across the counter, and she grabbed the glass and tipped it back, downing the drink in one gulp.
The liquid burned her throat, but she didn't flinch. "Make another," she demanded.
Raghav went to her just as the bartender started preparing her second drink.
"You drink?" he asked with surprise.
She turned slowly and her gaze travelled from his polished shoes up to his neatly styled hair, her expression unreadable.
Then, she smirked. "You do too," she replied. "What's so surprising about it?"
He leaned a little closer and his hands rested casually on the counter. He smiled, "I was just surprised. A lot of women don't..."
She interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "Well, by now, you should have realized I'm not like a lot of women."
He nodded while clearing his throat to reset the conversation. He wasn't looking for an argument. "I called you numerous times earlier. You didn't pick up."
She glanced at him, her expression still unreadable as she lifted the glass to her lips and took a slow sip. "Was it your number? Amazing how you managed to find my number, yet still don't know my name."
His lips parted, caught off guard by her sharp reply even though she didn't look sober. "Are you not in a good mood? It's a happy day for your friend. You should be celebrating," he exclaimed softly.
"Celebrate for what?" She leaned against the counter, then chuckled. "I thought I could be happy. I tried, I swear, with every part of me, I wanted to celebrate her happiness. But I can't. I just... can't."
She sighed deeply, her grip tightening on the glass. "I helped her prepare the surprise for Akash later, but that's it. I've realized something. I can't be happy for her. Do you know that saying? It's in the character of very few men and women to honor without envy a friend who has prospered more than them. I'm no exception. I'm jealous, Raghav."
His brows furrowed.
Her voice became bitter as she took another sip of her drink. "Anita got everything, though she's a nobody. She has a rich man who loves her unconditionally. She has her mother, her siblings, loving in-laws, and a successful business. And me? What do I have?"
She placed the empty glass on the counter and she gestured to the bartender to refill it. "Who do I have in this world except myself?" Her voice cracked at the end, but she quickly hid it, straightening her posture after the bartender refilled her glass.
She didn't wait; she took it and downed another sip.
Raghav replied calmly. "Divya, life isn't a competition. What Anita has doesn't take away what you can have too."
She let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. "Easy for you to say. You haven't spent your whole life fighting for scraps while someone else enjoys the feast."
"Maybe," he admitted, "but drowning your feelings in whiskey and jealousy won't fill that void."
She laughed dryly. "Well, I haven't spent my whole life fighting for scraps either. I've had my share of comfort too. Yes, I'm going through some financial issues right now. And you know what? When I finally come out of it—and I will—no one except me is going to enjoy the fruits of it."
He smiled faintly while he observed her as she took a sip of her drink again. "You're really different," he said.
She nodded, "Why are you here, though?" Her eyes narrowed as a thought crossed her mind. "Wait, wait!" She placed her glass loudly on the counter, turning fully towards him. "You called me Divya. How did you know my name? Did Anita tell you? She gave you my number too, didn't she?"
A chuckle escaped his lips. "No, Anita didn't tell me anything. I was curious. I wanted to know who you are. So, I found out you're from Banaras and currently the owner of Rajiv's—"
"It was never his," she interrupted sharply in a cold tone.
He shrugged lightly. "That doesn't change the fact that, at one point, he had total control."
She shrugged back, her tone dismissive. "Whatever."
He studied her for a moment, before speaking again, "You're still young. Why didn't you move on after your marriage failed?"
Her expression shifted.
Her eyes started to fill with slow, unshed tears, but she blinked them back quickly.
Picking up her glass, she lifted it to her lips, however, before she could take another sip, Raghav reached out and gently held her hand, stopping her.
"If you take too much of it, it'll harm your health," he told her.
"I don't want to be in any relationship anymore," She sighed. "What didn't I do for Rajesh? I loved him for who he was, without caring about his financial status or anything else. I loved him wholeheartedly, and yet he still chose to honor his family's ridiculous traditions over me. His grandmother's wishes mattered more to him than the life we were building together."
Her hand tightened around the glass as she continued, her tone growing more bitter. "If my brother had been alive, he would never have let me marry a man like him. He was nothing compared to us, nothing. But for the sake of love, I overlooked it all. I married him. I agreed to live in a one-bedroom home with him, despite everything I'd been accustomed to. I was content, Raghav—because he was with me. But I accept, it was my mistake."
She paused, her voice lowering while she looked into her glass. "But now, I'm glad it ended the way it did. He taught me a lesson. Do you know something? Even if I were to be in a relationship again, I would never give it my all. Never. He hurt me too deeply to trust again."
He exhaled a long, measured breath, his eyes filled with understanding. "Just because one relationship didn't work out doesn't mean the next won't," he replied.
She turned her gaze to him. "Easy for you to say. But when you give someone your everything and they shatter it, you don't just recover. A part of you dies."
He nodded in agreement. "A part of you may have died, but you're still here. You're still breathing, still fighting. That means there's more to your story. Don't let him decide how it ends."
She let out a sharp laugh. "Of course, I'm still breathing. Want to know a secret? I became a feminist, a cruel one, because of him. I tell all my friends not to fall in love because love is nothing but a scam. And guess what? We're all happily single now."
He forced a smile, "Sounds like you haven't completely moved on from him yet."
Her expression flickered for a moment before she shrugged, mumbling, "I did. I definitely did."
He leaned more against the counter. "Then let's forget about him. Tell me about yourself instead. If you're open to making friends, I'm here."
She turned her gaze to him, studying his face in an attempt to read his intentions. "About myself?" she repeated, her lips munching together before she shrugged. "Here's a simple fact about me. When I'm depressed, I make sure I drag everyone around me into it too."
He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "How?" he asked cautiously.
She giggled. "Well, if I see someone is proud of something, I taunt them. Like, if a friend is excited about her new dress which I don't have, or can't have, I'll casually mention, 'Oh, I saw something like that on sale last week. It's nice, for a discount piece.'" She chuckled.
He leaned back, folding his arms in amazement.
"And then there's bragging." she continued. "Not the outright kind, of course—that's too obvious. I make it nuanced, relatable even. For example, if someone is dreaming about a vacation they can't afford, I'll say, "when I was in Paris last year, the Eiffel Tower was breathtaking at sunset. You'll see it one day, I'm sure. And the best part is I act innocent, like I don't realize how it's affecting them. I always top it off with a smile and an I hope you're okay."
He shook his head, with amusement and disbelief on his face. "You really are different."
"I am," she said with a self-satisfied grin.
"You've been to the Eiffel Tower then? How did you like Paris?" he asked casually.
She chuckled. "Must I actually go there to make you feel vulnerable? I've never been to Paris. In fact, none of my circle knows my company is struggling. Around them, I'm the perfect definition of someone who has her life all figured out."
He couldn't help but smile.
She leaned back, and her gaze returned to his. "So," she began, circling back to his earlier words, "you really want to be my friend?"
He nodded with a small smile. "If you're willing to accept, of course. Though I'll warn you, you won't succeed in making me depressed."
She burst into laughter, a genuine, hearty sound that surprised even herself.
He grinned, pleased that he had at least managed to bring a moment of lightness to her.
"I'm very cruel," she said. "I'm telling you beforehand. I exploit friendships. I'm at a stage in life where I don't keep any relationship unless it benefits me in some way. Take Anita, for example. Through my connection with her, I got a free house to stay in—not because I'm homeless, of course. May I never be. But tell me," she leaned in further, her eyes glinting, "how will your friendship benefit me?"
He didn't flinch, instead, he leaned back with a confident smile. "I'll give you ten million."
Her jaw dropped, and she blinked in disbelief. "Ten million? A loan?"
"No," he replied, shaking his head with a confident smile. "You're a businesswoman, I'm a businessman. Thank God we both know there's no such thing as free money in business."
She nodded in agreement.
"I'm willing to buy shares in your company," he added, his tone casual but serious.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Why?" she asked. "Do you even know the financial situation of the company? It could end up being a big loss for you. Though, I wouldn't wish that on you."
"Exactly. We won't hope for a loss. We'll discuss the contract when you're sober. Regardless, I'm willing to let you exploit our friendship."
She laughed again. "Are you aware of what you're saying?"
"I am. Exploit me in any way you want," he said with a shrug, and she grinned mischievously.
"I could make you poor in one night, Mr. Raghav."
"I'll drag you down with me," he replied, laughing along with her. "We'll be poor together."
They both broke out into laughter.
While they laughed, he watched her closely.
The genuine sound of her laughter was refreshing to his ears.
It felt so real because he was certain she wasn't hiding behind any walls like some women.
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