✿AUTHOR'S POV✿

In Malhotra's Mansion  :

The air was thick with forced luxury and unsaid tension. Kusum sat on the royal velvet sofa like a queen, flipping through photos of eligible bachelors with a smug smile on her lips.

"I was thinking, Raj ji... Aroohi is not getting any younger. Why not consider Mr. Choudhary’s son for her? Rich, educated, and best of all—he's from our circle." Kusum said to rajvir in a sweet manipulating tone

"As long as she leaves this house soon, I don’t care who takes her." Rajvir said coldly

A pin-drop silence followed. Kiran, sitting quietly in the corner, clenched the edge of her dupatta, swallowing her emotions like she always did.

"I am not a burden to throw off, Mr. Malhotra. And your 'circle' doesn’t define my worth." Aroohi said ,her voice calm yet firm.

"Worth? A girl’s worth lies in how much she benefits her husband’s family. Your overeducation and stubbornness will leave you unmarried forever." Rajvir scoffed

Aayat, walking down the stairs, stopped mid-step. Her fists balled up.

"Maybe your definition of a daughter is someone who listens with her head down. But newsflash — we’re not made to fit your fragile ego."Aayat snapped off

Sushant murmured to himself while enjoying the family drama,"Popcorn leke aata hoon... yeh toh full drama chal raha hai."

(I am coming with popcorn... here is a full drama going on )

Kusum's face twisted in anger

"Aayat! Learn to behave in front of elders!"

"Elders? I thought that required wisdom first." Aayat said sarcastically

Aroohi silently stood up and walked away. Her eyes burned with unshed tears — not of weakness, but of silent rebellion.

"I won't let them decide my fate... not this time." Aroohi whispered barely audible

The silence in the Malhotra mansion shattered again when Kusum, unable to digest Aayat’s sarcastic remark, stood up and started crying.

“ E-ek to main tum dono behno ke liye acche ghar ke rishte dhundh rahi hu aur tum dono behne mujhe sautelapan dikha rahe ho ” Kusum sobbed (Her fake crocodile tears)

(Firstly I am looking for good family relations for both of you sisters and secondly both of you sisters are showing me the Stepmotherly treatment)

Aayat eyes flaring, voice calm yet fierce,

"Bas, Mrs. Kusum Malhotra."

She stepped forward, standing right in front of her, her gaze unwavering.

(Enough,Mrs.kusum Malhotra)

"Shaadi hamari hogi, aur zimmedari hamari maa ki hai… jo iss waqt yahin baithi hain — Mrs. Kiran Malhotra.”

She pointed toward Kiran, who looked up, startled and emotional.

(The marriage will be ours and the responsibility is of our mother… who is sitting here at this time - Mrs. Kiran Malhotra.)

"Hamari maa abhi Zinda hai aur hamari zindagi ke faisle hamne kisi aur ko lene ka hak nhi diya hai.... please apna kimti wakt aur ye magarmach ke aansu apne aap aur apne pati tak hi simit rakhe aur hamare mamle me taang mat daaliye."

(Our mother is still alive and we have not given the right to take decisions about our life to anyone else... please keep your precious time and these tears of crocodile limited to you and your husband only and don't interfere in our matters)

"Tameez sikha do isse Rajvir! Zubaan dekhi uski?" Kusum shouted

(Teach her some manners Rajvir! Did you saw her tongue?)

"Tameez? Tum dono behne toh ghar ki izzat le doobi ho." Rajvir coldly taunted

(Tameez? You both sisters are drown with the pride of the house)

Before Aayat could lash back, Aroohi stood between them — tall, silent, and composed.

"Papa, hum apni izzat banane ki koshish kar rahe hain, aap jaisi soch se bachke."

(Father, we're trying to make our reputation,by staying away from your thoughts)

"Kya baat hai behno! Zabardast reply." Sushant grinned

(Wow sisters! Amazing reply)

"Meri betiyan kab itni badi ho gayi, mujhe duniya ke saamne bachaane wali..." Kiran murmured to herself while holding back her tears

(When did my daughters grow up so much that they would save me in front of the world...)

The entire atmosphere grew heavier, not with helplessness — but with a new resistance brewing inside the Malhotra daughters. This wasn’t just another taunt-filled evening. It was the beginning of a storm that would rewrite their story.

                                   💌💌

They say time heals all wounds… but what if time only deepens the scars?

Aroohi sat near her window, knees pulled to her chest, staring at the dusky sky as it bled into night. Her mind still echoed with the harsh words from earlier — her father’s taunts, Kusum’s shallow suggestions, and the bitter truth that no matter how good a daughter she tried to be… she was never enough.

Tears trickled silently down her cheeks, but no sob escaped her lips. She was tired of crying aloud. Tired of being questioned. Tired of hoping for affection in a house where love came with conditions.

“Maa ke hone ke bawajood… har baar meri zindagi mein koi na koi Kusum banke kyun aa jata hai?” She  murmured to herself

(Apart from having a mother, why does everyone came masks like kusum into my life every time?)

She wiped her tears and stood up, heading to her cupboard to put away some books when a plain white envelope fell from between the pages.

Her brows furrowed.

There was no name, no sender… only one thing written on the front in bold, messy letters.

"Truth is darker than you think, Dr.Aroohi Malhotra ”

Her curiosity hovered over her,she opened the letter.

“ Dear Rose ”

Her heart skipped a beat, the word echoed in her mind “ Dear Rose ”

She read

“ Oops! Sorry I mean Dr.Aroohi Malhotra, I'm so exhausted and tired of these everything... sending you letters, bouquet and stalking you, seeing you from afar. Seeing you laughing with other men, talking to other people it's really hurts because I don't want share the thing what's mine! Just accept my love baby girl..or should I tell your father about your college incident? Indeed you're a smart girl so just give it a thought accept my love or revelation of your college incident.

Her grip tightened on the letter.

"Who... Who is watching me? Why can't they just leave me alone?" She mumbled

Panick surged through her spine,sweat formed on her forehead and her hands trembling. She checked everywhere in her room.

"You can’t run, Aroohi... You’re already mine — you just don’t know it yet.

Hope you choose wisely this time,

Your Crazy Lover ”

She closed the letter and throw it in dustbin.She tried to calm her and inhale some breath to compose herself.

RISHI'S POV :

I was sitting in my chair, swirling the glass of water in my hand—not because I was thirsty, but because my mind was stuck on that damn kiss.

A random stranger.

At a book fair.

In a pink saree, kajal in her eyes, glossy lips... and a collision that ended with her lips crashing into mine.

Unbelievable.

And yet—unforgettable.

I hadn’t seen her face properly, but that image? The way her soft breath hit mine for a second? It was burned into my memory like a brand.

"Who the hell was she? And why the hell do I want to find her again?" My jaw clenched

Just then, my phone buzzed.

Caller ID: Ranvijay Malhotra.

Business rival. Annoying, sharp, but smart.

I picked up.

“Mr. Malhotra,” I said, voice cold.

We were mid-way discussing a project deal when I suddenly heard a female voice yelling in the background—

> “Dog! You ate my ice-cream! You don’t even buy it for me, you just eat it!!”

I blinked.

Did she just… call Ranvijay Malhotra a dog?

Before I could digest that, I heard a scuffle on the other end, and then—

> Ranvijay said in frustration,“Aayat… what’s this behaviour?! Give me my phone back!”

Aayat.

The name echoed like a shot in my head.

Aayat.

That voice… playful, dramatic, chaotic—so wildly different from the calm, arrogant women I’m usually surrounded by.

> Aayat threatening like a child,“Bring my ice-cream, or I’ll break your phone! Then don’t say I didn’t warn you!”

I smirked.

This girl had spice.

>“Okay baba, we’ll go for a night walk after dinner. I’ll feed you two ice-creams. Just give me the phone!” Ranvijay Sighed

>“Pinky promise? If you break your promise, just think… your phone and all your files—gone.” Aayat said in soft childish tone

There was a moment of silence. Then she giggled and handed the phone back, I assume.

Ranvijay came back on, sounding half-annoyed, half-defeated.

“Sorry, Mr. Shekhawat. That was my sister, Aayat. She’s a little… dramatic.”

But I wasn’t listening to his apology.

My mind was stuck on that name.

Aayat.

What were the odds?

I leaned back in my chair, a slow smirk forming on my face.

"Why her name felt so familiar?..."

The phone beeped again.

Rudra: “Sir, check your inbox. CCTV images and partial data from the book fair team have been sent.”

I clicked on the image.

And there she was.

That pink saree. That wild, silky hair. The soft curve of her lips. Even blurred, the photo looked like a painting. My grip tightened around the photo—knuckles turning white.

The photo trembled slightly in my grip, but not from fear.

From obsession.

From control slipping through fingers I never let anything escape.

"Find her... I don’t care how or where—but I want her in front of me."

My voice was low, dangerous. Even Rudra on the other side of the phone paused for a second.

I stared at the CCTV still. Her eyes weren’t visible, but I could see her soul in the way she moved—elegant chaos wrapped in pink silk.

Rudra’s message buzzed again.

> Rudra: "Name still unclear. One lead matched—cross-checking with Malhotra family files."

Malhotra…

Just then—click.

The door creaked open.

My eyes flicked up, and my jaw clenched when I saw someone standing there.

✿Author’s Note✿

And with that, we wrap up another chapter filled with mystery, obsession, and tangled emotions. Rishi’s world just got flipped by a stolen kiss from a stranger… or was it really a stranger? Destiny plays strange games, and for Rishi Shekhawat, it's just the beginning.

Spoiler for Next Chapter🚨:

A marriage proposal arrives… but not for Aroohi.

This time, it’s for Aayat.

> “Aapne meri shaadi fix kar di? Mujhse puchna bhi zaroori nahi samjha?”

Stay tuned for twists, drama, and a love that’s anything but ordinary.