Anika P.O.V
I don’t know when I fell asleep, but by the time I woke up, I was in a car with a stranger. The surroundings felt unfamiliar, and I stiffened, taking a few seconds to realize where I was. Oh right, I’m going to meet Randeep Uncle today in Allahabad. This weird, unsettling feeling—it’s probably because I’ve never been out of Varanasi before. My first time crossing the boundaries of the city.
I looked out the window, watching the trees pass by and people wrapped up in their own lives. Then the car came to a halt. I turned my head, catching sight of a tall building with a grand facade, standing in stark contrast to the smaller structures surrounding it. "Hotel Kanha Shyam." The place Uncle told me to meet him.
It felt odd. Why would he choose Allahabad, of all places? There are plenty of hotels in Varanasi if he didn’t want to stay with us. Maybe he has some work here, I shrugged off the thought.
As I stepped out of the car, the noise of the bustling city hit me along with a dull ache in my body. The journey was long, and though I slept most of the time, I could still sense it was about three hours of travel.
Honestly, it would take anyone a week or more to recover from the physical and emotional torture I’d endured this past week. But I guess I’ve become immune to the pain after all these years. I took a deep breath, pushed the thoughts away, and began walking toward the hotel.
As I approached, the automatic doors slid open with a soft whisper. The cool air-conditioning inside was a welcome relief from the heat outside. My eyes darted around, taking in the sight of polished marble floors, the chandeliers glittering from above, and the quiet hum of activity in the lobby. A few businessmen sat talking over coffee, while families checked in at the reception desk.
I went straight to the receptionist and told her Randeep Uncle’s name. She smiled and quickly led me to the elevator. Elevators have never been my thing—I would’ve taken the stairs if I were alone. I’m lucky the building isn’t one of those towering skyscrapers with fifty floors.
Even being in this one is hard for me. I mumbled the Hanuman Chalisa under my breath, trying to calm the rising panic and avoid embarrassing myself.
The elevator dinged, and I exhaled a breath I didn’t even know I’d been holding. We stepped out, and she pointed to the room, opening it with a key card. “Have a good day, ma’am,” she said with a wide smile. She seemed so nice. I gave her a smile back, though mine was much smaller.
When I walked into the room, I was stunned. The hotel was already impressive, but this room—it was breathtaking. I stood there for a moment, turning slowly in place, my eyes widening at the beauty surrounding me.
"Sorry for making you travel so long, beta. Take a seat," Uncle’s voice broke me out of my trance. He was sitting on the sofa, smiling warmly. He’s quite handsome for his age. I wondered if his son would be like him. I mentally scolded myself for the thought and smiled at Uncle instead.
“It’s okay, Uncle. I’ve never been out of the city before, so I should be thanking you for giving me this opportunity.” My response sounded lame, even to my ears, but it was too late to take it back. His expression softened into one of sympathy, though he quickly masked it with a smile.
“What would you like to drink? Coffee? Tea?” he offered. Before I could refuse, he added, “No, no, no. Let’s have lunch directly. You must be hungry.” He stood up, smiling as he waited for me to follow.
He stood up, smiling and waiting for me to follow. "It's okay, Uncle, I'm not that hungry. Just tell me why you called me here, and I’ll leave. I can’t be late, or else Uncle will—" I cut myself off, suddenly realizing I didn’t have to fear him anymore.
I could take my time now. A smile crept across my face as I took a deep breath, stood up, and met his eyes. "Actually, I’m starving," I admitted, and I really was.
He smiled back, patting my head, and suggested we have lunch on the balcony instead of going downstairs again. The balcony was wide, with tables already set up. Uncle must’ve arranged it beforehand.
"What would you like to eat?" he asked, holding up the menu. That’s a tough question. I’ve only been to a restaurant a couple of times with Yuktha, and I never ordered anything—she did that for me. I stared at the menu, recognizing nothing.
The two times we went, we had paneer biryani. There was no biryani on this menu, so I ordered the first thing I saw with “paneer” in the name.
“I’ll have paneer siya mirchi,” I said, not knowing what it even was but feeling safe because, hey, paneer is paneer.
Uncle smiled, placing the order for us both: “Paneer siya mirchi with naan. For two.”
While we waited, I drank some water. I love water—nothing beats it. Uncle looked at me with an intense gaze, his voice soft as he said "I feel terrible for all the things you've been through, beta. I failed your parents. I'm sorry."
He's right, he did fail them, but it wasn't his fault. He’s feeling guilty for something he hasn’t done, so I shook my head and said, "You didn’t know. So, that’s okay."
He nodded and said, "I’ll try my best to make it right." I know he'll try, but he can’t make it right. He might make my future better than the past I had, but he can’t change the past or the scars I wear. But it’s better than nothing, so I smiled at him, nodding, acknowledging his efforts.
Our orders came, and any person in my situation would’ve been happy to look at food, but I couldn’t. I didn’t know how to. I’ve been starved before, almost to death, by my uncle. Sometimes he would fill the plate with food and place it before me. If I even touched it, he’d hit me; if I dared to eat it, it would be worse.
So I trained myself not to be hungry. Yuktha and Sandeep uncle used to feed me most of the time after learning about my condition. So no, I can’t feel happy about the food finally arriving. That’s when I realized my scars had cut deeper than I thought, and it would probably take me a lifetime to heal from them. Or maybe I wouldn’t heal at all, but I guess that’s fine as long as I don’t have to add any more scars.
I took a bite of the paneer siya mirchi, and to my surprise, it was delicious. Uncle, was watching me with a mixture of concern and guilt in his eyes.
"Uncle, can I ask you something?" I said between bites. He nodded for me to continue. "I know you said it's going to be a fake marriage, but... why? I mean, wouldn't I be just as safe without the marriage? I don’t understand."
He took a moment before responding. “I understand, beta. But my son… he’s not an ordinary man. There are people—rivals—waiting for any opportunity to exploit the smallest weakness.” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “Imagine a man who doesn’t allow even a fly into his world without his permission letting an unknown woman stay with him, without a title or a reason. It would draw too much attention, and that’s exactly what we need to avoid.”
He took a bite of his food before continuing. “The whole point of this marriage is to protect you. As Mrs. Chakravarti, your real identity will be hidden, and the people who think they’ve found you will be thrown off track.”
It made sense, kind of. I mean, I wasn’t entirely sure, but enough of it clicked for me to nod along. I took another bite of food. It was delicious. “Can I get some of this to-go?” I wondered.
“And there’s another reason I called you here,” uncle said, pulling me back to reality. I glanced up from my plate, curious. “You’ll have to meet Rudra tomorrow. He’s coming to Varanasi. I’ve told him to be here by 10 a.m.”
Rudra. So that’s his name. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard a man’s name, obviously, but there was something different about this one. Just the sound of it in my head made me feel… different. What the hell? I shook off the strange feeling.
I didn’t want to meet him, but I knew it was inevitable. So why fight it now? Still, I couldn’t help but wonder why uncle had brought me all the way here just to tell me that. It wasn’t like I didn’t enjoy it—traveling, eating out—it was a nice change.
“And there’s one more thing,” he said, pulling out a card. “I meant to give you this yesterday but forgot. It’s a debit card.”
I stared at it for a second, unsure what to say. He noticed my hesitation and quickly added, “It’s your parents’, beta. Just a part of what they left for you. It’s yours.”
After a few beats, I smiled and took the card. “Thank you, uncle.”
“I’ll text you the PIN number later. It’s getting late, you should head out. I’ll have the hotel pack up some food for you since you liked it.”
His thoughtfulness caught me off guard, but I appreciated it. “Thank you, uncle,” I said again, standing to leave.
“And Anika,” he called out just as I turned to go. I paused and looked back. “I’ve forwarded you my son’s PA’s number. Don’t forget to be there on time. Rudra doesn’t like wasting time.”
“Sure, uncle,” I said, giving him a quick smile.
“Take care, beta,” he said, waving me off.
As I left, my mind was already racing. Should I take the elevator or the stairs? “I just ate… maybe I could use the walk.” I decided on the stairs but barely made it a few steps before uncle rushed back out.
“Beta, one last thing. I’ll be in a meeting tomorrow, so you won’t be able to reach me. Just make sure you meet Rudra at 10, okay?”
“Got it, no worries,” I assured him, watching him head back inside.With that, I made my way downstairs, collected the food they had packed for me, and got back into the car. My mind drifted again, swirling with thoughts as I journeyed back into the unknown.
_________
Why do I always end up at places I shouldn’t be? I came straight to Yuktha's house from the hotel, though I know it'll put us in danger,I can't help it. No matter how much I try to shake off the tension, the thought of meeting him tomorrow won’t leave me alone.
Would I feel this anxious if it were anyone else? Why am I so... unsettled? It's just a fake marriage, right? Then why do I feel this knot tightening in my chest? There's only one person who could make me feel better right now—Yuktha. And that’s why I’m standing in front of her door, debating whether I should just leave the food at her doorstep and disappear, or go in and talk to her?
The street outside is empty, eerily quiet, nobody's watching anyway,I thought. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open, stepping into the house. My eyes land on two men standing near the entrance, armed with guns. It startled me for a second, but I remind myself that this is probably how my life is going to look now—security everywhere, guns within reach. I shake off the uneasiness and head to Yuktha’s room.
She’s lounging on her bed, eyes glued to her phone, a soft smile forming as she spots me at the door. "I thought you wouldn’t come today," she says, not even glancing up fully. "What’s wrong?"
"Nothing," I mutter, stretching the food bag toward her. "I just came to give you this."
She instantly throws her phone to the side, her eyes lighting up. That excitement for food... she always wears it so proudly. Is this how normal people react to food? I wonder as I watch her unwrap the bag.
"Wait, I’ll grab the plates," I offer, before she can say anything. Heading downstairs, I find the plates.
I Returned back to the room, we spread the food on her bed and begin eating in silence.
"This tastes amazing," Yuktha said, munching on her food. I smiled at her. "I know, right? It was even better when it was hot," I replied, taking another bite. We continued eating in silence, and my mind started to wander. Should I tell her what happened today?
"So, umm… what do you think suits me the most?" I asked, trying to sound casual. Yuktha looked up from her phone, confused. "What do you think suits me more? Saree? Kurti? Or jeans?" I repeated, realizing how strange this must sound. Why am I so concerned about how I look?
"Why?" Yuktha asked, setting her phone aside, now giving me her full attention.
"Umm… nothing, I’m just asking," I said, but I could tell she wasn’t buying it. Her eyes said it all—I know you, so spill it. There was no way to avoid this conversation now, and maybe that’s a good thing. Yuktha was the only person who could help me make sense of what I was feeling.
"I met Randeep uncle, right?" I began, and she nodded, her focus completely on me now. The food was forgotten. "So, he told me I’ll be meeting his son tomorrow… and he also gave me a debit card." I handed her the card. "It’s my parents'."
Yuktha smiled softly. "Looks like you’re finally getting what’s yours," she said. I nodded. Her expression shifted, becoming playful. "So, that’s why you’re asking what suits you, huh?" She nudged me teasingly.
"No, no, that’s not it," I said quickly, trying to deny it, but it was no use. Yuktha always saw right through me. "What’s wrong, Anika?" she asked, her tone turning serious.
"I don’t know, Yuktha. It’s all so… weird. I can’t tell if it’s because of the marriage or the fact that I’ve just learned so much about my past—about my parents—and now, everything is changing."
I took a deep breath, trying to put my feelings into words. "But I don’t think it’s the marriage that’s bothering me. That's not even real." I paused, searching her eyes for understanding. "All my life, I’ve wasted every second worrying about my uncle. What would he do if I did this or that? Would he hurt me today? Would I be allowed to eat today? When will I finally be free from him?"
Yuktha listened silently as I poured my heart out. "I never had time to think about anything else,anything about myself,anything a normal person would care about. But now… now that I have the time, now that I no longer have to think about my uncle, I want to think about everything else, everything about me. I want to know about myself. And I think I finally understand what I’m feeling—it’s relief. I don’t know how long it will last, but I want to hold on to it while I can."
Yuktha looked at me for a moment before smiling warmly. "You look good in everything, Anika. I never understood how you manage to pull off every outfit," she said, lying back on the bed with her arms behind her head. "But you look like an absolute goddess in a saree, you know?" she added, making me blush.
"Do I really?" I thought to myself, a smile forming on my lips.
"But I’d recommend not wearing a saree tomorrow," she teased. "He might make your fake wedding real if he sees you in one." We both laughed, and I stood up to leave. It had been a while since I arrived, and staying longer could put her in danger.
"Anika, wait," Yuktha called out. I turned to see her holding out a dress. "Here, this is the dress I was searching for in the morning. I bought it for you. Wear it tomorrow," she said, handing me a beautifully shaded blue dress. It was simple yet elegant, without any unnecessary embellishments.
"It’s so beautiful! Thank you," I said, taking the dress from her.
She hugged me tightly. "He’s still going to go crazy over you," she teased.
I playfully slapped her arm before saying my goodbyes. As I reached the door, I suddenly remembered something. "Rudra," I said, turning back to face her.
Yuktha raised an eyebrow, confused.
"His name… it’s Rudra," I said, smiling at her.
She nodded, understanding, and I left her room.
I got into the car and drove home. By the time I reached, it was already night. As I entered the house, I saw my uncle sitting on the sofa. My heart skipped a beat, my body tensing up instinctively. Every part of me wanted to freeze, like I was a child all over again, bracing for whatever anger or punishment he had in store. The air felt thick with the memories of all the times I had come home to find him in that same position, waiting, watching, his presence a threat I couldn’t ignore.
My mind raced—Would he lash out at me for being late? Did he notice how long I was gone? Would he make me pay for this? The questions circled in my head, but I forced myself to breathe.
He can’t hurt me anymore. I reminded myself, my fingers clenching into fists, trying to hold on to the control I had now. Still, my legs felt shaky as I walked past him, doing everything I could to avoid meeting his eyes.
To my surprise, he didn’t say anything. No scolding, no threats, just silence. I released the breath I hadn't realized I was holding. That fear, that constant tension—it's still there, even though I no longer have to be afraid of him. The habit of fear doesn’t disappear overnight.
I headed to my room and stood in front of the mirror. I looked different—different from the girl who used to fear every step, every glance from her uncle. Maybe it was because, for the first time, I was starting to care about how I felt, not just about surviving another day.
I took the dress Yuktha gave me and held it against my body, admiring how the vibrant blue complemented my skin. She knows me so well. I placed the dress gently on the bed and collapsed beside it. For the first time, I was going to sleep without the fear of being hurt by my uncle. With that comforting thought, I drifted off to sleep.
Author P.O.V
The quiet hum of computers and faint chatter filled the sleek, modern office in Rudra's organization. Keshav, Rudra’s loyal PA and coding expert, stood by a massive digital screen displaying intricate code and diagnostics for Project Eclipse. His brow furrowed in concentration as he scanned through the endless stream of data.
Although he had sorted out the bugs in the project, he was now digging for more information—information that pointed toward Rudra’s father, Randeep.The sound of footsteps approached, and Abhinav, close friend of rudra,entered the room, rubbing his temples. The stress of the project was evident, but Abhinav being Abhinav, he masked it with his usual cool and calm attitude.
"I thought we figured it out already! Didn’t Randeep uncle give us a clear lead? What’s taking you so long?" Abhinav asked, dropping into the chair beside Keshav.
Keshav didn’t even spare him a glance. “If you’re talking about Project Eclipse, it’s already sorted.”
Abhinav blinked in surprise and scooted closer, peering over Keshav’s shoulder at the screen. "Then what’s all this? What are you trying to track?"
Keshav paused, fingers hovering over the keyboard before turning his attention to Abhinav. “If there’s one thing I learned from boss, it’s to never trust anyone. Especially those who offer to help us. And definitely not his father.”
Abhinav’s face twisted in confusion. "Wait, are you suggesting whoever sabotaged the project is being guided by Rudra's father?"
Keshav shrugged. "I don’t know. But that’s what I’m trying to figure out. I’m sure Boss has already done his own background check on it. You know how he is."
Abhinav leaned back, crossing his arms. "It wouldn't surprise me, given his trust issues, especially where his father is concerned," he said, half-joking.
"Has it ever occurred to you that it’s strange how his father suddenly reappeared after years? And now, he claims to know who's behind the sabotage, and offered to help,but only if boss agrees to marry someone from his past? Plus, how does he even know about Project Eclipse? It's our secret project!" Keshav added confusion clearly evident in his tone.
Abhinav shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “I don’t know, but I’m actually happy about the marriage, you know?”
Keshav shook his head giving him a quick side-eye while typing, “It’s fishy. This whole thing feels like a setup to me.”
Abhinav burst out laughing, poking Keshav playfully on the shoulder. “And you think your boss is the type to fall for schemes? Come on, that’s hilarious!. That fucker would never let any of this happen if he found it fishy."
Keshav merely shrugged, used to Abhinav’s playful jabs. After a moment, Abhinav asked more seriously, “So, what have you found so far?”
Taking a deep breath, Keshav replied, “It’s a mess. His father really knows how to cover his tracks. The pen drive he gave us? Completely clean, no trace of any critical information” Frustration boiled over, and Keshav ran his hand through his hair, clearly stressed after hours of work yielding no solid answers.
Abhinav, ever the supportive friend, patted Keshav’s shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, Rudra won’t let anything slide if it means trouble for us. And anyway, he’ll be furious if he finds out you’re wasting time looking into his father’s intentions rather than fixing the project. We’ve only got two weeks left.”
Keshav nodded, realizing Abhinav had a point. They both started walking out of the room, heading toward their cabins. It was almost 9 PM, and they knew they wouldn’t be getting much rest for the next few weeks.
Keshav and Abhinav were just about to leave for their cabins when they heard the sound of footsteps approaching with a familiar urgency. Before they could react, Rudra stormed down the hallway, his expression thunderous. He loosened his tie in frustration, yanking it down as if it were choking him. Without even slowing down, he said, “Come to the office,” his voice low and dangerous, sending a cold chill down both Keshav and Abhinav’s spines.
Confused, but knowing better than to ask questions, the two followed him in silence. Rudra entered his office, a ceiling to floor glass wall overlooking the city shimmering in the night. He stood there, back turned to them, staring out at the skyline like a predator watching his territory. His fists clenched at his sides. After a moment, sensing their presence in the room, he turned slowly, his jaw tight, eyes blazing with barely restrained fury.
"How far are we?” His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade.
Keshav responded immediately, his words coming out faster than he could process them, “Everything’s almost done, sir. We just need to build a stronger security system to prevent further breaches.”
Keshav knew Rudra didn’t appreciate unnecessary explanations—his boss demanded precision, efficiency, and results. Wasting time or offering long-winded justifications was the quickest way to end up on Rudra’s bad side.
Rudra gave a single nod, his expression hardening, and moved to sit in his chair, but the tension in the room didn’t fade. If anything, it grew thicker, like a storm about to break. Abhinav, always the one to push boundaries, couldn’t resist breaking the silence with his usual Playfullness . Leaning casually against the desk, he smirked and said, “Congratulations on the wedding, buddy.” And he winked
HE WINKED
He had the audacity to wink.
The reaction was immediate and fierce—Rudra’s glare could have Burned the air between them. His eyes locked on Abhinav with such intensity that Keshav instinctively took a step back. How Abhinav had the guts to poke the bear at a time like this was beyond Keshav's understanding.
Rudra’s temper wasn’t something to be played with, especially when his personal life was involved.
Keshav shook his head, barely believing Abhinav’s recklessness. This man always knew how to push Rudra’s buttons at the worst times and yet somehow managed to get away with it—every single time.
But Rudra’s mood, already on edge, seemed to snap after the mention of the marriage. His jaw clenched even tighter, and before he could unleash his rage, Keshav quickly stepped in. “Sir, your father sent word. He expects you to meet the girl tomorrow. He’s already sent the time and address.”
Rudra’s fist tightened on his desk. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath before speaking in a dangerously calm voice, “Tell him we’re not coming.”
he said, his voice dripping with cold finality.
Keshav hesitated, feeling the weight of the situation. “But sir… your father said he won’t take no for an answer. And he’s already on a flight to Delhi for a meeting, so he can’t be reached.”
Rudra’s eyes snapped open, glaring at nothing in particular. “Not my problem,” he muttered, his voice filled with barely contained anger. He had no intention of bending to his father’s whims, not now, not ever.
Abhinav, always eager to push his luck, took a step forward, his grin never faltering. “Come on! Meeting your future wife won't kill you! Let's go.I'll join you!” he said with a cheerfulness that bordered on absurdity, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
Rudra’s eyes flickered up to meet his, a slow, burning fury building behind them. “Shut up and get out,” he growled, not even bothering to look at Abhinav again as he returned his focus to the paperwork in front of him.
Abhinav, undeterred as always, pressed on. “Come on! You’re gonna make her wait? Break her heart by not showing up?” he asked, still grinning like a fool. He was pushing Rudra, trying to get a rise out of him, but deep down, there was genuine concern for his friend.
Rudra didn’t even flinch. “Not my problem,” he said icily, his voice as cold as the steel in his gaze. “Besides,” he added, eyes finally lifting from his desk to stare blankly at the far wall, “she needs to know what she’s getting herself into. She’s going to regret ever deciding to marry me.”
His words were venomous, laced with a bitterness that made even Abhinav pause. There was no humor left in the situation. Rudra had shut down any room for levity.
Abhinav shook his head, sighing. “That’s harsh, man,” he muttered before turning to Keshav. “At least tell her we’re not coming.”
Before Keshav could respond, Rudra’s voice cut through the air like a whip. “Let it be, Keshav.”
Then, his eyes narrowed, and he pointed directly at Abhinav. “And you—shut up and get out.”
Abhinav scoffed, but the tension in the room was palpable now. Even he knew when to back off. “Alright, alright,” he said with a mock salute, his smile half-hearted this time. “Good night to you too, my dear bestie.”he mocked, walking out, making ridiculous faces at Rudra on his way out.
Keshav, too, knew it was time to leave. He gave a quick nod and excused himself quietly. As he stepped out of the office, he spared one last glance at Rudra. The man was alone, hunched over his desk, a brooding storm of emotions hidden beneath his cold exterior.
The door clicked shut behind them, leaving the beast to simmer in the quiet rage that had no easy outlet.
I'm not quite happy with how this chapter turned out to be bit I hope you guys like it. Enjoy reading❤.
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