Avani's pvo///

The morning sunlight brush against my face and wake me up slowly.
I blinked at the familiar ceiling, my body stiff and heavy, like I had slept too deep.

For a second, everything felt blank.
And then like pieces of glass falling into place last night came back.
The gunshots. Vrishabh's bleeding shoulder. The hospital. Sumati.

I sat up, feeling the sheets slip off me, and a new wave of information hit me.
My clothes were different. Someone had changed them...No, he had.

My heart jumped into my throat.

I hurriedly glanced around the room, Vrishabh wasn't there. A relieved breath leaves my mouth. The air felt lighter without his heavy presence.

I quietly thanked God because right now, the only thing I truly wanted was to avoid Vrishabh for as long as possible.

I must've fallen asleep in the car. After it I don't remember how I came here but I don't need an answer I know it.

I swung my legs off. I padded toward the bathroom, moving slow, careful not to make noise, like he might appear if I even breathed too loudly.

I locked the door behind me.
Only when I turned the tap on and splashed cold water on my face did I feel my heartbeat start to slow down a little.

The girl in the mirror looked like hell.
Hair messy. Eyes puffy. After getting fresh up, steps into the bedroom.

A soft knock echoed against the door.
My heart jumped in panic.Vrishabh?
But... he never knocks.

Slowly, I walked towards the door and cracked it open. It wasn't him.
It was one of the servants.

"These clothes and breakfast are sent by Nalini Ma'am," she said politely, her hands full.

I stepped aside silently, letting her in.
She placed the tray and a neat stack of folded clothes carefully on the table.

"Ma'am also said, after getting ready, please come downstairs. It's the Haldi function today," the servant added, smiling a little.

"Everyone has already had breakfast, so she asked to send yours up."

Haldi function...For a second, I had almost forgotten.

I nodded absently, my mind still half stuck on yesterday. As the servant turned to leave.

"Have you seen Vrishabh?"

The servant stiffened a little, shook her head quickly. "No, Ma'am," she said, and rushed out, closing the door behind her.

Turning back to the table, I glanced at the outfit neatly placed for me.
It was simple yellow, soft and light. I brushed my fingers lightly over the fabric.

After finishing my breakfast, I sit down, struggling to tie the hook of my blouse. It’s backless. After a few frustrating moments, it finally clicks into place. A soft gasp of relief escapes my lips.

I’m planning to avoid Vrishabh as much as possible, hoping that with time, his anger might cool down and maybe, just maybe, the punishment he gives me will be a little less harsh.

I don’t know what to expect anymore, but somehow, I have a feeling he’s not going to kill me. If he wanted to, he would have done it by now especially after the stunt I pulled.

Still, I couldn’t ignore what happened yesterday. He had protected me from the gunshot without thinking twice. No matter what our relationship was twisted into, he protected me. But the bigger question remained who wanted to harm me? I had no money, no enemies, nothing. Day by day, my life was getting pulled into something deeper, something darker, and I couldn’t even understand how or why.

After getting ready, I made my way downstairs, my steps slow and unsure. The sound of laughter and music grew louder as I moved closer to the backyard, where the Haldi ceremony was being held.

The moment I stepped outside, I was greeted by a splash of colors yellow marigolds hanging everywhere, sunlight dancing over the decorations, and people moving around with wide, easy smiles. Everyone looked so happy, so full of life, as if nothing in the world could go wrong today.

For a second, I just stood there, letting the scene sink into me. It felt almost strange, how the world could continue being so cheerful when inside me everything still felt so messy and tangled.

There, sitting on the seat, was Aarti. She looked so happy, smiling like a little kid, as everyone applied haldi on her face one by one and gave their blessings. Her fiancé was sitting beside her, she had shown me his photo before, so I recognized him, laughing at something, while a small boy scribbled on a board near them.

I walked slowly towards them, feeling a little out of place. In the middle of the crowd, I spotted Nalini. She caught my eyes and came towards me with a warm smile. She held my hand gently and said, "Come, Avani, apply haldi, give her blessings.

I nodded, Moving closer to Aarti, I picked a small amount of haldi and Applied on her cheek. She smiled at me so brightly. I whispered a small prayer in my heart, hoping she always stays this happy.

After that, I moved away from there, finding a spot a little away from the crowd. I sat down quietly, just observing everything happening around me. My eyes kept searching the area, but Vrishabh was nowhere to be seen. A part of me relaxed a little after confirming he wasn’t close by. For now, I could breathe easy.

Slowly, the haldi ceremony started to change into something more lively. Laughter filled the air, and one by one, people started smearing haldi on each other, not just the bride and groom anymore. Smiles, giggles, and shouts echoed everywhere. Some were running around like little kids, chasing each other with haldi in their hands.

Before I could even fully take it all in, Aarti came toward me with a mischievous grin. She giggled and smeared haldi on both my cheeks. I gasped, but seeing her laughing so freely, I couldn't hold back my smile either.

I dipped my fingers into the plate of haldi that was on the table, and smeared it onto her cheek as well. We both smiled.

Aarti tugged on my arm excitedly.
“Bhabhi, look! Bhai is there!  she said, giving me a mischievous look.

Instinctively, my eyes moved where she is pointing. Vrishabh stood a little away, his broad back facing us, talking to someone. He hadn’t seen us yet.
Just the sight of him made something heavy sit in my chest. Fear crept in slowly, remembering everything.

This was the first time since morning I was seeing him, and even from a distance, his presence felt heavy. And honestly, I was scared. Really scared.

"You should have some fun too!” Arati said clearly hinting that I should apply haldi on her brother.

I blinked at Aarti like she had lost her mind. In my head, I screamed  'He will eat me alive if I even try that! Your brother would burn me with just a glare!

Still, I tried to say it nicely,' “Your brother doesn’t like these things... he’ll get angry.”

But Aarti just laughed like it was the simplest thing in the world. “Avani, Bhaiya should be afraid of you, not the other way around! You should keep him wrapped around your finger!”

I looked at her like she had grown two heads. Her brother? In my hand? Never in this lifetime! I wanted to tell her, He’s the storm itself. He will never bend for anyone.

As I turn my eyes away from Arati I meet pairs of intense gray eyes. His grey, cold eyes locking onto me without a single blink. They are stripping me.

He was...Observing me like he could read every thought running through my head. A shiver ran down my spine.

Aarti, noticed too. She leaned toward me quickly and whispered, “This is your last chance, bhabhi! Behind you a big water jug Throw it and run! Okay bye!”
Before I could even grab her, she ran  away leaving alone.

Vrishabh’s steps were slow but deliberate as he started walking towards me, each step feeling heavier than the last. His eyes never left me, scanning me like he could see right through my skin.
back.

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