Anvi stepped into the restaurant with a confident smile.
Ved immediately pulled her into a warm hug, as if the world around them didn't exist.
Then Anvi's gaze fell on Kashvi.
A slow, knowing smile curved her lips.
"Hello, Kashvi," she said smoothly. "We meet again."
Ved froze.
"Again?" he asked, startled. "You both have met before?"
"Oh yes, babe," Anvi replied, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips. "At the office."
Anvi—no, Kashvi—felt the ground slip beneath her feet.
Shock clouded her eyes as she turned to Ved.
"If Anvi was coming… then why did you bring me here?"
Ved looked at her calmly, cruelly calm.
"Because you are my wife," he said. "And I wanted to come here with my love."
Before Kashvi could react, Ved lifted Anvi's hands and kissed them gently.
Tears instantly filled Kashvi's eyes.
"T-then why…" her voice trembled, "why are you both doing this to me?"
Ved laughed—a laugh that pierced straight through her heart.
"You wanted to marry me, didn't you?" he snapped.
"You trapped my grandfather in your web, didn't you? You knew very well that no matter what happens, I can never go against him."
Kashvi stood frozen.
"This was all your conspiracy," Ved continued angrily.
"That's why I hate you. You only look innocent, Kashvi. But the truth is—you're a shameless girl who traps rich men for their money."
Every word shattered her.
"I… Ved…" she whispered, broken.
"I never did anything like that. I only helped Dada ji. I didn't even know who he was."
"Oh, come on," Ved scoffed coldly.
"Don't act innocent."
One Month Earlier…
Rain poured heavily that evening.
A speeding car splashed through muddy water, soaking an elderly man standing by the roadside. He slipped and fell hard onto the ground.
People passed by.
No one stopped.
No one cared.
Except Kashvi.
Without worrying about getting dirty, she rushed toward the old man. She helped him up gently, cleaned his mud-stained glasses, and wiped his face with her dupatta. Taking out a water bottle from her bag, she washed his hands and feet and immediately took him to get his wounds dressed.
The old man watched her with moist eyes, deeply moved.
"May God bless you, child," he said softly.
"What is your name? Where do you live? Are you married?"
Kashvi smiled politely.
"My name is Kashvi, Dada ji. I'm not married. Please don't worry about that—are you feeling okay?"
Without waiting for an answer, she hurried away.
She was already late for her interview.
What she didn't know was that the old man was none other than Ved Oberoi's grandfather—the legendary business tycoon.
Ved's grandfather was overjoyed.
He personally found Kashvi's address and took her proposal to her family. Then he ordered Ved to marry her.
Ved refused.
"Dadu, what are you saying?" he protested.
"I… I love Anvi."
"I don't like Anvi at all," his grandfather said sternly.
"And even after my death, you will never marry her."
Ved didn't know the truth.
Who is this Kashvi?
Why is Dadu forcing me to marry her?
But he could never disobey his grandfather.
So Ved married Kashvi.
Yet in his heart, he made a promise to himself—
Kashvi may be my wife…
but my love will always belong to Anvi.
To be continued