The car moved smoothly along the wide city road, but inside, the atmosphere was anything but calm.
Aarohi crossed her arms and looked straight ahead, trying to appear unaffected, but her voice carried a hint of stubborn defiance.
"So… how much money do you even have?" she asked bluntly.
Kunal glanced at her briefly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips."It doesn't matter," she continued before he could respond. "Whatever it is, we're getting a divorce anyway."
For a second, there was silence—then Kunal let out a low chuckle.
"Well," he said lazily, "good to know you've already planned our future."
Aarohi ignored his tone and shifted slightly in her seat, trying to look outside. But somehow, her eyes betrayed her curiosity. They drifted back to him.
Kunal Kapoor.
Even sitting casually, he looked unreal—like a perfectly sculpted statue. His sharp jawline, composed expression, and calm authority made him hard to ignore. The more she looked, the more she found herself… drawn in.
It irritated her.
Suddenly, Kunal's voice cut through her thoughts.
"Sit properly."
She blinked. "What?"
His eyes moved downward briefly, then back to her face, expression cold."Your posture. Fix it."
Aarohi looked down and immediately realized—she had been sitting carelessly, her legs slightly apart, forgetting she was wearing a dress.
Her cheeks flushed instantly.
Without a word, she adjusted herself and sat properly, lowering her gaze for a moment.
But then, something inside her pushed back.
She lifted her head again and met his eyes.
"Like you've never seen me before," she muttered.
Kunal's expression darkened slightly.
"Can you act like a woman for once?" he said bluntly.
That did it.
Aarohi turned toward him sharply."And you?" she shot back. "Act like a decent human being first."
For the first time, Kunal was speechless.
No woman had ever spoken to him like that.
Not once.
He stared at her, almost trying to process what had just happened.
After a brief pause, he exhaled slowly and said, in a controlled tone,"I want this marriage to be… peaceful. At least bearable. Don't you think you should take some responsibility for that?"
Aarohi laughed softly, but there was no humor in it.
"You're talking like I forced you that night," she said, her voice sharpening. "All I did was give you the drugs. I didn't ask you to do anything else."
The air shifted instantly.
Kunal's gaze became deeper, more intense.
"I remember it very clearly," he said quietly. "And you didn't seem unwilling."
Aarohi froze.
Her heartbeat quickened.
"You were clinging to me," he continued, his voice low and steady. "You wouldn't let go."
Her face turned red instantly.
"That's not— I don't remember any of that," she said quickly. "You're imagining things."
Kunal leaned slightly closer.
"You were trembling," he added softly. "And your face… completely flushed."
Aarohi's breath hitched.
The distance between them suddenly felt too small.
Too dangerous.
She could feel the warmth of his body, the intensity in his presence. The air inside the car felt heavier, almost suffocating.
Kunal's lips curved faintly.
"Should I take a picture next time?" he murmured.
That snapped her out of it.
Aarohi slapped his arm lightly and quickly moved back to her side of the seat.
"Stay away," she muttered, turning her face toward the window.
Neither of them spoke after that.
But the silence wasn't empty.
It was filled with something unspoken… something that neither of them wanted to acknowledge.
After a while, the driver's voice broke the tension.
"Sir, ma'am… we've reached."
Aarohi immediately opened the door, almost in a hurry to escape.
But before she could step out, a firm hand grabbed her wrist.
She turned back, startled.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
Kunal looked at her calmly.
"Why are you running?" he asked. "Embarrassed?"
Aarohi frowned and pulled her hand away.
"Leave me alone."
Without waiting for another word, she stepped out and walked quickly toward the house.
Kunal watched her go, shaking his head slightly, a faint, amused expression appearing on his face.
Aarohi had barely taken a few steps when she froze.
Standing near the entrance was a woman.
Elegant. Poised. Beautiful.
There was something about her presence that demanded attention without effort.
Her long dark hair flowed gently, her posture straight and confident. She wore a white jacket over a soft-toned dress, and everything about her screamed grace and class.
Aarohi instinctively stopped.
Before she could think further, Kunal's voice came from behind.
"Kavya."
The name hung in the air.
Aarohi's heart sank.
So… this was her.
Now it made sense.
This was the kind of woman Kunal preferred.
Refined. Perfect. Untouchable.
Not someone like her.
Kunal walked past Aarohi and stopped in front of Kavya. The two of them standing together looked… right. Like they belonged in the same world.
Aarohi felt like an outsider.
She didn't know where to look, what to say, or even whether she should stay.
Awkwardly, she spoke,"My clothes… aren't washed. I'll just go inside."
Without waiting for a response, she hurried into the house.
Outside, Kavya watched her leave, then turned her gaze toward Kunal.
"What kind of girl have you brought home?" she asked, her tone calm but sharp.
Kunal ignored the question.
"Did you read my message?" he asked instead.
Kavya's expression stiffened.
"Yes."
Kunal took a breath.
"I didn't have a choice," he said. "Everything happened too fast."
She remained silent.
"I know you're hurt," he continued. "Angry too. But this is the reality now."
His voice was steady, but there was weight behind it.
"My family believes she can cure my condition. That's why this marriage happened."
Kavya's hands trembled slightly.
"And me?" she asked softly.
Kunal looked at her.
"If you want to leave… I won't stop you," he said. "Hate me if you want. Blame me. I'll accept everything."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"What am I supposed to do now?" she whispered.
Kunal closed his eyes briefly.
"We barely even knew each other before this," he said. "I didn't even know her name before the wedding."
His voice hardened slightly.
"When I get the chance… I'll divorce her."
Kavya looked up immediately.
"Really?"
Kunal nodded.
"We already talked about it."
There was silence again.
A painful one.
Kunal and Kavya had loved each other for years. But because of his condition—his inability to be close to women—their relationship had always been fragile.
And now…
It was breaking.
Inside the house, Aarohi stood still, her chest tight.
For some reason… hearing that name—Kavya—had left a strange heaviness in her heart.
She didn't understand why.
But it didn't feel good.
Not at all.
And for the first time since this forced marriage began…
Aarohi felt something she hadn't expected.
Not anger.
Not frustration.
But something far more complicated.
Something she wasn't ready to face.