Happy Readingđź“– đź’•
Shivansh's POV
The moment we stepped into the palace, the air felt different-too quiet, too expectant. Dhruv, Avi, and I exchanged glances before we spotted Juhi standing in the living area, when everyone is in the garden then what is she doing here.
"Juhi, what's going on?" Dhruv asked, folding his arms.
She gave a slow, deliberate smile, eyes gleaming with something I couldn't quite place-but whatever it was, it wasn't good. "Sit down. There's something important I need to show you all."
I wasn't in the mood for her games, but something about her tone made me pause. Without a word, I sat. Dhruv sighed and settled next to me, while Avi stayed standing, arms crossed.
Juhi unlocked her phone, turned the screen toward me, and hit play.
The café's warm lighting flickered on the screen. Isha sat across from Aarav, her expression unreadable.
"Why did you say yes?" Aarav's voice was clear.
Isha hesitated before answering. "I have my reasons."
Then, the part that made my blood freeze-
"Do you love him? "
"No."
AND THEN
"I love you, Isha." I am always there for you isha."
"I love you too. I know. "
And Aarav's reply- "Always, Isha."
Juhi edited the video and made it look like Isha was leaning into him, their faces dangerously close. As if Isha was about to kiss him. The way it was cut, it seemed intimate, almost undeniable.
My vision blurred. A sharp, unbearable heat built inside my chest, burning, raging, consuming.
The phone slipped from my grip. I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails bit into my palms. My breath was slow, controlled-dangerously so.
Juhi's voice cut through the silence, feigning sympathy. "I just thought you should know about this, Shiva." She let out a dramatic sigh and continued "Shiva, can you believe this? She's obviously playing games. She's been leading you on while whispering secrets to another man. And here I thought she was innocent."
A sharp, bitter taste filled my mouth. My jaw clenched. My entire body stiffened as I replayed her words in my mind.
I didn't know what burned more-the fact that she said it, or the fact that she said it to someone else.
My mind was a storm, my breathing dangerously slow, too controlled.
"Send me the video," I said, my voice devoid of emotion.
Juhi's smirk deepened. "Already done, shiva."
She turned and walked away, pleased with herself.
I remained seated, staring at my phone.
My heartbeat pounded in my ears.
I shouldn't care.
I didn't care.
I stood up. Not a word. Not a single sound.
Then, I left.
I heard Dhruv and Avi call my name, but I didn't stop. I didn't know where I was going-only that I needed to get out.
By the time I realized it, I was already at the warehouse.
The heavy metal door slammed open, the hinges groaning under the force.
The warehouse was dim, the air thick with the scent of rust and blood.
A single chair sat in the center of the room, a man tied to it-his face swollen, his body barely conscious.
I stood in front of him, my hands curled into fists.
I didn't know why i was here.
I didn't know why my veins were burning with something i couldn't name.
The video played in my head like a haunting melody.
Isha. Arav. Her leaning closer. The way it looked.
My fingers twitched.
The man in the chair groaned, barely lifting his head.
The man in the cage trembled at my arrival, his bruised face barely lifting to look at me. I didn't care.
I needed an outlet for this rage.
I didn't care who I was. A traitor. A problem. Someone who deserved punishment.
And right now, i needed to hurt someone.
I grabbed the rusted metal pipe from the table and swung.
The man choked out a cry of pain as the sound of breaking bone echoed through the warehouse.
Again.
Again.
Again.
The rage didn't fade.
I saw red-the color of anger, the color of frustration, the color of something he couldn't admit.
"Shiv!"
A strong hand gripped his shoulder.
Dhruv.
Avi was beside him, eyes narrowed in concern.
"That's enough," Dhruv warned. "You'll kill him."
I exhaled sharply, his chest rising and falling with the weight of his fury.
He let go of the pipe, letting it clatter to the ground.
Without another word, i turned and walked out.
Because this wasn't enough.
Nothing was.
I shrugged him off, stepping away, breath heavy.
I needed more.
The night air was cool, but it did nothing to cool the heat raging inside me.
I came back to the palace directly and went to my chamber and then to the bar area by my private pool was dimly lit, a sharp contrast to the storm inside me. I reached for a bottle of whiskey, pouring a generous amount into a glass.
Then, without a second thought, I smashed the glass against the wall.
The shards scattered, a reflection of the chaos inside me.
One by one, I shattered everything within reach-the bottles, the glasses, the vase sitting on the counter. The sound of breaking glass filled the silence, but it wasn't enough.
Nothing was enough.
The frustration clawed at me, relentless.
I ran a hand through my hair, my breath ragged.
Even after all this, I still couldn't understand-why did it hurt this much?
I told her not to fall for me.
And yet, here I was, falling apart because she had found someone else to say those words to.
It was pathetic.
I grabbed the whiskey bottle and made my way back to my room.
I was about to set the bottle down when my gaze landed on something on the table.
A small velvets box.
I frowned. I didn't remember leaving anything there.
Setting the bottle aside, I picked it up and opened it.
The silver anklets gleamed under the dim lighting, delicate and intricate-just like her.
I had bought these for her. To give to her on our engagement day.
But I didn't.
Because I had been too busy telling her to stay away from me.
"Don't fall for me, Isha."
The words echoed in my mind, hollow and cruel.
And now...
Now she wasn't falling for me anymore.
Now she wasn't even looking at me the way she used to.
A sharp ache settled in my chest.
I closed my eyes, gripping the anklets tightly.
I was a fool.
I had spent so much time pushing her away, only to realize-too late-that she had already become a part of me.
That I loved her.
And now, maybe...
She didn't love me anymore.
Something inside me cracked.
For the first time in hours, I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly. The rage dulled, giving way to something else-something worse.
Regret.
Guilt.
And an unbearable, crushing truth.
I love her too much.
The morning dragged on.
Morning came, but nothing felt different. The regret sat heavy on my shoulders, refusing to fade.
I barely spoke at breakfast. The usual sharp remarks, the arrogance-gone.
I was exhausted, but there was no time for that. The board meeting was scheduled for Jaipur, but since we were here, the family decided to conduct it remotely from the Delhi office. It was unavoidable.
For two to three hours, I sat through discussions, gave my inputs, and handled what was necessary. My mind should have been focused, but it wasn't.
Isha's words from the video kept playing in my head, each syllable cutting deeper than the last.
"I love you,too arav. "
The more I thought about it, the more I felt like losing control again.
But I had already lost it last night. And today, I needed to keep myself in check.
When the meeting finally ended, I walked out of the boardroom, my shoulders heavy with exhaustion and frustration.
Just as I was about to head to my cabin, Rohit walked up to me.
He looked serious. Too serious.
"Isha is waiting for you in your cabin," he said, his tone even, but there was something beneath it.
I frowned. Isha?
"And before you do anything stupid, listen to me," Dhruv interjected, walking up behind him. His voice carried a warning.
"Whatever you're thinking, just stop. You weren't in your senses last night, so you didn't hear me out. But today, you are. So, listen carefully-whatever she is, whatever you think she did, I don't believe that video is real."
I clenched my jaw. Not real?
Dhruv exhaled sharply, stepping closer.
"I didn't say anything yesterday because you were out of control. But now that you're sober, hear me out. If you do something reckless today, if you push her away without hearing her side, you'll regret it. And as her brother, I can't allow that. If something happens to her because of you, it won't be good. For you or for her."
With that, he turned and left.
I stood there for a second, processing his words.
Regret? Hadn't I already been drowning in it?
Shaking off my thoughts, I walked to my cabin, bracing myself for whatever was about to happen.
The moment I pushed the door open, I froze.
She was sitting in my chair.
Not just sitting-acting.
She had one elbow propped up on the armrest, fingers tapping against her temple like she was in deep thought. Then, she dramatically picked up a pen, flipping it between her fingers before sighing heavily-almost as if she were mimicking me.
It was stupid.
It was cute.
And for a split second, despite everything, I felt something strange-a small, uninvited smile tugging at the corner of my lips.
The first one since last night.
But then...
Then I remembered.
The words from the video.
The betrayal.
The anger returned, sharp and unforgiving. My expression hardened.
She must have sensed my presence because she abruptly turned. The second her eyes met mine, her playful act disappeared.
Her face fell.
She stood up instantly, stepping away from my chair as if she had been caught doing something she wasn't supposed to.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then, I walked over and sat down in front of her, my gaze unreadable.
"What happened?" My voice was flat, cold.
She exhaled slowly, as if preparing herself. Then, finally, she spoke.
And for the first time in hours, I was ready to listen.
I leaned back in my chair, watching as Isha stood in front of me, biting her lip-her nervous habit. She was thinking, hesitating.
"Sit," I told her, my voice steady but firm. "This chair is yours too."
She shook her head, refusing. I glare at her then she silently sit.
"Isha," I acknowledged, my voice sharper than I intended.
She hesitated, then took a small step forward and extended a small velvet box toward me.
I frowned. "What is this?"
She exhaled shakily. "An engagement gift… for you."
For a second, I didn't move. My gaze flickered between her eyes and the box, my mind trying to process what she had just said. I took the box from her, my fingers brushing against hers, but she didn't pull away.
Slowly, I flipped it open.
Inside lay a silver mor pankh brooch, simple yet undeniably elegant.balck colour engraved on the inner curve, and beside it, a date—our engagement date.
A lump formed in my throat.
"You got this for me?" My voice was quieter now, my grip tightening around the box.
She nodded. "I wanted to give it to you that day, but… things didn't go the way I expected."
Neither of us spoke for a few moments. Then, without a word, I took the brooch out of the box and put it on my coat after removing the first one. It fit perfectly.
When I looked up, Isha was staring at me, eyes wide, lips slightly parted.
"You're wearing it?" she whispered.
I let out a slow breath. "You bought this for me," I said simply. "So I'm keeping it."
Something flickered in her eyes, but before she could say anything, I leaned back, watching her closely.
"Now tell me, Isha," my voice hardened, "why are you really here?" I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Alright, then tell me. What happened? Why are you here? If something was wrong, you could have just called me."
Still, she hesitated, her fingers clenching and unclenching at her sides.
I knew her too well-she was battling her own thoughts, trying to find the right words.
Finally, she took a deep breath and spoke.
"I know what you said on our engagement day," her voice was quiet at first, uncertain. "But it's too late now, Shivansh... Because I realized-I really, really love you."
I froze.
She continued, her voice gaining strength, "I know I agreed to this arranged marriage at first without love, but now I do. I love you, Shivansh. And I want us to give this relationship a real chance."
I stared at her, my chest tightening, my mind racing.
She... loves me?
She was looking at me so earnestly, so vulnerable, waiting for me to say something.
For a second, I let myself believe it.
For a second, I wanted to reach out, to pull her close, to let my own feelings finally surface.
But then-
I remembered the video.
Which juhi's show.
Isha saying "I love you, too Aarav."
That sharp sting of betrayal came rushing back, drowning out every ounce of warmth I had just felt.
I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head.
I stared at the screen, my blood boiling as the video played on repeat. My grip tightened around the phone, knuckles turning white.
Then, I turned to her. Isha.
She stood there, looking at me with wide, anxious eyes, as if she didn't know what she had done.
I threw the phone onto the table, the sound echoing in the silent room. The proof was right there.
"What the fuck is this, Isha?" My voice came out cold, laced with something darker—betrayal.
She flinched, her entire body stiffening. Good. Let her feel even a fraction of what I was feeling right now.
"Shivansh, I—"
"Don't. Just don't." My words sliced through her weak excuse, the disappointment tightening around my chest like a vice. "After everything, you're behind this?"
Her breath hitched, and I saw it—the flicker of pain in her eyes.
Good. She deserved to feel it.
"How well you're playing your game, Isha," I said, my voice laced with cold amusement.
Her eyes widened, confusion flashing across her face. "What...?"
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my desk. "So, let me guess. Just because your little plan to call off the wedding didn't work, now you've switched to a new one?"
Her brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, don't act innocent," I said, pulling out my phone. "Let me show you something."
I pressed play on the video Juhi had shown me.
The screen lit up with a recording-her voice, her words, clear as day.
Isha stood frozen, her face pale as she watched.
I studied her reaction, looking for guilt, looking for remorse-looking for anything that could explain this.
Instead, she turned to me, utterly shocked. "Shivansh... when was this recorded?!"
I narrowed my eyes. "You tell me. I should be the one asking-are you secretly recording our conversations now?"
She took a step back, disbelief washing over her features. "You think I did this?"
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know what to believe anymore.
Isha let out a breath, shaking her head as if trying to process everything.
"Okay, forget everything just tell me why did you said yes to my Proposal when you one day before you said you will not marry me then next day you said yes suddenly. So, tell me why you said yes, tell me the reason."
Isha said the reason why she suddenly said yes to the proposal.
{It's the night, when Isha and shivansh was spotted by media. }
( you guys can check chapter 2 , for recall.)
Isha is sitting in her bed, when suddenly she wants to drink water then she sees that her water bottle is empty, so, she thought to went down stairs to fill her bottle.
As she quietly walks through the hallway, she hears her parents talking in the living room. She stops in her tracks when she hears her name.
"What will people think, Vikram?" her mother says, her voice trembling. "Our daughter was spotted with a royal heir, and now the news is everywhere. If this doesn't end in a wedding, they'll say we rejected their family. We'll be humiliated."
Her father sighs heavily. "And it's not just us. Our business depends on our reputation. If Isha refuses, people will say she insulted Raghuvanshi. It'll ruin everything."
This is bad, vikram," her mother says. "Everyone's seen the news. If we deny this now, it'll look like we're rejecting their family. People will talk. They'll say we're ungrateful or trying to insult them."
Her father sighs. "And Shivansh's family is royal. If this breaks apart, our family's reputation will be ruined. No one will respect us anymore."
Isha stands frozen, listening from the hallway. Her hands tighten around the glass in her hand.
Her mother continues, "If Isha says no now, it won't just affect her. It'll affect us, our relations, our business, everything."
Isha's chest tightens. The weight of their words sinks in. She knows her family has worked hard to build their name, and one wrong move could undo everything
Isha's heart sinks as she listens. She hadn't realized how much the situation affected her family. The thought of her parents being blamed and humiliated twists her stomach.
And Vikram said in a concerned tone "The media has already started spinning tales about Isha and Shivansh. We need to think about how to handle this situation before it spirals out of control."
Her mother "Do you think we should talk to Isha about marriage? I mean... Shivansh's family might take offense if we don't address this properly. They're royalty, after all."
Her Father in a tense tone. "It's not just about us. Isha needs to be prepared. We can't rush her into anything, but if Shivansh's family approaches us about a proposal, we must handle it delicately."
Isha's mother is sighing "We should ask her tomorrow morning. Let her sleep tonight. She's already had enough for one day."
Isha, shocked and confused, retreats to her room. Her mind spins with their words. Marriage? Proposal? Is that why Shivansh rescued me? Is his family really thinking about this? She barely gets any sleep, anxiety filling her every thought.
She quietly returns to her room, unable to sleep. The weight of her parents' words lingers in her mind, and she starts to question her resolve.
"You just say yes, because of your family, what about us, you didn't think about me about us. " I asked her in a high pitch in a cold voice.
Tears welled up in her eyes. But I didn't care.
She had played me. She humiliated me.
Then she said it.
"I love you, damn it!"
The words rang through the room, echoing in my head like a gunshot.
I went completely still.
No.
No, she didn't get to say that. Not now.
I ran a hand through my hair, turning away. I needed a second—just one fucking second to think.
"Isha…"
I stopped. But I didn't turn. I didn't say anything else.
I couldn't.
Her voice broke. "Say something!"
I finally looked at her, but I said nothing.
Because my silence was all I had left to give.
She shiver but before she could say another word, Juhi suddenly walked in, smug and confident.
"Oops, sorry. Did I interrupt?" she said, feigning innocence.
Isha turned toward her, and in an instant, her confusion turned to fury.
She launched at Juhi, her voice rising, "You did this, didn't you?!"
Juhi smirked. "Oh, darling, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"How could you?!" Isha shouted, her hands clenched into fists. "How could you manipulate everything like this?! How could you record something so personal and twist it?!"
Juhi tilted her head. "Maybe you should ask yourself why you said those words in the first place."
Isha turned back to me, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. "Shivansh, you seriously believe her over me?"
I looked away.
Because I wasn't sure anymore.
Her breathing hitched, and then, after a long moment, she simply nodded.
Her face crumpled, but she refused to let herself break here.
She turned away, walking out of the room without another word.
And I let her go.
The moment she left, silence filled the cabin.
It was deafening.
I sat back in my chair, staring blankly at the desk in front of me.
A hollow ache settled in my chest.
I had hurt her.
Badly.
And the worst part?
I never even gave her a chance to explain.
But what she did deserve it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
How was the Chapter??
Aage kya hoga? Hmm?
Share your thoughts and don't forget to click on the star button below.
And follow me on Instagram for spoilers.
đź”—link in bio.
Love you all, bye
Ishđź’—