𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 - 𝟔 (𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐰𝐧)

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕:-

Few hours ago....

Ekanshika sat beside her parents in the lavish living room of the Malhotra mansion. The tension in the air was palpable. Her father, Keshav Malhotra, and grandfather, Harsh Malhotra, sat with unreadable expressions, while Arsh's parents, Ramesh and Sunita Verma, looked overly eager.

Arsh, sitting beside his father, had a confident smirk. He had already won over Ekanshika-now, it was just about getting her family to move things faster.

Sunita was the first to speak, her tone sugar-coated. "Hume toh bohot acha laga jab Arsh ne bataya ki aap log shaadi ke liye ready hain." She smiled at Ekanshika's parents. "Waise bhi, hum toh chaahte hain ki shaadi jaldi ho, jitni jaldi rishta pakka ho utna accha."

("We were very happy when Arsh told us that you all are ready for the wedding.")

("Anyway, we want the wedding to happen soon. The sooner the alliance is confirmed, the better.")

Ekanshika's father exchanged a glance with her grandfather before responding, "Hume koi jaldi nahi hai, Sunita ji. Shaadi ek badi zimmedari hoti hai. Pehle hume pura yakeen hona chahiye ki dono ek dusre ko samajhte hain."

("We are in no hurry, Sunita ji. Marriage is a big responsibility. First, we need to be completely sure that both of them understand each other.")

Arsh leaned forward, his voice smooth. "Uncle, aunty, main aur Ekanshika ek doosre ko ache se samajhte hain. Hum dono ek hi industry se hain, ek hi level pe hain... yeh shaadi sirf hamari nahi, do successful families ka milan hoga."

("Uncle, Aunty, Ekanshika and I understand each other well. We both belong to the same industry, we are on the same level... this marriage won't just be about us, but a union of two successful families.")

Harsh Malhotra's sharp eyes didn't miss the calculative tone in Arsh's voice. He spoke slowly, "Aur tumhe hamari beti se zyada uska status pasand hai ya uska dil?"

("And do you like our daughter more, or her status and wealth?")

The question made Arsh's smirk falter for a second, but he quickly masked it. "Dadaji, aap aise mat sochiye. Of course, main Ekanshika se pyaar karta hoon." He looked at her with fake sincerity. "Warna main itni mehnat kyun karunga ki Ekanshika ko apni life partner bana sakun?"

("Dadaji, please don't think like that. Of course, I love Ekanshika.")

("Otherwise, why would I put in so much effort to make Ekanshika my life partner?")

Ekanshika, unaware of the hidden motives behind his words, smiled softly. Her grandfather, however, remained unconvinced.

Ramesh Verma cleared his throat. "Dekhiye, business duniya mein time bohot important hota hai. Hum chahte hain ki engagement jaldi ho, taaki sab kuch smoothly ho sake."

("Look, time is very important in the business world. We want the engagement to happen soon so that everything can proceed smoothly.")

Keshav frowned. "Aap kehna kya chah rahe hain, Ramesh ji?"

("What are you trying to say, Ramesh ji?")

Arsh stepped in, his tone casual but firm. "Uncle, actually Singhania Corp. ke saath ek deal chal rhi hai aur agar vo deal confirm ho jati hai to mai uss kam main busy ho jaunga, to better yahi hoga ki agar pehle engagement ho jaye, so that baad main koi problem naa ho. Sab kuch time par ho jaye to acha hai."

("Uncle, actually, there's an ongoing deal with Singhania Corp., and if that deal gets finalized, I'll be busy with that work. So, it would be better if the engagement happens first to avoid any issues later. It's best if everything happens on time.")

There it was. The real reason behind this urgency.

Harsh Malhotra's expression turned stony. "Toh tumhe yeh deal zyada zaroori lag rahi hai ya hamari beti?"

("So, does this deal seem more important to you, or our daughter?")

Arsh chuckled nervously. "Dadaji, aap misunderstand kar rahe hain. Mera kehne ka yeh matlab nahi tha."

("Dadaji, you're misunderstanding me. That's not what I meant.")

Sunita quickly jumped in to control the situation. "Arey, shaadi toh karni hi hai, toh jaldi ho jaye toh kya bura hai? Waise bhi, ab dono ne decide kar hi liya hai."

("Oh, the wedding has to happen anyway, so what's wrong if it happens sooner? Besides, both of them have already decided.")

Ekanshika's mother, Vanita, finally spoke. "Lekin humari beti ka kya? Uske sapne, uska career? She is still young, she has so much more ahead of her."

("But what about our daughter? Her dreams, her career? She is still young; she has so much more ahead of her.")

Arsh turned to Ekanshika, his voice gentle but manipulative. "To mai kaha Ekanshika ko apne sapne pure karne se ya usko career main focus karne se rok raha hu and Ekanshika tum bhi toh yahi chahti ho na?"

("So, where am I stopping Ekanshika from fulfilling her dreams or focusing on her career? And Ekanshika, this is what you want too, right?")

Ekanshika hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Haan, mujhe koi problem nahi hai."

("Yes, I have no problem.")

Her father sighed, defeat settling in his eyes. "Agar yahi tumhari khushi hai, beta, toh hum tayyar hain."

("If this is your happiness, dear, then we are ready.")

Sunita being overexcited, spoke. "To fir engagement iss weekend ko hi rakhte hai, jitna jaldi utna hi acha."

("Then let's keep the engagement this weekend itself. The sooner, the better.")

Harsh Malhotra exhaled deeply but said nothing. He knew something wasn't right.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as they finalized the date of engagement Arsh's family left. Arsh returned to his office, he locked himself . He leaned back in his chair, a smirk forming on his lips.

"Ekanshika Malhotra... tum sirf ek zariya ho. Shaadi ke baad tumhara paisa mera hoga, aur phir main jo chahta hoon, woh hoga."

("Ekanshika Malhotra... you are just a means to an end. After marriage, your wealth will be mine, and then everything will happen the way I want.")

With that, he took a sip of his drink, satisfied.

He had won this round.

But little did he know, he wasn't the only player in this game.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐃...