Chapter 1 Nafrat ka Sindoor
The room smelled of tuberose and sandalwood—a fragrance meant to symbolize new beginnings, but to Aayushi, it felt like a funeral.
She sat on the edge of the royal king-sized bed inside the Shekhawat Mansion, her hands trembling in her lap. The heavy red dupatta covered her face, hiding her tear-stained cheeks.
Suddenly, the heavy wooden doors crashed open.
Aayushi flinched as slow, deliberate footsteps echoed across the marble floor, stopping directly in front of her. Without a single word, a large hand reached out and shoved her bridal veil back.
Aayushi blinked against the chandeliers, her gaze meeting two obsidian-black eyes burning with rage. Reyansh Shekhawat looked terrifying in his black velvet sherwani, his jaw clenched tight.
"Kahan hai vo?" His voice was a low, lethal growl.
Aayushi swallowed hard, forcing her chin up. "Vo chali gayi, Mr. Shekhawat."
Reyansh let out a harsh laugh. Before she could react, his hand clamped firmly around her arm, pulling her off the bed until she was inches away from him.
"Mere saath games mat khelo!" he snapped, his grip tightening. "Mandap par Shanaya ko khada hona tha. Tum mere kamre me kya kar rahi ho, Aayushi?"
"Vo bhag gayi!" Aayushi choked out, refusing to break eye contact. "Vo mandap par baithne se ek ghante pehle kisi aur ke saath bhag gayi. Papa ko heart attack aa raha tha, bahar media khadi thi, aur aapki family ki izzat daav par thi. Maine yeh nahi maanga tha!"
Reyansh stared down at her, his lips twisting into a cruel smile. He released her arm so abruptly that she stumbled back against the bedpost.
"Yeh mahaan banne ka natak band karo," he sneered, tossing his heavy wedding brooch onto the glass table. "Singhanias karze me doob rahe the, aur achanak se, choti, masoom behan aage aati hai Shekhawat crown pehanne ke liye? Tumne yeh plan banaya tha na?"
Aayushi felt a sharp sting in her chest, but she straightened her spine. "Main yahan do families ko public humiliation se bachane aayi thi. Usse zyada kuch nahi."
"Tum yahan ek jaal me phansne aayi ho," Reyansh whispered dangerously near her ear. "Tumhe Shekhawat naam chahiye tha na, Aayushi? Fine. Ab tumhare paas yeh naam hai. Lekin tum mujhe kabhi nahi pa sakogi."
He stepped back, coldly adjusting his cuffs.
"Tum couch par soyogi," he ordered, turning toward his private study. "Aur kal subah, duniya ek happy married couple dekhegi. Lekin is ghar ke andar? Tum ek unwanted replacement se zyada kuch nahi ho."
The door slammed shut, locking with an echoing click.
Aayushi stood alone in the massive bedroom. She reached up, slowly taking off her heavy gold jewelry. Looking at her reflection—her red bangles, her dark sindoor—she wiped a single tear from her cheek.
Use mujhse nafrat karne do, she thought silently. Main yahan uska dil jeetne nahi aayi hu. Main yahan sirf survive karne aayi hu.
