7. THE GIRLFRIEND & THE WIFE
Vivan turned around slowly, his breath hitched for a second when he saw Kiara’s tear streaked face. The entire hall froze. Chairs creaked as family members stood from their chair, exchanging tense glances.
Vedant was the first to break the silence. “What the hell is she doing here?” he muttered, his tone sharp with disgust.
Aarvi blinked in confusion, her hands stiff on her lap. She followed everyone’s gaze and then she realized Kiara was Vivan’s girlfriend. Her heart sank, though she kept her face still.
Kiara’s eyes locked on Aarvi. Dressed in a bright red saree, sindoor glinting in her hairline, the mangalsutra resting at her neck. Aarvi looked every bit the new bride. Rage flared inside Kiara as she stormed forward.
“WHY YOU DID THIS TO ME, Vivan?!” she screamed, voice cracking. “WHY YOU CHEATED ON ME, huh?” Her eyes welled up, but the anger burned hotter than the tears.
Vivan raised his hand as if to calm her. “I…I will explain you everything. Just, firstly-just be calm-”
“CALM?” Kiara’s voice pierced through his words. “HOW CAN I BE CALM WHEN MY BOYFRIEND IS MARRIED TO ANOTHER WOMAN?”
Pragya pressed her lips together. Vinod’s brows furrowed deeply. No one liked Kiara, but now her audacity to create scene in their house made everyone irritated.
“You said you loved me, then why did you marry her?” Kiara’s voice trembled with rage, eyes blazing at Vivan.
He opened his mouth but no words came. He didn’t answer. He couldn’t.
“I didn’t marry her by choice,” he finally forced out, his voice taut. “It’s just that… her fiance ran away from the wedd-”
“So what, Vivan?” Kiara cut him off sharply, stepping closer. “So what? Will you marry every girl whose fiance run away from their wedding?”
“What are you even saying-” he tried to reason, but she had already turned away from him.
Ignoring his desperate calls, Kiara’s heels clicked furiously against the marble as she strode toward Aarvi. But Aarvi didn’t move an inch. She stood still.
Kiara’s lips curled. “I know girls like you. You create this type of drama just to trap rich people. Isn’t that right?”
Vedant was about to snap back, but Prisha quickly nudged him to stay quiet.
“Mind what you are saying, Kiara,” Vivan’s voice thundered suddenly, low and dangerous.
Kiara froze, her rage doubling. The man who always, always stood on her side was now… defending Aarvi.
“Oh, look!” she laughed bitterly. “Now Vivan is defending her too. Aarvi, you did a great job in just one night-”
“ENOUGH!” Aarvi and Vivan roared at the same time.
The room fell into stunned silence. Aarvi’s gaze shifted from Vivan to Kiara. Then she spoke firmly.
“Jo insaan jaisa hota hai, woh waisa hi sochta hai. It means-you’re accusing me because you are like this, aren’t you?”
Meanwhile, on the side, the younger ones were getting entertain.
“I myself don’t know bhai is on which side,” Vedant whispered to Prisha, eyes wide with fake seriousness.
Prisha smirked. “Yes, I’m also confused. He’s defending both!”
“Shaadi ke pehle din hi bhai ki ye haalat ho gayi. Aage pata nahi kya kya hoga,” Vedant added dramatically.
“Don’t know,” Prisha giggled, “but whatever is going to happen it’s going to be fun. And if Kiara says anything more to Aarvi- I mean, bhabhi-then she will see the worst side of me.”
“Same pinch,” Vedant whispered back, grinning, and the two burst into quiet giggles.
“Do you even know whom you are talking to?” Vivan snapped. He turned to Aarvi, but froze.
She was staring straight at Kiara, her calm eyes now burning with anger.
“I do,” Aarvi’s voice was low but firm. “I just don’t care anymore.”
For a moment, Vivan could only look at her in disbelief. This girl… the one who silently accepted everything till now… is suddenly blazing with rage?
Kiara’s gaze flickered between them. To Vivan who didn’t defend her this time.
And then, without another word, Kiara turned on her heel, her pride bruised, and stormed out of the Singhania mansion, the echo of her footsteps leaving behind a heavy silence.
Vivan instinctively took a step forward to follow her, but a gentle hand on his arm stopped him.
“Vivan,” Pragya’s voice was firm but calm, “you need to take Aarvi home.”
He turned, confused. “Why?”
Pragya hesitated, her mind flashing back to his earlier anger at the mention of wedding rituals. She wanted to tell him, part of the rituals but she swallowed the words. Instead, she said softly, “Aarvi will feel good.”
Vivan looked at her for a long second, then gave a short nod.