10.
As the car stopped, the media surrounded them. Reyansh got out of the car and went to her side. He opened the gate and held his hand for her like a true gentleman. But only they know that it is just for the show.
She held his hand and came out. He felt her hand shaking so he squeezed her hand as a sense of reassurance. They looked at eachother and Reyansh nodded to her and she gave him a smile.
They went inside hand in hand and the media captured all their interaction. As they went they saw Avni first who was talking with some relatives. But after seeing them she excused herself and came to them.
"You look gorgeous beta, Evil eyes off” She placed a hand on her head.
"Thank you maa" Reyansh had a strange urge to compliment her, tell her that she was looking enchanting from the time he had seen her but he is controlling himself.
Arya’s family came and they both met them and Arya had talked with them for some time. Arohi and Aryan were still not there.
All the time Reyansh had his hand placed on her back. Which was giving her some sense of relaxation.
'Is it because I somewhat feel safe with him?' She thought.
And it was time for going on the stage. As they were downstage they were mingled between people all minding their own business. But As they went on stage all faces turned towards them.
For Reyansh being the center of attention was normal but for Arya it was not. It was her fear. Perks of being an under confident girl.
Her eyes were down and her mind was busy. When Reyansh's hand slipped to her waist she came out of her thoughts and looked up only to freeze at her spot.
There were too many guests, the place was crowded, everyone was staring at her. She felt like she Had been exposed, everyone could see through her. Panic filled her body. She felt her body getting colder.
'No please I can't afford a panic attack now, everyone is here, Reyansh is here please no’ she thought.
Everyone was looking at her. There were so many people, tears welled up in her eyes due to panic and she felt Reyansh tightening his hold on her waist.
“Arya relax I am here” She heard him and looked at him. She took a deep breath and nodded.
Relax Arya.
"Thank you everyone for joining me. You already know that I got married to the person I was fated with" he paused and looked at her.
"Now, I would like to introduce y'all to my wife Mrs. Arya Shekhawat" He called her name and sweat forms in her hands and her heartbeats as if it's gonna come out right now.
She feels like running away after looking at the people flashing their camera lights on her. Everyone's eyes are on her. She saw Aryan and Arohi coming through the crowd and standing beside Vihaan and Reva. They gave her an encouraging nod.
Relax Arya, you can do this.
She took the mike from him. “Hello I am Arya shekhawat. Thank You Everyone for joining us on our special day” As she said they started to throw questions at them.
“Mrs Shekhawat, it was a really sudden marriage. Do you guys know each other before?”
“Mrs shekhawat Are you both in love with each other?”
“How do you meet?” And so on. She looked at Reyansh who came to help her and answered all the questions with the story they had made.
And the story is, They met some time ago through a family gathering as their families are good friends and they clicked together and love bloomed and now here they are bound in a healthy relationship.
What a perfect lie.
“Reyansh sir,” A reporter asked. “We heard you were dating a girl named Ritika.” Everyone became silent. It was unexpected and Reyansh didn’t have an answer to that. And seeing this another Question was thrown.
“We heard you both are forced in this marriage. Is it true or what you are saying is true”
Arya looked at him, her mind still playing the previous question.
‘He had a girlfriend. He loved her, that's why he was against this marriage? That’s why he can’t love me?’ Reyansh’s voice cut her through her thoughts.
“As I said I married a person I was fated with. We both love eachother and now here we are. I will not listen to a word against this. All the news which you heard is a lie and what I am saying is true. If you believe it then it's good for you and if you don’t,.....” Everyone understood the hidden meaning behind those words.
“You are my guest here So please enjoy yourself” He forced a smile. Taking Arya’s hand they both left the stage and went towards their family.
Everyone was tense; they tried not to show it but failed miserably. They just wanted this to end as soon as possible. They continued the function and no one said a word about what happened. But it didn’t mean that they forgot it.
She excused herself and went to the washroom. Closing the door behind her she went to the washbasin and looked at herself in the mirror.
She was hurt but she had no right to say it aloud when she herself signed for it. She knows what she was getting herself into when she said yes for marriage. She should have known that he may be in love with someone else. That's why he is not ready for this marriage but she ignored it.
She almost had a breakdown in the washroom. It was difficult for her to keep a smile on her face and walk around pretending as if everything was fine. When it was not. She stored this hurt in the deep corner of her heart and walked back like nothing happened.
She got introduced to a few people. Some were Reyansh’s business partners, some were relatives. She was thankful that Reyansh was talking most of the time and she was giving occasional nods and smiles.
Reyansh was still talking with them about some business stuff when Vihaan and Arohi came and took Arya with them.
“I missed you babes” Arohi hugged Arya. “I missed you too babes”
“Oh My dear lady I am you only babe” Vihaan said to Arohi. Arya giggled at them. Arav and Aryan also joined them. She talked with them for some time as previous tension slowly faded. They made sure that Arya was happy.