16 | security for beauty
Avyukt : "Security badhani padegi."
Avantika : For me or for you,
Mr. Vardan? ???
_______________________________________
_________________________________________
Oh God... just one kiss.
One single kiss had completely ruined my ability to focus.
I had spent half the night sitting in my study room, replaying that moment in my head over and over again.
Not a single deal managed to hold my attention for more than a few minutes.
The next morning, I left early and personally went shopping for Avantika's reception outfit and jewelry.
I could have easily asked my secretary to arrange everything, but this time I wanted to choose them myself.
And for once, I could give them to her with my own hands.
No Ruhi.
No Mom.
Just me.
When I returned to our room carrying the bags, I found Avantika standing near the closet.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
She quickly closed the closet door and replied,
"Your shirt had lipstick on it, so I thought I'd clean it."
I immediately put the shopping bags on the bed and walked towards her.
"What?"
I took the shirt from her hands.
"Did you clean it already?"
She looked surprised.
"No. I was just about to."
I carefully folded the shirt and placed it back inside the closet.
"No need."
Her brows furrowed in confusion.
"Why? Why would you keep a stained shirt?"
I looked at her.
"Do you think I'm short of white shirts? I don't want this one cleaned."
She stared at me as if I had lost my mind.
How was I supposed to explain that this shirt had become important to me because of that lipstick mark?
Without understanding my point, she pouted and crossed her arms.
"Fine. Do whatever you want."
"Come on, Avani—"
The moment I called her that, she got annoyed again.
I sighed dramatically.
"You really are a little kid. I should've married an older woman."
She had almost reached the door when she froze.
Slowly turning around, she looked at me.
"What did you just say?"
Oh no, I had spoken without thinking.
Now what?
"Aree nahi... main... main... toh bas..."
("O-oh... n-nothing. I mean... I was just...")
She narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger at me.
"Aapko toh main baad mein dekhti hoon."
("I'll deal with you later.")
Then she stormed out of the room.
The second she disappeared downstairs, I dropped onto the floor and held my head.
Managing Vardan Group was easier than breathing.
But managing Mrs. Avyukt Vardan?
Absolutely impossible.
----
_________________________________________
He is impossible.
One moment he says something sweet, and the next moment he says something that makes me want to throw a pillow at him.
I had decided that I wasn't going to talk to him anymore.
Still grumbling to myself, I walked downstairs.
The first thing I noticed was a little girl running around the living room, laughing and playing. Then my eyes landed on a woman sitting on the couch.
She was short, fair-skinned, and had a bright smile on her face. Pretty too.
The moment I entered the living room, she stood up and offered her hand.
"Hi, Avantika?" she asked with a smile. "Wow... you're so young."
I forced a smile and shook her hand.
"Yeah. And you are?"
She pulled her hand back.
"Anna."
Anna?
That was a unique name.
And what exactly did she mean by young? Had both of these friends lost their minds?
I sat down on the couch.
"I'm only young loo-"
Before I could finish, Avyukt walked into the room.
To my horror, Anna jumped up and hugged him.
A proper hug.
I stared.
Seriously?
People can stay a little calm after getting married, can't they?
"Oh God, Avyukt!" Anna laughed. "It's been so long. You're still as handsome as ever."
"Oh, thank you," he replied with a smile.
Wonderful.
Now I wanted to strangle both of them.
Then Anna looked at me.
"Wow, Avantika. You hit the jackpot. My luck is terrible. I'm getting divorced after having a daughter."
My curiosity won.
"Why are you getting divorced?"
As Anna could answer, Avyukt spoke.
"Because it's better than staying with a toxic man. After the divorce, you'll finally be able to focus on your career."
I nodded dramatically.
"Right. Divorce is definitely the best option."
Then I stood up.
"Wait here. I'll make tea."
Avyukt immediately understood what I was trying to imply.
He raised an eyebrow.
"That's fine. But that option isn't available for you."
I rolled my eyes and walked toward the kitchen.
"Yeah, yeah. Keep dreaming."
Behind me, I heard Anna laughing while Mom started talking to her.
-------------
At breakfast, everyone was gathered around the dining table.
Ruhi and Siya had gone shopping early in the morning and still hadn't returned.
Dad looked at me.
"Avantika, your reception outfit is ready, right?"
Before I could answer, Avyukt replied.
"Yes."
I completely ignored him and continued typing on my phone, messaging Ruhi.
Mom sighed.
"And those two girls still aren't back."
Anna smiled and looked at me.
"So what are you wearing tonight?"
I was still busy on my phone.
Avyukt glanced at me.
Anna looked between us awkwardly.
Then suddenly her daughter shouted,
"Didi is talking to her boyfriend!"
The entire table went silent.
Everyone looked at me.
Avyukt was sitting beside me. Instead of looking at my phone, he slowly turned toward me and raised an eyebrow.
Anna immediately tried to stop her daughter.
"No, no, sweetheart-"
But the little girl continued confidently.
"I saw it! Didi wrote 'I miss you'!"
Mom and Dad started laughing.
"Her husband is sitting right next to her, beta," Dad said. "Who would she miss?"
Anna looked completely embarrassed and pulled her daughter into her lap.
Meanwhile, Avyukt leaned back in his chair and gave me a playful look.
"Oh? Is that so?"
I lowered my voice and replied proudly,
"Yes. I found a rich guy my own age."
For a second, Avyukt almost choked.
"Really?"
"Really."
I quickly hid my phone and continued typing my message.
The annoyed look on his face made me feel way more satisfied than it should have.
"Don't worry wifey. "
"I will take care of you after the reception."
------------
I was standing in front of the mirror, giving myself one last look before the reception, when Avyukt walked into the room.
In that brief pause, he just stood there.
Looking at me.
His eyes stayed on me long enough to make my heart skip a beat.
Then he quietly sat down on the edge of the bed.
"I think we'll need extra security at the reception today."
I turned toward him.
"Why?"
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Because my wife looks too beautiful."
My cheeks instantly warmed.
To hide my blush, I quickly turned around and started walking toward the door.
But then Anna's words from earlier suddenly came back to me.
Half the girls in college used to chase Avyukt.
I glanced at him.
Honestly, I felt like he was the one who needed security.
The man was standing there looking unfairly handsome in his perfectly fitted three-piece suit.
If someone stayed this well-dressed all the time, of course girls would look at him.
And if I caught him talking to someone a little too much tonight...
I would deal with him later.
Not that I cared.
At all.
Absolutely not.
Just as I reached the door, his voice came from behind me.
"Are you planning to leave without me?"
I turned and gave him an annoyed look.
"I'm thinking about it."
Before I could take another step, he caught my hand and gently pulled me toward his side.
"You'll have to go with me," he said with a smile, keeping my hand in his.
I looked away immediately, pretending to be annoyed.
The truth was, I wasn't going anywhere alone anyway.
But hearing him say it first somehow felt much better.