35 | flashback
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Wedding Day Flashback -
Avyukt was sitting inside the car, staring at his phone.
A photo from Ruhi kept flashing on the screen... wedding venue decorations... guests... lights... everything ready.
But his mind wasn't calm.
Something felt wrong.
---
The moment the car stopped in front of the venue, he stepped out.
The whole place was decorated beautifully-flowers, golden lights, music, guests preparing for the wedding rituals...
But Avyukt didn't see any of it.
His eyes were sharp.
Focused.
Burning with something he himself didn't want to feel.
Without wasting a second, he walked straight inside.
---
He pushed open Abhimanyu's room door.
And froze for half a second.
Abhimanyu was inside with his girlfriend.
Laughing.
Relaxed.
Like today meant nothing.
Like someone else's life wasn't about to be destroyed.
---
Something inside Avyukt snapped.
In one move, he grabbed Abhimanyu's collar and slammed him against the wall.
The impact echoed through the room.
---
"What do you even want?" Avyukt's voice was low but dangerous.
"How dare you do this when you know I've loved Avantika since I was eight years old?"
His grip tightened.
"Why are you doing this? Tell me!"
---
Abhimanyu didn't look scared at all.
Instead... he laughed.
Coldly.
"You don't know why I'm doing this?"
He tilted his head.
"You took everything from me."
"My company... my parents' attention... even their love."
His eyes darkened.
"Now I'm just taking your happiness."
---
Avyukt's jaw clenched harder.
"You're disgusting. You know how much I love her."
He pulled him closer again.
"You're using her like a weapon."
---
Before things could escalate further-
the door suddenly opened.
Ruhi rushed inside.
"Abhimanyu bhaiya! Stop this! He is your elder brother!"
---
Abhimanyu scoffed.
"Brother? Since when do I care about that?"
---
Avyukt's grip tightened again.
"You're ruining her life for ego!"
---
And then-
the door opened again.
Renuka stood there.
She saw everything.
And without even asking, she walked forward-
SLAP.
The sound echoed sharply.
Silence fell instantly.
---
"I never thought I would raise a son like you!" her voice trembled with anger.
"You are destroying a girl's life just because of your ego!"
---
The father followed behind her, already hearing everything.
His expression hardened.
"Avantika is like my daughter."
"This marriage will not happen."
---
Renuka shook her head, panicked.
"We thought he would change after marriage... but this is not change... this is obsession!"
---
Abhimanyu suddenly shouted,
"I LOVE HER! I've loved her since she was four years old!"
His voice cracked.
"You can't take her away from me!"
---
But no one listened anymore.
The decision was already made.
---
The father spoke firmly.
"Cancel the wedding."
"Abhimanyu will not marry her."
---
The room went silent for a moment.
Then another decision came immediately-
Abhimanyu was to be sent abroad.
No discussions.
No delays.
No more chances.
---
He kept shouting.
Fighting.
Breaking down.
But everything around him had already moved on without him.
---
And outside the venue...
the wedding that was supposed to begin...
quietly started falling apart before it even could begin.
-----
The room was still heavy with silence after Abhimanyu was taken away.
Everyone thought it was finally over.
But then-
Renuka suddenly spoke.
Her voice was shaky... filled with guilt.
"The wedding will happen... but not with Abhimanyu."
Everyone turned toward her.
She looked at Avyukt.
"It will be Avyukt."
---
A wave of shock filled the room.
She stepped forward, eyes full of regret.
"I made a mistake..."
"Whenever Abhimanyu used to send gifts to Avantika, or whenever I used to meet her and he asked about her... I thought he liked her."
Her voice cracked.
"I had no idea everything was actually from Avyukt..."
She looked at him helplessly.
"It was Avyukt who always cared for her... who always stayed connected through me..."
---
Avyukt stood frozen.
Renuka continued, her eyes wet now.
"And I was about to destroy a 22-year-old girl's life..."
"She wasn't even ready for marriage..."
Her head shook in guilt.
---
A heavy silence fell again.
Then Avyukt's father took a deep breath.
"I will call my friend."
He paused.
"And tell him Abhimanyu ran away... and the wedding will happen with my elder son instead."
---
Avyukt didn't react immediately.
He just stood there.
Silent.
Conflicted.
---
Because deep inside...
he wanted Avantika.
But not like this.
Not as a replacement.
Not through confusion or forced decisions.
---
His fists tightened slightly.
His eyes lowered.
For the first time that day...
Avyukt Vardhan didn't look powerful.
He looked human.
Guilty.
---
And somewhere in the next room...
Avantika had no idea that her entire life decision was changing again...
without anyone even asking her.
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??
The wedding changed in a moment.
But one question still remains-
What does Avantika want?
"""" Now we have answer - ....