Aakriti's POV

I am studying the files to analyze why this branch faces a loss. I am here in Rajasthan to solve this issue and sign a few deals. I am stressed and happy at the same time. I am stressed because of this issue in this branch and happy because I am away from my so-called family. Never mind. Focus now. Something is wrong with the accounts, but what? I need to solve it as soon as possible. There was a knock on the door distracting me from my thoughts. I asked the person to come in. It was my assistant Maya.

"Maam." Maya said. She looked nervous.

"Yes, Maya. What happened?" I asked her and looked back at the file.

"Maam. You need to attend a wedding today of Mr. Bansal's daughter." She said fidgeting with her fingers.

"You know. I don't have time to waste on all this stupid stuff. Just send a bouquet and apologize. Come up with an excuse that some emergency came and, no matter how hard I tried I still couldn't make it."  I said with a bore expression.

There are so many times, we have to attend such events to maintain a good bond between our business partner and investors. But I never attend weddings that irks me to a great extend. Especially all those stupid aunties who try to behave like shaadi.com.

"Maam, they are very important investors and have specially requested you to be present for their daughter's wedding as they want to know you more before investing in our company. We can't take the risk of upsetting them, or they might withdraw the investment from our next project." She said in a soft voice.

Great! Now, I only don't have to attend a stupid wedding but also act all goody to impress someone. Ugh!

"Huh! Why the hell is everyone getting married all of the sudden?" I said in frustration. I heard Maya suppressing her laugh. I glared at her, so she stopped laughing.

"Leave the card here. I will attend the wedding. Go and do some work." I said firmly. She left my cabin.

I got a call from Dadu. I know what he wants to talk but why he is not trying to understand that I am not ready to get married now. I am content with how my life is going on. I have no intentions to add more complications to my life.

I don't want to pick the call but if I won't answer his call, he would come here today itself haunting me. Somebody save me.

"Hello, Dadu. How are you?" I said with an extra sweet voice. I do sound creepy when I pretend to be sweet. Eww.

"I am fine. what took you so long to pick up the call?"

"Sorry, dadu. I was working on an important project. You know how I am right? I just forget everything when I am working."

"Ok. I think it's high time. You should get married. Even Rajveer got married and Aarav is getting married next month." I knew that I was only going to get spared till one month but Rajveer's sudden marriage is now going to create havoc in my life. Think something Aaku use your brain. Get out of this stupid situation.

"Dadu, I need time because I am not ready." I said in a low voice.

"No. You are going to turn 27 soon. It's the right time for you to get married. I don't even know if I will stay alive or not this year. I want to see you happy with your family. I have selected a nice groom for you. He is my friend's grandson. He is very smart and talented. You both will make a perfect pair." He said. Somebody tell him that I am very happy. My happiness doesn't depend on my marriage. I don't need somebody in my life.

"But."

"No. You have to meet him. If you are in love with anybody tell me, otherwise you need to meet him and that's final." He said and cut the call. What the!

" MARRIAGE. MARRIAGE.MARRIAGE. I am just sick of this word." I yelled in frustration. Can't I have a choice of my own? I merely want to get rid of this matter. Now I have to meet a stupid donkey and convince him to reject me. Great. Only this was left to be done in my life. I will handle this matter later, first let me solve this issue. I again started reading the accounts carefully.

"Something is fishy. The accounts seem to be perfect but there is something that I think I am missing." My thoughts were, again and again, wandering on the boy. Who is he? How will I be able to convince him to say no to this wedding? I hope he has flaws and very bad habits that will make my work easy.

"Aaku concentrate. You need to find the fault and about that stupid boy let's not think about him now." I said calming myself I called Maya and ask her to get me a black coffee.

After a few minutes, she came with the coffee. I drank it and again started looking at the files. I was finally able to find the mistake. I need to find solid proof. Somebody is doing fraud in my company. Who the hell got so many guts to mess with me? I will ruin this person's entire career. Just wait and watch. I was fuming in anger. Suddenly I received a call. I looked at the caller id, my anger reduced to some extend. I quickly picked up the call.

"Hello!" I said in a dull voice.

"Is everything ok? You sound dull." She said with concern.

"Dadu wants me to get married. He has also selected a boy. He wants me to meet him." I said, and I know I am pouting at this moment.

"So. Just go and meet him." She said calmly. 

 "You know right. I don't want to get married to anyone"

"Why?"

"You are seriously asking why. Don't you know the answer? You think after seeing you suffering after getting married to that hopeless fellow. I want to add any complications to my life. No Thanks."

"Marriage is not a bad thing like the way you make it sound. Why don't you just go and meet that guy? Maybe he turns out to be the perfect guy for you. Don't spoil your life because of my mistakes."

"Stop. Don't irritate me more." I said. I was getting frustrated.

"Ok. No need to get angry. Don't just make a decision based on my experience. Everybody doesn't suffer. Somebody....." She started her speech again.

"Bye." I said and cut the call.

I don't understand why everybody wants to get me married. This matter needs to be solved. I don't want to get married to anyone. Even business-related issues have never disturbed me so much. I need to find the culprit. How dare he/she try to fool me? Whoever is involved in this fraud needs to pay for it. My head started aching very badly. When this migraine issue will stop? My half-life is ruined because of this stupid issue. It pops up anytime. I called Maya and asked her to come into my cabin

"Maya send my dress to my hotel room and listen even you are going to come with me. So be ready on time. I am done for today Right?" I asked her and she nodded.

"I will leave now. I am not feeling well." I said.

"Ok, mam." I came out of the office and sat in my car and asked the driver to drop me at my hotel. I sat and started massaging my head. I reached my hotel room and decided to rest for a while.

I started getting ready for the night. It is so annoying to waste so much amount of time getting ready for an event that I don't even want to attend. I wish I would look like all those flawless beautiful female lead who doesn't require makeup as mentioned in those romance novel. I can't even imagine going out without makeup. I don't have any scars or marks on my face but with my dark circles, I look like a sleep-deprived depressed person.

There was a knock on my door. I opened the door, and there stood Maya looking gorgeous and smiling brightly.

"Mam, you are looking gorgeous." She said genuinely. She looked excited to attend this wedding. I can feel her excitement. She is excited because she is not in my place where she has to avoid coming to anyone's notice. 

"Even you are looking gorgeous today." I said. She was looking at me with wide eyes and an open mouth. I guess I have never complimented her before. So she was not expecting me to do it today either. I shouldn't have complimented her but I said it without any consciousness. I have always acted mean and arrogant in front of everyone and if I act nice they get shocked. It stops people from poking their noses into my business.

"Let's go. The sooner this ends, saner I will remain." I said and took my clutch and closed the door.We reached the venue. We both were awestruck by the decoration. I have attended many high-profile weddings, but this was like the definition of extravagant. My goodness, everything was just screaming richness. I don't understand why people spend so much on weddings but then who are we to say anything.

I went and greeted Mr. Bansal who was having a formal conversation with a few people whom I failed to recognize. He looked very pleased when he saw me. After conversing for a few minutes, the conversation got a bit personal where he started talking about his family, and I was talking about mine. Everybody said that Mr. Bansal was an orthodox person one of the main reasons why I was wary about working with him. But as we talked I realized he was just a person who believed in traditions and held to them strongly. He never mocked me for once about getting settled or finding a partner to fulfill my life. He said that I was just like his daughter ambitious and passionate about my work. I am not like somebody who would get flattered by getting compliments, but I know for sure that my face showed that I was pleased with his compliments. He excused himself and went to greet other guests.

I was searching for Maya. Where did she go now? I was searching for her and, my eyes met with Pooja aunty. Oh My God! What the hell is she doing here? She is coming towards me. God, you love to punish me. I am in a fine mood and, I can't let her ruin it. I can't listen to her rant about how awesome her son is or how my life will turn to be blissful if I decide to be her daughter-in-law. Somebody save me. Please. 

I turned around and started moving away from her. I was moving forward and turning back, again and again, to check if she was still following me. Hush! She was not following me. I turned again and looked in the front and before I could realize anything. I dashed with the person in front of me. I was about to lose my balance and fall backward. I saw a slightly panicked expression on the face of the person standing in front of me.

 I closed my eyes and was waiting to be hit by the ground when I felt someone's hands around my waist stopping me from landing on the floor. I slowly opened my eyes and saw the person with who I dash staring at me with so much intensity as if he was looking into my soul. I don't know why, but I shivered when he pulled me towards him making me stand properly but, he was still holding my waist. 

He moved his fingers on my waist in circles. I shivered again. I have never allowed anybody to touch me so intimately. I can feel his breath on my cheek. I was feeling tingling sensations in my stomach. I looked at him and, he had a small teasing smile playing on his face. He was very handsome and, for some reason, I found him extremely concerned over me. 

I looked into his eyes and stood there frozen. As if his eyes were hypnotizing me. I wanted to push him away from me but, my hands were not ready to move. My brain was not willing to think anything else. It was just telling me to look at this handsome man who has held me in his arm.

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