✧

शुरू में जो थी ज़बरदस्ती,
धीरे-धीरे प्यार बन गई, 
जब दिलों ने एक-दूसरे को समझा,
तो ये कहानी ख़ास बन गई। 
✧

Author Pov

Avantika's heart sank as her father's stern voice pierced through the air. She knew what was coming next, the inevitable confrontation she had been dreading for weeks.

Samarth's innocent call from downstairs was the harbinger of her father's summons, a summons she couldn't ignore.

Reluctantly, she left her books scattered on the study table and made her way downstairs. The anticipation weighed heavily on her chest as she descended, her mind racing with a mix of fear and defiance.

As she entered the living room, she noticed the solemn atmosphere.

Everyone was seated, their eyes fixed on her father, who sat at the head of the room with a stern expression. Samarth was nowhere to be seen, adding to the tension that hung thick in the air.

Her father's gaze bore into her as she approached, his voice commanding.

"You called me?" she asked, trying to mask her unease with a semblance of composure.

Her father wasted no time in delivering the news, his tone devoid of any warmth or consideration.

"Tomorrow, the groom's side is coming to see you. Be ready, aur Na kehne ke sochiye ga bhi mat ," he ordered, his words cutting through her like a knife.

Avantika felt a surge of frustration and anger rising within her, but she held her ground, refusing to let her emotions betray her.

"I will not," she declared, her voice steady despite the turmoil brewing inside her.

But her defiance was met with a sharp rebuke from her mother, her voice laced with disappointment.

"Chup Karo, Avantika," she admonished, her words stinging with reproach.

Avantika couldn't hold back any longer, her pent-up emotions spilling out in a torrent of words.

"Main kyu chup Karu, maa? You guys are talking about my wedding, kya mere shaadi ke liye mujhe haq nhi kuch bolne ka!!?" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion.

Her father's response was swift and uncompromising. "Nhi!" he retorted, his tone final and decisive.

The weight of her father's rejection hit Avantika like a sledgehammer, leaving her reeling with disbelief and hurt.

"Dadaji's health is so critical, and you guys are thinking about my marriage without even considering me??" she cried out, her voice breaking with anguish.

"Mai yai shaadi nhi karungi, na he kisi se kal milungi bas."

But her words fell on deaf ears, her father unmoved by her pleas. "Apne kabhi mere feelings ke baare mai nhi samjha," she accused, her voice choked with emotion.

"You didn't even consider me as your child, why now? Suddenly you want me to get married?"

The room was filled with tension, each word hanging in the air like a heavy fog.

Avantika's uncle, Pratham, tried to intervene, his voice tinged with concern. "Don't cross your limits, Avantika," he urged, his tone pleading for calm.

But Avantika had reached her breaking point, her frustration boiling over into defiance. "I will not," she declared, her voice trembling with defiance. "And that's it."

Before she could turn and leave, her father's hand lashed out, his palm connecting with her cheek in a resounding slap.

The pain was searing, both physical and emotional, as she recoiled from the force of the blow.

Tears welled up in Avantika's eyes as she staggered backward, the sting of her father's betrayal burning like a branding iron on her skin.

But even as she stumbled, she refused to back down, her resolve stronger than ever.

"I will not," she repeated, her voice trembling with emotion. "You cannot force me into this marriage."

But her defiance only seemed to fuel her father's anger, his face contorted with rage as he advanced towards her once more. "You will do as you are told".He spat, his voice dripping with venom. "Or face the consequences."

But Avantika refused to back down, her spirit unbroken despite the fear gnawing at her heart. "No means NO!,"

she insisted, her voice ringing with determination. "I refuse to be a pawn in your game."

And with that, she turned on her heel and fled, her heart pounding in her chest as she raced towards the safety of her room.

But even as she sought refuge in the solitude of her sanctuary, she knew that the battle was far from over.

For as long as she remained under her father's roof, she would continue to fight for her right to choose her own destiny.

As Avantika dashed up the stairs, her aunt's piercing taunts cut through the air like shards of glass, each word laced with venomous disapproval.

"Arey, look at her! Running away like a coward," her aunt Meenakshi voice spat out, dripping with malice.

"She'll never amount to anything, always defying her parents. Humesha ka iska yahi natak hai Bhaiya.. Meri bachiyo ko dekho mjal hai kbhi hume mna kr de.

The hurtful words struck Avantika like a physical blow, causing her to stumble for a moment as tears welled up in her eyes.

She turned back to face her aunt, her gaze dark and fiery with a mixture of pain and anger.

"How dare you," Avantika whispered hoarsely, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "You have no right to judge me, to mock my decisions."

But Meenakshi only sneered in response, her eyes alight with cruel satisfaction.

"Oh, look at you, pretending to be strong," she jeered, her voice dripping with contempt.

"But we all know the truth, don't we? You're nothing but a disappointment."

The words struck Avantika like a dagger to the heart, leaving her feeling raw and exposed.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, blurring her vision as she struggled to maintain her composure in the face of such cruelty.

But even as her aunt continued to hurl insults at her, Avantika refused to let her see the extent of her pain.

With a final glare, she turned away and continued her ascent up the stairs, her heart heavy with the weight of her aunt's words.

In that moment, all she could do was cling to the hope that one day, she would prove her wrong, that she would rise above the hurtful taunts and forge her own path to happiness and fulfillment.

Avantika stumbled into her dimly lit bedroom, the weight of her world pressing down on her shoulders.

The sterile smell of hospital-grade disinfectant lingered in the air, a constant reminder of her battle with anxiety and panick attacks.

Her trembling hands fumbled through the drawers, desperately searching for the familiar vial of life-saving medication. But tonight, fate had dealt her a cruel blow-the stock had run dry.

Her heart raced as memories of past taunts and criticisms flooded her mind like a relentless storm.

The harsh words of her family members echoed in her ears, each syllable piercing her like a dagger. "You're unworthy," they'd sneered.

"Why don't you understand?" Their voices merged into a cacophony of disapproval, suffocating her with their suffocating expectations.

"You are going to marry him, Avantika," her father's voice thundered, his disappointment palpable.

Her mother's gentle yet firm tone added to the chorus of condemnation, while her aunt and uncle's whispers of doubt seeped into her very being, poisoning her self-worth.

Panic clawed at her chest, constricting her airways as she struggled to breathe. The walls of her room seemed to close in, suffocating her with their suffocating darkness.

Blackness enveloped her vision, blurring the edges of reality until all she could see was an abyss of despair.

With a final, desperate gasp, Avantika collapsed to the ground, her body convulsing with silent sobs. Every fiber of her being screamed for release from the relentless torment, but there was no escape.

She was trapped in a prison of her own making, suffocating beneath the weight of her family's expectations.

In that moment of utter despair, Avantika realized that she was fighting a battle not just against her illness, but against the expectations and judgments of those she loved.

And as darkness claimed her, she prayed for the strength to rise once more, to defy the voices that sought to hold her back, and to reclaim her own sense of worth and purpose in a world that seemed determined to crush her spirit.

Next Day

The morning light filtered through the curtains as Avantika's mother observed her daughter's stoic expression.

Her heart ached at the sight. "Avantika, beta, please try to understand," she pleaded softly, her voice tinged with a mix of sadness and frustration.

Avantika's eyes bore into her mother's, a coldness creeping into her tone.

"Maa, aaplog mere sath aisa kyu kar rahe hain? What have I done to you guys?"

Her voice trembled with hurt and confusion, her emotions raw and exposed.

Her mother, unable to meet her gaze, remained silent. The weight of her own pain was evident as she left the room, leaving the clothes behind as a silent directive.

Avantika glanced at the outfit laid out on her bed, her heart heavy with resignation as she reluctantly prepared herself for the occasion.

Time passed, and soon Avantika found herself surrounded by unfamiliar faces, their smiles a stark contrast to her own impassive countenance.

As she took her place beside her mother, the weight of expectation settled heavily upon her shoulders.

"Go and sit beside her," her mother murmured, her voice barely audible above the din of the room.

She gestured towards a vacant spot next to a woman who exuded warmth and kindness.

Hesitantly, Avantika settled into the seat. The woman reached out, her touch gentle yet firm as she tilted Avantika's chin upwards, her eyes searching for something within her.

Avantika braced herself for the inevitable judgment, her insecurities rising to the surface as she awaited the woman's assessment.

She wore a full-sleeved suit to hide the scars on her wrist. Everyone in her family knew about her self-harm, but no one ever asked her about it.

She had tried many times to control her habit, but it always seemed futile when her own family treated her like she didn't matter.

But instead of criticism, she heard words that caught her off guard, words that pierced through her defenses and touched her wounded soul.

"Haaye kitni pyari bchi hai," the woman said, her sincerity evident in her gaze as she regarded Avantika with genuine admiration.

Avantika's heart skipped a beat, her disbelief warring with a flicker of hope as she struggled to process the unexpected compliment.

"Thank you," she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability as she dared to believe, if only for a moment, that perhaps there was more to her than the scars that marred her skin.

Avantika's father, Mr. Manoj, looked around the room, his gaze settling on Avyansh. "Where is Avyansh?" he asked, concern and anticipation evident in his voice.

"He's just coming outside, talking on the phone," Pakhi replied, glancing towards the door.

Just then, Avyansh entered the room, his presence commanding attention. All eyes turned towards him, and Maanyata exclaimed, "There he is!"

Avyansh, tall and handsome, exuded a positive energy that filled the room. He greeted everyone warmly, his eyes briefly meeting Avantika's before he took a seat beside his father.

As they engaged in conversation, Anjali spoke up, "Ab bacho ko bhi ek dusre se baat kar lena chahiye." Viransha, Avantika's mother, nodded in agreement. With an extra sweet but fake tone, she turned to Avantika and said, "Beta, why don't you go to your room and talk with Avyansh?"

Avantika hesitated for a moment, her heart racing with uncertainty. She glanced at Avyansh.Gathering her courage, she nodded silently and made her way to her room, hoping for a chance to connect with Avyansh away from the prying eyes and expectations of her family.

In Avantika's room, Avyansh's eyes roamed around, taking in the sight of a room unlike any other girl's. Instead of bright colors and girlish decorations, it was adorned with books, a guitar, and other items that spoke of Avantika's unique interests. When his gaze finally met hers, Avantika took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she had to say.

"Mujhe aapse shaadi nahi karni," she said, her voice steady but tinged with a hint of desperation.

Avyansh raised an eyebrow, silently urging her to explain further. "Can you please reject me?" she pleaded, her words laced with a mix of vulnerability and uncertainty.

But instead of acquiescing to her request, Avyansh remained calm and composed. "No," he replied simply, his voice resonating with a quiet strength.

Avantika felt a surge of frustration rise within her as she searched for reasons to dissuade him. "My behavior is not good. I'm not even beautiful," she confessed, her self-doubt spilling out into the open.

Avyansh regarded her with a mysterious intensity, his gaze unwavering as he considered her words. "You have a boyfriend?" he inquired, his question catching her off guard.

Shaking her head, Avantika confirmed that she did not.

"Then why do you want me to reject you?" Avyansh asked, his voice deep.

"I... I kick in my sleep," she blurted out, closing her eyes in embarrassment.

But Avyansh's response was unexpected. "I can dodge," he replied with a hint of humor, causing Avantika to open her eyes and frown.

"I snore sometimes," she confessed, her admission met with a reassuring nod from Avyansh.

"I can hear music," Avyansh replied, showing he didn't mind.

"My mood swings are unacceptable," she confessed, her voice tinged with regret.

"My tolerance is good," he replied, folding his hands and looking at her.

"I... I don't like eating," she said hesitantly.

"I love eating," Avyansh replied with a smile.

"I spend a fortune," she said, waiting for him to finally reject her, but her attempt was in vain.

"I earn a fortune," Avyansh replied casually.

She sighed, feeling a mix of emotions. "Aap mujhe reject kyu nahi kar rahe?" Avantika asked softly.

"My grandmother likes you," Avyansh said simply. "And she asked me to make you my wife. That's it."

Avantika felt something stir in her heart, unsure if it was hurt that he was choosing her out of obligation to his grandmother or perhaps something else, a glimmer of hope that maybe there was more to his decision than met the eye.

Samarth peeked through the door, breaking their trance. "Di? Sab aapko bula rahe hai," he said, glancing at Avyansh. Avantika quickly left, and as Avyansh was about to follow, Samarth spoke up.

"The marriage is confirmed. I hope you will not hurt her in the future, otherwise I will not hesitate to break your legs." His tone was serious, his eyes reflecting a protective concern for his sister.

Avyansh regarded Samarth quietly, assessing the younger man's resolve. In comparison to Avyansh, who was strong, assertive, and seasoned, Samarth appeared more youthful and less experienced. He was clearly his sister's boy, caring deeply for her welfare but lacking the physical stature and perhaps the life experience to match Avyansh's presence.

Avyansh nodded solemnly, acknowledging Samarth's warning without a hint of fear. "I understand,"
he replied calmly, his voice carrying a weight of assurance that seemed to reassure Samarth, even in his moment of protective fervor.

Samarth hesitated for a moment, then nodded back, satisfied with Avyansh's response. "Good," he said firmly, before adding with a hint of uncertainty, "Just take care of Di."

Avyansh gave a reassuring smile. "I will," he promised, his gaze unwavering and determined.

As Samarth left the room, Avyansh stood alone for a moment, reflecting on the responsibility he was about to undertake.

He knew Avantika was not just marrying him; she was trusting him with her brother's hopes and fears, and with her own heart. It was a weight he was prepared to carry, knowing that his strength and resolve would be tested in ways beyond mere physical challenges.

Turning to leave, Avyansh's mind was made up. He would protect Avantika with all he had, not just from external threats, but from any doubts or fears that might cloud their future together.

As Maanyata watched Avyansh and Avantika descend the stairs, she subtly signaled him with her eyes, and he nodded in acknowledgment.

Maanyata's smile softened as she said, "I think we should decide soon about their marriage, if Avantika doesn't mind." Her gaze was warm as she looked at Avantika.

Avantika appeared lost in her thoughts, her mind clearly elsewhere. Before she could respond, her Manoj spoke up proudly, "Ji ji, she has already said yes."

Just then, Avyansh's phone rang, interrupting the moment. He excused himself hastily, citing urgent office work, and left them to discuss the matter among themselves.

"Toh hum kuch he dino mein pandit ji se muhurat nikalwa kar... engagement ki date fix kar dete hain," Anjali suggested optimistically. Everyone nodded in agreement, eager to move forward with the plans.

"Beta," Meenakshi interjected extra sweetly, "If you are feeling tired you can go back to your room we all will decide ok and inform you".

Avantika glanced at her chachi, knowing well her facade of sweetness in front of others, contrasting sharply with her true nature known only to the family.

Author Pov Ended

Avantika Pov

As I returned to my room, a familiar sense of emptiness settled over me like a heavy shroud. I mechanically went through the motions of freshening up and changing into something more comfortable, trying to distract myself from the overwhelming thoughts swirling in my mind.

The silence of my room was deafening, amplifying the turmoil within me.

Just as I contemplated seeking solace on the balcony, I heard the door creak open behind me. It was Samarth.

"Dii," he said softly, his voice laden with unspoken emotions.

I acknowledged him with a quiet  "Hm.. bolo," and walked towards the balcony.

"Ice cream," he offered, extending the sweet gesture.

I accepted it gratefully and settled into my makeshift corner on the balcony, surrounded by cushions that provided a semblance of comfort in the midst of chaos.

Samarth joined me on the swing in front, his presence a comforting anchor.

I observed him quietly as I ate, sensing his inner turmoil despite his attempts to appear composed.

I raised an eyebrow, silently urging him to speak his mind.

He looked at me nervously, his words stumbling out as he began, "I went to meet Dadaji in the hospital. He was asking for you."

My heart constricted at the mention of Dadaji. I sighed heavily and met Samarth's gaze, silently asking what he had said to our grandfather.

"What did you tell him?" I asked softly, though I feared the answer.

"I told him you were busy," Samarth replied, his voice tinged with sadness.

"He didn't say anything more and fell asleep missing you, Di."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, a mixture of longing and frustration. "You know I can't meet him," I whispered, the weight of my family's restrictions heavy on my shoulders. "I'm not allowed."

Samarth's eyes filled with a mix of empathy and determination.

"Di, you can run from here. I will handle everything. If you don't want to marry that guy, just don't," he urged, his voice cracking with emotion.

I felt a surge of gratitude towards Samarth, but also a deep sense of helplessness. How could I explain to him the extent of my family's control? The threats they had made to keep me compliant, especially regarding Dadaji whom they used as a pawn in their game of marriage alliances.

"I... I can't," I murmured, my voice betraying none of the turmoil inside me. "It's not that simple."

Samarth reached out and squeezed my hand gently, his eyes reflecting his sorrow and understanding. "I'm sorry, Di," he whispered.

•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•×•

More than 3000 words

So this is the first chapter of my story! I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think-I'm eager to hear your feedback.

Stay tuned for longer and more captivating chapters ahead.

Please consider adding it to your reading list, and don't forget to vote and follow for updates! Your support means a lot.

Thanku Bye Bye ~