Happy Reading

"Dil ki baat labon tak aayi hi nahi,

Uski yaadon ne raat

kabhi sone di hi nahi.

Woh apna ban kar bhi kab apna tha,

Jisne toda dil, usne kabhi

chaha hi nahi"

Ayushmaan pov

WHO THE FVCK IS HARSH

Who just barged in like a storm? Who the hell is this guy? And how dare he suddenly show up and claim Ezra is mine? Fiancé? When the hell did he get engaged to her?

And the most important question

why the hell am I feeling so jealous and hurt right now?

Everything inside me is burning. My fists clenched the moment he said Ezra's name like he owned it. Like she belonged to him. What right does he have?

But more than anything, what's bothering me... is why it feels like someone just ripped something out of my chest. Why is the thought of her with someone else making me lose control?

This isn't just an annoyance. This is jealousy. Pure, damn jealousy.

And I hate it. Because it means I care about her more than I am supposed to

My marriage with her isn't even real. It's just a name on paper, a secret we both agreed to keep. So technically, what she does... who she meets... even this Harsh guy thing or whatever shouldn't matter to me. It's none of my business

But THAT'S THE PROBLEM

Why the hell do I care then?

Why is my blood boiling? Why do I want to rip that smug look off Harsh's face? Why does it feel like she's slipping away from me, even though she was never mine to begin with?

TOO MANY QUESTIONS YET NO ANSWERS

I was talking to my business associates along with Rakshit. Kiaan was there too, but he excused himself and went towards the kitchen. It's been quite some time now and he still hasn't returned. No idea what he's up to

We were still in conversation when my eyes instinctively drifted upwards towards the corridor. And that's when I saw her

A beautiful fairy walking down like she belonged to another world.

And in that exact moment, I forgot everything. My surroundings faded. The voices around me blurred.

I was completely lost in her

Her eyes met mine. And as she slowly descended the stairs, she didn't look away for even a second. Our eyes stayed locked.

And damn...She looked breathtaking in that lehenga. Ethereal. Like magic wrapped in elegance

It was Ezra



She looks like she walked straight out of a royal fantasy and tonight, she's nothing less than celestial

And the strange part?

The coincidence I didn't see coming?

I am wearing a shimmering kurta tonight and somehow, unintentionally our outfits are matching.

White. Glimmering. Radiant.

Like the universe had secretly planned it like we were meant to look like two halves of one whole

We didn't plan it. But we matched.

And somehow, that made it all the more magical

As soon as she stepped downstairs, Harsh appeared out of nowhere and then our eye contact broke. He started talking to her God knows what nonsense he was saying.

My blood boiled.

I swear, I wanted to punch that guy right then and there. What made it worse? My mom had convinced him to stay tonight for the Puja. Why? Because apparently, Ezra's mom and my mom are childhood best friends

Yeah. That's also how Ezra and I have known each other since childhood or I can say I know her since the day she wasn't even born, when she was in her mother's womb

They used to live in India. But ten years ago, Ezra's dad got a job in London, and they shifted there

I remember hating it back then. I didn't like when she left and I couldn't do anything to make her stay. Because even though we fought constantly as kids, we were always... there for each other. Even now, we still bicker. We argue. We challenge each other. But behind all that- we care for each other and it's healthy

But this? What am I feeling right now? It's not normal. It's unhealthy

I am not just annoyed.

I am furious. Possessive.

And I swear if I see that idiot's face a second longer, I might just break it.

I tried to control myself. I tried to stay calm. Until...

He crossed the line.

He grabbed Ezra's hand, and the look on her face changed instantly.

She was clearly uncomfortable.

And I know her well enough to recognize that expression.

That was it.

Because hurting her even unintentionally is something I can never stand whether that person is whoever. I DON'T CARE

Fuming with anger, I walked straight up to them. Without a word, I forcefully separated his hand from Ezra. I couldn't bear to see him touching her like that

I held onto Ezra's hand, firmly yet protectively. Like she belonged right there, next to me.

Then, with my left hand, I raised my index finger and pointed it straight at him my eyes burning with a cold, piercing stare that said everything before my words even came out.

And then I said, with a voice low but dangerously firm

"Don't you dare cross that line again. Maine pehle bhi bataya hai aur firse aur aakhri baar daura raha hoon. DUR REH EZRA SE. Puja khtm karne ke baad chup chap nikal jaa yahan se" I warned him clearly, coldly, and without a trace of hesitation

(Don't you dare cross that line again. I have told you before, and now I am repeating it for the last time. STAY AWAY FROM EZRA. Once the puja is over, quietly walk out of here)

Harsh frowned at me, clearly annoyed, then let out a sigh and said,

"Look, man... you don't know me. Let me introduce myself"

Kya bakchodi kar raha hai bey

(What the hell is this guy even on about? Is he serious right now?)

"I am Harsh" He said as if I care yeh harsh ho ya bathroom ka brush

"And yes, I know Ezra. It's just... we are not on good terms at the moment. We had a fight, that's it. You can't just come in between and mess things up more. So please, excuse us and let go of her hand" he continued his words

Let go of her hand?

Over my dead body.

I stared at him, my grip on Ezra's hand tightening.

"Did you run away from a mental hospital or what?" I shot back without blinking

"Look-" he began, clearly trying to keep his anger in check, but before he could say more

"Guys" Ezra's firm voice cut through the tension, and both of us instantly turned to her.

"Harsh" she said calmly but clearly, "without creating any more scenes, please just leave after the puja ends" she continued and I breathed softly as if I got my life back

Then she turned to me, her gaze flickering down to our still intertwined hands.

"Now you can let go of my hand" she said

But I didn't.

Not immediately.

Instead, I looked at Harsh first, Then down at our hands. And finally, into Ezra's eyes.

Without saying anything, I gently pulled her away, leading her toward the garden because I needed answers. And I didn't care if anyone had a problem with that.

Of course, Harsh started following us.

"Don't you dare follow us" I warned him sharply without even turning around.

But the idiot didn't stop

"As if I care about your warnings. I am sure by now you know who I am and I am not going to listen to You and you l

let go of Ezra's hand" he said, voice rising with frustration and anger

Before I could snap back, Ezra turned to him and said sharply,

"Harsh. Leave us"

Thank God.

Because if she hadn't said it, I would have ended up arguing with this Harsh ya Brush whatever he was

.

Once we reached the garden, I pulled Ezra in front of me A little too fast.

The sudden motion made her lehenga twirl, creating a stunning, graceful flare around her. Even in anger, even in chaos, she looked like a vision.

But right now, I wasn't in the mood to admire her.

"Who the f*ck is he?" I asked, teeth clenched, voice low and burning.

She looked at me, calm and composed, and said in the most nonchalant tone

"Why do you care?"

And that hit harder than it should have

"Don't you dare play this game right now Ezra. Because right I am in no mood to joke around" I sternly said to her

"NEITHER ME. I AM SO DONE RIGHT NOW WITH EVERY FVCKING THING" She said clearly frustrated

She never talks to me like this. And whenever she does it means she's really angry. I know her. She doesn't even realize who she's yelling at when she's upset, but I am always the one she ends up taking it out on

Back in childhood, she even used to hit me. God knows what she might do now. And to make things worse

she's wearing YSL heels tonight. If she decides to throw one at me, I am dea.

Trying to diffuse the tension, I said softly, "Calm down" placing my palms gently on either side of her shoulders

But then I saw that shimmer in her eyes. She wasn't just angry. She was trying hard to hold herself together to stop the tears, to not break down

"Leave me alone" she said, her voice shaky but stern

But I couldn't. Not now. Not when my head was a mess.

"What's with him calling you his fiancée?" I asked, completely ignoring what she just said.

"Why do you care?" she shot back

Why is she testing me like this?

Why wouldn't I care?

"ANSWER ME" I snapped, clenching my jaw

And she shouted back just as sharply,

"WHY DO YOU CARE?"

"Why the f*ck wouldn't I care? AFTER ALL, I AM YOUR HUS- " But I stopped

I couldn't say it. I physically couldn't bring that word out.

Because no matter how badly I wanted to scream the truth, no matter how right it might feel in the moment we weren't really husband and wife.

Because our marriage is Accidental Marriage

"Why did you stop? Complete it" she challenged me, her voice firm eyes locked onto mine, daring me to say it.

She knew. She wanted me to say it out loud. To admit something even I was struggling to face it

"Don't provoke me, Ezra" I said, my voice low and strained, barely holding back the storm inside me

"Why do you even care, Maan? Just go back to your girlfriend" she finally said, completing her sentence with a heartbreak so raw, it felt like a dagger through my chest

And just like that, she turned and walked away. I stood there, frozen, stunned, unable to stop her... unable to call her back

Why did she tell me to go back to my girlfriend? Has that been hurting her too?

She has never said it to me like this never with such a broken voice, never with that much pain in her eyes. It felt like her entire world had collapsed and knowing it..... shattered me even more

Rakshit pov

"So, Mrs. Rao..." I said the moment Maa left the room after giving her some instructions

She glanced at me briefly, then started walking away, lost in her own world like she didn't even hear me. But being me, I wasn't going to let her walk off just like that. So, I followed her

"Did you miss me?" I asked, a playful smirk on my face

"Why would I miss you?" she replied, still walking ahead of me, clearly pretending not to care

"Then why were you asking about Kiaan?" I shot back, narrowing my eyes

That made her stop. She finally turned around and looked at me suspiciously, as if trying to figure out what game I was playing

"Are you... jealous?" she asked with a teasing smile, clearly enjoying this

"Huh? Why would I be jealous?" I replied in the most nonchalant tone I could muster, trying hard not to show how much her words actually hit

"Then why are you questioning me?" she said, stepping a bit closer

"Why wouldn't I question you? You're my wife. You should care about me, not Kiaan or anyone else," I said, the playfulness fading into something deeper- possessiveness

She let out a short laugh and said, "My dear contract husband, I am busy. And for the record, I asked about Kiaan because of some work-related thing. Now stop following me around like a lost puppy" she said

Ouch. That stung more than I thought it would. Contract husband. Right. But why does it still bother me this much?

"I am following around my wife" I said still following her

"They will think you as a joru ka Ghulam then" she said it made me chuckle

"Let them" I said instantly

She didn't reply anything and I can feel she is smirking right now

"Everyone please assemble here and family members please come onto the stage" Babasaheb announced on mic

I reached out and held Agni's hand. She looked a little surprised at first as if she wasn't expecting me to do that in front of everyone. But she didn't pull away. In fact, she gently held my hand back, and that simple gesture made me smile like an idiot

We walked forward together and joined the others. Everyone was already gathered

Maa and Babasaheb were standing near Lilavati and Chachu. Amrita Bua was there with Darsh. Izna and Kiaan stood together, as did Ezra, Atharv, and Ayushmaan. And now, me and Agni walked in, hand in hand.

Babasaheb blew the shankh (conch shell), signaling the beginning of the ritual. The priest (pandit ji) was already there, prepared.

The ceremony began- a puja for peace and blessings in the house. It felt different this time... not just a ritual, but something that brought a quiet calm in the middle of all the chaos in our lives. And having Agni beside me, without protest, made it even more meaningful

The puja began with Babasaheb and Maa. They stepped forward first, holding the puja thaal (plate), offering their prayers while the priest in the background softly chanted mantras that filled the air with serenity

After them, Chachu and Chachi took part, followed by Amrita Bua

Then, the priest handed the thaal to Kiaan and Izna. I noticed something... there was a flicker of discontent on bua's face as she passed the thaal to Izna. She clearly wasn't entirely happy about it. But perhaps out of respect for the moment and because Kiaan was standing beside her, she didn't say a word

Izna took the thaal with a soft, gentle smile- graceful and composed as ever. Kiaan supported her, holding the other side of the plate. Their eyes met, and in that brief exchange, he reassured her silently

One thing I have truly admired about them that they speak volumes through their eyes. No words. Just a quiet understanding between them that's rare to find

And at that moment, a thought crossed my mind- If my sister were alive and standing beside me today, she would've been just like Izna. And if she had gotten married, I would have wished for her to end up with someone like Kiaan- handsome, dignified, and respectful.

Even though Kiaan often behaves like a beast, deep down, he's a true gentleman. He knows how to respect, how to love without saying much. That alone earns my respect

Kiaan and Izna looked at each other with love in their eyes and performed the puja together, side by side. A while later, they walked over to us- Agni and me with the thaal

I felt a wave of emotion. The way this family embraced me after that incident... the way they love me like their own. I never expected it, but I feel it deeply. I truly belong here

I turned to Agni and took the thaal, then gently gestured to her, Hold it

But she didn't respond. She seemed lost in her thoughts, eyes distant, as if disconnected from everything around her

"Agni" I called her softly.

"Haan?" She blinked and looked at me, pulled back by my voice.

"Hold it" I said again, handing her the plate

She leaned closer and whispered,

"I have never done a puja like this before. I... I never really had a family"

My heart clenched.

"I am here, Mrs. Rao" I said gently, a smile tugging at my lips , calling her with the surnames. My parents would have adorned her so much. They are the best parents to exist, I miss them so much

"I am your family" I said to her gently

For the first time, I saw her truly emotional- something rare for someone as guarded and tough as her.

And then, she smiled back at me. A real, heartfelt smile

Together, we performed the puja. Side by side. As husband and wife- contract or not, that moment was real

Once the rituals ended, prasad (sacred offering) was distributed to everyone. We, as a family, fed each other from the thaal, laughing, smiling, sharing quiet m

oments.

Arrangements had been made for the guests as well, and soon everyone enjoyed the meal

As the day came to an end, guests began leaving, one by one, heading back to their homes.

It was a perfect day. One of peace, togetherness, acceptance and something quietly beautiful blooming between me and Agni