Chapter 1: It was not meant to be you

CHAPTER 1:

"Ritesh Raichand - the handsome hunk of itv got married to an anonymous girl. The two had a court marriage and the information regarding his anonymous bride is yet to be provided by Ritesh.” The tv news flashed the headlines in front of my eyes. It had been such a tiring day with all the hectic meetings with the production houses and not to forget my wedding. But that’s not something to be worried about. The real problem was that I got married to someone I didn’t even know. Yes. I knew I had the task to know who my aunt brought in to be my wife but still my legs were too convinced to relax on the sofa. Not sooner I switched my phone of, the actual stress and tension popped into my head. How could I even be this idiot to get married to someone who’s existence was unknown to me? I was, no doubt, regretting my decision.

How could I be this fool to not to see her face? But it was not my fault. Like I understand, I should’ve removed her veil and saw her face but I did not and I just signed the papers. My trust for my aunt was turning a cliff-hanger. But I knew I was not interested in love. Who ever married me had to give me a son or a daughter and that’s all my wants were limited to.  I didn’t necessarily have to bother about who my wife was. I was assured that my aunt would never bring in a witch as my wife and that was pretty cool to help me feel less worried.

“My goodness! Why the hell don’t you go to your wife? She’s an unknown personality to you…”yelled my aunt. I looked at her. As usual she had returned from her kitty party and still had her makeup clearly visible.

“Not just an unknown personality but also an unknown existing human she is” was my answer to her. She gave me a disgusted look. She waited for a few seconds expecting me to obey to her orders, but instead, I again stared at the tv screen.

“According to our sources, Ritesh Raichand has been married to an anonymous girl whose name is Bhavna Mehta. Further details about his wife and the hurried wedding are expected to be revealed soon.”

“Oh, that’s so cool! A guy gets married to someone he doesn’t even know and then gets to know her name from the media sources. Just wow! I’m so freaking much satisfied! That’s what a bombastic wedding sounds like!” I shouted with utmost curiosity and excitement. My aunt stared at me and reminded me , “and that guy is Ritesh Raichand and that’s nobody else but you.” I gave an annoyed look. I said, “whatever…”

“Rish! I want you to go to your room and address that lady asap. Leave and go to your room” ordered my aunt, Mrs. Sulochana.

“God! Why do I even need to? Like let’s meet her tomorrow morning.”

“Go at this instance or I’ll sue you unmercifully.”

I could understand her anger and I was convinced that I did not wish to take up the risk of enraging her more. So, I took small and soft steps towards my room. It was for the first time that I was anxious. Her name, Bhavna Mehta, was known tome. Her name had made me recall my childhood bestie, my ‘avu’. Even her name was Bhavna, but her surname was a part of my hazy memories of those fun and loving days. Ah! I so wished to see my friend but after our separation I barely knew her address or a way to contact her.

I opened the door and saw a girl wearing a red saree sitting on my bed cosily. Her comfortable seat on my bed made me feel jealous. The bed was worth sixty thousand, made up of fine engineering wood, and it was supposed to have me as its sole owner. But then I remembered how tiring day it might have been for her. After all, she had to leave her family and accept a man who has already announced his disliking for the ‘love’ factor.

“Um..hey!” I greeted her, of course in the most informal way one could think of. She replied to me, “you’re here? Finally!” I was annoyed but I was not a rude – rich man to throw taunts at her. Instead, I took interest to hear out to her. She slowly unveiled her face and once the veil was thrown out of the conversation, I could do nothing but just stare at her lovely face. Her beauty dark eyes, her red lips (okay so don’t get me wrong here. My intentions are all white washed), and her soft hair tied beautifully into a bun. Undoubtably, she looked magnificent. But that’s not where my eyes were really fixed at. My eyes took interest in the familiar curves of her face. They again reminded me of a face. Her curves gotme nostalgic of the face I was in love with. My Avu. My heart kept on questioning badly if she was her. However, considering her to be another woman might trigger her so I refrained from asking her.

Not just that. If it was her, I would’ve been the happiest person on earth but then there was a fear. My condition for my marriage. I had clearly declared that I needed a wife not out of love and I would never wish a loveless marriage for someone so fascinated like her. Avu was always energetic and a ready-to-go girl. She loved fairy tales and wished them to be real. I still remember her making me her prince for the game. She used to be the princess and she always spoke about how dreamy she wanted her life to be. I never took interest in the content she spoke but I adored her cute antics, which she used to do simultaneously while speaking.

While I was lost in nostalgic thoughts, Bhavika was staring at me. After a couple of minutes of extreme silence, she finally decided to continue the conversation.

“So, do you remember me?” asked Bhavika. I was taken aback by her question. What did she mean? Why on earth would I remember her when I didn’t even see her face at the court? But then for a minute the thought of her being Avu crept into my mind. Then, I made me mind to ask her if she was the one my heart suspected to be.

“Is it…are you…av..avu?”Finally I gave up. I gave up the idea of holding my wild thoughts in, suppressed in the chamber of my heart.

“Oh! yes. Nice to meet you, Ritesh! I never thought we’ll get to see each other after such consequences,”said Bhavika. For a second, I felt heavens to be impressed with me. I literally got my friend back. How badly I wanted to hug her, embrace her, cuddle her little face? Well, her face was moulded into that of a beautiful young lady but still, for me, for my eyes, for my heart she was and will always be the little girl, who dreamed of fairy tales.

“AVU AM SO SOHAPPY! LIKE FINALLY AFTER YEARS! IT’S BEEN SO MANY YEARS AND YOU WON’T IMAGINEHOW BADLY I MISSED YA FRIEND!” I shouted out of excitement but she did not bother to smile.

“I’m not your friend anymore. I’m your wife and soon I’m obliged to be the mother to your child, as per the marriage contract.” She declared it, with gloomy and cold tone.I could feel a stone being placed on my heart.

“Aa…Avu why did you? I mean, why it had to be you?”

“Maybe it was meant to be me” she said. She went and stood near the window, stared at the stars and again went to her silent zone.

“N..no. No. NO. NO.It was not meant to be you, it never was.” I announced. I was not ready to accept the fact. I had hopes that one day my friend would have her own fairytale. I wished a lovely, charming and handsome prince as the groom for my friend. I could never accept her dreams getting shattered. But more than sad for my friend, I was rather furious. Why did she sign the contract? What was the necessity of doing that? If she needed a financial aid, she could’ve just contacted me.

“If I was not meant to be your wife, then why would the stars get me landed here?” she asked. She was gloomy. Gloomier than before that I was all in a conundrum of what was happening. I was losing my mind and she just stood near the window and talked with such a calmness which made me feel more guilty.

“Are you even serious? Do you even know what you’ve done? Sorry Avu, but I can’t change my deal just because I got married to my beloved friend. I don’t believe in love and more specifically, in the superficial fairy tales. You’re responsible for what happened to your dreams, to your expectations for marriage.” I yelled. Shouting at her, as I thought, was a way to get rid of my guilt. My throat felt an unusual choke and I felt like losing my breath.

“I never expected you to change your mind for this deal. I’m well conscious of what I’ve decided and done.”

Obviously, I was more enraged at her statement. How coldly could she attend the funeral of her expectations? She was never this cold. She can never be.

“I’m..I’m sorry but…you’re not my Avu. You..you can never be. You’re just Bhavna..Bhavna Mehta who has messed up, not only her life but even mine.” I stammered. The choke I felt in my throat was responsible for it.

She looked at me and gave me a broken smile. She said, “you don’t have to worry. I’ll always be Bhavna Mehta but before being Bhavna Mehta, I’ll try my best to become Bhavna Raichand.”

“JUST SHUT UP AVU.DON’T ENRAGE ME ANY MORE.” I shouted but it made no changes to her cold attitude.

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A/N:

I hope am doing justice to the prompt! Also please pardon me for minor grammatical/spelling errors