IPKKND FF: Masquerade [Chapter 18] Updated 10 Sept - Page 7

a different story altogether - pls continue soon

"Maanu, where are you going? It's your wedding today and you have to dress up!"

"What Di?! I'm NOT wearing this! I don't care about what happens! If necessary I won't marry that chep. It's fine with me but there's no way that I'm dressing up like this!"

"Leave it to me, Jeevika. I know just how to get Maanvi ready."

...

"I'm so glad you guys could make it!"

Arnav smiled warmly and greeted his old friend Viren.

"It's my baby brother Virat's wedding! I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Viren gave Anjali a big smile and hugged her.

The Vadheras and Raizadas had known each other for years. The Raizadas were famous Lucknow merchants while the Vadheras were reputable lawyers from Chandigarh. Business had mixed with pleasure and both families had grown very close.

"Anjali Di! I'm so glad to see you!"

Anjali turned around to be greeted by the unusually happy bridegroom. She hugged him tightly and then looked mischievously at him.

"Why so happy, Virat? You're so excited to get married? Who would've thought! She must be some girl, huh Viren?"

Viren smiled good-naturedly and put his arm around his brother's shoulder.

"That she is! And why won't she be? She's my one and only Jeevika's sister."

Anjali's mouth opened wide before she started teasing the brothers about how they had picked a very convenient package.

Arnav had been watching this scene with a small smile on his face. He was genuinely fond of Viren and even though Virat was a bit of mischief maker, he had grown to like him as well.

Just then someone screamed,

"The bride's coming!"

Everyone turned eagerly to admire Virat's choice. And admittedly, she was beautiful.

Maanvi was wearing a sea green lehenga choli and her hair was made into a side bun. Hardly the shy Indian bride, she kept wagging her eyebrows and winking at Virat. Virat, in turn, whistled a few times before Viren admonished him lightly.

The girl on the left of the bride also had her hair in a bun and she looked very pretty in an orange lehenga choli. Judging by the love struck look on Viren's face, Anjali guessed that she was his wife Jeevika and Maanvi's older sister.

It was only after they descended down the stairs and made their way towards the mandap when everyone noticed the girl on the right of Maanvi.

Although she wasn't dressed as extravagantly as the sisters next to her, it was her radiant beauty which caught everyone's eyes. Her hair was pulled into a side ponytail and she wore a deep purple patiala suit which contrasted brilliantly with her pearl like skin.

"... so she's a friend of Maanvi's? She's really pretty, isn't she Chote?"

Arnav looked towards where his sister was pointing and nearly dropped his cell phone in shock.

"What the..."

There standing beside the bride was Ms. Menon in a completely different look.

He intended to go over and talk to her but he hardly got a chance as she was bust attending to Maanvi during the pre wedding rituals.

Patience was not one of his virtues and he could feel his irritation building.

He was soon rewarded when he saw her going into the house for some work.

He quickly followed her but was accosted by one of the guests on his way in.

"Mr. Raizada, so nice to see you! You're a good friend of Viren's, aren't you?"

Cutting short the formalities, Arnav rushed into the house and just caught a glimpse of her as she disappeared along one of the corridors.

Slowly gaining speed, he came to a halt as he realized that there were two rooms at the end of the corridor and he didn't know which one she had gone into.

He decided to look into the one on the right and walked in cautiously as none of the lights were on.

Suddenly he felt a blow on his back and he bent forward only to be kicked hard in his stomach.

Before he knew it, his arms were locked behind him and he was pinned to the floor face down.

He tried very hard to get out of this iron grip but whoever had attacked him was highly skilled and he closed his eyes in frustration.

"Hand over the ring without another word."

Arnav's eyes shot open as he heard the voice.

No. It couldn't be.

He started struggling once more but the person on top of him just tightened their grip and spoke in a slightly threatening voice.

"I want that ring Mr. Vadhera. And I'm going to get it from you one way or the other. Now the choice is yours, whether you want that way to be painless or not."

Arnav could feel his anger mounting and he spoke in his most sarcastic voice.

"I'm afraid I can't give it to you because I'm not Mr. Vadhera."

A gasp escaped his attacker and he felt the grip loosen around him.

He snatched the opportunity and stood up, hoping to surprise his attacker.

But his attempts were in vain as he felt another kick in his stomach but this time he wasn't as unprepared.

He caught hold of the leg which had attacked him and tried to push the owner over.

Instead of losing balance, the person did a back flip and landed gracefully a few feet in front of him.

Realizing that a physical attack probably wasn't the best option, he turned to his arsenal of angry words.

"Just who the hell do you think you are? How dare you go ambushing people in my friend's house at his brother's wedding?! "

Before he could get an answer, Arnav heard Viren's voice approaching them.

He realized that his attacker would probably use this opportunity to escape and he quickly turned around but he was too late.

The last thing he saw was a purple dupatta flying in the wind as Ms. Menon jumped deftly from the window.

...

How was it? 🤔