CHAPTER 2

Tina was sitting in front of the mirror. The beautician was fixing her hair, and she  heard one of the beauticians say, "Ma'am, you are so beautiful." 

Tina looked at herself in the mirror, she was looking beautiful indeed. She has everything, except a smile on her face. Today is her engagement. She has many dreams for her married life. She had planned everything with Abhimanyu, but his lust spoiled everything. His one wrong step spoiled her life and future. They were childhood friends, and Tina always had a soft corner for him. Later, she proposed to him when they were in college and she was on cloud nine when he accepted her proposal. She was happy, she had everything in her life but everything spoiled due to him and she hates him for this.

She never wanted to get married, especially to Viren. He is Abhimanyu's cousin, and living with Arnav under the same roof is very difficult for her. But her father requested her to marry him as he is a good boy and likes her. He is ready to accept her even after her broken engagement.  Later, when she talked to Viren she felt it was not a bad idea to move on. He promised her that he would help her to come out of her past. He would be there for her,  as her friend. Finally, she gives in and agrees to get married to Viren. 

She came out of her trance when a girl in her early twenties with a glowing and beautiful face entered the room, and asked " Di (elder sister), are you ready? Dad was asking."  Tina nodded with a cold face. 

The girl nodded and left the room. Tina sighed looking at the girl's retreating back. She is her step-sister Sia Sharma. She is the person she hates the most in the world. She snatched everything from her. 

Tina's mother died during childbirth. Her father was always busy because of his business. It was the nannies who brought her. She had a lonely childhood, later she met Abhimanyu and her life changed completely. She was happy, seeing his concern and care for her.  It's his caring nature that made her fall for him. 

She was happy with Abhimanyu when one day his father brought a new mother for her. She was shocked, she hated her new mother as she took her mother's place. She hates her, and her hate increases ten times when her new mom gives birth to Sia.

After the birth of Sia, his father completely changed. He started spending time with Sia, which she always craved. Her father's whole attention was on Sia, he always praised her in front of guests. According to him, Sia is the most obedient, and intelligent girl in the whole world. She was good in every field whether it was academics or sports. Her father proudly shows her daughter's awards. While Tina didn't exist in his life. 

Tina was rude to Sia, but she stayed silent and never complained to her father. Sia always wanted a bond like sisters with Tina, but clearly, Tina was not interested. 

Tina hates the mother-daughter duo as they snatch her everything. Abhimanyu was her only peace.  Whenever her father scolds her for Sia or she is upset because of them,  she runs to him and he always consoles her.

Today was her special day, whole attention should be on her, even today Sia managed to snatch her attention. 

Today is her engagement too. Sia is a doctor by profession, her senior doctor likes her and sent the proposal. Her father liked the proposal and asked Sia about her opinion. Like an obedient daughter, she agreed with her father without throwing any tantrums. 

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Tina came out of her trance hearing the beautician's voice "Ma'am, you are ready. Trust me, you are the most beautiful girl. " Tina murmured a small thank you and stood up from the chair. She looked at herself in the mirror for the last time before going out of the room. 

She was in the car, going to Kashyap's mansion. She picked out her phone and opened the phone gallery. She was staring at her and Abhimanyu's proposal photo. She closed her eyes painfully, she slowly brought her finger to the delete button and pressed it. 

She closed her phone and thought in her mind looking outside of the window "Abhimanyu, this is the end of our story. I hate you for breaking all my dreams. I hate you so much. ." 

After some time, they reach Kashyap mansion

When they entered the house, they were welcomed by Kashyap's family. Abhi's mom asked both girls to go into a guest room for a touch-up.

After the touch-up, Tina and Sia were going out when Tina stopped her and said rudely "You have already snatched my special day by fixing your engagement date today. At least, we can enter the venue alone. Don't come until my engagement is over." As usual, Sia agreed with her demand while Tina walked to the stage where Viren was waiting for her. They exchange the rings, everyone claps for them. Media was busy taking their picture, they were asking them to pose in a different position for the front page. 

On the other side, 

Sia stood up from the bed, she glanced at herself in the mirror last time and walked to the hall. She was passing through the corridor when she heard a shouting voice First, she decided to ignore it but hearing a painful groan she couldn't help but enter the room 

 She slowly opens the door but was shocked to see the scenario. Abhimanyu was holding an injection in his hands, and he was going to inject it into his vein when Sia rushed toward him and jerked his hand angrily. She shouted angrily "What are you doing? You know, it is dangerous for your health. It's poisonous." 

Abhimanyu rolled his eyes hearing her bickering, first, he was shocked to see her in the room. This was the first time someone entered his room after the incident. No one entered the room, even the maid kept the food outside the room. He said giving her a bored look "Thank you for the information. Now, give my injection back and get out of my room." He was going to snatch the injection, but Sia hid it behind making him angry, and said angrily "Who are you? What are you doing in my room? You don't have any right to boss me, I am not your slave. Now, get out," 

Sia feared seeing his angry face, still, she composed herself and said with confidence "It doesn't matter who I am . You are taking drugs, don't you know it's illegal and dangerous for your health." 

Abhi interrupted her and said "Listen carefully, don't test my patience. Just get out of here before I could do anything wrong." 

Abhi forwarded his palm, but Sia held the injection tightly. Abhimanyu's blood boiled seeing her stubbornness, he started taking steps toward her, making her scared. She started taking steps back in fear, and in all this fuss both fell onto the bed. 

At the same time, Sia's mother-in-law entered the room and was shocked to see her daughter-in-law is on the bed with another man. Before Abhimanyu and Sia could react or speak, she started shouting "Mr. Sharma, come here and see your daughter's actions. Shameless.' 

Abhi, Viren, and Sia's parents gathered in the room with Mihir (Sia's fiance). Sia got up and said looking at her father "Dad, this is not what you are thinking." 

"Stop making excuses now. I saw with my own eyes, you were with some other man at your engagement. Don't you have shame? If you like him, then why did you agree to marry my son."  Mihir's mother said angrily

"Aunty, please listen to me. I can explain, this is not " Sia tried to defend her. But, she was not ready to listen to anything. She was spitting venom without giving a chance to her to explain anything. Abhimanyu was staring at Sia with a faint smile, he was feeling nostalgia when he was begging everyone to believe him. He also tried to make everyone believe he was innocent but no one believes him. And today, he knows no one would believe her.

He came out of his trance, hearing Sia's father's voice "Mrs. Gupta, my daughter is not like that. She is pure and innocent. We know Abhi's reputation, he must force her. It was all his fault, just wait I will call the police. I will not leave him, how can he touch my daughter." Her father glaring at Abhimanyu, while he didn't budge. Now, Abhimanyu was immune to all this, nothing can break him. 

Abhimanyu has no interest now to clear his image.  He doesn't give a damn what they are thinking about him.  He cannot change their opinion. Even he didn't bother if Sia put all the blame on her, after all, girls are selfish whether it was Tina or Sanaya.. Sanaya spoiled his life for her selfishness, while Tina left him without hearing his explanation. Today, she was going to engage with his cousin without thinking about his feelings. 

Abhimanyu got shocked when Sia supported him"  No, Dad, he was not forcing me. You are all taking the situation wrong. He was taking drugs, I tried to stop him, and then accidentally we fell on the bed".

Before she speaks further her mom stops her " Sia, stop talking. Elder is here, let them talk and decide." 

Sia interrupted her and said "Mom, they were putting the wrong blame on him. He is not at fault." Hearing her, Mihir's mother said" See, now she is defending her lover. We don't want to make this girl our daughter-in-law. My son is a smart, well-educated man, he can get any girl. He doesn't need to marry this low-class girl." After saying this, she dragged her son and husband out of the mansion, ignoring Sia's father's plea.

The moment they left, Sia's father slapped her, making everyone shocked including Sia, as it was the first time he hit her. Tears started flowing through her eyes,  while Riya was so happy seeing the scene in front of her eyes.  Daddy's little princess was hit by her father, it was a relief in her eyes. 

She was watching the drama with a big smile, but her smile vanished hearing her dad's next statement " Abhimanyu has to marry Sia, this is the only way to save our reputation." 

Everyone gets shocked listening to his words.

Silence spread in the full room,  this silence broken by Sia's mother:" What are you saying, you are getting our daughter married to a rapist? Please, don't do this to her. You know she is innocent. She can't do something like this." 

Abhimanyu got annoyed with this drama, he said calming himself "Enough of this drama, I am not going to marry anyone. Please leave, I need to rest. It's your family issue and I don't want to hear anything." 

Sia also begged her father: "Dad, believe us this is just a misunderstanding. We are innocent. Please sit, I can explain." 

Her father interrupted her and said sternly "I don't want to listen to anything. You have two options, either marry him or file a complaint against him because now nobody believes and marries you, so it is better to marry him at least this will save our reputation".

He looked at Abhimanyu's father and asked "Do you have a problem with this marriage?" Abhimanyu's father thinks he knows Abhimanyu is at fault but he is his father. He can't see him spoiling his life in front of his eyes. And Sia is the only option that helps him come out of this darkness.  After thinking carefully, he agreed with the proposal, making Abhimanyu shocked to his core. 

"Dad, I will not marry her.  And you can't force me." Abhimanyu announced with determination. 

His father took a deep breath, and said "I am also giving you 2 options, first marry Abhi or get out of my house." 

Abhimanyu looked at his father with disbelief,  he answered "Okay, fine I am leaving. I don't want to stay here." 

He was going out when he heard his dad's voice "Abhi, don't take impulse action. How will you manage your drugs and alcohol expenses if I stop my money? You know, nobody let your stay in their house and you can't afford a hotel. Just think carefully." 

Abhimanyu clenched his jaw, his father was clearly blackmailing him. He knows his weakness and uses it against him. He was thinking about his answer when his gaze fell on Tina who was looking at her with tearful eyes. He quickly diverted his eyes and agreed to get married to her. 

After that, Abhimanyu and Sia got engaged.