"What type of behavior was that, Ariya? I told you to behave in front of the media," Arhaan shouted as soon as the driver started the car.

Ariya looked at him and took out the AirPods from her ear. "Kuch kahan apne?" (Were you saying something?)" she asked innocently.

He shut his eyes tightly and balled his palm into a fist to control his anger. Ariya smirked and started using her phone.

They reached Mittal Mansion in 20 minutes. Ariya's older sister and two closest friends were present.

After some time,

Arhaan was talking with Yogesh while Ariya was sitting with her best friends.

"Arhaan, I won't come home tonight. I will stay here and will come tomorrow after college," Ariya said all of a sudden.

"Okay," he nodded. After some time, he left.

______

Ariya went to her room with her two best friends, and her two best friends bombarded her with questions.

Geet Oberoi: Ariya's best friend. She is also 19 years old and studying at St. Xavier's. She is a bomb (forever single)

Ahana Kapoor: Ariya's best friend no. 2! She is also studying at St. Xavier's..in a relationship with her long-distance boyfriend..

____________________

"Bitch, how's your first night?" asked Geet as soon as they stepped inside the room.

"Damn, Ariya, you got one hell of a hot guy. He must be really good in bed," Ahana said excitedly.

"Shut up, bitches!" Ariya shouted angrily and threw her phone on the couch. She sat on the bed.

"After all, you finally lost your virginity to The Hot Arhaan Mehra," Ahana said as she sat beside me.

"Guys, I'm still a virgin," Geet said, tearing up.

"Keep your filthy mouths shut, fucking please!" she yelled. "You both know how much I adore Vihan, so how can I spend the night with that jerk Mehra?"

Ahana and Geet made faces at her.

"Listen, Ariya, I am telling you once again, Vihan isn't a good guy," Geet said seriously,

"Don't start again, get," Ariya said, uninterested.

"Geet isn't saying anything wrong. Everyone knows in the college that Vihan is a playboy," Ahana said, and Geet nodded, agreeing with her.

"It's just a misconception; he isn't a playboy," Ariya said confidently.

"Ariya, you are married now. Leave Vihan and move on with Arhaan," Geet said.

"I think you are very much interested in Arhaan. I'll give him a divorce very soon. After that, you can marry him. He will satisfy you in bed," Ariya said, making Geet shocked.

"Seriously, Ariya? I didn't expect this type of behavior from you!! You know what, Ariya, you've changed, and I'm telling you, one day, you'll be very sorry," Geet yelled angrily.

"Now you are fighting with me for that, Arhaan Mehra," Ariya also shouted.

"I'm not fighting; I'm just telling you the truth; you're going to regret it very soon, Ariya, because you're on the wrong path," Geet said.

"Guys, please stop fighting," Ahana said softly.

"I am not fighting; I am just trying to put some sense in her mind, but she has completely lost her mind," Geet said angrily.

Ariya looked at her in shock because her best friend had never talked with her in that tone.

"Bye, Ariya," Geet said and turned to leave, but Ahana stopped her.

"Where are you going to get it?" Ahana asked.

"I am going to my place because the person who is standing in front of me isn't my best friend whom I have known for 14 years. She is some other girl who can't differentiate between wrong and right," Geet said and left while Ariya looked at her with teary eyes.

"Geet wait yaar." Ahana also left.

Ariya's POV

I despise you, Arhaan Mehra. Because of you, my best friends have turned against me. I despise you so much.

_______________________

Next day,

Ariya dressed in jeans and a shirt and left for college. She had already told her parents that after college, she would go straight to the Mehra Mansion.

She walked straight to the canteen while everyone looked at her and whispered something to themselves.

"Yes, I am married to The Millionaire, Arhaan Mehra. Do you all have any problems, huh? At least I am not like you all, who are always ready to get into rich boys' pants," she exclaimed.

She spotted Ahana and Geet and sat with them.

Geet stood up, seeing Ariya. "Geet, don't you dare go sit here with me," Ariya shouted.

"Stop ordering me," Geet said angrily.

Ariya stood up and hugged her tightly. "Bitch, I love you so much. Okay, don't you dare to fight with me," she said.

"I wasn't fighting yesterday. I was trying to knock some sense into you, but I forgot Ariya Mittal is a certified brainless bimbo," Geet said, hugging her back.

"So now everything is fine, right?" Ahana asked, and they nodded, breaking the hug.

Just then, Ariya's phone beeped with the message.

From Vihan:

Meet me now!

"Guys, I am coming," Ariya said and left without listening to their reply.

"She is wrong, yaar," Geet admitted with a defeated sigh.

"Let her be." Woh nahi sunne wali (she won't listen). She is stubborn, "Ahana said."

__________________________

"Babe, I've missed you so much," Vihan said, hugging her, but Ariya didn't hug him back.

"Vihan, I want to say something," she said, breaking the hug.

"Say na, I am all ears," he said.

"Vihan, I want a break," she said with a sigh.

"I want a break too. Let's go somewhere just you and me," he said, smiling, and she shook her head.

"I want a break from you," she said, startling him. "I want a break from this relationship," she said, startling him.

"What-what are you are talking about, huh?" he was shocked. "Did you fall for him? Ohh yeah, right, so finally you accepted that bastard!" he shouted.

"Vihan, please listen to me first," she yelled. "Let me explain everything."

I don't want Arhaan to think that I am cheating on him. I don't think that I love him. I hate him. I just hate him to the core, but I love my parents. I will tell him to divorce me, and I know he can't divorce me this soon. At least 6 months is needed, "she said," and he was mentally cursing Ariya in his mind.

"But at least we can be friends," he asked.

"Of course," she said with a smile.

_____________________

Ariya was done attending all the classes, so her two best friends planned to go somewhere to have something to eat as they were hungry and didn't want canteen food.

They went to Joey's Pizza and enjoyed their best friend's time.

It was evening when Ariya reached Mehra Mansion; her driver dropped her off.

She rang the doorbell, and Riyan opened the door.

"Hiii smally." Ariya glared at him and stepped inside.

She sat on the couch with a thud, placing her bag aside as she was a little tired.

"Ghar par koi nahi hai kya?(Isn't no one at home?)." she inquired as she entered the kitchen. Riyan was making noodles.

He said, looking at her, "Bhai is upstairs." He had just come back from the office, and Daadi and Dadoo were packing their things in their room. He said, looking at her, "Continued his work."

"Packing stuff, why?" she asked and took out a bottle from the refrigerator.

Riyan said, "They are going back to London because some important work is lined up."

"What's cooking, btw?" she asked.

"Noodles!! Chahiye apko? (Want someone?)" he asked, and she nodded no and walked out of the kitchen.

She went upstairs to Usha's room... She met with Usha and Santosh. She was a little bit sad that they were going this soon, but they had to go back because of important office work.

They dropped them off at the private jet terminal and went back to the mansion.

It was already 10. They had their dinner. After that, no one feels sleepy. Riyan and Arhaan were watching some cartoons while Ariya was sitting on the recliner using her phone.

Riyan stood up and asked, "You both aren't feeling sleepy, right?" He asked the both of them, and they nodded yes.

"How about a horror movie?" Riyan asked.

"Yes, I am in," Ariya said excitedly.

"I am not," Arhaan said .

"Yeah, bhai, I know you are scared of horror movies," Riyan said, rolling his eyes at him.

"Rii, it's not like that, okay," Arhaan said, his gaze fixed on him.

"Yeah, I know you very well," Riyan said and turned towards Ariya.

"Smally, you know, bhai is scared of horror movies," Riyan said, giggling, and Arhaan was glaring at him hard.

"Riyan shut up; I'm not scared." "All right, let's watch your so-called horror movie," Arhaan said as he rose from the couch.

"Bhai, you arrange food items. I am checking all the essential things in the theatre room," Riyan said, and he nodded and went to the kitchen.

Ariya went to the bedroom and changed into comfy nightwear, and tied her hair in a bun.

She took her phone and went to the theatre room. She saw Arhaan was using his phone, and Riyan was checking something.

"Which movie, smally?" Riyan asked Ariya.

"Annabelle comes home, evil dead or the nun," she said, giving them options.

"No, not evil dead!" Arhaan exclaimed, and Ariya looked at him as if he were an alien.

Riyan giggled, seeing Arhaan's face. "Okay, Annabelle comes home," Riyan said, bobbing his head and turning on the movie.

But Riyan sat beside Arhaan while Ariya was also beside her patidev (husband), as Arhaan was in the middle between them. But Ariya maintained a good distance.

They started watching the movie by having cheese puffs, popcorn, and cold drinks. Arhaan was actually getting scared, but he made a stern expression. He wanted to use his phone, but his evil baby brother had already snatched it.

Riyan uploaded a picture on his Instagram handle.

"Bhoo," and the bowl of popcorn fell from Arhaan's hand as Riyan scared the shit out of him.

"Riyan!" Arhaan yelled, and Ariya laughed loudly.

"Bhai got scared," Riyan said, laughing and high-fiving Ariya.

"I am not scared. Okay, that's just a misconception," he said sternly and continued watching the movie.

And finally, the movie got over, and Arhaan sighed in relief. Poor him. He didn't know the plan of his evil little brother.

"Hey, smally, let's watch The Nun," Riaan said.

"No, no, it's late. It's already past midnight. We should sleep," Arhaan said, shaking his head no.

"I am not feeling sleepy," Riyan and Ariya said in unison.

Arhaan said to them, "Ariya, you have college in the morning, and Ri, you have to go to the office."

"Aahaa, it's alright. I am not feeling sleepy. I want to watch that movie," Ariya said, looking at him.

"Bhai, don't take tension. I will be there on time. Let's watch this movie together," Riyan said like a baby.

"Okay, fine," Arhaan said, sighing in defeat.

They turned on the movie The Nun and started watching while Arhaan was looking down, or sometimes here and there.

The lights of the theatre room were also dimmed, and it was scaring him more.

It was already the second half of the movie when he felt a weight on his shoulder. He turned and smiled, seeing Riyan sleeping like a baby, keeping his head on his shoulder.

His body literally got jerked up, feeling a weight on the other shoulder. He turned, and his eyes widened as he realized Ariya was also sleeping. He smiled as he saw her sleeping soundly. He took the remote and turned off the movie.

For the first time, he looked at Ariya's face, her chubby cheeks, her eyes, and the mole on her brow, his gaze shifted lower and locked on her lips, her pouty kissable lips.

He wanted to feel these lips.

He wanted to feel those lips against his.

He wanted to suck those petals.

His one hand encircled her shoulder as he gazed at her face, and soon he also drifted into a peaceful slumber.

Riyan was the first to awaken. He took in his surroundings and realized he had been sleeping in the theatre room with his head on Arhaan's shoulder.

He stood up and looked at Arhaan and Ariya, who were sleeping and snuggled close to each other.

Riyan's POV.

Hayee, they look so cute together. My eyes traveled to Bhai's face. I found a peaceful smile. I know, Bhai, you are still the same soft Arhaan. My brother has the power to transform.

God, Jii, please be with them. I wanted to make them a happy couple. I took my phone and clicked their picture, and walked out of the room.

I am feeling so sleepy. It's 6 a.m. I went to my room and dumped myself on the bed, and went to my dreamland.

___________________

When Ariya woke up, she was shocked to see her state as she found herself in Arhaan's arms. She sat up with a jerk, due to which Arhaan also woke up.

She gave one angry look to Arhaan and walked out of the theatre room.

Ariya's POV

How can I sleep in his arms? He must have dragged me into his arms while I slept. I despise him.

I went to the bedroom and dumped myself on the bed. I should sleep a little more. I closed my eyes, and darkness engulfed me.

_________________

When Arhaan came inside the bedroom, he found her sleeping on the bed. He sighed and took out his gym outfit.

After changing, he went to his personal gym room. He started running on the treadmill. His mind was occupied by Ariya's touch, her face, her lips, her eyes..he was getting angry at himself, but those thoughts weren't leaving his mind...

He turned off the treadmill and huffed like a bull.

He took his sipper and made an energy drink for himself, and started sipping...

____________________________

It's been ten days..10 freaking days. Arhaan was ignoring Ariya, and Ariya didn't give a damn. She was busy with her life and happy that Arhaan wasn't talking to her.

Arhaan was angry at himself as Ariya's thoughts weren't leaving his mind. The more he tried, the more those thoughts occupied his mind. He used to go to the office in the early morning and come home late at night just to avoid coming face-to-face with her.

They slept in the same bed, maintaining their distance, but every morning they woke up in each other's arms.

Arhaan's POV.

Shit, shit, shit. I forgot the next day is my business partner's reception, and I have to go there with Ariya..damn..now I have to talk to her ughh.

I stepped inside the room to find her studying. My eyes traveled down to her bare legs as she was wearing a t-shirt and shorts.

I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I had come here to talk. I walked towards her and cleared my throat to attract her attention.

She looked at me with questioning eyes. "Tomorrow we have to attend one reception party. I hope you don't have any problem with that," I said, maintaining a stern expression.

"What if I say I don't want to go?" she asked, smirking.

"You have to go, Ariya," I said, and she chuckled and stood in front of me, looking into my eyes without any fear.

"I won't go, Mr. M," she said, making me angry.

I smirked and let my hand slide into her waist as I drew her close, making her gasp at my sudden action. "You said you didn't want to go, huh?" I said, leaning close to her face.

"What are you doing to leave me?" she pushed, but I tightened my grip on her.

I said in a hushed tone, "Answer my question, Mrs. M."

"I said I wouldn't go, and it's final," she said angrily, and I smiled evilly.

"Okay, so you don't want to go. Fine. I don't have any problems," I said, tucking her strands behind her ear with one hand while holding her with the other hand.

"Don't go, Mrs. M, and I will stop investing in your dad's company," I said, and her face went pale.

"You are kidding me, right?" she asked, and I chuckled.

"I am not Mrs.," I said with a tight-lipped smile.

"You can't do this..you wanted to marry me, and now I am married to you, but you are backing off from the promise," she said, shaking her head. She looks cute.

I smirked, "I am withdrawing from the promise."

If she can be sassy and witty, then why can't I? I am not innocent.

"Fine, I will go now, happy," she said angrily.

"Very happy," I said with a tight-lipped smile. My thumb went to her lower lip as I rubbed it.

"What are you doing?" she stuttered, shivering slightly.

Am I affecting her?

I pulled her closer, slamming my body against hers. She gasped, placing her hand on my chest to balance herself.

I placed my index finger on her chin and made her look at me. I can say that she was nervous. My breath fanned across her face as I leaned closer to her lips.

Our lips were about to stick, but we parted away, hearing the unwanted voice.

Ohh yeah, her phone started ringing. I left the room, taking a deep breath.

What the fuck has just happened? I was about to kiss her too forcefully.

Why were her thoughts not leaving my mind?

My heart said to me, "Because she is your wife, dumbass, and these types of thoughts are normal,"

"No, it's not normal. We are just a namesake couple," I replied back to my heart.

What a shit, eh? My heart was attempting to persuade me.

Chance? Yeah, right, we can give each other a chance...

________________________

Next day,

Ariya's POV

I don't want to go anywhere, but I still have to attend his business partner's reception. I hate him so much. He was freaking blackmailing me for all this.

I wore the outfit that my designer had chosen for me. I did my makeup and wore the necklace. The phasi ka phanda, aka my nuptial chain, was already in my neck...I filled my hairline even though I still hated it...I left my hair open and sprayed perfume.

Damn. I am looking pretty.

I put on my heels, picked up my clutch, and walked out of the room.

"Smally, you're looking so pretty," Riyan said as I walked down the stairs. Arhaan looked at me, his gaze locked with mine.

"Thank you, Riyan." I smiled and turned towards Arhaan..he was looking hot, ughh, whatever...

"Aren't you going with us?" I asked Ryan.

I laughed as Riyan made funny faces.

I hate those parties, but I am going because this jerkass has blackmailed me.

"Riyan, you will have your dinner on time and sleep okay. No parties, nothing chup se sojana, "he said to Riyan, like a guardian."

"Chill, bro. I am not a kid. I will have my dinner on time," Riyan said.

"No drink. Okay, you have an office tomorrow," he said sternly, and Riyan nodded as if he were a good little boy.

"Shall we, Mrs.M?" I forced a smile..he walked out of the mansion, and I walked behind him...

I was about to sit in the back seat when I stopped listening to his voice. "I am not your driver, Mrs. M. Kindly sit in the passenger seat."

I muttered some curses under my breath as I sat in the passenger seat, and he drove off.