Ishika was leaning against the car window, her eyes closed, and a look of exhaustion etched on her face. Veeransh gazed at her, a rare peaceful smile on his face. It was a moment of vulnerability, one he wouldn't soon forget.

The car's sudden stop jolted Ishika awake. She opened her eyes to find Veeransh's face inches from hers, his warm breath whispering against her ear. "Wake up, Misses Veeransh, we have arrived," he whispered, his voice low and husky.

Ishika's eyes snapped open, and she pushed him away, her face contorted in disgust. "What the hell... Get away from me!" she spat, her voice venomous.

Veeransh smirked, his eyes glining with amusement. "Ab apni patni se kese doori, my dear?" he drawled, his voice dripping with arrogance.

Ishika made a face and scrambled out of the car, not bothering to look back at him. Veeransh chuckled, his eyes following her as she stormed towards the mansion. "Badi gusse wali biwi mili h," he muttered to himself, a smile playing on his lips.

Ishika heard him and turned, her eyes flashing with anger. Veeransh's smile grew wider, and he winked at her. Ishika's face turned red with rage, and she looked away, muttering under her breath. "Beetisi kya dikha Raha hai..."

As they reached the entrance, Veeransh's family members greeted them with big smiles, unaware of the tension brewing between the newlyweds. Ishika's eyes scanned the crowd, her face set in a rebellious scowl. She had been kidnapped and married, and she was in no mood to play nice.

Veeransh's badi maa, a warm smile on her face, stepped forward, her arms open. "Ishika, tum galat samjha Rahi ho hamsabb..."

Ishika's eyes turned to her, a mix of hurt and anger in her gaze. "Bass, badii maa, Bachpan se aapki badi izzat ki h... Aaj mujhe kuch aesa bolne pe majoor mat kariyega," she said, her voice firm.

But Ishika was beyond consolation. Her eyes were red with rage, and she seemed to see nothing but the pain Veeransh had inflicted upon her. With a swift kick, she sent the rice-filled kalash flying, the red powder spilling onto the ground.

She left a trail of red footprints as she stormed up the stairs, her destination clear: Veeransh's room.

The Singhania family watched her go, their eyes filled with guilt and a glimmer of hope that she would one day accept them. Veeransh stepped forward, his voice calm. "Give her time," he said, his eyes following Ishika's retreating form.

His badi maa sighed, her face etched with worry. "Veeransh, hamne kaha tha tumhe aesa na karo... Ishika ke dil me jo nafrat h kahi or na badd jaye."

Veeransh's expression remained impassive, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of emotion. Rihan, ever the optimist, piped up, "Ishika didi badi pyari thi... Par Ishika bhabhi badi dangers h."

Malti chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Ha ha bhai, ab to aapko hamari bhabhi hi sudhar sakti h."

Veeransh smirked, his eyes glining with amusement. "Gusse wali to h," he agreed, his voice low and husky.

Ishika stormed into Veeransh's room, the door slamming behind her. The romantic ambiance, complete with flowers and candlelight, only fueled her rage.

Her eyes scanned the room, and she spotted a vase on the dresser. With a swift motion, she swept it off, the glass shattering on the floor. The sound was like music to her, a symphony of destruction that matched the turmoil in her mind.

She continued her rampage, tossing pillows, knocking over lamps, and scattering books. The room was a mess, a reflection of her own shattered heart. When she finally paused, panting, she spotted the telephone on the nightstand. Her brother's number was etched in her memory, and she dialed it with shaking hands.

Rohan's concerned voice came through the line, "Hello?"

Ishika's voice trembled as she said, "Bhai..."

Rohan's voice was laced with worry, "Ishaa... tu theek to h na? Haa, bata mujhe, tere sath koi baat to nh huai na? Main abhi aunga tujhe lene, bata bachha, tu theek h na?"

Ishika's voice cracked, "Main theek hu, Bhai... app sab theek h na?" Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.

Rohan's voice was gentle, "Ishuu, tu roo mat, ham sab theek h. Papa or ma bahut pareshann h... Ishu, tu vapas aa ja, ham dekh lenge aage, bas tu aa jaa."

Ishika's grip on the phone tightened, "Bhai... main is ishan ko tabah karke hi vapas aaungi, usne kya socha h... main barbad kar dungi usee."

Rohan's voice was stern, "Ishaaa, tu us monster se door hi rahna, usse manipulate karne mat dena khud ko."

After a few more words, Ishika wiped her tears and said, "Bhai, aap mera sara saman bejva dijyega."

Rohan's voice was firm, "Okk, kuch bhi ho, mujhe call karna, Ishika."

Ishika nodded, though Rohan couldn't see her, and whispered, "Hmm..." before cutting the call.

Just then, the door opened, and Veeransh walked in, a smirk on his face. "Voo lagta h bahut bada tufan aaya tha room me," he said, his eyes scanning the chaos.

Ishika's gaze turned to him, her eyes blazing with anger. Veeransh's smirk grew wider. "Aree, bas bivi ji, itna tadengi mujhe, main to tumhara hi hu."

Ishika rolled her eyes, her irritation simmering. "Nikal jao," she spat, her voice venomous.

Veeransh took a step forward, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Why, Mrs. Singhania? Don't you want your husband to comfort you after a long day?"

Ishika's anger boiled over, and she hurled a nearby vase at Veeransh. He dodged it with ease, his smirk never faltering. "Patni ji, you're getting violent," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ishika's eyes narrowed, and she started throwing things at him, her anger and frustration boiling over. Veeransh dodged each object with ease, his smile growing wider with each passing moment.

Finally, Ishika stood panting, her chest heaving with exhaustion. Veeransh's eyes sparkled with amusement as he said, "Abb kya maregi mohtarma? Koi nh, main or le aaunga, kal bhi kelte h, ye bada majedaar game tha na?"

Ishika's anger surged, and she took a step forward, but Veeransh was too quick. He caught her in his arms, lifting her off the ground and depositing her on the bed. "Kitna bhi gussa karna h, yaha se kijiye," he said, his voice low and husky.

Ishika's eyes widened in shock as she realized what had happened. She pushed against his chest, her voice venomous. "Don't you ever dare to touch me, you monster! I do what I want!"

Veeransh's smile never faltered as he held her foot in his palm, stopping her from getting off the bed. "Aapne jo kamra itna sunder sajaya h, to ispe chalne kese de sakta hu main?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ishika's anger boiled over, and she tried to kick him, but Veeransh held firm. "Tum khud kyu nh chal lete boorfoot?" she spat.

Veeransh's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Aap hmara bahta khoon dekhna chahti h?"

Ishika's face turned red with rage, and she turned her face away from him. "Gate out," she hissed.

Veeransh's smile never faltered. "But this is my room also, na?"

Ishika's voice was venomous. "I don't care, just gate out! Jao yaha se, mujhe tumhari sakl bhi nh dekhni."

Veeransh chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement, but he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Ishika to her anger and her shattered heart.

Veeransh's badi maa approached him with concern etched on her face. "Veeransh, what happened? I heard noises. Is everything alright? Ishika, is she okay?"

Veeransh smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Ji, Badi Maa, she's fine. Bas, aapki Bahu ko gussa chadha hua h," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Badi Maa's expression softened, a hint of understanding in her eyes. "Aah, gussa chadha h? That's to be expected. She'll calm down, beta. Just give her some time."

Veeransh nodded, his smile never faltering. "Ji, Badi Maa, I'll give her all the time she needs."

Badi Maa patted his arm, her eyes filled with warmth. "Take care, Veeransh. Don't push her too hard. We want her to be happy here."

Veeransh's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with determination. "Don't worry, Badi Maa, I'll make sure she's happy. Very happy."

Badi Maa's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of warning in her voice. "Veeransh, behave yourself. This isn't a game."

Veeransh's smile never faltered, but his eyes dropped, a hint of obedience in his voice. "Ji, Badi Maa, I will."

Badi Maa nodded, her eyes still filled with concern, and turned to leave. Veeransh watched her go, his smile still in place, but his eyes turned cold and calculating.

As soon as Badi Maa was out of sight, Veeransh's smile dropped, and he turned to look at the door behind which Ishika was seething. His eyes glinted with determination. This was just the beginning.

________------

Veeransh entered the room, his eyes scanning the space until they landed on Ishika. She lay on the bed, her chest rising and falling gently as she slept, still dressed in her wedding attire. The soft glow of the moonlight streaming through the window highlighted her peaceful expression, and Veeransh's face softened.

He approached her, his footsteps quiet on the carpet, and gazed down at her. His eyes roamed over her face, taking in the serene beauty of her sleeping form.

The room, once a battleground, was now a tranquil sanctuary, with the shattered remnants of their earlier clash cleaned up and tidied away.

Veeransh's gaze shifted to the mess Ishika had made earlier, and a small smile played on his lips. He had cleaned up the room, removing the broken glass and scattered belongings, restoring order to the space."wife ke liye nouker bhi ban gaya"

Satisfied, he headed to the washroom to freshen up and change into comfortable clothes. The cool water on his face was a welcome respite, and he took a deep breath, feeling the tension of the day melt away.

When he emerged, he spotted the sofa behind the big window and settled onto it, laying back and gazing at Ishika. A quiet, peaceful smile crept onto his lips as he watched her sleep.

"Zindagi aasan nh thi, na hogi, par tumhe Khush rakhunga," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'll make sure you're happy, Ishika. I'll do whatever it takes."

As he lay there, Veeransh's eyes began to droop, the exhaustion of the day catching up with him. He closed his eyes, his breathing slowing as he drifted off to sleep, his heart filled with a quiet determination to make things work between them.

The night wore on, the moon casting its silvery glow over the sleeping couple, as if blessing their fragile truce.

Ishika stirred in her sleep, her hand reaching out, and Veeransh's eyes fluttered open. He watched as her fingers brushed against the empty space beside her, a look of fleeting sadness crossing her face before she settled back into slumber.

Veeransh's heart ached, and he made a silent promise to himself: he would be the one to fill that empty space, to be the comfort and solace she needed.

With a gentle smile, he closed his eyes once more, letting sleep claim him, his resolve strengthening with each passing moment.

As the night deepened, the room grew quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the clock and the gentle rustle of Ishika's breathing.

Veeransh's chest rose and fell, his face relaxed in sleep, a small, enigmatic smile still playing o

n his lips.

The darkness seemed to whisper secrets, and the shadows danced, as if anticipating the dawn of a new chapter in their story.