MY ONLY ONE

03. When Hell Chose Me

Hell didn’t scream.

It smiled at me.

And I smiled back.

— — —

AUTHOR'S POV

Sanvi Birla is the daughter of Anitha and Venkatesh Birla. Behind her calm and graceful appearance, she carries dangerous knowledge-information about the Russian mafia. She works for them as a counselor, someone trusted enough to hear their secrets, their plans, and their weaknesses. Because of this, her life is constantly under threat.

Knowing the danger surrounding his daughter, Venkatesh Birla makes a desperate decision. To protect her, he fixes her marriage with Ankith Rao-an orphan who built his own empire and runs a successful company. The marriage is meant to be a shield, a way to secure Sanvi's life and keep her safe from the enemies who might come after her.

But Abhimanyu doesn't like this plan.

Not because he cares about love or marriage-but because of his goal.

His only aim is to rule all over Asia, and Sanvi Birla stands in his way. He knows that once Sanvi marries Ankith Rao, she will no longer have any reason-or obligation-to reveal the secrets she holds. As a counselor, she leaves no trace behind, no clues, no evidence. Without marriage, Abhimanyu will never get access to the truth hidden behind her silence.

Marriage is the only option.

If Sanvi marries him, she will have no choice but to tell him everything. The Birlas believe deeply in marriage, loyalty, and tradition. For them, a husband has the right to know the truth-no matter what. As her husband, Abhimanyu can demand answers, and Sanvi will be bound to speak.

This is the only chance Abhimanyu has.

He doesn't care about the bond, the rituals, or the meaning of marriage. To him, it's merely a tool-one final move to gain power and control.

As soon as Abhimanyu leaves the living room, the atmosphere changes completely. Tension fills the space. Everyone knows he is about to ruin everything-even though they are happy on the surface.

After all, Abhimanyu is getting married.

For the family, it's the biggest news they could have received. Excitement spreads quickly, and conversations overlap as they begin packing their bags, already imagining the upcoming wedding. Laughter mixes with nervous anticipation, unaware of the storm this marriage is about to bring.

Meanwhile, Kavya and Aradhya head out together for shopping, unaware of how deeply their lives are about to be tangled in the decisions made far above their understanding.

Kavya and Aradhya went out together for shopping. Kavya took Aradhya along especially to buy something for tomorrow's wedding. She knew Aradhya wouldn't spend much on herself, so she decided to take charge.

After looking through several shops, Kavya finally chose a beautiful peach-colored lehenga for Aradhya. The fabric was soft, elegant, and simple-exactly the kind Aradhya loved. She even bought matching sandals to complete the look. Aradhya hesitated at first, but Kavya insisted, smiling brightly, telling her not to worry about money.

Even though Kavya's parents were rich and she had no shortage of money, the two of them chose to have dinner outside only once. They spent the rest of the evening talking, laughing lightly, and enjoying each other's company in a quiet corner, unaware of what awaited them back home.

After returning from shopping, Aradhya entered the house with the shopping bag in her hand.

Urvashi's eyes immediately fell on it.

Before Aradhya could even react, Urvashi snatched the bag from her hands. "I want this," she said bluntly. "I'm going to wear this tomorrow."

She didn't bother to look at the dress properly. She didn't ask Aradhya for permission. She didn't even wait for a response. She simply took it as if it already belonged to her.

Aradhya stood there, frozen, unable to say a word.

The next moment, she turned around and ran straight to her room. She locked the door behind her and slid down to the floor. Her hands trembled as she took her father's and mother's photo into her hands. Holding it tightly to her chest, she broke down.

"Why always me?" she cried softly. "I loved that peach lehenga. Kavya bought that dress for me... how can she take it from me?"

Her sobs echoed in the silent room, her pain buried deep inside.Meanwhile, Urvashi tried wearing the lehenga. But the blouse was too tight for her. She struggled to breathe, irritation replacing her earlier confidence. Frustrated, she took it off and stormed toward Aradhya's room.

She knocked on the door impatiently.

Hearing the knock, Aradhya quickly wiped her tears and stood up. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door. Urvashi stood there, her expression filled with annoyance. Without saying much, she shoved the lehenga into Aradhya's hands.

"It's not made for me," she said coldly while walking away. "It's cheap."

Aradhya stood there silently, clutching the lehenga, her heart aching-but she said nothing.

But Aradhya was now happy to see the lehenga back in her hands. She held it carefully, almost protectively, as if afraid it might be taken away again. A small smile appeared on her lips for the first time that night. She immediately texted Kavya, thanking her again for the dress and for always standing by her side. After that, exhaustion took over, and she slowly drifted into sleep, hugging the lehenga close to her heart.

The next morning, the Raichand mansion was filled with noise and excitement. Everyone was busy because the elder son of the family was getting married that day. The atmosphere was tense yet celebratory. Soon, they all settled into the car and began their journey toward the wedding venue.

During the drive, Ekansh broke the silence and asked his brother softly, "Bhai, think about this once again. Are you really sure about this?"

Meghana added hesitantly, "Yes, bhaiya... I think Sanvi is not perfect for you."

Abhimanyu didn't reply immediately. He stared out of the window, his expression unreadable. After a long moment, just as they were about to reach the venue, he finally spoke, his voice calm yet firm.

"I'm not marrying her for love," he said. "I'm marrying her for my goal. And there is no taking back."

As they reached the venue, Anitha and Venkatesh warmly welcomed the Raichands and showed them to their rooms. The Raichands went to rest for a while after the long journey, while the three siblings wandered around the venue, curious and excited, exploring every corner.

Abhimanyu, however, chose to sit alone near the pool, a glass of whisky in his hand, lost in his own thoughts.

Soon after, the Sharmas arrived at the venue as well. Anitha and Venkatesh welcomed them with smiles. Looking at both the girls, Anitha said warmly, "You both are looking so beautiful."

Aradhya smiled politely and replied, "You too, aunty. You are also looking beautiful."

The air was filled with unspoken emotions, excitement, and tension-marking the beginning of a wedding that would change everything.

As they were being shown to their room, Urvashi's eyes suddenly fell on Abhimanyu sitting near the pool.

The moment she saw him, her heart skipped a beat. She had always harbored a huge crush on him, and seeing him there-so calm, distant, and unreadable-only made it stronger.

Without explaining anything properly, she grabbed Aradhya's arm and dragged her along. Turning back briefly, she told her parents that she and Aradhya would explore the venue together. Aradhya was confused by Urvashi's sudden excitement but went along anyway.

They reached the poolside, where Urvashi noticed a few girls already in the water, laughing loudly, clearly trying to grab Abhimanyu's attention.

They swam closer, splashing around deliberately, but Abhimanyu didn't even spare them a glance. His attention remained fixed on his glass, his thoughts far away from the noise around him.

Seeing this only fueled Urvashi's determination.

She stepped forward, kicked off her footwear, and jumped straight into the pool. The sudden splash drew a few looks, but not his.

Completely drenched, she emerged from the water, brushing her wet hair back, her dress clinging to her frame. She walked toward him confidently and greeted him with a bright smile.

"Hi sir, I'm your student-Urvashi."

Abhimanyu finally looked at her. His gaze was brief and unreadable. He gave a small nod in response and took another sip of his whisky, offering no words, no interest.

Meanwhile, Aradhya stood a little away from the pool, trying desperately to find network so she could call Kavya. Her mind was elsewhere, unaware of the drama unfolding nearby. She kept checking her phone, moving closer to the poolside in search of a signal.

Suddenly, Avani came running toward her, trying to escape her siblings. In the chaos, she accidentally bumped into Aradhya. Before Aradhya could even react, she lost her balance and fell straight into the pool.

Water closed over her head.

She panicked instantly-she didn't know how to swim. Her body thrashed as fear took over, her lungs burning as she struggled to stay above water.

That's when Abhimanyu noticed.

In a split second, he stood up, dropped everything, and jumped into the pool. Strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her up as she gasped for air, clinging to him instinctively.

The moment changed everything.

She didn't know how to swim.

Holding her tightly, he pulled her toward the edge as she gasped desperately for air. Her body trembled as he lifted her into his arms and brought her out of the pool.

She was coughing, struggling to breathe. Abhimanyu held her firmly, making sure she was safe before loosening his grip.

He looked at her again.

This time, she was completely drenched, water dripping from her hair and clothes. His eyes lingered on her face-really seeing her for the first time. He noticed her soft, round pink lips, her fair skin, and the small nose pin that suited her perfectly. For a moment, the world around him faded.

"Bhaiya, is she okay?" Avani asked anxiously, rushing toward them.Abhimanyu's gaze snapped away. "What were you guys doing?" he asked sternly.

"I-I'm sorry, bhaiya," Avani said nervously. "We were playing, and I accidentally bumped into her. She fell into the pool."

Aradhya slowly opened her eyes. The first face she saw was Abhimanyu's. Her breath hitched. She stared at him as if she had seen a ghost, fear flashing across her face. Suddenly, she pushed herself up, moving away from him abruptly.

Abhimanyu frowned, confused by her sudden reaction.

"I-I'm sorry," Avani said again, her voice shaking. "I didn't do it on purpose."

Avani's voice softened as she came closer and gently held Aradhya's hand. "It's okay, dear. No one did it intentionally. But next time, be careful while running, okay?"

Aradhya smiled faintly, her voice calm despite everything. Avani was surprised by her sweetness and nodded quickly.

Meghana and Ekansh stepped forward and introduced themselves. Aradhya took a deep breath and said softly,

"Aradhya Sharma."

The name lingered in Abhimanyu's mind longer than it should have.

Abhimanyu heard her name for the very first time.

Until now, he hadn't known who she was-just a girl who had unexpectedly entered his sight. But the moment her name reached his ears, something inside him shifted.

Aradhya Sharma.

His heart skipped a beat. His chest felt tight, and for a second, he forgot how to breathe. The sound of her name echoed in his mind, refusing to leave. Without saying a word to anyone, he turned away and walked straight to his room. He locked the door behind him, changed into dry clothes, and sat on the edge of the bed, trying to calm himself-but failing miserably.

Meanwhile, Aradhya slowly realized that the three people she had just met were Abhimanyu's siblings. They were warm, kind, and gentle with her-so different from him. Their sweetness only confused her more.How can siblings be so nice when he is so rude? she thought.

She smiled politely, said goodbye to them, and quietly returned to her room to change her clothes, her heart still unsettled from the incident.

From a distance, Urvashi watched everything unfold.

The rescue.

The concern.

The attention.

Her grip tightened around the glass of whiskey in her hand as irritation burned inside her. Today, I will make him mine, she thought darkly. No matter what it takes. Even if it costs my body-I don't care. He will be mine.

With that determination, she finished her drink and went to her room to get ready.

Soon, the wedding celebrations began. Music filled the air, laughter echoed through the venue, and everyone was enjoying the dance and festivities.Urvashi stepped out wearing a maroon sleeveless lehenga, perfectly hugging her waist and revealing her curves. Her dupatta rested loosely in her hand, and she paired the outfit with matching sandals, bangles, and heavy jhumkas. Every step she took was meant to draw attention.

And her eyes searched only for one person-Abhimanyu

While aradhaya wore her peach colour lehenga full sleeve blouse with dupatta perfectly pin to her shoulder little bit of her waist showing with her small waist chain matching jhumka and scandal

That's all for this chapter.

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Next chapter coming soon ✨