Chapter 5: The Future Mrs. Khanna

The ballroom fell silent.

Hundreds of eyes turned toward the stage.

Aadhya's stomach tightened.

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

The host smiled into the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us tonight."

Polite applause echoed through the hall.

Beside her, Zayan remained unusually quiet.

Aadhya glanced at him.

"Zayan, aakhir ho kya raha hai?"

His jaw tightened.

"Bas kuch minute aur."

That wasn't an answer.

And they both knew it.

The host continued speaking.

"As many of you know, Mr. Zayan Khanna rarely shares details about his personal life."

A few people laughed.

A few others nodded.

The entire country knew that.

Zayan Khanna was famous for two things.

His business empire.

And his complete lack of interest in discussing anything personal.

The host smiled wider.

"Lekin aaj ki shaam thodi khaas hai."

Aadhya suddenly had a very bad feeling.

The host looked directly toward them.

"Aaj Mr. Zayan Khanna apni future wife ko officially introduce karna chahte hain."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Aadhya froze.

Her brain stopped working.

For one full second, she couldn't breathe.

Then she slowly turned toward Zayan.

"KYA?"

The word escaped louder than intended.

Several people nearby looked at them.

Zayan closed his eyes briefly.

As if he had expected this reaction.

"Aadhya—"

"Future wife?"

"Meri baat suno."

"Future wife?!"

The panic in her voice was becoming impossible to hide.

Cameras immediately shifted toward them.

Flashes exploded.

Questions began flying from every direction.

"Sir, kya aap engagement announce kar rahe hain?"

"Sir, wedding kab hai?"

"Ma'am, aap kuch kehna chahengi?"

Aadhya looked ready to faint.

"Tumne mujhe yeh nahi bataya tha!"

For the first time since meeting him, Zayan actually looked guilty.

GUILTY.

The emotion seemed almost unnatural on him.

"Main explain kar sakta hoon."

"Toh kijiye!"

Unfortunately, the host wasn't finished.

"Mr. Zayan Khanna aur Miss Aadhya Sharma!"

A spotlight landed directly on them.

The crowd erupted into applause.

Aadhya wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole.

Instead, Zayan gently took her hand.

"Smile."

"Main tumhara katal kar dungi."

"Baad mein kar dena."

Despite everything, she almost laughed.

Almost.

The applause continued.

Then Zayan led her toward a quieter balcony connected to the ballroom.

The moment the glass doors closed behind them, Aadhya pulled her hand away.

"Tum pagal ho gaye ho kya?"

"Aadhya—"

"Contract girlfriend!"

She pointed a finger at him.

"Contract wife nahi!"

The city lights glittered behind them.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Finally, Zayan sighed.

A long, tired sigh.

"Mujhe pata hai."

"Nahi, tumhe pata nahi hai!"

Her voice cracked.

"Tumne mujhe sabke saamne future wife bol diya!"

"Maine nahi."

"Announcement tumhari company mein hua!"

Fair point.

Even Zayan couldn't argue with that.

Aadhya folded her arms.

Waiting.

Demanding answers.

For several seconds, Zayan remained silent.

Then he spoke.

Quietly.

"Mere grandfather."

Aadhya frowned.

"Kya?"

"Yeh sab unki wajah se hai."

The anger on her face faded slightly.

Confusion replaced it.

Zayan looked away toward the city.

"Woh bahut beemar hain."

His voice had changed.

It sounded... different.

Less controlled.

More human.

"Aur?"

"Aur unki ek hi condition hai."

A pause.

Then—

"Jab tak main shaadi nahi karta, company ka controlling share mujhe nahi milega."

Aadhya blinked.

Once.

Twice.

"Tum mazaak kar rahe ho."

"Kaash karta."

For the first time that night, she saw genuine frustration in his eyes.

"Teen mahine pehle unhone mere saamne ek aakhri shart rakh di thi."

"Toh kisi aur ko dhoond lete."

"Maine koshish ki."

The answer came immediately.

"Aur?"

"Sab fail ho gaya."

Aadhya stared.

Then a horrifying realization hit her.

"Isliye tumne mujhe choose kiya?"

Zayan met her gaze.

"Haan."

The honesty hurt more than a lie would have.

Not because she liked him.

She absolutely did not.

Mostly.

Probably.

But hearing it still stung.

"Kyun?"

His eyes remained fixed on hers.

"Kyuki tum alag ho."

Her heartbeat skipped.

Annoyingly.

"Yeh line kitni ladkiyon ko bol chuke ho?"

A faint smile appeared.

"Sirf ek ko."

"Main believe nahi karti."

"Mujhe pata hai."

For the first time all evening, the tension eased slightly.

Just slightly.

Then a voice interrupted them.

"Interesting."

Both turned.

A man stood near the balcony entrance.

Tall.

Well-dressed.

And smiling.

A smile that instantly made Aadhya uncomfortable.

The stranger's gaze remained fixed on her.

"Toh yeh hai woh ladki."

Zayan's entire expression darkened.

Immediately.

Dangerously.

"Yahan se chale jao, Aarav."

The smile widened.

"Itne saalon baad mil rahe hain, aur tum hello bhi nahi bologe?"

Aadhya looked between them.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

The hostility was impossible to miss.

Aarav's eyes shifted toward her.

"Careful rehna, Miss Sharma."

The words sounded harmless.

But the tone wasn't.

Not even close.

"Har deal utni simple nahi hoti jitni dikhti hai."

Aadhya's stomach dropped.

Before she could ask what he meant, Aarav walked away.

Leaving silence behind.

And a very uncomfortable question.

Zayan's jaw tightened.

For a moment, he kept staring at Aarav's retreating figure.

Then he turned toward Aadhya.

Something dangerous flickered in his eyes.

"Aadhya..."

His voice was lower than before.

Serious.

Almost warning her.

"Jo bhi ho, abhi tum meri baat dhyaan se suno."

Aadhya frowned.

"Kyun?"

Zayan took a step closer.

For the first time that night, he looked genuinely concerned.

"Kyuki Aarav sirf mera dushman nahi hai."

Aadhya's heartbeat quickened.

"Toh phir woh hai kaun?"

For a second, Zayan said nothing.

Then slowly, he opened his mouth to answer.

And for the first time that night, Aadhya felt afraid. :::

Or my favorite for your story:

Then slowly, he opened his mouth to answer.

Aadhya had wanted the truth.

She wasn't prepared for it

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