AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When Maya emerged freshly showered, Ranveer was already fast asleep, his handsome face smoothed out in slumber. Smiling softly at her husband, Maya quickly dressed in a simple saree and left the room soundlessly, promising to herself that she would be back in his arms soon enough.
*****************
A few hours later, they returned from the temple. The resort where the families and the rest of their guests invited for the wedding had occupied was still running full and busy.
“I'm so glad the ritual is completed. And Maya, you look lovely today, just like every new bride,” Daadi praised getting down the car with Maya and Garima.
“What about me?” They turned at Ranveer's voice who strode to them.
“You look okay, just like every other day,” Daadi chuckled, and Ranveer frowned, though he knew she was joking.
“I still deserve to be praised,” he insisted.
“Why is that?” Daadi asked.
“Because I am responsible for the glow on Maya's face,” he replied, sliding his arm around Maya's waist. She gasped as he tickled her bare waist. “You look beautiful in sarees by the way,” he added, gazing lovingly at her.
Maya accepted the compliment, trying to hide her blush. His publicly displaying of affection for her was too much.
“Ranveer is right. My son-in-law should be complimented too,” Garima added. “He is why Maya has that smile on her face.”
Maya bit her lip recalling it was time for her mother’s medicines.
“Mom, did you take your medicines?”
Garima smiled. “Stop worrying about me. You are a part of the Malhotra family now. Your focus should be on them, not me,” she insisted.
Maya pouted, disagreeing. Getting married didn't make her less responsible towards her mother.
“I disagree, Mother-in-law,” Ranveer interjected. “We are a family, all of us,” he gestured towards his grandmother. “Which means we all take care of each other, and that will never change.”
Garima's eyes filled with tears. Even though she never received attention from the man she loved, she was still the center of Ranveer and Maya's world. What more could she ask for?
Ranveer smirked as he peered inside the resort lobby, as if awaiting someone.
“What are you looking for?” Maya asked, offering him prasad.
“Our wedding gift,” he replied with a grin, gesturing behind her.
Maya turned and her jaw dropped as cops emerged from the lobby.
“Cops? Why are they here?” she asked, confused.
“You'll see.”
Soon the cops brought out Dev Malik in handcuffs. Kunal followed desperately, trying to convince them of his father's innocence. But it was futile. They hauled Dev into a jeep as he protested his arrest.
“He's arrested,” Ranveer muttered happily.
Maya was equally glad but surprised it happened so fast. Ranveer must have solid evidence to expedite this. She enjoyed his smug smile of victory until it abruptly faded. He suddenly tensed up, concerning her.
Glancing back, she saw why. Dhruv watched helplessly as his elder brother and father were taken away. The anguish on his face showed he knew Ranveer had orchestrated this arrest. He looked shattered.
“Dhruv,” Ranveer murmured, starting toward him. But Dhruv ignored him and drove off, following the police jeep holding his father.
Ranveer's heart constricted with pain. He had been so focused on taking down Dev Malik that he hadn't fully considered how Dhruv would be affected. Dhruv loved the Maliks, shared their name. He deserved to hear the truth from Ranveer first. He was innocent in the scheming and power plays of his father and elder brother Kunal.
And now, Dhruv had just witnessed his brother Kunal desperately trying to prevent their father's arrest, to no avail. He saw the man who raised him, who he loved and respected, dragged away in handcuffs like a common criminal. Dhruv was clearly distraught, struggling to make sense of it all.
