Despite being fully present at the party, the same artificial smiles remained on Arunima and Aastik’s faces. They were only completing formalities. Reaching among the people, Arunima waved at everyone, and they clapped for her. Aastik also waved and greeted everyone. Just then, Arunima’s eyes fell on Aastik’s parents—Mr. Pushkar Raichand and his wife Neha Raichand.

Pushkar ji was wearing a beautiful safari suit for the occasion, while Neha ji wore a heavy gold set over her Banarasi saree. Even though Neha ji was now at an age close to becoming a grandmother, the glow and radiance on her face made it impossible to guess her age.

Aastik and Arunima approached Pushkar ji and Neha ji. Aastik hugged his father and then his mother. Smiling, Arunima went to them and bent down to touch their feet. Pushkar ji stopped her midway, placed his hand on her head, and said, “What are you doing? There’s no need for all this.”

Pushkar ji’s behavior was a little strict, but his nature was the same for everyone. However, he was a bit softer toward Aastik. But in front of others, his authoritative image always showed. Seeing Pushkar ji, people often said that Aastik’s arrogance came from him. Arunima didn’t mind his words; instead, she nodded with a smile. After that, she looked toward Neha ji.

Neha ji smiled as she came to Arunima, hugged her, and said, “Many many congratulations, my child. May your first wedding anniversary bring lots of happiness into both your lives.”

Arunima smiled at Neha ji. Pushkar ji and Aastik stepped aside and started talking about something while Neha ji stood with Arunima. Holding Arunima’s hand, she said, “Thank you, child. I am very happy that you finally kept your promise. My son is fulfilling his marriage with you. I always knew you were the right person for my son. Thank you, Arunima, for bringing stability into my son’s life.”

There was joy in Neha ji’s words, but Arunima’s smile was just as fake. She felt like telling Neha ji the entire truth, but she knew that the truth would break her heart, and the trust she had placed in Arunima would also shatter.

And what would Arunima even tell Neha ji? That the truth of her marriage was something else entirely? That she stays at home like an object the whole day? She didn’t need to work, yet her condition was worse than a lifeless thing kept at home.

Arunima’s life had become like that of a princess locked inside a palace. Everything inside was luxurious, but the one thing missing was freedom. It had been a year, and Arunima had endured this imprisonment. She herself had no idea how long this would continue.

“Arunima, does Aastik behave properly with you?” Neha ji asked. Hearing this, Arunima’s smile faded slightly, but she stayed quiet. Before she could respond, a cold hand slid around her waist and pulled her closer. Arunima recognized this touch instantly—it was Aastik.

“Mom, are you trying to turn my wife against me? Amazing. I’ve always heard that after marriage, saas and bahu don’t get along, but here the scene is opposite. What do you want? That once we return home, my wife and I start fighting?” Aastik said in a commanding tone.

Hearing him, Neha ji quickly replied, “Oh no, Aastik. Nothing like that. You misunderstood. I just wanted to know whether you and Arunima are happy together.”

“Yes, of course, Mom. We are very happy together. Right, sweetheart?” Aastik asked, pulling Arunima even closer. Forcing a smile, Arunima said, “Yes, Mom. You don’t need to worry. We both are very happy.”

Neha ji seemed relieved and nodded. Just then, one of her friends arrived. Neha ji left Aastik and Arunima and went to her friend. As soon as she left, Aastik removed his hand from Arunima’s waist and looked at her with a bitter smile.

“You act quite well. Good. Keep this acting going until the party ends.”

Saying this, Aastik left Arunima there and walked toward his father, who was talking with business partners. Aastik joined their group.

After a while, Neha ji began introducing Arunima to some other women in the society. Arunima had no interest in meeting them. She was just completing formalities with Neha ji.

Suddenly, Arunima heard the sound of glass clinking and turned her face. Standing there was Bela, wearing a shimmery one-piece dress. Holding a wine glass in her hand, she was attracting everyone’s attention. When all eyes were on her, she climbed onto a chair, raised her wine glass in the air, and said:

“Attention, ladies and gentlemen! As you all know, tonight is very special for our family. Today is my elder brother Aastik Raichand’s first wedding anniversary. So let’s make this night even more beautiful for them!”

“Cheers, brother!” Saying this, Bela waved her wine glass toward Aastik. Everyone standing there lifted their champagne, wine, and alcohol glasses toward Aastik and cheered. Aastik also raised his champagne glass with a smile and acknowledged them.

Pretentious people and a pretentious world. Some smiles at the party were genuine, but most faces were wearing fake masks. Arunima could recognize their expressions. The Raichand family too wasn’t behind in maintaining appearances.

Bela was wearing clothes more expensive than Arunima’s and was proudly displaying her beauty among the men. Let me tell you right at the start—if one side there was a poisonous snake and on the other side Bela, you should trust the snake, not Bela. This girl had a unique venomous cunningness in her. And why wouldn’t she? She had her mother’s blood in her.

Now let me also tell you that Bela is not Neha ji’s daughter. She is Aastik’s half-sister. Mr. Pushkar Raichand had many affairs in his life. One such affair happened with his wife’s best friend—Neha ji’s close friend, Malini.

Malini and Neha had grown up together since childhood. Malini was the daughter of Neha ji’s driver, but she always envied Neha ji’s money and status. Neha treated her like a sister, but Malini always cursed Neha’s fate. Her hatred grew even more when Neha married Pushkar Raichand.

Seeing Neha ji’s fortunate and happy life, Malini’s jealousy intensified. She learned that Pushkar was a flirtatious man. To satisfy her desires and to take revenge for her jealousy, Malini trapped Pushkar in her web. Pushkar, who was already infamous for his extra-marital affairs, fell into Malini’s trap.

With her cunningness, Malini made Neha believe that she had come to care for her during her pregnancy. But the truth was that at night, Malini and Pushkar spent intimate time together. They mixed sleeping pills in Neha’s milk to put her to sleep, and then Pushkar spent his nights with Malini.

In this way, betraying Neha’s trust, Malini laid the foundation of a deep conspiracy inside the Raichand family.

But their game didn’t last long. When Aastik was born, and six months later Malini discovered she was pregnant, she panicked. She had nowhere else to go, and Pushkar wasn’t ready to accept her publicly. He clearly told her she could get an abortion if she wanted, but in the eyes of the world, Neha would remain his wife, and Aastik would remain his son. Nothing was above his pride.

Then Malini realized that a man like Pushkar was never worth trusting. It was a mistake to expect anything from him. So she hoped for help from Neha instead. When Neha learned the truth, she broke down. She was so shattered and devastated internally that she even tried to end her life. But hearing her child’s voice made her stop herself.

After that day, she neither looked at Malini nor behaved normally with Pushkar. There wasn’t even a trace of guilt on Pushkar’s face. He did not regret anything he had done. He always told Neha to live her life as she wished, and he would live his own.

Neha’s life became deserted. Her husband was hers, yet never really hers. She lived only for Aastik. She separated from Pushkar and lived with Aastik.

But perhaps her suffering wasn’t over yet. When Malini went into labor, she gave birth to twins, but she died during childbirth. Before dying, she had hoped only for Neha’s help, because she knew Pushkar was heartless, while Neha was pure-hearted and gentle. So she entrusted her children’s upbringing to Neha as her dying wish.

After Malini’s death, Neha’s heart melted. Those innocent children were not at fault. Malini had given birth to a boy and a girl and entrusted them to Neha. Being a woman, Neha might have turned away, but being a mother, she couldn’t ignore the innocent babies.

After that, Neha placed a condition before Pushkar—that she would return to him and live according to all his rules, but only if he publicly accepted Malini’s children.

Pushkar agreed, and Neha returned to him. She brought Aastik along, as well as Malini’s twins, Chetan and Bela. Pushkar presented the twins to the world as his own children because he didn’t want to ruin his relationship with Neha. Especially not when his name was rising in the underworld.

However, Neha gave Chetan and Bela no less love than Aastik. Just as she raised Aastik, she raised Malini’s twins with equal care and affection.

Yet Chetan and Bela knew very well that they were Pushkar’s illegitimate children. Even though Pushkar had accepted them publicly, privately he couldn’t stand the sight of them. For him, only Aastik was his son and the future Don of the underworld—a throne Aastik had already begun building on his own.