AVNI POV

The car was quiet, but the tension was thick. I glanced at Viraksh. His jaw was tight, and his hands gripped the steering wheel hard. I could sense his anger. He had told me not to go to the party, but I did anyway, thinking I could slip in and out without him knowing.

I just wanted to talk to someone, someone I barely knew. But before I could, Viraksh found me. He didn't say much, just grabbed my hand and brought me to his car. Now, we were driving in silence, and my heart was racing.

I stared out of the window, trying to distract myself. But when I noticed the road wasn't leading to my apartment, my nerves spiked.

"Where are we going?" I asked, my voice shaky. "My apartment is the other way."

He didn't answer. His grip tightened on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the road. I stayed quiet, not knowing what to say, feeling the tension build with every passing second.

We finally pulled up to a tall building. I realized it was his penthouse. He parked the car, got out, and opened my door, still without saying a word. His hand wrapped around mine again, firm but not harsh, as he led me inside.

We entered the elevator, and he pressed the button for the 38th floor. The silence in the elevator felt suffocating. I stole a glance at him, but his face was unreadable, cold. I had no idea what he was thinking, and that scared me more than anything.

When we reached the top, the doors opened to a huge, luxurious penthouse. The living room was spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the city skyline. A grand staircase led up to the second floor. It was beautiful, but right now, all I could feel was the tension.

Viraksh didn't let go of my hand as he pulled me inside, his silence weighing heavier with each step. He finally let go once we were in the middle of the room. For a moment, I stood there, unsure of what to do. Then, he turned toward me, his anger finally breaking through.

"Why didn't you listen to me?" he shouted, his voice louder than I expected.

Viraksh stood there, his jaw tight, his eyes cold. He didn't back down. He never did. But this time, I wasn't backing down either. I had enough of him trying to control me.

"I went because I wanted to," I shot back, matching his intensity. "You can't tell me what to do, Viraksh. I'm not a child!"

He took a step closer, his face dark with frustration. "It wasn't about controlling you, Avni. That party wasn't safe, and you knew it. You should've listened to me!"

"I don't care what you think is safe! I'm not going to sit around like some puppet while you decide everything for me," I snapped, my voice trembling with anger. "I have my own choices to make!"

His eyes narrowed, his voice lowering dangerously. "This isn't about choices, Avni. It's about keeping you out of trouble. Do you think I enjoy shouting at you like this?"

"Yes, You like shouting to me , ignoring me, and then act like you care so much about keeping me safe," I spat, stepping closer to him, "but you never ask what I want! I didn't need your permission to go to that party, and I won't need it next time either."

I couldn't hold it in any longer. The frustration, the fear, the confusion—it all came rushing out. I broke down, the tears spilling over as I choked out the words I had been holding back for so long.

"I don't want to marry you," I cried, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can't do this. I don't want this life."

Viraksh's face softened, but the tension didn't leave the room. He didn't move toward me, didn't try to comfort me. Instead, he stood there, silent, watching as I fell apart in front of him.

"I never asked for any of this," I continued, wiping at my tears. "You're always so distant, so cold. How am I supposed to marry someone who doesn't even talk to me?"