3. The slap and kiss

Abhimaan's POV

" That girl is still not giving that land."

That man's words angered me more. Raghav cut the call and looked at me. My grip on the glass became more tight.

I threw it on the floor and it broke into many pieces. This is the first girl who is refusing me. I am the The Abhimaan Singh Thakur, no one refuses me.

Raghav looked at me.

" Thakur Sahab, let's try a different way."

He said. I got up in anger.

" Now I will handle this girl on my own. In my way. Where does she live?"

I asked in anger.

" Thakur Sahab, her father works in the law firm near the Assi ghat. It is near by only."

Raghav replied to me. I stormed towards the door, my mind filled with thoughts of retribution.

" Prepare the car."

I commanded Raghav, my voice tight with barely suppressed rage.

Raghav hurried to comply, knowing better than to question my orders in such a state. As we made our way towards the car, I could feel the weight of my authority pressing down on me like a suffocating cloak. No one dared to defy me, and this girl would soon learn that lesson.

As we drove towards Assi ghat, I contemplated the best course of action. This girl needed to understand the consequences of crossing me, and I was prepared to make sure she did.

When we arrived at our destination, I wasted no time in locating the law firm where her father works. As we walked towards the gate, the guard stopped us.

" Where?"

He asked.

" Ji we are here to meet Ishqi ji."

Raghav replied while walking towards me. That guard got a smile on his face after listening to that girl's name.

" Oh Ishqi betiya, I will just call her. "

That guard said and then walked inside. I stood with the car with a cigarette in my mouth.

Author's POV

That guard walked inside the room where Shrikant was sitting along with Ishqi. " Ishqi betiya." said that guard. Ishqi looked at him.

" What happened?" asked Ishqi, " Someone has come to meet you." said that guard, " Who is it?" asked Shrikant, " Thakur Sahab." said that guard.

Shrikant got up. " What is he doing here?" said Shrikant. Ishqi looked at him. " Baba, I will just go and meet him." said Ishqi. Shrikant held her hand. " Ishqi, just take care of yourself." said Shrikant.

Ishqi nodded. Ishqi walked out of the cabin and then came out. She saw Abhimaan standing there. Ishqi folded her hands standing tall.

" What is it?" asked Ishqi. Abhimaan looked at Ishqi and then walked towards Ishqi. Abhimaan and Ishqi looked at each other straight into each other's eyes.

" I need that land." said Abhimaan, " Oh you are the one who wants that land." she said. Abhimaan chuckled. " Yes and I want that land." he said, " I am not stupid. That is my land and I will not give it you ever."

" You." said Abhimaan, " Hey, you must be a Thakur but you can't talk to my daughter like this." said Shrikant. Abhimaan looked at him.

" You shut up." said Abhimaan while pointing his index finger. Suddenly in a few seconds, everyone heard a slap.

That was Ishqi's slap for Abhimaan. Abhimaan's face had turned to the other side. With that slap, Raghav and all the bodyguards pointed their guns on Ishqi. " How dare you? How dare you talk to my father like that?" she shouted.

Abhimaan looked at Ishqi in anger. Abhimaan held Ishqi's hand and pulled her closer and then pressed his rough lips on Ishqi's soft pink lips.

Ishqi's heart pounded with a mix of fear and fury as Abhimaan's lips forcefully met hers. She struggled against his grip, trying to push him away, but his hold only tightened, leaving her feeling trapped and helpless.

"Let her go!" shouted Shrikant, his voice filled with rage and desperation.

Abhimaan finally released Ishqi, his eyes blazing with intensity. "You will regret that slap, Ms Ishqi Shrikant Tiwari." he growled, his tone dripping with menace.

Ishqi stood defiantly, her chest rising and falling with every breath. "I will never give in to your demands," she declared, her voice trembling with anger.

Abhimaan's jaw clenched as he struggled to control his temper. "You don't understand who you're dealing with, Ishqi. I always get what I want, one way or another."

Shrikant stepped forward, his fists clenched at his sides. "We will fight you, Abhimaan Singh Thakur. We will not let you take advantage of us. You must be the Thakur but I will not leave you for this." Shrikant shouted.

Abhimaan's lips curled into a sinister smile. "We'll see about that," he sneered before turning on his heel and striding away, leaving Ishqi and her family shaken but determined to stand their ground.

Abhimaan sat on his jeep and then drove it. Maanveer looked at Raghav. " Let's go. " said Maanveer and then sat inside the jeeps and then went behind Abhimaan.

Abhimaan came to his room and then started to break the things. Maanveer and Raghav came inside. " Bhaiya stop please. You will hurt yourself." said Maanveer.

Abhimaan looked at his brother. " I want all the information on that land." said Abhimaan, " Sure Thakur Sahab." said Raghav and then went out of the farmhouse.

Meanwhile, Ishqi came home. She was angry. She looked at her father. " Baba, I am telling you. I will not leave that Thakur." said Ishqi.

Shrikant held Ishqi's shoulder. " Ishqi, calm down. You go and rest. It is almost night time. " said Shrikant. Ishqi nodded and then walked upstairs.

Shrikant stood there and looked at her daughter. " These Thakurs need to be taught a lesson. " said Shrikant.

Shrikant went to the study and then sat down there. Ishqi came to her room and saw her best friend Preeti standing there. " Preeti, what happened?" asked Ishqi. Preeti came to Ishqi.

" Ishu told me what happened at the firm. Ishqi, don't do anything with the Thakurs. They are too powerful. Don't you know that girls are just sex toys for them. Thakur men are manwhore. They change women like clothes." said Preeti.

Ishqi sat down. " Calm down Preeti. Nothing is going to happen." said Ishqi.

Preeti's words echoed in Ishqi's mind, a stark reminder of the harsh realities of their society. She knew all too well the reputation of the Thakurs, their power and influence casting a shadow over the lives of ordinary people like herself.

But Ishqi refused to be defined by the narrow expectations of society. She was determined to fight for what she believed was right, no matter the cost.

" Preeti, I appreciate your concern, but I can't just sit back and let them bully us." Ishqi said, her voice tinged with defiance. "We have to stand up for ourselves, no matter how powerful they think they are."

Preeti sighed, her expression filled with worry. "Ishqi, I understand your frustration, but you have to be realistic. The Thakurs won't hesitate to crush anyone who dares to defy them. We have to think about your safety."

Ishqi shook her head, her resolve unwavering. "I won't let fear dictate my actions, Preeti. We have to fight back, for ourselves and for all those who have been oppressed by them. And what if they have money and power. They can't dominate us. "

Preeti reached out and grasped Ishqi's hand, her eyes filled with concern. "Ishqi, I'm with you every step of the way, but please promise me you'll be careful. We can't afford to underestimate them."

Ishqi squeezed Preeti's hand reassuringly. "I promise, Preeti. But we can't back down now. We have to show them that we won't be intimidated."

" Ishqi, I will still think once. What if Thakurs try to harm your pregnant sister in Canada?" asked Preeti. Ishqi looked at her. " Shut up Preeti. I don't want to listen to anything. " said Ishqi. Preeti shook her head.

At the farmhouse, Abhimaan was sitting on the sofa like a king. He looked at Raghav who was standing in front of her. " What is the information?" he asked, " Thakur Sahab, the will made by Ishqi ji's mother is that whoever will marry her will get that land. " said Raghav.

A smile curled up on the face of Abhimaan. " So this is it. " he said, " Bhaiya, what are you upto?" asked Maanveer. Abhimaan looked at him and smiled. " Time to give her back what she has sworn. I have a plan." said Abhimaan.

Maanveer and Raghav heard Abhimaan's plan. " Bhaiya, are you sure for this?" asked Maanveer, " Yes Maan." said Abhimaan. Maanveer shook his head. Raghav walked out of the farmhouse. Maanveer looked at his brother.

At night, Ishqi was sleeping on the bed. When with a slow push, the door of the balcony opened. Abhimaan came inside.

He looked at Ishqi who was sleeping. He smiled. " She looks like an angel when she is sleeping and an atom bomb when she is awake." said Abhimaan.

Abhimaan sat down on the bed near Ishqi's head. He looked at the hair strings that were troubling Ishqi. He moved his hand on her cheeks and removed those strings.

" Wh... Who is it?" she said and then opened her eyes. Ishqi got shocked. " What are you doing here?" asked Ishqi. She got down the bed and picked the chunni.

She wore the chunni. Abhimaan got up and slowly started to walk towards her. Ishqi moved back. " I asked you something. What are you doing here?" asked Ishqi. Abhimaan kept both his hands on the wall caging Ishqi between him and the wall.

" Shaadi kari hai, aapse. "

" I want to marry you."

" Not even in your dreams." said Ishqi. She pushed him and started to walk towards the door when. " Ishqi. " she heard a very familiar voice. She turned around and saw the laptop screen.

In that video, Mannat and Rishi were kept on the gun point. " Di. " said Ishqi. Ishqi looked at Abhimaan. " You can't do this. " said Ishqi, " If this is not enough then." said Abhimaan. Abhimaan held Ishqi's hand and pulled her out.

Ishqi looked down in the hall. She got shocked. Shrikant, Preeti and Ishaan were kept at the gunpoint. " Baba." said Ishqi. She was about to go down when Abhimaan held her. She looked at him.

" Go and get ready. I don't have time. " said Abhimaan. Ishqi nodded with tearful eyes. She slowly walked inside her room and closed it.

" Don't try to kill yourself. Because if you die then everyone will die with you." Abhimaan said. he came down and sat on the sofa. He looked at Shrikant. " So Sasur ji, be ready for the kanyadaan." said Abhimaan.

Ishqi's POV

I slide down by the gate and started to cry. Marriage has always been my dream. I wanted the best marriage in the whole state but now this marriage is nothing but a compulsion for me.

I will be tied up in a loveless marriage. I got up slowly with the help of the wall. I walked towards the closet and opened it. There was a lehenga.

I remember that she made this for me when I was only nine. She wanted to see me in this lehenga on my wedding day.

I wore that lehenga and then sat in front of the dressing table. I picked the red bridal bangles, head gare, necklace, earrings and the long nose pin.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I sat before the mirror, the weight of my mother's dreams heavy on my shoulders. The bridal attire I once envisioned wearing with joy now felt like chains, binding me to a fate I never imagined for myself.

As I adorned myself with the traditional bridal jewelry, each piece seemed to mock the dreams I once held dear. The bangles chimed a sorrowful melody, the headgear felt like a crown of thorns, and the necklace weighed down on my heart like a burden too heavy to bear.

I glanced at the reflection staring back at me, my eyes red and swollen from the tears, my face a mask of resignation. This was not how it was supposed to be. I was not supposed to be forced into a loveless marriage, a mere pawn in someone else's game of power and control.

But as I looked into my own eyes, I saw a glimmer of defiance amidst the despair. I may be cornered, but I refused to be defeated. I may be forced into this marriage, but I would not let it break me.

Today, I, Ishqi Shrikant Tiwari promises herself that I will not surrender in front of anyone, even if they are the Thakurs.