Chapter 11

The days in the haveli passed in a blur, but the tension between Aaradhya and Vijayendra only grew thicker, more dangerous.

Ever since that night in their room, he hadn’t let her breathe.

Every time she turned, he was there—his touch teasing, his gaze dark and knowing.

If she was walking through the corridors, his fingers would brush her waist lightly as he passed.

If she was in the kitchen, he would trap her against the counter, his lips dangerously close to her ear.

If she was dressing in the mornings, he would lean against the door, watching with lazy, heated eyes, making no effort to hide his hunger.

It was driving her insane.

He was relentless, his touches growing bolder, his kisses lingering longer.

But worst of all?

She was losing the battle against herself.

She could feel her control slipping every time he whispered her name in that deep, husky voice.

Every time he touched her, she felt like she was standing at the edge of a cliff—waiting to fall.

But life in the haveli had other plans.

---

Aaradhya had just finished setting the dining table when she heard the sound of heels clicking against the marble floor.

She turned, and her heart dropped.

Standing at the entrance of the hall was Dejwanti Devi—Vijayendra’s Bua.

A woman whose presence always meant trouble.

Dressed in an expensive silk saree, her sharp eyes scanned the room with a look of distaste.

Her lips curled into a smirk when she saw Aaradhya.

"Ah, so the new Thakurain is still here. I thought by now, you would have left, realizing you don’t belong in this family.”

Aaradhya clenched her fists, forcing a polite smile.

Dejwanti never lost a chance to humiliate her.

And today was no different.

“I’m exactly where I should be, Bua-sa.” Aaradhya’s voice was calm but firm.

Dejwanti let out a mocking laugh.

“Really? Then why is the entire haveli talking about how you still haven’t won Vijayendra’s heart?”

Aaradhya stiffened.

Before she could reply, Dejwanti’s voice dropped into a false whisper.

“Do you know how many women used to throw themselves at Vijayendra before you? How many of them were more beautiful and more powerful than you?”

Aaradhya swallowed hard, her fingers trembling against the edge of the dining table.

She knew this was Dejwanti’s game.

To plant seeds of doubt.

To break her.

But then, Dejwanti delivered the final blow.

“You think he only spends his nights with you? How naive, Thakurain.” She smirked. “A man like Vijayendra can never be tied to one woman.”

Something inside Aaradhya snapped.

She turned sharply, her voice dangerously quiet.

“I don’t need to listen to your poison, Bua-sa.” Aaradhya said, trying to control her temper, but then hearing her next words, the ground slipped her feet.

"If you don't believe then you can ask anyone or search yourself that he everyday goes to kotha(whorehouse) "

Dejwanti merely smiled, victorious.

But the damage was already done.

The words clung to Aaradhya like thorns, burrowing deep into her mind.

"You..you are lying" Aaradhya said making her smirk.

"You forgot he is a thakur and aur Thakur kabhi ek aurat se band kar nahi rahete,joh cheej ushe tumse nahi milegi woh ushe doosari aurat se le lega.  If you want then you yourself follow him and see that where he goes at night after dinner " Dejwanti said before walking away.

(He is a Thakur. And a Thakur man can never be stay bounded be with one woman. The pleasure he will not get from you , he will take it from other woman. )

Meanwhile Aaradhya stood there frozen, her fingers clenching the soft fabric of her lehnga. The words of Dejwanti echoed in her mind like a poisonous chant, refusing to leave her alone.

"If you don’t believe me, then follow him and see for yourself."

She wanted to brush it off as a cruel attempt to break her, but doubt had already taken root in her heart.

Vijayendra had never told her where he went every night after dinner. He never shared anything beyond what he wanted her to see.

What if… what if it was true?

Her chest ached at the mere thought, but she needed to see it with her own eyes.

That night, she waited.

Dinner was served as usual. Vijayendra sat at the head of the table, his presence commanding as always, but tonight, Aaradhya couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze. Her heart pounded every time he looked at her, every time his deep voice filled the room.

Was he lying to her all this time?

Would he go to another woman after touching her so intimately?

The meal ended, and just as Dejwanti had said, Vijayendra rose from his seat. He adjusted his shawl, exchanged a few words with the guards, and then walked out into the night.

Aaradhya’s hands trembled as she followed him, keeping her distance in the shadows.

The air was cold, biting against her skin, but she barely felt it.

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as she trailed behind him, watching his every move.

Minutes passed, the journey stretching unbearably long. Then, suddenly, she stopped breathing.

She watched as Vijayendra came to a halt in front of a grand, old haveli at the far end of the town.

A place infamous among the villagers.

Her stomach twisted painfully as her worst fears took form right before her eyes.

It was a kotha.

The very place Dejwanti had spoken of.

A brothel.

Her fingers went numb as she watched Vijayendra push open the doors and step inside without a second of hesitation.

She felt like the ground beneath her had cracked open, swallowing her whole.

Her breath hitched, her body frozen in place, unable to believe what she was seeing.

"No… no… this can’t be true…"

Her mind screamed for her to look away, to turn back, to leave before she saw something that would break her even more.

But she stood there, watching in disbelief, waiting… hoping…

Hoping that he would come back out.

That he wouldn’t betray her like this.

But minutes passed, and he didn’t return.

Aaradhya felt something shatter inside her.

Her chest constricted, her throat burned, and before she could stop herself, hot tears spilled down her cheeks.

The man she had started to fall for, the one who had made her weak with his touch, was spending his nights in the arms of another woman.

Had she really meant nothing to him?

Had she been just another passing pleasure?

A sob escaped her lips before she could stop it.

A sudden fear gripped her as she took a step back, wiping her tears hurriedly. She couldn't let him see her. She couldn’t bear the humiliation.

Turning on her heel, she ran.

Ran away from the truth.

Ran away from the pain threatening to consume her whole.

Ran away from the man who had just broken her heart.

.

.

It was late night Aaradhya sat by the mirror, brushing her hair, but her mind was elsewhere.

Dejwanti’s voice haunted her.

"You think he only spends his nights with you?"

"A man like Vijayendra can never be tied to one woman. "

She wanted to ignore it, wanted to believe in him.

But then—how can she ignore what she saw today?

Why did he went to a brothel?

Why had he never once told her he loved her?

Why was she the only one falling?

Just then, the door clicked open, and a familiar heat filled the room.

Vijayendra.

She caught his reflection in the mirror as he leaned against the doorframe, watching her with dark, unreadable eyes.

But tonight, there was something different in his gaze, it was red, he was drunk.  His eyes were screaming-

Something dangerous.

Something hungry.

Without a word, he walked over and stood behind her, his hand held her waist, pulling her to himself.

"You are awake?" He asked, his lips lingering neae the nape of her neck , his nose brushing her cheeks.

"Where were you till now?" Aaradhya asked. 

"I had some work " He said, his fingers reaching out to undo the knot of her blouse.

Feeling his move Aaradhya clenched her fist tightly.

His touch was slow, deliberate—as if he was claiming her.

But all she could hear was Dejwanti’s voice.

"Do you know how many women used to throw themselves at Vijayendra before you?"

"You think he only spends his nights with you?"

A wave of doubt and fury crashed over her as she remembered the scene of him entering the brothel.

She grabbed his wrist, pushing him away hardly, making him stumble.

Vijayendra’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening.

“What is it?” His voice was low, laced with dangerous restraint.

Aaradhya stood up, wrapping her dupatta around herself like a shield.

“Stay away from me. I am not one of your playthings, Vijayendra.”

His expression darkened instantly.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Aaradhya let out a bitter laugh, her pain bubbling over into fury.

“It means I won’t let you use me whenever you feel like it and then—”

He took a menacing step forward, his voice sharp.

“And then what?”

Aaradhya clenched her fists.

“And then go to someone else!”

The room fell deathly silent.

Vijayendra’s body went rigid, his eyes flashing with something dangerous.

“What. Did. You. Say?” His voice was pure steel.

Aaradhya’s heart pounded.

But the pain, the humiliation, the poison Dejwanti had planted in her—it all exploded at once.

“I said I won’t let you treat me like all those other women you have outside!” she spat, her voice shaking.

For the first time, she saw it—pure rage flickering in Vijayendra’s eyes.

His ego.

His pride.

His possessiveness—it all burned in that single moment.

And then—his lips curled into a cruel smirk.

"You think I am cheating on you?" He asked, making her look away from him.

"Is that what you think of me?" He asked , pulling her to him. His voice was eerily calm.

Aaradhya said nothing, her breath uneven.

Seeing her non chalent behavior , Vijayendra let out a low chuckle, but there was no humor in it.

“Fine, Aaradhya.” He stepped back, his eyes cold as ice.

"From now on, I will never come close to you again until the time you yourself come to me."

Her heart stopped.

Before she could speak, he grabbed his coat and walked out, slamming the door shut behind him.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Aaradhya sank onto the bed, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

What had she done?

Her fingers trembled as she reached for her mangalsutra, a sudden ache blooming in her heart.

She had pushed him away.

But wasn't it his mistake?

He was the one who destroyed everything, then why was her heart clenching?

The days that followed were colder than the bitter winds that swept through the haveli.

Vijayendra tried—tried to reach her, to explain—but every time Aaradhya turned away, her anger a shield he could not break.

She was still furious.

Still wounded.

And nothing he said could erase the image of him walking into the kotha that night.

The second night after their fight, after yet another night of unbearable silence, Vijayendra finally lost his patience.

He found Aaradhya in their room, standing by the mirror, braiding her long hair. She looked calm, but he knew better.

She was anything but calm.

"How long are you going to keep this up?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet.

Aaradhya didn’t answer.

Didn’t even glance at him.

He exhaled harshly, stepping closer. "I need to talk to you."

She continued braiding her hair, her face void of emotion.

Vijayendra clenched his jaw. "Damn it, Aaradhya! At least listen to me!"

Finally, she turned. Her gaze was cold and distant. "Listen? To what, Vijayendra? Another lie?"

His fists clenched. "It wasn’t what you think—"

"Then tell me," she snapped, stepping closer. "Tell me why you were there. Tell me why I should believe you after everything."

Vijayendra opened his mouth, then shut it.

Because he knew—words weren’t enough.

She let out a bitter laugh. "See? You have no answer."

Her gaze darkened with pain. "I gave you everything, Vijayendra. My trust, my loyalty, and myself. And you—" her voice cracked, but she held firm, "—you made me look like a fool."

His heart twisted.

"Aaradhya—"

"I hate you."

The words struck like a dagger.

For the first time in his life, Vijayendra Thakur felt helpless.

But he masked it with indifference.

He straightened, his expression unreadable. "Fine."

She blinked, startled by his sudden calmness.

"You want to believe the worst of me? So be it," he said quietly, his voice laced with finality. "I won’t explain myself again."

Aaradhya’s fingers curled into fists. "Good."

And with that, they turned away from each other—two strangers sharing the same bed, but nothing else. 

Lots of love to you all

Love you all

Itsyourblackrose