Avanthika froze for a moment when she saw Raghav sitting in the garden, legs crossed, looking as if the entire world belonged to him.
So he’s even come to seek Nani’s blessings? she thought, annoyed. Without giving him a second glance, she walked inside with complete indifference.
Maithili was waiting for her. As they walked together, Avanthika explained everything that had happened at the temple.
Maithili smiled gently. “No one knows what Lord Bholenath plans, dear. Whatever He decides will always be for good.”
She led Avanthika into the prayer room, where Avanthika placed the garland given by the priest onto the Shiva lingam and prayed quietly.
As they stepped out, they heard Kalyani Devi calling from the garden. Everyone rushed outside.
Raghav and Kishore were seated beside Kalyani Devi. Pretending not to notice them at all, Avanthika walked straight to her grandmother.
“What happened, Nani?” she asked.
Rithima answered instead. “Avanthika! Varun’s family sent these two to help us with the pre-wedding preparations.”
Avanthika’s eyes narrowed as she immediately measured Raghav with an irritated glance.
Raghav, who had been silent until then, spoke smoothly, “Not just to help. Actually, I’m here to see how well the wedding preparations are progressing.”
Turning directly to her, he added, “Miss Avanthika, what theme have you planned for the Sangeet?”
As he began talking to her, Rithima quietly took Kishore aside to explain the other arrangements, not wanting to disturb their “conversation.”
Usha and the rest of the elders walked inside.
“So, what flowers have you planned for the background?” Raghav asked next. His constant questioning from the moment he arrived had already begun to irritate her.
Trying — and failing — to hide her annoyance, she replied, “Baby pink tulips.”
Her irritation amused him. Smiling, he commented casually, “That’s very boring. Whatever you’ve arranged, change it to a pink-and-white combination.”
Avanthika’s temper spiked.
“Listen, Mister! We can’t randomly change things because you suddenly feel like it. The Sangeet is tomorrow. How can we change the flower arrangement now? And to get the combination you want, I’ll have to go all the way to Jaipur!”
Raghav laughed mockingly. “Good. Then get ready to go to Jaipur, Jhansi Rani.”
He walked inside with a teasing grin, while Avanthika clenched her teeth and followed him furiously.
He’s behaving like this because he’s still salty about what I said the other day, she thought.
And then suddenly, an idea sparked in her mind.
She went straight to Kalyani Devi and explained her plan with a sweet smile. Kalyani Devi listened — and agreed.
Both of them walked back toward Raghav.
“Raghav beta,” Kalyani Devi began kindly, “Avanthika told me what you said. Why don’t you both go together and buy whatever flowers you need?”
Raghav blinked, confused. She looked too calm — which was suspicious.
Avanthika added in an innocent tone, “You said you know better places to buy flowers, right? So I asked Nani’s permission for us to go together.”
Raghav stared at her, recognizing the challenge in her eyes.
So this is your plan? Alright. But you’ll regret bringing me along, darling, he thought.
With a sarcastic smile, he nodded. “Okay, Nani. I’m ready to go.”
Avanthika agreed and the two walked out together.
They got into the car. Without speaking a word, he buckled his seatbelt, turned to her, and ordered, “Wear your seatbelt.”
She didn’t argue this time and quietly complied.
Meanwhile — At Mehra Group Headquarters
At the headquarters of Mehra Group of Companies, its chairman, Siraj Mehra, paced angrily across his office. His assistant, Vivek, stood helplessly, unsure how to calm him.
“How? HOW, Vivek? How did the Shukla Group deal end up in Raghav’s hands?”
“Sir… they’re saying Shukla sir personally likes Raghav a lot. And… our spy said he’s planning to get his daughter, Neha, married to Raghav.”
“What?” Siraj thundered. “If Neha and Raghav get married, it’ll be the biggest merger in the business world. And after that, no one will be able to control him!”
“Sir, our spy says Raghav is currently in Jaipur. He has come for his cousin’s wedding.”
“Find out exactly where he is,” Siraj ordered, his voice low and dangerous. “Under no circumstances should this Neha–Raghav marriage happen.”
Vivek immediately contacted their spy.
The spy was on his bike, following the car carrying Raghav and Avanthika.
“Yes, sir?” he answered when Vivek called.
“Veer, where are you right now?”
“Sir, Raghav is heading down Jaipur road with… a girl. I’m following them.”
The moment Siraj heard those words — Raghav and a girl — a new plan formed in his mind.
He ordered Veer to keep following them and began arranging the next steps.
Everyone in the business world knew of the rivalry between Siraj and Raghav. The Shukla deal was extremely important to both. Siraj had tried every trick he knew, yet Raghav had secured it.
That defeat had burned Siraj’s pride.
He had planted a spy to track Raghav’s every move. And now, his new goal was simple:
Stop the Neha–Raghav marriage at any cost.
Ruin Raghav’s image in front of Shivraj Shukla.
Siraj began executing his plan immediately.
If Raghav had known what was coming, he might have stopped many of the disasters about to enter his life. But fate had already written his story.
And in that story…
the name beside his own was Avanthika.
