Thanishka’s POV

All because of a stupid dare, I had ruined my life entirely. In a single moment of recklessness, I had destroyed my family’s honor, along with the fame and power that this marriage would have brought me.

I clenched my fists tightly, cursing myself for my foolishness. Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed the sharp sound of fingers snapping until it pulled me back to reality.

He stood before me, smirking, his fingers casually tucked into his pockets.

"Lover?" I repeated, my voice filled with disbelief.

"Yes," he confirmed, completely unbothered.

Anger surged through me as I took a step forward. "What the hell are you talking about? Stop this nonsense and get lost!"

I didn’t know how I found the courage to say that, but the moment the words left my lips, I saw his eyes darken. His smirk only deepened as he reached out, his fingers lightly brushing the side of my face before tilting my chin up.

"Listen, my Gulabi. I know you have thorns around you, but I'm not afraid of them. Understand? Now move your ass from here and come with me like a good little girl," he murmured, pushing my face slightly to the side.

"Vinu naa Gulabi, nee chuttu mullulu unnayi ani naaku telusu, kaani nenu vatini bhayapadanu. Ardhamayinda? Ippudu neellu akkada nunchi kadilinchu mari manchi chinna ammayilaga naa vanta ra!"

I felt my father step forward to shield me, but before he could act, the man swiftly pulled out a gun and pointed it directly at me.

"One step forward, and this beautifully decorated wedding will turn into a crimson massacre, dripping with all of your blood. Understood?" His voice was terrifyingly calm, as if he had uttered those words a thousand times before.

"Nana, please," I pleaded, watching as my father clenched his fists in helpless rage.

I turned back to the man who held my fate in his hands. "You!" I spat. "I am not going anywhere with you! Do you think I will simply obey you because of your threats? I am not your puppet, and you do not own me!"

He merely tilted his head, tapping the temple of his head with the barrel of his gun, as if contemplating something.

"Your choice," he said.

And before I could react, he lifted me into his arms effortlessly.

"Put me down!" I shouted, pounding my fists against his chest. But it was useless—he was too strong.

Then, without warning, a gunshot echoed through the mandap, and the sound made me instinctively clutch onto him. Above us, a ball filled with rose petals, meant to shower down at the end of the wedding ceremony, burst open prematurely due to his shot. The petals rained over us, making it feel like we were trapped in a scene from some dramatic film.

He chuckled. "Someone was asking to be let go a moment ago, and now they’re clinging to me like a leech," he teased.

I didn’t respond. My mind was too overwhelmed, my heart pounding in my chest.

Then, in a loud and clear voice, he declared, "I am Arjun Sena."

Gasps and murmurs spread through the crowd.

Arjun Sena… The name sounded familiar. I had heard it somewhere before, but I couldn’t quite place it.

His grip on me tightened as he continued, "She is mine now. I will wed her, and none of you are invited to this wedding—including you, Gopal Sharma."

He turned and descended the steps, carrying me as if I weighed nothing.

How dare he? How could he claim me without even asking for my opinion? And the audacity to address my father by his name, without any formality!

I struggled, trying to break free, but it was futile. His grip was like iron.

He reached a car, yanked the door open, and threw me inside before stepping in himself and locking the doors. I scrambled toward the opposite door, desperate to escape, but it wouldn’t budge.

I didn’t even get the chance to look back at my father.

"Drive," he commanded, and just like that, my world was ripped away from me.