Having recomposed herself from fully agaped mouth; she gasped,"What do you mean I must marry Kiaan?"

Still attired in a long white lab coat, Eshana had just returned from attending college classes, when she was basically ambushed with the words of newly decided arrangement. Eshana couldn't believe her ears. Her mother, Neha, stood before her, arms crossed, rolling her eyes at her daughter, before replying,"It's decided, Eshana. Your father and I have agreed."

"Agreed to what? To ruin my life?" Eshana's voice trembled with a mix of anger and disbelief. Her disconcerted heart had turned stone-cold as she derisively sneered. "Kiaan doesn't love me. All because my step sister decided to betray Kiaan and the Shekhawat's, you're expecting me to make it up for them by marrying him? You all decided that I am to be the sacrificial lamb thrown in the fire pit, is that it?"

Her father quickly ruffled the paper's pages a couple of times, as he ignored his daughter's questions, keeping his eyes averted down towards the newspaper while pretending not to hear her.

Kiaan was the head of Shekhawat family, with a net worth of around 100 billion. All those in upper echelons of India were well aware of the fact that for nearly three years he was in a steady relationship with the older daughter of Ahuja family, Jaisvi. He was handsome and talented, while she was beautiful and affectionate, and they had planned on getting married a long time ago. However, all that had abruptly changed three months ago. Kiaan was involved in a car accident which left his lower body paralysed and totally disfigured his face, transforming him into a crippled, vegetative, and ugly monster.

It was blatantly obvious to Eshana that her sister's feelings for Kiaan had immediately diminished after the accident. Over the past three months she had only gone to hospital twice; while spending most of her time with Kiaan's younger brother, Medhansh.

Repeatedly caught red-handed while out-on-the-town by the paparazzi; it wasn't long before the news of their illicit affair spread like wildfire.

All throughout the upper echelons of India, everyone gossiped over this scandalous topic, laughing at and mocking Kiaan. It wasn't bad enough that he had been disabled in the accident, but his beloved girlfriend had also abandoned him to hook up with his own brother. Talk about embarrassing.

And not just for Kiaan, but for Ahuja family as well because everyone was looking down on Jaisvi's shamefully heartless behaviour of deserting her former beau after being crippled. In order to redeem themselves and save face, the Ahuja family wanted Eshana to take her sister's place and marry Kiaan.

After Eshana's brief outburst, the sudden clashing of porcelain dishware smashing down heavily on the table resounded.

In an elegant manner, Jaisvi daintily wiped the corner of her mouth with her napkin while a charmingly genteel smile emerged upon her exquisite face, her eyes flashed a contradictory cold standoffish gaze.

"Betrayed him; you say? Eshana, I'll have you know that Kiaan and I are just friends. It's always been Medhansh who I truly loved, and he loves me so stop speaking nonsense. It's fine, I suppose, if you want to talk trash here, for now .... but once you marry into Shekhawat family, you'd better not speak that nonsense anymore if you know what's good for you."

Neha quickly concurred,"That's right. You'd better heed your sister's advice." Then she tried justifying their deplorably selfish decision to have Eshana marry Kiaan. "Your father and I are doing this for your sake, ham iss shaadi ki vyavastha ye sunishchit karane ke liye kar rahe hai ki tumhe ek accha pati mile. And, once you and Kiaan are married, our tie with the Shekhawat family will be even closer than before."

(Your father and I are doing this for your sake, we're arranging this marriage to make sure you end up with a good husband. And, once you and Kiaan are married, our tie with the Shekhawat family will be even closer than before.)

Eshana's shattering heart pounded in her chest, racing as quickly as her rapidly rising ire. A deluge of intense emotions began overwhelming her as all sort of jumbled thoughts swirled through her mind. In a matter of seconds her face flushed turning a dark, beet red shade from anger.

Eshana bitterly scoffed,"'Doing this for my sake'? Really? Is that so?" With disdain now seething in her heart, she rebukingly glared at her sister with piercing eyes,"From the moment you found out Kiaan was horribly disfigured and would be disabled for life, you conveniently happened to 'fall in love' with his younger brother, throwing me under the bus and making it necessary for our parents to force me to marry him in your place. Of all the conniving schemes ... you've really outdone yourself this time." Eshana spat venomously at her.

Jaisvi had always been extremely vain, and highly self-conscious about how people thought about or viewed her. Once her formerly talented and handsome boyfriend became disabled and disfigured, with a face now so horrid that it's said he could scare children into running away crying, it was no wonder she would end up cheating on him.

Eshana suddenly recalled the photo of Kiaan she saw in one of those tabloid magazines a few days ago, in which one of the paparazzi managed to candidly photograph him while lying unconscious on his hospital bed.

To say that his face was a little disturbing would be an absolute understatement. Devastatingly mangled from the car's explosion, his face was irrevocably damaged, with deep scarring, nerve and tissue damaged. He had multiple skull and jaw fractures, and his eyebrows were permanently burned away with no chance of growing back. Just like his face, his body also sustained heavy scarring and deep tissue burns. He appeared to be some sort of revolting monstrosity that even adults would either feel squeamish or fearful of if they saw him.

"You have the audacity to speak as if you were piously righteous, selflessly thinking what's in my best interest, jab ki sach to ye hai ki tum sab sirf apne barein mein soch rahe ho ki Shekhawat parivaar mein meri shadi se Ahuja parivaar ko kitna fayda hoga." Eshana's eyes darkened ever so slightly as she derisively glared at them. In the five years since her birth mother passed away, she rarely quarrelled with these people. On those rare occasions when she did, her face never became so flushed that it turned any shade of red.

("You have the audacity to speak as if you were piously righteous, selflessly thinking what's in my best interest, when in truth you're only thinking of yourselves and how me marrying into Shekhawat family would benefit the Ahuja family.)

Just because she didn't want to quarrel with them and avoided confrontation whenever she could, she was determined not to be controlled by the Ahuja family and was prepared to steadfastly refuse to give into their wishes.

Usually putting on front to appear as an elegant, refined young woman with a gentle disposition, the 'Shadow Queen' would make it to the point to intentionally convey a calming reserved and amicable expression. But after hearing Eshana's accusations, which were actually more like facts, her countenance revealed her true-self as her eyes exhibited a ruthlessly resolute gaze.

"Eshana, just who the hell do you think you are, talking about me like that? About our parents? Have you forgotten that the Ahuja family has graciously raised you for all those years without asking for anything in return?" That ruthlessly resolute stare had transformed into a maliciously malevolent glare, looking as if she wanted to tear Eshana apart as she raised her voice. "Is this how you repay the Ahuja family?! If that's the case, as far as I see you have no place in this house."

Eshana momentarily lost her composure, tightly closing her eyes as she briefly hyperventilated.

After settling down and managing to compose herself, she immediately went on the defensive and retaliated. "Heh ... and just exactly how noble do you think you actually are? Perhaps you've forgotten, but back in the beginning, your mother was nothing more than my father's mistress. Once my mother passed away this so-called family chiefly relied on living off of the property she left behind. And you have the audacity to stand there denouncing me to my face? You really are pathetic, you know what? I might have even felt a little sorry for you if I weren't so disgusted by you."

"Eshana!" her father sharply bellowed as he finally put the newspaper aside. He reproach fully frowned at her. "Is that really how you should be talking to a sister? And your older sister at that?"

She had long given up on her father since learning that he had a mistress, which in her eyes was totally disrespectful towards her mother. She stood there with a stoic expression and indifference in her eyes before just simply rolling her eyes at him.

He went on,"And what exactly is your problem anyway? The Shekhawat family is one of the most prominent and wealthiest families in all of India. Heiresses and socialities would line up for miles just to have a chance to be in their presence. But, here you are, an impudent girl who, for your Kanha Ji only knows why, somehow feels wronged by having to marry Kiaan and become the wife of one of the most eligible bachelors in all of high society."

Eshana almost burst out into an uproarious laughter after hearing that, nearly biting off her tongue while trying to keep from laughing in his face.

'Chutiya bana na koi inn logo se sikhe ... Itna hi accha chance hota toh ye apne bade beti ki hi shaadi nahi kara dete the usse .... Saale sab doo number ke laalchi darinde hai!' Eshana cursed at each of them with her colourful words, in her mind.

(One should learn how to fool the people, from these people ... If the chance was really that prestigious then they would've married their older daughter with him ... Such a greedy dogs they are!)

"Dad, do you really think that I'm actually that stupid? Do you honestly take me for a fool or what? If Kiaan is really as wonderful as you claim him to be, then why didn't Chloe marry him while she had the chance? She was with one of the most eligible bachelors' for three years, yet after  being with Medhansh for only three months, it's true love. Seriously, Dad, who are you trying to lie to?" Eshana glanced over at her sister and impishly grinned while flippantly quipping,"Or is Jaisvi actually that stupid?"

Jaisvi abruptly jumped to her feet and tightly pursed her lips. A melancholic visage suddenly overtook her, then she slowly raised her hand and ominously pointed at Eshana almost as if she was warning her. "Who I choose to be with is no concern of yours, so shut your mouth. What you need to focus on now is becoming Kiaan Shekhawat's wife. Because if you don't, well, then don't go blaming me for being impolite."

Right after that an unnerving silence befell the room and a mounting tension permeated the the air. Her father so badly wanted to scold her for her insolence, but reluctantly refrained from saying anything. Truth was, he reminded himself that Eshana was supposed to be marrying into the Shekhawat family soon and he would need her help in dealing with them. Essentially, she would soon be the liaison between the Shekhawat and Ahuja families.

Neha, on the other hand, wasn't looking that far down the road and was only brooding about their present conversation. With an evident touch of resentment in her tone, she scornfully chided her stepdaughter. "Is it really necessary for you to look down on us? Especially since it's already hard enough as it is for us to fix you up with such a wealthy family to marry into, allowing you to enjoy a happy life? I suggest you check that attitude of yours, young lady, and be more gracious in accepting this marriage arrangement. Because if you refuse us this time, next time an offer of marriage comes around you might not be so fortunate. Opportunities like this don't present themselves that often."

Once again, Eshana had to keep from bursting out laughing. She couldn't believe it. Was Neha actually trying to threaten her?

She impishly smirked while saucily retorting,"Did you really think that by trying to criticize me, and in such a poor attempt at that, I might add, I'd cave in and submit to your request? Don't bother wasting your breath trying to spew your dogmatic rhetoric on me. Unlike some of us here, I don't want to easily give in and sell my dignity for the sake of wealth and status. Especially if it means becoming someone's kept woman or mistress. Whoever I eventually end up marrying will have nothing to do with you."

Neha was momentarily taken aback. She was chastised by Eshana in such a berating manner that she could barely contain her disdain for her nemesis's daughter. She childishly stomped her feet, then brusquely crossed her arms across her chest while expelling an exaggeratedly exasperated huff, finishing with a disgruntled "Humph!!" Neha then looked over at her husband and scowled.

Still feeling somewhat ashamed over his betraying infidelity to his deceased ex-wife, he always had a difficult time facing Eshana. But Neha had just been, in his opinion, disrespectfully berated by Eshana, and as her husband, not to mention his yearning desire to prove his manliness in front of his wife and daughters, he decided not to care anymore about sparing Eshana's feelings. He immediately sprung up from the couch and rushed over to her. He firmly grasped her arm and forcefully dragged her to her room then roughly shoved her in and locked the door.

He loudly shouted through the door in his most authoritive tone,"You insensibly little brat! How dare you? You'll stay in that room and think long and hard about it. Whether you agree to marry Kiaan or not, if I say that you'll marry him, then you will! And if you don't agree with it and insist on refusing to marry him, then don't you even think about leaving that room!"

This is an Indian Desi-romance book so some of the phrases would be in hindi, but I've given the translations of them in italic style, in the brackets. Also, since I'm at it I might add, this is a book from another author and the only difference is that it is in foreign theme whereas I'm performing it in Indian theme, so the credit goes to its original author. But, I might as well add, I'm going to change some of the scenes from the original book and plots as well, if in case, so for those who might've read this book before would face some slightly changes in this version of book. And, No, I'm not completely copying that book. I'm just taking in the starting parts then later the following story would be my own, so the credits partially goes to me as well. 

As well as that's been done said, I may accept any negative comments on the book because it only helps me understand my flaws better and correct them. But I would not tolerate any negative remark saying I'm simply just copying someone else's work and gaining the fame... Let me tell you again sweeties, as I said it already, I'm not copying the work completely, but just the initial parts, then as the story flows, the work will be my own. 

If you cannot talk good, then you shouldn't talk bad as well. That's all for today. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, next chapter is near complete so, I'm possitive to update it by next upcoming days. Stay tuned for more updates. Thankyou for reading!  

Support the original author on its official website on 'Pocket Novel FM Reader' app.. The book name is 'Detective Bride'.