Page 11 of Substitute Bride

THEIR FIRST CONVERSATION

"Your mom and dad are in the next room."

Jhankar simply stares at him, her eyes vacant, unreadable.

She doesn't question him further, nor does she attempt to free her hand or attack him.

She simply stands motionless, her silence echoing louder than words.

Vikrant glances around at everyone else in the room, and with a mere flick of his eyes, they immediately bow their heads and leave the area, sensing that their presence is no longer welcome.

Once the individuals have exited, Vikrant retrieves the statue from her grasp, placing it carefully back in its original position on the table.

He meticulously checks the statue, ensuring its correct position, as if restoring order to something symbolic.

Then, finally releasing her wrist, he takes her hand in his and examines the wound, from which blood is still dripping.

His jaw tightens slightly at the sight. Without wasting a second, he glances outside and dials the nurse, all the while keeping his intense gaze locked on Jhankar's stunned and silent expression.

“Nurse, there is blood flowing from her hand. Please treat her first. Bring food for madam... (Call house help.)”

His commanding voice breaks the silence like thunder.

It distracts her, dragging her back from her thoughts.

She mumbles something under her breath, still looking down, refusing to meet his eyes.

She would rather not hear anything from him.

She turns slightly as if to speak, but Vikrant raises his index finger, pressing it firmly to his lips, gesturing for her to remain silent.

He walks further inside and seats himself on the sofa, relaxed yet alert.

Jhankar remains standing by the door, unwilling to move closer.

The nurse quietly enters the room, immediately sensing the tension in the air.

She gently takes Jhankar’s injured hand, leading her to the bed with soft, careful movements.

She begins to bandage her wound properly, all while maintaining respectful silence.

After finishing the task, she bows her head and leaves swiftly.

Vikrant watches all of her actions with caution, analyzing every reaction, every twitch of her face.

Once the nurse leaves, Jhankar turns towards him, her eyes burning, and immediately speaks.

“Where are my mom and dad?”

“They’re both absolutely fine and are resting in the adjacent room. You’ll be allowed to meet them very soon. But before that, you need to eat something and get ready properly. You’re going out with me for the first time. We’re going somewhere, and it’s very important.”

Vikrant rises from the sofa and begins to explain, but Jhankar abruptly steps forward, standing firm, her eyes blazing.

“To hell with you—and to hell with wherever you want to go. I don’t want to go anywhere with you…

I didn’t know you before today, and I don’t want to know you after today.

You and I, there is nothing between us… Please keep the event clearly in mind.

Whatever happened, however, I don’t want to be part of it.

The only thing I know is that I need to take my parents and leave this place.

Other than that, I don’t care about anything else.

Now listen to me clearly, I want to meet my parents. ”

Vikrant, expecting her defiance, stays calm and composed.

He simply continues to look at her face, letting her rage pour out without interruption.

When her voice finally falls silent, she looks away in frustration, unwilling to meet his gaze.

But even then, he keeps his eyes locked on her, unmoving, unreadable.

Her anger only intensifies as she notices him still staring.

“What’s wrong with your eyes? ... What do you think of yourself? ... You think you can keep people captive like this? ... That’s not going to happen. My parents and I, we’ll get out of this captivity. You’ll see.”

“And you think it will be that easy?” he says calmly.

Upon hearing his voice, Jhankar immediately turns her head and glares at him.

Vikrant takes a slow step closer and gently bends toward her, his face now just inches from hers.

She meets his eyes, but what she sees sends a chill down her spine, danger, dominance, and something else unspoken.

He smirks, then speaks in a chilling tone.

“Hmm… Nice idea... And as soon as you step outside, the three of you conveniently meet with an accident. Then no one will even bother to ask how it happened... Or maybe... your brother, who is currently preparing to flee the country and is desperately searching for the right opportunity—he not only fails, but his dead body is sent home. How would you feel if you got just one chance to see him for the last time? Would that satisfy you?”

“You bastard… ”

In a rage, Jhankar strikes his neck with her palm.

Vikrant dodges the blow effortlessly, but she immediately lifts her other hand to slap him again.

This time, he catches both her wrists with swift precision and pins her tightly against the wall.

Grasping both her wrists in one strong hand, he raises them above her head and places his other palm flat against her flat belly, pressing her back against the wall.

His eyes bore into hers, dark and deadly.

“I’m not in the habit of playing games. I’m only telling you the truth—the brutal, unfiltered truth.

The entire media house has declared our marriage publicly.

In the eyes of the world, you are my wife.

If I act out of anger, I could do much worse.

Your parents are just next door. You might get to see them.

But if you say even one more word out of place, you will lose that chance forever. ”

His voice hardens further as he leans in closer.

“Think carefully. Be wise. Viren Chandel is tracking your brother. If he reaches him before I do, your brother won’t survive.

And not just die, he will be unrecognizable.

But if you listen to me, if you cooperate, I still have the power to protect your entire family right now.

I can even help your brother escape with his girlfriend, just like he’s planning. ”

Jhankar stares into his eyes, her breath trembling.

What she sees in them isn’t just danger, it’s the terrifying weight of truth.

She swallows hard, trying to break free, her eyes shifting to the side in despair, and he loosens his grip but doesn't move. She places her hands on his chest, pushing him away. Sensing her resistance, he slightly loosens his grip but still doesn’t release her fully.

Guiding her toward the bed with firm control, he forces her to sit.

Then, he moves back to the sofa and calls out in a thunderous voice.

“Helper...”

The maid hurries in with a plate of food, her head bowed low. Jhankar’s eyes remain fixed on Vikrant, not even acknowledging the helper. She watches every expression on his face, trying to make sense of the man in front of her. Vikrant turns his fury on the helper.

“When something is supposed to be done, why don’t you do it on time? You’ve known for two hours that she needs to be fed, what caused the delay?”

“I-I’m sorry, sir,”

She replies, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor.

She doesn’t dare look up as she places the food carefully on the table beside Jhankar and begins to serve her.

Jhankar glances at the food, then looks up at Vikrant again.

He hasn’t moved. He sits there, silently watching her, his expression unreadable.

He speaks once more, not to her, but to the helper.

“You can leave now. After she eats, you all know what needs to be done. And I don’t want any mess.”

“Yes, sir...”

The helper bows once again before quickly leaving the room.

She quickly disappears from the room, knowing that lingering even a second longer could put her life in danger.

Jhankar, now seated on the bed, clenches her fists in her lap, refusing to touch the food.

But her heart pounds with conflicting emotions: rage, helplessness, and the bitter weight of the truth Vikrant has just thrust in front of her.

Vikrant’s full attention now shifts to Jhankar, who refuses to look directly at him, her eyes wandering across the room as if searching for an escape route.

He glances at the food and then addresses her calmly but firmly.

“Let’s eat something. After that, we have to talk about something important.”

“I don’t want to eat. Say whatever you want to say. But first, let me meet my parents.”

"First, you will eat," he replies, his tone brooking no argument.

"Then some people will come in and help you get ready. We're going to the hospital to meet my mother. After that, you’ll be allowed to meet your parents properly. No one will stop you. They’ll be going home with full respect afterward. "

Upon hearing those words, Jhankar’s expression changes. Her eyes flicker with urgency, and she interrupts him.

“I want to go with my parents.”

Vikrant falls silent, staring at her intently, his expression unreadable.

Jhankar, unwilling to be restrained any longer, takes a firm step toward the door.

Without hesitation, she attempts to open it, only to find it locked.

Realizing this, she immediately turns back, her eyes burning with disbelief and fury.

Vikrant remains seated calmly on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, watching her without a flicker of concern.

She storms toward him, her voice shaking with rage.

“Open the door. I have to go from here with my parents. That’s all I know.”

He raises an eyebrow, his voice low but menacing.

“So, you’re saying you don’t care about your parents? Or your brother?”

“Mr. Vikrant Dhanraj,” she says through gritted teeth, “whatever threats you’re trying to make, keep them to yourself.

I’m not afraid of you. I’ve told you what I want; meeting my parents is the only thing that matters to me right now.

I don’t care about anything else. So stop trying to manipulate me. ”

Vikrant's jaw tightens. No one had ever dared defy him so directly before. Anger boils inside him, but he knows he cannot afford to lose control, not with this girl, not at this moment. Taking a deep breath, he speaks with deliberate clarity.

"You’re not willing to listen to me, yet you expect me to listen to you? Do I look like a fool to you?"

Jhankar’s fury is at its peak, but fear is nowhere in her stance.

Though she is alone with him, her mind remains preoccupied with only one thought—her parents.

Where are they? Are they safe? She places one hand on her forehead and the other on her waist, pacing briefly before turning sharply back to him and shouting.

“Exactly what do you want?”

“Eat your meal first,” he commands, his voice now laced with restrained irritation.

“I don’t want anything!”

She snaps at him with such intensity that even Vikrant momentarily restrains his reply.

Instead, he gazes into her eyes, speaking with barely controlled authority.

The force behind his gaze unnerves her, yet she refuses to submit.

He shrugs off his suit jacket and settles back into the sofa, relaxed yet intimidating.

He conceals two holstered pistols beneath his arms and tucks another one visibly at his waist. Jhankar observes them right away.

Her eyes freeze on the weapons, but soon they travel upward, locking with his.

He repeats himself, more sternly this time.

“EAT. YOUR. FOOD.”

Conflicted and anxious, Jhankar is torn.

Her heart races with thoughts of her brother and parents.

She isn't concerned about this man’s power or what he wants from her.

She only knows that as long as her family is in his grip, she must survive and must endure.

If obeying means gaining a moment with them, she’ll bear it.

She sits down at the table silently, picks up a morsel of food, and shoves it in her mouth.

She breaks each bite quickly, chewing minimally, swallowing each piece with gulps of water to mask her resistance.

It’s not nourishment she’s seeking—it’s survival.

Vikrant observes every move with sharp, unreadable eyes, his face as still as stone.

He doesn’t speak. He doesn’t blink. He just watches.

Jhankar finishes the plate quickly, barely tasting a single bite, then stands with the glass still in her hand.

She’s still chewing the last bit of food with difficulty, using the water to force it down.

“I want to meet my parents first.”

She walks straight up to him, standing tall, her eyes locked directly onto his. There's confidence in her gaze now, even as exhaustion weighs down her limbs. Vikrant lets out a deep breath and responds, his voice low and measured.

“Okay…”