𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐠𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

The haveli was quieter today.

The wedding chaos had settled, guests had started leaving, and everything slowly returned to normal.

But between Anika and Veer…

Nothing was normal.

Anika walked into the courtyard, adjusting her dupatta, trying to get used to this new life.

A few village women whispered as she passed.

“Shehar ki ladki hai…”

“Dekhte hain kitne din tikti hai…”

“Great,” she muttered. “Judging already.”

Just then, a young man walked up to her with a friendly smile.

“Hi… tum Anika ho na?”

Anika looked at him, a little confused. “Haan… aur tum?”

Arjun chuckled.

“Sach kahun? Veer ne kabhi nahi bataya ki uski biwi itni… interesting hogi.”

Anika raised an eyebrow.

“Interesting?”

“Matlab… different. Thodi attitude wali,” he teased.

Anika smirked slightly.

“Good. At least kisi ne notice toh kiya.”

They both laughed lightly.

From a distance… Veer watched.

His expression unreadable.

But his eyes… slightly darker than usual.

Veer walked toward them, his steps calm but firm.

“Baaten khatam ho gayi ho toh main apni biwi se baat kar loon?”

Anika turned, slightly annoyed.

“Excuse me?”

Arjun quickly stepped back.

“Main chalta hoon… tum dono baat karo.”

And just like that, he left.

Anika crossed her arms.

“Problem kya hai, Mr. Husband?”

Veer looked at her, his tone controlled.

“Problem mujhe nahi… tumhe honi chahiye.”

Anika frowned. “Matlab?”

“Yeh gaon hai, Anika,” he said. “Yahan log dekhte hain, baatein banate hain. Har kisi se itna friendly hona zaroori nahi.”

Anika’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Oh wow. Toh ab main baat bhi nahi kar sakti kisi se?”

Veer’s jaw tightened slightly.

“Main sirf keh raha hoon—”

“—Nahi,” Anika cut him off.

“Aap keh nahi rahe, aap control kar rahe ho.”

A silence fell.

Veer stepped closer, his voice lower now.

“Main control nahi kar raha.”

Anika didn’t back down.

“Toh phir kya kar rahe ho? Mujhe rules sikha rahe ho?”

Veer looked straight into her eyes.

“Haan. Kyunki ab tum yahan ki ho.”

The words hit hard.

Anika took a step back.

“Main kisi ki ‘yahan ki’ nahi hoon. Samjhe aap?”

Her voice shook slightly—but not from fear. From anger.

“Yeh shaadi already meri choice nahi thi,” she continued.

“Matlab yeh nahi ki meri life pe bhi aapka control ho.”

Veer stayed silent for a moment.

Then he spoke.

“Tumhe lagta hai mujhe yeh sab pasand hai?”

Anika paused.

Veer’s voice wasn’t angry now. Just… real.

“Mujhe bhi yeh shaadi choose karne ka chance nahi mila, Anika,” he said.

“Par iska matlab yeh nahi ki main zimmedari ignore kar doon.”

Anika looked at him, her anger clashing with confusion.

“Zimmedari?” she repeated.

“Haan,” Veer said.

“Tum meri responsibility ho.”

Anika’s expression hardened instantly.

“Main koi responsibility nahi hoon,” she said sharply.

“Main insaan hoon.”

The words hung heavy between them.

A long silence followed.

Two people.

Two different worlds.

Two strong personalities… refusing to bend.

Finally, Anika turned away.

“Main kisi ke rules follow nahi karne wali,” she said firmly.

Veer’s voice came from behind her.

“Dekhte hain, Chhoti.”

Anika stopped for a second… then walked away.

For the first time since their marriage—

The spark between them didn’t feel soft.

It felt dangerous.

Because this wasn’t just attraction anymore…

It was a clash of ego, control, and emotions.