"Mukthi, you have 30 seconds to explain yourself before I kill your 'fiancée'." She said glaring daggers at him.
                          
"I'd love to see you try, honey" Anikit said smirking at her. 
                          
"Hey! Watch you mouth." Dhruv said taking a threatening step towards him his eyes hard. 
                          
Mukthi stepped in between stopping them both before a fight could ensue. "Dhruv! Pls calm down." She said begging him with her eyes. She whirled around glaring at her brand new fiancée  "And You! One more word to my friends and I'll kill you myself." 
                          
All she got in response to her threat was an eyeroll and a godforsaken smirk. Mukthi took a deep breath counting to ten. Calming her self down she faced her friends. 
                          
"Okay. I'll explain. So you guys know that my mom had been forcing me to get married for some time now. Right? Yeah so things got a bit out of hand when my mom called my dad. He... he is quite a ruthless business man. Even when the buisness is his daughter. So he knew my weakness was my NGO works and he threatened to cut off all the financial aid to the organization if I don't marry the guy he chose."
                          
" So you've been forced to marry this jerk? No. This is so not happening. We'll find a way around it Mukthi. Don't worry" Cabir said.
                          
"No! It's not just that guys. It's just wishful thinking to believe thay my parents will let this go. It just won't happen. If not him then someone else but they won't stop until I get married
I'm sure of that. Besides we have an understanding." She said shuffling her feet nervously. "Both of us are very clear of what we expect from this marriage. I get complete freedom to run my NGO while he gets a share of our family business . It's a win-win situation. We even have a pre-nup ready to be signed" Mukthi said smiling at her accomplishment but none of her friends seemed to share her emotion. Cabir was all but banging his head against the wall, Dhruv was staring at her like she had gone mad and Alya looked like she was a step away from throttling her.
                          
"This doesn't look like a win-win situation to me Mukthi" Alya said gravely. 
                          
"Yes! Mukthi. 10 rupaye deke sabji khareedne ki baat nahin kar rehe hein hum. This is marriage. It's a commitment for a life time." Cabir said trying to shake some sense into her. 
                          
"Oh pls! Cabir don't start this nonsense. Love is so overrated and we both know it. Not everyone finds love. I have accepted that fact and I want to move on with my life." She said 
                          
Cabir just shrugged and said "Have fun introducing your fiancée to Manik" 
                          
Mukthi flinched. Ankit was one ine of Manik's bitter rivals. "About that...I don't think I should say anything to him just yet..."
                          
"Don't say what to me Mukthi? " 
                          
Mukthi groaned hearing Manik's voice behind her. This was not what she had planned. She thought she might convince the rest of the gang before approaching Manik. Judging from their looks it was safe to say no help was in order from any of them.
                          
Manik stood behind her with one of his arms wrapped around Nandini. That development was a happy surprise but she had more pressing matters to deal with. When Manik noticed Ankit his entire body stiffened.
"What the hell are you doing here? " He asked with narrowed eyes.
                          
"Hi there Mr. Manik Malhothra. It's a pleasure to meet you too." Ankit said his smirk widening if that was even possible. "Maybe you should ask that question to my fiancée over there" he said his eyes pointing to Mukthi.