(Kruthi's POV)
The swans were looking beautiful today. I leaned more on the window, staring at the fountain, garden and those swans. I was also wearing a white anarkali suit today, just like those swans. But there was a difference in it. Their white was a symbol of peace and freedom. My white? disappointment.
Life was too peaceful before I joined this company. Just a normal woman, working her passion, and doing what she wants without any burden.
Neither would I have joined this company, nor would I have met Rushaan, not dated him, not tangled myself in this web, and ofcourse this forced contract marriage.
The phone ringed.
Third time today.
I hung it up and texted that I'd call later.
It was my mother. I used to call her every weekend. But not this one. This weekend was a reminder of what happened a week before.
This marriage.
I married without my parent's knowledge.
Every time I'd play safe. I never made a boyfriend, never did anything which can bring shame on our family, never gave my father a chance to belittle me.
But now? everything shattered.
I wiped a stray tear from my left eye gently.
No... it shouldn't happen.
I hated that I was falling for Vivaan when for him I was nothing more than wife on papers, a responsibility.
Flashbacks replayed in my mind.
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"Why search for a green forest when you can have a multicolour one?" Smirks at her
"Firstly, stop smirking, and what is multicolour flag? you even know that?" She asked him in his same tone.
"Self-made" He responded shortly.
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"Aadat nahi gayi na?" his voice was low. "Meri use ki hui cheez ko apna banane ki?"
The air shifted.
Danger.
Vivaan's eyes darkened.
"As if you ever had the capacity to value anything," he replied calmly.
Then—
a step closer.
"And don't," his voice dropped, "ever refer to my wife like that again."
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"If a single tear falls from her eyes…"
A pause.
Cold.
Controlled.
"I won't be responsible for what happens next."
"Beware, that this woman holds the power to ruin everyone right here. Just one tear from her eye and I won't even regret what I'd do"
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"Cancel two of Mrs. Preeti Amogh's cards."
A pause.
"Transfer the remaining balance…"
His eyes flicked toward me.
"…to my wife."
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"This is the contract of our lifetime marriage. Ab we will only separate when either of us divorces the other." He said calmly, as if it wasn't a big deal. But to me it was. He wiped my tears gently and continued saying.
"As for your first question, no I won't stand idle if they hurt you in any manner. Physically, socially, emotionally or mentally. Contract or not, you ARE my WIFE. The wife of Vivaan Malhotra."
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Numerous moments but then a reminder -
"Don't be surprised, even if I kiss your feet. I don't care contract or not. You are my wife, I repeat. I have a huge respect for women who defy the odds in a good way. You brought out Rushaan's dirty secrets. It takes courage, companies would have rejected you. You could have been threatened by his fans all over and your life would be hard, but still you chose that."
He stepped closer to her until her back hit the wall. Looking in her eyes straightly he spoke
"Don't mistake my respect for affection."
His voice dropped.
"And don't mistake your position either."
A step closer.
"You're here because I don't trust you."
Silence.
"And because now… you're my responsibility."
I shouldn't fall for him.
But I can't help it.
The way he cares for me, the way he is loyal to me.
My grip on the phone tightened.
It's not love, but it's also no less than that.
I don't know what this was... Why does it threaten him if something comes upon me. Infact, if I leave, he can marry someone of his choice.
And then Ayesha's words last night.
Rushaan is not only behind Vivaan's wealth, but me also.
He wants me back in his life.
But how can I choose someone who never chose me even a single time?
I closed my eyes with a sigh.
"Radhe Krishna help me." I whispered under my breath in a choked voice.
"The temple is downstairs, first turn from the right corridor of halls."
My eyes shut open. I looked around.
Vivaan was in front of mirror, fixing his watch. He was changed into a beige shirt and black pants. His hair, neatly combed but still slightly messy.
I shut my eyes tightly mumbling something under my mouth before opening them. He was again smirking slightly.
Sometimes I felt he enjoyed this all.
And indeed he did.
I'd smash off his smirk one day.
"Accha? aur shamshaan kahan hai?" I asked him sarcastically. (Really? and where is cremation ground?)
"Oh that?" He responded back still while wearing his ankle cuffs on the folded sleeves of his shirt. "Opposite to our room's corridor, left side, second turn, third room."
I chuckled softly, rolling away my eyes.
"So Rushaan's room is a shamshaan now?" I asked him, pretending an irritated voice.
"It always was."
I held my head gently looking away, as if hiding my smile from his gaze. The next moment I felt a presence near me. I turned my head. Vivaan. He slowly bent on his knees to reach my face level.
"But in all truth." He said while wiping a tear from my eye, which perhaps went unnoticed by me. "For me, this is my shamshaan." He whispered.
"Why are you like this?" I asked him a choked voice.
"Like what?"
"Caring? gentle? loyal? you say I am just a forced contract wife, that I am a means to an end, but then you do all this and tell me to not expect anything from you."
His hand was taken aback from my face.
He stayed silent for a moment. Stared at the ground. And then spoke finally-
"Expectations kill, I advise you to not have them."
"But you give those hopes."
"I am just protective of you, because you are my wife."
"Contract wife." I reminded him.
"Forced contract wife." He responded back sharply.
My eyes teared up again.
"T-then let's end this charade." I said hastily while wiping my tears. "I'll go and submit to Rushaan. Then you will be free from this burden of forced marriage. He'll stop taking your properties, it will end." I said and stood up to leave.
A sudden tug at my wrist.
Pulled back.
His arms around my waist.
Again.
"LET ME GO." I Shouted with closed eyes, teary face, choked voice.
"Where will you go?" He asked me calmly, pulling me closer to him.
"Anywhere away from you."
"Where?"
"I told you na (Sobs) away from you."
His grip tightened on my waist enough to leave a mark.
"I won't let you."
"WHY? What do you want" I cried finally on his chest. I sobbed uncontrolled. And then his hand wrapped around my back. Securely.
"Because if you won't stay, who will?" He whispered. Voice just a little softer.
"Anyone wi-ll, you-r new wif- wife will."
He held my chin gently and made me look at him, right in his eyes.
"Don't let emotions cloud your judgement."
"I live my life on emotions Vivaan. Without emotions, I am dead."
He paused, left my waist, took a step back.
"Then I'll never do anything to give you expectations."
With that he left the room.
And I was a crying mess... his presence was bothering, confusing. But his absence? It was killing.