The rain had a way making everything feel more dramatic than it actually was.Or may be,for Anaya sen,life had always been a little dramatic _she just never noticed untill the day she signed marriage contract with a men she barely knew.
It started,like most strange stories do with a problem.
Anaya stood outside the lawyer's office
Clutching her folder so tightly her knuckles
Turned pale. Inside that folder were documents _ loan notices her father, failing
Business reports,and a final warning that their house would be seized within two weeks .
Two weeks.
That was all the time she had left two save everything she had ever known .
"Miss' sen?
She looked up.The receptionist smiled
Politely."You can go in now."
Anaya inhaled deeply and stepped inside .
At the far end of the room sat a man in a
Charcoal suit,fliping throught a file as
Though he had all the time in the world.
He didn't look up immediately ,and that
Irritated her more than it should have.
"You' re late," he said calmly, still not
Meeting her eyes.
"I'am exactly on time.''
Now he looked up.
Arjun Malhotra .
She had seen his name in newspaper _
Young entrepreneur,ruthless negotiator,
heir to a massive corporate empire . But
no photograph had quite captured the
Intensity of his gaze.
" Sit", he said.
She sat.
There was no small talk. No polite
Introductions.
Instead , he slid a document across the
table.
"A contract marriage ",he said. "Two years.
You receive financial support _enough to
Clear your debts and stabilize your
family' situation .In return you act as my
Wife in public and private settings when
required ."
Anaya blinked ."that's it"?
"There are conditions,"he replied .
"Confidentiality . no imotional
Involvement. no interference iny personal life."
She almost laughed."And why exactly do
You need this... arrengement"?
"My grand mother," he said simply."she wantsto see me married before her health
declines further.I don't have time for
Relationships. This is efficient ."
Efficient.
As if marriage were business deal.
"And why me?" She asked.
"You fit the profile ," he said, as if
discussing a job candidate ."educated .
Presentable .No scandalous history. and
most importantly _you need the money."
The bluntness stung.
But he wasn't wrong.
Anaya looked down at the contract.
the numbers alone made her chest tighten.
This could save her father. Save their home.
Two years.
Just two years of pretending .
" No emotional involvement", she repeated.
"Correct ".
She picked up the pen.
"fine", she said."I agreee ".
And just like that, Anaya sen became Mrs.
Anaya Malhotra.
The first week of marriage felt like stepping
Into someone else's life .
The Malhotra mansion was less of a house and more of a world of its own_
Vast halls, polished floors, and staff who
addressed her as"ma'am" with precticed
ease.
Arjun ,however, remained distant.
They had separate room.
Separate schedules.
Separate lives.
"Breakfast is at 8", he said one morning ,glancing at his watch."My grandmother joins us. Be there".
That was the extent of their conversations.
Untill she meet the grandmother
"Ah", the elderly women smile warmly ,
her eyes lighting up." So this is the girl
Who finaly tamed my stubborn grandson".
Anaya forced a smile."I wouldn't say tamed..."
"Don't be modest ,"the grandmother said,
Patting her hand." He looks defferent .
Softer."
Anaya nearly choked on her tea.
Softer?
Arjun Malhotra?
But when she glanced at him, she noticed something unusual .
He wasn't correcting his grandmother .That was the first crack in his carefully constructed armor.
Weeks turned into a rhythm .
Publisly , they were perfect .
At events,arjun would place a steady
hand on her back, guiding her through
Crowds. her would lean in just enough to
Whisper instructions , his voice low and
Controlled.
" Smile ", he would murmur.
And she would.
But sometimes _just sometimes _it didn't
feel like acting.
Like the evening at a charity gala.
Anaya's heel caught on the edge of her dress, and she stumbled before she could fall, Arjun's arm was around her waist, pulling her close.
" Carefull ,"he said.
For a moment , their eyes met.
And something shifted.
Not dramatically .
Not obviously .
But enough
" Why do you do that?" she asked one night.
They were in the study reviewing invitations.
" Do what?"
"Act like you don't care.... And then suddenly you do."
Arjun leaned back in his chair."I always
Care. I just don't show it unnecessarily."
"That sounds exhausting ."
"It's effective ."
She studied him."you're afraid".
His expression hardened ." Of what"?
" Of feeling something real."
Silence.
Then he stood." we have an early morning
tomorrow . Get some rest."
Conversation over.
But the question longerd between them.
The turning point come unexpectedly.
It was a call .
Anaya answered her phone late one evening , her face draining of colour as she
listened.
"What happened ?" Arjun asked , noticing
her expression .
Part two