In the car, Vivaan moved his veiny hands over the steering wheel while Kruthi was sitting at the passenger's seat stealing glances at him. It was morning time, the sun finally began to rise in the sky.
"Intezaar nahi kar sakte thhe? subah ke 5 baje prakat ho gaye?" Kruthi asked him finally in a taunting tone. (couldn't you wait? appeared at 5 in the morning out of nowhere?)
"Quite bold," he murmured. "Talking like that already."
"Because now I am your wife?" She stated casually "And as I wife I have every right to question you, taunt you, even disturb you."
"And I am still the CEO," he said coldly, voice dropping. "Don't confuse a contract with permission.This isn't a marriage. Build expectations, and you'll regret it."
"Then why create this 'contract' in the first place?"
His eyes flickered—briefly.
"Tired of living?" he asked softly.
That one line—
Not loud.Not angry.
But enough to remind her.
Fear crept in for a second.
Still—
"I have the right to ask," she said again, quieter—but firm."It's basic."
"Fine, I can be convinced on that" He responded acknowledging her statement. "Early at 5 because, I have to be at the company by 8. Travelling, freshen up, workout, breakfast, preparation of the day- too much on palate enough to compete for my priorities rather than wait for your waking up and then take you."
"I don't wait for people. I move on schedule."
Then, almost casually:
"You adjust."
"S..so you are not a mafia?" She asked him with widened eyes. "Damn, I lost my chance at dark romance." (Mutters under her breath)
"What?" he finally questioned confused, glanced at her once between his driving.
"Yes, don't you see the trend? the hot mafia guys, desperate for their girls, obsessed, love them unconditionally, black flag for world but green forest for them, would do anything for them, their hot chemistry..." She was continuing when he paused her in between suddenly.
"How much did you score in chemistry?" He raised an eyebrow
"7..74" rolls away her eyes in slight embarrassment.
" Hmm, good but not hot enough chemistry" He responded back. "And wake up to reality, not all mafia's or all men are romantic. Obsession etc, good at start, but when turned psycho, then equally dangerous. Better find someone who is understanding and green forest to everyone." Preaches faaltu ka gyaan to a book lover (useless knowledge)
She glared.
"You just ruined an entire genre for me."
"And saved you from stupidity," he replied calmly.
A pause.
"Are you a green flag?" She asked back, now raising her eyebrow mimicking his move when he asked her.
"W-Well, No"
"Now see!" She exclaimed with mock anger "You are taking away my chance to find someone understanding, and a green forest. Then you are saying me to find a green forest. What should I do?"
"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.
"What?" She scoffed looking away "90s guy in 2000s generation"
"Maybe, but earning and property count, like a guy rarely one can find."
Soon they reached the estate. When they drove closer, Kruthi could see the huge white mansion. There were five pillars at the entrance in a semicircle, a huge entry gate, lush gardens surrounding it lavishly. An array of guards bowed at Vivaan's car when he drove inside.
"Here we go" He came at her side and unlocked the door for her. "Ready for the act, we have to look romantic in front of them. Like marriage in real, not just papers."
She took his hand and stood up, because she had to. Moments back she made a mistake, and he reminded her the power he exactly held over her.
When they entered the mansion, it could be easily noticed that this man was living every guy's dream life. Servants everywhere in the mansion from cooking to gardening, a huge family living inside, chandeliers and interior which screamed luxury. Kruthi looked at him shocked, this was the man she married. No wonder he was the dream crush of many women in company even though, they rarely saw him.
Her all thoughts were shattered when she saw Rushaan and Avyanna doing the newly married rituals. The family was surrounding them. Yes, the entire family lived in a huge mansion, it was a joint family. When their eyes landed on Vivaan and Kruthi, their eyes were filled with deep disdain, disgust.
"Ye yahan kya kar rahi hai?" Rushaan's mother, Preeti asked suddenly ,staring at both of them with barely restrained anger.
She could feel Rushaan's gaze on her. Anger and something she couldn't recognise. Avyanna was also glaring at her, the young women following the ancient tradition- blame another woman, your husband didn't do much, just had a relationship with her while cheating on you (sarcasm). The ceremony paused in between. Their hands were inside a small metal tub filled of water, searching for the rings as a playful game, now ignored.
"You all were insisting- shaadi kar le, shaadi kar le. Toh lijiye, kar li shaadi" Vivaan said calmly while pausing to guide the guards to place her luggage in his room.
"Isse (With her)?" She asked shocked and furious, ready to unleash.
"Toh(so)? what's the big deal? she is a women,no? I don't remember marrying a parrot" he checked Kruthi from tip to toe sarcastically. "Yes, approved female human species."
"Don't you remember? how much she got us insulted in front of everyone? the media and the guests? Rushaan's reputation is ruined because of her" The older woman said.
"It was Rushaan's fault not her. Who asked your son to go around dating various women to stroke his male .....whatever that is" Vivaan retorted back to her leaving her speechless. "Aapke sanskaar chha gaye taai ji, rang dikh hi gaye" (Your manners are well seen in him elder auntie ji, finally the colours are out)
Rushaan stepped forward.
"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."
he responded calmly and turned to Kruthi, looking at elderly, very old women on the wheelchair. She seemed the eldest in the family. "Our great grandmother" He whispered to her. 'Come, seek her blessings with me, she won't harm you or criticise you."
They stepped together to the old women and bent to touch her feet when suddenly Kruthi felt a sting on her face.
SLAP!!!
For a moment she was astonished, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Before anyone reacted—
Vivaan moved.
Fast.
He pulled her behind him.
Shielding her.
Completely.
His voice came out low.
Deadly calm.
"Careful."
The room went still.
One more step forward.
"And remember this clearly—"
His gaze swept across everyone.
"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"