(Kruthi's POV)
Obeying Vivaan, I stepped forward with him to his great grandmother. I don't know why I was doing that. I was not even his real wife. It was just a contract marriage, no vows, no rituals. But something about his tone made me do that.
And besides, I already learnt my lesson back in the car- that this guy is not to be taken lightly. Maybe because we wanted to present everyone the false facade of a happy-lovely-married-couple.
We both bent together to touch her feet and seek the blessings. Suddenly I felt a sharp sting on my cheek. My head was sidelined and my hair covered my face from the person.
Someone SLAPPED me.
My head snapped to the side.
For a second… I didn't understand what just happened.
My cheek burned.
My ears rang.
Someone had slapped me.
Not an enemy.Not a stranger.
Family.
I may have signed a contract with him but that doesn't mean he had the consent over me or my self-respect. Before I could speak something, he lunged forward, gently covered me behind his back and...
"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"
My breath hitched.
He… stood up for me.
And that's when the doubt came.
Not soft.Not gentle.
Sharp.
Was it for me…or just the role I was playing?
I peeked over his broad shoulder and found that it was Rushaan's mother.
Wait!
If Rushaan was the elder cousin brother of Vivaan, that means he is my brother in law..real one.
And this woman who slapped me was Vivaan's taai ji that meant- my elder mother in law?
Damn everything! I have to live with these people under same roof.
But one thing was certain, that Vivaan held a huge position in this family.
His words, though calm and laced with anger, made everyone feared. Rushaan's mother stepped back, but still defended herself.
"Tum isse hamari family mein laaye, fine. But don't involve her in the matters of family, especially not your great grandmother. If she knows everything, she may die of heart attack." She said placing her authority. (You brought her in our family, fine)
I glanced at Vivaan, still shielding me behind his back. A vein popped his neck. Okay, I get it. This man was very very angry now. But why? for me? no delulu girl, this isn't dark romance. Maybe because she brought up the topic of his great grandmother's death.
He stepped closer to her, looked right in her eye and spoke "You need not to worry about anything. And secondly, I brought her in this family not as a commodity but as my wife. However, be grateful that I respect elders and don't raise voice or hand, but that doesn't mean I forgive."
In a moment, he pulled me forward gently, respectfully and commanded me-
"Slap her back"
I froze.
My eyes widened as I looked at him.
He wasn't joking.
"Vivaan… I can't," I whispered."She's elder."
For a moment, he just looked at me.
Then—
a faint exhale.
"Fine."
"Then I'll do the compensation." He said and made a phone call right away.
"Cancel two of Mrs. Preeti Amogh's cards."
A pause.
"Transfer the remaining balance…"
His eyes flicked toward me.
"…to my wife."
Silence.
Then he hung up.
W...wait? MY account? What in the world this man was doing? But still I cannot ask him, atleast not in front of everyone. We finally bent together and had the blessings of his great grandmother. The old lady, with a smile gave the blessings.
Ignoring everyone, he guided me to his room politely.
Soon after reaching he went in front of the mirror and checked his watch. I checked the clock in the room.
It was seven in the morning.
One hour until he leaves.
And then I remembered.
One hour until I too have to leave, I exposed Rushaan but that doesn't mean I resigned, and for sure I wouldn't be granted a holiday for today. Secondly, I didn't want a holiday if that meant being in this house.
"Suniye, kuch puchna thha." I finally spoke softly to him, breaking the ice. (Listen, I wanted to ask something.)
"Hmm" He responded while fixing his tie and watch, his shirt.
He was hot, damn my contract patidev is soo hot. I cleared my throat, pushing away my thoughts and asked him.
"Ye jo bhi neeche hua, you didn't have to do that. Main nahi chahti ki aap meri wajah se apni family se fight karein. Besides main toh bas aapki contract wife hoon, ek din mujhe jaana hoga."
(Whatever happened downstairs, you didn't have to do that. I don't want you to fight for your family for me. Besides I am just a contract wife of yours, one day I'll go.)
He didn't respond. Just walked to his cupboard. Retrieved some documents and gave to me.
"Check."
I took the papers.
Flipped one page.
Then another.
And another.
I looked at him and back at the papers.
"What is this?" I demanded an answer. My eyes teared up. How will I face my family now? I was just doing job in another state. If they come to know that this has happened...
"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."
He took a step back and pulled out a small box from his coat.
It was a small box, and from it he took out....
a diamond ring.
"This will be a great reminder to you, Kruthi." He said it while sliding the metal band in my wedding finger.
Though he had spoken my name before also, but this time, my name- right from his mouth, directed to me, somehow felt very intimate. I tried to grasp my hand free from his grip, but he didn't let it go. Suddenly the door opened, revealing his real sister Naina.
(Like everyone else in the family, she wasn't having a dislike or hatred towards Kruthi. Infact, she was proud of Kruthi for uncovering the sinisters of Rushaan. Vivaan suddenly left Kruthi's hand and cleared his throat.)
"Apni saari meetings cancel kar do, Badi dadi ji ka hukum hai. Woh keh rahi hai, ki shaadi agar aapne bhi ki hai toh aapke bhi saare post marriage rituals hone chahiye." She said and handed a red and white saree to Kruthi. "Badi Dadi ne bhijwayi hai aapke liye, Bhabhi."
(Cancel your all meetings, great grandmother has said. She has decided that since you also have married, even though without family's knowledge, so your post marriage rituals should also take place. (After handing the saree to Kruthi she said to her) she has sent this for you.)
With that Naina left the room nudging Vivaan's shoulder. Before he could say anything she just rushed away.
Vivaan sighed and made a call to cancel all his appointments for the following week.
"Badi Dadi ka hukum hai, inkaar nahi kar sakta." He explained to me.
Why is he always talking about his badi dadi? I mean, not that I complain but where's his Dadi, like normal grandmother? The question gnawed at me. Badi dadi, means mother of his grandfather. And wife? his dadi ji?
As if sensing my silence he asked.
"There's no chip in my mind to read your thoughts. If any doubt, ask me. You are my wife, don't worry I won't harm you."
I hesitated for a moment.
Looked away.
And then finally asked him.
"Aapki dadi kahan hai? abhi tak I have been hearing badi dadi..." (Where's your grandmother? till now I have only heard great grandmother.)
"Dadi, abhi ashram gayi hai. Bohot dhaarmik hain. Rushaan ki shaadi ke din thhi, but jin guru ji ko woh maanti hai, woh swarg sidhaar gaye. Toh Rushaan ko aashirwaad dekar, uske phero se pehle chali gayi Rishikesh." He explained while taking out a casual kurta set from his cupboard.
"Aur aap aisa kyu behave kar rahe hai jaise main aapki real wife hoon? pehle sabke saamne mere liye stand liya, ab bolne ka tarika change kar diya...and lastly, hamare contract ki expiry date nahi mentioned hai..." She said staring at him.
(And why are you behaving like this, as if I am your real wife? firstly you took stand for me in front of everyone, now you have changed your way of talking to me, and lastly, our contract has no expiry date)
Vivaan paused.
Turned to her.
"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."
"If you cross that borders, I'll show you worse than you can imagine. Now go and get ready for what badi dadi wants."
With that, he turned around and left to the dressing room to change.
But his words echoed in my mind.
Don't mistake my respect for something more.
I'll show you worse than you can imagine
I swear, I literally felt that sakshaat Yamaraj was in front of me. Of course, why was I overthinking? He respects me as a woman. And that's a nice thing, atleast he defends me from his family. It's a purely strategic relation.
I sighed and nodded to myself, etching his words in my mind thoroughly. So that means one week holiday for her too. And since the company is headed by my contract husband, my application won't be rejected. He also knows the reason for the one-week leave.
I quickly typed a mail to the company for one-week casual leave, because I didn't know whether he was comfortable with us being public or not.
With that, I too turned to the mirror to change into my saree.
But before changing I did a thing which could have annoyed him, but damn, my privacy is my privacy. What if he suddenly comes out and sees me....NO.
I took silent steps to the dressing room where he was changing, to lock it from outside when suddenly it unlocked from inside and he appeared.
Our eyes locked.
And I felt a shiver down my spine
My inner voice screamed
"Bhaag ja ab, ab tu gayi, ye tujhe nahi chhodega, ab bas teri laash yahan milegi. Aise hi ghoorta reh, aise hi meri maut ho jayegi aur meri death sabse chomu hogi, ki main kisi ke stare karne ki wajah se mar gayi."
(Now you should run, he will not spare you, now only your carcass will be here. Yes, continue staring at me like that, and like this I'll die right here. I will have the most idiotic death ever that I will die because of someone's stare)
"What?" He asked finally, looking away while fixing his cuffs.
"I..need to change into my saree" I said taking a deep gulp.
He nodded simply and gave me space to enter and change into the saree.
I took the saree hastily and entered the dressing room when he said,while glancing from his shoulder.
"I'll be downstairs, and if the fabric of saree is uncomfortable, wear the another red saree I placed out for you. Its pure cotton and...beautiful enough. Won't itch your skin."
With that he left the dressing room as well as the master bedroom.
I could hear the faint footsteps of him, as he walked away.
Unknowingly a small smile formed on my lips, even his respect was something that I never had from my own family. Such thoughtfulness even for the fabric of saree...