Ayesha's POV

Flashback continues

“I don’t care about whatever happened. I am not married to him,” I said before walking away, dragging Jivika along with me.

“Ayesha, at least sort this out with him. This is a big thing,” Jivika said, stopping me before I could walk even a few steps away from where they stood, looking at us.

“What’s there to discuss? Did he discuss it with me before making such an absurd relation about us in front of that baldie?” I asked, taking a breath to calm myself down.

“No, but—”

“There are no buts, Jivika. If he thinks everything will be as he pleases, then he is wrong. He should have talked to me before making such a statement or before putting that vermillion in my fucking hairline,” I said in a no-nonsense tone.

I am not some damsel in distress who will let a man walk all over her if he thinks he can do so.

“There is in fact a but, miss,” came his voice as they walked at a fast pace, trying to catch up with us.

“Oh, there is? How about you put some light on it, because it seems particularly invisible to me,” I said, smiling sarcastically at his uselessly handsome face.

“That uncle wouldn’t have let us leave. In fact, he would have done anything he pleased with us, which included getting you and your friend married to someone from this village,” he reasoned. His friend Vidit nodded along.

“You could have used your CBI officer identity, you fool,” I said. No, scratch that, I screamed in exasperation.

“I did. When you guys were sitting in that puja, that uncle laughed and said he could get this ID card made in his village for fifty rupees,” Vidit said, explaining.

“Yeah, and do you think my family will be happy after finding out I merely went on a college trip and returned after getting married to someone I don’t even know?” Reasoning this, I gave them a sickening smile.

“I-”

He was interrupted by the same guy who had been sitting on the altar with his wife.

“I was looking for you guys near the hall,” he said, panting heavily.

“Why?” Vidit asked.

“My father, actually, he said he wanted to talk to you guys about something important, and there’s a ritual you need to follow for that pooja,” he explained politely.

Fuck my life.

“We’ll join you shortly,” Vidit said. He nodded and walked away.

“Listen, I am not doing this shit,” I said, clearly warning them.

He walked towards me, held my hand, and gently pulled me closer. There wasn’t any space left between us.

“Hey, you asshole-”

“Shush,” he said, glaring at me intensely, putting his finger on my lip to make me stop talking, and my heart skipped a beat at the contact.

“Listen, I am sorry for whatever happened. Had I known they would make us do this, I would have never included you in this. But right now, you need to fucking cooperate with this lie. We cannot back off now,” he said firmly, boring holes into me with his eyes.

“And I am Zeeshan Kapoor,” he added before pulling away.

I sighed and muttered, “Ayesha Mehra.”

Jivika too introduced herself, and once the introductions were over, we walked back to the hall where that uncle sat with his wife at the same place as before.

“Aage tham wapas? Sun re chore apni bahu k gale m mangalsutra ghal de ferte, nyi bahu s, gala Khali ni hona chahiye, muhurat bhi suthra s ib,” that uncle said. His wife nodded along with a smile.
(Hey, you’re back again? Listen, boy, put the mangalsutra around your wife’s neck again. She’s a new bride, her neck shouldn’t be left empty. The timing is auspicious right now too.)

“Iss samay mai mangalsutra kaha se launga uncle ji. Aap fikar na kare mai sheher pohoch kar unko naya mangalsutra pehna dunga,” he reasoned. I nodded along with him.
(Uncle, where will I get a mangalsutra from at this moment? Don’t worry, once I reach the city, I will put a new mangalsutra on her.)

“Are pachli gali m sunar t jake le avgi teri bahn. Nyi bahu ka gala suna koni rhna chiye ar aaj te muhrat bhi shubh h.” that uncle said, glancing at Jivika, who widened her eyes but nodded nonetheless and walked out with Vidit bhai, who decided to accompany her.
(Hey, there’s a goldsmith in the next lane. Your sister can go and bring it from there. A new bride’s neck should not remain empty.)

“Ar yo lyo tham mhari trf te ek taufa nye jode khatr,” aunty said, forwarding her hand with two promise bands.
(And here, take this from our side as a gift for the new couple.)

“Pehna do ek dusre k,” uncle said, chuckling along with his wife. I sighed internally.
(Make each other wear it.)

“Iski zarurat nahi hai,” I said politely, trying to smile.
(There's no need for this.)

But they laughed and thrust the rings into his hands, saying, “Parampara h mhare gaam ki, nye jode tui gunthi diye kre.”
(It’s a tradition in our village, we give rings to the new couple.)

Why are they hell bent on making us do everything a couple does in a wedding?

Dejectedly, I forwarded my hand to him when he looked at me, and he slipped the promise band onto my ring finger. Then I slipped his ring onto his ring finger.

In the meantime, Jivika also returned with Vidit bhai, and thankfully, they did not buy an actual mangalsutra but a cute necklace.

Handing him the mangalsutra, they stepped back. He looked at me, raising his eyebrows.

Unfortunately, I had no option of saying no, considering uncle and aunty’s constant gaze on us.

Giving a small nod, I pulled my hair over my shoulder. Taking a few steps closer to me, he placed the necklace around my neck and muttered, “Is it okay?”

His breath fanning my neck brought goosebumps to my skin, making my heart skip a beat and my breath quicken. Managing to nod, I turned around, coming face to face with him. His intense gaze made me unintentionally squirm, my cheeks flushing.

Not being able to manage the intensity, I looked down, my heart racing uncontrollably. Clearing his throat, he stepped back to where he was previously standing, and I took a few desperate breaths I did not know I needed, trying to ignore the audience surrounding us.

“Tham ib aram krlo, tadke jana apne safar pr,” aunty said, breaking the awkward silence, patting my head softly.
(You all rest now. You can leave on your journey in the morning.)

If they had not forced this fiasco on us, I would have appreciated her sweet gesture and motherly warmth.

“Shi kvhe h iss tem shi koni. Ram thamne mhare ghar le javga vhade jake aram krliyo,” that uncle said, standing up and embracing his wife from the side.
(She’s right, it’s not safe at this time. Ram will take you to our house, go there and rest.)

“K kro ho balak h yha,” aunty muttered, blushing profusely, loud enough for us to hear, making uncle laugh and making no move to pull away.
(What are you doing? kids are here.)

The four of us, on the other hand, were trying to control our laughter.

Elbowing him slightly, aunty said, “Main ram ne bolke tham balkan ka intezam kra du hu, aao chalo."
(I’ll tell Ram to arrange the accommodation for you all. Come, let’s go.)

“Get us out of this mess,” I muttered, pulling him down slightly, and walking away with the others.

Zeeshan's POV

“Get us out of this mess,” she muttered authoritatively, pulling me down slightly by my shirt, and walked away with the others.

This girl had no idea what she was doing to me, considering the fact that I had met her just a few hours ago.

Everything about her intrigued me, be it her voice, her glares, or her cute rebellious nature. It did not irritate me, but instead made me want to know more about her.

After everything my father did to my mother, I had sworn to never marry anyone, never forgetting the blood running through my veins.

But that eye contact with her? It was everything I wished to drown in.

Those deep charcoal eyes? I wished to worship them in every way they deserved to be worshipped. And that had nothing to do with my lie. It was merely the need of the hour.

Undoubtedly, in just a few hours, she had completely consumed my thoughts. Even as I walked slowly behind them, my gaze kept flickering towards her, a gentle reminder that she was someone I should not commit to. But I was afraid I already had, perhaps for a lifetime.

Dragging her into this mess was a mistake I never knew would make her my wife. The way she adorned my name’s vermilion, the mangalsutra, and the ring definitely struck some chords in my heart.

“Kya karna hai ab?” Vidit muttered, matching my steps.
(What are we supposed to do now?)

“I don’t think it’s safe for us to travel right now. We don’t even have our car,” I said, sighing defeatedly.

“What about these girls?” Vidit hummed, adding.

“She will kill me if I don’t do something about this whole mess,” I said, stating the obvious.

“Yeah, I agree,” Vidit replied, chuckling. “But we can’t leave them alone, especially now. You are practically married to her. You guys need to talk like mature humans.”

“Of course, I am not that dumb,” I said, stating the obvious. He nodded, laughing, and jogged towards the girls, sighing as I followed behind him.

Our eyes met the moment I reached there, and she immediately looked away.

“You guys can stay here for as long as you want. Sir and Madam will be leaving for their yearly visit to their kuldevi temple. This is their guest house. Let me know if you need something. I’ll be staying in the room next to the kitchen,” Ram said, opening the door.

We thanked him and sat on the couch. All four of us looked at each other and then at him.

He looked back at us in confusion, making us all collectively sigh.

“Paani milega thoda?” Vidit said, fake coughing loudly. He nodded and walked to the kitchen.
(Can I have some water?)

“We cannot talk in front of him,” Jivika whispered quietly.

“Let’s go to our own rooms and have a conference call,” Ayesha suggested. We nodded in agreement.

Quickly gulping the water he brought, Vidit fake yawned and said, “I think I should go and rest. I am tired.”

Jivika followed suit and said, “Me too.”

“Aap dono k room udhar woh side by side jo rooms hai woh hai,” Ram said, pointing towards the two rooms.
(Your rooms are over there, the two rooms that are side by side.)

“Aur aap dono ka woh unke saamne wala room,” he added, looking at me and her.
(And your room is the one right in front of theirs.)

Same room? Oh no. We’re doomed.

She looked at me with a gaze that could murder me right then and there.

“Okay, thank you,” I said. He nodded with a smile and left.

“Listen, let’s go into that room and talk. Till then, finger on your lips,” I muttered, and gently holding her wrist, dragged her inside the room.

Once I closed the door, I let go of her arm, and she immediately punched me hard before saying, “AAPKO KYA LAGTA HAI AAPKE SAATH EK HI ROOM MEI REHNA CHAHUNGI MAI?”
(Do you think I'd want to share a room with you?)

“Stop shouting, and do you think I am enjoying all this shit?” I asked firmly.

“What if you are?” she said, shrugging, sitting on the bed. I glared at her hard.

“Okay, seriously, we need to talk,” she added.

I nodded and sat in front of her, leaving a respectful distance.

“What are we going to do about whatever happened today?” she asked, glancing at herself from head to toe.

I too kept looking at her from head to toe, looking beautiful like a bride. My bride.

Shaking my thoughts away, I said, “Whatever you want goes.”

“You want to break it, we break it. You want to continue it, we continue it. But—”

“But?”

“But if you break it, we will not show each other our faces again. We will forget whatever happened today as if it never existed.”

“Fair enough. Let’s do this,” she said, nodding in agreement.

Later, we talked about everything with Jivika and Vidit, and we collectively decided to continue this shit till tomorrow morning.

A few minutes later, I was standing in front of my room, glaring at the door with a pillow in my hand. Because she kicked me out, saying, “Spend some quality time with your best friend.”

“Arree sir biwi ne nikal dia?” Ram asked, trying to control his laughter.
(Your wife threw you out of your room?)

Giving him an awkward smile, I knocked on Vidit’s door, who started laughing immediately after looking at me. Pushing him away, I made myself comfortable on the bed.

Though I was tired, I couldn’t sleep that night, knowing I was married to someone.

Flashback ends.

Author's POV

That night was still fresh in both Ayesha and Zeeshan’s minds, as if they were reliving those moments while lying in their beds, trying to sleep.

Neither of them could sleep that night, tossing and turning in desperate need of rest.

Their minds kept drifting back to their first meeting and their first date.

The first meeting, because someone had definitely felt unfamiliar emotions for the first time.

And the first date, because someone was having all kinds of butterflies in her stomach due to nervousness, knowing very well that this date could definitely change the equations of their relationship, now that both of them were equally willing to give it a chance.

Most importantly, they were ready to give love a chance they had been trying to hide deep within their hearts.

While they were trying to find their way out of those beautiful feelings, there was still someone risking his life for just one mission, the most important one for him.

Quietly sneaking into Karan Reddy’s study was not something he should have been doing after winning his trust, but sometimes you just have to do it.

His eyes scanned the cameras he had already hacked, double checking them, before he quickly started looking around.

Trying to find a clue that might be helpful for him, something that could help him target Karan Reddy and get him back to India.

Looking through the drawers, scattered pages, and files, he quickly went through every single one of them, making sure not to disturb their placement.

Quickly jotting down all the important clues about him, he saved them on his second phone. Just as he was about to sneak out, he heard the faint voice of someone inching towards the study.

“Haan tum ruko sir ne jo file boli hai mai lata hu.”
(Yeah, you wait I'll get the file Sir asked for.)

Taking one last look around, he jumped out of the window, making sure no one saw him.

“Arree sir aap idhar?” the same guard walking towards the study asked in confusion.
(Sir? You here?)

“Karan sir ne file laane boli thi ni tumhe? He’s waiting for so long. Lao, mujhe do,” he said sternly, his face firm and cold.
(Karan sir asked for a file didn't he? He's waiting for so long. Give it to me.)

“Sorry sir, abhi laya,” the guard said, quickening his pace.
(Sorry sir , I'll get it now.)

Meanwhile, he dropped an important message that read,

“Found it.”

...And left the corridor whistling softly.