SHREYA

"Don't scare him with your venomous tongue," Ahana screamed on the phone as I was getting dressed to meet my husband whom I don't ever wish to like.

The other day, I was ordered by my father to meet his son-in-law before marriage so that we don't have any misunderstandings between us.

But little did he know how unmistakably miserable pair we are. I'm perfect and I don't know about him.

"Shut up. You are my friend, not his." I gritted my teeth and took my purse as I moved out of my room.

"All the Best. Fuck off." And she hung up. I started to descend the stairs and my mother and father came to my view.

They both were standing down the stairs with oddly big smiles plastered on their face.

Which was weird!

They don't smile looking at me. It's been ages. So, to clear the air, I looked behind me as if they were smiling at someone else.

But to my surprise, there was no one but me. I gulped down a lump and moved down. They have been good to me after I said yes to the marriage. I don't know what changed but they might be on cloud nine as I'm leaving.

"You both need anything?" I asked in utter confusion as I stood before them.

"No, Bache." What? They just called me bache? After what 20 years? What in the living hell? And why the fuck my eyes are getting welled after hearing it.

"Then?" I managed to say as I gulped my tears because at any cost I could not let them know that I consider them my parents.

"We just wanted to wish you luck. You are going to meet him. Right?" My father said as he came forward to touch my shoulder but thanks to my defence mechanism I took a step back avoiding his touch.

"Yes! Thank you." I did not wish to drag the conversation with them. I started to move but was again stopped.

"We are happy for you." My great-mother decided to spoke who was spitting that I was bad luck to her just a few days back.

I turned and moved to her. "Give me a goddamn break and please stop this facade," I whispered being dangerously close to her and flipped my hair back as I moved to the parking.

My steps became faster, my hands started to sweat and my breath heavied.

They don't let me live in peace. I held on to my bike's seat tightly as I took long breaths to calm my dangerously racing heart.

A mere good facade of my parents for the outer world as if they love their daughter wholeheartedly makes me feel pukish.

I took my helmet and slipped it over my head as I ignited the engine to meet Mr Abhishek Malhotra, my to-be husband.

I reached outside the restaurant where I was told to. I parked my bike and took my helmet off as I moved my eyes to look at the restaurant.

It was beautiful. The exteriors were way too detailed and just magnificent.

I took a last look of myself in the mirror as I took the papers and moved in. I moved to reception to ask where the man would have been seated.

"Excuse me" I called out and the receptionist gave her attention to me.

"Yes, mam. How may I help you?" She spoke politely with a small smile.

"I'm here to meet Abhishek Malhotra. Is he---" I was cut off and she stood stiff and straight.

"Yes! Yes, mam. He is waiting for you only. Let me take you to him." She quickly shoved the papers in the drawer which she held in her hands and came out.

I nodded and followed her as she moved ahead of me.

We both entered an elevator and she pressed the 3rd floor button. "You look beautiful mam." Her sudden words made me smile.

"Thank you and you too are looking gorgeous." And she nodded with a beautiful smile.

With the ding sound the elevator's door opened and she signalled me to move first.

"Mam kindly move this way and you will see sir sitting." She said as she instructed me the way and I mouthed Thankyou to her.

I moved towards a door and it was written VVIP room. I chuckled at the words and then at the person sitting it.

I pushed the open, and I saw a big muscular back in a Tom Ford suit sitting right after my eyes and I could see smoke clouds.

He has a pretty back but I don't care. I moved in as I saw him taking a puff and then dumping his cigarette in an ashtray and he stood.

I hate cigarettes.

"Good Afternoon, Ms Shreya Kashyap." He turned to me and now I saw his face. A very much sculptured face with a little beard, dark brown eyes and a smirk.

"Good Afternoon Mr Abhishek Malhotra," I responded and took a seat opposite to him and he chuckled as he was still standing.

"So, how was your ride, Ms Kashyap?" He focused more on the last words rather than the full sentence.

"Amazing. As always." I stated and he chuckled. I don't like him chuckling.

Already the smell of cigarettes was getting on my nerves. He smoked earlier but the odor still was hanging in the air.

"I don't have my whole day for you. So, let's jump to the point." He uttered and started to unzip the file in front of him.

"Exactly. I have more important things than being here." I responded as I looked him dead in the eye.

Bastard.

"You Ms Kashyap have a running tongue." He clicked with his tongue and I smiled in return to which he shook his head.

"I don't like people who smoke." My mind decided to spit it out and I did. But my tone was not soft it was something disappointing.

He looked at it for a solid second and then smirked as he looked into his file.

"I'm not here to make you like me. I'm here to make some boundaries." He pushed the file to me and I took it.

I opened the file and started reading it. While I was reading I could feel heated yet heavy eyes me but I chose to ignore it because I didn't want my attention to get diverted.

The contract was pretty much agreeable as it stated no invasion of each other's privacy, respecting the boundaries which have already been created, being loyal and not doing anything to tarnish Malhotra's reputation.

I did not expect him to think this low of me as he even thought that I would do it. That is why the feelings were mutual of being annoyed to each other.

"I'm a loyal person. I don't go around fucking men." I spat as I closed the file and I could see his clenched jaw but he chuckled a breath out.

"Good. Sign it then." He passed me a pen and I took it.

"These are for you, Mr Malhotra." I grabbed my papers and pushed them in front of them while he was left with widened eye.

I knew what this meeting was about so I came prepared. If he can then I can too. I too needed something for my security before marrying him.

"What is this?" He said as he started to turn over. "These are my conditions. It's better if you go through it. I'll sign when you'll agree to mine." I signed as I took a sip of my coffee and he scoffed.

He started reading and I could see from his expressions that he didn't see it coming. My contract was also simple about respecting privacy, no interference in each other's life and other shit but one clause could caused him some irritation.

"Who is Bronnie?" He asked with a confused look on his face but his name brought a smile to my face. Obviously, I would not leave him here and he has to go with me.

"He is my pet." I simply replied and he nodded.
"He can come" he responded and continued reading. And now I know that he must have reached the last clause. The clause stated that

"He could not touch me without my permission". At some point, I knew he wouldn't but safety first.

He closed the contract with a thud and took the pen from my hand as he signed the paper.

"I'm not even interested in touching you, get this in your head, Ms Kashyap." He stated with a straight face and no emotion. This man is not what he talks like I could see from his face. He has a huge inner turmoil ruining him.

"Thank you, Mr Malhotra," I responded with a lip-tight smile as I took the pen from him and signed his papers too.

"And yes, We will not be living with my family. We will be living in my penthouse after marriage." He sipped his coffee and looked at me.

And why the fuck the word 'we' from his mouth looked like a warm word.

"Why?" It came out as a whisper because I wanted to know.

"Because I don't live there." He replied in a few words but this time I decided to stay shut and I nodded in agreement.

It didn't bother me, to stay in his house or penthouse because all I wanted was distance from him.

"Shall we leave?" He asked and I nodded as I grabbed my papers and he did his.

He held the door for me and I snapped, "Don't try to be a gentleman that you're not, Mr Malhotra." He smirked and I faked a smile.

"As you say, Mrs Malhotra." He murmured.
"Not Yet." And we entered the elevator.

The elevator seemed suffocating as there was one question which was eating my brain and I finally decided to ask thinking what worst could happen?

"Mr Malhotra?" I called.
"Yes!" He responded.

"Can I ask you something?" I gulped in nervously because I didn't know what his answer would be.

"Anything" he responded and the elevator opened with a ding sound. He let me step out first and then came parallel to me.

"Say it." He stated and I spitted.

"In how much money did my father sell me to you?" His steps halted at my words and he looked at me with stunned expression.

"In how much money did my father sell me to you?" I spoke again when he didn't respond. I was so relieved that we were in a alone place.

"And why do you think that?" He spoke in a hoarse voice and I saw something twitching in his eye.

"Because I know him. He would have definitely offered you something?" I asked him and he looked like he was at a loss of words.

But in the back of my mind, I wanted him to say NO. That daughter's feeling in me wanted just the satisfaction that my father would not do it. But Abhishek looked away and I knew it. From that, I got to know that he did.

"You are not forced if you want to back off ---"

"I don't back off from things Ms Kashyap firstly. Secondly, you don't have to worry a shit about your father from now." He spoke with authority and straight up looking into my eyes and suddenly my raced heart calmed.

"Got it?" His words brought me to earth and I nodded unknowingly on his face and we walked out of the restaurant.

"We will meet soon." He said and sat in his car. I kept looking at him as he drove off. My brain couldn't wrap around the fact that his words calmed my racing heart.

Why at that moment wasn't embarrassed of my father? Instead of my head, his words echoed in my heart.

With the honking of cars, I was bought back from my thought chain and I realised that I was standing outside the restaurant for 10 minutes.

I quickly moved towards my bike and sped off to Ahana's home. My heart was too much filled with sadness and I wanted some comfort.

The big gates were pushed open as they saw my arrival and I accelerated inside the Kapoor Mansion.

I parked my bike and looked myself in the rearview mirror. I adjusted my hair and moved inside.

I heard giggles and moved to the living room. There was Ahana's mom, her mother-in-law and she sitting as they were gossiping about something and laughing.

My heart lightened looking at them laugh wholeheartedly. Her mother never differentiated between Me or Ahana. She has always been there for me being my mother because my actual mother failed to be a good one.

She knows everything about me which my parents don't. She has been there to support me and she nurtured me like a real mum. And Ahana's mother-in-law is also a sweetheart.

I still remember when she mentioned that she has now three daughters at Ahana's wedding. Yashika, Ahana and Me, I never expected this but now I literally have two mothers who call me daily to know if I ate and if I'm doing well or not.

"Omg! Look, The to be Bride is here." Ahana's mum squealed and her words brought me to earth and I smiled.

I moved to them and both mothers took in a warm hug and I tightened my hold. They both rubbed my back and my tears started to flow.

'My father sold me' The exact line just kept running in my mind like it was on a treadmill.

"Kya hogya baccha?" Veenita Aunty her mother in law spoke and I pulled back from the hug and lowered my gaze.

"Ahu, Go bring some water." She looked me in the eye and ran to bring the water. She knew something was up!

"Nothing. I just don't know. How that bastard would be?" I whispered because little in my heart I was scared.

"Look at me beta" Veenita Aunty made me look at her.

"You and Abhishek might not like each other. But if you are how Abhishek will be? Let me tell you. I have seen him, Rudransh and Ashutosh grow together. Abhishek is the most silent one but things were very messed up for him too in his initial life. He is not a bad man just a broken one. Hate each other as much as you want but remember in the end you both will eventually align." She spoke with confidence and I just nodded at her words.

"If still you feel a one per cent doubt and if you don't want to marry him. Tell us we'll call it off." Aneeta Aunty her mother kissed my forehead and whispered.

If I would have given this much freedom then I would have never agreed to it. My father would never listen to me over his profit.

If I would beg in front of him or if I will tell him that I will die, he'll happily tell me to do it. So, marrying Abhishek looked like a straight option.

I shook my head and sipped on the water which Ahana bought. "My mummys you two talk. Let me and my best friend gossip in peace." She said in a dramatic tone and grabbed my wrist as we moved towards her room and they laughed.

"Now tell me what happened?" She made me sit opposite to her on the bed and I took a long breath. I don't know where to start. How am I going to tell her that my father sold me? 

"Do not try to hide anything from me SHREYA. If you try to mask it, then it will not be good for you." She said in a stern voice and I looked at her.

I did not want to break down but I couldn't control it. I broke into tears and palmed my face and she engulfed me in a hug.

"What happened bacche? Did Abh-" I cut her off.

"My father sold me," I spoke in a breath and she looked at me in shock. 

"What?" She was now at a loss of words and I didn't know what to continue with. 

"No, he cannot stoop this much low. You must have misunderstood it." She said as looked at me with a reassuring look. This is what Ahana is. Thinking that any good is left in that for me.

"No! I am not!" I said wiping my tears.

"Somewhere in my heart, I knew that my father would care for me just a little bit. But he didn't. He is someone I would never see after I get married." I said and she caressed my check. 

"Did Abhishek tell you about this?" 

"No, he didn't. I asked him straight away but his eyes said it all. He didn't taunt me about my father's deed which I expected from him." I uttered. I still feel how my heart calmed at his words and I decided to shut them up. 

"He is not as bad as you think of him. He is a great man."

"Stop! Being on his side. You are on my side." I shuddered.

"I'm sorry. I love you." She took me in a hug.

"Why are you sorry if my father is an Asshole? I love you too." Thank you kahna ji for sending it as a blessing in my messed up life.

And from next week my life would be changed. I will Mrs Malhotra and I don't know what future hold for me.

I just hope for some happiness.

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