Chapter 6:
2 June, Sunday, 2024
7:30 a.m.
Anika's POV
No one knew when the stone you threw towards the sky would come back to you and hit you harder. Most probably it was a nature made boomerang.
But it was not what it was about the situation I was in. I was in a situation I thought I had escaped but turns out that those years were just a period to get myself ready for the upcoming disaster.
How come I never knew that he was his brother?
But in reality, the eldest son of Rai Mehrotra family actually avoided media to a great extend and me living outside India was also another reason.
I was beyond speechless when he placed his words that evening.
Flashback
30 May
"Sign a contract with me for this baseless marriage", he spoke, his calm composure freaking me out.
I couldn't comprehend his words for a moment.
"What do you mean Mr. Rai Mehrotra?", I asked furrowing.
He sighed glancing at the table.
Rising his head, he stared at me. His grey eyes weren't grey anymore but black, mirroring a moon less night I'd spend shedding those salty tears.
They're beautiful but fearsome. They're so deep and wide but at the same time they can swallow you into their deepness. Your existence would be erased. I don't know but he hid many things behind the shadow of his orbs.
"I mean, I want you to sign a contract with me. Precisely, a contractual marriage", he replied calmly, his voice octaves deep.
I was floored by his words.
My mind seemed to stop because this wasn't a game we used to play in our childhood. It was about a promise made for lifetime. No matter how much I avoided these marriage things, to me, it was something pure and very important.
To me, it was something holy and sacred. But this man, he was turning it into a fucking contract?
I guess he must've realised what he had blabbered by my shocked expression. I wasn't much of an expressive person but this wasn't something to stay calm about.
"What the hell do you mean by contractual marriage? This isn't a deal to have a contract. This is a fucking.sacred.thing", I gritted fisting my palms under the table.
My anger was at its peak. I knew he wasn't a religious person but I.was.
He chuckled, "Do you think I'm desperate to marry you?"
"Then what makes you think that I am also desperate to marry you too?", I backfired.
He remained silent while a muscle in his jaw twitched.
"I hate wasting time. Let me point it out, I want this marriage to be a contract which would end after one year of this marriage. On our very first marriage anniversary, we'd be divorced", he spoke as if marriage and divorce was nothing.
I chuckled, sarcastically. He was speaking as if it was about the expiry date of something. How ironic it was—getting divorced on the first marriage anniversary and more than that, separation was being planned even before union.
How romantic, I scoffed.
"So basically, you mean you want to fool your mom, that kind woman who wants nothing but her son's happiness? I don't know about your other family members but as much as I know her, she believes she has raised a gentleman", I spoke. The burning sensation inside me was worsening my situation.
How could he stoop so low?
"Mr. Rai Mehrotra", I voiced out emphasizing the words while he just kept staring back at me silently. I don't know the reason behind the silence and right now it was my least concern.
"Do you really believe you're a man of morals?", I mocked, more likely to trigger him. I knew I pressed the right button the moment he clenched his jaws.
Afterall, who'd tolerate when their morals were being questioned?
But my expressions changed. I frowned internally when he smirked.
"Watch your mouth sweetheart. You don't know when you bring trouble for yourself", he replied, calmly.
"And you mean?"
"It doesn't matter. Come to my office with me right now to sign the contract. It'll be submitted to the High Court tomorrow, early in the morning", he spoke while getting up from his chair.
Fixing his coat, he forwarded his hand to me, "Let's leave".
His eyes sharply stared down at me while I glared back. I don't want to spare him my one more second.
"Aakho se marne ka irada hai kya?", he asked.
(Do you have intentions to kill me with your eyes)
I furrowed my brows and scoffed.
"Fuck off. I'm calling off this marriage. I'll find someone better", I gritted standing up from my chair before turning around to leave.
But even before I stepped ahead, I felt a tug on my right hand wrist before I swirled around colliding with something fleshy.
Rubbing my forehead I looked up to find him staring at me. His darkened grey orbs searched for something he has been hungry for, in my eyes. The desperateness was clearly visible.
What was he so desperate for in my eyes...or me?
My palms rested on his busts while his arms were wrapped around my waist.
I was 5'8 but still I felt like a dwarf in front of him who seemed to be of around 6'2.
His hot breaths fanned over my lips but the fire inside me didn't let this moment last long.
This moment would've lasted longer and time would've frozen but only if we had been in love and if the situation was different. I'd have loved to spend such moments but I was...cursed and something like this was forbidden to me. We both were two strangers who just knew each other's name and profession.
I pushed him before landing a tight slap on his left cheek.
The sound echoed in the empty space.
I felt the gut feeling that I didn't do right but he needed to be in his limits.
His head turned to his left while he touched his cheek. Tilting his head towards me, he poked his tongue from inside glaring at me.
"Aren't you too daring, sweetheart?", he questioned tucking his hands inside his pant pockets. His eyes burned in rage but I don't know why he held himself back.
I glared back, "Aren't you a liar Mr. Rai Mehrotra?"
"Answer me first"
"Yeah I am daring. I'm daring enough to even kick you I'm between your legs if you again dare to touch me", I snapped.
He just stared at me and all of a sudden he walked past me...not alone. His right hand held my left hand wrist before he pulled me out with him.
I tried pulling it back but he was undeniably stronger.
To my surprise there was no one for my help. He kept pulling me and I kept being pulled. I never expected to see his this side but here I was.
We reached the elevator soon and it was open on the tenth floor. We got in and the moment the doors closed once he pressed the ground floor button, I was slammed against the elevator wall.
I hissed in pain and even before I could say something, he pinned my hands beside my head before speaking, "Not.a.word Anika, I said not.a.word. Understood?"
No matter how furious I was for being forced and not allowed to speak, I nodded obeying to his words. Somehow, he scared me.
Detaching himself, he stood beside me fixing his hair while I stood there taking deep breaths. I had claustrophobia and I couldn't stay inside an elevator for longer. Each second felt like a never-ending torment, scrapping my trachea with sharp claws.
My lungs burnt while my head tightened, giving way to dizziness. I had missed my medications today and now all the drama added to my health.
Rubbing my chest, I took deep breaths and fortunately, soon the doors opened. I was the first to get out without caring what he must've thought seeing me so scared.
While I walked outside, he joined me. His one hand sneaked around my waist. And as soon as I tried to remove it, his voice reached my ear, "Stop it right here if you don't wanna see the media writing headlines you wouldn't like to see. Just smile and walk".
I remained silent, internally biting onto my side cheek. No matter how much I hated him, I couldn't act stupid and do as per my wish right now atleast.
We walked out and at the same moment, camera flashes blinded us.
They kept questioning something bullshit but what caught my attention was...he shielded my eyes with his hand from the flashes.
I looked up at his side profile. It didn't matter which side I was facing, he anyways looked sinfully breathtaking.
How I wish to admire my man like that but again...I was cursed.
We walked ahead before I got inside his car. He too sat beside me and the whole ride we sat in silence.
I won't lie but I really felt nervous because of the cool air inside the car and my twisting gut.
.
We were inside his office. It wasn't a huge skyscraper but a wide building made of glass with elegant and classy interior.
"So what is it?", I asked him, who was facing the tinted glass wall. His back was facing me but I could see him smoking.
Turning around he walked over to the black leather sectional sofa I was seated on.
Sitting beside me, he crushed the cigarette's butt on the ash plate on the glass coffee table in front of us.
His coat was resting on his chair near his desk.
I waited patiently, comprehending his upcoming words.
"I hate beating around the bush so I'll come to the point and expect the same from you", he spoke picking up the black file beside him which I hadn't noticed lying on the sofa.
"And?", I further inquired. My hands were clasped on my lap.
Handing over the file to me, he spoke, "Read everything carefully. Take your time". Leaning back, he rested his back on the backrest resting his hands on his thighs.
I stared blankly at the black file.
Why did I feel so uneasy with this thing in my hands?
Turning over the front cover, I read the first two words written in bold black letters,
Marriage Contract
I read further.
This contract states that the parties who're involved in this matter, are agreeing to the terms and conditions in full sense.
Few more lines were there before the main content started and that's what fueled my anger.