The next morning, Anaya woke up, she was feeling pain all over her body. She slowly got up from the bed and walked to the washroom. After completing the morning routine, she dressed in a red saree. She combed her hair, and filled her hairline.
After getting ready, she walked to Ahaan who was still sleeping without caring about anything. With fear, she touched his shoulder and tried to wake him:” Ahaan… Ahaan.”
But, he didn’t budge. After 5 minutes, he opened his eyes and his gaze fell on her. He got mesmerized seeing her, clad in a vibrant crimson saree. He came into the real world hearing her voice:” Ahaan, please wake up. We are getting late for breakfast.”
Ahaan yawned and said looking at the clock :” Anaya, it’s only 9. I am feeling sleepy and don’t disturb me again.” After saying this, he closed his eyes. Anaya sighed sadly, and was going when Ahaan held his hand and pulled her toward her, she landed on his chest.
He said, wrapping his arms around her body:” It’s our first morning after marriage. We will go out together, so wait till I finish my sleep.” After saying this, he leaves her and sleeps again while Anaya worriedly sits on the sofa. She wanted to go outside, but she didn’t want to go against Ahaan’s words and make him angry. Worriedly, she waited for him to wake up.
Finally, at 12 he woke up and they went downstairs. His parents and Alya were sitting in the living room. Seeing them, his father taunted:” Good, you've found a wife who sleeps late, just like you.” Anaya caught Ahaan's gaze and noticed his wicked smile, realizing it was his plan to create a negative impression of her on her first day.
“Sorry, mom-dad. It will not repeat again.” Anaya apologized, his father nodded while Ahaan’s mother totally ignored her and started talking to Alya. Without caring about anything, Ahaan walked out of the house while Anaya went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
In the evening, Ahaan was going to his room when Alya stopped him but he totally ignored her and resumed walking. Alya held his shoulder and said :” Ahaan, please don’t behave like this. Before entering into a relationship, we used to be best friends. Please, don’t spoil our friendship.”
Ahaan brushed her off and attempted to walk away, but she held his hand and continued, "I know you're more upset with me because you had to marry Anaya because of me. But it's a good thing you made a contract with her before marriage, stating you'll leave her after one year if you don't like her."
Ahaan was taken aback and asked in shock, "How do you know about this contract?" Alya smirked and replied, "Oh, Dad told Mom to have Anaya sign these contract papers, and Mom begged him not to do this to her sweet daughter. But Dad forced her. It's good that you'll leave her; she's of no use. I hope you find a good life partner in the future."
Ahaan ignored her and retreated to his room. Standing on the balcony, he recollected the moment when, after Anaya agreed to marry him, he asked his father to take Anaya’s signature on the contract papers otherwise he would not marry her. According to the contract, he would live with Anaya for a year and divorce her if he no longer wanted to be with her. His father contacted Anaya’s father and he agreed, Anaya's father requested that no one inform Anaya about the contract, a condition to which Ahaan agreed, as he didn’t care about her feelings.His trance was broken when a friend called, inviting him to the party. Ahaan accepted the invitation and left for the event.
CHAPTER
One month later.
Anaya woke up and looked at Ahaan who was sleeping, showing his bare back. She wore his shirt and walked inside the shower. She was thinking about her life, standing under the shower. It’s been one month of their marriage and nothing changed, Ahaan was still cold toward her. Everyone ignores her presence including her husband, which pained her heart. This wasn't the marriage life she had dreamt of. She fulfilled all her responsibility as his wife, still he didn’t care about her. She wiped her tears and walked out of the washroom after getting ready.
On the other hand, Ahaan was trying hard in his musical career but he didn’t get any success. Alya and Dhruv were spending a blissful life together, Ahaan couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness seeing their happiness.
One day, Ahaan's father stormed into the house, angrily. He shouted, "Ahaan! Ahaan, where are you?" Everyone rushed to the living room, including Ahaan. His father marched up to him, fuming, and exclaimed, "What do you want from me? Do you want to kill me?" Ahaan was confused seeing his anger, and his mother stepped forward, asking, "What happened? Why are you so angry?"
His father, seething with rage, replied, "Ask your son. He won't let me show my face in society anymore." Dhruv intervened, saying, "Dad, please calm down and tell us what happened. Why are you so furious with him?"
Pointing at Ahaan, his father said with frustration, "I've tolerated all his foolishness. He didn't join our office and instead chose to pursue his music career. I kept quiet, but now things have gone out of control. Do you know what he did? He started playing music at weddings, even for lower-class people. One of my politician friends attended one of those weddings for the sake of votes, recognized Ahaan as my son, and began taunting me. Because of him, I had to endure those taunts."
Ahaan tried to explain, "Dad, it's not what you think. The wedding was for a cousin of my friend who appreciates my music. She requested me to perform, and I couldn't refuse her."
His father raised his hand dismissively and said, "I don't want to hear any excuses. I just want you to join the office tomorrow, and I don't want to hear anything from you." Ahaan knew his father was too angry to listen, so he stormed off to his room in frustration.
Now, only Alya and Anaya remained in the drawing room. Alya walked towards Anaya and said, "This is why I rejected marrying him. See, this is the exact reason I was afraid to marry him." Anaya remained silent and left without saying a word.
She entered her room and found Ahaan absent. She began waiting for him, as she always did since the first day of their marriage.
He arrived late as usual. He looked at her, who was sitting on the sofa in the living room, waiting for him. He knew since their marriage she waited for him, and didn’t sleep till he returned. As usual , she asked for dinner and this time he nodded as he hadn't gone to the party. He just wanted to spend some alone time, and now he is hungry and somewhere he is relieved thinking Anaya was waiting for him. Before marriage, no one waited for him, and his father ordered servants not to serve him after 12. There were so many times he slept empty stomach.
Anaya went to get food for both of them. Ahaan emerged from the washroom and saw Anaya setting the table for them. He felt puzzled when he saw she had prepared food for two. Confused, he asked, "You haven't eaten yet?" Anaya glanced at him and simply nodded, placing the plate in front of him. They began eating in silence, after which they slept.
After that day, Ahaan reluctantly joined the office, he was unhappy being away from his music. He lost everything, his love, and his music. One day, as Ahaan walked through the corridor, he overheard Alya talking to her friend. She excitedly shared how Dhruv had gifted her a diamond necklace, praising him as a good husband who always showered her with gifts. Ahaan painfully listened, shocked by how easily Alya had moved on while he remained stuck where she had left him. His heart broke as he remembered the hurt he felt when he saw Alya in his own house, as his sister-in-law. Lost in his thoughts, Ahaan was jolted back to reality when Alya cleared her throat and greeted him with a smile, saying, "Hi, Ahaan." Ahaan ignored her, attempting to leave, but she stopped him and said, "I know you're angry with me, but see the difference between being your wife and being Dhruv's wife. Look at Anaya; she's working like a housemaid, receiving no respect. Do you know why? Because her husband is u
When Ahaan and Anaya reached downstairs, they saw his parents and Dhruv-Alya were present in the living room. They can sense tense environment, before Ahaan could ask anything, his father shouted at him :” They descended the stairs, but the atmosphere was tense with Alya, Dhruv, and Ahaan's parents present. As they approached the family, Ahaan could see the fury in his father's eyes, and he knew something had gone wrong. Ahaan spoke softly, looking at his dad, "Dad, you called me." His father angrily retorted, "Where is the Singhania company file? I told you to submit it by yesterday for today's meeting, but no. Your carelessness has cost us crores. We lost such an important project because of your stupidity." Ahaan stood silently, knowing he was at fault and understanding the importance of the meeting. His father continued in anger, "And on top of that, you come home drunk. You are a useless son. I don't know what sin I committed that you were born into our family. You embarrass
Ahaan and Anaya were in the taxi with the property dealer. The property dealer was seated in the front beside the driver. The taxi stopped in front of the very busy locality, they can hear people shouting. It appeared to be a lower-class area. Ahaan and Anaya observed their surroundings as the property dealer instructed them to follow him. They nodded and walked behind him until they reached the house on the second floor. As they entered the house, they noticed it consisted of just one room with an open kitchen and an attached bathroom. Ahaan glanced at Anaya with sadness in his eyes, and she understood that they didn't have any other option. She looked back at him and gave a small smile, silently assuring him that they would make it work. Ahaan cleared his throat and said, "We are ready to shift into this house." The property dealer smiled and remarked, "Very good decision, sir. In your budget, this is the best house you can get in the city. Believe me. And yes, remember to stand
Next few days, their routine was the same. They both woke up early, fill the water, and then Ahaan went to search for a job. He was trying hard for a job as their money was going to finish. Not having another option, he accepted to work as a mechanic. He was unsure about Anaya's reaction, and how will she reacts knowing her husband will work as a mechanic. When Ahaan entered the home, he was welcomed by Anaya with a big smile. He never said, but her smile gave strength and encourages him to fight any battle. "I got a job" He informed while drinking water. A smile flickered across Anaya's face as she heard the words she had been longing for. Ahaan continued, "After struggling so much, I couldn't find any job that matched my qualifications or experience. I don't have any connections or influential sources. So, I had to accept a job as a mechanic. I didn't have any other choice. The money we had from selling your earrings is almost gone. " Anaya gently placed her hand on Ahaan's fa
In the evening, Ahaan returned home tiredly. Anaya looked at his exhausted face, her heart sank seeing his dirty clothes and messy state. However, she quickly replaced her sad expression with a smile, not wanting him to feel bad. As usual, she handed him water, and then he went to the washroom while she started arranging the plates. They ate their meal in silence, and afterward, they lay down on the cot. Suddenly, the lights went off, leaving Ahaan and Anaya in darkness. Anaya got up and fetched a candle, lighting it up. Ahaan was surprised and asked her when she had bought the candles. Anaya replied:" I overheard some ladies discussing the frequent power cuts in the area and decided to purchase candles, just in case. " Ahaan nodded. As time passed, Ahaan began feeling hot without the fan. Sleeping without air conditioning was already challenging for him, and now the fan was not working either. He started sweating profusely. Anaya looked at him with concern and got up to grab a n
One week passed, and their routine was the same. One evening Ahaan returned home excitedly, he hugged Anaya and said, taking her in his arms:" I'm so happy. I got my salary, my life's first salary. Let's go outside. First, we will watch a movie then we will have dinner." Anaya agreed with him but first asked to go to the temple and offer Prashad from his first salary. After watching a movie, Ahaan and Anaya were eating in a normal South Indian restaurant. Ahaan was thinking about how he ignored her in the initial days of marriage. He wanted to pamper her, he wanted to take her shopping, dinner, and everything but now he has no money and when he had money, he ignored her presence. Anaya called him and asked:" Ahaan, what are you thinking?" He shook his head, not wanting to give her stress. Still understanding his reason behind stress, she said with a smile:" Don't worry, everything will be alright. Let's go to the beach after dinner." He nodded and after dinner, they went to the b
One week passed, and their routine was the same. One evening Ahaan returned home excitedly, he hugged Anaya and said, taking her in his arms:" I'm so happy. I got my salary, my life's first salary. Let's go outside. First, we will watch a movie then we will have dinner." Anaya agreed with him but first asked to go to the temple and offer Prashad from his first salary. After watching a movie, Ahaan and Anaya were eating in a normal South Indian restaurant. Ahaan was thinking about how he ignored her in the initial days of marriage. He wanted to pamper her, he wanted to take her shopping, dinner, and everything but now he has no money and when he had money, he ignored her presence. Anaya called him and asked:" Ahaan, what are you thinking?" He shook his head, not wanting to give her stress. Still understanding his reason behind stress, she said with a smile:" Don't worry, everything will be alright. Let's go to the beach after dinner." He nodded and after dinner, they went to the b
The next day, Ahaan woke up and saw Anaya coming out of the washroom while rubbing her hair. A few water droplets falls on his face, she turned toward him and asked seeing him awake:" Did I disturb your sleep?" He shook his head and informed her he was already awake. He noticed her, she was filling her hairline while closing her eyes. He asked curiously:" Why do you always close your eyes whenever you apply vermillion, I have seen you murmur something." Anaya turned toward him, she said with a smile:" My grandma used to do the same and when I asked her. She told me, that whenever she applied vermillion she prayed for Grandpa's health, happiness, and future. I told her, I would do the same after my marriage." Ahaan smiled at her thoughts, he went near her and fill her hairline and he also closed his eyes while filling her hairline. She asked confused:" What are you doing everything." "Now, I will fill your hairline daily and I will pray for your health, future, and happiness." Te