Chapter – 2

Hiya's POV

I am Hiya Sharma, daughter of late Rajesh Sharma and late Hema Sharma.

Yes, I am an orphan. One incident that happened 13 years ago, changed my life. I wasn’t supposed to survive but who can deny destiny?

My father was a professor and my mother was a housewife. We were not very rich but we had sufficient money to fulfil our needs. We were happy. But God didn’t like our happiness. He ruined it.

I can still recall the terrific day of my life. We had come to visit my bua's (aunt) place. At the time of our return, I was crying because I wanted to stay more days with Diya di. Then I had no idea that God would be so eager to fulfil my wish.

Our return train met with an accident. 5 compartments displaced from railway truck. Among those compartments, one was our compartment. Many people died that day. My parents also died in front of my eyes. But I survived…my dad's protective arms save me from death and that’s how it made my permanent stay at bua's place.

I still have nightmares about the incident. In my dreams, I can hear the cries of people. People were crying for help, for their loved ones. Because of that accident, I am afraid of trains…not only trains. I am a little scared to ride in cars or any other vehicle also. I can only ride on cycles and motorbikes freely. Many doctors tried many treatments but my phobia never fade away. I get panic attacks even going near a railway station or railway track. I don’t think I will ever be able to come out of the incident properly.

From that day I started living in bua's house. Bua loved me like a mother. Diya di became my best friend. Uncle (Dinesh) fulfilled my all need. I am very grateful to them.

But I never thought I have to pay such a big price for this. I am not blaming them or maybe I am. I know… it was my choice but how could I deny their plea?

They have treated me like their daughter. I studied in the same school as Diya di. It was a big private school that maybe my dad could have never been able to afford. They tried to fill the void of my parents but no one can fill that. They used to give me an allowance but I didn’t like to use it. I started working as a part-timer because I didn’t want to be a burden anymore. They never said or did anything that let me feel like it. But I just used not to feel good taking money from them for my need. So I started that job. I wanted to be self-dependent.

“You have not changed your dress yet?”

Third Person's POV

Hiya's thoughts broke hearing Rishav's voice. She looked up at saw Rishav standing in the doorway of her room wearing comfy night attire.

RISHAV : why haven’t you changed yet?

HIYA : I…I…

Hiya didn’t understand what will she say…that she was crying for her luck. She was angry that she has accepted such an arrangement!

RISHAV : ok…whatever. Change your dress and come to my room quickly and the maids will shift your things to my room.

HIYA : What? Why?

Hiya was in a stew hearing this. As per her knowledge, they will not have any relationship like a husband and wife. So she was confused about why Rishav was telling her to go to his room.

Though she has accepted all the terms of this marriage contract, she will not accept every order of them.

She has accepted this contract just because she is really grateful to her bua and uncle but that doesn’t mean she will completely forget her self-respect. She has already neglected it for them.