Chapter – 1

Hiya's POV

I am sitting in my new room in bridal attire. Yes, you have guessed it right, I got married today.

Can I call it a marriage? Because it is not a normal marriage. It is a contract marriage. Contract for two years or maybe less.

Strange right? But that’s what they wanted. This contract has no fixed time. It will just expire after 2 years. Confused?

Let me say it clearly… I am a substitute in place of my cousin. No, she didn’t run away or deny this marriage. She got very ill. Doctors have found some nerves in her body drying day by day. She had started treatment but it was very painful. So she stopped the treatment and went to an ashram where Ayurveda treatment and physiotherapy will happen but there was only one condition she can not contact the outside world during her treatment period. She has to concentrate on meditation and the treatment for good results.

My cousin, Diya Rathore, only daughter of Mr. Dinesh Rathore and Mrs. Ragini Rathore. Diya di is 27 years old. She helps his dad in managing their business. She is a very lively girl.

Everything had been fine before Diya di fell ill. We are very worried about her. Doctors said; If she doesn’t get proper treatment, she may lose her ability to walk in future. We didn’t want her to go to Ashram but seeing her in so much pain, no one stopped her. It has been two months since we contacted my cousin, Diya. We were praying for Diya di to come back home fast and fully cured. Our only focus was that; but out of the blue, Mr. Rishi Thakur got sick and he wanted to see his only grandson, Rishav's wedding before anything happen to him.

Rishav Thakur is the only son of Mr. Raj Thakur and Mrs. Sonia Thakur. He is very handsome; tall in figure, sharp nose, fair complexion, he has a thin moustache, which boosts his masculine personality. He is a perfect definition of Handsome. He knows that very well, that is why he has an arrogant attitude also.

I don’t like his this nature. But I had no problem before as he was my Diya di's fiancé and she had no problem. But now Destiny play a wrong game. I have become his wife. Though not real, still.

Rishav Thakur and my cousin, Diya were engaged. Rishav Thakur's father, Mr. Raj Thakur, and Diya di's father, Mr. Dinesh Rathore, are childhood friends. They had done this engagement between them when they were only 18. So from then on, it was fixed. But the problem arrived when Mr. Rishi Thakur wanted to see his grandson's marriage.

They could not contact Diya di and they also could not deny Mr. Rishi Thakur's request as according to Rishi Thakur's will, after getting marriage Rishi Thakur will transfer all the properties to Rishav's name otherwise he, Rishi Thakur will donate it to charity.

No one knows about Rishav and Diya di's engagement. Not even Mr. Rishi Thakur. So they planned something to fool Mr. Rishi Thakur and who will be the sacrifice of their plan…of course, me.

They could have arrange any actress for this act but they didn’t. Because my uncle, Dinesh found it risky. He didn’t want to take any risk for his daughter's future. Mr. Raj Kapoor also thinks the same. They think I am the perfect candidate. They trust me. I know this arrangement will not make any harm to me physically but emotionally I am hurt. Marriage was not a play thing for me; but now it became. I am deceiving two elderly people by this marriage which I hate the most.

According to the contract, I will have to act or can say I will be known as Rishav's wife until Diya di comes back. Actually, exactly not until Diya di comes back. The term on the contact paper is, I have to stay as his wife for two years but within these two years, the moment Diya di will come back the contract will be invalid and if within these 2 years Diya do doesn’t come back then Rishav will end this marriage and marry whomever he wants.

So it doesn’t matter if Di comes back or not, my marriage will not last. It is not like I am eager to continue this marriage. I just don’t like this arrangements. I am just a show wife to Rishav's grandparents and some relatives.

But despite just being a show wife of Rishav, I still have to follow many rules as I can not tell anyone about my marriage, I can not have any relationship with any other men, I always have to act as a real wife in front of Rishav's grandparents and Relatives, I can not fall for Mr. Rishav and after these two years or after Di comes back I have to go far away from him, I can not show myself in front of them. It is like I have sold 2 years of life to them. I have to follow their every rule. I don’t want to follow any of these decree but now I have to follow as I have already signed the contract.

Why have I accepted such a contract? For money? No…I don't want money. I have just graduated from college but still, I have saved enough amount of money for myself working in a clothing store in a shopping mall. I still work there. I am no need of money.

Then, did someone force me? Threatened me?

No…nothing like this happened. They just requested me and I have given my consent in my full conscious state.

Ha! Funny right? Who will accept such a contract? Does that person has any self-respect ?

Yes, I have…I have self-respect but maybe sometimes favors suppresses self-respect. When the burden of favors are too great then there is no chance to give any attention to self -respect and that’s what I did. Ignoring all my self-respect to show my gratitude I have accepted this marriage.