AADHYA

I come out of my bathroom and look at myself in my mirror. I don't recognize myself but I'm not going to cry. I promised myself to not let a tear out.

This marriage is my freedom, as ridiculous as it may sound.

"Here." Kiara says. "Let's get you ready." I turn towards her and she's holding my pastel green with white design saree. I'm already wearing my sleeveless blouse with petticoat.

"You wear this first." Rita says giving me my heels.

I put on my heels and starts to get ready. They help me drape my saree. The saree is gorgeous, I hope it takes the attention from my face.

"Why would you not wear makeup to your Roka dude?" Kiara asks me as she pins the saree to my shoulder. The pallu hangs around me and I just want to use it to cover myself.

I have not told Rita and Kiara what happened in my house two days back. They are happy thinking I said yes to this marriage on my own.

I want some happy faces in my house today.

"I'm wearing makeup." I say and look at the mirror once again.

"You didn't. What's wrong, Aadhya?"

I look at Kiara and smiles. "Nothing. I want everyone to see my face without makeup. Let's see if Rehan runs or not." I joke.

"Oh trust me. He won't." Rita says.

I smile and turn to the mirror. I have worn eyeliner, mascara and nude lipstick. My hair is tied into a bun. I have a small necklace and bangle on each hand.

According to me, I'm wearing too much.

A knock turns our attention to the door. I walk to open the door and Rehan surprises me standing on the other side.

"Hi." I say.

"Hey." He smiles and blushes. "I was searching for restroom."

I smile. "You can use mine." I open the wide for him and he enters and seeing my friends he is shocked.

They fold their hands to their chest and looks at him raising their eyebrows.

"I was searching for-"

"We heard." Rita interrupts.

"And you accidentally climbed the stairs and reached the second room in this floor. Yeah, we believe that." Kiara smirks.

Rehan's eyes are red and he looks at me. I point him the bathroom and he rushes to it.

"Why?" I ask my friends smiling after he goes to the bathroom.

"It's our Jiju. Let's have our fun." Rita says and Kiara nods. They both leave before Rehan comes back.

I wait for him in the room and I hear the opening of the door. He comes and sits beside me in my bed.

"You look breathtakingly beautiful." Rehan whispers.

A shiver runs down my body and I look down at my feet. I feel hot blood rushing everywhere and I try to calm myself.

I feel him lean closer and kiss my cheek. I grip my fingers tightly around the edge of the bed as butterflies make a round in my lower stomach.

He's going to kill me.

I look up at him and he is looking at me with adoration and ...love? His eyes are fixed upon me and he places his hand on mine.

"I like you." He whispers even though there is only the two of us in the room. "You have made me feel things I've never felt. The first time I saw you, I was bowled."

Did he just use cricket reference for my sake?

Rehan continues. "Are you really ready for this?"

"I wasn't but you make me ready. These last few days I've spent with you, you make me feel happy, healthy and safe. I want more of that. I'm ready for this." I tell him and I'm not lying.

There is no way out of this marriage and the only positive I am getting out of this is Rehan. He is my happy place.

"I promise to give you all the happiness and love you deserve." He says and my heart skips a beat.

He leans in closer and I part my lips. I feel his breath on my lips and a sudden knock startles us.

I flush as I stand up. Rita is outside and she grabs my hand and rushes me downstairs. I turn back and see him following us with a smirk on his face.

Rehan looks so handsome in his white kurta and pajama. His beard and hair being the cherry on top. Do I get to call him mine?

I smile at him and turn around as I take the last step of the stairs. There are nearly thirty people in the room and all their eyes are on me.

I feel Rita slowly slipping away from me and Rehan stands beside me. We both look at each other at the same time and I blush under his gaze.

"This is my weird family." Rehan says as he waves his hand at the unfamiliar faces.

I only make out who's Liya and Rhea. Even though I did stalk him on Instagram, I suck at remembering peoples face by looking at their photo.

I can never be a witness for an investigation.

"Hello dear. I'm Rehan's mother." A lady in blue saree approaches me. She is very beautiful and doesn't look like she is the mother of a twenty eight year old. Her hair is braided, she has a gold necklace around her neck and she looks very good. I turn to all the women from his family and suddenly I feel very underdressed.

I smile at her and she holds my hand. "It's nice to meet you." I tell her.

"This is my Dadi, Chachi and Aunt." Rehan introduces other ladies in the room.

I spend next few minutes talking to them. I'm glad I have Rehan by my side, I can't handle a crowd of strangers. Everyone is very chatty except for his aunt. She only asks me what I do and stands back after I reply.

Rehan's father and his Chacha and Uncle follows the ladies and I talk to them as well.

Not even in any of my birthday parties I've ever got this attention.

"Hello Bhabhi." A guy came and holds his hand out.

Bhabhi! It feels weird.

"Sanjay." Rehan's says annoyed. "Cousin."

"And best friend." Sanjay adds. "I heard you are doing civil engineering?"

"Yeah." I nod.

"If you have any doubts, you can contact me. A graduate here."

I widen my eyes in surprise. "Wow. Where did you study?"

"Chennai. And you?"

"Just 45 minutes away." I shrug. I don't think many girls in my family have left this state for their studies. Boys have. "Are you working in-"

Rehan interrupts. "Who do you think is going to record our whole wedding? My man free of cost. He owns an event management company with photography." He wraps his arm around Sanjay's shoulder.

Sanjay rolls his eyes. "Family or not, you gotta pay me."

I smile as their banter continue. I feel a tap on my shoulder and Di standing behind me with her hand on her bump. She smiles at Rehan and Sanjay acknowledging them and pulls me aside.

"Are you okay?"

How many times people are gonna ask me that?

"I'm fine." I say holding her hands.

I'm trying to be fine.

REHAN

Aadhya and I stand in the middle and watch as the ceremony finishes. My mind was not at ease when I came here but the small talk Aadhya and I had made me somewhat calm.

Hearing her say yes literally sent chills down my body. A girl like her agrees to marry me, if I was in high school my friends would have taken me for a parade as a celebration.

But there is something bothering her. I think it has something to do with me. Maybe it's the fact that she'll have to leave her family and come to my house. I hope I can erase her worries and make her comfortable.

I look at Aadhya. She is looking so beautiful today and I get to call her mine.

She looks at me and raises her eyebrows. I shake my head and smiles at her. She smiles back.

I will do anything to keep that smile on her face.

When the ceremony finishes Ved and Rahul, Sanjay's brother, starts clapping and howling. Mom secretly glares at them and they put their hands behind.

We are directed to the chairs and tables in the lawn to have food. I secretly holds Aadhya's hand and she looks at me, her eyes wide.

I laugh and leans in to kiss her just to tease her. She blushes and pushes my chest before turning around to see if anyone has noticed us. We are behind everyone so no one is paying any heed to us. Except for Sanjay.

"Give her the kiss man." Sanjay says as he points his camera to us.

"He's asking for it." I tell Aadhya as I stand closer to her. She is red.

"Give it to him." She smiles. She looks at him. "I give you my permission."

"I've had enough. Let's learn to share Aadhya." Sanjay answer back and we all laugh. "Now stand for some photos. Don't give me that standing straight smiling photos."

I look at Aadhya and I feel my heart beat. "Can I hold you?"

She nods and moves in closer. I plan to keep my hand on her waist but when I do put my hand on her waist I realize there's no cloth between our contact. She's wearing a goddamn saree and I freeze at the contact. A shiver runs down my spine making my body tense.

Aadhya looks at me and she seems amused. "What?"

"Did you felt it?"

She hides her smile and looks at the camera biting her lip. "What should I feel?"

Good lord! Please don't bite your lip.

"Please don't bite your lip." I repeat my thoughts to her.

She frowns and stops biting her lip.

"I would like to kiss you." I whisper.

Aadhya turns to me again with wide eyes and she blushes. I smile at the camera as Sanjay clicks our picture.

"Not infront of everybody ofcourse but I will kiss you." I promise her.