Mai chupke se tooti thi
Girti toh shor ho jata

★★★★★★

Riddhima averted her gaze to break the eye contact.

"Come Jiju" Rehaan gave him a smile and pulled the chair for him and he silently sat.

"Why so late beta? " Riddhima's mom asked offering him a glass of water which he accepted without showing any emotion.

"Actually aunty I was stuck in traffic." He said taking a sip from the glass.

Stuck in traffic huh! Liar! Riddhima rolled her eyes

"We should start then? " Riddhima's father asked and everyone settled down to eat.

Riddhima was the first one to gobble down her first bite. She was so hungry that she couldn't wait anymore. She shrugged her shoulder when her mom gave her a look and continued eating. Her brother controlled his laughter. He was sitting next to her so she knew he was laughing at her. She stumped her foot on his and grinned at him but he didn't react.

Yeh kabse hulk ban gaya? She thought and then her eyes landed on the one giving her a piercing stare. Vansh was sitting opposite to her.

He tucked down a little and rubbed his foot still giving her an angry glare and then only she realised whose foot she stumped on. Her eyes widen a little and she turned red in embarrassment. She then didn't look up even for a minute and gave all her attention to her first love, food.

Bidding adieu has always been the hardest part of life for Riddhima. She never wanted to leave her family even during college days she dropped the idea of picking hostel and used to go to college daily from her home even though it would take an hour but being with her family at the end of the day was all she craved for and still does.

But this time she can't choose. She have to go. Her eyes watered as she hugged each one of them tightly.

The car ride back to his home was silent. He didn't say anything nor she tried to talk to him. When he is not interested then why should she?  But she didn't stop stealing glances. He never even looked at her once. This obviously made her sad but she didn't react.

It was the first time let me tell you that she sat beside him in his car. It has happened before but there is a difference. That Riddhima was on cloud nine when she sat beside him but this Riddhima was not feeling anything except agony.

But she still can't digest the fact that he came when she least expected him to. From his face expressions she knew he didn't want to come but still he did and for that she was grateful.

Should I say thank you to him?

She contemplated for a few minutes and then decided to do that. As the car came to a halt, he removed his seat belt to go out when her voice reached his ears and he stopped doing that for a second.

"Thank you"  She said, he looked at her and his one brow reached upwards asking her the reason.

"For coming. I thought you won't come." She said the truth looking down fidgeting with her fingers.

"Atleast you know I didn't want to" His words reached her and she looked at him

"But still you came"

" Because I was forced" He said gritting his teeth as if having a word with her is irritating him.

"Forced? " She mumbled in confusion

"As if you don't know" He rolled his eyes followed by a sarcastic chuckle and left.

She couldn't move, not after those words. It felt like he was accusing her for something. Something that she didn't know she did.

What was he trying to say? The more she thinks about it the more her heart aches. She wasn't an idiot who didn't notice his behaviour towards her since their marriage and all of this leads her to a conclusion that he isn't happy with this marriage.

What if he was forced to marry me? No No No!! His family can't do that. Maa Papa can't do that. No one can do that with their child. Maybe he need time?

She nodded her head. Yes he need time. And she was ready to give him as much as time he wants.

Even though her mind was pointing toward the possibility of him being forced to marry her but she ignored. She ignored because she didn't want that. She will break if that came out as the reason of him being rude to her. She didn't even want to think about it. It will break her to no extend.

Someone's knocking on the window pulled her out of her thoughts and she turned left to look at the person.

Aryan smiled and gestured her to come out. Then only she realised she was still inside the car. She came out and gave him a fake smile.

"All okay?" He asked scrutinising her face. His bhabhi looked stressed.

"Yeah" She said again smiling at him. That smile didn't convince him but he didn't probe too. He thought maybe she was sad because she was missing her family.

"Had dinner? " She asked and he nodded. They came inside the house together and he left not before asking her if she had dinner and wishing her good night.

As it was already late and everyone here was already in their respective rooms. She first went to his parents room to let them know that they are back. Wishing them good night she directly went to her room.

Next day in the morning she came out of her room and went toward the kitchen to make tea for everyone. She stopped at the doorstep when she saw him in the kitchen. From watching his actions for a minute she came to a conclusion that he was trying to make tea.

She moved inside and his movement halt for few seconds before working again.

"Can i help? "

"No" He bluntly refused and she shook her head when he took the salt box instead of sugar and was opening it.

She grabbed the box from his hand and during that her hand touched his. He removed his hand so quickly as if her touch disgusted him.

" Stay away from me and my things." He yelled and stormed out of the kitchen.

She was not able to think for few minutes what had happened. What wrong she did to make him so angry? Does her touch and her presence affect him so much?

At that moment she decided to give him what he wanted. To stay away from him.

°°°°°

It's been a week since she decided to give him the time and space. She didn't tried to talk to him. And the best part is even he didn't. Note the sarcasm.

Riddhima is an Account lecturer. She never fond of a 9 to 5 job and used to love teaching. In school and college she use to teach her friends. During her wedding, she took 15 days off and her holidays ended 2 days back. Back at her home, her father or her brother used to take her college but here she can't force anyone to be her driver daily. She regretted saying no to her brother who used to told her to learn driving.

But to her relief her father in law appointed a driver for her. Isn't he the sweetest?

She was doing everything a new daughter in law should do. From helping her mother in law in the kitchen to going on evening walk with her father in law. Every thing was going great. One more thing she gained in this week is a great friend aka her brother in law.

Aryan is a great company to be with. If he is around you can't stop laughing for a minute. Your cheeks will hurt but you won't be able to stop laughing at his stupid jokes.

She was happy again. She was feeling like her old self in college who used to stalk him from afar because since  a week she is doing that only. From sneaking in balcony to watch him going to his office to wait for him till he comes home but didn't go in front of him. Noting down his timing to come out from his room in the morning to going in the evening she knows his whole schedule again.

But one thing that didn't go well with her is his sleeping timings. She hasn't seen him sleeping. Doesn't matter if she came out from her room at 12 or 2 or even 4 at the night, he will be in the study looking at his laptop. How does she knows?

Because thanks to her father in law who designed the house with his own taste and made the study on the ground floor opposite to the living room in the open. It has table in the middle with the huge rack of books all around the table and couch on the left side. Means she can watch him from the kitchen and living room if he is working on his laptop. Which he does all the time.

Coming back to his sleep timings. She thinks he doesn't sleep because she always find him working whenever she comes out the room at night to get herself a glass of water or when she feels hungry at night.

"Riddhu Avinash Sir is calling you in the Auditorium." Sejal said sitting beside Riddhima in the library. She nodded and collected her books in her bag and handing the bag to Sejal.

"When I will be back we will head to the canteen." Riddhima ordered.

"Okay my hungry cat." Sejal chuckled at her face expressions.

Riddhima moved out of the library and went toward the auditorium. She entered inside and sat on the only vacant chair.

"As you all have signed up for the business quiz. I want the best out of you all and for that working in pair will be better I guess. So there will be five pairs who will compete this semester and result will be out at the end of the semester. 1year student will be paired with 2nd year student. So now you can choose your partner by taking out the slip from the bowl."

Riddhima's eyes roamed around and landed on the only one they are craving for. You think she was interested in the quiz? Then probably you are wrong. She signed up because he did and she didn't want to leave any chance to be around him. It's only have been 3 months since her college started and her stalking activities.

It was his turn now. He picked up the slip and showed it to everyone. It was 5. Her eyed twinkled it was her lucky number as she use to think because her birthday comes on 5th. Her heart raced.

It was her turn now she pulled out the chit and it showed 5. If her heart was racing few minutes ago then it is beating like a drum now. She didn't want this. Right now it felt like signing up was a bad idea. As she showed her slip. He waved at her. She stood there dumbfounded and then turned back to see if it was really her he waved at. He came forward and stood in front of her.

"Hey! I am Vansh." He greeted placing her hand in front of her for a shake.

"Riddhima" She gulped as her hand touched his and then he did something  that melted her. He freaking smiled at her!

This was the smile she could die for. The smile which didn't let her sleep for a damn month during that quiz time.

As soon as the day end and her back hit the bed daily now, she closes her eyes and his face appears. His smiling face. The smile she could die for. The smile which used to give her peace and still does. The smile she could sell her everything for.

She love that Vansh who didn't despaired her presence, who didn't fell disgusted with her touch, who didn't ignore her, who was the perfect guy.

°°°°°°

It was Saturday and Riddhima was having an off.

"Maa what are you doing now?" Riddhima shook her head entering the kitchen. "Why do you do so much work?"

"Zyada kaha just making tea for your father. You know na he liked it after lunch. " Uma smiled at her daughter in law.

"You could have called me. Now that i am here. Give this to me and go rest for a  while you were not well yesterday remember? " She asked taking the sugar box from her hand. Uma left not before pouting at her.

Riddhima smiled at the retrieving figure of her mother in law. Pouring the tea in the mug she moved toward the study.

She could hear Vansh yelling "What is he doing here? When did he came back?" She murmured to herself.

"How could you do this Papa? " She heard his voice. Her steps automatically slowed as if her mind knew that going there will not do good to her.

"I did it for you for your happiness" It was his father's voice. She stopped at the open entrance.

"You don't force someone to marry for happiness for God sake" He yelled and that was it for her and a traitor tear left her eye.

This was the dreading truth she was hiding from. In her mind, she knew it was true but now listening it that too from him broke her more than she imagined.

★★★★★★

So finally the truth is out Vansh was forced by his father.

Too late I know juthe padne chahiye🙈 but can't help it. And i am genuinely happy that i am back because a month ago I seriously dropped the idea of coming back on wattpad.

Updates will be weekly so see yah guys on the next Tuesday!

I hope you liked the chapter.

Until next time

Love love ❤