Kiara had spent hours in the kitchen, carefully preparing a delicious meal for her family. She had set the dining table with precision, making sure everything was perfect. 

The aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, mingling with the warm glow of the dining room lights.

 As she waited for everyone to arrive, Kiara felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. She had always taken care to ensure that her family was well-fed and happy, and today was no exception. 

Abhir was the first to arrive, and he took his seat at the table without a word. Kiara served him quietly, her eyes cast downward.

 She could feel his gaze on her, but she didn't meet his eyes. Instead, she focused on serving him, making sure he had everything he needed. 

Just as she was about to serve the rest of the meal, Swarna and Manish walked in. Swarna's eyes scanned the table, her gaze lingering on Kiara before narrowing into a scowl.

"If this girl is going to stay here, we won't eat here!" Swarna spat, her voice venomous as she glared at Kiara.

 The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Kiara's eyes welled up with tears as she felt a sting from Swarna's harsh words.

 She had been trying so hard to fit in, to be accepted by Abhir's family, but it seemed like no matter what she did, she would never be good enough.

 Abhir's eyes flashed with anger, but he remained silent, unsure of how to intervene. Manish looked uncomfortable, shifting in his seat as he tried to avoid eye contact with Kiara.

Kiara stood up from her seat, her eyes welling up with tears as she prepared to leave. But before she could take a step, Abhir's hand shot out and grasped her wrist, holding her in place.

 He looked up at her, his eyes locking onto hers with a fierce intensity. "Sit," he commanded, his voice low and gentle. 

Kiara hesitated for a moment, but then slowly sank back into her seat, her eyes never leaving Abhir's face. She felt a sense of comfort and security wash over her as Abhir's hand remained wrapped around her wrist, a subtle reminder that he was there for her. 

Abhir turned to face Swarna, his expression calm and collected. "This girl is my wife," he said, his voice dripping with pride. 

"And I will not stand for anyone disrespecting her." Swarna's face turned red with rage, but Abhir continued, his voice unwavering. "If you don't want to eat, Nani, you can leave happily. But you will treat my wife with respect."

 He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he emphasized his point. "I know this house belongs to you, but my wife belongs to me. She's not your servant, she's my partner. And I will not tolerate anyone treating her like anything less." The room fell silent, the tension between Abhir and Swarna palpable. 

Kiara heard Abhir's words and felt a flutter in her chest. She wondered, did he really consider her his wife, or was she just an obligation to him? 

Was she just a duty, a responsibility he had taken on, or did he truly see her as his partner, his equal? 

Kiara's mind whirled with questions as she searched Abhir's face for answers. She looked into his eyes, trying to read his thoughts, but they gave away nothing.For a moment, Kiara felt a pang of uncertainty.

 Had Abhir just said those things to defend her, to protect her from Swarna's venomous words? Or did he truly mean them? Kiara's heart ached with the desire to know the truth. She wanted to believe that Abhir saw her as his wife, his partner, his friend. 

But a part of her was afraid to trust him, afraid to let her guard down and risk getting hurt again.As Kiara sat there, lost in thought, Abhir's hand remained wrapped around hers, a gentle reminder of his presence. 

She felt a sense of comfort and security in his touch, and slowly, her doubts began to fade away. Maybe, just maybe, Abhir did see her as his wife, his partner. And maybe, just maybe, she could learn to trust him, to believe in him.

"Abhir, this is how you talk to your grandmother?" Manish shouted, his face red with indignation. "You're disrespecting your own family, Abhir. How can you stand up for your wife like this?"

 Manish's voice dripped with venom as he glared at Kiara, his eyes filled with a deep-seated resentment.

 "You're putting the needs of an outsider above those of your own family. What kind of son are you, Abhir?" Manish's words cut deep, but Abhir refused to back down. 

Abhir's expression remained calm, but his voice took on a steely tone. "Wow, Mr. Goenka, your wife can talk nonsense about my wife and you expect me to stay silent?" Abhir said, his words laced with sarcasm. 

"You're one to talk about disrespect,. Your wife has been treating Kiara like dirt since the day she arrived, and you've done nothing to stop it. So don't lecture me about disrespecting family."

 Abhir's eyes flashed with anger as he stood up to Manish, his voice firm and authoritative. "I won't stand by and watch my wife be humiliated and disrespected by your wife. I won't stand by and watch my family tear itself apart because of your wife's petty squabbles." Abhir's words hung in the air, a challenge to Manish and Swarna to stop their toxic behavior.

Abhir's voice rose, his words tumbling out in a passionate declaration. "You both have taken enough decisions for my life, but not anymore!" he exclaimed, his eyes blazing with determination.

 "Because of you both, my mom isn't with me today. You took her away from me, and I'll never forgive you for that." Abhir's voice cracked with emotion, but he pressed on, his words pouring out like a dam breaking. 

"But I won't let you snatch my wife away from me!" Abhir declared, his voice ringing with defiance. 

"Kiara is mine, and I'll do everything in my power to protect her. I won't let you hurt her, I won't let you manipulate her, and I won't let you take her away from me. She's my wife, and I love her. And I'll fight for her, no matter what it takes."

 Abhir's chest heaved with emotion, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity as he stood up to his family, refusing to back down.

Abhir's voice remained firm, his words dripping with conviction. "And if you don't like her, that's your problem, not mine or my wife's," he said, his eyes flashing with a fierce protectiveness.

 "I don't need your approval or your validation to love Kiara. She's my wife, and I'll support her, I'll stand by her, and I'll fight for her, no matter what. Your opinions, your biases, and your prejudices don't matter to me. What matters is Kiara's happiness, and I'll do everything in my power to ensure that she's happy and fulfilled." Abhir's words hung in the air, a clear challenge to Manish and Swarna to accept Kiara as his wife, or to face the consequences of their disapproval.

"Abhir, what was the need..." Kiara started to say, but her words were cut off as Abhir gently pushed a morsel of food into her mouth. Kiara's eyes widened in surprise, but then she couldn't help but smile as she chewed and swallowed the food.

Abhir smiled back at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Eat," he said, his voice soft and gentle. "You must be hungry." Kiara nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Abhir. He was always looking out for her, always trying to take care of her. And in that moment, Kiara felt a deep sense of love and connection towards him.

As Kiara continued to eat, Abhir sat down beside her, watching her with a tender expression. He seemed to sense that she was still upset, still reeling from the drama of the dinner table. And so he simply sat with her, offering her comfort and support through his quiet presence.

As Kiara ate, she couldn't help but remind herself of the reality of her situation. This marriage, this life she was building with Abhir, it was all just a temporary arrangement. A marriage of convenience, born out of necessity rather than love.

 The court had given them six months to make it work, to prove that their marriage was real and not just a sham. And after that, who knew what would happen? 

Kiara's thoughts were a jumble of emotions, her mind torn between the growing feelings she had for Abhir and the harsh reality of their situation. 

She couldn't let herself get too attached, not when their future together was so uncertain. But at the same time, she couldn't help but feel drawn to Abhir, to his kindness and his gentleness. It was all so confusing, and Kiara didn't know how to process her emotions.

Kiara's voice was barely above a whisper as she asked the question that had been weighing on her mind. "Do you think it will work?" 

she asked, her eyes searching Abhir's face for any sign of doubt or uncertainty. "Do you think our marriage will work, Abhir?" Kiara's heart was pounding in her chest as she waited for his response, her entire future hanging in the balance.

Abhir's expression was thoughtful, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered Kiara's question. For a moment, he said nothing, his silence stretching out like an elastic band. 

Kiara's anxiety grew with each passing second, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. But then, Abhir's face relaxed into a gentle smile, and he reached out to take Kiara's hand in his. 

"I don't know, Kiara," Abhir said, his voice low and husky. "But I do know that I want it to work. I want us to work." Abhir's eyes locked onto Kiara's, his gaze burning with intensity. "I want us to be happy, Kiara. Together."

Abhir's determination was palpable, his jaw set in a firm line as he made a silent vow to himself. He would make this marriage work, no matter what it took. 

He wouldn't let Kiara, the one person who had shown him love and acceptance for who he was, slip through his fingers. 

After his mother's passing, Kiara was the only one who had cared for him, loved him unconditionally. And he wouldn't let anyone or anything come between them.

Abhir's eyes softened as he looked at Kiara, his heart swelling with emotion. He knew that their marriage was a complicated one, born out of necessity rather than love. 

But he also knew that he had feelings for Kiara, feelings that went beyond mere convenience or duty. And he was determined to nurture those feelings, to grow and build a life with Kiara that was filled with love, laughter, and happiness.

...........

do you guys want me to continue this or should i complete in next chap?