Author pov,

"Why are you sleeping there?" I asked him.

"I can't sleep on the bed with you , as it's may be uncomfortable for you, I'm not used to sleeping on the floor, neither can I stay in the guest room hence I'm here on the couch " he said, turning to look at her.

"But why can't you sleep on the bed?" Eshana asked him, perplexed.

"I don't want you to feel uncomfortable. What if I accidentally touch you or hug you in my sleep ?" he asked her.

" I won't mind" she replied.

" Huh?" He confused and shocked.

"It won't happen, you don't need to worry about my comfort, because I don't feel uncomfortable with you Armaan. You've already done a lot for me and I don't want you to be uncomfortable. If you are not comfortable sleeping on the same bed as me then fine I'll sleep on the couch , you sleep on the bed" she said, moving towards the couch .

"No it's not that I'm not comfortable Eshana ... It's just everything around me it not as I have excepted neither the situation in which we got married. For the world we are husband and wife, but we know we are nothing more than boss and employer. I thought you won't be comfortable while sleeping next to a mere secretary of yours . I don't want you to feel that I'm touching you or taking advantage of you" he said.

" Armaan you already know about my feelings towards you, I trust your intentions, also I have put the clause likewise in the contract, so it's you and your comfort, so if you have issues in sharing a bed with me then, I will sleep on the couch. So now get up and sleep on the bed . "

"Sorry... Eshana ... I can't let you sleep in the couch, I don't have.... problem " he said but he murmured something under his breath which didn't reached her ears.

"Huh?" she looked at him in confusion.

" Nothing I ... think it's getting late we should sleep now " he said, awkwardly.

"OK " she said, smiling.

" I want a leave tomorrow. " he said walking up to her and as they sat in either side of the bed.

"Why? .." she asked although she knew she shouldn't interfered in his personal life, but she couldn't stop herself. He looked at her direction. When she looked up at his face looking at her blankly, she said .

" Actually I thought to organise a reception party to invite the office members and some of the important business oriented people..... "

When suddenly he said something making her stop.

" Someone very special to me, believes a lot in Devi Durga , she once told me that I am the blessing she got from her and always took me with her to take blessed from durga ma before any new journey or smaller or bigger achievements ."

She didn't asked him about the person, but keenly listen to him as he continued.

" So I always go to temple for doing puja, whether I achieve anything, suffer or start something new, though this is a contract marriage but it is a new journey in our lives, even if this relationship doesn't held much importance for you, still I want to start with the blessings of Goddess Durga. We both are needed for the puja, but I didn't wanted to bother you , by asking you to accompany me to the temple for puja leaving your work just because of a contract marriage. It will take almost a day because the temple is three hours away from here, and also puja with also take a hour or two. "

She at him with an unknown emotion, which herself was unaware of, but she quickly hides it, not wanting him to notice it.

" Yeah I am giving a day off, I will organise the party on the weekend then. Because this week we have to go for an important meeting, I have to sign the tender for the new project with some important and famous companies." He nodded and said,

" Thank you, Good night"

She also bade him goodnight and both laid on bed and turned to the other side, falling asleep in an instant.

~~~

Next morning,

Armaan was sleeping with a peacefully, when he felt a strong gaze on him. He slowly opened his eyes but got shock seeing himself so close to Eshana, who was balancing her with her left hand and staring at him,

Suddenly she said,

" I was thinking..."

" We can burn some calories together."

Realising her statement his eyes gets widen in shock. He fake coughed and cleared his throat.

What she is even thinking early in the morning. Is she high on something or what? He thought.

" What? I was saying we can workout together and burn some calories together. It seems you workout daily.
Why are looking at me like that, what else did you thought?" she asked smirking.

" umm.. I didn't thought anything. I am getting late. I have to go back to my apartment and get read for the puja, also I... I have to bring some of my stuffs. " he replied and quickly rushes towards the couch, picking his backpack from the floor and took out a fresh piece of cloths . His was going towards the door, When Eshana stopped him,

" No need of going to the guest bathroom, you can take a shower here, I still have time for the office."

Saying a small thank you he rushes to the bathroom.

As she hear the closing sound of the bathroom door, she laughed shaking her head well she loves teases him. After a long time she is finally enjoying , may be there is still some little hope is left , that may be Armaan will able to bring back the old Eshana.

Soon after taking shower he got ready and left for his apartment for getting for the day.

~~~~

After almost one hour, nearly at 9 am.
As he entered inside the mansion, in a white kurta and pants with an off white coat, he looked around getting confused seeing the hustle and bustle, as servant are arranging the some baskets of flowers, fruits and other things.

Soon his gaze fell Eshana, who was standing in a red anarkali suit with golden embroidery and border, it made her look like a Goddess indeed, with her hair tied in a loose braid, a few strands escape to fall on the sides of her face, the pair of long gold earrings and a neckpiece along with those red bangles which adorned her hands added more to her beauty. She looking like a newly wedded bride, ordering the servant to arrange the materials for the puja. As soon as his eyes met hers, he was carried away to a different world and was left mesmerized by her beauty.

Like always she choose to wear minimal makeup making her look so natural and she indeed looked beautiful.

Eshana's look

She took her time checking him out.

Slowly she went near him, and stood in front of him, while he was not able to take his eyes off her.

" Eshana, what's all this? What's happening here?" Armaan asked her, he could easily understand that she has prepared and arranged everything for the puja, but he was confused why.

" Armaan we are in this together, we both are starting a new chapter of our lives. Many things changed yesterday when we got married to each other. I am going to be there with you performing the puja. We are Husband and wife now. See I didn't know what is need for the puja, therefore I took help from kaki ma and prepared everything. So everything is ready let's go. " she replied making him speechless, he just stared at her for few minutes before nodding.

Eshana asked the servants to put everything in the car and soon after Armaan sat on the driving seat, with Eshana on the passenger and left for their destination.

~~~~

After almost more than three and half hours, they reached the temple, due to traffic they got half and hour late.

They took out the plates and flowers basket which had everything required, Armaan took almost everything, giving only the lightest plate to her as she was wearing a heavy anarkali and dupatta.

As they reached, they saw the panditji ( priest) was waiting for them, Armaan had already informed him yesterday about the puja .

Panditji took the things from them and started the puja. While they join hand and closed their eyes.

As the priest chanted some hymns and conducted the ceremony, he asked them to come forward.

" Now, it's time for the arti. Beta, come here and do the arti together. It's a ritual, the newly weds has to do it together " he said.

Both of them came toward and look at each other before performing the arti.

After some time the aarti ended on a good and happy note along with the other rituals. The priest passed them a plate of flowers and prasad, when he noticed that Eshana forehead and neck was empty.

" Beta, you are newly wedded, why are you not wear the sindoor ( vermilion) and mangalsutra?" panditji asked.

Making Eshana realised that she doesn't had a vermilion box at home, so she couldn't wear it, neither they had purchased a mangalsutra.

" wait I will bring the sindoor of goddess durga, it will be the best as it has the blessings of her. But the mangalsutra?"

" I have it" Armaan said shocking Eshana as he took out a small box and handed it to panditji.

" very good, I will put it on devi maa's feet and you both wait I will bring the vermilion too " saying so panditji went inside near the goddess.

Eshana look at him in questioning manner.

" I had bought it few days ago before our marriage , but without doing a puja, I can't make you wear it. So thought to bring it with me today. " Armaan replied.

Soon panditji came and asked Armaan to fill her hairline and make her wear the mangalsutra.

I took a little pinch of the sindoor and filled her hairline again, while a little bit fell on her nose. I took the mangalsutra and made her wear it. As I was about to remove the dust off the sindoor from her nose.

Panditji stopped me saying, it's determines how much her husband will love her. Also it is considered auspicious and is believed to bring happiness and prosperity to the couple. I saw a red hue formed on her cheeks at panditji's words.

I look at her angelic face . She was smiling softly and blushing . I felt so happy and content to see her smiling , it's a very rare sight, but I am liking the Change in her, although I not sure how to feel about it.

Her sindoor and mangalsutra making her more beautiful and gorgeous. I got a possessiveness seeing the mangalsutra and sindoor. Do I have the right to think this this ? But she is wearing sindoor and mangalsutra of my name. She is my wife. God she is looking so irresistible. The sindoor lightly smacked her hair and forehead, making her look so heavenly and ethereal, the loose hairs which are falling on her face , made my hand itche to touch them and then her lips- my goodness, they seem so soft and plump , making me wonder how they will feel against my...

I quickly shake my head mentally for thinking like this. If I looked more towards her that would be problem for me.

To him She was looking mesmerizing, just like a blooming flower, radiating grace and elegance, looking absolutely beautiful with the sindoor and mangalsutra .

" Hayeeee, Lagta hai Yeh Meri Jaan Lekar hi Manegi should I file case for indirect attempts of murdering? " he thought to himself chuckling internally.

( Looks like she is going to stop only after take my life)

~~~

Author's pov,

The puja went really well, the panditji blessed the couple and prayed for their long lives and happy marriage.

After going near the car Eshana said,

" Armaan I am really very hungry please find a good place for eating. I haven't eaten anything "

" What? You are fasting?" He asked shocked.

" Yes, I know you are also fasting, kaki ma told me, that it was the ritual. Now hurry up or else I will faint if I don't get anything too eat right now ."

----

So that's it, hope you like the chapter. Please do vote and comment and share your opinion. Also do you want some romance and another cute date in the next chapter?