"Ummm this is so tasty" Nikhil hummed feeling sweetness of mango ice-cream on his taste buds.

It's been two weeks, Swara and Nikhil communicated their consent for contract marriage to their agent. From the same day Nikhil was observing drastic change in Swara, she became more silent and aloof. Even on their daily night meetings, it was Nikhil who used to talk she used to respond in monosyllables with fake smile. Not only Nikhil but her parents were also noticing recent changes as well, but Swara always convinced them with lame excuses.

Today morning agent confirmed about next day's contract signing which took away floor from Swara's feet. Nikhil forced her to come with him for evening hangout.

"Hey why are you not eating? Eat it. It's super yummy." Nikhil nudged her, looking at her melting ice-cream.

"How can you be so relaxing?" Swara irritated.

"Swara, come on. Why are you becoming so hyper?" Nikhil rolled his eyes.

"I am becoming hyper? Do you even know what I am going through right now?" she shook her head in frustration.

"Enough, ofcourse I know. And I am also tense. But I am becoming practical. Just not making it as an issue." He threw the ice- cream cup in nearby dustbin.

"Exactly, because you are not getting married tomorrow with any stranger. Because you are not making the biggest decision of your life without getting any consent from your parents. Because you are not risking your entire life." She looked at him disbelief.

"Come on Swara it's not an actual marriage. Everything will be just on the paper" he convinced.

"You are not understanding Nikhil. Or I should say you will never understand. And that's what I regret the most" her eye's filled with silent tears. "I am going home." She started taking steps towards nearby bus stand.

Nikhil kept on looking at her back with dropped shoulders.

Next day came with in a blink, Swara got ready as usual to go for her office. She folded her hands in front of kanhaji's idol. 'Kanhaji, please be with me. I am known this is wrong but if with this I could help my family then I will do it.'

Swara left with Nikhil to agent's office. They both were waiting in the reception area when they were asked to go in one cabin.

"Come Swara let's go" Nikhil stood up.

Swara was still fidgeting with her fingers. Her throat became dry, she felt lifeless, her eyes filled with tears.

"Swara they are calling us" Nikhil asked again.

"I don't want to do this" she mumbled shaking her head.

"You cannot step back at last moment, think about our future" he stressed kneeling down in front of her to persuade.

Swara gulped water brought by Nikhil, she took deep breath closing her eyes to gain her equilibrium.

She stood and started following agent and Nikhil.

"You have to wait here" agent asked Nikhil when they reached near one cabin's door, "It's because we follow identification security. Only Ms. Swara can go inside."

"Ohh ok" Nikhil shrugged his shoulders.

Swara looked at him in bewilderment for a moment, 'how could he become so blind to send me alone?'

"I will be here only, come soon ok" Nikhil replied casually.

She shook her head and took a first step inside. Her eyes roamed around the room clutching her pursed in her fist.

It was perfect office cabin, with table and chairs. There was one 3+2 sofa set with coffee table. One person in his early 50's dressed in formals was looking at the papers and was talking to their agent.

"I don't care" she turned her face hearing cold voice. She could easily recognise American accent. There was one man standing speaking on phone facing his back to her.

"Excuse me Ms. Swara please have seat" agent asked.

She took a seat and started going through the papers and agent started explaining her about terms and conditions.

"You need to sign on last page and on other's it would be initials" Registrar asked passing pen.

Swara started reading papers before signing.

After some moments, she felt one figure sitting on the next sofa chair. He was still typing something on this phone. Swara looked at him from corner eyes.

Fair complexion, jet black silky hairs, straight nose, dark brown deep eyes, chiseled jaw were enough for any girl to lose her heart at his one look. He was wearing faded jeans and navy-blue colour t-shirt just like any commoner.

"Do it fast" his intimidated ask to agent broke her trance, and she turned her attention towards contents of the paper.

"Sign here" Swara took pen with shivering hands. She closed her eyes for a moment bringing her parents and brother's face in front of her closed eyes. She took deep breath and put her initials on the paper. One tear dropped on her chubby cheeks when she signed on the last page. She wiped her tear without anyone's notice.

The person sitting beside her, took pen and without thinking for even once signed on all pages with rigid face.

"I will sign as witness" agent declared.

"Congratulations" Swara observed, Marriage Registrar forwarding his hand to the person sitting beside her.

He passed one glare to Registrar who gulped in fear. Breaking his arrogant glare, he stood up from his seat and without saying a word left still digging his head in his mobile.

'This must be daily routine for him. Ridiculous!' Swara disgusted herself.

"You will get marriage certificate in two days" Registrar commented gathering papers spread across on the table.

"Yes, and we will immediately attach it to your application and then we will submit." Agent confirmed

"What was his name?" Swara asked inquisitively still staring his back who moved out of door without turning back.

"Sorry but we cannot disclose. We don't disclose identity's of both parties. You don't worry but he won't interfere in your life and same condition applies to you as well. He will get his money as part of this contract." Agent dismissed her plea.

"Hey Swara, thank god it's done finally" Nikhil cheered while stepping inside cabin.

"What are the next steps?" Nikhil initiated conversation not bothering to look at lost Swara.

Agent and Nikhil discussed further steps for their application submission Swara was silently listening their conversation.

"Come Swara let's go. I will drop you to your office and then I will go home. I have some deadlines..."

"You go home... I will go by myself" Swara cut him.

"When are you going to upload my resume? I need a job as soon as possible. As I have cleared earlier as well, I need a job in my hand before relocating to Canada." She announced not bothering to look at her so-called fiancée.

She discussed further with agent about job placements and then left not saying a word to Nikhil.

"Swara wait what happened?" Nikhil held her hand from behind.

"I am getting late Nikhil; I cannot afford to lose this job before securing another" Swara was tired with day's happenings.

She crossed the road to take bus.

'What is going to happen in my life now? Just one signature changed my identity. I am married to a stranger, whose name is also unknown to me. Where is this life taking me? What is going to happen now? What if this all things come in front of everyone? What if he opens his mouth? What if he declares about this contract?' Swara kept her head on bus window.

'Stop it Swara, didn't you see he was not at all bother. For him it must be like daily work to get some money. For a guy like him, it is just money matters. Commitment, relations, beliefs such kind of words wouldn't even exist in his life's dictionary. Kanhaji, please do not bring him anytime in front of me. This is the worst day of my life.' Tears were continuously flowing from her big doe eyes.

Days were passing within a blink; agent had submitted her application as well as her resume. She had started receiving interview notifications, but nothing was working out. And one day she received an email for interview at Karma Construction Public Ltd, for the post of Architectural Designer. Job was in Toronto, with good pay. Job description, benefits and salary was as per her expectations. She accepted online interview which was scheduled two days later.

"But why are you looking at job in any foreign country. I think, Nikhil was looking for it" Anurag asked her over dinner. Swara declared about her upcoming job interview to her parents.

"Papa, I know but Nikhil suggested if we both look into it then there are high chances. I also saw couple of openings and applied just taking as chance. Let's see what happens?" Swara could not match her eyes with her father's scrutinizing ones.

"But what about visa?" Rohan asked.

"Rohan if company is gonna give me a job... they will surely look into my visa application as well" Swara covered.

"But beta if you get a job you will go? And what about Nikhil?" Reva asked.

"Ma I will go... and once I gets settled there, I can sponsor Nikhil post our marriage." Swara knew her mother's worry.

"Earlier it was ok as Nikhil would have been with you but now. How will you live alone? You have never lived alone away from home" Reva became concerned.

Swara was successful in assuring her parents.

"I trust you, Shona. Being parents, we will be always worry about you, but our concerns will never become impediments in your way to success" Anurag agreed.

"Thanks Papa" Swara's eyed with tears.

In these two days, whenever Swara had some time, she searched about Karma Construction Public Ltd. She was electrified when she saw Karma Constructions was number one construction company in north America under the group of Karma Business House which has their stake in all prominent industries. She was amazed to know about the founder of Karma Group was an Indian origin migrated to Canada some 5-6 decades back.

Her interview went well, she was sure about her selection. As per Swara's hopes, one week later she got confirmation for job placement. Company also agreed to sponsor her work visa till the time she receive her residency. There was no limit for Mehra family's joy, Anurag's heart was swelled with pride feeling whereas Reva became teary with the thought of parting with her daughter.

"See I told you Swara... Now everything is going to get set. Wooow I knew you will do it for us." Nikhil wrapped her in embrace. They were on the terrace, earlier they were at Mehra's flat to celebrate Swara's success. He forcefully took her upstairs.

"I did this for my family Nikhil." Swara broke his hug.

"Exactly you did it for our family. And don't worry everything is settled now. You just need to go there and wait for me. Then I will be with you and then we will have bright future. And yes... Gaurav Bhai and Bhabhi are also there. You can visit Radhika aunty anytime. Ma talked to her. They are so excited as you are going there. Wow wow wow, I just can't believe our dream has come true. Just this one year and then we will get married." Nikhil was talking without even taking a breath.

"Everybody must be waiting for us" Swara took steps to go back.

"Come on Swara... it's our day. We need to celebrate" Nikhil pulled her back.

"Ma would need my help. It's too late. Also, from tomorrow I need to go and gather all documentation to submit for work permit. Company wants me to join as soon as possible" Swara released his hold.

"Yes yes. I was thinking you would be going after couple of months but since company is sponsoring it so it's great. But I don't understand how come a company like Karma well established one will bet on any employee who is in India. Strange" Nikhil shrugged his shoulder. His words earned all attention from Swara.

With in one month, Swara's work visa was ready as well as company provided her air tickets with accommodation for first one week.

Finally, it was the day Swara had to leave for Toronto. She was standing at Mumbai's airport along with her parents, Nikhil and his family. Her parents were busy giving her instructions whereas Nikhil's parents were bragging about her departure. Nikhil was jumping with extreme happiness; it was the first step towards his dream.

But Swara was all silent. She was just nodding her head with teary eyes and fake smile. Her heart was beating with crazy speed thinking about her upcoming life.

"Swara go inside, it's time for checkin else you will get late" Nikhil announced and pushed her trolly.

Swara took blessings and bid final bye to everyone and stepped inside.

'What is going to happen? Hope everything will be fine.' Thoughts were running on her mind when she was waiting for boarding announcement.

'She boarded the flight' Sanskar saw message and then dug his head in his Mac like nothing happened.

*******************************************

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