"What have I done? How will I face him now?" she asked herself looking at the mirror.

"Oh god! I really don't know why I felt very bad when Ma thought he used me to reveal Tanu's wrongdoings. I couldn't stand when he was looking down in guilt. To prove that he is not wrong I kissed him! How did I do that remembering the agreement that I had with him. He never crossed his line. He kissed me friendly only and not with any intentions out of love! But me! I kissed him out of love. How can I forget my limits! How did I behave so shamelessly to prove that he never do anything wrong?" she thought by looking away from the mirror.

Pragya," What would he be feeling now?"

That day she didn't had the courage to go out of the room.

She don't know how to face everyone. She remained in the room when he opened the door.

Pragya breathe heavily out of nervousness now.

Abhi, "Everyone are in their rooms as per my order."

"Order? Why did he order everyone to be in their rooms?" she thought but was not facing him.

She could sense a kind of fierceness in his voice.

Abhi, "Pragya! How dare you! I didn't expect such a behavior from you!"

He said sternly but not loud as he didn't want to get attention from others now.

Pragya timidly replied, "I am sorry... I..."

Abhi, "Why did you do like that? Do you know what kind of complication we are in now?"

Pragya, "I know but...."

Abhi, "I thought we were clear on why we agreed to this fake relationship!"

Pragya, "I am so sorry. I didn't know what else to do at that moment."

Abhi, "I told that I love to be cared by you but that doesn't mean I love You!"

Pragya, "I know! I know you don't love me."

Abhi, "Then why did you do like that?"

Pragya, "I was trying to defend you."

Abhi,"Defend by a kiss? Disgusting!"

Pragya, "Don't say like that....I said I am sorry for my actions."

Abhi,"I am going to talk to Sarla ma and everyone. I will tell them everything now."

Pragya tries to stop him but he never listens to her.

He walks out of the room while she follows him behind.

Pragya manages to block his way and pleads him to listen to her once before he goes and talk to everyone.

Abhi was not in a mood to listen but still gave a chance to her.

Pragya, "Not here. In room. Please..."

Abhi, "Study room!"

Pragya says okay and he leaves first while she follows him.

Abhi reaching the room walks further inside while Pragya goes in after closing the door.

Abhi, "Lock it."

She did like he said and remains silent.

Abhi, "Now will you tell something or I go out and tell everyone about the truth?"

Pragya, "No! I was about to talk sir. I am scared of you that's why...."

Abhi, "Scared of me? Don't joke Pragya. You kissed me earlier and I didn't see any sign of you being scared of me at that time."

Pragya closes her eyes and said, "Yes I kissed you but how many times will you say and remind me that? I myself is trying to forget about it."

Abhi,"You can try to forget but how about others? How about everyone who see you kissing me!"

Pragya, "I know it wasn't suppose to happen. But I really didn't know what else to do when Ma was not able to believe my words that I am happy with you."

Abhi, "You could have explained to her. She would have understand."

Pragya, "I know about my Ma more than you. At that moment, that was the best option to make her believe us."

Abhi,"Best option? Pragya please don't justify your actions this way!"

Pragya, "Fine! Let it be I am wrong and I am saying sorry for that too sir. Why don't you forgive me?"

Abhi, "It's not about forgiving you. It's now about how everyone will forget it. They will be thinking we are in love when we are not."

Pragya, "What if we tried? I mean I... It's not like because you prove my innocence but...I think I can love..."

Abhi, "What I scared for the most is happening with you!"

Pragya, "What are you saying sir?"

Abhi, "Pragya before marrying you itself I was scared for this moment. Now it's happening as expected."

Pragya, "I don't understand sir. Please explain to me. What are you trying to say?"

Abhi, "You're not in love with me! It's a mix of attraction and gratitude for me that you're having."

Pragya, "Attraction and gratitude?"

Abhi, "Yes Pragya, I felt my presence around you made you feel an attraction towards me. It's normal when a man and woman are spending more time together. I didn't want that to happen with you but to make others believe I kiss on your cheek. That day the forehead kiss was because your Ma was looking us from the window. As for gratitude, I know it is bound to happen after I reveal everything today."

Pragya," But sir... When you were not around, I missed you."

Abhi," That's because you were attracted to me. You missed my presence. You missed the attention you got from me through your attraction towards me."

"He sounds right." she thought.

Abhi,"Pragya, you didn't have a boyfriend before. And everything that happened so far makes you curious about being attracted towards me. It's not entirely your fault. I can understand your plight."

Pragya, "Now what should I do?" she asked innocently.

Abhi, "Stay away from me. That's the best for you to be back to normal."

Pragya, "But Ma..."

Abhi, "We have to tell them one day. If not today it is tomorrow."

Pragya, "But Ma will get affected. I mean... She is already..."

Abhi, "Let's do this way. Your brother will be cured soon. Until he gets cured, we will act as husband and wife. After that you're leaving with your family to Delhi. Until then, I promise you that I won't kiss you or come near you like before as we don't have a need to do so now."

Pragya," I promise too that I won't do anything like that too."

Abhi,"Good. Then I am leaving."

Pragya, "I will sleep in my room."

Abhi,"Just come and sleep in my room. We still have to act."

Pragya, "But..."

Abhi,"Just do as I say. I am still your boss. Remember?"

Pragya nods her head as yes in response.

She soon leaves and reaches his room while he later comes to the room.

Abhi, "One more thing, don't think I did all that for you."

Pragya looks confused in response as she was not able to understand what was he referring to.

Abhi, "I meant I proved you're not at fault. It was related to Tanu's wrongdoings that's why I had to prove you're not at fault."

Pragya, "I know sir..."

Abhi, "I didn't want my name to be tarnished by her. That's why I worked swiftly to prove how wrong she is. Proving your innocence was a result of that."

Pragya never says anything and looks away.

Abhi, "You are not saying anything?"

Pragya, "What else is for me to say?"

Abhi, "Do you understand what I have said?"

Pragya, "Yes! I do! I understand that you never did anything for ME! I also understand whatever you did is for YOURSELF!"

Abhi, "Good! Now go and sleep!"

Pragya, "I agree you're my boss. You're only my boss to work not for my life. And I am not going to sleep now."

Abhi,"Whatever!"

He said and went to the closet to get changed.

Meanwhile she breaks into tears and goes to the balcony.

"Why is he behaving this way? Why is he so rude?" she asks looking at the sky.

Abhi then comes out of closet and goes to bed to sleep.

"I know it's my fault to cross my limit. I also know I don't deserve anything from him!" she thought with tears welling up in her eyes.

"It's not your fault Pragya! It's me who make you cross your limit. I am sorry and I don't deserve anything from you!" he thought by looking at the direction of balcony where she was standing.

He then force himself to sleep.

The next day,

Sarla ma who was ashamed herself of not trusting her daughter, finally spoke to her.

Pragya felt overwhelmed and both her mum and brother apologised to her profusely.

They talk for a long time to compensate for five years of not talking to each other.

Later that day,

"Ma and bhai have finally spoken to me but...." she thought.

"They believe Abhi is my husband and considers me very lucky to have a husband like me." she worried thinking about their thought.

"But how? How can I tell them we are fake husband and wife? What if they blame him?" she thought and gets reminded of Abhi behaviour towards her last night.

She gets stressed and looks at the door.

The next moment he arrives and she turns away.

Abhi, "I need to talk to you."

"What is there to talk to me?" she wondered.

Abhi, "It's about your Bhai."

Pragya, "Bhai? What happened to him? Anything serious? Did Doctor say anything?"

She panicked and looks at Abhi.

Abhi, "No.....nothing related to his health. His recovery is good."

Pragya, "Then why do you want to talk about him?"

Abhi, "After what Tanu did to your bhai. I mean the betrayal....I feel he will be feeling very depressed. You know what I mean?"

Pragya, "Yes but he is not that depressed. He even talk to me normally earlier today."

Abhi,"You won't understand what he is going through. It's similar to what I went through when Tanu left me."

Pragya hears the hurt and sadness in his voice. She felt very bad for him.

Abhi, "I thought of talking to him but..."

Pragya, "Sir... You should talk to him. You have overcome from that situation and now my bhai is going through it. There could be no one better than you who will be able to talk to him and give him the strength."

Abhi, "But... What if..."

Pragya, "Sir...I know you don't feel bad for my brother. You are seeing the Abhi who was five years ago in him now. Am I right?"

Abhi, "Yes. The reason for me to tell all this is...."

Pragya quick says, "You're telling this as you don't want to feel that you're feeling bad and want to help him for me. You want to help him out of humanity and not for me."

Abhi, "Yes...Thanks for understanding."

Pragya smiles vaguely and was about to leave the room when he called her.

Pragya, "Sir? You called me?"

Abhi, "Nothing!"

He said in a sternly before quickly leaving the room.

Pragya gasped in response.

"He called me. It was like he want to tell something to me. But then why he said nothing?" she thought.

"But one thing for sure. I don't deserve you sir. You care for other's feelings without any expectations. That's so great of you. I just hope you remain the same and find a more deserving person as your life partner." she felt by having tears with a smile.

Sneek peek to next part,

Pragya, "I got something for you."

Abhi,"Don't you know that you no need to give me anything and our relation is just for namesake?"

Pragya, "Haan I know! How many times will you remind me that we are not real husband and wife?"

Abhi, "Then? Why are you here with something for me?"

Pragya, "Look at what I giving you first then you can talk."

Abhi, "What?"

She then takes an envelope from the drawer and passed it to him. He opens the envelope and takes a letter.

He reads it.

She waits to see his expression.

Abhi, "What!"

Pragya, "Again what!"

Abhi, "Ya what is this?"

Pragya, "I found it!"

She saying that smartly manages to take the letter from his hands.

Abhi, "Where?"

Pragya, "Storeroom!"

Abhi, "Why you went there?"

Pragya, "For cleaning."

Abhi,"Your job is not to clean!"

Pragya, "I went to help not to clean."

Abhi,"Oh..."

Pragya, "So the letter.... Is it true?"

Abhi, "No!"

Pragya, "No?"

Abhi, "Yes it's no. It's not true."

Pragya, "Are you sure? I mean it seems to be legit."

Abhi,"Even our fake marriage seems to be legit with papers."

Pragya, "That's different and this is different."

Abhi,"Can you don't interfere in my life?"

Pragya, "Excuse me, for that you should have kept your life safely locked in a locker. What can I do when your life was lying around in storeroom?"

Abhi, "Argggh.... Now just forget what you have read and don't talk about this to anyone."

Pragya, "Why should I listen to you?" she asked in a challenging tone which annoyed Abhi.

Abhi, "Because I am your boss!"

Pragya, "Haan haan. Boss! I know! But still this is a major discovery and I can use it for my benefit."

Abhi,"What?"

Pragya, "Yes you heard it right. I will use it for my benefit."

Abhi,"You won't do like that."

Pragya, "Why not?"

Abhi, "Because you're not that type of a person."

Pragya, "Sir, this letter could have been seen by anyone in this house. Like anybody from elders to staff. But why me? Why did I came across it?"

Abhi remains silent hearing her and she makes use of the opportunity to tell, "Because it is for my good. It is for me to do something with it."

Abhi,"Pragya please.... Don't play with my life now."

Pragya, "Sir... You just do one thing for me then I will never ever tell about this letter to anyone."

Abhi, "What! Now you want me to do something for you so that you won't tell anything about this letter! Isn't this like blackmail?"

Pragya, "You take it as blackmail, I don't care. All I care is I am expecting you to do something for me so that I don't talk about this letter to anyone."

Abhi hearing that was shocked and  Pragya leaves looking confident.

"How could I be very careless! How did the letter reach storeroom!" he muttered and was feeling stressed on how he will hide the details of letter from everyone now.

Thank you for reading and appreciating the story so far. 😊📖

Hope the story is interesting to all of you. Thank you!