Naina

The clouds rumbled outside, raindrops pelted across the panes! Inside it was total silence, the room spelled of doom, it was all dark. The curtains were the unusual colour of maroon coupled with black. The large desk, chairs and even the rug on the floor were the darkest of black. It was the same colour of the devil's soul who was seated behind the large desk smoking into the air while I stood in front of him shedding tears of despair.

Naina: I cant do it anymore

Sameer: what? What cant you do anymore Naina?

Naina: you know already what I am talking about, this sham of an engagement, all this drama, I cant, I mean I know you are doing this all to keep your grandfather happy but its all very....

Sameer: very what?

This time he literally barked at me, and when my eyes met his I could see the storm looming behind those dark irises. Yet his face, I couldn't but place my finger on it, something was not right. Something was not off! And when I peered closer I saw that he was smiling, though his eyes were dead. He was smirking his famous smirk. The same one, which had made me fall in love with this devil. Yet I knew his heart was all dark. He was never to be mine yet why? Why did I always feel the pull?!

I averted my eyes from his since I knew the more I stared into those dark irises, the more would I be pulled into the abyss!

Sameer: so you were saying...continue, what is it that is so difficult for you or is it your darling fiancé Sharad, did that cartoon dissuade you from continuing further?

This time he snarled his query

Naina: no! its not him, its me! I cant keep up with all of this. I know he is terminally ill and I genuinely care for him but then doing all of this, its like we are cheating him. His love is palpable. I can feel it every time he looks at me and all the hope in those eyes seeing us together as a couple! It makes me feel conscious and also the feeling that I am cheating him, that I am lying to him eats at my conscience. That all of this is nothing but a lie all a drama! If he knew, it would break his heart and i....i cant do it!

Sameer: fine!

Naina

This time I was surprised and that fine made me look at him which I wanted to avoid at all costs but the fact that he said yes surprised me. I had thought that he would fight me and even threaten me and also Sharad. Him threatening sharad wouldn't have effected me an ounce rather I would have enjoyed it. Sharad's very name made my skin crawl. I despised that man!

Naina: are you serious

Sameer: do you see me joking? Fine..i said, you don't have to do it anynmore. I will handle but

Naina: but what?

Sameer: the family is due for a picnic this weekend at the farmhouse and you and I are supposed to be present there. Its arranged in our honor so this one last time you would have to do the honors and then and there I would make it known about our arrangement and you are free after that.

Naina: but... but...then

Sameer: now what?

Naina: wouldn't that break their hearts, they have been looking forward to the wedding...I mean then

Sameer: so what are you implying? Get married?

Naina: nooo!

Sameer: then I guess, your problem is solved and now you are free to go

With that he beckoned with his eyes for me to leave and I turned around only to stay forever......

Naina

My heart thudded in my chest, today he was to tell his family about our sham arrangement. His mood had been somber since morning. He had picked me up sharp at 7am from my place and then it had been a long 3 hrs in the car in sheer silence. He wouldn't even look at me. I had followed his instructions meticulously and dressed in traditional. I was dressed in a simple pink lace salwar kameez. I did notice him staring at me a bit longer than usual when I entered the car. But I knew better of him. I couldn't have floored him especially I was the plain kind in comparison to all the fancy types he was used to dating. From then on, he had avoided all sorts of contacts in my directions including our eyes. And now we were seated at the gigantic dinner table that stretched from one end to the other. The others of his family, included his mother Visakha Somani, his step father Vivek Somani, his step brother Rohan Somani and his wife Sunaina and his Mamaji Jignesh Kothari and Mamiji Prabha Kothari and their son Dinesh and daughter in law Shyla. I remember their faces and how they had scoffed at the announcement of our engagement just two weeks back. That was the very start of this big lie

2 weeks back

Naina

I don't know but what it my imagination? Or was I actually seeing him, after 2 months, after that fateful night when he made that lewd offer. I had loved him while his intentions towards me were never noble. What was he doing here? My thoughts were interrupted when I felt sharad's arm go around my shoulders. I stiffened at his touch.

Naina: I think I told you not to touch me

Sharad: oh c'mon naina! We are to be married in a few days, and then these hands wouldn't just be restricted to your shoulders, so chill

Naina

His words made my skin crawl. The very man was an abominable piece of art. God knows with what elements god had actually conjured him up. And did he actually believe that I was going to marry him. Why? Because my taiji and tauji had threatened to throw me off the streets if if I didn't do it! Well he is in for a shock! I would never marry a scumbag like him and if that meant that I would have to live on the streets well and good I would do that but never in this life would I marry someone like Sharad Sharma who looked at women like some sort of commodity. Well in this category he wasn't alone the man who I saw at the stairs to my house was no less. He believed women were mere transits and could be changed upon like some stopovers in a journey. I sighed in resignation and throwing sharad's arms off my shoulders walked towards my home. I could feel my taiji glaring at me from the windows. Sure the snoopy woman must have noticed all that had transpired between me and sharad on the streets but theni didn't care anymore. These fools had no clue as to what was to come their way. I had received my confirmation letter for the job and now I was to join there in a month. I had already called my friend Munna and spoke to him about accommodation problem and now he was scouting for locations for me to stay at Mumbai keeping in mind my budget. So I had nothing to worry about in near future except for the problem at hand. Sameer Maheshwari was at my stairs but why? Was he dating any of the girls from the building. The thought made my heart bleed but why? I didn't want anything to do with this man then why? Pushing these thoughts away I resolutely approached the steps only to be blocked by him.

Naina: care to step aside, I need to go

Sameer: I need to speak with you

Naina: I don't think we have anything to talk about, it is bette if you leave

Sharad: hey you? What are you upto huh? Why are you harassing my fiancé? Get out of her way you understand

Naina: I am capable of waging my battles sharad and also I know him so please shut up

That made him step down but the glare that he had been shooting Sameer stayed intact. At that very moment, his dry laugh made me take notice of him, rather his disheveled state. The impeccably dressed always Sameer was gone, in his place stood a man, whose shirt hung out of his pants, while his hair was all mussed up, his sleeves were unbuttoned and also his eyes looked red. Redder than normal as if he hadn't slept in days. I actually felt sorry looking at him, he didn't look good. All the animosity that I had felt until a few minutes back was gone. In its place was concern. He looked helpless but why?

Naina: are you ok?

Sameer: who is this cartoon?

Came his sharp retort. It took me a moment to recover, the man even in disheveled state could crack dry jokes. I couldn't stop the smile and this time I was surprised since he smiled back at me.

I cleared my throat to take control of the situation which was fast slipping out of my fingers.

Naina: why are you here?

Sameer: I need a favour

The word favour made me uncomfortable, the last time he had asked for a favour, it had made me run away.

Naina: what favour? If its any of your lew....

Sameer: I want you to be my fiancé

Sharad: is this man out of his mind? How dare you huh?

Sameer: dare you, and no am not out of my mind, I am trying to have a decent conversation here with the lady and you are butting in, so please

Naina: decent conversation!

It was my turn to be surprised now

Naina: what decent conversation, the last time we had one, you had an indecent proposal for me and now suddenly after 2 months you want to marry me!

Sameer: when did I say I want to marry you?

Naina: then why do you want me to be your fiancé? Do you realise that you are proposing marriage to me?

Sameer: I am proposing you to be just my fiancé and not for marriage. Get that straight in your head

Naina: I think I had enough of your nonsense, its time for you to leave and while I need to get back home bye

Sameer: Naina please

Naina

That please made my heart stop. I could feel the despair, the pain in it. It was a cry for help and that made me stop

Sameer: my grandfather is dying. He has cancer and now as his last wish he wants to see me settled but then you know that i...I don't believe in the institution of marriage or even love for that matter but then I cant let the dying man die with pain and so what I am proposing is a sham engagement/ just to keep him happy, give him some peace before he passes away. The doctor has given him less than a month and this time, I mean today when he asked me about my relationship status I blurted your name out and that I had proposed to you and Naina he was so happy and I don't have the heart to break his heart, so please help me... please

Present

Naina

So that was how I landed myself here amidst all these high and mighties. I remember how sharad had almost screamed in anguish at my decision but then who was he to judge or even to decide? My life my decision. But then I didn't know that a lie like this one would give me so much pain and now I wanted out. Sameer's grandfather Jaiprakash Maheshwari ji was seated at the head of the table. He looked frail with all the medications and treatment he had been going through off late. But then he had been smiling and I remember the first time when Sameer introduced us that is 2 weeks back, he had been overjoyed. He had quished me into a hug when I tried touching his feet saying

Jaiprakash: betiyaan paid nahi chooti

I had heard about his greatness from my tauji, Imean had been regaling one his clients about the greatness of sameer's naanu. Thathe was a gentleman. That even after amassing so much wealth he continued to donatein charities and kept his feet firm on the ground but the day he hugged me andwelcomed me to the family I realized the depth of his warmth and since that dayit had been eating at me that I was cheating such a gem of a man. But today itwould all come to an end once Sameer announced about the sham engagement, I knowit would be painful for him but then it was better than all the lies that wehad been weaving just to see that smile on his face.