chapter : 11
fake it

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k a b i r
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"Can you pinch me?"

Noor looks perplexed at my announcement, her body slumps down on the chair. She blinks her eyes and tucks her hair back. Palm against her forehead as she looks so tired.

It's comical to see her so taken aback, not that I expected any less of a reaction but her state makes me want to forget the severity of the situation and burst out in strings of laughter.

However, like I good negotiator, I drink back my chuckle and explain to her my view, which isn't very well formed, if I say so myself.

"I am not asking you to marry me forever. It's a temporary arrangement to help both of our situations." My explanation doesn't satisfy the tornado of questions within me.

I am putting on a brave front but this sham is scaring me to my bones. It's a long commitment, too many lies would have to be told, just too fucking many.

"Do you even hear yourself? We can't do this, sir." Her voice is shaking, trembling in waves of anxiety.

"Noor, do you have any other alternative?"

"But I can't marry you." The distaste in her words has me feeling a little bad. I wasn't expecting her to be rejoicing but do much hatred?

"It's not a real marriage. It would be contractual. In front of our families, we would be a married couple, but in reality, we would just be two individuals who have nothing to do with each other. One year, we have to make them believe our lie and then we can amicably part ways." I recite everything I had spent my night thinking.

I had realised the previous evening that our lies had left us with no other option. For me to get the shares and for Noor to not disappoint her family, this is our only way.

If we would suddenly break up, my grandfather would toss the remaining shares from my plate and drain them down. Noor would again become a laughing stock, a reason for her parents to feel ashamed.

I don't believe that moving out of your home to live life on your terms is wrong but the way Noor describes her family, I am assuming she has been reprimanded for her choices. Even if her parents supported her, her paternal family was against her.

She is lost in this maze of family feuds and me in my quest to fulfil my parent's dying wish. It's a win-win for us. One solution to both our problems.

"I—It's not easy of a choice, sir. You and I are very different. I know it's a sham but one year is a long time. And honestly, I don't think we even know each other enough to be able to keep this charade up." Her doubts are correct, genuine and strong enough to scare me.

"You and I are very different, Noor and that will help us to not tangle ourselves any further. We just have to make others believe, other than that you and I will have nothing to do with each other. You'll still be working here, and I'll still be your boss. That's it. A year later, you were already leaving the company, so it would make things easier."

I add, "And about us not knowing each other, for me you are the only employee who knows me the best, so that shouldn't be a problem. Other things we can figure out later."

"So it would purely be on the paper, right?"

"Yes. You can continue living in your house and I will live in mine, its closeness will help us. The contract is ready, you just have to sign it. Once we part, it would be clean and not messy. We will get married simply and divorce in a simple manner. This contract will be a legal reminder of our duties."

She reads the documents again, I have already signed the papers. I have added a clause of no monetary transaction at divorce but in case by the end of one year, Noor wouldn't be as financially stable as she wanted, I would help her. I would really have no problem lending her a good start, she deserves it.

"I want to add some more conditions. Can I?"

She says once she finishes reading the document.

"Yes. I can call my lawyer, we can make as many changes as you want. It's not an ultimatum, we both are going to work together in this." I smile at her, trying to ease her worries.

"Okay then. Let's do it." She rises from the chair, and steps closer to the desk. Extending her hand towards mine, which I clasp in a formal handshake.

"Partner."

"Partner."

Here's to a new beginning.

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As I drive back home, the black in the sky merges with the darkest shade of tangerine. There's a fury of colours, dancing and enjoying the end of the day.

It's late in the evening, cars are honking and the roads are busy.

I feel exhausted, the work wasn't bad but the decision surely was. After Noor agreed to this marriage, I called my family lawyer. Thrown in some extra money and made the lawyer sign an NDA.

He had explained the logistics to us, the minor details carefully. Noor and I were given chances to raise our points. We were asked to add or remove any clause we wanted.

I made sure this transaction would be equal on both ends. In no sense would I ever want Noor to feel that she is being pressured into this.

"No one in the office should know about this." She had suggested. I agreed with the first clause and hence it was added.

"No extra marital affairs. Even if this marriage is false, I don't want my grandfather to ever blame you or me for disloyalty." I had suggested. I didn't want any more complications. She dolefully agreed. Second clause.

I know how my grandfather is, he has his eyes everywhere. I could never risk us being in his eyes for a lowly thing like not being loyal or cheating.

"We would maintain our distances. No interfering in each other's business." Agreed. The third one added.

"We both are allowed to tell only one person each about this contract, more than that would lead to a breach."

"Separate rooms/houses."

"No intimacy."

"Respecting the bond."

"Deal."

"Deal."

She had signed her fate, and I had too. Sealing the document, we headed out of my cabin as if nothing had happened. As if we both hadn't agreed on intertwining our destinies.

Noor resumed back her work and I called my grandfather telling him that I had proposed to her. Making sure he knew that he could finalise the alliance if he wanted.

He had been happy and rejoiced which made me feel sick.

Noor had updated me on her family's stance on the marriage. They were happy, too. Looking forward to this association. One that would benefit both the families involved.

Even though it was something I had planned, something I had worked through, it still stirs my peace. I should feel lighter but I feel I am touching the rock-bottom. Drowning and flailing. Trembling, kicking my limbs but to no avail. The weight of reality pulling me down, numbing me.

The storming thoughts come to a halt when the shrill ringing of my phone brings me back to the present. I push the green button on the screen attached to my car's dash.

"I fucking left you for three days and you have managed to score yourself a marriage date? You got to be kidding, Kabir."

"How was your trip, Jay?" He scoffs at my nonchalance.

"Don't you try evading my questions? Three days. What did you do, my man."

"Well. I fucked up."

"Tell me something I don't know."

Jay Dixit is the only person who managed to break the walls I had built around myself. He had bulldozed through it, clung to me, and made me understand that some people can be trusted.

I might not be like him, but he makes me feel lighter. Makes me forget that I have a family burden resting on my shoulders. He is a friend, a brother I never thought I could have but was gifted with.

I would never accept it in front of him or else his already huge ego would go over the ceiling. But I am lucky to have him.

"I—I asked Noor to be my fake date, but her family was there. So it went downhill from there."

"Noor? Your assistant? The one you have hots for?"

"The fuck. I have no hots for anyone." I accidentally push down harshly on the brakes making the car jerk and come to a stop.

"No you both keep fighting and edging each other with your endless foreplay."

"We are two professionals, who have nothing to do with each other outside work."

"As you wish. But, why was her family there?"

"Paint me fucking surprised."

"I have just landed. I am going to come to the office tomorrow, you and I have a lot to catch up it seems."

"Please do."

"I'll get beer bottles, I have a feeling we'll need it."

We definitely would. He only knows about the marriage but I'll tell him about the contract, how my life is going to be bound by laws. He is going to be the one person I would be telling and discussing the truth of this sham.

Strangely it makes me wonder, who would Noor choose to be hers? Will she tell someone from her family? Someone from the office?

Outside?

I don't even know about her friends outside work, I have never seen her busy on calls, or phone. She maintained such a professional aura around that I could never step into it, not that I wanted to. But now, I do. I do want to know about her.

The call disconnects leaving me to ponder over the silence. Noor and I might have scrawled our future away, but we were now royally trapped in this aviary.

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thank you!

Hey!! Updating earlier today!

Happy Lohri!

This book makes me too happy, Kabir and Noor are my people so I hope you are liking them too?

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royally yours,
meethi.