Third person's pov!

Aryamann looked at her in pure horror. Of course, he should have known from the look of pure ecstasy on her face when he told her that he is giving her a year to annoy him.

Seems like she took it very seriously.

She was smiling widely at the thought of shoving the sweets down his throat, and her smile lit up her whole face.

For a moment, Aryamann forgot she was planning how to torture him. All he could see was her pretty hazel eyes smiling along with her pink, plump lips, which he couldn't wait to taste again.

She was talking animatedly to Ishitha bhabhi, and his gaze fell upon her slender neck down to her collarbone.

Aryamann chided himself for lusting after his fake fiancee when she was planning to irritate the hell out of him. He forced himself to remember the night she shoved all those seven gulab jamun balls down his throat and not about the night where he had her in his arms.

He had never before wanted a woman with such a strong desire, that he had a very hard time controlling himself. Aryamann was brought out of his fantasies when his grandmother asked him to help Bhumi in the kitchen.

Aryamann led Bhumi to their kitchen and saw the look of wonder in her eyes.

"This is my dream kitchen," she said, and Aryamann kept watching her.

She stood in front of the kitchen island and moved about collecting things for the sweets she was about to prepare.

She tucked the pallu of the saree in the waistband exposing the beautiful waist to his eager eyes.

Aryamann's gaze followed her movements and settled on her creamy flawless skin. His mouth went dry at the sight of her waist, and his hands itched to touch her.

She was busy preparing the kheer, and he was having a hard time keeping his hands to himself. He finally couldn't help it anymore.

Bhumi was so much into her sweet-making, and she was startled when a pair of hands snaked around her waist.

The skin-to-skin contact made a shiver run down her spine. She looked behind to see Aryamann back hugging her, and he placed an open-mouth kiss on her shoulder which shook her to the core.

What is happening to her? What is he doing? She had no idea.

"What are you doing?" She asked breathlessly and tried to wiggle out of his grip, only for him to tighten his grip.

"Ishitha bhabhi is watching us. Just play along," he said.

Of course, it had to be for the show. Then why did her stupid heart decide to beat at an uncontrollable speed? Why does her traitorous body react to his every single touch?

He was peppering open-mouth kisses up and down along her long swan-like neck and shoulder. She flexed her neck, giving him more access, and she couldn't concentrate on her cooking anymore.

"Aryamann, please," she begged.

For what? She had no idea. She is enjoying every moment, and her heart and body want more when the sane part of her brain is screaming at her to stop...

"Please what, Bhumi?" He asked in a husky voice against her neck, which made her knees go weak.

"What is happening here?" The spell broke as they heard the voice. Bhumi was brought back to the cold reality, and she pulled away from Aryamann instantly and looked at him in utter horror.

And he had the nerve to smirk!

"I am asking you, what was going on here?" Dadi asked with a mock frown on her face, and Bhumi ran out of the kitchen embarrassed by getting caught, making out with her fake fiance.

Bhumi's POV

What the hell were you thinking, Bhumi? How could you let him touch you like that? And why the hell did you respond to him like that? You are damn crazy, Bhumi!

"What happened, Bhumi? You look flushed!" Ishitha di asked with a mischievous smile.

"No- nothing, Ishitha di. I- I am fine," I stuttered, and she smirked.

"Does this have anything to do with my brother-in-law?" She winked at me, and I looked away. I couldn't even meet her eyes.

"There is nothing like that, Ishitha di," I said, avoiding eye contact.

"If you say so," she shrugged, and I sighed in relief that she left the topic.

Time rolled on quickly and I completed making the kheer with Ishitha di helping me out in the kitchen. Now it was time for the special prayer. I succeeded in avoiding Aryamann so far, but I can't anymore as everyone assembled for the prayer.

The prayer started with the brothers offering the prayer together first. They did an aarti of Lord Shiva together.

I envy the bond they share with each other. And my heart longs for a family like this.

Next, Daksh bhaiyya and Ishitha di did the aarti.

They are what we call a match made in heaven.

I hope I also find true love one day.

"Now, Aryamann and Bhumi come up for the aarti," Dadi said, and my body froze.

I can't do this. I can't do this drama in front of God.

"Bhumi?" I looked up to see Aryamann looking at me with something akin to concern in his eyes.

"Huh."

"Are you okay? You look pale!" He asked.

"I am fine," I said.

He took my hands and walked towards the Lord Shiva idol.

We did the aarti together, and guilt and regret clogged my heart.

After the pooja, everyone had sweets, and everyone liked it.

Even Aryamann had the sweets.

Of course, he has to; I trapped him in that.

After lunch, Darsha Maa came to me with a box in her hand.

"Bhumi, darling, this is for you," she said and handed me the antique box.

"What is this, Darsha Maa?" I asked, looking at the beautiful box.

"Not Darsha Maa. Call me Maa," She said, and my eyes welled up.

Where are the ruthless Mehrotra the tabloids talk about? If I knew they were a bunch of sweet people, I wouldn't have agreed to this charade to fool them.

I opened the box, and my eyes widened, seeing the expensive diamond jewellery set.

"Dars- I mean Maa, I can't take this. This is too expensive," I declined politely.

"Nonsense. This is a gift from me to my daughter," she said in a no-nonsense tone.

"But-"

"No. Not a word. I- I was never a good mother, Bhumi. I at least want to be a good mother-in-law," she said, and I looked at her confused.

"I was so busy building the Mehrotra empire with my husband that we forgot to take care of our kids. And by the time we realised that, it was too late," she said regretfully.

"What are you talking about, Maa?" I asked.

"Aryamann had been through a lot since childhood. I don't know whether he told you or not. But I feel I should tell you this. Gaurav and Aditi had Aryamann to look after them. But Aryamann was on his own. And that made him so bitter that he wouldn't even smile," she said, and I let her continue.

"That's not all. There is more. But that's his story to tell you. I am telling you all this because I believe you can erase all the bitter memories of his life. Take care of him, Bhumi," she said and kissed my forehead.

I can't do this anymore.

I can't betray them.

It was time to leave and Aryamann offered to drop me home.

"We need to talk, Mr Mehrotra." I said and he drove towards his mansion.

The car ride was painfully silent.

As we reached his mansion he led me to his study, where we signed the stupid contract.

As we sat across each other he signalled me to tell whatever it was.

"I can't do this anymore, Mr Mehrotra." I said straight to the point.

"Do what??" He asked, raising an eyebrow in the query.

"This is a pretence. I can't betray your family anymore."

"You were okay with all the acting the first day you met them," he said sarcastically.

"That was different. I had read about the Mehrotras being ruthless heartless people from the tabloids and I didn't feel sorry for doing that. But now I know differently. They are all good people and they..." I trailed off.

"And they what Bhumi?" He asked.

"And they love me. And trusts me. I can't, Mr Mehrotra. I am sorry. I am backing out from our contract." I said apologetically.

"It's not that easy, kitten," he said and I looked at him in confusion.

"You signed a contract which clearly states that if you back off without completing the year long arrangement you are supposed to pay a compensation of one million dollars," He said

"What?" I asked in shock, "I don't remember reading such a clause."

He took out the contract we signed and pointed to the clause which states the same.

"You were being a lazy bug and didn't want to read the entire thing," he said with a smirk.

"But- but you told me it's the same thing written over and over again." I said in confusion.

"I never promised to be honest, kitten."

Damn you, Aryamann Mehrotra!

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

Aryamann's pov!

"But- but you told me it's the same thing written over and over again," she said with a frown.

"I never promised to be honest, kitten." I said lazily.

I knew that she would back off at some point. Some gut instinct had warned me. But I didn't expect it to be so soon.

"You arrogant prick. How dare you manipulate me like this?" She yelled at me.

"Easy kitten, easy. Don't ever raise your voice again at me." I told her, with a warning note in my voice.

She is glaring at me with such a menace, that made me want her more.

"I am leaving," she stood up abruptly from the chair and turned around to walk away.

I got up quickly and caught up with her.

"I will drop you home," I said without thinking and wondered why am I even bothering about it.

"No thanks," she said without looking at me.

As we reached the living room, Jai came running inside looking tense.

"Aryamann, where the hell is your phone? I have been trying your phone since afternoon. I have been going crazy-"

"J, what's wrong??" Bhumi asked anxiously and that's when Jai noticed Bhumi next to me.

J? Really!

She doesn't have a pet name for me. Why does she have one for him?

I shook my head to get rid of the unwanted thoughts.

"Bhumi! Thank god you are safe," he sighed and pulled her into a hug shocking me.

What the ever fu*king hell!

"Hands off my woman." I growled and pulled Bhumi away from Jai.

I didn't know what had happened. I just didn't like him touching her.

"I apologise. I didn't mean to. It's just that I was searching for her like crazy since afternoon and she hasn't been picking up her phone. I went crazy. I thought I lost her," he said, the last part a mere whisper that I would have missed it if I wasn't paying keen attention to what he was saying.

I thought I lost her..

I thought I lost her...

I thought I lost her....

What the hell does he mean by that...

"J, I am so sorry. I left my phone at home and everything happened so fast that I totally forgot that you would be waiting for me at the temple." Bhumi said, touching his forearm which made my skin burn.

"Enough, Bhumi. He works for you. You are not answerable to him." I said and she glared at me.

"He is my friend. And he has every right to be worried about me and I am answerable to him for what happened today," she said, daring me to oppose.

"Why do you have to argue with me about everything?" I asked, frustrated.

Can't she just agree to me for once?

"I am not arguing. I'm simply explaining that I am right," she said in a clipped tone.

"Okay okay. Just stop fighting. Bhumi, if you are off to your apartment I will drop you." Jai said, looking at Bhumi with a smile.

Why do I have a very bad feeling regarding their friendship?

"No need. I can drop her. After all she is my fiancee." I said, claiming my territory, making Jai look away.

"That's fine, Aryamann. I will get a ride with J," she said, shrugging her shoulders as if I am nothing.

I swear I saw him smirking

What the hell is he upto?

A/N

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