Siya's POV:

I was taking one last look at this house "Nirjara Nivas" !!

It was my dream to marry here always & today I did...

I stood infront of my mother's large portrait & looked at it with my eyes filled with tears holding my Mangalsutra in my hand...

While my heart said

"Mumma... Let this be permanent ... I want this for a lifetime!!! Bless me ma!!!" & tears rolled down my eyes wetting my cheeks while I felt two hands pulling me into a hug & I saw it was Samay Bhai...

I hugged him tightly while I saw Bhabhima was alrady leaning on Bhai's shoulders...

We had a tight trio hug and I cried hard on Bhai's chest...

It was my home for the last 22 years 5 months!!! While Bhabhi kissed my hairs...

Bhai sniffed through his tears & said..."I know you are just going two streets away from here but I somehow felt today like I lost my rights on you.. I cant pull your piggytails anymore na Sona..."

He said and I broke down like a  5 year old...

"Bhai... I la...laaa.love you... you can pull my piggytails any time.. infact even my bun right now.. I am your same old Sona... your little one.. I wont be going anywhere... Tomorrow morning..You will still get to hear my annoying noise... I will come & shout in your ears..." I said while still crying my heart out...

"Sure...Mrs Sehgal!!! We will see" he said & kissed my forehead...

While Bhabhima  gave me a box and asked me to open it...

Next second my eyes poured more... I saw my Bhabhi's face while she was pouring more tears...

'Bhabhi??? this' I asked her...

'Wear it Siya... your mom had given it to me when i came as a new bride in this house saying I must give this to my daughter  whenever she gets married... But then... You are my daughter na Sona... Wear it Baccha(Child)'

I broke down in her arms like there was no tomorrow... I was sobbing loudly.. It was my mother's bangle.

Bhabhima made me wear the bangle & I sobbed & hugged her tightly.

While I felt a hand on my shoulder, it was my Daadu...

She kissed my forehead & said "I am not crying Sona...see... because you are going to get all that you always wanted from childhood...A mother... a big family...while still being able to feel your mom the closest. See your destiny darling, two streets away is your mother's house & while you still go back home you will have Gayathri as your mother who is Nirjara's bestie & exact replica of your mom. Janki who will love you exactly like me or maybe even more &  a beautiful joint family with aunts, uncles, cousins...A complete house that you craved always above all an extremely loving, caring & responsible husband like Raghav"

saying she looked at Raghav who was standing at a distance & looking at me..

Our eyes met for a brief amount of time however tears clouded it soon & I looked elsewhere..

While I asked Daadi 'Where is Dad?'

'With your mom..where he feels Nirjara the most...go meet him...' Daadi said & I understood & ran upstairs to terrace ...

While I saw Dad was looking at the stars & silently pouring tears holding a frame closer to his chest...

"Daddaaaa" i said in a broken croaked voice...

While i saw him turn around & I ran into his arms...

While I took the frame from his hand...

It was my childhood picture with my dad. I couldnt control my tears seeing it.

'Daddaaa you are my superman na...I love you' I wiped his tears but my eyes probably forgot that its tear glands lost control & kept on pouring on my father's chest.

'Promise me Siya...This marriage will be succesfull ! Only you & I know why this marriage is happening! Not even Ram! He is my best friend Siya...Ram means a lot to me... You have to do everything to win Sehgals!!! Their love...their heart...Above all Raghav!

I know Vishal Malhotra has played his life's biggest gamble but I know his daughter will win this one too!!!

Pulling me out of his embrace he kissed my forehead & said...

"Beta... you have to be very careful & anything you will directly call me got it?? And most of all stay strong! Give this your best darling! This one is your toughest exam!

You came first in your 10th, 12th, Your graduation & even in your post graduation!

But in this one its not about coming first! Its about sustaining! My princess must sustain!

Probably the most painful hatred of all !!! From her best friend!! Probably her crush too'

he smiled

My eyes popped out.. 'Dad!!! nothing like that!!!"

"Ohhh really... Betaji (Child) I am your father!!! I know even if your heart beats a little louder too.. I know you feel a thing for that man... I wanted to term it much bigger but then its for you to discover further..." He said & I was blushing hard...

"Sona... You know right you may have to go through his hatred! But be strong Sona... You have to withstand this so we achieve our target?? Yeah??"

I nodded..

'Now come her you little doll...' And he hugged me tightly..

Soon we descended stairs while the singer started singing...

"Mudke na Dekho Dibaro...(Dont turn back and see Sweetheart)"

This is the worst..Even if a girl doesnt want to cry they will make you cry...

And yea I broke down too...

When the lines came...

Fasalein jo kaati jaayein (crops that are been harvested once)
Ugti nahi hain (Dont grow again)
Betiyan jo byahi jaaye (Daughters who are been married once)
Mudti nahi hain... (Dont return back)

Now is when I felt I am no longer a Malhotra and that feeling really bothered me so much suddenly.

Dad made me sit in the car & smiled saying "You are two streets away cutiepie..."
I smiled through my tears...

While Raghav sat next to me...

He didnt look at me I was also silent...

Within next 5 minutes we were at the Sehgal Mansion...

Which was decorated like a new bride...

***

I was welcomed traditionally to the Sehgal household while Daadi took me inside her room and gave me a necklace saying...
'She kept it for Raghavendra's wife!!!'

WIFE!!!

Raghavendra's WIFE!!!

Now that title was quiet a big weight on my shoulders.

I touched her feet and took blessings from her while she hugged me and Raghav together and made our heads join and kissed both our foreheads...

'Promote me soon my children 😉' saying she winked while my and Raghav's eyes almost popped out and we were embarrassed.

Then there were a few games been played as part of rituals where they asked us to find a ring in a vessel full of milk.

While uncle's, Vish, Anuj and our Fab6 gang cheered for me..

Rest folks cheered for Raghav...

And to our shock we both pulled out the ring together from the vessel.

I quickly left the ring saying...

'H...He won!!!'

To which he said...

'No ma... We...won together!'

I looked at him..

His eyes met my eyes and I was drowning again into his chocolate tub!!!

While Bash Chachu snapped his fingers saying...

'You both can stare at each other entire night or you know do something more too' saying he controlled his laughter but the rest family members joined him while Chachi nudged his shoulder saying...
'Behave you uncle!!!'

And everyone was laughing...

I was blushing and smiling too but the minute my eyes met his eyes I was back to earth!!!

In no time I was shifted to his room...

It was decorated with Jasmine's, roses and daffodils...

The strong scented candles added more to the situation...

It was getting awkward!

But then before it gets more awkward he stepped inside the room like it was a usual one!

And he took steps to me saying...

'Papers???'

I quietly opened my trolly bag and took out the papers and kept in front of us

Next he said...

SIT!!!

I looked at him..

His room had a glass table with a business chair.

'You sit..I'll stand' he said...

'We both can sit on bed or couch and'.

'I don't discuss business with women on bed or couch!
That's a different kind of business Sehgals don't deal with it!
Specially not with random women!
To add on who is your boss!!!'.

My head shot in his direction...I already had tears in my eyes...

'Lets quickly go though the ten points! So we don't miss anything!!! He said reading through...

There are ten key points while in this marriage.

1. You and I will be husband wife Only for an year...at six months cycle automatically a divorce request will be submitted making us free to divorce at the end of 12th month!

2. You or I cannot have an extra marital affair while in this marriage.

3. No physical intimacy between us both is allowed.

4. If clause 3 is broken then as per clause 4 if there is a situation to bare a child both bride and groom will Together take a call

5. Bride cannot throw out anyone from Sehgal Mansion

6. No physical abuse to each other will be tolerated

7. Bride and Groom travel together anywhere and everywhere when it comes to a travel may it be personal or professional decision.

8.. At the end of ten months if any of the parties want to end this marriage. They would loose their entire property to their opposite party.

9. If any of the clauses from 1-9 are broken then the contract can be ended by the opposite party.

10. If either one of them in the couple dies before the end of 12 months the contract gets nullified then and there!'

He finished reading it out clearly!!!

Then looked at me saying...

'Looks good!!!

Signature ... ' saying he picked the pen next to him and signed!!!

Raghavendra Sehgal!!!

'Congratulations for the Contract Marriage

Mrs Siya Raghavendra Sehgal!!!"

Saying he threw the pen on the table and went to the door...

"I'm going to my friends!!! I am done with enough drama today!!

I need rest...I need to relax!!'

Saying he marched out of the room..

While tears poured out from my eyes non stop!!

What a beginning to this new relationship...

I thought and pressed my lips hard and started crying!!!

While my eyes shot one look at the door that closed with a thud!!!