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Silvery white moonlight sprinkled on the ground as the night's aroma pervades the air. Naina was sitting on the balcony resting her head on the wall. She was wearing her red saree's underskirt and blouse with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders. "Naina," Sameer called her in his usual icy tone. She looked at him and adjusted her shawl.

"Ji?" She asked in response. He looked at her for some moments checking if she was fine, handed her a packet, and went to freshen up. Naina looked in the bag and smiled a bit. He had brought her sanitary pads which she had asked for and some chocolates. She started munching the chocolates like a kid, making sure that she had kept a few for him.

After a few minutes, Naina peeked in the room finding him shirtless with just a towel wrapped around his waist. Droplets of water trickled down his well-built body and his inked surface making her gulp in fear. He had a fierce aura, she admitted. Sensing her gaze he looked at her, making her avert her gaze and mutter something against her breath in embarrassment. "You need something?" He asked in his hoarse voice at which she bobbed her head in a way of no quickly. Sameer stared at her for a few moments and then took his clothes from the closet. Wearing his tracks he sat on the bed taking his laptop from the drawer. Taking chocolates she had kept for him, she walked in towards the bed taking baby steps. She had a cramping pain near the abdomen, it was a usual thing for her but always had a tough time bearing it. She placed the chocolates on his side of the table and was about to go back to the balcony when Sameer held her hand.

"Sit here." He spoke as his eyes were fixated on the laptop.

"Ac-Actually I can't. The bedsheets would get stained." Naina replied as her voice was like a whisper.

"Bedsheets are not as important as you at least. Chup chap beto yaha, it's okay if the bed sheets get stained." Sameer replied. Naina nodded and went to her side of the bed. Placing a red napkin on the bed she sat resting her head on the headrest with eyes closed. Sameer glanced at her. He could make out that she was going through immense pain. Her face had turned pale while her hand rested on her stomach. She still hesitated to talk about menstruation with him. When he was going for some meetings she asked him stammering for the sanitary napkins she needed. He had seen his dad bringing chocolates for his mother while she was on her periods so he brought some for Naina. His chain of thoughts broke by an unpleasant voice.

"Will you make tea? Yaha aram se beti ho maharani ki tarah kuch kaam vaam hai ki nahi?" Dadi scolded Naina. She opened her eyes which had turned red. Wiping off her tears she was about to get up to make tea for her but Sameer held her wrist.

"Make it yourself," Sameer replied to Dadi, making her frown.

"Tu toh pehle se hi badtameez tha, kya tu bhi samjha nahi sakti isse?" Dadi reverted, making Naina frown as she badmouthed Sameer.

"Inhone mana kiya hai aapke liye chai banane se toh mai nahi banaungi, aap bana lijiye." Naina replied being irritated by her continuous taunts and laid on the bed as her cramp pains were not reducing. Dadi stood there insulted while Sameer was shocked by his wife's answer. He kept looking at her who shifted towards him trying to sleep.

"She is not well, kuch dino ke liye kaam nahi karegi voh. Abhi yahi rukhe rehna hai aap ko kya aap jayogi yaha se? Close the door before you leave." Sameer spoke as he was raging in anger seeing Dadi still standing near the corridor. As soon as she left, Sameer covered Naina with a duvet and placed his palm on her forehead. She purred in sleep clutching her tummy pulling her knees near herself.

"You need something?" Sameer asked like a whisper feeling helpless. He caressed her face with his thumb wiping her tear marks. Placing his laptop on the table he closed the lights and laid beside her. Staring at her cute little face which had dried tear marks. He felt someone piercing his soul seeing her in pain.

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After few days

Sameer was driving back to the mansion. Naina noticed a frown on his face which made her scared. She noticed his fist clenching on the wheel making his knuckles turn white. He had brought her to his office which was an even more magnificent building than their mansion in India. He had a meeting and as usual, she sat in his cabin studying. He did not want to leave her alone with Dadi, he did not wish to commit a mistake that his Dad had done in the past.

Naina placed her hand on her tummy as it growled. She pressed her lips together debating whether to tell him or not that she was hungry. Sameer glanced at her and slowed down the car. "Kuch chahiye
aapko?" Sameer asked her in his gruff voice, making her gasp and stiffening her position she nodded her head in the way of no. Sameer narrowed his eyes as he could see that she wanted to speak something. He parked the car and turned towards her.

"Don't lie to me Khaza," Sameer spoke as his grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"I-I am not." She replied as her lips quivered. Naina was fidgeting with her dupatta in nervousness. She did not wish to be scolded as her parents did when she asked for food. She pursed her lips. She did not know what to do, if she tells him will he scold?

"Naina!" Sameer called her name coldly gritting his teeth as she was pissing him off.

"I-Am Hungry," Naina spoke in one breath, unsure about his response but finally spoke not looking at him. Sameer sighed and started driving again towards their mansion. Naina murmured prayers as she thought he would scold him as soon as they reached home.

"God won't make food for you," Sameer spoke.

"Hu-Huh?" Naina mumbled as she did not get what he just spoke.

"All these concepts related to Gods are just fake. Stop praying, it won't help. Koi bhagwan-vagwan nahi hota." Sameer said again, making her nod her head in a way of no.

"Aisa nahi hai. God is present everywhere. He has planned something for everyone. Sometimes things do not favor us but He will always be doing something that will bring you immense happiness. Everything happens for a reason. It's life and you must move on." Naina said to Sameer as she trusted God blindly.

"All this is nonsense. It's just a fake concept. A concept which is made to fool the world." Sameer replied.

"It's not like that Mr. Maheshwari," Naina replied in her sweet voice. Before they could debate on this topic much, they reached the mansion. Sameer got out of the car and walked into the mansion while Naina followed him, running to match his speed. He walked into the kitchen as it was about 2 pm maids were not present in the kitchen. He was disturbed by something since they left his office. He was cursing after every two three minutes. He took some vegetables and started chopping them.

"M-Mai kardungi aap mat kijiye please." Naina requested clutching his hand but soon left as he looked at her, narrowing his eyes.

"I will cook, aap room mai jaiye." He spoke in an authoritative tone. She did not want to make him angry so she went to their room. After changing into a simple kurti she came downstairs. She saw Sameer serving for them. Naina helped him in that and was surprised to see that he had cooked so many things in just a short period.

Naina started eating like a hungry child while Sameer who was eating with basic table manners stared at her. She was busy licking her fingers but stopped seeing him gaze at her. Feeling embarrassed of herself she bit her lips.

"Sorry." She murmured against her breath while Sameer pursed his lips to prevent smiling and soon covered his face with stern expressions.

"Why don't you tell me whenever you need anything?" Sameer asked Naina, making her look at him slightly to check if he was angry.

"Because I am scared," She replied.

"Have I ever hit you? Kha nahi jaunga apko. Maine pehle bhi kaha hai ab bhi keh raha hu if you need anything tell me I will make sure you get that." Sameer spoke at which she bobbed her head in the way of yes and ate the last morsel of food which was left. She wanted to compliment his art of cooking but before she could speak he left towards their room.

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"Naina-Naina Rakesh Aggarwal, yahi naam tha na tera before you got married to Sameer?" Dadi asked Naina as she was cooking dinner. Sameer had gone to the office, informing Naina that he would come back after two hours. Naina did not reply to Dadi and kept cooking as she had been told by Sameer not to talk to her.

"Love marriage kaha tha na tum dono ne. Mujhe bewkuf banane chale. Saude mai hue shaadi ko love marriage ka naam dekhar, chalo achi baat duniya ke samne ek lovey-dovey couple bano. Ab sachai toh mujhe pata hi hai tum ek saude mai bechi hui ladki ho. Ab itna mol mil hi raha hai toh bech diya apne aap ko. Tum jaise middle class ladki hoti hi hai aise hai, jaise hi ek saal ke baad yeh contract khatam ho jayega phir koi aur ladka." Dadi spoke venom.

"Chup rahiye aap! Aap ko pata bhi hai aap kya bol rahi hai? Meri shaadi manti hu ki pehle se decided thi lekin koi sauda nahi hai. Which contract are you talking about? Mr. Maheshwari is my husband koi kapda nahi hai jo ek saal baad badal dungi." Naina spoke, unable to bear her taunts.

"Zyada masum mat ban, mujhe pata chal gaya hai teri asliyat. Tujhe kya lagta hai aawaz badane se sachai ko chip sakti hai. Cheh mahine ki shaadi ahh nahi namesake marriage ko asli maan beti hai tu. Sameer jaise admi tuj jaise sau(100) ladkiya kapdo ki tarah badalta hai. Bholi mat ban tu, how could you not know about the contract you have signed!"Dadi taunted.

"He is not like that. Meri shaadi hui hai unse it's not contract marriage. A-Aap jhoot bol rahi ho." Naina stammered as she was not able to register what Dadi was telling.

"Toh apne Mr. Maheshwari se hi puch le about contract marriage, for a year only, after that he will divorce you. He has married you for a reason." Dadi said with a sarcastic smile as she had been successful in creating a rift between Sameer and Naina. Naina palmed her face breathing heavily. Never in her wildest dream had she thought about this. She rushed out of the mansion towards their car. She asked a guard to drive to his office.

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Naina walked into Sameer's office. Employees did greet her but at the moment Naina was disinterested in anything. She just prayed that whatever Dadi spoke must be a lie. She went into his cabin but did not find him making her frown. She was about to leave but stopped listening to the screams of a person. She took slow steps towards the voice clutching her nuptial chain in fear. Opening a door slightly, she peeped in the darkroom and saw her husband standing there with a belt wound around his hand. He was facing a man who was tied to a chair while some guards surrounded them.

"Tell me about your Lord!" Sameer screamed, hitting the man again with the belt making Naina flinch by his tone and the yelps of the man.

"I-I won't." The man spoke as his voice broke. Sameer choked his neck, Naina was just gawking at the scene going on.

"I said tell me! Why did you betray me? Who is your Lord? What were his intentions?" Sameer asked in a loud voice which echoed in the room but the man did not budge. Sameer took his gun which the guard handed him and shot the man dead.

"Please stop it!" Naina screamed in horror as the man was brutally killed, blood was still flowing from his corpse while the seven gunshots voice rang in her ears. Hearing a familiar feminine voice Sameer turned back only to find his wife present who was on the verge of fainting. Sameer rushed towards her and held her fainted body.

"Naina!" He called her name patting her face. He muttered curses under his breath. Ron handed him a shirt as the shirt he was wearing was stained with blood. Sameer quickly changed his shirt and wiped his hands picking up Naina in his arms as he went towards the car.

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"Is she fine?" Sameer asked the doctor. Naina who had just opened her eyes tried to figure out where she was. She looked at Sameer who was sitting next to her holding her hand in his. She slipped her hand away from his grip, making him confused by her behavior. The doctor instructed a few things and left the room.

"Why did you come to my office? Maine mana kiya tha na ghar ke bahar kahi bhi akele nikalne se. If you wanted to come you could have told me." Sameer spoke as his voice was laced with genuine worry.

"I want to ask you something," Naina spoke shifting a bit away from him. He looked at her trying to read her face but couldn't. Her face was blank, her eyes which had a sparkle always was missing.

"Speak."

"Why did you kill that man?" She asked him in a stern voice.

"He used to leak my company's information to somebody who he called as Lord," Sameer replied to her. She gazed at him for a few moments.

"You killed him for that. Don't you have a heart? How could you kill anybody so mercilessly? " She asked in disbelief.

"I am a Mafia, I have killed people even before." He replied in his gruff voice.

"You are not God! Who are you to decide who will live and who will be killed! Yo-You are a bloody killer, a murderer of innocent people!" She spoke, making him clench his jaw.

"Stop talking nonsense Khaza!" He reverted to look at her with a piercing look but this time even Naina stared at him with utmost hatred.

"I am not talking nonsense, it's the truth! You kill people, kill them brutally. You even lied to me about our marriage, you just married me to satisfy your needs." She spoke huffing in anger.

"Wh-What?" Sameer uttered, unable to believe what she was saying.

"Was our marriage a contract for a year? Did you pay for me?" She asked him, making him just stare at her.

"Don't act so foolish. Even you agreed to that contract!" Sameer replied to her.

"Don't lie Mr. Maheshwari! I won't agree to any such deals and contracts. Never in my life!" She replied. Sameer ran his fingers through his hair in frustration and walked towards the cupboard taking out a file.

"You have signed here, in this contract! Don't act as if you don't know. I fucking don't want you to put false allegations on me. This contract was made by you and your parents is what I know. You and your parents needed money. According to the will of my parents, I just had to marry you and there was no such stuff of contract. I have not married for sake of satisfying my needs, do you get that! If I even wished for such things I could have forced you before but I didn't." Sameer yelled at her while she was shocked to the core of her heart. She looked at the contract papers which did have her sign. She remembered how smartly Rama had made her sign by telling her that it was some college admission papers. She was sold by her parents and she blamed him. Tears flowed from her eyes as she never thought her parents would stoop so low for money. Sold their daughter, not just sold but also made her sign the contract. What will she do after the contract ends? Where will she stay? She knew her parents won't allow her to step into their mansion after the contract ends. Her vision got blurred as tears filled in her eyes. She was unable to read the contract, she looked at Sameer who was standing staring at her.

"I-I am sorry. I blamed you but I was not aware of this contract, made by my parents. I was not aware that they sold me. I was told that these are my college papers and they did not allow me to read it once." Naina tried justifying herself but Sameer just left the room in frustration.

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Naina covered all the food with plates and came to the living room where her 'so-called' parents were present. Rama was standing next to the chair as Rakesh was eating. She felt pity for her mother as she was never treated well by her father. It was also one of the reasons why her mother hated her. Rama wished to have a son as their eldest child but it did not turn out to be as she thought. She wanted a boy as she could have gained some respect from Rakesh. She blamed Naina for all this claiming her to be 'manhoos' since birth.

"P-Papa I need books," Naina spoke with her eyes fixated on the floor clutching her dupatta tightly in a fist. Rakesh got up from his chair and walked towards her holding her hand tightly making her wince.

"Koi zarurat nahi hai fizool karche karne ka. Padh likhkar kar bhi kya logi? Ghar mai raho aur ghar ke kaam mein dhyan do!" Rakesh shouted. Tears rolled down her cheeks but she had no option left than to listen to him. She looked at Rama for help but she did not even look at her. Even though she was forced to do that, if she talks in between Rakesh trying to save Naina, her father would divorce her.

She always wished to be a part of a family. She has craved love since childhood. She respected them even if they treated her worst than a slave but after knowing what they had done today, she lost all respect for them. Her heart sank with the thought of WHAT WILL SHE DO AFTER AN YEAR? She went towards the table where she had kept the contract papers. She took it with her shivering hands and read it more carefully.

The marriage will last for a year. By this contract, Sameer Vivek Maheshwari and Naina Rakesh Aggarwal will divorce as soon as their child turns 1 month. Naina Aggarwal would be allowed only to meet the child once a month, while Sameer Maheshwari would be responsible and would get custody for the child after their divorce.

Naina was not understanding how to react at this moment. She was unable to comprehend all the new information she was acquiring. She felt numb seeing the amount that was paid for her and secondly she had to abandon her child! How is it possible to separate a mother and her baby! But, after all, it was a contract in which she had signed, not by her will. Her chain of thoughts broke as the door creaked and Sameer came in. They looked at each other for a nanosecond but then Sameer ignored her and went towards the cupboard to take his clothes.

"Mr. Maheshwari," Naina called him in a low voice. She was guilty, guilty for blaming him. He was at no fault. This mess was created because of her parents. She wanted to apologize to him, she knew he would scream at her which was acceptable as it was her fault. Even if he hit her, she was okay at the moment as she deserved being punished for blaming him falsely, she thought to herself. Opposite to her thoughts, he left the bathroom not answering her or even glancing at her once.

"Mr. Maheshwari," Naina called Sameer softly but he did not reply to her. He was sitting on the bed with his eyes closed with his hands crossed against his chest, resting his head on the headrest of the bed.

"So gaye kya?" Naina mumbled to herself and moved towards him touching his face with her fingers to check whether he had slept. Feeling her touch he opened his eyes in a jerk and looked at her. Naina gulped a lump in her throat and moved away swiftly.

"I-I am sorry for what I said Mr. Maheshwari but I was unaware of that contract. Mujhe nahi pata tha sachi, Nani kasam. Agar aaj Dadiji nahi kehti toh mujhe nahi pata chalta about that contract." Naina spoke as her lips quivered and tears threatened to flow from her eyes.

"Dadi? Did she talk to you about this?" Sameer asked her in his usual cold tone. Naina nodded her head in the way of yes and narrated to him how Dadi started taunting her and told her about the contract. Sameer listened to what she said patiently with a question roaming in his mind. How come Dadi always gets to know about their family matters? Who tells her about all these?"

"Mr. Maheshwari?" Naina called him as he seemed to be lost in his thoughts. Sameer just looked at her in response.

"Did you forgive me? I promise I would never say such bad things to you." Naina said, pinching her throat with a cute expression making him just stare at her for a few moments. He just bobbed his head in the way of yes and laid on the bed switching off the lights. Naina pulled her lips into a sad pout and laid beside him.

"Pata nahi maaf kiya ki nahi, faltu mai inpar chila diya. Aisa koi karta hai kya? Tu pagal hi hai puri." Naina uttered to herself which was audible to Sameer. He glanced at her, who was talking to herself. Sensing his gaze she stopped talking and held her ears mumbling sorry. After a few moments of silence, Naina pulled his arm making him look at her.

"Where are your parents? Maine unhe humari shaadi ke din bhi nahi dekha aur nahi Nanu ke saath. Where are they?" Naina asked him with curiosity.

"They are not there," Sameer replied in his cold voice.

"Have they gone somewhere? Abroad?" Naina asked not understanding what he wanted to tell.

"Not in this world," Sameer repeated himself, making Naina's eyes go wide.

"I-I a..am sorry. Mujhe yeh sawal karna hi nahi chahiye tha." Naina stuttered cursing herself for asking such things to him.

"You used to like someone in your college days, right?" Sameer asked her after some moment of silence at which she bobbed her head in the way of yes.

"I used to but now I just hate him. Karan Khanna naam tha uska. He was a cheater, woh bahut bura tha." Naina spoke as she shut her eyes tight trying not to remember moments spent with a disgusting person like him. Sameer who was noticing her actions intertwined his fingers with hers.

"Did you like someone?" Naina asked him after a few moments at which he nodded his head in the way of no.

"I was never interested in all these things," Sameer replied.

"Aapse ek baat share karu? I had never seen you before, pehli baar maine aap ko shaadi ke din dekha. But, your voice is too familiar to me. Aisa lagta hai ki maine aapki aawaz pehle bhi bohut baar sunni hai." Naina spoke as expected there was no reply from Sameer, by now she was getting used to his behavior. She kept talking to him while he listened keenly to what she talked though he never answered.

Unknowingly she slept talking, sensing her to be asleep Sameer looked at her, wrapping her hands around his arm and holding it close to herself. She looked like a cute doll when she slept, Sameer thought to himself. Even though he was hurt by what she blamed, he trusted her. He had got to know about his in-laws and their thoughts for Naina by his men. A year left to think about what to do next, he thought. He just brought their intertwined hands to his mouth and kissed her hand gently as some feelings urged him to do so. He felt alive when she was near him, but all this was for just a year made his heart clench. His chain of thoughts was broken by his phone's shrill ringtone. Sameer picked it up sitting straight on the bed as he saw Nanu's name flashing on his phone.

"Nanu?" He mumbled as he did not expect his phone at such an odd hour.

"Tu thik hai na? Naina, how is she?" Nanu asked him in concern.

"Hum dono thik hai Nanu." Sameer replied.

"Oh-Ohkay, return to India once your work is completed. Naina ka khayal rakhna, don't leave her alone." Nanu instructed at which Sameer hummed in response and then cut the phone.

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