A Tale Of Schemes... #1,#2,#3

Chapter 11

*Shrishti Pov*

'What is this?' is the only thought running through my mind after seeing the lines on the file that is present before my eyes.

Is this some kind of prank? I thought by turning the pages and found that it has an official seal at the end of it.

Contract marriage? I frowned letting the pages fall back in its place but my hand froze looking at the words in the middle of these pages.

I... I... my hands started shaking looking at those words and I gasped before leaving the file alone and stood up in shock.

I stared at that file in a daze before sitting down and opened it again to read the words while hoping all this is not true.

"Where are you going without helping me? What will you do if I catch a cold?" I heard those words after a few minutes and turned to find both of them walking inside from the back door.

"Wait here while I get a towel for you." She mumbled reaching the living room and paused when she found me sitting there while staring at them.

"Shrishti?" she called frowning and I turned to find Vikranth walking closer and paused hearing my name.

"Is something wrong? When did you return?" he asked in a normal tone staring at me while my eyes blurred with the tears forming in them.

Is he really the one I know all these years? How can he do these things? He is always the person who protects everyone around him and helps them but this... this... I don't know what to think except to wish that this is not true.

"This is not true right?" I asked lifting the file in my hands and they both froze which cleared my blind faith in him.

"Shrishti!" he mumbled taking a step with the help of his crutches and I slowly stood up before gesturing him to sit down.

His wife helped him as they both are wearing wet clothes right now and he could slip. I gestured the file again asking, "Why?"

"You need not care about it." He stated staring at me with a straight look.

"I need not? I always thought of you to be one of my family members. I need not care about it?" I asked trying to control my tears but they slipped before I can push them away.

"Don't think about this, Shrishti." He mumbled looking down.

"You tell me! What is the reason for this, Kanika?" I asked looking at her but she just stared at me.

"Right! Didn't he put some condition that if you ever say anything about this contract to anyone then you will be punished by legal charges? I shouldn't have asked you." I snorted shaking my head.

"Are legal charges your favorite part, Vikranth? If she talks to us or makes us feel uncomfortable or even do something which you ask her not to do, you will push legal charges on her? Is it that simple for you to control someone like this?" I shouted throwing the file on the table.

"She is a living person, dammit. How can you put these conditions?" I asked leaning over to catch his collar.

"Why? Why did you get into this contract marriage? Why did you control her all this time? She has been living like this for more than a year. Are you really the Vikranth I know? How did I end up liking..." I cut my words before letting go of his collar.

"It's not like that, Shrishti." His wife... Kanika said reaching my side to hold my hand.

"Not like that? All this time Aunty and I along with Prathap were thinking you were just a rude person to not try to talk to us or even get involved as a family. We were rude to you in return but everything was because of this man here, right?" I asked turning to look at her.