SIA MALHOTRA
Meet Sia, a 23-year-old numbers enthusiast in a family full of doctors. She's on a quest for independence but finds herself in a quirky two-year contract marriage.
KABIR SINGHANIA
Then there's Kabir, a 27-year-old businessman with a bit...
Sia left the café, her thoughts lingering on the unexpected proposal. She had met Kabir for the first time, and while she admired his straightforwardness, his suggestion of a contract marriage had caught her off guard.
When Sia arrived home, the familiar yet unfriendly atmosphere of the house greeted her. The air in the house felt stagnant, as if it hadn't been disturbed for ages. The silence was deafening, emphasizing the emptiness that seemed to permeate every corner. The dimly lit rooms added to the overall sense of gloom. Her father, Rajesh Malhotra, was in the living room, engrossed in reading a file. He was a tall, imposing figure with gray hair and a stern expression. His eyes always seemed to scrutinize everything with a critical gaze. The room was silent except for the occasional rustle of paper as he turned a page.
Sia hesitated for a moment at the threshold before stepping in, her footsteps light, hoping to avoid an interaction. But Rajesh noticed her presence, looking up briefly before returning to his file, a silent acknowledgment that felt more dismissive than anything.
Sia moved towards the stairs, trying to remain unnoticed, but Rajesh's voice stopped her in her tracks.
"How was the meeting with the prospective suitor?" he asked, his tone devoid of warmth or curiosity. He didn't even look up from his file, the question more of a formality than genuine interest.
"It was okay," Sia replied curtly, trying to downplay the meeting.
Rajesh looked up from his file, his expression unreadable. "The Singhania family is well-respected and well-known, Sia. You should think carefully about this prospect."
She knew that her grandfather had likely informed Rajesh about the meeting as a matter of courtesy, fulfilling his duty as her guardian to keep her father informed about important developments. Sia suspected that her grandfather would have done so without taking a stance or exerting any pressure, unlike Rajesh, who seemed determined to push her into this arrangement.
"I'll think about it," Sia said neutrally, trying not to commit to anything.
Rajesh nodded, his eyes returning to his file. "Good. I'll set up another meeting with Kabir soon."
Sia felt a sense of unease at the thought of being pushed into this arrangement, but she didn't say anything else. She knew that her father was not one to be swayed by her opinions or feelings. Instead, she decided to talk to her grandfather about this proposal, hoping that he might be more open to listening to her concerns.
As she turned to leave, Rajesh's voice stopped her again. "And Sia?"
"Yes?" she replied warily.
"Your mother would want you to make a good match," he said, his tone firm and unyielding, brooking no argument or dissent.
Sia felt a pang of anger at the mention of her mother, but she kept her emotions in check. She knew that Rajesh was trying to guilt-trip her into doing what he wanted, and she wasn't going to fall for it.
Sia walked into her room, feeling overwhelmed by the events of the day. She flopped down on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as she tried to process her thoughts. She felt trapped between her father's expectations and her own desires. The pressure to conform to his wishes was suffocating, making her feel even more isolated in her own home.
The idea of marrying Kabir seemed absurd. The thought of entering into a contract marriage for convenience made her feel even more disconnected from her own life. She needed to inform her grandfather about her decision. She picked up her phone and dialed her grandfather's number. The phone rang a few times before he answered.
"Hello, Sia," her grandfather's warm voice greeted her.
"Hello grandfather" Sia replied, her voice trembling slightly. "I need to talk to you about something."
"Of course. What's on your mind?" he asked, his tone filled with concern.
"It's about Kabir," Sia began, trying to keep her voice steady. "I met him today, and I don't think he's the right match for me. I can't go through with this."
There was a pause on the other end of the line before her grandfather spoke again. "Why do you feel this way, Sia? Did something happen between you and Kabir?"
Sia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "No, Dadu. It's not about Kabir. It's about me. I just don't feel right about this. And it's not just this proposal. It's..." Sia stopped, struggling to find the right words.
"It's okay, Sia," her grandfather said gently. "I understand. I'll inform them about your decision. Take care of yourself."
"Thank you, grandfather" Sia replied, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude.
Kabir's eyes fixed on the phone as he waited for Shanaya to pick up. It rang for what felt like an eternity before she finally answered.
"What?" her curt tone was like a slap in the face.
"Can we talk?" Kabir asked, trying to keep his voice neutral, hoping to diffuse the tension that had been building between them lately.
"I'm busy," she replied, her voice dripping with disinterest, making Kabir wonder if he was wasting his time.
But then she added, "Wait, it's you. Yeah, I can spare a minute," and Kabir felt a glimmer of hope.
"I know things have been rough between us lately," he said, choosing his words carefully, "but I've been thinking. I've come up with a plan that might make things easier for both of us." He paused, waiting for her response.
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Shanaya spoke up. "What is it?" Her tone was skeptical, but Kabir detected a hint of curiosity beneath the surface.
"Why don't we meet up and I'll tell you about it in person?" Kabir suggested, glancing around his car as he pulled over to the side of the road. He wanted to have this conversation face-to-face, where he could read her expressions and reactions.
The line went quiet again, and for a moment Kabir wondered if she'd hung up on him. But then she spoke up. "Fine."
"I'll come to your place," Kabir said quickly, trying not to sound too eager. "I'll be there in 20 minutes."
"Okay," Shanaya replied curtly before hanging up on him.
Kabir let out a deep breath as he put the phone down. This wasn't going to be easy, but he was determined to make things right between them. He started the car and began driving towards Shanaya's place.
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Hello everyone!
I hope you're all well!
I've noticed that while the views for each chapter are increasing, unfortunately, the number of votes isn't keeping pace. I'm wondering why there's some hesitation with hitting the star button? Is there something about the story that's not quite right? On the other hand, the views are going up.
To address this, I've decided to set some targets. I won't be updating until we reach these goals:
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