Unveiled promises

.05.

×He is good at pretending×

|RUHI|

I never even imagined that someone will control my life like this. Sitting infront of the most ridiculous man I ever came across and agreeing to his conditions was the last thing I expected to do.

"Sign these papers Vakil sahiba." Aarav said and chain of my thoughts broke. I looked at the papers and then looked at him who was smirking.

"I will sign these when you will agree to my conditions." I threw my legal papers in his direction and he caught it. He just read first line and then he looked at me.

"So you want divorce after 6 months." He asked.
"I hope your selfish motive will get fulfilled till then?" I raised one eyebrow and he smiled.
"I have only one thing to say that I love you and I will never leave you, divorce is a far thing." He said leaning back.

"You want to cage me in the name of love?" I asked.

"You're not in a cage; you're where you belong-by my side. My desire for you is intense, and I want you to be mine completely." He said.

"I agree to everything except this divorce thing." He said confidently.
"Read the damn papers Mr. Deshmukh." I said and he nodded negatively.

"I agree to everything my vakil sahiba says." He said smiling.
"Then sign these papers Aarav." I said and I exactly knew what he is getting into.

"Bring another paper I am not accepting the first condition." He said and I read the papers given by him.

So basically he wants me to behave like a perfect partner in the eyes of his family, friends and media. He is saying to tell everyone that we like each other from one year and now he proposed me to marry and I happily agreed because I am so in love with him.

What a script writing!

"I think you read to much." I told him and he nodded.
"Men should know what a women wants right?" He said passing a pen.

Signing his so called contract I passed it to him.
"I love you Ruh..." He said as I stood up. " And I hate you Aarav." Saying I came outside.

•••

The evening dragged on with an excruciating slowness. The glittering lights and lavish décor of the engagement celebration felt like a cruel irony against the deep unrest inside me. The engagement ring on my finger, which should have been a symbol of love, felt more like a shackle, reminding me of the future I had been forced into.

Desperate for a moment of solitude, I slipped away to a quieter corner of the hall. As I leaned against the wall, I tried to catch my breath and calm my racing heart. The noise and laughter of the party seemed distant, like an echo from another world.

Aarav's voice, sharp and commanding, interrupted my thoughts. "Ruhi, there you are. I've been looking for you."

I turned to see him striding towards me, his smile more a façade than a genuine expression. "I just needed a moment away from the crowd," I said, trying to steady my voice.

Aarav's gaze was intense, his patience wearing thin. "Well, I need you to meet some of my friends. They're eager to see you. It's important."

Aarav's insistence stung. "Do I really have to? I'm not in the mood for another performance."

His face hardened. "This isn't negotiable. You agreed to this. You need to present yourself well."

He seized my hand with a grip that felt more like a command than a gesture of affection and led me back through the crowd. I felt like a marionette, my every step dictated by his need to display me. When we reached a group of impeccably dressed people near the grand piano, I braced myself.