Aayan x Aashi: Grumpy x Sunshine, Age Gap, Marriage of Convenience, Contract Marriage
Aayan - "Please don't expect love or compassion from me. I can promise you respect, but I'll never be able to give you the place of a wife. However, I can be your...
My mother was on cloud nine the moment she heard about my decision to marry. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she busied herself folding clothes, a smile playing on her lips. "Finally, God has listened to all my prayers!" she exclaimed, her happiness almost palpable.
I glanced at her, pretending to be oblivious, even though I knew exactly what she was talking about. "What is it, Maa?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
She paused, her face glowing with satisfaction. "I've been praying for years, asking God to find you a husband by the time you turned 23-a rich and respectable man who could take care of you. And now, look! It's all coming true. Thank goodness for that matchmaker who sent me Ayan's photo and suggested we arrange a meeting. You two are a match made in heaven."
Her voice was filled with such certainty that it almost made me cringe. "Maa, seriously?" I replied, a touch of irritation creeping into my voice. "You want me to get married just so you can have a rich son-in-law?"
She hesitated for a moment, her hands pausing mid-fold. "So what?" she said, her tone a mix of defensiveness and longing. "We need a man in this house after your father... and my... divorce." Her voice wavered slightly on the last word, revealing the lingering pain beneath her composed exterior. She quickly regained her composure and added, "Today, Mrs. Adhviti and I are meeting with Pandit Ji to fix the date of your marriage. You'll come too, right?"
"No, Maa, I have tons of work to finish. You go ahead without me," I replied, trying to keep my frustration in check.
"Okay, okay, fine. Girls these days..." she muttered under her breath as she left the room, the disappointment evident in her voice.
Just as she exited, my phone buzzed with an anonymous message: "The contract has been sent to your office." I stared at the screen, puzzled. How did he get my number? Could Maa have given it to him? The thought unsettled me, but I quickly brushed it aside, focusing instead on the task at hand.
Ayaan's Perspective:
"Bhaiya, I'm so happy that you're able to move on. Maybe this is what Bhabhi would have wanted," Riya said as she handed me a cup of coffee, her voice brimming with sincerity. She settled into the chair beside me, her eyes warm with affection.
I nodded absently, my attention still glued to the documents in front of me. Work had become my escape, my refuge from the chaos of emotions that I wasn't ready to face.
"I can finally attend your wedding this time," Riya continued, her voice softening with nostalgia. "Last time..." she trailed off, the weight of the past hanging in the air between us. "Last time, I couldn't be there because of my exams. But this time, I can fulfill my duties as your sister." She glanced upward, a wistful smile crossing her face, as if seeking a blessing from above.
She tried to lighten the mood, a teasing note entering her voice. "By the way, do send me a picture of my future Bhabhi. I should at least see the girl who managed to make my serious Bhai even consider marriage."
Her words hit a nerve, and I looked up sharply, meeting her gaze with a directness that silenced her instantly. She understood my unspoken request and quietly excused herself, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Moments later, my mother entered the room, her presence accompanied by a familiar blend of concern and authority. "Ayaan, Mrs. Avantika is coming over today," she began as she took a seat beside me, her tone carrying both excitement and anxiety. "I've called our family priest to fix the marriage date."
I barely looked up, continuing to sip my coffee and focus on my breakfast. "Hmm," I murmured noncommittally, my mind still preoccupied with the day's tasks.
"Will you be there?" she asked, her voice tinged with hesitation, even though she already knew the answer.
"No, I have a meeting with investors today," I said, my focus never wavering from the file in front of me.
"Okay then, we elders will handle fixing the date," my mother replied, a hint of disappointment creeping into her voice.
"Just make sure the wedding happens within this month," I added, my voice firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
"What? It's already the 20th of July! How can we prepare everything in such a short time, even if we do manage to get a date within this month?" she exclaimed, her voice rising with concern.
"Oh, someone seems eager to get married..." Riya quipped, her teasing tone breaking the tension, but I ignored her.
"Only her family, my family, and close relatives should be present," I continued, my tone clipped. "My PA will handle all the arrangements," I added, not bothering to address Riya's playful remark.
"But Ayaan...what if they don't agree? Are you even listening to me?" my mother called out, her voice fading as I grabbed my briefcase and headed for the door, shutting out the noise of the world behind me.
