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...
Riya led me to the room, her eyes dancing with mischief as she grinned, "Bhai will be here soon," before slipping away, leaving me alone with a sense of foreboding.
As I stepped inside, my breath caught in my throat. The room was adorned with flowers-roses and marigolds hung delicately around the bed, their scent filling the air with an almost overwhelming sweetness. My face flushed with embarrassment. The entire setup was something out of a romantic movie, but it felt so out of place given the reality of our situation. I quickly reminded myself of the contract we had signed-this was a marriage in name only. He was as disinterested in me as I was in him.
Determined to shake off the awkwardness, I quickly changed out of the heavy bridal attire and into something simpler. I pulled a plain kurti from my suitcase and slipped into it, pairing it with comfortable trousers. The casual clothes were a relief after the elaborate outfit I'd been wearing all day, but the contrast between the simplicity of my clothes and the extravagant room felt almost jarring. I lay down on the bed, trying to relax, and instinctively reached for my phone.
As I scrolled through Instagram, a text from Ruhi popped up: "Do tell me everything about tonight!" I cringed at her enthusiasm. What was there to tell? The day had been overwhelming, and the last thing I wanted was to think about the night ahead.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and he walked in. His eyes widened in surprise as he quickly apologized, "Sorry, I should've knocked before entering."
I sat up, adjusting my clothes. "It's alright," I replied, trying to mask my discomfort.
But then, his expression shifted, almost as if he'd seen a ghost. "Why are you on the bed?" he asked, his voice tinged with shock.
I blinked, taken aback. "Where else should I be? On the floor?" I shot back with a hint of sarcasm, confused by his reaction.
He sighed, clearly annoyed. "You're supposed to sleep on the couch."
I felt a surge of irritation. "Today, I'm sleeping on the bed. Tomorrow, I'll take the couch," I retorted, determined not to back down. I was exhausted, and the bed was the only comfort I had at this point.
His frustration was palpable as he tried to reason with me. "Look, I'm really tired from all this wedding stuff, and I have to get up early for work. I need the bed."
I crossed my arms, refusing to budge. "So what? I'm just as tired as you, and I have work to get back to in two days. I'm not moving." I pulled back the duvet, making it clear that I wasn't about to give in.
He stared at me, clearly annoyed, and started walking towards me with a determined look in his eyes. I gulped, my heart racing as he stood inches away from me, his presence almost overwhelming.
"Ashi, sleep on the couch," he said, his tone authoritative and firm.
I met his gaze, refusing to be intimidated. "You're the one breaching our contract by coming so close," I shot back, trying to muster up some courage despite my growing nerves.
He leaned in slightly, closing the distance even more. "And what, Ashi?" he challenged, his voice low.
I swallowed hard, determined not to back down. "I'm not moving from here, no matter what you do," I declared, though my voice wavered slightly. Inside, I knew I would've moved if he had just asked politely, but now my pride was on the line.
He nodded slowly, repeating my words with a smirk, "No matter what I do?"
Without another word, he walked around to the other side of the bed, kicked off his shoes, and lay down beside me, pulling the duvet over himself. "Turn off the light," he said, his tone almost dismissive as he settled in.
I was stunned, completely taken aback by his nonchalant attitude. All the tension I had built up for some kind of confrontation evaporated in an instant. I was ready to defend myself, to stand my ground, but instead, he had just... gone to sleep?
Frustrated and confused, I sighed heavily. My pride demanded that I move, but my exhaustion begged me to stay. I huffed, grabbed a pillow, and grudgingly moved to the couch. As I lay down, I felt a mix of emotions-annoyance, confusion, and an unsettling sense of defeat.
In the darkness, I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing. What was this strange situation I had found myself in? And why did it feel like this was only the beginning of a much more complicated journey?
I tossed and turned on the couch, but sleep refused to come. My mind was racing, despite the exhaustion weighing down my body. I couldn't stop thinking about the strange reality I'd entered-I was married to a man I barely knew. I tried to remind myself that it was only for six months, and that after this, we'd go our separate ways. We wouldn't be divorced, but we'd stay out of each other's lives.
But even as I repeated this to myself, a twinge of pain twisted in my chest. It hurt, thinking about how I'd lied to my mother, to my friends, to everyone who loved me. I felt a wave of guilt wash over me-how selfish I must seem, choosing this sham of a marriage for my career, for my independence. But I knew, deep down, that this was necessary. I'd seen enough from my parents' relationship to know that I needed to stand on my own. And as for love? The past betrayal and the trauma I'd endured were enough to make me vow never to seek it again.
With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I eventually drifted into a restless sleep.
When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was that a duvet had been draped over me. My eyes fluttered open, and I realized Ayan was no longer in bed. I sat up on the couch, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and glanced at the time-it was already 8 a.m. I sighed, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension. I needed to freshen up, get ready for the day.
Just as I was about to head to the bathroom, the door opened, and Ayan appeared before me, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.
