Oneshots- S3 (Completed)

70| Fate's Twist

Gautami brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear as she stood in the bustling courthouse, glancing nervously at the clock.

She was here to finalize some legal paperwork---something about her late aunt's estate that needed her signature. The weight of her responsibilities had been heavy lately but she was determined to get through it.

Across the room, Abhyudaya was equally anxious. He had come to the courthouse to sign a business agreement.

His company was expanding and this deal was crucial for its growth. He could not afford any mistakes or delays.

As the courthouse clerks moved around with files and forms, their paths crossed at the registrar's office.

"Ms. Gautami, could you please sign here?" The clerk asked, handing her a pen.

Gautami hesitated, "Are you sure this is the right document? It seems....different from what I was told about."

"Yes mam. Everything is in order," the clerk assured her with a smile that seemed rehearsed.

Simultaneously, another clerk approached him. "Mr. Abhyudaya, please sign here. This will finalize everything."

Abhyudaya glanced at the document, distracted by the notifications pinging on his phone. "This is the business agreement, right?" He asked.

"Yes sir. Everything has been pre-approved," the clerk said confidently.

Both Gautami and Abhyudaya signed the papers, handed them back and were ready to leave when they heard something that made their hearts skip a beat.

"Congratulations on your marriage!" One of the clerks exclaimed with a broad smile.

Gautami and Abhyudaya froze, turning to look at each other for the first time.

"What did you just say?" Gautami asked, her voice trembling.

The clerk looked confused, "Your marriage. The paperwork the both of you just signed---it is the marriage registration. You are legally husband and wife from now on."

Abhyudaya's face paled as he glanced down at the papers, realizing the terrible mistake. "There must be some misunderstanding! I was here to sign a business deal, not to get married! That too to a stranger whom I do not even know!"

The clerk flipped through the documents, his expression faltering. "Oh dear....it appears there has been a mix-up. The documents got switched somehow. But the signatures are there and it is....official now."

Gautami felt the room spin around her. "This cannot be happening," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

"Look, there has to be a way to undo this," Abhyudaya said, trying to remain calm. "We will just....annul it or something."

The clerk shook his head apologetically. "Annulments are possible but it takes time and given the nature of this error, it might take a few weeks. Until then, you are legally married."

Gautami and Abhyudaya exchanged panicked glances. They had just met and now they were bound by law in a marriage neither of them wanted.

Later, they sat together in a nearby café, the situation sinking in.

Gautami took a deep breath. "This is insane. We cannot possibly stay married."

"I agree," Abhyudaya replied, running a hand through his hair. "But the clerk said it could take weeks to get an annulment and if this goes public, it will be a huge scandal---especially for me. I am in the middle of a major business expansion and the last thing I would need is some negative press."