Boyfriend For Hire!

Chapter -1 : Introduction

Jhanvi's POV

"I don't wanna get married Mummmaaa!!!!" I yelled on the phone not caring about anything. Mum sighed sadly as she started explaining about the so called beauty of marriage, life partner which I'm definitely not ready to hear at all.

"Jaanu please listen! This guy is a stock broker from Brooklyn. He's well settled and a great guy." Mom placed her thoughts. She can't convince me at all and all her efforts are in vain. It's pretty sad that she doesn't understand it.

"Don't you think we have the right to see grandchildren? We are getting older, aren't we?" She tryna hit with the biological clock theory. Too bad that no theory can convince me to change my decision. A baby is cute, not gonna lie.... But marriage for it? Ewww noooo!!!

"If you want kids, I can arrange it without getting married." I know it was a bit cheeky and scandalous reply.

"JHANVI WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SAYING?!!?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!????" Mom screamed from the other line. The sadistic heart of mine felt a cheap thrill hearing her yelling in distress.

No. Am not a psychopath.

"Okay.... Send me this stock broker's contact."

"You are ready to talk to him?" Her voice was glimmering with hope.

"Yea. I am planning to ask him out and tie rakhi to him and hence making him my brother." I revealed my nefarious plan. Mom sighed loudly in disappointment. Nothing, I repeat nothing can convince me for a marriage.

Men Just can't keep it in their pants anymore. Not always a man, but it is a man in the end.

Once bitten twice shy!

I turned around and saw my roommate Ridhima staring with an amused smile.

"Is something on my face?" I barked.

"No?" She replied a bit confused.

"I didn't realise you hit your head on the marble floor OMG?!!" I said in mock-whisper.

"I didn't!" She cried out.

"Then why the hell are you giving me that crooked smile? Did you get facial palsy or something?" I asked while unbuckling my heels.

"God!! You can't just ask anything straight can you?! I was intrigued from you and yours mom's phone call!" Ridhima laughed aloud.

"I think I should quit my job and join Cirque de Soleil as a clown, since you find my life so funny!!" I flopped on the couch, beside her.

"Dayum girl! Your firing shots like anything. Are you sure you're okay? You are Icy!!"

"Blame the global warming." I retorted and removed my jewellery, arranging them in the organiser.

"Bad day at work?"

"Horrible! This spoilt brat kinda ruined the day for the entire set. He was just complaining and criticising everything. Scenes, co-stars... Everything! I showed him 25 costumes and he rejected them all. The producer and director is so pissed at him. Hope they remove him from the show." I cussed. I'm a costume designer for Movies and TV shows. A hard path indeed, but I would like consider myself successful and flourishing.

"How the hell did he even get the role??" Ridhi asked, puzzled.

"Links with influential families will take you miles!" I untied my pony with a sigh, massaging my scalp gently.

"I'm gonna order in tonight. Any preferences?"

"A double cheese Margherita with brownie. From OvenHouse." I replied, taking my towels for a long warm shower. Once shut, I stripped and stood under the scorching hot shower. Hot showers are never good for the skin, but.... I don't care. I could feel the tension ooze Outta my veins as I leaned on the marble wall resting my eyes.

I don't know how long it was, but I was sure I had a cat nap on the shower. But I was woken when I heard my roommate banging on the door.

"I'm still alive!!" I yelled out, trying to wash the foam from my eyes.

"Food is here. Are you planning to stay in there forever?" I heard her question from the other side of the door.

"Yes. I'm planning to stay here till I die and my rotting body oozes out from the shower drain." I replied.

"Fineee..... Come out soon. Or I'm eating your brownies."

"Keep your hands away from the brownies!!!!!!!!" I tied my hair in a thick towel and immediately changed to pyjamas before jumping out from the shower. I walked to the dining room and grabbed a large slice of pizza, sprinkling hell lotta Oregano and chilli flakes.

"So.... How was your day? Baked any? Burnt any?" I questioned casually.

"Ah yes! I actually had a very busy day. Baked a few cakes. Delivered them. Washed the curtains and rugs." Ridhima was a home baker. A great one and has a very busy business. She also has a few hundred thousand followers following her insta page where she receives the cake orders.

"Any left for me?" I asked hopefully. Her cakes are die for!!

"Unfortunately.... Nope!" She pouted dramatically making me roll my eyes. We sat on the chairs opposite to each other trying to much the cheesy and greasy pizza.

"What was your mum talking about?" Ridhi was curious.

"Not anything serious." My reply came out clipped.

"Oh come on! She is asking you to get married isn't she?"

"Ding ding ding! We have a winner." Ridhi laughed aloud.

"So....?"

"So?" I questioned back.

"Deets gurl! I need the deets!" She asked impatiently.

"Mom wants me to get married. Get pregnant. Have grandchildren. And apparently she can't get my sister married before my marriage, coz log kya kahenge.... And I don't care?!" I summarised the one hour conversation.

"Okay...... So what do you think of dating?"

"NO!"

"Just listen na...."

"NO!"

"I'm asking you to imagine.... " I interrupted her again.

"NO!!" I yelled.

"Okay fine! Stay single."

"Until my last moment baby girl. With pleasure!" The thought of actually staying single seems strangely comfortable rather than dating or any romantic persuasions.

It's not like I've Mr. Darcy knocking on my doors and asking me to put my hair down!?

"But Still...... Why are you still hung up over something which happened 5 years ago?"

"NO!" I was definitely not ready for this conversation. It's painful. It is ugly and it's horrible. I'm not ready for this and I don't think I'll be ever ready to have this conversation.

"I don't wanna force you for anything.... But I do want you to feel happy." She said softly, ruffling my hair. Ridhima is five years older than me. She was there for me when I came here with teary eyes and one suitcase. She made sure I would never ever feel alone in this whole big bad world. She is more than a roommate and the bond we share is unexplainable. She is my home. A Safe place.

"I know. I'm happy and being happy is in my hands. I don't want a man to feel happy. Too much efforts and not worth the pain." I whispered softly, my voice tinged with heaviness. It was supposed to be fun dinner table conversation.

"This is enough for me. All I want is for you to happy." She patted my head almost maternally which made me smile.

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Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thank you for choosing my story.

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Will meet soon