Terrorized By Love [ON HOLD]

Chapter 33: A Contract Bound By Time

Mahima had fallen to her knees with shock. Who was this random man, who told her that her Dev Gupta was not on their team? How could she trust this man's words? For all she knew, he could be a terrorist.

"Liar," Mahima hissed and stood up. "Dev Gupta. I was with him for two weeks."

"Mahima, is that what those people told you?" the man asked her.

"You liar!" Mahima screamed. "Who are you and what are you telling me?"

"Listen, stay calm," the man said. "I work for your father and I can prove it to you."

"No, I don't want any proof. I'm leaving from here," she snapped at him. "I don't want to hear any word against Dev... you must be a terrorist!"

"You're out of your mind," the man replied. "My name is Ajay. I am not your enemy. I am here to protect you."

She looked at him with shock in her eyes. Her world had been perfect. It had been the best. Dev had been the best. How could her perfect world be shattered by this man named Ajay? How could her image of Dev be ruined by this man?

"Let me go," Mahima said. "I don't want to hear you."

"I will turn you into the President," Ajay threatened.

"I don't want to listen to you. I don't know you," Mahima replied.

"You want to see what happens to you when the whole world finds out that you're alive?" Ajay asked her.

"Don't tell anyone," Mahima begged.

She remembered that Dev told her their lives would be in danger if the truth behind her death was exposed. If the world knew that she was alive then it wasn't just her life that would be in danger, but Dev's too. She couldn't hurt him.

"Why shouldn't I turn you in?" Ajay asked her.

"My life will be in danger," Mahima whispered. "So will Dev's."

"I don't know who this Dev is but he doesn't sound like good news. How long will you hide for Mahima?" Ajay asked.

"I don't know... but nobody can know... please," Mahima begged.

"If you go out into the open, you are bound to get caught," Ajay told her. "If you wish to stay in this village, I can speak to the people and have them keep you here... but I will have to tell the President you are alive."

"You can tell him if you can get him to keep it a secret," Mahima whispered. "I just can't have anyone else know."

"The villagers won't let you stay here for long... unless..." Ajay replied.

"Unless?" Mahima asked, her eyes wide with fear.

"Unless you marry one of us," Ajay informed her.

Mahima gasped loudly.

"No!" she said right away. "I'm already married!"

"You are?" Ajay asked, sounding confused. "The President didn't tell us you were married."

"H - he doesn't know," she stammered.

"Then how is it valid?" Ajay asked.

"Don't ask me so many questions. I'm already married," Mahima snapped.

"Tough luck. I guess you can't stay here. I'll have your father come and pick you up," Ajay replied coolly.

Then he turned to leave the hut, but Mahima breathed sharply. She was scared that Dev's words would come true and they would both find their lives in danger.

"Okay... fine. I'll - I'll marry you," Mahima agreed. "But a contract marriage!"

Ajay stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her with an amused expression on his face.

"What kind of contract?" he asked her.

"A few things. No physical contact and once my Dev comes for me, the marriage is broken. And nobody can ever know my real name or identity," Mahima said right away.

Ajay nodded slowly.

"Okay done," he told her, and he held his hand out for her to shake.

Mahima watched him suspiciously, but took his hand anyways.

This was only until her Dev came for her, and desperate times called for desperate measures. This was hardly a marriage. In the end, everything would be okay... right?