Both slept a little ago after lots of tossing and turnings. Naina was sleeping on bed with little relief that she lifted off the weight in her heart. While Sameer was croached down on the couch adjusting his height in the soft single sofa, lines of tension formed on his forehead.

The slow pattering on the roof disturbed his sleep as the rain creatures started voicing after the few spell of rain drops. A chill wind blew through the window made both of them shiver. Naina pulled the blanket over her shoulder lying cozy on the bed.

It looked very cute for him. Sameer moved to the window looking at her and a warm smile formed in his lips. "How many mornings he woke up with a smile?" he chuckled at himself as the count was none.

He looked up at the sky. It colours changing from charcoal to soft grey and turning into a bright blue, changing colours at a time, like a magic, someone mastered in Art painted it with so much enthusiasm. It resembled turning of events in his own life, the faded colour turning into brighter one. "Will the pale colours in his life turn brighter too?" a question formed in his mind.

He let the window open widely, soaking himself in the cool morning air. The earthy smell after the rain calmed his mind and heart giving the needed peace. Something was different and beautiful in this morning. But what? He glanced at the mirror in his side. A girl wrapped in a pink blanket catched his sight. Is this any sort of connection? No... he made up his mind returning his gaze to the sky.

The repeated knocks on the door made him came out of his world. he moved nonchalantly glancing at the sleeping form on his bed and his eyes darkened taking into her view. Her night shirt slightly disheveled exposing her waist, her fair skin gleaming golden against the sun rays. He gulped moving next to her. His eyes lingered over her flawless skin for few seconds,and sweat formed on his back of neck. he doubted if someone turned on the heater in his room. His hands shivered, before he could stop it reached out to her pulling her shirt down. He sighed getting a grip on his unsteady breath.

Thumping on the door became louder,he strode towards it irritatedly "who on the earth are disturbing this early?".

" Sameer...open the door yaar" munna shouted from outside.

"arey...wait munna he was tired after night hmm...hmm..hain nah" pandit said and Sameer could hear the soft giggles behind the door.

The door opened ajar and three of them stood crossing their arms like posing for the movie poster. Sameer sighed. "what?".

" nothing.. just came to saw you still you're sleeping or else..." munna shrugged suprresing his laughter.

"munna i'll kill you..." Sameer stepped ahead.

" ok..okay enough of teasing, Sameer get ready soon and wake up naina too.." varsha ordered.

Sameer nodded closing the door behind. The sheer crisp white curtain flowed letting the air inside the room and her blanket ruffled a little. He turned other side as quick controlling his eractic heartbeat and closed his eyes, he can't face another adventure in this morning. Taking out his clothes he quickly ran to the bathroom without giving a glance behind.

Naina squinted her eyes adjusting for the sunlight filtering through the curtain, registering the new place . She was in his room as his wife. " no naina as his one year wife" her mind pondered. The same fear and anxiety tightened her heart. She sat straight holding the contract file in her hand. This changed her life for a whole. What she thought and what happened, all went like a hallucination. Seems like love was not in her life and marriage was not in her fate. Before she starts to sob again, bathroom door infront of her opened and he came out wearing a blue jeans and white shirt multi colour patches on its front. The smell of his aftershower and his own musky smell lingered over the room intoxicating her. he glanced at her once and ignored standing infront of the mirror.

He took his own time brushing his hair, adjusting his dress and spraying a heady cologne. She looked at him amazed as the fabric on his broad shoulder and biceps stretching with his every moves. he glanced at her from the mirror.

"what are you looking like that, I know every girls fall for my charm" he smirked.

"but....not me.." she lied confidently.

" You're saying iam not handsome.." he gave a sharp look.

" no Sameer.... I said iam not the type of girl falling for your charm"

"oh.... come on naina, I saw you staring at me". The cat caught with its tongue.

"Sa.....Sameer.." she fidgeted with the file.

"So..you lied yesterday night.. he crossed his arms.

"ah??? "

" about the file and your sign.."

"What no....no sameer, it's true. I didn't signed it". she fumbled her heart inclining to a side.

"How can I trust you Naina? " he asked with a serious expression.

His eyes were doubtful, sad,worry conveying mixture of emotions. He don't know what is exact truth but knew there is no better mirror than someone's eyes. Her eyes were mirrored with pureness.

Naina looked at him blankly. Trust doesn't come within a day. She remembered reading somewhere in a book William Shakespeare quoted
" Love all...trust a few...and do wrong to none".

"Sameer...come here beta". Nanu's voice broke their glances.

____________________________________

"Good morning sweetheart..." Sameer said hugging Nanu.

" Morning handsome...where is Naina?". Sameer looked up signalling towards his room.

"Sameer you want to pick up her from her home in the evening..".

"Why...me??.." Sameer questioned irritatedly.

"ah..she is your wife..it's your responsibility dear and today is pagphera rasam so her mother will come to take her to their home" Nanu explained.

Sameer's mind enlightened with the thought "Naina leaving to her home".
"Oh...boy you can sleep on the bed now". he thought only to his wish broke into pieces by nanu's words.

"Sameer are you listening beta...you want to pick up her in the evening then only the ritual get complete.

Nanu turned to see Sameer staring at the stairs open mouthed, he followed his gaze as his lips automatically curved into a smile. Naina was descending the stairs in a pastel pink saree flowing like her second skin. The fabric hugged her perfect curves complementing it. Her hair was left open securing the two sides with plain black clips. And with a small stone bindi and light pink stain adorned her plump lips.

Sameer checked out her every moves,shaped curves, slim and smooth hands and her hip swaying in a motion. " When he started to look at girls with so much interest,here he stood observing her every details". His heart lurched forming invisible strings.

"Is she came out of any fairytale?" he was mesmerised.

A bright red colour creeped on her cheeks making it way on to her neck following further down. His gaze pierced her coldly and tingled her every cells. Something was different in the way he is looking at her, like quenching his long thirst.

Munna, pandit and Varsha laughed holding their stomach seeing his reaction.

"Seems like you flattered in her beauty ah.." Nanu teased suppressing his laughter.

Sameer looked at him shockingly, before moving away from their like nothing was happened.

Naina bend down taking nanu's blessings. "Kush Raho beta, tumari maa ne call Kiya,Woh das baje yahan aaege"

(your mom informed me, that she'll come here at 10 clock.)

"Okay Nanu" Naina said immediately hugging Varsha.

"Good morning Naina.."Varsha kissed her forehead giving a motherly warm.

"Come I'll help to prepare your first dish.."

"Thanks bhabi, but I'll manage".

" Arey it's okay Naina, if you want anything don't hesitate to ask me' Varsha dragged her along to the kitchen.

Soon all gathered in the dining table, Naina and Varsha arranged every dishes on it. Paratha, paneer masala, Aloo gobi sabji and his favourite dhokla served to everyone along with vermicelli kheer.

Naina sat beside Sameer, eating small portions glancing at him in intervals. He was concentrating on his food, serving another time,and soon polished off his plate. A contentment smile played on her lips.

"Wow Naina....I didn't ate so tasty foods in my lifetime Yaar.."Munna said and Varsha glared at him angrily.

"Bhabi.. if you cook like this I'll stay here forever.." pandit said praised her too.

Everyone complemented her expect him.

"Sameer you didn't said anything..." Nanu asked and she looked at him hopefully.

He looked at her for once and replied "ramdari too cook like this....even more better" saying he left from there.

Her eyes misted, a lone tear rolling down her cheeks. Munna and Varsha looked at her worried.

"Naina....he always get tensed when he has some important meetings" Nanu pressed her palm.

Naina nodded returning to the room. She walked hazily her mind blurred with ongoing events, her eyes glazed with tears. As Naina moved in the direction of his room, she stepped on her saree falling. Her eyes were closed expecting to knock down on the floor hitting her face badly. Surprisingly it didn't hurt her.

Two arms encircled her waist holding her tightly. She stirred in his hand as his simple touch burning her senses. His finger slightly grazed her bare waist. She startled, trying to stand and ended up hitting her elbow in near by vase.

"ahhhhh..." her lips twitched in pain

"Naina..are you okay?". he pulled her hand checking it and slowly traced the reddened skin there.

"Owww..."she whimpered.

"Wait" he ran towards his room pulling out a ointment from his drawer.

"sit here.." he ordered, pulling her hand and applying the ointment carefully. The cool texture spreaded on her skin reduced the burning sensation.

"You healed the pain on my hand, what about the pain in my heart Sameer" she mumbled soft looking at him deeply.

"Sameer.... Thum aise kyun Kaha niche..?" Naina asked roughly.
(why did you said like that in downstairs)

"my tongue, my wish.." aur ramdari ki cooking skills thumse better hai.." he shrugged his shoulder.

" Sameer...why are you hating me so much..what was my wrong in it?" her eyes misted.

" Oh...hello. Iam the One who been fooled here, you guys planned well with my contract, fooling me" he said rudely keeping the ointment back in the drawer.

"You meant I fooled you..." She went near him with raging eyes.

"Ah... You know that well"

"Sameer... I too don't know what happened, then why are accusing me. If you have so much problem why didn't you denied marrying me? she questioned.

He stood numb, he too didn't know why he came up with this contract idea without straightly denying her. He knew after that her mother will come with another alliance and it will continue. This contract seemed better that time. But now it looks like the biggest mistake he did. He sighed.

" Yeah.. I didn't denied but don't think I have any interest in you.." he went out not looking at her behind.

Naina was preplexed. Sometime he was sweet has honey caring her, and sometimes he was hurting her as bitter as dark chocolate, which natural in its taste, full of Cocoa. He is too like that with his dark shadow along with some strange sweetness in his self. Naina doesn't know he was bitter or Sweet, but she was sure he is both bitter and sweet.

Iam sorry, I am late this time too. But I always get stuck with ideas and I want to make it perfect before penning down and publishing it. I hope you guys support me in this.. and I will work to get out from this.

Thank you...
Lots of love❤️
Lavani