Shot Description 

Ram Kapoor life's  revolves around his mother, he fondly calls her as his jaan because  she is everything to him. But what would he do when his jaan asks something from him that makes his life complicated.

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"Kirti, Please listen to me. Mom needs to get the surgery  soon and she is refusing to agree until I get married. " Ram told his girlfriend  of four years and yet she remained unmoved. 

Ram Kapoor woke  up earlier that day just as any other day without  a problem in his life except his mom's usual complaints about his unmarried state, but his life turned upside down when he had to rush his mom to the hospital. 

From that point onwards everything that happened seems like a nightmare. His mom was adamant  on not getting surgery until  he gets married. She seems to believe  he already has a girlfriend and so she didn't  find it wrong to demand it from him. 

It was true Ram got a girlfriend, he intends to marry her in the future but he couldn't  do now. Because Kirti wants to keep their relationship  a secret for her acting  career, she just signed a contract saying she won't  get married for another two years. 

"Ram, I signed a contract. We can't  get married  now. Frankly your mom is acting childish, who would emotionally  blackmail their son like this and just tell her the truth.  I know I did ask you not to tell anyone about our relationship  but because  it concerns her health. Tell her the truth and explain to her why we can't  get married now" Kriti answered back.  

While any other day Ram would be thrilled that Kriti gave him permission to tell his mom about them. Today wasn't  it. Ram knew his mom would think  he was making this up and would refuse to believe  him. 

"Kirti, She wouldn't  believe  me now. She would think I am lying. I know she is acting childish and I know it isn't  fair to you. But she is my mom and right now I can't  risk her life" Ram pleaded with his girlfriend hoping she would understand  him. 

Frankly Ram never pleaded with anyone before but at this moment he understood that he was asking a lot from Kirti, he was asking her to give up a huge acting project for him and his mom, he was forcing her to get married when she isn't  ready. 

Ram wanted to be a supportive boyfriend  hence he was willing to wait for two more years as Kirti wanted, he even kept their relationship a secret from his mom for Kirti. 

So Ram  knows that it was wrong of him to ask Kirti to get married to him in such a rush. While  he is willing to do it for his mom, Kirti has no such reason except him. It was why he was willing  to beg her even. 

Right now Ram and Kirti where standing in one of the night club Kriti loves to visit. It wasn't  ideal place to have such serious life discussions. But after his mom's demand, Ram went in search of Kirti and got to know she was in the club. 

Ram tried asking her to leave with him, so they can talk but she was hesitant  to leave and thus he was proposing marriage in the corner of a night club. When he had imagined proposing to her for real, it wasn't  like this and while he resented that his mom was forcing his hand like this he knew he got no other choice than forcing Kirti in return. 

"No Ram. You don't  get it. I am not going to get married to you now. Tell your mom the truth or say no to her demands.  She will get the surgery once she realises you aren't  going to give in to her blackmail. "Kirti answered back. 

Ram wanted to push some more and beg Kirti to reconsider but that would make him a monster. He already felt horrible when he realised asking Kirti to marry him was his only  options, but pushing her to agree after her denial felt much worse. 

"Okay Kirti. I am sorry for asking" Ram answered back  and turned to leave not knowing what he could possibly do now. 

"Ram, I love you. But I can't  marry you now. Infact I don't  think I want to ever get married. Marriage isn't  my priority Ram. I thought that with time I would grow to love the idea of marriage but right now saying no to you made me realise my answer might be always no. 

I know I shouldn't  burden you with this now. But you should know the truth before you make any decision.  I know your  mom is everything to you and marriage is everything  to her. So maybe we aren't  just meant to be Ram. " Kirti spoke up as he turned to leave. 

"Where does that leave us then? " Ram asked Kirti confused all of a sudden. 

"Right now. I think it is best if we go our seperate ways. If in the near future we both wanted the same thing, maybe we can find  our way back to each other " Kirti answered back  leaned into kiss his cheek and walked away not realising the havoc she created with her words. 

Ram never felt so alone until that moment. His mom,  his biggest support was asking something from him that he can no longer give her because the women he loves and believed  would share her life with him, just walked away with a parting kiss. 

"What am I gonna do now ?" Ram spoke out loud in frustration. He knew he was screaming at the vaccum but he thought he might break otherwise. Until a voice answered back right beside him. 

"You can marry me" the voice  said as Ram turned to see the stranger beside him and realised she was familiar until he could identify her. 

"Gold digger, I mean Dr Priya" Ram spoke up and regretted his harsh words immediately.  

Ram has so callously  called Priya a Gold digger few days ago because her family crashed Alekha's engagement.  In his mind it was easy to cast blame on Priya  instead because he trusted  in Yuvi's word. 

But right now fresh from the wounds of a break up. Ram realised not  everything had to be cut and dry.  Yuvi might have broken up with  Priya long time back but if her mom was right  then it was a six year relationship  and Priya  might need time to move  on as well. 

Instead of understanding  that Ram had callously called her gold  digger or agreed with Yuvi and made her into stalking ex as well. 

"It is good  to know you recognise  me. Never mind what I said earlier, it won't  work if you still thought  of me as gold digger " Priya spoke up and turned to leave that was when her initial statement registered.  

"You want to marry me? " Ram asked in shock. 

"Well not because  of you. But for your mom. I am sorry but my  sister dragged me to the club, so in her words I don't  wallow in grief. I was hiding from her and happen to overhear your conversation with your ex girlfriend. 

Never mind that, it was a crazy idea in the first place.  I just  thought that you and me both got broken  up out of our long time relationship  and your mom needs you to get married. I kind of loved her when I met her, so wanted to help. 

If you still  find this weird and crazy. Just assume I am drunk and talking nonsense. " Priya spoke up surprising him.

"But why? I mean even Kirti who claims to love me doesn't  want to marry me. But why  would you want to marry a practical  stranger. And no I am not doubting your intention or calling you a gold digger. I just want to know  why ?" Ram asked Priya taken back with both her words as well as the person  before him. 

"Because  I am mad and angry okay. I am mad at myself for waiting on Yuvi for  six years  because I was in love and I am angry at Yuvi  for turning out to be a selfish idiot  who went after his boss  because she could  help his business. I am not the gold digger in this relationship, it was him. 

And yet I have to be then one  who gets blamed as stalker ex, gold digger and someone  who should move  on because breakup happen to everyone.  

I want to move on but I don't  have it in me to invest in a relationship  or love again. Over hearing  your conversation  it felt as if I could marry you without  the need to be in love. 

We both  want  something, you need to get married for your mom and I need to get married without love. It felt  like a right choice" Priya answered back  as if she was making perfect sense. 

When in fact Priya was not making  any sense. But Ram fresh from his break up could understand her much better than the man who stood before her few days ago with random accusations. 

" But marriage is life term  commitment Priya. You can't  decide on it in a whim. While your proposal could help my mom, I can't  be selfish and ruin your life" Ram answered back. 

"My Proposal still stands. If you are worried about me being  gold digger  we can write a prenup agreement and I won't  take a single penny from you. But you  can't  take have anything from me either, neither penny  nor love. It would be purely a arranged marriage. 

Also if you want to  get back  with Kirti after marriage we can get divorced. Frankly I don't  mind a broken  marriage but I won't  accept  a affair while married to me. Yuvi was enough  of a lesson to last a life time, don't  need another one" Priya continued speaking  as if her mind wanders on million thoughts per second. 

Even then Ram had to say no to her  proposal and head back  home  prepared to have an all night argument with his mom to convince  her to let go of this marriage demand. 

The argument lasted for two days while  her health continued to worsen. Ram felt as if he was going to lose her for real because she refuses to relent and on the back of his mind the last two days was Priya and her marriage proposal. 

When his mom was rushed to the hospital again after fainting, Ram drove himself to the dentistry. Ram had fully expected  Priya  to shoo him away and claim she had come to her sense and it was an impulsive  proposal. 

Instead at the sight of him.  Priya smiled as if she was expecting  him.  

"Take a seat first,  I will get you a coffee and we can go over the contract. I know you are a rich businessman who got lawyers working under you 24*7, but not me. So I choose to make the contract just in case. " Priya told him instead. 

"You knew I would  come ?" Ram asked her surprised by her once again. 

"You see, I am a doctor and I have fairly seen many people in my life. Your mom is someone who won't  let pain stand in her way, when you brought  her for treatment I noticed she was in too much pain  but she hid it for your sake because you would  worry too much.  A mother like that won't  let a life or death situation  stop her from ensuring her son's happiness.  In this case, she believes your marriage will achieve that and so I know  she won't  give up. 

Which would  mean you would probably  end up getting married. I said just in case because I wondered if  your ex girlfriend  changed her mind instead. Your presence  here means it didn't  happen.  So when are we going to get married?" Priya asked him as if she had answers to all the question  at life. 

"Tomorrow if possible. She is back  at the hospital. I can't  lose  her. Where should I sign in the contract.  I don't  care if your terms are outrageous, I will  accept them all. " Ram spoke up as he choose to sign  the contract  laid before him. 

"Look Ram, I think I can call you that since  we are getting married soon enough. My terms aren't  outrageous it is just like any other marriage agreements.

But while  you night think  of me a crazy or weird  for agreeing to marry you, I am the one who is getting married with open eyes Ram. You are the one who is doing it for your mom.

So if you want an out under any circumstances  even if it is just after three months. Let me know, so we can end this marriage amicably.  I won't  become  a clingy ex or stalkerish wife. " Priya spoke  up rationally instead. 

"I am not getting married  to break up  few months later. I have thought well and long before I drove  up here. It would be just like an arranged marriage and I would try to be a good husband  to you" Ram assured her, he knew her claims of giving him an out were real but  also comes  from the betrayal of Yuvi. 

By now Ram had come to terms with her version  of the events and believes   Priya was the wronged one  and not Yuvi. His next plan  action  after marriage and his mom's surgery is to let Alekha know the truth. 

"Without love  though. " Priya  spoke up and Ram realised  she needed that assurance more than anything. 

"Without love but I hope there is no clause in her stating I can't  fall in love  with my wife years later " Ram asked her instead and was relieved  when a smile flickered at her face at his statements meant to lighten up the mood 

"No such clause. We might end up  in love or not down the line, as long as you understand  I am not  ready  for love at the moment.  But  I will try to be a good wife as well." Priya assured him. 

That was how Ram and Priya  end up getting married  in a simple wedding ceremony the next day. 

Ram did fall in love  with his wife first, he didn't  last  even a year and was hopelessly  in love with her. Priya  took her time though the first time she told him that she was in love with him was the very same day, she told him that he was going to be a father making him the happiest man alive  just like how his mom wanted for him. 

P.S :" The end. Let me know your thoughts and feedback.  Hit the votes  if you liked it "

Juanita Reid.