The pressure of exams was unnerving but stress of getting married so soon was unbearable. How can you get married to a man you don't like? How can your parents request you to marry a guy whose traits they used to dislike?

Preeta roamed on the terrace to free her mind. Thinking about how her life had took a dangerous turn. She was betrayed by her own family. She walked from the one part of terrace to another, feeling the cool air blowing her hair that made her feel relaxed. She had been continuously studying from past twenty days and tomorrow will be her first exam. The sun was setting and dark was covering the sky accompanying the full moon shining in the sky. The weather was calm and relaxing but Preeta's mind was taking time to get soothed by it.

Many thoughts had filled her mind in these twenty days after the day of her engagement. Her priority had always been her family's wants. But she had never thought there would come a time when her own family would betray her. After returning the next day of the engagement, Preeta had returned to Delhi with Naveen, Shikha and Vivaan.

Her brother had told her that it was nothing but to meet the boy. But her brother was ashamed when he saw hurt in Preeta's eyes while returning to Delhi. She was quite all the time in the car. Her brother and his wife had hidden the truth that she was not only meeting the boy but also was getting engaged. They hid the main truth that the person they had chosen for her was none other than The Karan Luthra.

Was marrying him seemed a normal deal to them?

Didn't they were aware of the fact that Karan was not a good guy? Didn't they knew that he was after her from past years? Didn't they knew that she hated him?

She sighed and walked to stand near the railing. She looked forward towards the house opposite hers. Her gaze was there but she was actually looking at her future. Many thoughts filled her mind.

She would be married to him soon. He will be her dominating, cruel husband. He would surely touch her, after all that's what he wanted to do from the beginning. She would protest and he would again blackmail her. She would give in eventually.

That's what the conclusion came. She was defeated by him. He won in this game of getting her. He finally wrote her destiny by himself. The thought itself made her scared. Could she live a life with him?

Her father made her do this. He pleaded her. Never in her life, she could go against her father especially when she could see tears in his eyes. After all the over thinking, Preeta was doing, she understood she was helpless. She had to do this and these remaining ten days would be the time, when she would have to actually accept her fate.

She was receiving his message every night. Twenty love messages, she had in her inbox. He was sending them to tease her, mock her that he had won. Preeta often felt like throwing her phone. His first message was a normal one yet it was enough to frustrate her.

Being patient. That's what I am doing. Waiting for you to be my wife, mine. Mom told me, I can't see you before the wedding. My eyes are craving to see you. But I will wait. You are just one month away from me, love.

Till then, study hard, prepare well.
I love you.

~Your future hubby.

Some were even very cheesy and she hated all of them. She never replied. She was relieved somewhat realising, he had never called or messaged more than one a day.

Preeta was sure that she would never be able to love him. It would be impossible to accept him as her husband. Saying that this marriage would work was a joke. But hoping that Preeta would come up to be accepting her fate was a question now. Could she actually accept this?

Preeta wished that she had this convincing power in her so she could convince Karan for this marriage disaster. She wanted to beg him, plead him that this all was wrong. But the man who had been able to make her parents helpless in forcing her to get married to him, would actually listen to her pleas?

She shook her head. Nothing could happen now. Fifteen days more and she would be his wife. She was about to walk downstairs away from the terrace as she was finally deciding to accept her fate, but something in her Pajama's pocket vibrated. She held out her phone and unlocked it, only to see the new message.

Hey love, hope you must have prepared very well for tomorrow's exam. I know you will do your best. Be prepared and confident. All the very best. I love you.

~Your loving fiance.

Preeta scoffed and put the phone back in her pocket before her heart tells her to throw it away. How did he know, the first exam was tomorrow? She hated him having ways.

She walked down the stairs angrily leaving cold air now stilled on the terrace, but not before thinking_

Fiance, my ass

__________

The sounds of students leaving their examination halls and bickering to each other about the exam they attempted, echoed in the whole university. The corridors were filled with students which made Preeta walking faster towards the parking.

Before, any of her friend see her, she wanted to leave. She didn't have the time to explain all the disaster she had came across. She had almost reached the parking and was ten steps away from her scooty. But before, she could take another step, she heard loud footsteps behind her as if someone was running after her.

Preeta silently wished that the person shouldn't be one of her friends. But her prayer was ignored as she heard the familiar voice calling her name.

"Preeta... "

She shut her eyes, pushing the frustration she was feeling. She just wanted to leave and this boy had to follow her right now. She helplessly turned and smiled at the person.

"Prithvi..."

She just wanted to leave her home and rest as she hadn't really slept last night because of the tension but it seemed that Prithvi had ruined her plan.

"Hey, I am seeing you after a whole month. So, how was the exam?"

Preeta smiled and observed Prithvi's face. He was looking cool in Dark blue sweater and blue denim. Before, she proves that she was gawking at him, she cleared her throat.

"The exam went okay. What about you?"

Prithvi smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of her neck.

"I don't know. Passing the subject is all I want."

Preeta rolled her eyes.

"I know you very well."

Prithvi laughed and held Preeta's wrist making her confused.

"C'mon lets have a coffee."

Preeta immediately shook her head and moved her wrist in his hand.

"No, Prithvi. I am really tired. I didn't sleep last night. I should go home."

Prithvi stopped pulled her hand and looked at her with narrowed eyes. He observed Preeta's tired eyes and bags under them. He felt she was right but he really wanted to spend time with her. After all, they had met after a whole month.

"Coffee will refresh you. C'mon Preeta. I saw you after a whole month. Please."

Preeta laughed at Prithvi's pouted face and gently slapped his cheek. It was a mere slap but for Prithvi, it was a sign that she meant him as an important friend. She reluctantly smiled and started walking with him and making him smile. She was actually feeling relieved that Prithvi hadn't held her left hand where he could easily note her engagement ring.

They slowly walked towards the coffee shop near the outside the campus and entered the shop.

Taking the seat in front of Prithvi, Preeta awkwardly looked at the table in order to avoid the playful stare, Prithvi was giving.

"You seem different."

Preeta looked up at him and raised her eyebrows. Giving the coffee orders to the waiter, Prithvi looked back at her.

"Yeah, you seem more stressed and dull. You are a topper. I don't know why you are stressing yourself that much."

Preeta gulped and looked down. She didn't want him to observe her so truly.

"Yeah, but you know these are final exams."She started replying and muttered the last line, "Moreover, I am more stressed for other problems too."

Prithvi knitted his eyebrows. He had surely heard her words.

"Other problems? Is everything okay at home, Preeta?"

Preeta reluctantly smiled and nodded.

"Are you sure? Because if there is, you can always share with me."

Preeta smiled and sipped her coffee.

"Of course. Thanks, Prithvi."

They were quite for a moment until Prithvi spoke again after taking a big gulp of his coffee.

"You know I was thinking, if you would help me a little for next exam. I have some doubts, I guess you can clear them. We can study at my home."

Preeta was quite which was uncomfortable for Prithvi. He had planned this to spend more time with her. He was afraid if after the exams, Preeta may shift back to Chandigarh and there won't be any chance, he would see her more. The thought itself scared him.

Preeta had been in his mind from the day he noticed her in the campus for the first time. He had always wanted her to be more than a friend, even after she had tried to explain him, that she wasn't ready for relationships. He wanted her to give him a chance before they get apart because of the completion of their graduation.

Preeta was afraid of getting close to Prithvi again. Last time, when they both had been great friends and had spend more time together, Prithvi had proposed her. She didn't want that to repeat. She knew Prithvi still had feelings for her and saying yes to his offer of studying together would encourage his feelings. It shouldn't really happen when she was engaged and specially to a dominating monster like Karan.

"But Prithvi..."

Prithvi face fell but he controlled his desperation by shaking his head.

"Look, I will not take much time. Just two-three hours tomorrow. We have three holidays before that exam. I'll not keep you that long."

Preeta looked here and there, thinking of an excuse and she failed to think one.

"Prithvi... I can't. I have to be at home. I..."

Seeing Preeta thinking and telling excuses, Prithvi interrupted.

"Okay, Fine. I know you are not a selfish girl. But if you really don't want to help me. You can deny. Okay? I won't eat you."

Preeta flinched as Prithvi leaned back on his chair and drank his coffee with poker face on. She sighed and clenched her left hand into a fist.

I should not spend time with him. I am engaged. What if Karan get to know this?

But its about my friendship with Prithvi. I should really help him.

Preeta opened her fists and looked at Prithvi who was going through his phone.

"Okay. I will come."

Prithvi, who was pretending to be busy in looking at phone, immediately looked at Preeta. A big smile curved onto his face as he looked at her with bright eyes.

"Thanks."

He smiled which Preeta returned hesitantly.

"But I will come for two hours maximum, Prithvi. Bhai would get angry realising, I am going out in exam times."

Prithvi smiled and nodded.

"No problem. I don't have much doubts. Just some important questions."

Preeta nodded and checked the time.

"Umm... Kara... Pri-Prithvi..."

Preeta widen her eyes when she realised that she was about to take his name in front of Prithvi. Taking his name by mistake was forgivable, when his dominant self flashes in her mind all day and night. Even though, he didn't know him but Prithvi could get suspicious.

"Yeah, Prithvi I should leave, now."

Prithvi smiled tightly and got up with her. He placed the money for the coffee at the table and moved out of the shop. Preeta was feeling so bad for agreeing to him. She was afraid if Karan get to know. She knew, no way Karan would keep it going smoothly if he get to know this. But Right now, she just wanted to go home.

They both reached the place where her scooty was parked. After this long silence, Prithvi spoke.

"So, tomorrow, my home at eleven in the morning. Should I take you from your home?"

Preeta thought about this. If she wouldn't go by her scooty, Prithvi would force her to drop her by his car only while returning. So she shook her head.

"No, its fine. I'll come on my baby."

She patted the seat on her scooty making Prithvi smiling at her amused.

"Okay. As you say, princess. So, bye for now."

Prithvi excitedly hugged Preeta making her widen her eyes. She was so shocked that she didn't hug him back making him realised, what he was doing. He bit her tongue and cursed in his mind. He immediately pulled away from her. To lessen the awkwardness, he hurriedly said bye and jogged towards his car.

Preeta blinked and breathed out. She turned to her scooty and starting putting her helmet. She wasn't feeling that awkward as she chuckled lightly. She had forgotten about the engagement because in her mind, Prithvi's flushed face was flashing.

Idiot.

She shook her head and sat on the scooty starting it to finally leave for the home.

____________