Rudra huffed in annoyance as they waited in traffic. All the other cars had moved ahead of them. Only they got caught in a signal and now they were stuck. Others had decided to go in another car and this one was occupied by only him and Saumya. He glanced at Saumya to find her staring outside.

This girl confused him. Yesterday when they got married, she seemed so unhappy. In fact, she didn't display any emotion at all and wore an impassive mask. And he could understand why. He knew all about Saumya's first marriage. They were invited at her wedding actually. But as Rudra was on a tour and Reema's exams were going on, they couldn't attend the wedding.

Raj Singhaniya was very fond of Gauri and her daughter. To the point where he had decided to marry her to Rudra. He planned to talk to his sister after Saumya became a doctor. He was disappointed when before he could say anything, his sister had given him the news of Saumya's marriage. Rudra on the other hand, had only felt a huge burden lifting from his shoulder. Because by that time he had gotten involved with Mehek too.

But as fate would have it, only after a few years, in spite of everything, they were sitting in the same car to attend their own reception.

Her entrance this evening had surprised him. She looked every bit the newly wedded bride that she was. But why this sudden change in attire and attitude happened, was anyone's guess. Even this morning, when he had briefly seen her, Saumya was in white clothes, fresh face and wore absolutely no sign of nuptial. But something had surely pushed her in changing her attire.

One reason why Rudra had agreed to marry Saumya so easily, was that she also had loved someone at a point. So, who could better understand him than someone who had also experienced the pain of a heartbreak? That's why he thought Saumya would understand and not demand anything from him. At least not for now when he himself didn't know what he wanted to do or should do.

As his mind conjured those thoughts, he also realized that he had yet to talk to her. Since yesterday, they had not exchanged even a single word. But what should he say? That though he married her, he loved someone else and couldn't accept her. That he had no idea what their future was going to be. Or that he had married her only for the sake of appearances and would not be able to become a lovey dovey husband.

Surely there was a lot to be discussed. But he couldn't think of a single thing to say to her. As he kept pondering these, they reached the venue. Everyone was already inside and waited for them.

Rudra got out of the car and went towards the entrance after telling the valet to park it. But he realized Saumya wasn't with him. He looked behind to find Saumya was still seated on the car while the valet waited outside the car. He came back and frowned at Saumya.

"Is there a problem?" He asked. Saumya finally looked at him.

"Is there?" She asked shortly instead of replying. "The door is not opening."

Rudra glanced at the valet who lowered his head feeling awkward as Saumya had stopped him from opening the door.

"Why wouldn't it open? Let me see." He said. He held the handle of the door and easily opened it. Saumya came out then.

"It's opened. Nothing's wrong with it." He said looking at the valet.

"Impressive! This must be a new technology. The door senses when and by whom should it be opened." Saumya told him with a smile.

Rudra frowned not understanding what she meant exactly. As she started for the entrance, he followed behind.

***†***

"Saumya, I want to talk." Rudra said sternly as soon as the door of their room was closed.

"Can it not wait? I'm really tired." Saumya said dismissively.

Rudra's mouth tightened as she kept ignoring him and instead was in the process of removing her jewelry. Her behavior tonight had irritated him severely. At the party, she charmed everyone with her happy and poised personality. She had remained by his side the whole time and didn't allow him to leave her either. Looking at them, no one could say that they had been married in unusual circumstances. In fact, the rumor of their love had started already. People had been in awe of the young couple who seemed to be so perfect and in love.

"What do you think you're doing?" Rudra asked angrily holding her hand and turning her to him.
"I married you because I didn't have any other option. That doesn't mean I have accepted you as my wife! So, stop forcing me to your will. What made you think that you can claim me as yours?! Because I am not, nor I ever will be. I love someone else and I will love her till my last breath no matter what."

Rudra brushed off her aside as he said lastly.
"Don't you ever dare to come near me again!"

"Words. Big words!" Saumya said smoothing out her frowned expression. "Who do you think you are Rudra? Just because some people gave you attention hearing your squeaky voice, you think you're the king whose queen everyone desires to become?"

Rudra's anger increased only at her question. Saumya took a step closer to him and met his eyes straight.

"It's only good that you don't accept me as your wife. Because no matter what anyone says, I am Mrs. Mrityunjay Roy and I will always remain so. This fiasco of a marriage doesn't change anything. But since I was forced to be responsible for saving your reputation, I will do the favor."

Saying so, Saumya turned her back to him and resumed her work.

"I don't care whom you love or die for. But you will not embarrass me in front of those people for whose sake you married me." She took her clothes from the almirah as she told him that. She entered the bathroom before he could reply and through the closed door of the bathroom she heard the loud sound of something breaking.

But Saumya remained unfazed as the sound of things crashing and shattering reached her ears. She placed her clothes on the rack and went to the wash besin. She took water in her hands and threw it on her face. She forcefully ran her hands down her face which caused her makeup to get smeared. Saumya then leaned on the besin and upped her eyes. A shrewd smile came to her lips as her eyes saw the reflection of her ruined face on the mirror.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hello? Mr. Defense dude?"

Saumya called loudly as she saw Mrityunjay at the restaurant.

Mrityunjay paused in the middle of taking a sip of his coffee as his eyes found her coming towards his table.

"Thank God I met you. I was feeling really guilty for refusing your proposal. It's not like I don't like you. You're very much likeable. I mean you're good looking, handsome, an eye candy to be honest. On top of that you have a good job, secure future and all that. And most importantly you're a brave soldier! But I am just not ready for settling down at this time. I want to finish my studies and start practicing first, you know. So, please don't take the refusal at heart."

As Saumya waited for a dumbfounded Mrityunjay to say something, she heard a throat clearing from behind. And it drew her attention to the man sitting on the opposite side of Mrityunjay for the first time.

"I think I should take my leave now. See you tomorrow Mrityunjay." The man said with a straight face, but amusement could be clearly detected in his eyes.

"Jai Hind sir." Mrityunjay stood up following him and both of them shook hands.

"Jai Hind."

As the man left, Mrityunjay fixed his eyes on Saumya who was looking anywhere but at him.

She really wanted to say sorry and didn't notice the man in haste. The other day, Mrityunjay's parents, Sadhna and Abhinav Roy had came into her house. At first, Saumya thought they were there to complain about her. After all she did prank them by saying that she was Mrityunjay's girlfriend and the first two wives of his had been hidden by him along with his kids, so his mother would not make them wash dishes in the kitchen.

But she was shocked when instead they had asked for Saumya's hand for Mrityunjay. Sudhir and Gauri were pleasantly surprised, but refused as per Saumya's wish.

Though Mrityunjay's parents accepted their decision politely, his mother had been very disappointed. Her son always steered clear from girls. Their numerous attempts to get him married had failed miserably. And after Saumya's visit, when she jokingly said if she knew the address of Saumya's house, she would bring her as the daughter-in-law, Mrityunjay had remained silent. But the next day he shocked them all by quietly forwarding a paper to Sadhna that had Saumya's address written in it.

"I'm sorry. For this and that too." Saumya said meekly as Mrityunjay continued to stare at her impassively.

"It's okay. As a soldier, I was only trying to save some poor guy from you. But I respect your decision." He said sympathetically before passing her to leave the restaurant.

Saumya felt relieved at first that he wasn't offended. But as his words sank into her, she narrowed her eyes at his back with mouth agape.