This apartment is filled with dark memories. I was actually going to sell it, but now I felt that why not add some more bad memories and sell it next year after this contracted marriage period ends. I hadn't opened the apartment door since that day.... So I asked my staff to check its condition and my interior designer to refurnish the entire house. I obviously didn't let my designer open the store room. As soon as I showed the way to her room, Nandini disappeared, most probably enjoying the view of the city from her room. I went into my room and decided to have a bath when my lawyer Raj called and said "Manik, I have a few legal matters regarding your marriage that I would like to discuss with you and Nandini." I replied "Sure come over, we both are at home." "I will be there in 10 minutes." He said before hanging up. I so needed the relaxing bath, handing that hellcat does drain my energy out completely. Even though she seems like the kinds who will be the perfect wife, based on our brief encounters I feel bad for whoever she marries eventually. I changed into my grey sweatpants and white a vest before I walked out of my
room. Raj intimated me of his arrival so I opened the door. "Manik, I am glad you got her to come to Mumbai" he said with a smile. Many of you might be wondering why my employee calls me by name as you know that I like being called "sir" respectfully. Raj is a good man and stood by me when... lets not get into that....  I'd rather not remember it. Its just that Raj has always had my back, and he is my only friend-like person apart from Alia. "Yes me too, I want to be done with this as soon as I can, so that I can marry Alia." I replied. We both turned when we noticed Nandini walk towards us. "You are the lawyer right?" She asked Raj to which Raj said "Yes and I have a few things I would like to discuss with you." We walked to the guests' living room which was to the left of the apartment. The TV, Xbox and other stuff in the other living room that is situated on the right. Raj placed his file and some papers/ documents on the centre table. He sorted the papers and handed each of us one set. I took the papers and read it.

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MUTUAL DIVORCE PETITION

Divorce petition drafted by Raj Sharma, B.B.A LLB

BEFORE THE DISTRICT JUDGE,

Petition no. 1234567 of the matter of Mr. Manik Malhotra (petitioner no. 1) and Mrs. Nandini Malhotra (petitioner no. 2)

PETITION UNDER SECTION 13 for the DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE BY MUTUAL CONSENT.

Most respectfully submitted as under :-

1. That the marriage between parties was solemnized on April 15, 2016 at Shadow Church, Las Vegas, under the FOREIGN MARRIAGE ACT OF 1969.

2. That the parties have co-habituated for one year and could not adjust due to temperamental differences.

3. That all efforts of reconciliation between the parties to continue their present marriage have failed and there are no further chances of reconciliation.

4. The parties have now decided to legally dissolve the marriage and neither parties have claimed any spousal alimony.

...

Manik Malhotra Nandini Malhotra

(Petitioner no.1)       (Petitioner no.2)

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Finally! Seeing those papers tangibly in hands is probably the best thing that has happened since I came back from Las Vegas. Raj Said "You both can either sign it now, or before the end of the year as its not that urgent. Nandini, you are legally entitled to alimony, so if you want me to include that clause let me know."  I have no idea how much this money minded (beep) wants from me. Thats why I asked Alia to sign a pre-nup that entitles her to only a specific amount of alimony. " I don't need a single rupee from him." She said looking at me straight in the eye clearing my doubts about her character.

"Ok, more pressing than the divorce papers is the surname change of Nandini from Murthy to Malhotra." Raj declared. Like I care if she changes her name. I will sign the papers and be done with it immediately. Since the rest of the conversation about her name change had nothing to do with me, I took the divorce papers and left the living room. I took papers to my study room (that was adjacent to the guest living room) and signed both copies. I could hear Raj and Nandini talk about the name issue. As I expected she said "I am not changing my name." "The problem is that your name has been changed already." He said. "How could you change my name without my consent?" She asked Raj. "Actually it was a part of the papers you signed the night you got married to Manik." Raj replied showing her the papers to make her understand. "Oh" She said. "What do I have to do now?"
I was no longer interested in their conversation, so I left the divorce papers on my desk in my study and decided to have the bath that I was going to have before Raj interrupted with his legal stuff. I went to the bar to get myself some expensive wine. I looked at my wine rack and poured myself a glass of 1938 San Guido 'Sassicaia' Bolgheri and walked to my bathroom. I stripped naked and plunged into my jacuzzi which I pre-filled with warm water. One of the most relaxing baths I have had in a while. I really needed the break, the calm and the peace so I switched on some relaxing music while I sipped one of my favourite red wines in my jacuzzi.

Content Credit:

Divorce Petition- https://formdownload.org/legal/divorce/india-mutual-divorce-petition-form/

Foreign Marriage Act, 1969 - http://www.india-eu migration.eu/media/legalmodule/Foreign%20Marriage%20Act%201969.pdf

Note: Every chapter varies in the number of words. So, there might be 600 word chapters and 1300 word chapters depending on what fits with the story progression.