☆:*'¨'*:.☆(¯'*•.¸,¤°''°¤,¸.•*'¯)☆:*'¨'**:.☆

"How could you even say yes, Bhai?" Kashish yelled at Avyaan, who acted that nothing had happened. Vansh tried to calm down Kashish even though he himself was angry at his brother who willingly agreed to become the family puppet.

The twins were on an international vacation, enjoying a Europe trip. However, as soon as they got back home, they were welcomed by the news that their favourite brother was going to marry soon, that too just for a contract.

"Bhai, irrespective of my disapproval of Kashish's tone, I agree with her," Vansh said.

"Oye bandar! Who even asked for your approval or disapproval," Kashish screamed.

(Hey Monkey...)

A snicker left Avyaan's mouth and Vansh narrowed his eyes at him. He sighed and suddenly let go of Kashish who immediately charged at Avyaan and started punching him. Avyaan, surprised at the sudden attack, looked at Vansh and screamed for help. In return all he got in return was a look that said, 'Tolerate!'

Avyaan somehow got hold of Kashish and calmed her down. "Listen here, little missy-" His words immediately earned him a glare. Avyaan gulped and changed his words quickly. "I meant, my darling sister! I am doing it on my own. It's my wish to marry for this deal. And anyways, if this marriage doesn't work out, we will part ways after the partnership officially begins."

"Bhai this is a real marriage. And this isn't a daily soap, it is real life. Please, please don't do this. I will talk to papa, or even bade papa if required." Vansh pleaded.

Avyaan sighed as he went on explaining his point all over again. Vansh and Kashish glanced at each other, giving a look of disbelief.

Tonight wasn't the same as usual for Karishma. Where every night she used to write a diary with a hopeful end to it, today she was planning. She was weaving a plan wherein after the marriage is over with, how was she going to live. She wasn't going to remain in a marriage where everything is forced and even her husband wants to give no chance to it.

But the way she saw her parents being delighted after the fixation of the alliance, she knew her parents wouldn't be so loving after they get the deal once she marries. And so, for the time being, all she knew was that she is going to be on her own once they divorce.

Her hands came to an abrupt stop as she realised what was happening. The diary entry was left incomplete as she walked away and laid down on the bed. Her mind was deprived of any thoughts other than the way she was snapped back to reality by the one with whom she dreamt of her future.

Oh how she dreamt of having a loving family with her in-laws. Only she knew how many hopes she had tied with the marriage which was nothing but a business deal. But only if she knew, she was the only one doing that. Her parents wanted her to spend her whole life in an undesired and an unwanted marriage and her to-be-in-laws thought she was good for nothing when compared with her elder sister. Was that her worth? Was she nothing a doll to use to crack a deal that too for a contract made decades ago?

With such thoughts in mind, she drifted off to sleep and the diary remained incomplete.

Avyaan hissed in annoyance as he abruptly opened his eyes once again. Everytime he closed his eyes, all he saw was 'her' and her voice ringed in his ears. He had been trying to sleep for the past hour and all he has been able to do is visualise her. His mind wandered off to the scared and flabbergasted expression she gave off as soon as he mentioned that he was there only for his family and his disinterest in the marriage.

Now that he thought of it, he realised that he never asked her opinions about the whole fiasco. She was never asked if she wanted the same and if she was comfortable with the arrangements he was talking about.

'What if she wanted the alliance for an actual marriage and not for the deal?' He thought. But Avyaan was quick enough to shrug off that thought as soon as it came. Why would anyone want to be with a person like him? With such thought, he too drifted to sleep as now every time he saw her face, he reminded him of the same thought.

Time for Karishma wasn't the same anymore ever since her talk with Avyaan. All the chirpy hopes she had day and night were lost. Now all she thought of was about starting to invest all her money somewhere safe and secure with good returns for her own future. She also convinced herself to put all the money into use which she claimed after turning 18 from various policies.

She didn't even greet Anuradha in the morning and went straight to the dining hall and sat down on her fixed seat. She didn't even glance at her parents or pass them a polite smile like she did everyday. However, her parents were too involved in their own business to even notice she was present.

It was not until breakfast was served and they heard Anuradha speaking to Karishma. "Is everything alright, beta?" Anuradha whispered to her, thinking only she would hear it.

Karishma smiled at the elderly lady in front of her who provided her with the motherly warmth that even her own mother couldn't. As she nodded, Aashna, her mother, seethed with jealousy. Even though she didn't care about her children's requirements for love and care from her, she hated it when any one of her children interacted personally with any of the staff members. She felt grateful that her eldest and the youngest one never got involved in such a way, but she always felt insecure with the bond Karishma and Anuradha had.

"I am-" Aashna immediately interrupted Karishma, "Is everything alright, beta? Anuradha, go and get some of the energy bars I experimented with a few days ago. Karishma seems a bit tired, she could use some of it." she ordered, as if she knew everything about her 'daughter'.

"Uhm sure ma'am but Karishma is- I mean Karishma ma'am is allergic to walnuts. And you have added them to the energy bars." Anuradha immediately switched her words at Aashna's glare.

Aashna, who felt embarrassed upon not remembering such an important thing about her 'daughter', immediately said, "Uhm- Yeah I meant to get those bars... for me. And get some almond milk for Karishma."

Anuradha was quick enough to catch the annoyance in her voice, so she quietly nodded and left the room. Karishma, who felt guilty for her mother's behaviour, kept looking at Anuradha's back as she retreated to the kitchen.

"Karishma," Aashna Snapped. "Concentrate on your breakfast. And stop getting involved in such nuisances."

Karishma immediately nodded and went back on eating her breakfast. No other attempt for another conversation was initiated. Karishma stopped doing that years ago but it never felt as robotic as this day. It was because this time, she had no hopes to hold on to.

Karishma finished her breakfast as soon as she could and left to meet Anuradha. And her sneak wasn't exactly a secret. Aashna, who saw her daughter trailing behind the 'servant', wasn't very happy to see that.

"Why does she not understand that she is not supposed to interact with such people?" Aashna spoke with great annoyance. In response, all she heard was a mocking snicker from her husband who did nothing other than that.

The day passed by and Karishma was finally realising the monotonousness of her life and the extent of delusion she fed to herself. Swikriti's words now hurt even more than ever before. Her words only made Karishma feel that how all her life she only led the life her parents dictated. All she ever did was follow everything in a way of her sister's path just to gain her parents' affection. But, she failed. Miserably.

Karishma did not want to prove herself to anyone now. All she wanted was to come up to her own expectations. She had to do that for her own self and her self respect.

This was also the day when she felt no special when she was complimented by anyone, including Dev. She realised that she only seeked external validation. All she ever cared about was the fact that she was being accepted, irrespective of the fact of whether or not she remained herself in the process.

Dev, who too was confused about the sudden shift in her behaviour since she took a leave, tried to shrug off the matter thinking it was only due to some familial pressure or something similar. He was still unaware of the fact that she was the CEO's daughter and that her alliance was not fixed. He wasn't even aware that she already dreamt her life with someone else.

Lunch break was finally when she found a moment of peace. But she judged the moment too soon as her phone rang with an unknown number, disturbing her hardly found silence and peace. She tutted in annoyance and silenced the call.

But the silence didn't last long as the phone rang again with the same number on display. No matter how many times she silenced the call, her phone rang again and again. Finally, she took a deep breath in order to act calm and picked up the phone.

"Listen, I respect your hard work and your dedication and it's a surprise to me that you got my number but let me just clear it out already, I am in no need of any credit card or anything like that. Nor do I require any loan. Also, no, I don't need any insurance or stuff like that as well. And also, I got no OTP from anyone. Even if I had any, you are not getting it."

Her words were followed by a deep silence from both the ends. Just as she was about to end the call, she heard a voice that made her go still. She could recognise this voice amongst all others, and why not? Everyday she replayed his only interview again and again just to hear him.

"May I speak now, ma'am?"

────

Kuchh aisi gudgudahat mehsoos hui hai
Ki mere dil mei thodi narmi chhayi hai
Tumse gooftagoo karne ki aasha mei
Hamari ichha humne hi dabayi hai

☆:*'¨'*:.☆(¯'*•.¸,¤°''°¤,¸.•*'¯)☆:*'¨'**:.☆

Word Count - 1771

Ma'am? *Ahem-Ahem* ;)

Hey Galaxians! What are your thoughts on these people? Annoying? Cute? Miscommunicated? Made (or not) for each other?

Tell meee! <3

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘠𝘰𝘶
~𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘹𝘺𝘜𝘯𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯07❤︎