Playing Husband and Wife

וווווווו×וו•×•×•×•×•×וAarav stood in front of the mirror for the seventh time.

He adjusted his collar.

Then adjusted it again.

He looked ridiculous.

At least, that's what he thought.

The cream-colored kurta Riya's stylist had chosen for him was far more expensive than anything he'd ever worn. The fabric was soft, perfectly fitted, and embroidered subtly around the collar.

He glanced at himself.

"This is not me."

A knock sounded.

Before he could answer, the door opened.

Riya stood outside.

Aarav forgot what he was about to say.

She was wearing a deep maroon saree with minimal gold jewellery. Her hair fell loosely over one shoulder, and for once, there was no sharp business suit or intimidating expression.

She looked beautiful.

Not the kind of beautiful that belonged on a magazine cover.The kind that made a person forget what they were thinking.

Riya noticed his silence.

"What?"

Aarav quickly looked away.

"Nothing."

"You've been staring."

"I wasn't."

"You were."

"I was just..."

He searched for an excuse.

"...checking whether the embroidery was straight."

Riya glanced down at her saree.

"The embroidery is on my dress."

Aarav's ears turned red.

"Exactly."

She stared at him.

Then, unexpectedly, she laughed.

It was soft.

Almost unfamiliar.

Aarav looked at her.

He had never heard her laugh before.

Riya immediately composed herself.

"We have ten minutes."

"For what?"

"My father's arriving."

"Right."

She stepped into his room.Aarav instinctively moved aside.

Riya looked at him.

"We need to discuss something."

"What?"

"My father is observant."

"You mentioned that."

"He'll ask how we met."

Aarav nodded.

"At a charity event."

"Good."

"When?"

"Six months ago."

Aarav frowned.

"We've known each other for six months?"

"Yes."

"And we've been dating since?"

"Four months."

He stared at her.

"You've planned an entire relationship."

"I planned the story."

"What's the story?"

Riya crossed her arms.

"You saw me arguing with a supplier at the charity event."

"Romantic."

She ignored him.

"You intervened."

"I did?"

"You helped me."

"How?"

"That's irrelevant."

Aarav smiled.

"So I saved you?"

"Don't get carried away."

She handed him a small card.

"These are the important details."

He read it.

First meeting — six months ago.

First date — four months ago.

Engagement — one month ago.

Wedding — tomorrow.

Aarav looked up.

"Tomorrow?"

Riya nodded.

"Your wedding is tomorrow."

"Our wedding."

She corrected him.

"Our wedding."

The words sounded strange.

Yet strangely real.Aarav folded the card.

"Anything else?"

"Yes."

She stepped closer.

"When we're downstairs, don't call me Ms. Rajvansh,What should I call you?"

"My name."

"Riya?"

She nodded.

"And you?"

"Aarav."

She gave him a look.

"Obviously."

He smiled.

For a second, neither spoke.Then Riya reached toward him.

Aarav froze.

She gently adjusted his collar.

"You'll ruin the entire image if you keep doing that."

His heartbeat quickened.Her fingers brushed his neck for barely a second.

Yet it was enough.

Riya seemed to notice the change in his expression.

She withdrew her hand.

"Come."

They walked downstairs.The dining room was enormous.Aarav had never seen a table that long outside a hotel.

Riya's father sat at the head.

Devendra Rajvansh looked exactly like the kind of man Aarav had expected—distinguished, intimidating, and impossible to read.

His eyes immediately went to Aarav.

"So."

Aarav swallowed.

"This is him?"

Riya sat beside Aarav.

"Yes."

Devendra studied him.

"You must be Aarav."

"Yes, sir."

Riya glanced at him.

"Don't call him sir."

Aarav looked at her.

"What?"

"You call my father Dad now."

The words nearly made him choke.Devendra laughed.

"She has already trained you."

Riya smiled.

"He learns quickly."

Aarav looked at her.She was playing the role perfectly.But then Devendra asked the question neither of them wanted.

"How much do you know about my daughter?"

Aarav paused.

Riya's hand quietly touched his beneath the table.

A warning.

Be careful.

Aarav looked at Devendra.

"I know she's hardworking."

Devendra raised an eyebrow.

"Only that?"

Aarav smiled.

"I also know she pretends she doesn't care about people."

Riya's fingers tightened around his.Devendra looked at his daughter.For a moment, there was silence.

Then he laughed.

"Interesting."

Riya looked at Aarav.Her eyes were narrowed.But there was something else there too.Something almost amused.

Dinner continued.

Questions followed.

Aarav answered as naturally as he could.

His family.

His childhood.

His education.

His father's illness.

He avoided discussing the money.

Then Devendra asked—

"Why did you fall in love with Riya?"

Aarav went silent.

He looked at the woman beside him.For the first time that evening, he wasn't acting.He didn't know why.But he found himself searching for an honest answer.

"Because..."

He paused.

"She's stronger than she thinks she is."

Riya's expression changed.Aarav continued softly.

"She carries everything alone. Even when she doesn't have to."

Silence.

Devendra stared at him.

Riya couldn't look at him.Because for the first time in years, someone had seen through her.

And somehow...

It frightened her.

---

After dinner, Riya walked onto the balcony.The city stretched beneath her in thousands of lights.She rested her hands against the railing.Behind her, the balcony door opened.

Aarav stepped outside.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You've said that twice today."

"And?"

"And I don't believe you."

Riya turned.

"You shouldn't."

Aarav leaned against the railing beside her.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Riya asked quietly—

"Why did you say that?"

"What?"

"At dinner."

"Which part?"

"About me."

Aarav looked at her.

"Because it's true."

"You don't know me."

"Maybe not."

He smiled faintly,"But I've seen enough."

Riya looked away.

"You've known me for three days."

"And you've known me for three days."

"Exactly."

"Yet you know my father's medical history."

She fell silent.

He wasn't accusing her.He was simply stating a fact.

Aarav looked at the city.

"You did something for my family that nobody else could."

Riya's voice softened.

"It was part of the deal."

"Still."

She looked at him.

"You don't owe me gratitude."

"I know."

"Then don't give it."

"I'll decide that."

Riya almost smiled.

"You argue a lot."

"Only when I'm right."

"You're not."

"Then why are you smiling?"

Her smile disappeared immediately.

"I'm not."

"You were."

"You're imagining things."

Aarav laughed.

Riya shook her head.

"You really are strange."

"And you're not as scary as everyone says."

She looked at him sharply.

"Careful."

Aarav smiled.

"I knew you'd say that."

The atmosphere changed.The teasing disappeared.They stood closer than before.

Neither moved.

Aarav could hear her breathing.

Riya looked into his eyes.

For one strange second, she forgot that this was supposed to be fake.

Then she stepped back.

"We should practice."

"Practice what?"

"Being married."

Aarav raised an eyebrow.

"How?"

Riya thought for a moment.

"Small things."She stepped closer again.

"If we're in public, you hold my hand."

She reached for his hand.Their fingers intertwined.Aarav looked down.Her hand fit surprisingly well in his.

"Like this?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"You stand close to me."

She moved beside him.Her shoulder brushed his arm.Aarav's heartbeat became annoyingly loud.

"Anything else?"

"Sometimes..."

She hesitated.

"...you'll have to call me sweetheart."

Aarav stared at her.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I'll sound ridiculous."

"Your job isn't to sound convincing."

"Then what is it?"

"To make people believe we're in love."

Aarav looked at her.

"And if they believe us?"

"Good."

"And if we start believing it?"

Riya's eyes met his.

Neither had an answer.The silence stretched.

Then Riya slowly released his hand.

"Goodnight, Aarav."

She turned toward the door.

He watched her leave.

Something about the evening felt different.

He couldn't explain it.

Perhaps it was the way she'd laughed.Or the way she'd touched his collar.Or the way she'd looked at him when he'd described her.

He shook his head.This was a contract.

Nothing more.

He couldn't afford to forget that.

---

Across the hallway, Riya entered her bedroom and closed the door.

She leaned against it.

Her heart was beating faster than it should.

She touched her fingers.

She could still remember the warmth of his hand.

Ridiculous.

She walked toward the mirror.

"What is wrong with you?"

She stared at her reflection.She had negotiated billion-rupee deals without hesitation.

She had faced hostile board members without blinking.Yet one simple man in a cream kurta had somehow made her nervous.

Her phone rang.

Her father's name appeared on the screen.

She answered.

"Yes?"

"Riya."

"Yes, Dad?"

"I like him."

She frowned.

"You've met him once."

"Sometimes once is enough."

She said nothing.Her father continued.

"Don't hurt him."

Riya's expression changed.

"I'm not going to."

"Good."

The call ended.Riya placed her phone down.

She looked toward the wall separating her room from Aarav's.

Tomorrow they would officially become husband and wife.

A marriage built on a lie.A marriage with an expiration date.She had designed every rule.

Every condition.

Every escape route.

So why did she suddenly have the strange feeling that she was the one walking into something she couldn't control?

And in the room across the hallway, Aarav lay awake thinking about her.

He smiled without realizing it.

He had no idea when it happened.

But somewhere between the hospital, the contract, and tonight's dinner...He had started looking forward to seeing her.

_____

Hi guys please vote and comment 🫶🏻 ❤️ And please if you are enjoying the chapter and the story let me know 🩷