Chapter 3: 1) The papers

Breathing into the familiar air of the city, Uttara smiled as she stepped down the stairs into the Tarmac, she was back after week-long shoots outside the country for her upcoming movie.

She followed her team towards the airport security check and bid them farewell until she would be called again for last-minute editing, dubbing, and any shoot if required.

But until then, she had a month to herself.

Though, not herself alone. She had scheduled commercials, photoshoots, and all sorts of things lined up, along with script readings and meetings for her upcoming projects.

Life as an actress wasn't any piece of cake.

She sighed before pulling her shades and turning to her manager for her approval before they had to walk out of the airport gates in the arms of the waiting paparazzi who stalked and observed her every move.

Getting an approving nod, she practiced a small smile as she faced the media, waving at them and greeting them politely as her security detail took charge and escorted her to the waiting SUV.

Breathing a quick sigh, she doffed the shades and cap, slumping into the seat.

It was 9:00 PM at night and the traffic will make her reach home only around midnight.

In all, she was glad that she will able to meet him and catch him at home before her dearest husband is chased by any emergency again.

"Take a two-day rest and we shall have the commercial shoot for the perfume brand. Make sure you drop the posts on social media on your return." Nitya instructed and she gave her a lazy thump without opening her eyes.

"We are here," Farhan announced from the front seat and a giddy smile made its presence on her face.

"I'll see you guys in 2 days. Take rest you all." She smiled at her team and descended, taking hold of her luggage from the security, she waved them all goodbye and quickly called for a lift.

Her foot tapped on the lift floor as she leaned back feeling tired, the jetlag hitting her but the excitement to meet him and see his face had pushed everything else on the backseat.

Silently unlocking the door, she pulled her bags and left them in the living room to unpack later.

Crawling into their bedroom she sneaked in only to gasp in surprise as the lights were switched on.

It was him, walking out of their walk-in closet who stared at her with his steel grey eyes.

"Hii." She smiled walking towards him with a shy smile and stopping before him, the distance was enough to occupy another person but she knew he wouldn't like her proximity.

Earning a nod from him at her presence and no words had her smile falter but she pulled it back.

"How have you been?" She asked and he stared at her with his blank face.

"Good."

A single word and he walked away, towards his side of the bed.

She felt her smile drop and her eyes stung but she ignored it for the sake that he had always been like this, he kept his words short and only showed that he cared, even a little bit by his actions towards her.

Turning on her heels, she closed the distance between them and held his t-shirt from behind, freezing him in his place.

"I have been well too, just tired." She whispered to him, she stood halting him in his place.

"You should rest." He said after a minute-long silence.

"I will, now that I'm home." She smiled feeling that little amount of care and the smile made itself permanent. "I will go take a shower."

Earning another nod, she untangled her hold on him and moved to the washroom.

Vidyut stayed at his place until he heard the faint click of the washroom door, breathing in he glanced back to find none and took his files, and made his way to the single couch placed in their room, far away from the bed as he decided to study his cases.

He cannot be sitting on the bed, not when she was here.

He left the lights on in his area as he dived into the files, only looking up for a minute second when he heard soft footsteps. He could feel her gaze on him but he refused to avert his eyes from the papers, it was better or he wouldn't be able to stop the hurt he was capable of making her feel.

"Do you have to work this late? It is nearly midnight, Vidyut." He heard her soft voice which wasn't complaining but laced with worry and care, two emotions he didn't like witnessing from anyone.

"Sleep, you are tired." He said back.

He heard her soft sigh and felt her walking towards him.

"I will but I do not want to miss your company. You may not come home tomorrow the entire day because of your emergencies." She sat beside him, watching him with her soft brown eyes, there wasn't a complaint but truth as he does not plan to come home early tomorrow.

Not when he knew she was back.

He did not reply, but instant met her gaze for a few seconds and got back to his files.

He flipped through the pages and she silently gave him company, not a sound left her to disturb him yet her presence was enough to divert his attention.

She didn't even stare at him, no she kept looking into places around their room that were equally plain and boring, just like him if not for a few awards and shields belonging to them both.

His from the years of medical service and hers of recognition as an actor.

She played with her fingers, eyes drooping just like her slumped shoulders but he did not let the words out to make her go to bed.

He kept his silence yet the apartment wasn't silent like it had been the past weeks that she wasn't home.

Her soft breaths worked as a melody to him, making the place alive.

He closed his file after what felt like minutes in her company but was more than an hour.

She perked her eyes open as soon as he placed the file down. He doubted if he disturbed her sleep but was sure that she wouldn't be dozing off, not when she was giving him company.

"Come to bed."

She followed his words and took her side, adjusting her two pillows which were untouched from the day she left. She saw him keeping his glasses on the side table and lying down. The huge king-size bed engulfed her petite form as she snuggled into the comforter.

He lay beside her, keeping enough distance between them which was crossed by her hand as she asked "May I?"

He switched the lights off ignoring her, her palm hovered mid-air to touch his but he turned away from her.

Her eyes could see his back.

"Good night." She wished in that soft voice-almost broken and he gave into his exhaustion for the day.

"Dream of me." She whispered.

■ ■⁠ ■⁠

Setting their dinner table, Dhwani placed the manila envelope near his plate. Her fingers crossed as she wished for this dinner to be smooth, as smooth as the one where two people mutually decide to part ways.

Glancing at the wall clock she waited for a bated breath for the door to unlock, it did within a few minutes and he opened the door like always, with a creak that announced his presence.

She kept staring at dishes as she heard his footsteps, the closing of his bedroom door and opening of it again as he came out after freshening up.

She got up and brought the dishes, he helped her carry them.

He had changed into his plain t-shirts and joggers like every day, settling infront of her and lifting the lid up she let the aroma fill the silence as he waited for her to serve herself and he followed.

The silence was their housemate until now, sitting like an invisible companion as they shared their dinner and breakfast each day and the next.

They were almost in sync each day, him ignoring her presence and her being habitual to his ignorance.

She could hardly swallow a bite as the anxiety crept into her stomach. She knew he wouldn't throw a tantrum for signing the documents, he abhorred this marriage as much as her.

She collected the dishes as he drank a sip of his lemon water, his eyes scanning the envelope before he opened it.

She waited in the kitchen, hiding away as she heard the chair scrap.

"He is going to fetch a pen to sign, it would have been quick if you had kept a pen with the papers," she told herself begrudging herself for doing incomplete things.

"No." The voice made her jump up. She spun to see him standing behind her, the papers in his hands as forwarded them to her "I'm not signing them."

"What?" She blinked in shock "What do you mean?"

"I am not divorcing you." He said ever calmly as if explaining to a child.

"Why?" She blurted loudly. "Why are you refusing to sign? It is divorce papers, we both will be free and single again. Why can't you sign?"

"Because I don't want to." He shrugged and left leaving her gaping.

"Anirudh" She ran behind him but he closed the door behind her, she knocked on his door but he did not answer. "Talk to me, explain it to me."

The door remains locked, and so as his thoughts.

She groaned in frustration.

"Either you come out and explain it to me or I will vacate this place this instant and file for divorce, I don't care if you want it or not." She threatened banging on his door "Can you hear me? Come out."

The door opened before she could bang it again, he cocked a brow with his jaw clenched.

"Sign this." She stuttered forwarding the papers to him which he discarded with an annoying look.

"Do you have a hearing aid?" He asked.

"I do not." Dhwani hissed.

"I have made myself clear I presume." He stated, "I am not divorcing you, now if you are done with your temper tantrum, I would like some sleep."

"Why will you..."

The door was shut again and she groaned.

"I am not going to do dishes, do it yourself!" She yelled and slammed her door shut, huffing angrily. "What does he think of himself? That moron!."

Slumping into the bed, she breathed into the air, kicking and punching the air aggressively as she thought of his face.

"I hate you, Anirudh. I hate you!"

Feelings are mutual, her mind screamed.

■ ■⁠ ■⁠

This agreement specifies the clauses entailed below to be followed by both Party A and B.

· Rule A – Stand in favor of Party A in any act of voting.

· Rule B - Fulfill every task given by Party A.

· Rule c – Be available as and when required.

More details are in annexures 1A, B, & C.

As negotiated by both the Parties, Party B will be entitled to a sum of 1 crore rupees every month with any additional expense paid by Party A in requirement to fulfill the contract.

Party A Rakshit Chouhan and Party B Shreya Thapar are to follow the rules without fail, if breached a sum of Rs. 5 crores will be paid by the person responsible along with all the expenses incurred by another Party.

"This is bullshit." Shreya slammed the copy against the glass desk as she started gathering her things.

"This is what we agreed upon." Rakshit rolled the paperweight sitting opposite her, his charming smile distracting her anger towards him.

"No, we did not, Rakshit Chouhan." She slammed her hands on the desk, leaning to seem intimidating. "Last night we discussed me working for you as a strategist to clean up your image, not some servant of yours that you will be turning and pricking as and when you require. If you aren't clear with this, consider my confirmation null and void."

"Can you bend a little more?" He gestured his finger to call her near and she frowned. "See, I was right. You have a small pimple on your forehead."

"Are you even real?" She gaped flanking the file on his face "You are a stupid, idiot, insane, moron, dufus..."

"Wow, you don't seem to run out of your insult words. I'm impressed." He grinned "Another reason I want you to work for me."

"Shut up" She screeched, holding her temple she huffed a breath "Why did I ever meet you? What did I do to know you?"

"Karma, meri Jaan." He piped in amusement "Your good Karma led you to me."

She glared at him, "Don't make me curse, you narcissistic crackhead."

"You seem a pro in insulting people. We can use it in better situations, no?" He walked towards her winking and dodging another file thrown at him.

She groaned in frustration and clutched onto her hair, breathing to calm herself before bashing his head.

"Take a seat first." He pushed her into her previous seat and took the adjacent to hers.

"Don't sit near me or I'll bang your head open." She threatened and he passed her a quick smile.

"Do you want a cold coffee to calm down?" He asked picking the receiver and before she could answer, he asked his ever-efficient secretary to get three. He looked up at her crossed eyebrows. "You will get only one, the other two are for me just to make things clear."

"Get lost." She gritted.

"What changes do you need?" He asked once she had slurped half of her coffee while he remain untouched.

"Everything." She took a pen and crossed out the three rules and started scribbling "Rule A, Party B would work as a PR strategist for Party A until he has cleared his image ruined by his illegal car races. Rule B, Party B will be available only during working hours with 1st and 3rd Saturday and all Sundays off."

"This is inhuman." He protested.

"Rule C, Party B will stick to only work-related tasks and nothing else, keeping the relationship strictly personal. No annexures required to explain." She finished and saw him glaring at the papers. "To make you feel better, all expenses will be borne by Party B in order to meet the contract requirements from the payment made to them."

"You were my friend." He whispered somberly and she rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, it has been a regret." She pursed her lips.

"Will you really not work on Saturdays and Sundays?" He asked looking lost, lips pouting which had her avert her eyes.

"Nope." She denied and his eyes saddened.

"What about board meetings? Can you not use a 3.8% shareholding to vote for me? I'm your childhood friend. I went to lengths to get your parents to agree to make you attend the same school as mine. Will you be so heartless?"

"Are you trying to manipulate me?" She cocked a brow "Because nothing is working."

"I saved you from those boys in our Third grade, I got my tooth broken for you." He faked a sniff "You weren't this cold before. GM is right, people change all the time."

"Will you stop, Rakshit? You look pathetic blackmailing me." She sighed. "For keeping the record straight, you started bullying that boy who later came on me because I shared my lunch with you. You earned a punch for your deeds."

"You are saying this of all people? I thought I mattered." He looked up with a somber face, passing his cold coffee toward her. "Have my back in the board meeting, Meri jaan?"

She clutched her eyes shut and groaned as she failed to maintain her tough resolve.

"Okay! We can add it as Rule D." She gave in "But, only if I am fully convinced with your idea. If not, I'll not support you."

"I knew GM could be wrong." His grin came back, sliding the third cup towards her he looked at her with his expectant puppy eyes "How about you working on all Saturdays?"

"You asshole!"