chapter 37

As days turned into weeks, the boundaries of Jiva and Abhir’s contract marriage began to fade, though neither of them spoke about it directly. Living under the same roof, sharing meals, and experiencing life’s mundane moments together brought them closer in ways neither had anticipated. In their busy, affluent lives—surrounded by wealth, but isolated in their own emotional worlds—it was the small, quiet moments that began to make all the difference.In the mornings, Jiva would wake early and make tea, leaving a cup for Abhir on the kitchen counter. At first, it was just a habit, something simple to do, but soon she found herself waiting for the moment when he’d come downstairs, take a sip, and smile at her—just a hint, but enough to make her day start with warmth. Abhir noticed these small acts of kindness, and though his life was filled with meetings, phone calls, and deadlines, he began to treasure these brief, unspoken exchanges with Jiva more than any business deal. One evening, Abhir returned home late from work. The house was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioning and the distant sounds of the city outside. He entered the living room and saw Jiva sitting on the floor, surrounded by books and papers. She had been studying—eager to learn new skills and rebuild her life. Without saying a word, Abhir joined her on the floor, picking up a book and flipping through its pages.It was these moments of simple companionship that began to unravel the emotional walls they had built around themselves. There was no need for grand gestures. Instead, it was the way they could sit together in comfortable silence, or how Abhir would notice Jiva’s small, almost imperceptible smiles when they watched TV together after dinner. It was how Jiva would find herself lingering a little longer by the door when Abhir left for work, wishing him a safe day as if it were the most natural thing in the world. One rainy afternoon, Abhir found himself in a particularly stressful business meeting. His phone buzzed on the table, and he glanced at it to see a simple message from Jiva: *Don’t forget to eat lunch*. It was something so small, so ordinary, but it struck him deeply. In the middle of a high-powered world where everyone wanted something from him, Jiva’s concern was genuine. She didn’t ask for anything—she simply cared.These small moments, woven through their busy lives, began to build something deeper between them. Abhir, who had always seen his marriage to Jiva as temporary and convenient, started to feel differently. Her presence in his life was no longer just an obligation or a contract—it was something he looked forward to. He found himself lingering in the kitchen in the evenings, helping her with dinner even though he had no clue how to cook. He wanted to be near her, to share in these quiet, intimate moments that had become the highlights of his day.Jiva, on the other hand, began to notice the subtle ways Abhir cared for her—how he would leave the light on in the hallway when she stayed up late reading, or how he always asked about her day, genuinely interested in her thoughts. She had spent so long feeling like a burden in other people’s lives that these simple acts of attention felt like the beginning of something extraordinary. Abhir, who had once been distant and reserved, now felt like her anchor, the one constant in her ever-changing world.The tipping point came on a particularly stormy evening. Abhir had been away on a business trip for a few days, and Jiva had grown used to his absence in the house. But when he returned, drenched from the rain and visibly exhausted, something shifted. Jiva found herself rushing to him with a towel, wrapping it around his shoulders with more care than she realized."Thanks," he muttered, his voice tired but grateful, as he stood there in the hallway, dripping onto the floor.Jiva smiled softly, holding the towel in place for a moment longer than necessary. "I’ve missed you around here," she said quietly, the admission slipping out before she could stop herself.Abhir paused, looking at her with surprise. "You missed me?"Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she turned away, embarrassed by her sudden honesty. "I mean, the house felt... quiet without you."There was a charged silence between them, the rain pattering against the windows as they stood facing each other. For Abhir, this was the moment everything became clear. The growing fondness he had felt for Jiva, the subtle pull he experienced every time they were together—it wasn’t just comfort. It was something more, something that had been blossoming quietly between them for weeks."Jiva," he began, his voice low and earnest, "I didn’t expect any of this when I offered you that contract. I thought it was just a way to solve both our problems, but… somewhere along the way, things changed for me."Jiva looked up at him, her heart pounding. She had sensed it too, the shift in their dynamic, but she hadn’t dared to hope for more. "What do you mean?""I mean..." He took a step closer, his eyes searching hers, "I care about you. More than I thought I ever could. This isn’t just a contract for me anymore. You’ve become important to me, Jiva. More important than I ever expected."The vulnerability in his voice caught her off guard, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. Her whole life, she had been let down by the people who were supposed to care for her. But standing here, looking into Abhir’s eyes, she realized that this was different. This was real."I care about you too," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "But I didn’t think… I didn’t think you felt the same."Abhir reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "I do," he said softly. "I’ve felt it for a while now. I just didn’t know how to tell you."Jiva’s heart raced, but in the best way possible. For so long, she had closed herself off from the idea of love, believing it wasn’t something she could have. But here, with Abhir, it didn’t feel forced or rushed. It felt natural, like something that had been growing quietly between them all along.In that moment, Abhir leaned down, pressing his lips to hers in a kiss that was soft and tender, filled with all the emotions they had kept locked away. It was a kiss that spoke of their shared journey, their pain, and the quiet understanding that had grown between them.When they finally pulled apart, they stood in silence, the rain still falling softly outside. The contract that had once defined their relationship was no longer the center of their lives. Now, they were something more—partners, companions, and maybe, just maybe, something even deeper.