A H A A N

I had absolutely no idea what had happened to Saanjh tonight. Or maybe I did. Maybe this was the version of her that everyone else had always known, and I was simply meeting her for the first time.

She had spent the entire evening arguing with me, making fun of me, throwing insults at me like they were nothing, and then walking onto the dance floor as if the entire room belonged to her. And somehow, I couldn't stop watching her.

I had called her boring. That was probably the biggest mistake I'd made tonight.

Because Saanjh was anything but boring.

And right now, she was standing in front of me with that same confidence in her eyes, looking at me like she knew exactly what she was doing to my concentration.

Except I wasn't sure she did.

I didn't know when I'd stopped seeing her as the woman I'd signed a contract with and started seeing her as just Saanjh.

And now she was dancing with me. I couldn't help the smile that appeared on my face. "Let me pretend, then," I whispered.

The words came out before I could think about them. And the moment I said them, I realised something that was probably going to make my life considerably more complicated.

I didn't think I was pretending anymore.

"Enough luck for today. Try it some other day," she said, pulling away from me before I could come up with another reply.

She walked back toward the table, picked up her handbag, and started checking for her phone.

I followed her behind. "I'll drop you."

She looked at me like I'd just said the most obvious thing in the world. "Of course you will. We are going together."

Oh right. I completely forgot that. She was moving in under the same roof. Suddenly, the idea that had seemed so practical a few hours ago didn't feel quite as simple anymore.

And after tonight, I wasn't sure how dangerous that arrangement could actually become. Especially when she looked at me like that.

I cleared my throat and reached for my car keys. "Let's go, then."

She nodded, completely unaware of the thoughts running through my head. Or maybe she was aware.

With Saanjh, I honestly couldn't tell anymore.

𖤐

"How long will you take?" I heard Saanjh's voice from the other side of the door.

It had been two days since she'd moved in, and somehow, we'd barely spoken during that entire time. And when I say barely, I mean we would look at each other, realise we'd been looking for a second too long, and immediately find something else to stare at.

Today was the reception. And she was waiting outside my room.

I took one last look at myself in the mirror. The black suit looked good. Very good, actually. I adjusted my collar and nodded at my reflection. "Not bad, I'm the most gorgeous human being duh."

"Ahaan, come out!" I heard her voice again.

"Coming." I opened the door. And immediately forgot whatever I'd been about to say. My eyes moved over her outfit before I could stop myself.

Yellow.

She was wearing a yellow dress, and somehow, it suited her so perfectly that I immediately regretted every compliment I'd ever given myself in front of that mirror.

The most gorgeous person ever? Me? Not after what my eyes are admiring right now.

Yeah. Apparently, I had been wrong. Very actually. Saanjh stood there with her arms folded, clearly waiting for me to stop taking forever. "Finally," she said, looking me up and down. "I was about to—"

She stopped. Her eyes briefly travelled over my suit. Then she looked back at my face. I raised an eyebrow. “What?”

"Nothing." She replied turning around

I smiled slightly "Sure."

She immediately looked away. I leaned against the doorframe, unable to hide my amusement. "You were saying something?"

"No." She said and started walking toward the stairs. I followed her, still smiling to myself.

Two days. Two whole days of barely talking to her. And somehow, I already knew that wasn't going to last much longer.

I held my hand out toward her. She looked at it for a second before placing her hand in mine. The moment our fingers touched, something shifted. It should not have.

It was ridiculous how aware I suddenly became of something as simple as holding her hand. There was this strange spark between us, spreading through the small space between our palms, and I had to remind myself that we'd done this before.

So why did it feel different now?

We started walking down the stairs toward the guests, her hand still in mine. I leaned slightly closer to her ear. "You know about the yellow dress and black suit theory?"

She turned her head toward me, looking completely confused. I stared at her. "Don't tell me you don't know."

"Of course I know," she said immediately. I raised an eyebrow because that was definitely a lie.

"Don't tell me you don't watch movies."

"I don't have time." She scoffed.

"Don't make excuses. You have time. You just don't make it for yourself." I'm just stating facts.

She immediately pointed a finger at me. "You—"

But before she could finish, her attention shifted toward the crowd. I followed her gaze. People were looking at us. A lot of people actually. Saanjh leaned slightly closer. "Why are they gawking at us like that?"

I leaned toward her ear again, keeping my voice low. "Because we're arguing like children."

She frowned at that "And?"

"Newlyweds don't do that."

She looked at me. "Then what do they do?" I looked at her for a second.

He doesn't even hesitate. “Theu find out why everyone keeps telling them to lock the bedroom door.”

Her lips immediately curved into a fake smile. "Oh ew." She tilted her head. "Very experienced." I knew where this was going. "Kitni shaadiyaan huyi hai tumhari?"

[How many marriages have you had before?]

I couldn't help smiling. "Only one." Her fake smile faltered for half a second. Then she rolled her eyes. "Very funny."

I squeezed her hand slightly as we continued down the stairs. "Come on."

She looked at me suspiciously. "Where?"

"To do those things."

Her eyes widened at my reply "Ahaan."

"Behave." She said,

“Yes mam.”

“Shut up. Because we're already being watched and I'm so conscious of doing any romance.” She whispered so no one could hear.

I glanced toward the guests. Then back at her. “Exactly, let's give people some hot gossip.” And the moment we reached the last step, I leaned closer to her again.

S A A N J H

We reached the last step, and I immediately realised everyone was watching us. Of course they were.

Ahaan glanced around before looking at me, and I could practically see the thought forming in his head.

So, naturally, we had to act.

I moved closer to him first, slipping my arm through his. Ahaan immediately caught on and placed his hand lightly against my waist, pulling me closer to his side.

"Oh, we're doing this now?" I whispered through a smile.

He kept his eyes ahead, smiling at the guests. "You started"

"I didn't say we had to look like we're glued together." I recountered.

"Too late." We walked toward the first group of guests, suddenly looking like the most affectionate couple in the room. I leaned slightly against him, and he bent his head toward me as if he were whispering something incredibly important.

But this is what we were talking about.

"If Cinderella's show fit her perfectly, then why did it fall off?" He asked.

"Because that movie was for kids." I replied internally rolling my eyes and externally smiling at him as if he said something to make me blush.

"You're threatening me with your eyes." He responded.

"That's my normal resting face." I defended myself

He laughed quietly, and I immediately pinched his arm. "Ow."

I turned my face toward him, ready to give him a response, but he was already looking down at me with that stupidly convincing smile.

And unfortunately, it worked. "Look at them!" one of the aunties exclaimed as we approached. "Beta, give some attention to guests if you are done admiring your wife!"

I smiled brightly. Ahaan's hand pressed a little more firmly against my waist. “I'm trying. But she's still the prettiest person in the room.” he said, sounding like the proudest husband alive.

He's so good at lying.

I looked up at him. Oh, so we're going all in?

Fine. I rested my head lightly against his shoulder. The reaction was immediate. "Awww!" From the people.

Someone actually howlled. I almost burst out laughing but controlled it. Ahaan looked down at me. I looked up at him. Neither of us could say anything because if we did, we'd probably start laughing in front of everyone.

Honestly, why all of a sudden this dress feels very discomforting?

I kept adjusting the dress, trying to find a comfortable position, but it was becoming impossible. There were so many thin straps with knots on the side, crisscrossing over my back that I had lost count, and now they felt uncomfortably tight against my skin.

I shifted slightly, hoping the irritation would go away, but it only made it worse.

Why was this dress so uncomfortable?

The straps were beginning to itch, and I couldn't stop myself from trying to discreetly pull at one of them.

I had no idea how people wore these things for an entire evening and still managed to look perfectly comfortable.

I glanced around the room. Everyone seemed busy talking, laughing, and enjoying themselves.

Meanwhile, I was standing there trying not to scratch my own back in the middle of my reception.

Fantastic.

A man from the industry walked toward us, a polite smile on his face and a glass in his hand. "Congratulations," he said, stopping in front of us.

"Thank you," I replied with a courteous smile.

He looked at me for a moment before shaking his head in disbelief. "I never thought I'd actually get to meet Saanjh Mehrotra."

Before I could respond, Ahaan spoke from beside me. "Consider yourself lucky."

I slowly turned my head and shot him a look. Really? He only chuckled under his breath, looking completely unbothered.

The businessman laughed as well. "I'd say she's even more impressive in person."

"She gets that a lot," Ahaan replied casually. I discreetly elbowed him. He didn't even flinch.

The businessman smiled at me again, but this time there was something about his expression that made me uncomfortable. "You know," he said, "I wish I'd gotten the chance to meet you before all this."

I frowned politely. "Thank God you've missed your chance." Ahaan remarked beside me

He laughed as though he'd made a joke.

"I mean it. If I'd met you earlier, I would've definitely asked you out." He said again. First of all, ew. Second of all eww.

I exchanged a brief glance with Ahaan. Neither of us said anything.

"Marriage is such a shame," he continued with a grin. "Someone as beautiful as you shouldn't have become unavailable this quickly."

My smile disappeared. "Mr..." I paused deliberately."I appreciate the congratulations-."

Ahaan jumped in, “Maybe if you were half as successful at business as you are at embarrassing yourself, you'd have a chance.”

For the first time, his smile faltered. "Oh, I was only joking."

"So was I," Ahaan said calmly. “Get lost”

The businessman looked at him. Ahaan's smile hadn't changed. "But somehow," he continued evenly, slipping his arm a little more securely around my waist, "my joke ends here."

A brief silence settled between the three of us. The businessman cleared his throat. "Right... I should go greet the others."

"Please do and leave," Ahaan replied pleasantly.

The man gave us an awkward nod before walking away. I let out a slow breath the moment he disappeared into the crowd "Ew."

Ahaan looked in the direction the man had gone before glancing at me. "Chii?"

I nodded. Omg this dress is making me uncomfortable. I can't.

Before I could think any further, Myra suddenly appeared beside me and grabbed my hand. "Come."

I blinked. "Where?"

"You'll see." Arya said.

"That's not reassuring."

Vivaan appeared on my other side and took my other arm. "Don't ask questions. Just come."

"What are you three doing?"

"We have something interesting," Myra announced with a grin.

I looked between the two of them. "That's exactly what people say before getting someone into trouble."

"You're married now, fake only," Vivaan said solemnly. "You need to experience new things."

Before I could argue, Karan and Tara joined us, and suddenly I was being dragged away from the crowd.

"Okay, what is this?" I demanded.

Myra looked around dramatically before leaning closer. "We were discussing something very important."

"Which is?"

"We have mogu mogu at the reception and I need you to try that."

I immediately frowned. "What do you mean?"

Tara giggled. "I told you she doesn't know about mogu mogu."

"No way." All four of them looked at me.

I stopped. "What mogu?"

"Exactly!" Arya said, pointing at me. "You are the same as his ex-girlfriend, she was also a grump."

Oh.

I narrowed my eyes.

Before I could question them further, two aunties appeared in front of me, standing beside Ahaan's bua.

And just like that, I was trapped.

"Oh, Saanjh!" one of them exclaimed, immediately taking my hand. "Come here, beta. We haven't properly talked to you yet."

I smiled politely. "Of course."

That was my first mistake. Within thirty seconds, I was being interrogated about my entire life. "Where did you study?"

"Boston."

"And how long have you been in Boston?"

"Twelve years." I replied

"Then how did you meet Ahaan?"

I paused. "School." The words scrambled out of my mouth before I could stop.

"Ohhh." That one little ohhh contained approximately seventeen questions.

"So you knew him before?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you two get married earlier?"

I nearly choked. "Because—" I stopped. What was I even supposed to say? Because he didn't know I existed? Because I used to secretly know everything about him? Because apparently life had a terrible sense of humour?

"Things happen when they're supposed to," I finally said. I forced a smile.

The straps of my dress dug into my skin again.

I tried to subtly adjust one of them without drawing attention, but the more I moved, the more uncomfortable I became.

Unfortunately, I wasn't as subtle as I thought. Ahaan's bua glanced at me. "Beta, are you okay?"

"Yes." I smiled quickly. "Absolutely."

Another aunt looked at me carefully. "You're looking uncomfortable."

"I'm not." I immediately shifted again.

Myra, who was standing nearby, gave me a look. I glared at her.

Don't.

She raised both hands innocently. The aunties continued talking, completely unaware that I was mentally considering ripping this dress apart.

Or maybe they weren't unaware.

Because after another minute of me constantly adjusting the thin straps, one of them looked at me and asked, "Are you sure this dress isn't too tight?"

Oh God. It was definitely evident now.

I wanted to leave. Actually, I wanted to disappear.

The questions had somehow gone from my business to my family and were now heading into a direction I absolutely did not want to discuss with anyone, especially not in the middle of a reception.

One of the aunties leaned closer, lowering her voice with an amused smile. "So, beta..." she began, looking between Ahaan and me. "When are we getting some good news?"

I froze.

Oh.

Absolutely not.

My brain stopped working. I opened my mouth, trying to figure out what the hell I was supposed to say to that, when suddenly—

Ahaan appeared beside me.

Before I could even react, he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me against his side. His other hand settled lightly behind my back, and he smiled at everyone like he'd been standing there the entire time.

"Excuse us." He said

The aunties immediately went silent. Looking at us suspiciously.

I stared at him. What the hell?nHe didn't even wait for an answer.

Still keeping me close, flushed into his chest, he guided me away from the group. His hand remained at my front as we moved through the crowd, and I could feel everyone's eyes following us.

I was too stunned to even protest. The moment we were far enough away, I turned toward him. "What are you doing?"

Ahaan looked down at me. "What does it look like?"

"It looks like you just kidnapped me from your own relatives." I tried to joke.

"You could've changed if you felt uncomfortable." He said, glancing down at my dress.

I glared at him, but I was suddenly exceedingly conscious. "I was handling it."

"Right." He raised a brow.

"I was." I narrowed my eyes. "Ahaan."

He finally looked at me properly. And then his expression changed. His eyes moved over my face, and his brows furrowed slightly. "Wait."

"What?” I immediately looked away. He glanced down at the dress and then back at me. "Is it the dress?"

I sighed. "Maybe."

"Maybe?"

I finally confessed, sighing, looking at the mirror, followed by the secluded corridor of the house, dimly lit with just one yellow light "It's these stupid straps. They're too tight and itchy."

His expression softened slightly. "Then why didn't you say anything?"

I stared at him. "Because I wasn't going to announce to your entire family that my dress is trying to kill me."

Ahaan's lips twitched. I pointed a warning finger at him. "Don't laugh." I was about to respond more when he looked over my shoulder toward his relatives.

Then back at me. "Come on."

"Where?"

"Somewhere you can breathe." And before I could argue, his hand found mine again.

"I can't just leave," I started ranting, following him as he tried to lead me away. "Do you know how long it took to find this stupid dress? And now that I'm wearing it, I have to survive the entire evening in it."

Ahaan looked at me. "Saanjh—"

"I know, but what am I supposed to do? Go home and change? Half the guests are here. Your relatives are here. The reception is happening. I can't just walk around in some random clothes because these stupid little straps decided to hate my skin."

He stared at me. "Saanjh.". Ahaan looked at me with an expression that was far too patient for my current mood.

"No Ahaan we are not leaving the party. " I replied before hearing from him.

We kept staring at eachother, arguing about it through our eyes because he wanted to leave the party for our comfort and I didn't want more problems in our lives, perhaps, I'll stay here and bear it for a while.

Before I could register . He swiftly placed both hands on my shoulders and turned me around before I could protest.

I found myself facing the mirror. My eyes met his reflection. As they stared back straight into my eyes.

Ahaan stepped closer behind me, and I immediately became aware of how near he was. I couldn't process what was happening because the warmth of his touch seemed to seep into my skin, making me painfully aware of every little movement.

His fingers moved carefully to the first knot of the crisscrossing straps, loosening it gently. Then the next. And the next.

One by one. He undone every single one.

I watched him through the mirror, completely silent as he carefully undid the straps that had been irritating my skin all evening. His eyes locked with mine all the while. With every loosened knot, the pressure eased, revealing the redness the tight fabric had left behind.

My expression changed.

Oh.

He noticed. Of course he noticed.

Before I could say anything, he placed his hands on my shoulders again and turned me around to face him.

The distance between us, which was none, suddenly was noticeable to me.

I opened my mouth. "Ahaan—"

He immediately lifted a finger to his lips. "Shh."

I stared at him. He didn't say anything else. Instead, he quietly took off his coat and draped it around my shoulders, carefully covering me before adjusting it so it stayed in place.

I looked down at myself, then back at him.

For once, I had absolutely nothing smart to say.

And Ahaan, apparently satisfied with that rare occurrence, simply looked at me and said, "Better?”

“Fake things never suit you.” He said, referring to my smile which I decided to fake while bearing the pain.

But we are also faking it, Ahaan.