ANAYA

"You're looking beautiful." Lia said, admiring my reflection in the mirror.

Yeah. Right.

I stared into the mirror and found myself in a red Indian bridal dress. The material was soft but alas, only I knew that how much heavy it was. My face was caked up in makeup and hair neatly pinned in a bun. With my tattooed arm and eyebrow piercing and off course not to mention the heavy jewellery around my neck, I looked ridiculous.

I've seen quite a few times in movies that girls feel pretty in their bridal dresses. They look happy and angelic but I don't feel pretty at all. The dress suffocates me. Apart from being heavy, it reminds me that this marriage thing with him is fishy and hides secrets.

But trust me, I don't want to know anything about it. I will marry him and stay with him for a month then as soon as I'll get to know about my mother, I'll divorce him. I don't want to tangle myself in anything. Arnav Khurrana is a psychopath and it'll be better for me to stay the hell away from him.

"Force a smile. I don't want any controversy." My step mother said without sparing me a single glance.

I ignored her since I have no energy to waste it on her.

I sighed. Okay! Let's get over this shit. For next few hours, all I've to do is to fake smile and take part in all the rituals of my so called marriage.

Next, I don't know how everything went. I mean the hall was full of all the rich and high class people, media people and unfamiliar faces.

My eyes fell on Arnav who all this time didn't even look at me for once. His face held a soft smile but something in me told me that the smile was fake.

I bite on my lips when I felt my stomach grumble in hunger. Dude, I shouldn't have skipped meal just because I was angry. Now what the hell am I supposed to do?

I inhaled a low amount of air through my nostrils and somehow comforted myself that once all these rituals are performed, the first thing I'll do is to stuff my stomach with shit load of food.

***

"Please pull over the car to some nearest restaurant. I'm famished!" I told the driver secretly hoping that Arnav won't say otherwise.

"Yes, Ma'am."

Ever so slowly, I peaked at him. Like always his face held no emotion but surprisingly he didn't say no to the driver.

Finally after spending tiring hours in my meaningless wedding to him, I'm going to his home. Although the thought is terrifying but a pinch of excitement is bursting inside me. It would be fun to live in a billionaire's penthouse after all.

I shifted uncomfortably in my heavy dress and jewelleries which cling to me. I clicked my tongue then in no minute, removed the heavy necklaces and earrings away from my body. Untangling my bun, I let them open and wiped the extra makeup that I had.

Soon, the driver pulled over the car to some small restaurant and without wasting a single second, I jumped out of the car. For a second it hit me that I didn't get a panic attack this time when I was in the car but I shrugged that thought away and decided to focus on the food.

I quickly entered inside and grabbed a cosy seat at the corner. Arnav also followed me and sat across the table.

"Don't you have any decency? Now you're my wife. You better learn to behave before I-"

"I'm sorry. I was hungry. I didn't think about it." I cut him in middle, realising my grave situation.

Paparazzi will follow us after all we just got married. I shouldn't act in such a rush. After last night, I'm pretty sure that this man will kill me mercilessly if I bring trouble for him.

I need to play my cards safely and stay on his good side till I get to know whereabouts of my mother and then I'll divorce him.

Yep, You can win this game.

After giving myself a small pep talk, I shifted my attention to menu and quickly ordered the speghetti and meatballs.

Arnav crossed his arms over his chest and stared out of the glass window. From his face it was clear that how much he hates to be with me in the same room. And I wonder why is it so?

Have I done something wrong to him? But as far as I can think, I didn't.

Looking at him for a good minute, I couldn't help but wonder that how it would've been if we're married under normal circumstance? Maybe first we fell in love then this marriage thing would have happened. But then again, I won't ever be able to love someone. There's this curse on me that'll haunt me forever.

I can sense his uncomfortable breath under my gaze. He was aware that I was looking at him.

His side profile seems even more perfect. Sharp jawline and long neck. Wouldn't I'd be luckiest if we only talk about his looks? He's devilishly handsome. I've never seen a fine man like him.

"You're quite handsome for a psychopath, don't you think?" I blurted out, still admiring him.

The corner of his lips twitched and he pressed his eyes shut for a second before parting them only to look at me with nothing but hollowness in his eyes.

"I'd take that as a compliment." He said, shifting his attention back to the glass window.

A smile was about to curve on my lips before he added. "For being psychopath."

I ignored his stupid remark and for a second thought of saying something but decided to not say anything at all. I don't want to spoil my mood before filling my stomach.

When my food arrived, I ate it silently. I was pretty sure that he'll not eat the food and yep, I was right. He didn't even look at the food.

Isn't he hungry? I mean we spent whole night completing our wedding ceremony and attending guests.

From what I know, he didn't eat anything last night.

Well. Who cares? My stomach is full, that's all matters me the most.

After I finished eating, he wrapped his arms firmly around me and passed me a smile. I smiled back at him. Obviously our smiles were fake since we were surrounded by people and media. His bodyguards led us to his car and once we settled down inside, I realised that maybe my life will never be normal again. After I'll divorce him, I'll always be called the billionaire's ex wife. People will mock me, media will write baseless articles on me and I'll always be judged for whatever I'll do.

This sounds scary, isn't it?

But I know I'll be happy with my mother no matter what.

As we reached his house. Correction, a fucking mansion, my eyes almost popped out of the socket. Dude, I never knew that Billionaires have insane amount of wealth to own such a classy mansion.

"Would you like to see your wedding gift?" He asked as soon as we entered inside his house.

My eyes snapped in his direction and I saw a faint smirk at the corner of his lips.

Red alret.

"No." I blurted out.

"I heard from your father that you are fond of spiders?" He smirked.

I shook my head. No. I'm not fond of them. I've phobia. I fear them. Why is he lying? My Dad knows already that how scared I'm when it comes to spiders.

I looked at him and his face told me everything. He's planning to do something that'll ruin my mental health.

Tears gathered in my eyelids. "P-Please, don't." I shuttered.

"Here." He grabbed the red velvet box from the table and gestured me to open it.

Every nerve in my body froze in fear. I nervously took a step back and stumbled on my feet. My heart started drumming against my chest as the worst case scenarios hit me. What if he'll throw the spider over my body? What if he'll force me to touch it? What if that spider crawl all over my skin?

I shuddered at the thought and without thinking twice, I ran. I ran to the nearest room and locked the door from inside.

But I can clearly hear his footsteps approaching me.