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~Neil's POV~

It was quite late night and tired with all past happenings, in order to free my mind and also having lots of work to do, without uttering any further words, I picked the laptop from the bed and strolled out of the room, though not knowing where I was heading to.

Lost in my own world, I continued moving where the path turned, when the vibration of my phone inside the pocket, broke my trance.

Taking the phone out of my pocket, I left a breath out of frustration as I found two important mails from my PA, Soham, regarding a not-so-important project.

"Oh God! All can't even look after this petty issue. Two days. Just two days I took leave for all these marriage, thousand rituals and what not and see all the problems had to arrive now." I said scrolling through the mail.

Typing a mail in return, I went towards the study room and was about to enter the room when I collided with someone.

"Neil" I looked up on hearing a familiar voice.

"Neil, what are you doing here?" I found Karan bhaiyya and Anamika bhabi looking at me, confused.

"Oh you. I am sorry I didn't see you. I thought someone else" both exchanged glances as I again got back with my phone.

"It's ok Neil. Anyways, I presume I asked you something. What are you doing here?" he repeated, demanding an answer.

"Bhaiyya I have some work so----" I was cut in between

"You will work now ?" Karan bhaiyya asked as I gave a slight nod when bhabi spoke, "By the way, where's Tiasha? I mean I can't see her here anywhere close." she asked.

"See might be in the room only bhabi" I replied to which bhabi looked at me and then again at bhaiyya, being entirely confused.

"Listen brother, we all know that this marriage happened in such a hurry that you both neither got time to know each other nor understand what happened all of a sudden. But, this does not mean that you will leave Tiasha alone and come here. I know you have lots of work and here, now, at this moment this 'work' is just an excuse and I know that. See Neil I am not angry with you. Don't take me wrong with what I said." he genuinely placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Bhaiyya please can I request you all something." I held his hands into mine and continued, "Already what happened it happened. Let's not talk about it. Now please I request you all or rather beg you all to grant me some freedom. Please. Please now leave me. I am feeling suffocated here you know. Since past few days whatever happened already made me frustrated and now really I can't take it anymore. So please, now, alteast for now let me be with me, let me do whatever I like. Please! I can't take this. Please! Please!!" I said in a go as he nodded his head in a negative way.

"I know Neil what you are feeling. But you know what I have this belief that one day it will come when you will realize that the decision which mama, naani and mami took for you, the marriage to which you agreed was not a mistake. One day you will understand this."

Great! Just great!

Here I was drowning into so many problems and all are busy in giving lectures.

First Tiasha and now Karan bhaiyya too.

"I know it's wastage of my own time to talking to you. You go and do your work. After all we all know how much important work is for you. But before leaving I need to tell you one last thing." he took a deep breath as his voice was little loud this time and continued, "No matter in what circumstances you got married or in what state of mind you got married, the fact is that you married Tiasha and whether you like it or not she is your wife WIFE " he emphasized on the last word.

"Anyways, I'll leave now cause if this discussion goes on then maami won't feel good as I might lose my calm and also everyone fell asleep. Let's not give them unnecessary tension. Anamika come." he left the place after giving a 'do-whatever-you-like' look.

Not knowing what to speak and how to react, I looked at Anamika bhabi who was still standing there.

I tried to give her a smile and was about to enter the study when she stopped me by calling my name.

"Neil"

"Bhabi please I don't want any further discussion about this please." I told before she could say anything further.

"I know Neil. I know. Don't worry. I won't be getting angry on you nor repeat anything what Karan told because I know that you are mature enough to judge what is right and what not. See Neil, after all we aren't your enemies. We don't want anything bad happen to you. You just take your time and then see everything will be fine. Anyways good night Neil." she said.

"Good night bhabi" I replied.

After her departure, I finally entered the study and leaning my head against the chair, let out a deep breath in relief.

"Finally its so calm here. Ufff! my head is feeling like it would burst out anytime. Atleast thanks to bhabi that she did not start with all those same talks and understood my point.....maybe. God I'll definitely go crazy now." I said as I opened my laptop.

In order to keep my mind away from everything, I tried to work on a presentation but was unable to concentrate on my work as it was revolving around all the past events that took place.

"Why the hell did you marry me?" I questioned her, fuming in anger.

"Neil you know what today at this moment we both are standing at the same point" her words triggered in my mind.

"By the way, where's Tiasha?" Anamika bhabi's words echoed in my mind.

"No matter in what circumstances you got married or in what state of mind you got married, the fact is that you married Tiasha and whether you like it or not she is your wife WIFE" the words kept on revolving inside my mind.

WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT SHE IS YOUR WIFE

Apart from everything, the last two lines were what that was constantly revolving inside my head and due to all these I could not concentrate on work.

God what's happening with me? Why all there words revolving inside my mind?

Why?

Why?
.
.
.
.

Thinking a lot and after sometime these four words escaped my mouth as I again lost in my thoughts.

"Maybe I over reacted a bit. After all, indeed we both are in the same situation. It isn't any of our faults but the situation is----" I immediately stopped in between as I realised what I was thinking.

What the hell Neil!? What the hell are you even telling?

My mind stated as I closed my eyes, remembering some flashbacks which made me more angry, helpless and frustrated at that moment.

I was feeling thousands of emotions inside me, still I didn't understand why Karan bhaiyya's words still kept on running inside my mind, tying complex knots.

Unable to decide what to do and understanding the fact, I couldn't work with this kind of mind set, I shut my laptop screen with a force and left the room.

Passing through the corridor, I climbed up the stairs and was crossing across my room when suddenly my feet came to a halt as I stood in front of the closed door of my room and found the lights to be still switched on.

"Should I go and see whether everything is fine or not? Moreover, I promised her I won't make her feel uncomfortable. But if the lights are on then she might be awake"

Who cares??

Let her do whatever she feels like

Unable to figure out what to do, I kept standing in front of the door, carrying the laptop in my hand when bhaiyya and bhabi's words echoed in my mind,  making me completely puzzled.

"Neil I won't say anything to you cause I know you are mature enough to know what is right and what not"

"No matter in what circumstances you got married or in what state of mind you got married, the fact is that you married Tiasha and whether you like it or not she is your wife WIFE"

Shrugging off all the thoughts from my mind, I finally walked towards the door and slowly pushing it inwards, I stepped inside the room to find it completely silent.

No words, nothing but all the lights where switched on.

I scanned the room thoroughly when my eyes landed on the wall clock which was showing 2 in the morning.

Oh it's 2 already.

Really times flies. I wish this one year also ends soon.

But where did Tiasha go all of a sudden??

As my eyes turned to the other side and fell on the couch, I found Tiasha peacefully sleeping with blanket placed over her.

Seeing her face which was full of innocence and kindness, somewhere, I was feeling an unknown feeling for her as I knew that this so-called or definitely a forced marriage would change her happy life upside down for now as we both were married now.

As thoughts clustered in my mind the feeling of anger and pain was mixing up together, making me fear of the fact which had made me the person whom I am now, the rude, arrogant and angry one.

For I never wished to became the reason for someone's suffering and now what had already happened was not easy for any of us to adjust to this situation.

Cool Neil cool! Calm down.

Breath

Breath

Take some rest

I thought to myself and brushed off all the thoughts and immediately turned my eyes to the other side.

Feeling too tired and exhausted, I kept the laptop back on the table and headed towards the bed.

Sliding into the duvet, I switched off the lights, not before having a glance of her face and soon was drifted into a deep slumber.
......

Peeping through the gap between the curtains, the bright rays of the Sun entered the room, brightening up with it's light.

*Tring*

*Tring*

*Tring*

As the buzzing of the alarm reached my ears, with much reluctance, I woke up from sleep and spreading my hands to the other side, I switched it off.

Rubbing my eyes with the palm, I stretched my hands upwards in order to get rid of sleep, I finally opened my eyes and putting the blanket aside, I left the bed.

Slowly walking towards the balcony, my eyes fell on the empty couch. Yet without thinking much I moved towards the balcony and putting the curtains aside, I opened the door, letting the fresh air enter the room.

"Everyone is calling both of us downstairs" a voice startled me.

Hearing that, I immediately turned around to find Tiasha standing at some distance away from me.

"Excuse me? Hello? You there?" she snapped her fingers, breaking my trance.

"I don't think my ghost is giving you any reply. So I am obviously very much present here."

"Wowww very funny" she replied with a not so sweet smile and continued, "Listen I just want to tell you that aunty is calling both of us downstairs now."

"And may I know for what?" I questioned, crossing my arms across the chest.

"I don't know much but I think because of some rituals or like that" she replied and headed towards the balcony.

"Sorry but I am not going anywhere. If you are interested in these stupid rituals and all you are most welcome. I can't understand when I don't believe in all these then why should I do all these things."

"Maybe for you all doesn't matter but for your grandmother it does and so aunty also informed me about this. For us this marriage can be a agreement but for your parents and my bhaiyya this marriage holds a value. This relationship means a lot to them. So atleast honor that. Anyways, I am not forcing you. So don't take me wrong."

"See Tiasha I made myself very clear to you that don't try to be my wife."

"Wife? Have you gone mad? When did I even try to be one?"

"Then stop convincing me to do anything more, just  like a typical wife. Moreover for what are they doing all these? Our happiness? Our well being? When after one year nothing will remain the same then why to waste time now? Also I am shocked to see that you, after knowing everything, doing these. I hope you didn't forget that our marriage is only for a year."

"Neil, first of all get this thing into your head that I am not interested in wasting my time in convincing you. You wish to come you come and if not, then stay here. And yeah, don't worry I didn't and won't ever forget anything. After a year, I will surely leave the house. You don't have to remind me also and it's my promise. And what Tiasha promises, she never breaks it. But you know what for this one year, you wish or not, you have to tolerate me. Anyways, I will have to go downstairs. "

Before I could give her a reply, Naina's spoke from the other side of the door as we turned around.

"Bhaiyya bhabi mom is calling you both downstairs. Please do come fast. All are waiting." she said in a go as Tiasha gave her a reply in return and both left the place, making me go confused.

After her departure, I was still standing in the same way, fixing my gaze towards the door.

Thank God she left.

I sighed and threw myself on the bed, trying my level best to ignore her words which was constantly triggering my mind.

"For us this marriage can be a agreement but for your parents and my bhaiyya this marriage holds a value. This relationship means a lot to them. So atleast honor that. "

.

"Don't worry I won't forget anything."

.

"After a year, I will surely leave house, you don't have to remind me also."

.

"What Tiasha promises, she never breaks it."

The more I was trying to divert my mind, the more it was getting occupied with her statements.
It took almost few minutes for me to take a decision and I finally went towards the closet and after sometime, I left the room.
.........

Passing through the corridor, I descended down the stairs while adjusting the sleeves of the kurta, when the sound of laughter reached my ears.

Hearing that, I lifted my head a little, turning the eyes on the forward direction when the bright smile that was plastering on my mother's lips and happiness that reflected through her eyes held my vision steady and seeing her like that made me feel really happy from inside and automatically a smile crept on my face too.

"OMG mom! Look who's here!" Naina said with her eyes widened a bit, breaking my trance.

No sooner did she complete her sentence than all eyes were fixed at me. They all were looking me in such a way as if I was an alien, yeah except one person who didn't even bother to turn her face.

"Neil I am so happy dear that you came. Your daadi will surely be very happy to see you both." she caressed my face with her palm.

"Anything for you all" I replied.

"God bless you......Thank you so much Tiasha for being a part of this family. The first time when I saw you, I understood that you are indeed a beautiful soul dear. God bless you too." her smile widened while she spoke, turning towards Tiasha while the latter just gave her a bright smile.

"Ok ok now Neil and Tia let's go. Your dadi is waiting since then" mom said as we all followed her.
......

After an hour or so finally we finished with the ceremony and all post-wedding rituals. I was quite satisfied, happy and relieved as none of the guests were invited, especially those who are eager to know about other's life.

Standing alone at a corner, leaning against the wall, I was looking at mom, dad, dadi, Anamika bhabi and everyone who were busy spending time among themselves.

"Neil why are you standing there? Come and have a seat" Anu bhabi who was sitting beside Tiasha stood up.

"No bhabi it's ok. You all carry on. Moreover I have work to do."

"Work? Today? No bhaiyya please. Please today at least sit with us and spend some time. Moreover, bhabi is a new member of this family and you tell me will it look good if you leave her like this?" Naina said

"It's ok Naina. I won't feel bad. He must have something important to do."

"But bhaiyya please at least for today. I or we never tell you anything. But please come  no. Please bhaiyya. Please" Naina requested with puppy eyes.

"Yeah Neil just come here now. And you don't know him yet Tiasha. He is always like this. Neil come and have a seat. The entire world won't turn upside down if you do so." dadi added to her  and as I couldn't deny any of them, having no option left, I went and took my seat.

Obviously not beside Tiasha.

"Dadi you know this very well that I can't deny your words nor this sweet pie's and this is not fair." I leaned my head on her shoulder as she caressed my hair, laughing while Naina ran and gave me a hug.

Both are really crazy

After that, it was about another half an hour or 45 minutes that we all were sitting together, lost in the conversation.

All kept on chatting and chatting and without uttering a single word, I sat there quietly.

Though I don't like these so much yet the bright smile that plastered on each and every person's face present there made me feel happy as I knew that my family was happy and in this entire world nothing was more important to me than my lovely family.
.......

Time passed and it was evening. I was busy working on a presentation when  I heard a knock at the door.

"Come in" I said fixing my eyes on the laptop screen.

"Sir your coffee. Shalini ma'am sent it"

"Ok keep it on the table"

"Ok"

After placing the mug on the table, he left the room when I stood up to bring a file. Grabbing the mug from the table, I walked forward, taking a sip when I suddenly bumped with someone.

"What the hell!! Can't you see and walk" two voices echoed at the same time.

I looked up just to find Tiasha standing in front of me, holding the end of the table just to maintain a balance, with her books, copies and notes scattered on the ground.

"Neil I could have just fallen" she gave me an irritating look as she bent down to collect her books.

"And my laptop could have been damaged" I replied to which she looked at me, surprised.

"Seriously? Here a person could have injured herself and you are thinking about your laptop?" she stood up, collecting the books from the ground.

"At least for me of course my laptop is more important than you." I took another sip from the mug.

"You are impossible. Now shift and let me arrange these" she excused herself as I moved aside.

"You better learn to control this Rajdhani Express speed of yours or will  fal---" I stopped in between as I saw her stumbling with the books and getting disbalanced.

Before she could completely loose her balance and fall on the ground, I gave her a support by holding the books from beneath, with one of my hands and the other hand encircled around her waist.

"Be careful and give me the books" I said releasing my hands from her waist as she looked at me with eyes popping out in shock.

Did I say anything shocking?

"What di--did you sa--say??" she stammered.

"Come on Tiasha I didn't