Priya asked Neha for her bag from the rear seat. She quickly braided her long flowing hair in a fishtail braid. Ram simple gaped at her in aww while Vikram and Neha burst out laughing. As soon as Priya realized what had happened , she quickly lowered her gaze and said "Chale!" 

Priya sat on the front seat while Ram sat behind the wheel and started driving. Neha and Vikram were comfortably seated with their arms wrapped around each other. 

Ram - Priya, are you ok ? 

Priya - haan, thanks ! and sorry aapko drive karna pad raha hai 

Ram - its Ok ! 

Vikram and Neha - arey Priya , its ok ! tum itna stress mat lo! Fatty bahot achi drive karta hai and frankly bachchon k baad itne saalon me hame pehli baar ek dusre k saath mauka mila hai , we are very happy ! 

Neha - waise Priya, tum Mahabaleshwar gayi ho pehle ? 

Priya - haan gayi to hun bahot baar, bachpan me Ma Papa , Ayesha Di ke saath, baad me doston k saath. Afterall, mumbai se kaafi close to yehi ek hill station hai. Mujhe na nature bahot pasand hai, to hum log na ek baar camping gaye the near the lake to wahan sunrise aur lake ka mazaa kuch aur hi tha.  

Ram's POV  

chalo she is smiling atleast, matlab ab thik hai. Ye Neha bhi na, kuch bhi bolti hai, I will talk to Priya later ki ye dono pagal dost hain mere. Waise iske baal bahot hi khubsurat hain and ye aise isne jo fatafat baalon ko style kiya hai , she looks pretty ! 

Priyas  POV

finally, thoda better feel kar rahi hun , but ye daadi and Ma ki baatein! uff, kya karun main inka, mujhe Mr. Kapoor se to baat karni hi hogi. Dekhen ab mauka mile and mood hoga tab karungi ! 

Dad's health was the reason Priya had moved back to India after her master's program in US. She had a very good paying job offer after her graduation but Dad wanted Priya to move back so she could stay right infront of him for whatever time he had . Priya had then taken up a job as a Counselor for students aspiring to study abroad. This was a job which paid her well and also gave her enough time to take Papa to the hospitals for his checkups as and when needed. 

Priya's friend Shruti knew Neha  who knew Mr. Ram Kapoor. Neha, Vikram and Ram were together in their MBA program in US. Shruti thought Ram and I could bond very well since  we both had studied abroad and  both had to come back because of family issues and our love for our respectful families. 

Ram's father Mr. Amarnath Kapoor passed away suddenly with a heart-attack leaving behind his wife - Krishna Kapoor and their three children - Ram, Rishab and Natasha and their wealth in the form of Kapoor Industries. Ram quickly took over the reigns of Kapoor Industries backed by his friend Vikram Shergill. Neha had conceived right after their marriage and hence she decided to be a stay at home mom.Kapoor Industries suffered a major setback after the death of its owner Mr. Amarnath Kapoor. Ram worked day and night burning the midnight oil to get Amarnath's dream back on track. Krishna Kapoor wanted to marry Ram to settle down with a beautiful girl who will help him cope up with all the stress and support Kapoor mansion. Ram declined saying he needs to work so that Kapoor Industries and its employees don't suffer and he also wanted to support Rishabh and Natasha's education and make sure they had everything before settling in his own life. 

Rishabh and Natasha were twins and only 15 when Amarnath passed away whereas Ram was 26. He loved his twin siblings more than his life. After 15 years at the age of 41 when his mother insisted on seeing alliances as Rishabh and Natasha were both doing so well in their lives. However, he strongly was against the thought of marriage as he thought any girl would only marry him for his money. Moreover he thought, falling in love or having a trusted relationship was impossible at his age. HIs condition for marrying any girl was simple - he wanted her to sign a contract with 3 terms

1. If and when they get divorced, she wouldn't ask a single penny from Ram in alimony, Ram would give what he thought was fine. 

2. A minimum period of 12 months had to be spent staying together in Kapoor Mansion without any expectation of physical relations between them. After 12 months were over, they could file for a divorce or get separated. 

3. She will share their bedroom whenever they stayed together for the sake of their family. Essentially to pretend, they are a normal husband and wife infront of the society. 

It was almost as if every girl was interested in Ram's money. Neha had convinced him to meet Priya once since she seemed like a really nice girl and valued her own family just like Ram. Moreover, she had stayed in the US and had a broad outlook. Neha had said she came from a well to do family herself and wouldn't be interested in Ram's wealth. She was 32 and was pretty. Mr. Sharma was a retired IAS officer and had 2 pretty daughters. While his elder daughter had a love marriage with her high school boyfriend and had 2 handsome toddler sons. 

Priya Sharma was Mr. Sharma's younger daughter and was very very intelligent and ambitious. She wanted to pursue higher education in the US and wanted to also settle down there itself. It seemed the correct thing to do.   

Priya was astonished when she heard of contract and its terms and conditions. However, she also knew this was the best deal if she wanted to make her family happy. She agreed on marrying Ram. She didn't need his money anyways and she didn't trust her fate - she had never been in love in 32 years so she was sure she wouldn't find anyone who would love her and understand her. True she had friends, and very very good friends but one thing she just couldn't fall in love with any prospects in India or US. Every "boy" ended up becoming her good friend :)

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Hear she was, clad in a pink salwar suit with mehendi still adorning her tiny hands and the black and gold magalsutra around her neck and sindoor on her forehead. Ram and Priya barely spoke for the next hour until they finally reached their resort. Everyone stepped out and their valet took their car and their luggage to the resort reception. Neha hung back with Priya while Vikram and Ram went to the counter to check in. Neha apologized for her behavior on the road to which Priya politely obliged. She looked tensed and hence

Neha - kya hua, tum abhi bhi Shipra ji and Dadi ki baaton se upset ho kya? 

Priya - to be honest , haan, saath me ye bhi lag raha hai ki kitna jyada pressure hai iss relationship par ki kahin ye itne pressure me zarurat se jyada uljhanein aayein ! 

Neha - tum fikr mat karo, apne vishwas par vishwas rakho aur us uparwale par jinhone ye rishta banaaya hai :) sab thik hi hoga and haan subah ki baat ko mann se utar do after talking to Ram once. He will take care of it :) Chalo ab ! 

Priya - haan chalo ! 

Vikram had arranged for a penthouse styled house in the resort. It was a lavish house with a living room , kitchen and 2 bedrooms for both couples. There was also a private swimming pool in the front yard. 

Neha jumped with joy into Vikram's arms leaving Priya and Ram staring at each other awkwardly. 

It was noon when everyone checked in and freshened up and were comfortably sitting in living room. Priya and Neha had made tea and coffee for the 4 of them. Ram obviously ordered lunch , he was hungry (being a foodie :), he was pleasantly plump)

vikram - yaar Neha, aaj kahin nahi jayein to chalega ? drive karli hai aaj and itni subah uth gaye the to rest hi kar lete hain in the evening. Let's explore the resort and its activities today. Ram, Priya - kya kehte ho?

Ram - haan bhai chalega, mujhe thoda kaam bhi katam karna hai wo kar lunga aaj . Priya tum resort explore kar lena Neha , Vikram k saath . ok?

Priya - Ok !, ek shart hain - aaj shaam ko bahar ka khaana nahi order karte, I'll cook. Yahan kitchen well stocked hai and main soch rahi thi ki I feel like an outsider looking at the friendship you 3 share. To main kuch board games laayi hun , aaj unko use karke main soch rahi thi ki main bhi aapke friend circle me shaamil ho jaungi aur aap teeno ko bhi mere baare me kuch pata chal jayega :) I love cooking too, ye shaadi jab se hui hai tab se kitchen so to jaise relation hi nahi raha and yahan ka kitchen seems lovely!

Dinner and drinks on me! Mr. Kapoor and Vikram scotch pasand karte hain to I'll order Mc. Allen, chalega?  

Ram and Vikram were staring at her as though she was speaking Latin 

Priya - aise kya dekh rahe hain aap? maine dekha hain aap dono ko and main drinks k baare me kaafi kuch jaanti bhi hun. Main drink karti hun ocassionally ! I really enjoy and sabse badi baat I know my limits which I never exceed :) Neha, tum wine logi mere saath? Red or white? 

Neha - tum ko to aaj gale lagane ka mann kar raha hai, no bachche and wine! I'll love that. 

Priya - Ok ! Red Wine it is then ! main room service pe order place kar deti hun. Ek request hai - main Veg Pasta bana lungi along with some starter. Tum meri chicken me help kar dogi? I'm not confident about non veg :) 

Neha - lekin tum to non veg nahi khaati na?

Priya - main meat nahi khaati, lekin mujhe gravy bahot pasand hai and wo main khaati hun. Lekin Ma , Papa ko nahi pata hai.. Help karogi ya nahi? 

Neha smilingly - haan kar lungi ... Ram, mujhe to Priya ekdum perfect lag rahi hai hamare friend circle main. I love her :) 

Vikram - more than me! 

Neha - aww baby! getting jealous! 

Saying this she hugged him . They ate lunch peacefully and turned in their bedrooms for quick nap while Ram worked ..