Chapter 1

My eyes looked around as I walked down the stairs. I had taken extra efforts to dress up well. Like every single day of my existence in this new house- my new home.

Call me crazy, maybe I am. But, I was not a tad bit sad on leaving home and coming to this new place. I guess it was all because of Bollywood. Yeah, sounds outright idiotic but well truth remains. But this little secret of mine was buried only within me.

The others greeted me. I smiled. This was another issue. Smiling! Yes. Smiling. I mean, the only thing I was advised was keep smiling as you are the new daughter in law. Like seriously? Isn't the newly wed woman a human? Her cheeks would obviously hurt! Smile anyway! Oh my cheeks hurt now. I swear I hadn't smiled this much on graduation day also when we took like some five hundred pictures.

As I helped my mother-in-law my eyes rested on him. There he was precisely as per routine skimming through a newspaper. Mind you, foreign newspaper! One of the points to add to the my personal mental list titled, "My Hubby's Habits".

Oh I had a major dislike for those framless spectacles he wore. Those pretty bluish green eyes deserved better. This was to be added to , "To Manipulate List". 

I was startled slightly when he looked up suddenly as though listening to my thoughts. Scary imagination! It's better if my thoughts kept within the walls of my head. I swear I could sue them for coming out. If they did, they would for sure cause a riot. He smiled formally. I was tempted to remind him he could smirk, wink and give another kind of look to me. I was his wife of seven days! I smiled back, formally!

He looked back into the paper and I settled next to my mother in law, helping her rotate the dishes around.

The Monday morning seemed quite normal. Everyone seemed over the wedding tiredness. I couldn't thank my stars enough when my father-in-law suggested I accompany him to office. I had been at the manger post of a company that sadly turned out to be one of the rivals of the Oberoi Industries. It had been decided during the 'wedding talks' as I call it that after marriage I could work at the Oberoi's. Well at that time I was little aware that they were talking about " The Oberoi Industry " but now that I knew, nervousness took over.I was elated. A firm like the Oberoi! 

He agreed to his father in jiffy and gave me a look as though to see if I was okay. Added to the "Gentleman" list.

I looked at him. He looked devilishly handsome. All I had to do was to throw out those glasses he wore. He deserved a better pair considering how sexy he was. As he politely conversed with everyone, taking small bites, I stared at his lips. Thinking of all that they could do to me. Cursing myself I focused on my plate.

 Only a week down to the wedding and I had imagined the wildest of things with him.

But the best part of it was, he was a true gentleman. He had been sleeping on the couch since a week so that she wasn't uncomfortable. He would always go out of the room when she went in for a bath. It made me fall for him a little more every time. Considering the fact that half the men out there are otherwise.

But, that was the worst part as well. Why was he a gentleman? I was his lawfully wedded wife. I had fallen for him the first time I had seen him. Of course he wasn't aware of that. But, still! 

* * *

Seated on the passenger seat of the car, I pondered. He occasionally stole glances at me thinking I wasn't aware. I smiled wickedly in my head. Not bad! He was at least showing interest now. 

At the signal there was a knock at my window. It startled me. I saw a young woman selling roses, looking at me with hope. I quickly fished out wallet from by bag and lowering the glass, gave her the money. She offered me the red rose wrapped in a fancy paper. I politely rejected smiling at her. Shyly she almost threw the rose into my hand and ran away. I turned to him, he looked amused and turned his attention to the road. 

Once the car pulled to a halt at the multistorey building, he looked at me releasing his seat belt. He was about to get off the car when I finally decided to make a move. "Shivaay?" 

He looked at me surprised. I extended the rose to him. "For you!" 

I would call that a blush. His cheeks had a tinge of pink, though his expression was downright amused. Still. For me he blushed. 

He took it flashing a smile. "Thank you!" I bet he chuckled when he turned the other way. He fixed the rose horizontally above the rearview mirror. 

* * *

His office was huge and way to formal. Everyone was dressed in formal colors and attire. The atmosphere smelt of formality. I was so going to suffocate here. It was awkward as people stared at me. I kept that smile. My cheeks hurt. I relaxed my cheeks when he got to the lift. He went on explaing about various centres, departments, and everything. I simply kept making mental notes. I was already freaking out! How was I going to work here. I felt slightly happy that I wore a simple formal saree than those loud shimmering ones. Would I be allowed to dress in my simple kurti and jeans as before? Oh, this was harder than I thought.

When the lift opened I followed him to his personal office. I had underestimated a lot. Can I like run back home? As if a big mansion wasn't enough, there was a still larger office. And here I was a lover of small cosy places. Couldn't even consider jumping or climbing down the building, we were on the fifteenth floor!

* *  *

"How did you find the place?" He finally asked once we were in his huge cabin. Way larger than our, his room.

"It's huge!" I mentally kicked myself at that in my head. "I mean it's, umm..tremendous.

He smiled. " it is!" 

Thank God, I did not sound stupid to him. He suggested that I work directly under him with his assistant for a few days to get a feel of how things work and then I could choose whichever department and whatever I wanted to work as. 

I looked at him reluctantly. For now I shut up. It was important to understand things before jumping to conclusions.

* * *

It was nine by the time we left. He had a lot to work on I could say. He was a workaholic. I could clearly say, as I was one too. I just did not like keeping tasks pending. He asked me about my day, I cheerfully told him of it. He was a very good listener. But he spoke so less! 

* * *

That night, when he made his way to the couch, I looked at him. Guilty. This was his bed, his room, his office and I fleet like I had conquered everything to keep to myself. 

"Shivaay, umm..you can sleep here. I will take the couch."

"No it's fine, I am okay."

"No I m not okay with you sleeping there!" I said quickly.

He looked at me awkwardly. "I mean I feel guilty."

He smiled, "it's okay. I will feel guilty if you sleep here."

"Okay, sleep here. I swear I won't eat you up at night, if you sleep here." I said cheekily.

He laughed, "which side?"

"I m okay with any."

"Alright, I will take the left. You are okay with right?"

"As long as you don't eat me up or turn into monster at night!" I chuckled pulling the duvet over me and he laughed switching the light off. Not bad. Oh, boy, I had started enjoying the company of this man! 

Note:

I forgot to mention earlier, I m open to requests for this book. Or if anyone has inputs/experiences/observations etc with respect to arranged marriages , I would love to listen and attempt at writing it. You can message me.

Coming to this.....

How was it?

-Anami!