Prologue:

7 years ago
Arya.
It’s my eighteenth birthday. In a week I’ll be moving to the States for my undergrad, so it’s
kinda like a birthday and a sendoff party. My father being him organized the most happening
parties in Bangalore for my friends and their family who are also dad’s business partners. My
dad is the best dad you’ll ever find. I am not his biological daughter, he found me when he
was 20 lying next to his car door while he went to grab a coffee from the local café. And he
adopted me. Though my grandparents initially frowned at him for adopting me it only took
them a week to fall in love with the adorable me. As I stood in front of my full length mirror
wearing a cute white dress ending right above my mid-thigh paired with 2 inch white printed
sneakers and with my black hair ending just below my hair I looked not a day less than 16
years. See now I cannot help it I am not oversized okay maybe a little, with a height of 5’3
and chubby cheeks I look younger than my age at least that’s what my friends say. But I
know I’m pretty but cute kind of pretty. I look at myself one last time in the mirror clearing
invisible specks of dust from my white dress. I came out of my room just to be bear hugged
by my best friend Aarav. He’s one dad’s oldest friends’ son. We hit it off as soon as we met
at our pre-school. It’s been 10+ years now. “Happyyyyy Birthdayyyyyyyyy youuuuu!!!” he
said. I hugged him back “Thank you for ruining my dress arsehole”. “So what plans for
today????” he asked ogling at the waitress walking in front of us. He is the most handsome
person I’ve ever come across, girls and women literally fall to their knees for him and him
being him is a one-night stand kinda guy. Okay maybe not the most handsome but the third
most handsome person with my dad being second and the person walking to me being the
first. Aditya. He’s my first crush and my first love. Our parents are business partners so that’s
how we met. He’s two years older than me. He’s ignored me all his life, though I’ve not been
subtle about my actions I’ve practically followed him everywhere. Same school, same pre-
university, everywhere. But I am an invisible fly to him, he doesn’t know that I love him
because I am too much of an introvert to actually come forward and tell it to him. But I am
telling him today because if not today then never. “Arya you’re drooling” Aarav drawled
beside her. “Shut up Aarav”. “Happy birthday Arya” Aditya’s masculine voice said. “Thank
you” I added shyly, God what is wrong with her. My mind and heart were buzzing with
anticipation as Aarav and Aditya indulged in their ‘boy talk’. I had to say it today I reminded
myself. By the time I turned my head towards them he was already gone and Aarav was busy
flirting with dad’s friends’ daughter. I leave him to his sprees and go in search of Aditya. I
don’t remember the particular instance that I started liking him, but I just know. The way he
looks after his parents, siblings, friends in his own twisted way or the way he volunteers at
the homeless shelters without anybody knowing (I had to pull a few strings to know. If you
know you know) there’s like a million reasons as to why I love him. Now is the time to say it.
It’s not like we don’t talk at all we do but only when we cross paths and the other times it’s
just me stealing glances at him. I walk towards the gazebo in my garden spotting Aditya
talking to one of dad’s associate’s daughter. Why are they standing so close though? They are
practically inches away from each other. And then in a flash of second his lips are on hers. I
can feel my heart shattering to pieces and I don’t know all of sudden I burst out crying. I
never knew he’d started dating. Shit. They’re still kissing. It’s so passionate they’re literally
eating each other’s faces. I run from there and lock my bedroom door and press my back
against it. Shit shit shit this was not supposed to happen. I had to be there he found someone
else now. I don’t know when and how, I feel wrapped in a blanket on the bed.
7 years later
Aditya:
“You know I cannot marry Arya, I already have someone I love. How do you expect me to
leave her for your daughter” I spit out to that smug Advik who is blackmailing me into
marrying his daughter. Sick son of bastard. “See I don’t care, I have dirt on your father,
which you know would ruin your company’s reputation. Break up with that so called love of
yours and marry my daughter. You have 2 minutes to make your decision.” he said. All this
because my father pulled up some shit ass strings to win over his competitors. I am powerful
but so is Advik. So I have no opionThe problem in all of this, Sam. I love her, I was planning
on proposing her and starting my family with her only to be blackmailed by this son of a
bitch. We stated dating when I was 25 and I am 29 now. I am comfortable around her. Its
nice. But I cannot risk my lakhs of employees for my own desires. I have to sacrifice her.
Sacrifice my dream. “Fine” I say exhausted. “Okay then great make a public statement that
you broke up with her and I’ll arrange a wedding after 6 months of your breakup. There are
few conditions though”. “What are they?”. “You are not supposed to cheat on my daughter
and you have to stay married for atleast 6 months” he laid out. “Fine” I spit out. But I’ll not
let her get away with this. Arya get ready for your hell of a married life with me. I’ll make
her life as difficult as possible. I’ll make sue she knows that I love her just to divorce her at
the six months. But for this to happen…. “ I have one condition” “Pray tell what is it?” “This
is supposed to be a secret for atleast 6 months” “Fine” he says. Arya get ready for your happy
married life.