SIYA 

The constant pain in my head broke my sleep. I shifted in the bed to sit straight before checking the time on my phone, which showed 3 a.m. The first thought that flooded my mind was of my parents. How can they be so heartless with their own daughter?

Before I knew it, hot tears brimmed in my eyes. With the back of my hand, I tried to wipe them away with a fierce swipe.

Just ten days ago, I celebrated my 20th birthday, and now here I was, married to a man I hardly knew, without my consent! My heart twisted painfully at the thought that he hadn't even stepped into his room after our wedding, forcing me to think about his disinterest towards me. And I couldn’t help but sob silently while sitting on the bed. 

All I have heard about him from all the rumours is that he is rude and arrogant-what a charming reputation to start a marriage with.

I shook my head and swung my legs off the bed, heading to the washroom.

As I stepped inside, my eyes widened at the sight of his washroom. It was all black and big, with a shower in another corner. Even my room is like a peanut in size compared to his huge washroom. If a luxurious washroom had a real face, it would be his.

I walk towards the mirror, drawn to my reflection.

There stood a girl adorned with a mangal sutra, vermillion on my forehead, and the red chura gracing my wrists. I looked like a completely different person, more like a stranger in my own skin. I had dreams to accomplish like every other girl. I thought as I shed long tears that fell like a waterfall. Nonstop.

I glanced down at the black shirt I was wearing. It was his, my now husband’s shirt, and his cologne hit me like a fresh reminder. 

I clutched his shirt in my fist from his collar and sniffed more of him, a scent both intoxicating and suffocating me at the same time— a strong reminder that now I was tied to him. Forever. Even if I want it or not. Even if I cry for days, I can no longer get my freedom back. He is my cage now.

I sobbed at this mere thought. 

“Oh god. No..” A loud sob escaped my throat, and I hurriedly covered my mouth with my palms, stopping myself from making any sound.

I stood there, frozen in my place as I tried to control my cries. 

After a few minutes, when I sobered down, I washed my face with water.

I only got two of my luggage pieces, I thought, while drying my face with the paper towels there. The first was filled with my lingerie, and the second luggage had my personal things like jewellery, bangles and my vanity products.

“God! Now I'm missing my clothes.” 

I walk out of the washroom back to the bedroom, secretly wishing I don’t see him there. 

As I step back to the bedroom, the cool breeze strokes my body that was coming from the room’s open balcony. And I instinctively made my way outside, desperate for a moment of fresh air like any other human being.

A smile tugged at my lips unknowingly as l gazed up at the sky. The moon was shining brightly in the starry night. But my moment was abruptly shattered when I sensed someone's presence around me, watching me. 

The hair on my whole body stood in reflex. My breath turned heavy, and my heartbeat started to catch a fast rhythm.

I turned to my right, and I gasped– there he was, lounging in the corner of the balcony,

No doubt, he was looking more than handsome in the black shirt he wore, and his eyes met mine, igniting a mix of warmth and suspicion in my chest.

His gaze roamed over my body, from my head to my toes, making my cheeks flush as the realisation washed over me that I was wearing his shirt. 

But I had no option. It’s not like I was going to ramp walk in my lingerie in front of him.

ZAYNE

After having a long 2-hour conversation with my friend, I finally returned to our shared bedroom. Last night, I married my father's best friend's daughter—a girl who is 8 years younger than me. With each step I took, my chest tightened. 

“Fuck this feeling.” I whispered to myself.

The moment I pushed the door open, I was met with a not-so-shocking sight: my wife, who was sleeping in my bed so comfortably.

Here, my mind is all fucked up because of her, and she is having the best sleep of her life. Well, I should not blame her when it was my parents who arranged this marriage for us.

It was 2:45 am & my head was throbbing like crazy. 

To breathe some fresh air, I moved to sit on the balcony's couch. Because the way my body was tightening with the thought that she was sleeping on my bed, it was giving me some mixed feelings that I couldn’t express.

 I never wanted to marry her in the first place, not because I have someone in my life. It was solely because I did not wanna ruin her life.

My parents forced me to marry her, especially my mother, who knows I can't see tears in her eyes. And I accepted her decision.

Her words are still roaming in my mind, "She is best for you, Zayne".

Play: Teri zhuki nazar

Just when I was thinking deeply about my dear wife, I saw her stepping onto the balcony.

Wasn't she sleeping? That was my first thought.

It was not a small balcony. And considering I was resting on a recliner with a glass of alcohol, she didn’t notice my presence. The first time this liquid touched my tongue, the reason was nothing but my wife. 

My gaze never moved away from her face, which was glowing because of the moonlight hitting her skin directly. She was smiling, in words, admiring the moon without caring about her surroundings.  

I forced myself to move my eyes away from her, not digesting her alluring presence. But what caught my attention was the piece of cloth on her body. 

My fucking shirt. 

It looked like a one-piece on her, which speaks to her size compared to mine. Her mid-thighs were covered, yet her smooth legs were exposed, 

"Stop eye fucking her". My inner voice scolded me.

Her smile drops, and she turns her attention to me, finally. And when her gaze met mine, an audible gasp left her mouth while her eyes were wide open. 

“What a reaction!” I could not help but think. Maybe she got scared, or maybe she was not expecting me, at least not here.

I got up, taking slow, intimidating steps towards her. I didn’t mean to scare her, and yet she started backing off from me. Her legs stopped moving when her back touched the railings behind her.

I filled the gap between us, causing her to gaze up at me. After all, my 6’2 muscly figure was literally working like a shadow for her. 

My eyes caught a glimpse of her features, and that's when I realised she had beautiful ocean-green eyes, which were red, maybe due to crying.

Was she crying? But Why? A thought nestled in my mind like a mission.

I placed my hands on the railings on either side of her waist, caging her between my arms, considering that her fate had already been caged with mine.

She gasped.

"Breathe, Princess." I softly told her when I noticed how she literally stopped breathing.

And she listened to me.

She released the breath that she was holding till now and looked me in the eyes.

"I-I'm sorry." She said, noticing how my eyes were going up and down on her.

She gulped.

"For what?" I asked her even though I knew the reason.

"Actually,  I didn't have clothes, I-I mean I don't know where my luggage is-". She answered softly, clutching the hem of my shirt in her fist.

My gaze moves and settles on her mole under the corner of her left eye.

"Go and sleep." I told her, making her nod instantly. I moved aside, giving her space, and she went back to the room.

SIYA

My heart was thumping louder in my chest as  I walked back to the room before I lay on the bed, tugging myself into the warm quilt.

After a few minutes, he also came inside his room. He took a glance at me and went to the bathroom.

Where would he sleep? I thought.

"It's his room." My inner self taunted me.

When I heard the opening and closing sound of the bathroom door,  I swiftly shifted my figure to the edge of the bed, leaving space for him.

He came out, wearing a black t-shirt paired with the same colour sweatpants.

Silently, I hugged the blanket, feeling nervous again. 

“God, save me.” I prayed in my mind.

Well, what can you expect a girl to feel when she marries a stranger and is forced to sleep on the same bed? 

And not to forget the way he was staring at me. God! I literally forgot to breathe when he came close to me. 

ZAYNE

I had no intention to make her uncomfortable, but there was no couch in my room where I could sleep. So I went to the other side of the bed and got inside the blanket.

And, I'm not a gentleman who will sleep on the couch when I have my own bed. It’s not like we are strangers anymore. We have to sleep together eventually someday. Be it tonight or some other night after this. 

I frowned when she placed two pillows between us, building a soft wall. 

As if it can save her from anything. Especially me. 

"Are you feeling uncomfortable with me?" I wanted to know her answer, so I asked after tuning my body to face her.

She shook her head in a no.

"Then why did you place them here?" I questioned with furrowed brows.

"I… I thought you would feel uncomfortable with me." She told me so softly.

Uncomfortable with you? Really, wife? Even 50 of you can’t hurt me in any way. And I mean in a very platonic way. 

I literally forced myself to murder these words in my throat.

"You're not making me feel uncomfortable, Princess. In any way." I replied and gently removed the pillows from there.

Darkness took over the room when I switched off the lights, and that’s when I heard her,

"Good night." She wished.

"Hmm…" I replied, closing my eyes as sleep started to possess me.

She tosses her body, making my lashes open again.

—✿✿✿—

I woke up feeling bright lights hitting my eyes.

I adjusted my vision, and the first thing that I witnessed in the morning was her face. 

What? This close? Is it a dream? 

But I was pushed back to reality when she tossed her head on my chest, and our position made its image in my brain. 

My arms were on her waist, and her hands were encircling my neck with her face buried in my chest.

“Fuck!” I cursed under my breath.

She was so close to me that I could hear her softly snoring. But how come I moved so close to her?

I raised my head a little to see if I had gone close to her in sleep, only to find half of the bed empty from her side.

So she did it in her sleep.

If this is how my every morning is going to pass, then I might like them. After all, being 28, I need some company too. 

I literally smiled at this idea.  

The weight of hers on me started to make me feel hot. Fuck. And the thought that she is in my shirt only, and those smooth legs of hers are resting on me, not to forget the dead proximity. 

I need to be away from her. 

After a few moments, I slowly untangled her from me, making her whimper in her sleep because of the little disturbances. However, I gently placed my palm behind her head and with the other hand, I circled her lower back and carefully but gently placed her on the mattress. 

“Sleep here.” I whispered and headed to the bathroom.

Fuck. Fuck. Why is my heart thumping louder in my chest? Must be a silly attraction. 

After doing my morning routine, I came back to the room and got ready in my office attire.

My eyes again dwell on her sleeping figure.

I used to be very significant when it came to my personal space, but I didn't know that marrying someone would compromise my privacy. 

I got out of my trance, hearing my phone vibration and went outside the room to pick up the call.

SIYA

I sat straight on the bed with still sleepy eyes, realising he had already woken up.

Glad to know he is not here. Even the bathroom is empty too. 

Knocking on the door grabbed my attention. 

God! Is he knocking on the door? 

I went to open it. 

And thank my god, it was Anuradha aunty who was standing outside holding something.

"Andar aaiye aunty ji." I softly said. (Come inside, aunty)

"Call me Maa like Zayne calls me. You're like my daughter now." She said, caressing my cheek.

Hot tears pooled in my eyes, hearing her words because my mother never treated me like that.

I nodded at her words, holding back my tears from falling.

I held the hem of the shirt when her gaze went to my clothes, pulling it down to cover my thighs, feeling so much exposed right now. 

"A-Actually maa-" His mother cuts me off.

"You don't have to explain it to me, child.” She smiled before continuing further, “Take this shagun, it has a saree and some jewellery too. Get ready and come downstairs. Today is your first rasoi in this house, and if you need any help, just call me" She said with a smile and gave me the shagun.

"And yes, your luggage is downstairs. I'll tell the workers to send it to your room." She said and left the room.

—✿✿✿—