"Take care of your new family, Rishita. You are going to live there forever," my mother said as I walked in the living room to leave.

"Yes, mom," I said monotonously.

I had come back home to meet my parents. It was another stupid ritual. After getting married you had to visit your parents again for a day. Don't even ask me the reason. I was just following orders. Vihaan's mother was still out on her trip and won't return for another week.

"R-Rishi," my mother spoke again, hesitantly.

"Yeah?"

"Are you happy?"

"Does that even matter? You have already pushed me to hell, maa. It does not matter if I am happy or not," I said.

"But Rishita said that you are not coming," I heard my dad's voice.

"Vihaan, what are you doing here?" I asked completely shocked.

"Came to pick you up. Mom called up this morning to say that you were coming here," he said. "You should have told me you were visiting your parents, I would have dropped you."

"She did not tell you?" My father asked glaring at me.

"I didn't know either that I was coming. Vihaan's mother called me up to inform that I should complete this ritual. She called me after you left for your office," I said defensively.

"Still you should have just called him or something," my father said still glaring.

I did not say anything. I just nodded and whispered a sorry.

"Anyway, now that you are here, have dinner with us," my father said.

Till then my mother and Ayush joined us in the living room.

"Yes beta, have dinner," my mother insisted.

"No thanks, Mom. We will have it when we go home. We will just leave," Vihaan said politely.

My parents agreed to that. I don't know how? They can be very persistent if they want. We bid our farewell and sat in the car.

I looked outside the window as the world passed by me in a blur.

Blur, this word is soo relatable to my life right now. My life is blur.

My husband is having an affair, my parents don't give a shit about me and well my education is gone.

Everyone says all girls are daddy's girl. I was never one of them. All my father did was scold me for whatever I did. Just like today. Sometimes I want to be a boy. So that I can get my father's love which I have been craving for since I was little.

"Rishi, we are home," Vihaan said in a soft voice.

I came out of my reverie and took in my surroundings. I had zoned out for soo long?

I just nodded and got out of the car. He silently followed me as we entered the house.

"Umm.. Rishi, are you okay?" Vihaan asked concern lacing in his tone.

"Good. Just tired," I said with a small smile.

"Anyways, I got you something," he said grinning like a child.

"What?"

He took out a rectangular box wrapped in a red gift wrapper.

"This is for you," he smiled, giving me the gift.

I was shocked as I looked at the box in my hand. I looked at him then I looked at the box and then again at him.

"What? Open it."

I just nodded and started opening the gift. I gasped as I looked at the thing present in the box. It was a beautiful sky blue saree. I touched the fabric and literally moaned as how smooth it felt against my fingers.

"Do you like it?" Vihaan asked in a hopeful tone.

"I don't know?" I said still looking at the gift. It came out more like a question.

"What do you mean by, you don't know?"

"I just don't know," I said a little loudly.

"Rishita, will you speak up," he said sounding somewhat pissed.

That tone angered me. I kept the gift on the table and looked straight into his black orbs.

"Why are you doing this? Last time I checked we never talked or looked at each other. On the first night of our marriage you brought someone else to our place. We are not one of those normal arranged marriage couple, Vihaan. For fuck's sake, we did not even look at each other before getting married. And suddenly you doing such things is just confusing me," I took a deep breath after finishing my rant but I never broke the eye contact.

He looked away and I swear I saw guilt in his eyes. There was pindrop silence. No one spoke. He looked at me again keeping his voice void of any emotions.

"Look, I know, I was an ass at first. I never wanted to get married. I was forced too. And I know even you were. But I was too selfish to see that. We are stuck together Rishi, whether you like it or not. And talking about Kristen, I broke up with her. So don't worry. I am trying to make things right. Marriage works from both sides, you take one step and I will take one step. We have to make this marriage work, we have no other choice."

I was stunned by his speech. I felt somewhat guilty to shout at him like that. He was trying and even I should.

"You ready to take that one step?" he asked hopefully.

I nodded and smiled at him. He smiled back. I don't know why something fluttered inside me seeing him smile.

"So, you are going to wear that saree or what?" he asked.

"You want me to wear it now?" I asked raising my eyebrow.

"Yes, I would love it if you would," he said with a smile tugging on his lips.

"Okay."

"And will you please make me some dinner. I am kind of starving," he said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

I laughed at his statement and nodded. I went in our room and changed quickly. The saree showed my curves perfectly. It kind of made my brown eyes stand out. I smiled at my appearance and went back in the drawing room.

Vihaan was sprawled out on the couch flipping channels on the TV. I cleared my throat to get his attention and he looked at me.

No one spoke for a while, he just stared at me with a glint in his eyes. I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

"What do you think?" I whispered.

He walked towards me invading my personal space.

"Fucking perfect," he whispered, his warm breath fanning my face.

I smiled at him and took a step back. Not because I didn't like it. But because my heart was beating at an abnormal pace and my lungs were not consuming oxygen.

"Thank you. I-I will make dinner n-now," I stuttered and started making my way into the kitchen.

About half an hour later, the dinner was ready. As I was organizing the plates on the dinner table, someone wrapped their arms around me making me jump up in surprise.

"Shh, it's me," Vihaan whispered in my ears.

Goosebumps erupted on my entire body and let's not talk about my heart beat. What is happening to me?

"V-Vihaan," I tried to free myself but he tightened his grip around me pressing my back further into his chest.

His palms rested on my bare stomach. The part where he was touching me was literally tingling. He rested his chin on my shoulder and whispered,

"You are looking so beautiful, I could not resist myself."

Thank God, I was not facing him, I know would be as red as a tomato.

He turned me towards himself. Now I was facing him. I was not looking at him, I looked everywhere else but him.

He sighed and took a step back.

'Nooooo,' my subconscious screamed.

"I think we should take things slow," he said.

"Yeah, I guess."

"The main base of any marriage is Trust. So we have to start with trusting each other. It will take time but we can try," he said meeting my brown eyes.

I smiled and nodded.

Maybe, maybe this was the start of something of new.