For 3 days, I didn't see him anywhere. At night I would feel him beside me in the bed. He would pull me close and in the morning he used to be gone. To be honest I didn't like it and wanted to ask him where he was gone all day but didn't cause it felt like he wouldn't care.

Today, it was different. I found him beside me in the morning and automatically smile came on my face. I watched his sleeping figure and couldn't stop myself from caressing his cheeks. His breathing got heavy and suddenly he caught my hand slowly opening his eyes. I was about to speak but he placed his finger before my lips and hushed me. He looked at me and tucked my hair behind my ear.

"I want to ask you something," He said. I looked at him confused. What does he want to ask me? Is he thinking of taking me out again?

I nodded.

"Um....Ratna..." Hearing that name got me angry and I abruptly got up but he was still holding my hand.

"Leave me," I said.

"First listen," he said "She invited us to a dinner,"

"No," I said snatching my hand.

"What?" He asked getting up.

"The answer is no to the question," I said mockingly, remembering this is what he said when I asked him why I can't leave.

"But why?"

"I don't want to be in the middle of two lo... Besties. I have no interest in being the third wheel," I was afraid he would forget me once he sees her. "You can go....alone and enjoy," I said getting out of bed.

"Are you jealous?" He said in a lazy tone.

"Jealous, my foot," I rolled my eyes and then left.

The whole day, he tried to talk to me but I completely ignored him. Why does he want me to go with him? He could go alone and enjoy his time with his best friend.

While Tina was preparing dinner I told her not to make anything for him but she told me he didn't say anything to her about not making him dinner and he was still in the house. Later he came and sat to eat with me. I didn't bother to talk or ask why didn't he go. After some time I looked at him and he was already looking at me. He didn't speak a word. The silence was bothering me so I asked him.

"You didn't..."

"No," he said without letting me finish.

"You could have gone alone," I said not looking at him.

"I don't want to," he said and for a long time, I felt his eyes on me.

It was already 12 but he didn't come into the room. I went to check on him but my legs stopped when I heard him talking in a loud voice.

"He must be talking on the phone," I thought and without bothering him I came back.

The next morning, voices coming from outside woke me up. I didn't like waking up like this. I went out to find Ratna and two other new faces sitting with the devil. As soon as I saw her my mood changed. She just ruined my morning. It's not that I hate her. I just hate the way she looks at him. I was about to leave without making my presence known to them but I heard Ratna say,

"Hey?" probably shocked to see me here.

I turned and smiled.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

Bitch I live here.

"I..."

"She lives here," Devil spoke for me. She looked at him with question-filled eyes.

The other two who seemed to be a couple introduced themselves to me, Srisha and Sanskrit.

"Can I talk to you for a sec?" Ratna asked. He looked at me then at her and got up. They both went to his office.

Can I talk to you for a sec? I repeated that sentence in my head rolling my eyes.

Srisha and Sanskrit were sweet and polite. I asked them if they want anything and they said they already had breakfast with Ratna but the devil refused.

Refused? but why?

They seemed so in love with each other. I sat with them for like 10 minutes and already got to know how much they loved each other. They were not like those couple who were always over each other but the kind of couple who admire each other and you do too.

After some time they both came smiling. I mentally rolled my eyes at them.

"I am glad you are ok, Amol. I was really worried about you when you told me you were sick,"

Did he make this excuse?

He just smiled looking at her and then when he looked at me his smile faded away.

"So, Gurans, How long are you gonna stay here?" Ratna asked me.

I shrugged making I don't know the face and looked at the devil. I didn't know when our deal was going to be over. I left saying I had some work to do and when I came down at lunchtime they were still there.

Srisha and Sanskrit insisted I have lunch with them. I couldn't say no to them. I felt quite awkward being around these people. I learned that Srisha and Sanskrit were his childhood friends. Friends turned lovers I guess. Ratna was so touchy with him. She would talk about the time they spent together and about how their families are so close blah blah. I would feel his eyes on me time and again. Srisha and Sanskrit talked to me. Maybe they thought I was feeling alone and awkward. That's the perk of being around people, you feel alone.

I excused myself after I finished eating. I wanted to walk from there as soon as possible. I was looking outside the window, lost in my world when I heard them leave and then after some time came Mr devil.

"Why did you leave so fast? they were asking about you the whole time." He said.

"I just didn't want to disturb the couples," I said plainly.

"She is...."

"Stop it, Stop, I didn't know you were so ashamed of me that you didn't even bother to tell them that I am your wife,"

"No..."

"What did you tell her? that I am some kind of girl who is living here just to fulfill your needs?" I snapped.

"I guess they believed you cause why would you want to be with an ugly girl like me, right?"

"No," he almost shouted. I flinched at his tone. I had never seen him this loud and angry. He closed his eyes. His hands were balled into fists at his sides and his knuckles were white. He slowly looked at me and I looked anywhere but him.

"First," he said calming down.

"She is my friend since childhood," he said coming towards me slowly and I took a step back, afraid he would hurt me. He may have sensed it so he stopped.

"Second, I am not ashamed of you. You are not ugly," he seethed "Don't you ever say that," he showed me his finger. "I thought you would hate it if I called you my wife."

I sat on the bed "When will this deal gonna end? Why did you make a deal with me? I want out? I just want to be alone, Live alone," I said frustrated with everything.

"Hey," he said kneeling in front of me "I married you not for anything.... " he paused. He ran his hand through his hair. He did that when he was nervous. "but because i...I like you," he whispered.

I almost laughed "I don't believe in that bullshit,"

But he was serious.

He smiled "I know you won't believe it but it's true. I told her that you were my business partner and you will be here for a while,"

That pinched me a little. Business partner? I know he was ashamed of me so he didn't tell her who I was.

I shook my head and got up "No, you know what? I give you a month. If you don't end this deal and set me free, I will tell the whole world that I am your wife, and then anyhow you will divorce me. you wouldn't want to be ashamed in front of ....."

"I said, I am not ashamed of you," he gritted his teeth, looking up at me.

I rolled my eyes and as I left.

"Feisty," I heard him say.