I hate complications. I just wanted a simple and peaceful life. See what happened. I have only heard what happened to me happen in books and movies. I got married to my fiancée's sister. Oh, I forgot to tell you the silver lining. She hates me. I don't know what to do with my life.

I am lying in my room. Today is my first night after marriage and my wife went to work. I still can't believe Ananya is my wife. If anyone told me that I will marry her just one day before, I would have admitted them to an asylum. Her luggage is in my dressing room proving that this is not a nightmare. I know that she will never accept me as her husband and she will always see me as the person her sister loves.

Also, I got my shift roster for the next month and I see that she booked her shifts with all other chief residents except me. I am not dumb to understand what this means. She doesn't want to see my face. Still, we will see each other since our shifts overlap but there will be minimal interaction. On second thought, I think it is good to not see her. It will be awkward to stay alone with her in the same house, so if we work in different shifts, it might be bearable.

I looked at the necklace that I bought for Sharanya to give her on our first night lying on the nightstand. My anger rose again. Strangely I am not heartbroken or depressed. I am just angry and hurt that she betrayed me. I sighed and called her. Her phone is switched off. Srikanth told me that she might not have a network as she is shooting in a remote location in South Africa. If only she had trusted me and told me, I would have stopped the traditional marriage and done the court marriage to avoid the consequences so that she could leave and we could have married when she came back. Now my life is complicated and the peace that I craved from married life will never come to me. She broke my trust and betrayed me.

I tossed and turned the entire night. My head is exploding with all these thoughts. I only slept in the morning. My mom woke me up at noon. I went down to eat. There is a gloomy atmosphere in the house. Everybody is lost in their thoughts. I know this affected everyone in our house. We became a laughing stock in front of our relatives and we had to make everyone sign NDA to stop them from discussing the situation. I know there will still be rumors.

"Arjun", I am brought back by my mother's voice.

"I know it is difficult to digest what happened. But you have to move on. Pinky is your wife now", my mom started.

"I know mom. I am not heartbroken. You guys can relax. Ananya and I are friends before all this. We have a good relation. So don't worry about us", at least they can stop worrying.

"Did you talk with her?" my dad asked.

"Yes, dad. She told me yesterday before going to the hospital and she called in the morning to check up on me" I lied to them.

Everybody visibly relaxed after I told them this. The tension in the air seemed to dissipate.

"Good. You should go and pick her up once her shift ends" my dad told me.

She will kill me if I go and pick her up.

"No need dad. Since she went with Sid, he will drop her. She told me not to come" my mom told me that Sid dropped her at the hospital since they have the same shift.

"No Golu. You have to go and exchange the necklace you bought for Sharanya. I don't want Ananya to wear something you bought for Sharanya. And also pick her up" my mom told me.

I reached the hospital at 9 PM and after half an hour she and Sid came to the parking lot talking with each other. They saw me and stopped where they are and started discussing animatedly glancing at me. I rolled my eyes. They are not even hiding the fact that they are talking about me. Great.

Then they both came towards me. I observed her and she didn't have the nuptial thread on her. I am a bit old school. I know that she doesn't like marrying me, but, she should at least respect the marriage. But, again I can understand that she doesn't want anyone in the hospital to think that she is married. Even I want the same. 

We started after saying goodbye to Sid and he gave a pointed look to her before leaving. They both communicate just with looks. I always wanted that type of relationship with my wife. Now I know I will never get that.

I thought of taking her to a restaurant and talk about this marriage. We need to find a middle ground to survive this marriage for the rest of our lives and I also need to give her the marriage gift. The drive to the restaurant is very very awkward. I don't know how to start the conversation. She used to be very talkative and very clingy during childhood. She and I never had a proper conversation once we are adults. We always met professionally. I didn't know that she is Pinky. Even when I got to know that she is Pinky, our relationship was already very awkward and professional at that point. So, I did the best thing to do. I started a conversation about work hoping it might reduce the tension in the air.

"How did the diskectomy go?" he asked me after some time. Thank god he did that. There is an uncomfortable silence in the car. I never observed his fingers. They are long. It is so weird sitting beside the devil in the car alone.

I then went and explained to him about the case and we had a discussion on our upcoming conjoined twin surgery case. I forgot about the situation we are in for some time thankfully. When the car finally stopped I realized it stopped in front of a hotel instead of his home. Is he asking me to stay in the hotel?

"Let's have some food before going home", seeing the confused expression on my face he explained and got down from the car to give keys to the valet.

He wants to do the talk now. God. Can't I have a good night's sleep before dealing with my life?

I too got down and followed him reluctantly. We went to the restaurant in the hotel and sat in a corner. I don't want to eat with him. I want to eat food comfortably in my sweats, not in front of him. Moreover, I don't want to talk about this complex situation while eating. I might get indigestion.

So I ordered a simple starter. He too ordered something. I don't remember. There is again an uncomfortable silence once the waiter went. I am looking anywhere but at him. He cleared his throat and forwarded me a box with a card on top. I looked at him questioningly.

"Umm...It's a gift for you from me for our marriage and this card is for your use"

I looked at the card. It's a credit card with my name. Did he get it in a day?

I then opened the box to see a diamond necklace. This must be very expensive. Moreover ours' is not a real marriage. It is just a contract until my sister returns. I don't have the right to take these gifts from him. It is my sister's.

"Thank you, Umm...."

I mean what would you call your childhood enemy turned friend/ boss/ Sister's fiancée/ your husband?

Any suggestion will do.

No?

Fine. I will decide myself.

I decided to keep it normal as in boss/employee relations.

"Sir, but, I can't accept these" I told him softly.

He seemed annoyed by my rejection.

"Listen Ananya, I know we both don't want to be in this situation. But it happened like this. We don't have a choice other than to accept this. We both got married for the sake of our families and we have to be cordial in front of them. I don't want to hurt our families"

"I don't know what expectations you have from marriage but I am not the person who pampers my wife and spends all my time catering to her whims, definitely not the type to coax you into taking gifts. You know how my typical day looks like. After a tiring day, I don't want to babysit you every day. So when I give you my time, please take it without making a fuss and also..." he started spouting.

I lost my fuse after this.

"One second, sir. Just because we married, doesn't mean you are my husband. You are my sister's fiancée. Nothing will change that. Having established that fact, I never asked you to give me your time, did I? You were the one who came to pick me up, you were the one to bring me to this restaurant and you are the one giving me these presents. I never asked you to do any of these. For your information, I earn enough to support myself. As you pointed out, we married for the sake of our families, not for ourselves. This is just a business contract and that too temporary. So as long as you behave well with my family and be friendly with me in front of them, it is more than enough for me. Please complete your dinner. I can go to your home by myself" I left saying this. He just sat there.

My head is exploding with anger.

What?

My whims?

Pampering me?

What did he think of himself? Mahesh babu?

Huh.

As if I am dying to spend time with him or getting presents from him. What the hell did Sharanya see in that idiot?

Is he Ian Somerhalder that when he gives me his time, I should jump up and down and kiss his feet?

The nerve of this guy. I came out and called Kavya to send me the location of his house. It is already eleven in the night. Everyone must be sleeping. Once she texted me the address without asking questions for which I am thankful, I got into a cab and left to his house.

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