Diya PoV:

Shourya asked me to leave him alone. Few things hurt without our consent. My heart got attracted to him without my permission. While I am falling for him, he is trying sincerely to avoid me. I am watching TV but changing channels continuously as my mind is unstable.

I heard Shourya's footsteps. He came and sat beside me, switching off the TV.

"I am sorry, Diya," Shourya said, closing his eyes.

I started changing the channels again to show my anger.

"Diya, please stop it," Shourya said and switched off the TV again.

"What? Is there any rule in your home that I shouldn't watch the TV? "

"Tomorrow, we are going shopping," Shourya said.

"What?"

"If you like, let's go for a shopping tomorrow," Shourya said.

"Compensation for shouting at me, right?"

Shourya smiled.

"Diya, I thought you are only a good journalist, but these days I am seeing a new person in you."

I didn't respond to his words. The next day, I got ready and packed my luggage, noticed by Shourya.

"Diya, I have apologized to you. Why are you leaving our house?" Shourya said.

"I am going to my village, Shourya. I need peace of mind."

"Whom do you have there? I heard that you lost your parents in your childhood."

"There is no neccessity to share my personal details with you. I am not a criminal obliged to answer you," I said.

"When will you be back?"

"Why are you asking me all this? I am the last person for whom you care?"

Shourya took the luggage from my hand and held my wrist to take me to the car.

"Get in. I will drop you at the bus stop."

I got into the car. Shourya dropped me at the bus stop and kept the luggage on the bus.

"Water bottle."

Shourya gave a water bottle and apples to me. He got down from the bus and brought chips packets to me. I took them, but I didn't look at him. Shourya sat beside me.

"What are you doing?"

"Is your permission necessary for me to travel on this bus?" Shourya said.

I turned the other side but noticed him smiling. He took the ticket to the same village where I took the ticket.

"What about your duty?" I asked.

"For the first time, I realized that there is something more important than my duty."

I forgot to blink for a few seconds listening to Shourya. Is it Shourya who said those words?

We reached my village and got down from the bus.

"Where are we going now?"

"I don't know where you will go, but I am going to my home," I said.

"Okay, then come, let's go back. That's where your home is!" Shourya said.

I called an auto, and we both got into it. I went to the house. Aunty and uncle welcomed us heartfully. They are the parents of the person whom I married in my childhood. They treat me as their daughter. They know about my marriage with Shourya. We went to the room, and Shourya laid on the bed.

"Diya, bring me a coffee," Shourya said.

Who is he to order me? I mind the least. By the way, I am not his wife to prepare coffee for him.

"I asked for coffee."

"There are no servants here to follow your orders," I said.

"I didn't order. I asked coffee to my... "

I expected him to complete the sentence by saying his wife. However, he disappointed me as usual.

"Let it be. I lost interest to sip a coffee," Shourya said and went for a shower.

I went to the kitchen to talk with aunty. We prepared lunch, and aunty asked me to call Shourya for lunch.

"Shourya, lunch is ready," I said.

"I am not hungry," Shourya said, earnestly.

"Please, don't say that. We can talk about all these at our home. Please, don't hurt aunty and uncle," I requested him.

"Then you should do whatever I say," Shourya smirked and raised his eyebrow.

"I won't. You had hurt me."

"I won't come for lunch," Shourya said.

"I will do whatever you say," I said, and Shourya came for lunch.

I never do what others say. I do what I like. Especially I decided to do everything opposite to what you say, Mr. Shourya. I cursed him in my mind.

"Diya, why don't you both visit our temple? In our village, every newlywed visit that temple to make their bonding stronger," aunty said.

I don't think Shourya will agree. He wants this bond to end soon. So, I decided to say No.

"Aunty, we will go some other time," I said to which Shourya glared at me.

Why is he angry at me now?

"Diya, think once again. You know well if the newlywed couple didn't visit the temple as soon as possible, they will face many problems," aunty said.

"We will visit the temple today, aunty," Shourya said.

I went to the room after our lunch, and Shourya looked at me with anger.

"What?"

"Why did you refuse to go to the temple?"

"Because we both have no intention of making this bond a permanent one," I said.

"We are going to the temple in the evening. Be ready," Shourya said, and I nodded.

In the evening, Shourya came to the temple with me. He kept vermilion on my forehead as per the ritual. The priest asked me to tie a sacred thread to him. I looked at him as mom said he hates such things. But, he forwarded his hand to tie a string to his wrist. I knotted it to him. Prayer was completed, and we sat in the temple as I want to stay for some time.

"Diya, who are that aunty and uncle? How are they related to you?" Shourya said.

What should I say? If I say that they are the parents of my ex-husband, how would Shourya react? What if he leaves me?

"Hey Diya, when did you come to our village? How are you?" My friend asked, seeing me in the temple.

"I am fine," I said.

Shourya stood beside me.

"Who is he?" my friend said.

"He... Is.." I stopped searching for an answer, unable to predict his reaction if I introduce him as my husband.

"I am her husband," Shourya said, and I looked at him. Shourya smiled and held my hand.

For some time, I went into an unknown trance hearing his words. Did he mean it? Did he accept me as his wife?