Chapter 8

• 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?