9.

Busy chatting with kids and girls after the dinner, Aaravi frowns looking at a new face. Trisha looked down feeling anxious under her gaze.

“Hi.." Trisha looked at her and saw her smiling at her.

She gives a nervous smile and greets back in a small voice.

“Sorry to make you uncomfortable. I saw you for the first time here, soo."

" It's fine,” Aaravi nodded.

"I am Aaravi…you?” She introduced herself to her.

"Trisha…”

"Nice name…” Trisha smiled at her compliment.

At the same time, Siya comes there and smiles at Trisha who returns with her small smile.

“So you both met…I was coming to introduce Trisha. She is such a sweet girl," Siya said sitting beside Trisha. Aaravi smiled.

"She came here a few days back. Your brother brought her here as she didn't have anyone here,” Aaravi frowned.

“Bhai??" Siya nodded and told her how Ryan met her.

"oh!...Trisha, don't worry, we all are here for you. You can stay here comfortably. And If you need anything just let Me or Nano know, okay,” Trisha nodded giving her thankful smile.

“Actually Aunty…I want a little help," Trisha nervously said looking at Siya.

“Yes, ask away dear…what is it?"

"I wanted to do a job, if you help me-” Siya held her hand and smiled.

"Sure, I would love to help you. Let's do one thing, meet me tomorrow in my office, hmm??” Trisha nodded happily and smiled at her, making Siya pat her head lovingly.

“Keep smiling like this, dear…" She said softly.

Trisha felt her love and warmth in her words as Siya smiled, looking at her affectionately.

Blinking her eyes, she comes to her senses and gives her forced smile.

Sitting beside each other and their backs resting against the tree, Ryan and Aaruhi just stay silent while waiting for some vehicle to pass so they could reach the city.

There is an air of hesitation and awkwardness around them making them go silent.

Aaruhi slightly looks at him, who has his eyes closed.

“What do we say to our family?" She softly asked, making him turn to her.

He sighs, rubbing his temple with his fingers.

“I don't know…" after this there is silence between them for a while before Aaruhi open her mouth,

"What is this marriage means for u?” Ryan stay quiet for a moment.

He slowly turn to face her who is looking at him hopefully,

“I don't know….” Aaruhi felt a pinch in her heart hearing his reply.

“But what I know is that marriage is not something to take as a play…at atleast for me," He said.

Aaruhi stares at him then smiles slightly which look sad.

"I am sorry.." she said softly, making Ryan confused as he frowned.

“You are forced to marr-"

"Aaruhi!!” he called in a stern tone as he cut her word.

She innocently looked at him, seeing his hard eyes.

“Why are you apologizing?…I know we were forced into this situation. And marrying you is my decision then I should be the one apologizing to you,…" She shook her head and held his hand.

"I did this to save us, please don't apologize,”

“Then stop thinking nonsense. And we both were compelled in this situation. No one is at fault," he told her softly to which she nodded like a child.

“But now what?" She said after a minute of silence between them.

"What do you want, Aaruhi? I am ready with whatever you decided for us,”

Aaruhi looks at him with surprise as he asks her to make a decision for them, for their relationship.

“What?" She whispered.

She can't do this. How can she decide for both? No!

Because she knows, she will get selfish for him if she chooses. She wants him for herself. She wants them to be together. She has admired him since childhood and always dreamed about him.

But what about him, he didn't see like she does. She doesn't want him to compromise for her. It's wrong and unjust for him.

He too must have some dreams and fantasies for his love life, like everyone. And it will be so wrong on her part if she snatches his chance of finding love.

But will she ever be able to move on from him? And what if it's her chance to finally have him as her, right?

Aaruhi started feeling a headache with all these thoughts running inside her head.

“No Aru, you can't be selfish…" she told herself.

“I wanted to give this marriage a chance…” she whispers, shocking herself. That's not what she was supposed to say.

With a racing heart, she looks up to see Ryan looking at her patiently and with a soft look on his face.

She felt little calm seeing his reaction and taking a deep breath, she further add,

“Ryan, For me marriage is a sacred bond. And we are now tied in this beautiful bond, it's hard to accept but it's true. But I will never ask you or force you to accept this relationship just because I think so because I also know if we are not happy with this relationship then there would be no meaning to this marriage. Now it's on you and I promise I am with you with whatever you choose,"  She smiles at the end while Ryan just keeps staring at her as if he is thinking something very deeply.

“Ryan?" Aaruhi softly calls him when he stays silent for a while.

“Sorry, I was just thinking something," he said, coming out of daze.

“You heard na, what I was saying-..” Ryan nodded.

“I guess then there is no one in your life to claim my wife as his, right?" Suddenly he asked with a small smile on his face but Aaruhi went still hearing him while staring at him with wide eyes.

“Wha-.." she tried to say but felt her throat dry.

Her heart is thudding loudly against her ribs as her mind is again and again repeating the word ‘wife’ inside her head.

She blinked her eyes a few times and suddenly felt heat creeping up to her neck and face.

“You really mean…I mean-” she stammered in nervousness.

Ryan hid his smile seeing her so flushed and nervous.

“I mean what I said. I accept you as my wife. And now I wanted to ask you, "Will you take me as your husband?"

Aaruhi bit her lips and her eyes started burning with hot tears which filled her eyes. She nodded slowly and looked down, closing her eyes and letting her tears go.

Ryan looks at her as she sobs and sniff lightly.

“Why are you crying, now? Did you not like me??" He asked her, to which she look up in fear and vigorously shook her head.

"You don't like me…”he said and Aaruhi widened her eyes thinking he got her wrong.

"I like you-” Ryan gave her a surprised look while she slapped her forehead realizing her words.

“I mea…I don't…huh? No!..."  Seeing her so panicked and worked up, Ryan started chuckling softly.

"Relax, Aaruhi…I was just kidding,” he told her, smiling at her.

Aaruhi pouted at him then smiled slightly to herself when he muttered a small apology.

Suddenly they heard a vehicle honk and look at the road to see a bus coming.

Ryan stood up and helped Aaruhi to stand up.

“Let me stop the bus…" he told her before he walked near the road and waved his hand.

The bus comes to halt making Ryan smile in relief.

He quickly walks to Aaruhi and wrapping his arms around her waist, he helps her inside the bus.

They got the empty seat as the bus was almost empty with only a few seats filled.

They say on the double seater side.

Aaruhi smiles and sighs in relief as she takes the seat. She closed her eyes, feeling cold air on her face as the bus started moving towards the city.

Ryan gazes at her as she smiles looking outside the window. She looks peaceful even though she is tired with all the running and struggle they went through.

She has her dupatta wrapped around her body due to the cold.

A small smile formed on his lips as he noticed a hair strand was disturbing her, making her pout in irrigation.

Suddenly she turned to his side, making him look away from her instantly.

“Shit! What I was doing??? Stupid Ryan!" He muttered under breath and softly hit the side of his head while scolding himself.

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