Different shades of a Man

The awkwardness between Aryan and Ishan had reached epic proportions after the incident. Aryan's unexpected entry into Ishan's room, catching him in his undergarments, had left them both embarrassed and uncomfortable. Ishan's anger and humiliation were palpable upon learning that Aryan told his mother about the kiss , and Aryan couldn't find the right words to apologize.

As they sat in the car, Aryan tried to break the silence,

"Ishan, I'm really sorry about what happened earlier. I didn't mean to—"

But Ishan cut him off, his voice firm and cold, "Don't. Just don't speak."

Aryan's eyes dropped, and he nodded silently, knowing he had overstepped.

"My wife does the same when I make a mistake."

The driver, Murli Kaka, who had been quietly observing the exchange, chuckled softly and said, " Give me the silent treatment for hours."

"Murli Kaka!" Aryan's eyes lit up as he turned to the driver, " When did you get back?"

"I joined back today, after Shanti and the kids let me....", Murli Kaka smiled, " I told them Aryan baba would not go anywhere without me"

"Haha...", Aryan replied joyfully, "I missed terribly"

Ishan's eyes widened in shock as he realized who the driver was.

"Are you... Murli Kaka from the fire accident?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"Yes...", Murli Kaka's eyes sparkled with surprise, "But ma'am, how do you know about the accident?"

Aryan's excitement was palpable as he started recounting the story of how Ishan had rescued him and his father from the fire. Ishan's face turned bright red as he tried to nudge Aryan to stop him from revealing his identity, but Aryan was too caught up in the story.

Ishan's soft hands, adorned with intricate bangles, rested in his lap. His long hair, tied in a neat bun, accentuated his slender neck, where a delicate mangalsutra glimmered. A vermilion bindi adorned his forehead, and his lips were painted a deep Auburn red. Jhumkas dangling from his ears sparkled in the light, adding to his ethereal beauty.

Murli Kaka's eyes darted back and forth, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

A woman who looked more beautiful than a Bollywood actress, with features so delicate and feminine, was actually... a man? He rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was dreaming.

As the truth dawned on him, Murli Kaka's face contorted in a mixture of shock and amusement. He looked at Ishan again, this time seeing beyond the makeup and the clothes. His eyes sparkled with mirth as he realized the absurdity of the situation.

Ishan's masculine voice slipped out for a moment as he exclaimed, "Dude, WTF!" before quickly covering his mouth.

"It's okay, Ish- Radhika ma'am! Harivansh ji did tell me that he has a surprise for me, "  Murli Kaka burst out laughing, "but I didn't know it was this big!,

Ishan's face turned an even deeper shade of red as he struggled to meet Murli Kaka's eye.

"I don't keep any secret from Murli kaka", Aryan said ignoring plead from ishan to stop.

"You know I have so many of Aryan baba's secrets that even Harivansh ji might not know about", Murli kaka continue, "Aryan baba do you remember when-"

The rest of the journey to the office was filled with Murli Kaka's hilarious anecdotes about Aryan's childhood, including his first kiss in the back of the car and his first breakup.

Ishan couldn't help but smile at Aryan's expense, and even Aryan himself was laughing along with Murli Kaka.

He glanced at Aryan, who was still chuckling with Murli Kaka, and felt a pang of affection for his pretend husband surprised by his closeness with his servant Aryan.

'Maybe, this Rich spoilt Kid isn't so spoiled after all'

As they arrived at the office, Ishan realized that his anger had diluted, replaced by a sense of amusement and awkwardness.

"Bye, Murli Kaka!" Aryan called out, as he forwarded his wheelchair with control from his handle.

Ishan followed closely behind, his heels clicking on the pavement. As he turned to bid Murli Kaka farewell, the driver's voice stopped him.

"Radhika ma'am!"

Ishan turned, his eyes meeting Murli Kaka's warm gaze. The driver held out a small, rectangular red box, his hands trembling slightly.

"Shanti... she wanted me to give this to you," Murli Kaka said, his voice low and hesitant. "It's for Aryan baba's new wife... She thought you might like it."

Ishan's curiosity piqued, he took the box, his fingers brushing against Murli Kaka's. As he lifted the lid, a faint glow emanated from within. Inside, a delicate silver anklet lay nestled, its intricate design sending a pang of nostalgia through Ishan's chest. His mother used to wear a similar one, and the sight of it made his heart ache with homesickness.

Murli Kaka's eyes watched him anxiously, unsure if Ishan would accept the humble gift. Ishan's gaze lingered on the anklet, his emotions swirling beneath the surface. Then, with a gentle smile, he looked up at Murli Kaka.

"This is... the most precious gift anyone has given me," Ishan said, He pulled up his pallu, the fabric rustling softly, and draped it over his head. With a reverent bow he touched the old man's feet, seeking his blessing.

"Sada suhagan raho, (May you always be married to your husband)" Murli Kaka said, his eyes shining with warmth, as he placed a gentle hand on Ishan's head.

Ishan removed his old golden anklet and replaced them with the new ones gifted by the old man.

His heart skipped a beat as he straightened, the anklet's weight settling around his ankle like a promise. For a fleeting moment, he forgot about the pretend nature of his marriage, forgot about the expiration date looming over him.

All he felt was a deep connection to this kind old man, and the gift that had touched his heart.

But as he turned to follow Aryan, the reality of his situation crept back in, like a shadow on the wall.

'I would be sada suhagan, Kaka,' he thought, his heart beating faster, 'but only for 305 days more.'

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Hi readers, here is one quick chapter. I hope you like the new side of Aryan.

Please share your view on the dynamic between Ishan and Aryan, and how it should move forward. And font forget to vote

Also I am working on another chapter and hoping to publish it today or maybe tomorrow. So make sure to keep an eye for it .