3. STRANGER IN BEDROOM

Irshad's P.O.V

I step inside my bedroom feeling relieved that I successfully got over the wedding procession noticing that the room is beautifully decorated with flowers and glitters adding dimly light to create a romantic feel around the room. The air-condition hums silently and it is chilly inside even though, I didn't feel anything as I am wearing a heavy sherwani and a turban that makes me look nothing less than an Indian prince.

I stood for a while staring at my reflection in the full length mirror admiring myself as my eyes adjust to the room and this area of my bedroom was huge with a master bed in between which was covered with flowers all around but this décor meant nothing to anyone of us. I knew she must have changed and slept but then I notice a few eager actions as if, she tries to adjust herself but then it died down and everything turned calm. I frown in confusion wondering why she is sitting in my bed all dressed up.

I sigh deeply as I have always believed that marriage is never my cup of tea given to the way I lead my life and how arrogant I had always been. Finally, I have to choose a girl to pretend to be my wife as the pressure kept building from my family so I decided to get done with it with an intention to separate in few months. Everything has been discussed and agreed mutually by two of us.

I shrug to myself as I have never thought anyone else would be perfect to be my wife. I still remember when I confessed to her that I am interested in marrying her and how she reacted knowing me well, being my personal assistant. She refused clearly as no sensible girl would agree for fake marriage and had her walls up trying to keep me away but finally, I managed to convince her that this was nothing but a marriage of convenience given her family's situation which was weak financially and she needed my support in the future.

Reluctantly, she agreed and we had an official alliance procedure leaving no hint that all this is just a deception. I didn't wish to drag this long so I had an immediate wedding decided and today she became my wife legally.

As I remove my turban with a smug smile and arrange my dishevelled hair undoing the top button of my sherwani which had been suffocating me realizing that the foundation of my plan has been set and I am walking towards my success. Everything is perfectly planned as I have my goals clear in front of my eyes as this fake marriage will help me cover it well. I smile to myself feeling satisfied with my thoughts when my eyes go to the girl sitting on the bed as I sense her hands trembling and her bangles clinking in nervousness. Why the hell is she sitting here? I wonder taking slow steps towards the bed and notice that she is not the one I have selected by the colour of her skin.

Who is she? I turned amused as I see her hands come around her knees as she hugs herself as if trying to stay away from me and this did something unexpected to my heart. I have never been with women in years as I remember my days in University when girls used to ogle me and carried out crazier stunts for my attention but they received none as I preferred to keep my distance.

I believed in loving one and with true dedication but unfortunately, that didn’t happen as I don’t see it happening in future with all my plans set and working in place. To date, I haven't been successful in finding 'the one' though I have succeeded in piling lots of money and properties driving myself to work and earn as much as I can. It was my passion as I loved my work to depths and I would say that I am married to my work and the girl on the bed is my second wife.

As I remove the curtain of flowers and sit in front of her trying to ward off my doubts that it’s someone else, as I hope that she will remove her 'ghoonghat' and smile at me as we had put up an excellent act for the world to believe but no such thing happened making me brood slightly. It is weird as she sits covered in heavy 'ghoonghat' and cling to herself as if taking her last breath and making me nervous instead. It bothers me more.

I gently lift her veil as her hands clench in denial and I am surprised to see one of the most beautiful bride sitting behind it as all the thoughts leave my mind as I remain enraptured by her beauty and innocence. She had her eyes shut tightly as fear is evident from her face and her lips trembled slightly trapping my gaze. One thing is certain that this wasn't the girl I chose to marry in the first place but she is so gorgeous that she stole my breath away.

"Who is she and what is she doing here?!" The first thought that run inside my mind but it dies down as my eyes linger on her trembling full lips unleashing a desire to kiss them. She gulps her fear but had her eyes tightly shut as if saying silent prayers and my eyes couldn't move away from her trembling lips.

"Just kiss her...kiss her!" Something inside me screams as I am surprised by my own thoughts. I never had such weird intentions as I keep myself away and focused but everything around me seemed to get on my nerves as I had this instant strong desire to just kiss her.

Something controls me which I have never faced before as I struggle to fight it down but seeing her made me weaker and I wanted her so badly that I grab her arms making her gasp in surprise but still she doesn’t open her eyes to look at me.

Without another thought, I slowly bend my head and touch her lips with mine hoping she would open her beautiful eyes but she didn't. As soon as I brush her lips with mine, I realized my mistake as I have tasted her now but I wanted more of her as I start to plunder her mouth deeper making her wince in response.