"Legally stamped."
And just like that—the room didn't feel the same anymore.
Naina's eyes widened in shock.
This was the first time someone had dared to tamper with something that belonged to Vivaan.
"B... Bhaiya, I am sorry, I didn't know." She said with a soft gasp. She looked between Kruthi and Vivaan, a realisation hit her.
"Isliye aap dono mein argument hua?" She asked them.
"Not an argument," Vivaan said calmly.
"I was just asking her."
After a few moments, he tore his gaze away from her and looked at Naina.
"Haan but why only her?" Naina asked him back, in confusion. "She's your wife, bhaiya… she wouldn't do something like that."
Wife?
only if she knew
Under which conditions they got married.
A marriage without bond, a relation with doubt.
He stayed silent, again glanced at Kruthi.
Not soft.
Assessing.
"I saw Ayesha bhabhi near your study yesterday."
A pause.
"And… I didn't see Kruthi bhabhi there at all."
Vivaan didn't move.
"And bhaiya…" she added gently,
"Kruthi bhabhi toh hall ka raasta dhundte hue bhi confuse ho gayi thi…"
A small, almost amused breath.
"Unhe kaise pata hoga kaunsa room kahan hai?"
Silence.
("I saw Ayesha bhabhi near your study, didn't even see Kruthi bhabhi in that same corridor." Naina broke the silence, saying gently. "And think yourself, Kruthi bhabhi got confused even when searching the way for hall, how can she know the rooms and locations in our mansion?")
"Baaki, I think you both should talk." Naina said and went out of the room, leaving both of them alone.
Kruthi sighed and without any word started placing pillows in the mid area of the bed.
Vivaan looked at her, as if his stare would make her stop her actions.
But she didn't.
"Kruthi." He said once, in a low tone.
Cold.
She didn't respond, still focused on placing the pillows.
"Kruthi..." He said again, with a slight pressure in his tone.
Firmer.
But still...
No response.
He turned his head sideways.
Muttered a curse.
Took a step closer to her, grabbing her arm.
Hard enough that she won't leave.
Gentle enough to not hurt her.
"You don't get to ignore me." He said in a calm, cold tone.
As if stating a fact.
A command.
She raised her eyes.
Looked at him right in his hazel ones.
Her eyes were slightly, very slightly moistened.
Slowly she released her arm from his grip, still looking in his eyes.
"I do get to." She said in the same cold tone. "You may control my life because of that contract…"
A breath.
"But you don't own me."
"I may not. But still I do."
He stepped closer—
Too close.
(Kruthi's POV)
His hand tightened around my wrist, pulling me towards him
"You are my... "
Pause.
For a moment—
Neither of us spoke.
Neither of us moved.
His eyes didn't leave mine.
And for the first time—
There was something else in them.
Something… unreadable.
His jaw tightened.
"Contract wife."
The words came out lower.
Quieter.
As if he didn't entirely believe them himself.
"Exactly."
I responded back.
"CONTRACT- wife"
My tone emphasised on the word contract.
And without any other word, I turned and laid on the bed.
I could feel his stare on me.
Then—the mattress dipped slightly.
He must have sat on the other side.
He went to the bathroom again.
To freshen up perhaps.
I could hear his steps faintly going away.
And then, the click of the door.
I sighed and sat on my place.
A bond without trust... is just like the sky without sun.
Empty... meaningless.
I looked around.
Massaged my head gently, to remove the tension from my muscles.
That's when I noticed.
His phone, on the other side of bed.
Unlocked.
The screen glowing in the dark room.
I ignored it.
It was his privacy, I reminded myself.
'But I am his contract Wife'
A voice inside me spoke, emphasising the word wife more.
I tried to look away.
But my attention went there.
Finally giving in, I peeked at the screen slowly.
Contacts.
Endless numbers.
Names I didn't recognize.
He's so busy.
I sighed.
He wasn't wrong.
Maybe… if I were in his place—
I would've suspected too.
An outsider.
My fingers curled slightly over the bedsheet.
But I wouldn't have handled it like this.
If I'll stay angry with him, what if he gets more stressed?
STRESSED?
As if I even affect him.
I reached out.
Just a little.
Just enough to scroll once—
The door clicked open.
My heart stopped.
Footsteps.
Approaching.
I pulled my hand back instantly and dropped onto the bed, turning to the other side, pulling the blanket over myself.
Too fast.
Too obvious.
Silence.
He didn't say anything.
Good.
Maybe he didn't notice.
"You wear specs while sleeping?"
My eyes snapped open.
Damn.
I turned around quickly.
He was standing there.
Looking straight at me.
Lips slightly curved.
Phone pressed to his ear.
"I was on a call," he added casually.
A pause.
"Did I disturb you?"
I stared at him.
Blinking.
Processing.
Unbelievable.
This man!
"N—"
My voice cracked.
Great.
I cleared my throat quickly.
Looked away for a second.
Then back at him.
"No… you didn't."
His eyes lowered sharply before fixing on me.
His smirk twitched slightly.
"Strange habit… checking the air before sleeping?"
I looked at him.
Irritated.
"Maybe I was just adjusting the blanket."
He walks closer.
Not aggressive.
Just… calculated.
"You're very curious for someone who claims she doesn't interfere."
Pause.
I opened my mouth to speak, but his eyes...
still fixed on me.
So, he knows that I saw his phone.
Or maybe he wanted me to.
One thing I learned about this man was that his every action.
Every single action.
Was calculated.
Deliberate.
Not mistaken.
I looked at him with mocking eyes.
Mimicking his same smirk.
"And you're very suspicious for someone who has no proof."
For a moment, he was at loss of words.
I could sense that.
The way his jaw clenched.
His fist slowly unclenched as if an attempt to control himself.
"I don't need proof immediately."
Pause.
"I just need time."
He picked up his phone.
Glanced at the screen.
Then at me.
No words.
Just silence.
I thought he would say something.
Get angry.
But no.
He laid down on the other side.
He pulled one pillow away from the barrier I had made.
I too laid down.
Confused.
Silence settled again.
And then—
"Password is your date of birth."
His voice was calm.
Unexpected.
My breath hitched slightly.
Before I could react—
He turned to the other side.
His back facing me.