CHAPTER - 1
"Boom đź’Ą!!.. Ahh What is that!?.. Oh it's you dude, Nice!!
-SOMETIMES AGO..
{ At Coffee Shop } "So, you are my blind-date"..~Asked Maya;
"Yea it's me... It is a pleasure to meet you once again"; -Said Alex~
Maya [ thinking]: ( "Oh yeah.. I've met him before... Why does that make this more awkward?" )
Maya: 'Wait, we've met, again!?'
Alex: ( Smirking ) 'Took you long enough to remember.'
Maya: "You're that guy from the airport; who stole my cab."
Alex: "Ahmmm..--I saved you from taking the wrong one."
Maya: "You literally drove off without me."
Alex: (shrugs): "And yet.. here we are again. Fate's persistent."
( A brief silence. The waiter places two coffees on the table )
Maya: "So….. blind date, huh? Didn't expect this."
Alex: "Disappointed?"
Maya: (teasing): "Still deciding."
Alex: (leans forward slightly): "Well, I'll try not to steal anything this time… except maybe your time."
( Maya rolls her eyes, but a small smile slips through )
Maya: (thinking): ( Why do I feel like this isn't just a.. "Coincidence?" )
A few minutes later..
Maya: "Let's skip the awkward questions. Why are you really here?"
Alex: (pauses.. then calmly): "Because I need something…. unconventional."
Maya: "That doesn't sound suspicious at all."
Alex: "Relax, It's legal." (smirks)
Maya: "That doesn't help."
Alex: (serious now): "I need a wife.."
( Suddenly both of them became quiet.. Maya Blinks )
Maya: "I'm sorry--what?"
Alex: "A contract marriage for One year..No strings."
( "Maya leans back, stunned.... then unexpectedly laughs" )
Maya: "Wow.. This is either the worst date ever… or the most interesting one;"
Alex: "I'm hoping for the second."
Maya: (thinking): ( This is insane… So why am I not walking away )
Alex: (leans back, watching her closely): "Thinking to run away?."
Maya: (raises an eyebrow): "Should I?"
Alex: (half-smile): "Most people would've already left."
Maya: "Most people don't get proposed to within ten minutes of a coffee."
Alex: "Fair point.."
( She picks up her cup, takes a slow sip--buying time. )
Maya: (thinking): ( "This is crazy… completely crazy.. So why am I still sitting here?" )
Maya: (sets the cup down): "Let's say I don't run.. What do I get out of this, arrangement?"
Alex: (studies her, impressed): "Straight to negotiation.. I like that."
Maya: "Answer the question."
Alex: (calmly): "Freedom."
( That word lands. Maya's expression shifts--just slightly. )
Maya: "Be more specific...."
Alex: "A way out of whatever you're trying so hard to escape.."
(Silence.. He's hit something.)
Maya: (narrowing her eyes): "You don't know anything about me."
Alex: "I know enough. People don't agree to blind dates unless they're looking for something.. or running from something."
(Maya looks away for a moment..)
Maya: (softly): "And you? What are you running from?!"
Alex: (after a pause): "Not running--Just… running out of time.."
( Their eyes meet; The aur shifts--less playful, more real.. )
Maya: (exhales): "This is insane."
Alex: "Completely."
Maya: "And you're serious?.."
Alex: (nods): "I don't joke about things that matter.."
( A long paise.. Maya taps her fingers lightly on the table... thinking.. )
Maya: (thinking): "One year.. No feelings.. Just a deaI.. I can handle that, right?"
Maya: (finally): "If we do this.. we do it my way.."
Alex: (slight grin): "I was hoping you'd say that.."
CHAPTER - 2
( A sleek car stops in front of a modern, quiet house..)
"Maya steps out, looking up at the place-impressed, but hiding it.."
Maya: "You live here… alone?"
Alex: (locking the car) "For now.."
Maya: "This doesn't look temporary.."
Alex: (glances at her) "Neither does this marriage."
( She looks away first. )
Few minutes later..
( The door opens.. The house is clean, minimal.. almost too perfect. )
-Maya walks in slowly, observing everything.
Maya: "You're either very organized… or very secretive.."
Alex: (removes his watch) "Can't I be both?"
Maya: "That's exactly what a secretive person would say.."
( A small pause.. There's an unfamiliar silence between them now. )
( Maya places her bag down, still scanning the room... )
Maya: "So.. where do I stay?"
Alex: (points down the hallway) "Second room on the left.."
Maya: Ohkk..Good"
Alex: (raises brow) "You thought I'd suggest otherwise?"
Maya: "I don't make assumptions.."
Alex: (quietly) "You should.. Sometimes they're accurate."
( Their eyes meet--brief, charged )
( They sit across from each other at the dining table.. A contract between them again.. )
{Maya pulls out a pen}
Maya: "Let's make this official."
Alex: (leans back slightly) "Go ahead."
Maya: (writing) "Rule one--No falling in love."
Alex: (immediate smirk) "Starting strong.."
Maya: "Necessary.."
Alex: "You say that like it's a real risk."
Maya: (without looking up) "It is… if people are careless.."
( He watches her more closely now.. )
Maya: "No interference in personal lives..!!"
Alex: "So if you disappear for two days?.."
Maya: "You don't ask.."
Alex: "And if you're in trouble?!!"
Maya: (finally looks at him) "I won't be.."
Alex: (softly) "That's not an answer.."
Maya: "It's the only one you're getting..."
Maya: "Public affection only when required."
Alex: "Define required.."
Maya: "Family, Social events, Situations where people are watching.."
Alex: (leans forward slightly) "And how convincing do we have to be?.."
Maya: "Convincing enough that no one questions it."
Alex: "So… very.."
( Alex suddenly stands, walks around the table toward her.. )
Maya: "What are you doing?!"
Alex: "Testing the rule..!!"
( He gently takes her hand--interlocking fingers, just like before.. )
[Maya freezes for a second]
Alex: (softly) "Too stiff.."
Maya: (quiet, focused) "You're too relaxed."
Alex: "That's the point.."
( He steps closer, Their distance shrinks..)
Alex: "People don't question what feels natural..."
( A pause… neither lets go.. )
( Maya quickly pulls her hand back.. )
Maya: "That's enough..!!"
Alex: (watching her) "Of course!"
( But something has already shifted.. )
Maya: ( quickly writing to regain control )
"One year. Then it ends. No extensions.."
Alex: (after a pause) "Strict.."
Maya: "Clear!!"
Alex: (quietly) "Temporary.."
Maya: "Exactly."
( He nods.. but his expression says otherwise. )
( She slides the paper toward him.. )
Maya: "Your turn.."
( Alex looks at the rules… then signs without hesitation.. )
Scratch...
Alex: "There."
Maya: "Anything else?.."
Alex: (looks at her… a little too long) "Yeah"
Maya: (tense) "What?"
Alex: "Never lie to me..Deal?"
CHAPTER - 3
( To be continued )