Chapter 1: The Contract Proposal
Riya always believed that marriage should happen because of love.
Since she was a child, she dreamed about a simple life with someone who would understand her, someone who would stand beside her in every difficult moment. For her, marriage was not just a relationship; it was a promise of trust, care, and forever.
But life doesn't always follow our dreams.
One rainy evening, dark clouds covered the sky above their small house. The sound of raindrops hitting the window filled the quiet room. Riya was sitting near the window reading a book, enjoying the peaceful moment.
Suddenly, she heard her parents talking in the next room.
Their voices sounded worried.
Her father sighed deeply and said, "I don't know what to do anymore. The bank has given us only two weeks. If we cannot repay the loan, they will take the business."
Riya felt her heart stop for a moment.
Her father had spent his entire life building that small business. It was the only source of income for their family.
She slowly walked into the room.
"Baba… what happened?" she asked softly.
Her father quickly forced a smile.
"Nothing, Riya. You don't need to worry about it."
But Riya could clearly see the stress in his eyes.
That night, she could not sleep.
She kept thinking about what she heard. If the business was taken away, their family would lose everything.
The next afternoon, something unexpected happened.
A luxurious black car stopped in front of their small house. It looked completely out of place in the quiet neighborhood.
Curious neighbors started looking outside.
A tall young man stepped out of the car.
He was wearing a perfectly tailored black suit. His face looked calm, confident, and slightly cold.
His name was Arjun Malhotra.
One of the youngest and most successful businessmen in the city.
When he entered their house, the atmosphere suddenly felt tense.
"I will speak directly," Arjun said calmly. "I came here with a proposal."
Riya and her father exchanged confused looks.
"A proposal?" her father asked.
Arjun nodded.
"I know about your financial situation. I know about the bank loan and the deadline."
Riya felt shocked.
How could a stranger know so much about their private problems?
Then Arjun said something that changed everything.
"I can pay all your debts."
The room became silent.
Riya's father looked surprised.
"But there is one condition," Arjun continued.
"What condition?" her father asked seriously.
Arjun slowly looked at Riya.
"I want a contract marriage."
Riya felt as if time had suddenly stopped.
"A contract marriage?" she repeated.
"Yes," Arjun replied calmly. "We will stay married for one year. After that, we will divorce peacefully."
"There will be no emotional expectations. No interference in each other's personal life."
"It will only be a marriage on paper."
Riya's father immediately stood up angrily.
"My daughter is not a business deal!"
But Arjun remained calm.
He simply placed a document on the table.
"This contract will guarantee your family's financial security," he said.
Then he stood up and walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he looked back at them and said one last sentence.
"You have three days to decide."
The door closed behind him.
The house became completely silent.
Riya slowly looked at the contract lying on the table.
Her mind was filled with confusion.
Marriage was supposed to be about love.
But now it had become a choice between love and her family's future.
And for the first time in her life, Riya realized that sometimes the hardest decisions are the ones we never wanted to make.