she was standing in front of large dark oak double

doors. The intricate patterns carved on them gave

a royal look, but screamed of a mysterious aura.

Her eyes could not stop themselves from admiring the

beautiful carvings in the dark background. Her gaze

wandered over and stopped at the large brass handle that

looked heavy by the size. It was polished to such a finesse,

that it appeared to be of gold.

She gently placed palm on the handle and a shiver ran

down her spine when the cold metal touched her already

clammy skin. She had to exert enough pressure to pull

down the mighty handle to let the doors open. The doors

opened smoothly without a single creak, and she halted at

the threshold for a moment before taking a step inside.

The room was void of any light, submerged in total

darkness, except for the dim moonlight peeping in from the windows. The first sensation was a strong smell of mixture

of jasmine and sandalwood, something that one might find

at a temple. It was like someone must have burned a few

incense sticks and the room was filled with the strong

aroma. It was divine yet a mysterious experience.

She looked back at the open door, trying to decide

whether to run away or stay back and give a chance to

explore the future. She decided to stay back and inhaled a

sharp shaky breath. She looked around the room trying to

figure out the layout of the room that was engulfed in

darkness. The moonlight helped her to analyze the

silhouettes of the furniture, a large king size bed was placed

in center of room along with a loveseat and a small coffee

table. The room appeared to be scarcely furnished for a size

this big.

She took a few tentative steps towards the loveseat and

settled herself. To say that she was surprised would be an

understatement. There was no dressing table, no closets, no

study table, and not even a television in the room. She

wondered if this room is even in use. But she was too

distracted for the moment to think about anything else. Her

mind was right now filled with anxiety and fear. Fear of

taking responsibility of married life, fear of being a good

human being and daughter-in-law, fear of being able to

share herself emotionally, physically and above all fear of

facing the cold hearted devil Kabir Dhanrajgir.

The name itself was enough to send the cold chills

down to her toes. But she was now married to this Joint

CEO of SD GROUP OF COMPANIES. This was an

arranged marriage, not that she had someone in mind and

not that she was in position to have a love relationship. She

was too occupied by her studies and career that she never

had time to waste on a relationship that needed emotional

investment. She was informed by her father about the

alliance and was married off to Kabir in a lavish ceremony.

Though lavish, the event was a small intimate affair for

family and close friends. Parents on both sides insisted of

all the auspicious rituals of wedding to be performed at the

stipulated time.

Kabir took the meaning of word 'arranged' literally and

figuratively. He did not once try to see her or meet her

before or after the engagement. Not that she had very high

hopes, but somewhere in her heart she wanted him to at

least look at her and appreciate by another glance. But it

seems it was too much to ask for.

She saw him for the first time in person at the

engagement. He was dressed in a off-white sherwani with

light blue stole, that matched with her light blue full

sleeved lehenga. He held her hand gently while sliding the

ring in her finger without once looking at her. He did not

bother to say a goodbye before leaving for the night. She

silently waited for a dinner date, then a casual call from

him. But nothing of that sort ever happened.

Then she saw him at the wedding where he was

offering wooden chips to the holy fire when she was made

to seat next to him to perform further rituals. He was

patiently doing everything he was asked to, and she was

feeling her unsteady heartbeats. Her hands were cold and

mind was running a hundred marathons. Then suddenly a

her veil was lifted, he looked at her, gently moved her

mathapatti with ring finger of right hand, filled her hair

partition with vermillion and moved back the ornament as

it was. He was asked to put the mangalsutra, which he did

again as gently as he could. They stood up for the feras and

he engulfed her long slender hand in his large one. The

wedding was last time she saw him that was the day before.

And now she was here to face him again, with lot of

dreams and hopes for new life. She was still engrossed in

her wedding memories, when footsteps halted at the

threshold of the room.