Chapter 10

Mahima's POV

" What?? What do you mean by that? " The girls asked. Dheer smiled and shook his head.

" So my best friend was right afterall... "

" What does that mean? " They asked again.

" Oh, God ! I don't know, how you tolerate those dumb girls, Dhruv? They have been asking the meaning of each and every sentance I said. For god's sake, roam around with a few intelligent women. " Dheer said.

" Enough, Dheer, let's have food, I am starving. I ordered your favourite let's go before our sandwiches get cold. " I said and pulled his arm again. He caught my hand in his and looked at all of them.

" Since, your friends are dumb enough and you will not tell them, let me tell them more clearly in easy words which I hope, they can understand. Well, ladies, this wonderful girl here is my best friend and is married to my one and only brother, who happens to be your friend. So if you want the payment for the dresses, ask my brother, since he is her husband or you can send the bill to me. As I can do at least that much for my best friend. " He said and the girls looked shocked at what they heard.

" Come, Mahima... Let's have food. Let's order some French fries and croissant and cupcakes as well. " He said and when I just nodded he called the waiter and gave him order for more food.

I looked at Dhruv from the corner of my eyes and saw that they all were still sitting silently there while he kept looking at us. I was sure he was planning something to hurt me.

" Are you really married to her? What kind of a girl she is? " His friend asked. He was getting furious.

" I know, I don't even look at her as she is not worth it, can you believe, we don't even share a room. My dad wanted me to get married to her, I did that... Now it's his chance to fulfil his side of bargain, since I have already paid the price. " He said looking at us.

Even Dheer heard everything he looked at me while I changed the subject. I was getting conscious while eating as all of them were looking at us. I could still hear their insulting remarks on my appearance and the food we ordered.

But Dheer told me to ignore them as if they don't exist and enjoy the food. I finally did that and had a good time.

" You came to the market to buy books, show me the books. " He said and I pointed at the bag lying on another chair at our table.

He picked it up and took out all the books. We kept discussing them and he borrowed two of them.

" She reads those books?? Really? Or she is just trying to impress your brother? " One of the girls asked Dhruv. But he didn't say anything.

Dheer shook head at that and smiled at me. I was getting annoyed of their comments and wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Dheer asked me, if I would like to go to the exhibition related to real-estate and construction business.

I nodded enthusiastically as there would be different architects and interior designers as well.

" Is she for real?? Real estate and construction business exibition?? What does she want to prove? We really feel bad for you... " The girl said, but we didn't stay to hear what he said.

*********

We were still at the exhibition when Aunty I mean my mother-in-law called Dheer. And asked him where was he?

" Mom, Mahima and I are at an exhibition. " He told her.

" Ok, mom, I would bring her home with me. Bye! "

" What happened?" I asked him.

" Nothing, dad suggested that we all should have dinner together. So since I told her that you were with me, she told me bring you back with me. She is calling Dhruv to come home as well. "

" He would not come, specially in his presant mood. " I said.

" Mahima, are you happy? I mean... I heard what he said to them. If you are not happy, you can talk to dad he would try to put some sense into Dhruv's mind. " Dheer said.

" No, I don't want to burden him with problems, I can handle Dhruv. He is trying to hurt me deliberately because he was forced to marry me. I think, he will be fine in some time. " I said to Dheer sounding confident though, I knew Dhruv would not be fine anytime soon. But I did not want to burden Dheer or dad about it.

" You think so? " Dheer asked.

" Yes, he is just hurt by the betrayal of Mayesha. " I said.

" You still love him, don't you? " He asked.

Love?? No! I never loved him. I had a crush on him. A silly crush which jumped out of window when he hurt me by saying all those things which other men have been saying about me for years but it had never hurt me so much.

" Mahima? " He called my name bringing be back to the conversation.

" Hunh? What? "

" You still love him? " He asked again.

" I don't know... May be. "

" Mahima, we are still friends. You can tell me anything you want. " He said genuinely.

" I know that, I can always come to you with anything and you would always help me. You have always been there for me. " I said.

I could not tell him about last two nights, as I was sure, Dheer would have fought with Dhruv over that. I didn't want him to spoil his relationship with Dhruv because of me.

We both went home after the exhibition. I had not expected to see dhruv to come, but he was already there, having a drink with dad.

We walked in to the living room and I greeted his parents. They were happy to me specially dad.

" Your mom told me that you had gone to see the exhibition with Dheer. I am glad, you take interest in business. " He said and I smiled.

" Hunh... Interest in business? Does she even know anything about the business. Must have gone to kill time. Good for nothing... " Dhruv muttered as if he was thinking aloud.

" Dhruv! Behave yourself. " Dad said in a higher tone.

" What? I said what is true. " He said.

" The ugly truth is that you don't deserve her. You should have gone to the exhibition. You want to be the CEO of the company and pay no heed to work. All you think about is just enjoying with your good for nothing friends. " Dheer said.

" Oh, yes... I told dad that I don't deserve her. Of course, She is too good for me... I can never reach to her level. But he still forced me to marry her." He said sarcastically glaring at me but I didn't give any reaction. Which irritated him more.

" But, you have no right to taunt or humiliate her like the way you did today. You should have done what, I did, you are her husband. " Dheer said.

" What did he do? " Dad asked looking at me and Dheer.

" Nothing dad... " I said.

" Don't lie, Mahima. Dad, she was in a coffee house and Dhruv was also there with his friends. They insulted her and one of the girls from that group hit her. He kept standing there and didn't say a single word to them and when Mahima hit her back he shouted at her and asked her to apologise, I had to interfere and introduced her to them. " Dheer said.

" Is it true, Dhruv? " Dad yelled at Dhruv But he didn't say a word.

" Mahima? Is it true? " He asked me.

" It's ok, dad. It will take time for him to understand that this ugly woman is his wife now. And I am fine with it, I can take care of myself, don't need him to protect me as I am not a child anymore. " I said.

" But still, how can you behave like that, Dhruv? We didn't raise you like this? You can't misbehave with her."

" So, I didn't. "

" But you didn't stop your friends as well. They had no right to make fun of her. And what kind of a man you are?? They made fun of her and hit her and you kept standing there looking at what was happening? Shame on you. Whether you like it or not, whether she needs your protection or not, but you need to take care of her being her husband. " Dad shouted at him. But he didn't say anything.

" Understood?? "

" Why should I understand everything? What happened to the announcement, you were supposed to make regarding me being the CEO? I have fulfilled my side of deal, now I want you to do what you promised me. " Dhruv said.

" Yes, you married her, but are you her husband in real sense? You can't even take care of her. I don't think your side of deal is fulfilled. "

Mahima's POV

" Why? You told me to get married to her, I did. And just now she said she does not need me to take care of her. As she is not a child. She can take care of herself or her bodyguard, my little brother, Dheer can do that gladly. In fact, I told you, you should have got her married to him, not me. They deserve each other. "

" Then why don't I give the post of CEO to him as well. " Dad said.

" How can you do that? I married her because of that. Her?? The woman who doesn't even look like a woman. I feel nothing for her. Nothing at all. You tied me to a woman who is not even desirable."

I felt hurt again but I didn't show any reaction as I didn't want him to have the satisfaction that he could hurt me.

" Listen, Dhruv... I think you have not read the contract you signed carefully.... Go and read it again. " Dad said with a smirk.