Srusti's POV

It was about 11:30 PM and he was still not back. Both his mom and daadi both were hospitalized. I hope both of them were fine now. It seems that Maya was his sister.

I was waiting for him to come home so that I serve food to him again. He had not eaten much for the whole day.

He was having his breakfast when Maya called him and after talking to him, he was so irritated that he stopped eating the breakfast just after having 2 bites. I felt bad for him as he was enjoying it so much.

He didn't even send for lunch and when he came back home he looked so tired. I asked if he had breakfast and lunch or not, he just shook his head and went to his room.

I heated the soup and took some soup sticks and served it to him.

" You have not eaten anything since morning, please have this, I will serve the food in 15 minutes. This is broccoli soup. "

I was laying at the table and he started having soup and finished it very fast and was checking his phone.

He served food on his plate and

started eating the food very fast,  I gave him water.

" I know you are very hungry but you must eat slowly. You might chock on it. "

" The food is very good, I am very hungry and I am in a hurry. " He said taking another bite.

His phone started ringing, he got so annoyed that he picked up the call and had a hot argument and I again went inside.

" What ?? " He shouted and got up very fast. The glass of water got knocked and the water spilt on the table.

I ran out with a kitchen towel to wipe the water.

" WHAT??  are you saying, Maya?? How are they?? " He was shocked.

" OH GOD !! I am coming..."  He said running towards his room.

I was shocked to see his shocked and scared expression.

"  What happened??  "  I asked and he said that he had to go to the hospital as his daadi and mom were hospitalized. I asked him, Shall I come with him but he refused and ran out.

" Drive slow, please !!! " I called after him but I am not sure if he heard or not.

I was still waiting for him sitting in the living room... Being alone in such a big house at this time of night was making me nervous and I was worried for his mom and grandma.

I switched on the tv to distract myself but it was very boring. I switched on a music channel and I don't remember when I dozed off.

*****

I heard a sound as if someone was walking around in the home. I got up immediately and saw that Mohit was taking out a glass and was filling it with a drink.

" You are back?? How are they?? I was waiting here for you... Why didn't you wake me up? "  I said but he didn't say anything.

" Wait !! You have not eaten anything you must not drink... I will get food for you. " I got up and took out food on a plate and put it in a microwave.

" I don't want anything... Thanks for waiting... but you should not have. Please go and sleep. "

" No !! Wait, please... It is not healthy to not have anything for the whole day and on top of that, you want to drink?? No... Not done. " The microwave beeped and I got the food for him.

" Please leave me alone... " He said in a louder voice.

" No... Eat this food first.  "

" What is your problem?? "  He asked in a very high voice. I flinched a bit but I knew that he was upset so I kept standing there.

" I have no problem, but you have a problem. You solved my problems. You let me live here in your home when you didn't even know me. You gave me the job as well. Why do you think that I would leave you alone when you are in a problem?? "

" You can't solve my problem... " He looked helpless.

" At least, you can share it with me. You would feel light. "

" Why don't you leave me alone? "

" Because you are the only one I can consider as my friend in this city. And my friend is upset. Shout at me if you want to, but I won't go away... "

" Please, I don't want to talk about it... Even you didn't tell me why you left your home in haste. You don't even want to tell them about your whereabouts. "

" Ok... I understand...but I didn't know you then, now I know that you are a good man. Ok, Deal... I don't want to see you like this... I will share it with you but you have to share your problem with me first."  I said holding his hand in mine. He looked into my eyes and took a deep breath.

I handed him the plate but he shook his head.

" Eat it, you would need the energy to solve your problem. How will you take care of your family if you fall ill?? "

" I am not hungry... "

" Still, have it. " I insisted and took a spoonful of Rajma and rice and brought it near his mouth.

" You are very stubborn, just like my family. " He said and I smiled. He ate that and I gave the spoon to him.

" You gave me a roof over my head when I could not live in my own sister's home. I won't leave you in a problem...  Please talk to me. " I said and he looked at me directly. His eyes had some moisture.

" Thanks, you are talking like Manu, I was missing her. I wish I could share my problems with her but she is busy with her life right now, can't give stress to her. " He said to me.

Was manu that girl whom he loved?? Maybe.

" Try telling me... " I said giving him an encouraging smile.

" My family is suffering because of me. "  He said in a sad low voice.

" Why are you saying that?? What have you done?? " 

" They want me to get married. "

" Hmmm... so? What is the big deal? "  I was surprised. 

" So,  I don't want to.... "

" Please don't mind me asking but why?? What is the problem?? Everyone gets married...  It is not such a big issue. "

" It is... I don't want to marry... "

" But why?? There must be a reason why you don't want to get married.  "

" I can't get married ... "

" Can't it?? I didn't understand... "

" I... Want... Someone, but... It is complicated... I just... Can't get married? "

" Oh, you love someone ?? "

" Yes... But marriage is just not possible... "

" She is in love with someone else?? "

" I don't want to talk about it... I just can't get married to the one I love. "

" So, I understand that...  but try to understand your parent's point of view or try to make them understand yours.  "

"  Easier said than done. You don't know my parents. My mom, sister and daadi are hell-bent to get me married. "

" Well, I guess you are their only son, so, naturally, they want to see you settled. "

" I know... But they should understand me as well. I wouldn't be able to live a happy life with any girl. But my mom and daadi are emotional blackmailing me. "

" Parent's favourite weapon...  What are they saying?? "

" They said if I don't marry in a month, they would not take any medicine. Why don't they understand,  daadi would not be able to live without her medicine. "

" Oh, God! Of course, medicines have to be taken on time. " I nodded.

" Today, mom wanted me to meet some girl she selected for me. But I hated her the moment I met her. So I came back. She went to my mom and said a lot of things. Daadi had a heart attack and mom's condition also worsen. "

" Oh, God !! What now?? "

" I have to marry someone... As soon as possible. My sister was also shouting at me and asked me that I have to marry as soon as possible. " I nodded.

" Listen, I know I said you can't help me but I think you can.  Would you help me?? "

" Yeah... if I can help you, I would definitely do that. "

" Can you marry me?? "

Srusti's POV

" Listen, I know I said you can't help me... but I think you can.  Would you help me?? " Mohit said all of a sudden.

" Yeah, if I can help you, I would definitely do that. "

" Can you marry panic... First, listen to me. I just have to make my mom and daadi believe that I am getting married as soon as possible to make them have their medicines. It would be a paper marriage, only on paper, for their sake. "

" But... How can I?? You have feelings for someone else. We don't know anything about each other. "

" Don't worry... We will live as we do in this house. It's just that they would think that we are married. As it is you are living here. There would be no change. We just have to pretend in front of my family and relatives that we are married. Please try to understand,  I have no other option. "

" But it is not right..."

"  Yes, I know it is not right... But this is all I can think about right now. I have to save their lives. They are very stubborn. Please, I have to make them meet the girl I like very soon or they won't even take medicines. " 

" But you don't even know me. The situation is still the same...  We can't fool them forever.  "

" No, it is not the same thing. This is not going to be forever... Just a few years." 

Has he lost it??

" What do you mean?? " 

"  We can get divorced after a few years. I would take the blame for the divorce as well.  I would even pay you large alimony on our divorce.  You don't have to worry about anything. We will keep living in this house as we do... I mean separately. We would just be married for my family, otherwise, we would be like, we are now. Friends, just friends.

" But, I am your cook right now, as a housekeeper, marriage is a big thing... I don't think I can do this. I can't marry you... "

" Please try to understand. I know it is wrong but believes me, I am in hot soup... Please, take it as an acting assignment, just an act, I will even give you money for this.

He had definitely lost it... How can he offer me money for this? What does he think of me??

" Listen, Mr Paul, I don't need your money. I don't need any alimony as well. "

" I am sorry for saying that... I am not in the right frame of mind. I just saw my mom and dadi in the ICU. My sister was crying like anything. I am really desperate to get them out of the situation right now. I am sorry to put it like this, I meant to say that you don't have to worry about anything. I will take care of you. We just have to be married on paper. There would be nothing real about it. Please do me this as a big favour."

He was pleading me and my heart melted. I felt bad for him, he looked so helpless.

He was so nice to me and opened his house for me, gave me a job even before he knew anything about me. It was very kind of him to let me stay in his home, I feel safe here in this house with him. If he could trust me at that time, when we just met under strange circumstances, I can trust him as well. He is a very nice person and now that he is in a problem and wants me to help him, I must help him.

" Ok, I will do it, for you and your family. But I still think it is wrong. You could find another girl, with whom, you could spend the rest of your life. "

" I don't want to find another girl. I trust you and I am quite comfortable around you. "

" But marriage?? You could just say that we like each other and intend to marry in near future. Why do we need to get married? " I said and he looked somewhat relieved.

" Please, I would not have suggested it, if there was any other way... They are too stubborn. Please trust me.  "

" Ok... fine, I will help you, though I am not convinced.  "

" Thanks a lot. You have solved my biggest problem. You are an angel for me, I would never be able to thank you. Don't worry. We will chalk out everything. I would try that you don't face any problem. "

I didn't know if what I did was right or wrong. Though I knew that it was wrong, I wanted to get him out of his problem. I didn't like to see him so helpless.

He got up and hugged me tightly. I felt very good with his arms around me. It was a good touch, nothing cheap or filthy.   Somehow, I felt safe and secure too. I was not convinced at all with his way of solving this problem but I was happy to help him. 

It was just an act which we had to do in front of his parents. It was not real.

" It's ok, now go and rest," I said coming out of his arms. I felt the loss of warmth, that I felt in his arms.

" I can't rest... there is so much to do. See, let's plan out everything. We have to go and meet them. We have to tell them how and when we met and that we are in love.  " He looked happy as he thought it was the solution to his problem.

" Yeah ok, but you were stressed out for the whole day and didn't eat anything so finish this food and go and sleep. We will talk when you wake up. " I said as I wanted him to sleep over it and think about it with a cool mind.

" But, we need to talk now, plan everything, we need to plan to make it work. Don't worry, I am not stressed now. Thanks to you my angel."

" Have something or I am not going to talk about anything. If you don't like it I will fix something else for you."

" What ?? No, this is amazing. I am just too relieved to rest now. Now they would be happy and have medicine. They would be fine in no time and finally would leave me alone. " He said with a smile.

Oh, God !! Every time he smiled,  something tugs at my heart. But why??

" Eat that... " I pointed towards his food.

" Yes ma'am. " He smiled again. I turned my eyes away from his face. He started eating and I know he was thinking.

I went to the kitchen to make tea for both of us as it was around 5 AM. There was no point in sleeping now and as it is he just said that he wanted to plan.

I made ginger tea for both of us poured in two mugs. When I came out, I saw that he was still thinking. I shook my head and gave him tea.

" Thanks... See, I chalked out a few things, if you want you can change anything. " He said and I nodded.

" We will have a registered marriage."

" Real one?? "

" Of course... We can't convince them without that. "

" Hmm ok... "

" We need a story to tell them, how we met... what do you suggest?? "

" Let's keep it simple... The way it was... We had an accident. You saved my life. Gradually we fell for each other. That ways it would not be entirely a lie. "

" But we can't tell them that we met just 3 days ago. Let's make it for about 2 months. What about your family?? "

" Tell them my parents are no more and I have a married sister but they are out of India at the moment. "

" Ok... We would say that because they went abroad, you moved in with me. "

" Won't they think bad about me? Like moving in is not considered good before the wedding. " I asked.

" Not at all,  they will be happy that I am ready to be married. But if you are uncomfortable, we would not tell them that. We can say that you were living with your friend. Which is true. "

" Ok... Fine