Iti,Shiv,Nanisa Hukum and Aradhya were sitting in the living room as Gauravi was busy discussing the photoshoot with the photographer and her team.

They all still had time for the photoshoot to start and so they decided to sit down, anyways Aradhya was excited to talk to Iti.

She has heard a lot from Shiv about Iti and so she herself was excited to meet and talk to her.

"Toh Iti aap kya krti h?"Aradhya asked trying to start a conversation.

"Hum Shiv ke business ke finances audit krte h"Iti said and Aradhya gave a knowing look to Shiv who rolled his eyes at her look.

"Ohh, matlab aapko bhi business mein interest h"Aradhya said but Iti didn't correct her and let her assume whatever she wanted to.

"Aap kya krti h?"Iti asked just so that she doesn't think that Iti was being arrogant by not talking to her.

"Hum hamare papa ki help krte h business mein"Aradhya said and Iti nodded her head at that.

"Koi help nhi krti h yeh, business sambhalne ke naam pr nayi nayi jagah ghumti rehti h yeh sirf"Shiv said and Aradhya narrowed her eyes at him.

"Hum alag alag jagah ghumne nhi deals lock krne jaate h,aap sirf jealous h ki aap hamari tarah ghum nhi sakte"Aradhya said and Shiv rolled his eyes hearing her.

"Hame aapki tarah kahi jaane ki zarurat nhi h,log khud aate h hamare paas deal krne,unlike you!"Shiv teased her and Aradhya narrowed her eyes hearing that.

"Huh?aapke paas log aate h? bhuliye mat hamari answer sheet se copy krke aap paas hote the"Aradhya said bringing the very thing Shiv hated and laughed at his reaction.

"Aapko pata h Iti,Pratap hamesha fail ho jaatein the,phir humse request krte the ki hum unhe exam mein answers bataye,tab jaakr pass hote the"Aaradhya said smirking at Shiv.

"Haa kyuki hum dyslexic h,humse padhai nhi hoti thi,aur aap bhi bhuliye mat kese galtiya krti thi phir aunty ki daant se bachne ke liye hamare paas aati thi!"Shiv said and Aradhya rolled her eyes hearing that.

Well it was true though.

Iti was sitting there hearing the two of them bicker about things she obviously had no idea about.

"Wese humne suna h aapko kitabe padhne ka bht shauk h aur ek Pratap h jo books kholte bhi nhi h kabhi"Aradhya said and Shiv shook his head at her words while Iti frowned hearing that.

"Aapko qualifications kya h wese Iti?aapne bhi MBA kiya h kya?"Aradhya asked.

"Aapki tarah normal degree nhi h hamari biwi ke paas,CA h woh"Shiv said praising his wife and teasing his friend at the same time.

Iti did feel good hearing that but didn't say anything.

"Aapse bhi zyada hi intelligent h phir toh,iss janam mein toh aap chahkr bhi CA nhi ban paate"Aradhya gave it back to him and he ignored her.

"Phir aap kyu inke liye kam kr rahi h?aapke paas toh bht saare acche offers honge na?"Aradhya asked and Iti nodded at that.

"Hame filhal kahi aur kaam krne mein koi interest nhi h"Iti said and Aaradhya nodded at that then.

"Ha pr long term ke liye kuch toh sochna chahiye na aapko,yaa toh koi aur course hi kr lijiye"Aradhya said genuinely giving her and advice because Iti was younger than her.

"Humne already BA in english literature kiya hua h"Iti said and that surprised Shiv.

He didn't know that about his wife.

"BA in english ka aur CA ka kya connection h?"Nanisa Hukum asked genuinely confused hearing that as she sat hearing their talks.

"Humne graduation ke liye BA kiya tha Nanisa Hukum"Iti said but still Nanisa Hukum was confused.

"Humne CA foundation 16 years ki age mein crack kr liya tha, intermediate exam bhi agle saal hi clear kr diya tha,pr aage hame 3 saal internship krni thi kisi company mein,pr kyuki hum sirf 17 saal ke the toh koi hame employ nhi krta isliye humne side by side graduation krne ka socha, graduation hone ke baad humne internship ki isliye 6 mahine pehle hi hum CA bane"Iti said and Shiv, Aradhaya and Nanisa Hukum were shocked hearing that.

"Aapne 16 saal ki umar mein CA foundation crack kr liya tha!"Shiv couldn't help but ask.

"Aap ko bht jaldi daal diya tha school mein?"Aradhya asked because that could be the only logical explanation for her completing 12th so early.

"Nhi,humne classes skip ki thi"Iti said and they frowned after hearing that.

"Hamare liye challenging enough nhi tha woh sab isliye hame aage ki class mein promote kiya tha school walo ne"Iti said and that was new for them.

She was a prodigy then!

That explains her obsession with reading books.

She was a nerd!

"You are a nerd!"Aaradhya said it triggered the various comments she had heard her whole life.

Nerd.

Bookworm.

Geek.

Dork.

This was what she has been called her whole life.

Iti can't help it though,she couldn't settle down with people her age,her classmates thought she was a know-it-all and so she got closer to reading and studying.

That was her safe heaven.

"Hame nhi pata tha hamari Bahu itni intelligent h"Nanisa Hukum said with a bright smile and Iti tried to reciprocate it.

"Jab Iti CA ki exam clear kr rahi hongi tab hum dono boards ki tension mein honge Pratap!"Aradhya said and Shiv nodded at that and the two laughed about it.

Iti could see the bond that the two shared.It was very organic.

Of course the two knew each other since practically they were babies!

Also they had spent their whole life together,even studied together!

Maybe that's why they eventually fell in love with each other.

Well it wasn't their fault right?

If you practically know a person your whole life you are bound to fall for them right?

"Bhaisa!Aradhya jiji aap dono aaiye photoshoot shuru kr rahe h hum!"Gauravi said and the two nodded and got up still laughing about something they were talking about.

Iti and Nanisa Hukum kept sitting as they watched them do the poses.

"Haa ab aap dono ek dusre ki taraf hi dekhte rahiye"Gauravi said and Shiv and Aradhya did as asked and kept staring at each other which made Iti a lil uncomfortable.

She was sitting here with the three of them just watching the photoshoot and it was getting on her nerves.

The more she saw them staring at each other, holding hands or smiling towards each other the more her mood was going down.

How could Shiv do this photoshoot so easily?

He didn't even ask Iti if she was fine with him doing a photoshoot with another woman?!

He should have asked her at least once!!

But no! here he was doing a photoshoot with another woman that too in front of his wife!

"Ha ab aap dono paas mein khade ho jaiye ek dusre ke"Gauravi again instructed and Iti looked away.

She wasn't happy seeing him with someone.

Well that someone was Aradhya and that's why it was affecting her so much knowing they both had a past.

They knew each other and also they were kind of similar.

Iti on the other hand was different,she didn't have any friends and was a nerd but Aradhya wasn't like her.

She seemed like a fun loving and chirpy girl which Iti wasn't.

Maybe Shiv liked such types of girls.

Maybe that's why they were in love in the past.

Who knows if it was just in the past?

What if he keeps meeting her in the name of the office and Iti isn't aware about it?

What if he is still in love with her?

What if....

She sighed.

Staying here and watching them was going to just worsen her mood further.

She decided to leave and get lost in the world of books.

That was the only thing which could distract herself for now.

"Gauravi hum jaatein h hame kuch kaam h,aap kijiye yeh photo shoot"Iti said to Gauravi who nodded as she was too busy getting the perfect shot.

Iti left from there and went straight towards the library.

She went and found a book and settled down on the couch to read it,maybe reading about something else would make her forget the things she has just seen.

But still she wasn't able to shake away the feeling she got when she saw them together.

Iti didn't have feelings for Shiv.

She was sure about it.

The heart wasn't involved here.

Her brain was.

The fact that he was doing a couple photoshoot with another woman right in front of her wasn't settling well with her.

He should have taken her permission!

Which he didn't!

They were married.

He didn't have the licence to do anything with any woman now!

The same way Iti too didn't have any licence to do anything with anyone!

She turned the pages of the book a bit harshly and then sighed.

She shouldn't think about all this and waste her time.

He probably wouldn't even guess she was upset with him doing a photoshoot with Aradhya!

She turned the page and finally settled on the chapter which was about war.

Nanisa Hukum who was sitting in the study which was connected to the library frowned when she heard the harsh rustling of pages.

Iti wouldn't do that,she was very mindful while handling books.

Neither would any of the other kids because they were all doing a photoshoot.

Who was in the library then?

She stood up to go and check.

As she spotted Iti sitting on the sofa she frowned.

Iti was with the others right?

Watching the photoshoot.

"Iti aap kya kr rahi h yaha pr?"Nanisa Hukum asked and Iti gasped at the sudden sound but then calmed down when she saw Nanisa Hukum standing there.

"Woh..woh hame bore ho raha tha toh humne socha aakr koi book hi padh le"Iti said as Nanisa Hukum settled beside her on the couch.

"Baaki sab abhi bhi photoshoot hi kr rahe h?"Nanisa Hukum asked and Iti nodded her head at that.

"Acha bataiye aaj kya padh rahi h aap?"Nanisa Hukum asked and Iti showed her the chapter she was reading making Nanisa Hukum amused.

Nanisa Hukum wasn't hundred percent sure about what she was thinking but maybe she was right.

Iti was jealous because of Aradhaya's presence.

She noticed Iti's facial expressions yesterday at dinner time.They weren't pleasant hearing Aaradhya would do the photoshoot with Shiv.

Also even today at the breakfast table Iti wasn't that happy to see her.

Also the fact that she left the photoshoot and was cocooned here in the library reading about wars which scares her wasn't something that could be missed.

"Wese agar aap photoshoot krti Pratap ke saath toh zyada accha lagta"Nanisa Hukum said and Iti gave her a sad smile.

She herself wished now that she should have done it with Shiv.

But she can't and that's why Aradhya was there at her place now!

"Humse yeh sab nhi hota Nanisa Hukum,camera,lights yeh sab hame nervous kr deta h"Iti said slowly and Nanisa Hukum knew about it.

"Pr try nhi karengi toh seekhengi kese aap?hrr baar Aradhya ko aana padega wrna photoshoot krne ke liye Pratap ke saath"Nanisa Hukum said and Iti frowned hearing that.

She thought this was a one time thing!

They would do it again and again?!

"Baar baar kyu Nanisa Hukum?"Iti couldn't help but ask for the elderly lady smile which she hid well.

"Kyuki Gauravi hrr festival ya season ke according kapde design krti h aur phir sale shuru hota h,toh sale ke promotion ke liye photo shoot toh krna padega na?"Nanisa Hukum said and Iti nodded her head at that then.

So Aaradhya was going to keep coming here and keep doing a photoshoot with her husband!

Iti didn't like this thought.

But she couldn't do anything about it either.

Iti sighed but didn't say anything.

"Phir lagta h Aradhya ko hi aana padega hrr baar"Iti said and Nanisa Hukum sighed at the girl's foolishness.

It was clearly etched on her face that she was affected with Shiv and Aradhya being together but instead of doing something about it she was reading about wars.

This girl was really naive but stupid too!

"Hame zara kaam h hum aate h"Nanisa Hukum said then and Iti nodded her head at that and she left.

Iti sighed and continued reading about the gruesome war to distract her mind off of these things.

It was Shiv's will after all.

_____________________________

"Ranisa aapko lunch ke liye bula rahe h sab"A househelp said and Iti nodded and kept the book on the table and went towards the living room.

As soon as she entered she was Shiv and Aradhya sitting side by side and laughing over something.

She tried to ignore it and went and sat on Shiv's other side which was empty.

Lunch was served and they all started to have it.

"Aur aapko yaad h kese aapne unn teacher ko pareshan kiya tha?aur phir Nanisa Hukum ne aapko bht daanta tha"Aradhya said referring to one of their childhood incidents.

"Haa aapko sirf hame jab bhi daant padti thi woh yaad tha,khud ki baatein toh bhul hi jaati h aap!"Shiv said and Aradhya laughed hearing that.

It was unfair that these two didn't get married.

They would have made the perfect couple with the perfect compatibility.

Iti sighed.

Why can't these stupid thoughts vanish from her mind?

"Haa toh hum aapko kabhi kabhi bachate bhi toh the na daant khane se?woh bhul gaye?phir toh hum aapke liye best bhi bann jaatein the tab"Aradhya said and Shiv smiled remembering those days.

As they kept talking referring to their childhood incidents Iti got more lost in her thoughts.Her lunch laid forgotten on the dining table as her thoughts over powered her.

Nobody seemed to notice it though as they all were busy listening to Aradhaya's talks.

Even Shiv.

Once the lunch ended Iti was the first one to leave.

"Inhe wapas koi kitab mil gayi hogi,ussi ke khayalon mein khoyi hui thi lagta h yeh lunch krte waqt"Shiv said and Iti had heard that before she left.

She kind of felt bad hearing that.

The number of days they had spent together was enough for a person to understand the other one.

Seems like they failed in this too.

Like they failed in other things in their relationship.

Like building trust.

She can't trust him after knowing he loved someone else and still married her.

Understanding each other.

She can't say she understands him or vice versa.

Knowing eachother.

She didn't know him that well,same goes for him,he doesn't know the majority of the things about her.

Loving eachother.

She didn't love him and he on the other hand was in love with someone else.

Then what the hell were they doing being married to each other?

They didn't have any of the important things required to be in a healthy relationship.

What were they doing together?

Were they even meant to be together?

Shiv maybe didn't deserve a girl like her!

A nerd.

Iti sat alone in the corner of the classroom,her head down,eyes straight into the book while the rest of the kids laughed and joked around till the teacher didn't arrive.

"Ha,ha isko sab pata h bhai,baaki sab toh dhakkan h yaha pr!"

"Kitabi keeda h yeh keeda"

"Arre usse football waghera kaha khelna aata hoga,book waghera padhne de do ya phir maths ka koi question solve krne de do,yahi aata hoga isse"

"Just because tu hamare class mein h iska matlab yeh nhi ki tu hamari friend bann sakti h"

"Saala tum topper logo ka yahi problem h, hamesha lagta h ki tum hi sahi ho!"

"Chod yrr aise logo se books ke alawa aur koi baat nhi kr sakte, she's too boring"

"Bookworm"

"Dork"

"Nerd"

Iti tried to shake away the thoughts.She didn't want to go back in the past.

With great difficulty Iti had left the past in the past,she can't dwell upon it again.

She tried to focus on the lines written in the book but felt more vulnerable and sad for herself.

How miserable she is if she can't even tell her fears and insecurities to someone.

She has to get the help of books again to get over them.

Maybe that's why she and Shiv haven't been able to form a bond.

Well she has herself tried a lot,the day he calmed her down and helped her with her panic attack during the loud thundering was the day she started to trust him.

See him in a different light.

Tried to look past the things she has heard about him from his Dadisa and Bhuasa.

But maybe she was wrong,he didn't have a different side.

Maybe what his Bhuasa and Dadisa had said was true.

The whole day Iti felt like crap.

Her childhood incidents of bullying were popping in her head every now and then.

Each one brought a feeling of helplessness and vulnerability along with it.

As she sat with the family all she could hear was Shiv and Aradhya talking which made her feel a lot more different emotions.

She was already feeling a bit emotional since remembering those horrible childhood experiences and seeing Shiv and Aradhya together was just like adding salt on fresh wounds.

It was proof that she wasn't capable of building relationships,be it friendship or a simple relationship with understanding.

She couldn't ever make friends in her childhood and now and when she was all grown up and married she couldn't even make a normal relationship with her husband where both were honest with each other.

He wasn't honest about his past life and Iti can't be honest about her emotions.

She was having a tsunami of emotions right now inside of her and all she wanted to do was just cry in her mother's arms.

Her mumma papa would have made everything okay.

They would have solved her problems in minutes like they used to do when she was a child.

She wanted to be with them this time so that she could get this crappy feeling away which she was feeling right now.

Alas,she couldn't even be with them.

All for what?

A namesake marriage.

All because of a man who loved someone else.

So basically she was just a burden he was carrying around to maintain his family reputation.

Maybe they were never meant to be together!

The past few days that she had spent with him she felt as if they had formed a bond.

Not a romantic one but a bond of understanding and mutual concern and respect for each other.

But she was wrong.

He didn't understand her,he didn't care for her and he didn't respect her that's why he was busy doing a photoshoot with his best friend without asking Iti if she was fine with it!

He should have asked for her permission first!

He can't do anything he wishes now,he was married!

She was a part of his life,she too had a right to decide things for him now!

But when this marriage was a namesake why would he give her any such rights?

What was she still doing here then?

She should leave!

She shouldn't have gotten herself into this mess in the first place!

It was all her fault that she was suffering now.

Her papa had asked her not to do it,he was against this!

He didn't want her to accept this marriage and leave with Shiv.

He was right!

He was right all along.

She has just booked herself for a lifetime of pain and misery.

She should have listened to him instead of using her own brain at that time.

How can her father ever decide the wrong thing for her?

How could she doubt his judgement?

How could she overlook what he had to say?!

Maybe this was the reason why she was suffering.

She was so done with all this!

She doesn't want to stay here anymore.

She wants to go to her papa,her knight in the dark world.

How she wished to remain that lil Iti for the rest of her life?!

She didn't want to grow up,she was fine being the small girl who used to listen to bedtime stories from her papa,who used to just worry about getting ice cream and pizza who was the most bubbly and chirpy kid.

As these thoughts overpowered her Iti started crying.

She wasn't strong enough to contain her emotions.

She always ends up crying even in the smallest situations and runs to her parents every time.

She can't do that this time though.

She tried a lot to not show her vulnerability the whole day but sitting with a book,her mind still filled with these thoughts broke her in the end.

She couldn't fight them.

She couldn't win over her insecurities.

At last she had to surrender to them.

Soon enough a few tears turned into more and she was full on crying over these things that were currently happening with her.

She was so upset over how things had turned out right now.

She had thought they had just started forming a bond but she was wrong.

He was just being cordial with her.

She mistook his actions for care.

It was all her fault!

____________________________

"Aapko so jana chahiye ab Nanisa Hukum,kal kr lijiyega baaki ka kaam"Shiv said for the nth time but his Nanisa Hukum didn't budge from her place making him sigh.

The two were sitting in the study