Sanjeevani Hospital,

Iknoor sighed when it was finally lunch time.She hadn't thought she would miss her work so much.The past few days that she had spent at home were the most boring days of her life.

Now that she was working again she felt normal.

Her lunch had already been sent by her mother in law and Iknoor found that gesture very nice.She had come to know that the whole family receives lunch from Bela everyday.

How can that lady manage both so well?her work and her family?

Iknoor shrugged that thought away and quickly opened her lunch box to see what her mother in law had sent.

She smiled seeing matar paneer,she likes paneer,roti,dal and rice along with some salad and a KitKat for dessert.

This was what she liked.A nice lunch in the middle of such hectic schedule.

She didn't wait for another second and dived in to eat.She moaned at the taste of the matar paneer,her mother in law really created magic in the kitchen.

There was no way everything she makes could taste so delicious!

She was glad she ate her lunch alone because than she would have to share this tasty food!

She was an ambivert and so even after working in this hospital for 6 months she hasn't made any friends,she talks to the doctor's in her department but that is just work related conversation,apart from that if she meets some doctor while walking through the hospital she greets them but that's it.She can't hold conversation with people she doesn't knows and so she eats her lunch along in her cabin.

People might think it is sad but for her it's perfect.

She had her lunch in peace and then again began with her appointments for the day.

Evening,

Iknoor came back from her work and was met with the house full,the younger Sehgal's were sprawled on the living room sofa busy watching TV,while the elders too sat with them but they were having some conversation.

Iknoor greeted everyone as she came and then went to quickly freshen up and have a bath as she had arrived from the hospital. 

Post that she had a cup of tea to relax for sometime and then she went into the kitchen to help the ladies in making the dinner.

Iknoor as usual chose to make roti,she was just very good at it and so she did that.

She wasn't a complete chef,there were only a few things that she could cook,well she can cook but then preparing food for so many people seemed like a challenge and so she preferred to let the others do it while she does what she knows the best.

"Aap roz rotiya banate banate thak jayengi bhabhi"Aayat said to her but she shrugged it away.

"To be honest I am not very confident in making sabzi and dal,meine itne saare logo ke liye kabhi khana nhi banaya h, matlab mein bana toh sakti hu pr kya pata tum sab khaa na pao?"Iknoor said making all the ladies chuckle at her answer and she ducked her face in embarrassment not knowing that she was speaking loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Pr rotiya toh itni expertise ke saath bana leti ho tum, matlab tumhe khana banana aata h"Avni chachi said.

"Aata h chachi,pr itna accha nhi aata,pr roti mein mein expert hu"Iknoor said.

"Woh toh dikh raha h"Choti maa said as she pointed to the lil tower of roti she had made till now in just half an hour which was very quick.

"Woh kya h na,mein bachpan se hrr Sunday ko gurudware jaati hu,toh waha pr seva krte krte waha ki ladies ne rotiya waghera banana sikha diya,mein langar wala pura khana bht acche se bana sakti hu ab toh"Iknoor said and the ladies nodded at that.

Good way to encourage cooking among lil girls.

"Abhi bhi jaati ho?"Bela asked and Iknoor nodded at that.

It was a ritual for her and she did it religiously every Sunday without fail.

The ladies all prepared dinner in that way having random conversations and then they set up the dining table with the dinner.

Post dinner they all sat together for some time and then went towards their respective rooms.

Iknoor was still sitting in the living room though because her husband hadn't arrived yet.

She wasn't doing this because she wanted to become a good wife,she was just doing this so that the family doesn't doubt anything fishy in their relationship.

Or at least that was what she was assuring herself with.

As soon as Nirvair reached home,he was as usual met with silence,everyone goes to their rooms by 10pm and it was almost 12:30 am now.He turned on the living room lights and that's when he saw his wife who was sitting there on the sofa......was she by any chance waiting for him?

Iknoor opened her eyes and found Nirvair standing right in front of her.

She sighed in relief when he finally came back.

"Freshen up hokr aa jao,dinner garam kr rahi hu mein"She said as she made a messy bun out of her hair and walked past him towards the kitchen.

Nirvair didn't say anything and instead did as said for now.As soon as he came downstairs she was waiting for him,the plate of food placed nicely on the dining table.

Well he truly appreciated her efforts, nobody has done this for him, because of his spontaneous work commitments he often fails to inform his family about his whereabouts and so whenever he arrives back home, nobody is actually aware about it,so if he is hungry he himself takes out whatever is left from the fridge and eats it,but getting a chance to have a warm meal is always welcomed.

He sat down on the chair and began eating his food,well he really was hungry and would definitely have barged into the kitchen before going to his room but unlike her he wouldn't have done the hardwork of heating the food he would have eaten it cold, straight out of fridge, that's what he has been doing for years now.

"Tumhe mere liye wait krne ki zarurat nhi thi....I mean...

"I know tum iss shadi ko accept nhi krte Nirvair and that is fine with me unless it is between us... zyada socho mat,meine tumhare liye kuch nhi kiya h,family ko bata nhi sakti na ki hamari shadi ek scam h?unke saamne natak krna padega,jese tumne meri family ko jhootha assurance diya tha mera khayal rakhne ka,wese hi this is also a show for your family"She said as she got up from the chair and moved across from him going towards the stairs.

Nirvair was quick though,he with his left hand grabbed her wrist before she could leave.

"Meine jhootha assurance nhi diya tha tumhari family ko Iknoor"He said as she stared at his face,but found honesty, complete honesty,in his eyes,in his words.

"I don't believe you"she said and pulled her wrist back and left.

She lied.

She believed him.

She believed him with every fibre of her being.

If he would have lied actually then too she would have believed it like a fool because those words were uttered by him!

She sighed,even if she tries she can't hate him,she can't get angry at him,she can't be rude to him!

He himself was saying to her that this marriage meant nothing to him yet she like a fool fills her hair with his name's vermilion,she wears her nuptial chain,she wears this chuda,all because these things connect her to him.

This wasn't just a crush!

Has she developed feelings for him??

How?

When?

Why??

When he doesn't even want this marriage,how can she fall for him?

She should be on her stand,she should think about her self respect,her dignity and not some stupid feelings she holds for him.

She was immature when she had developed those feelings for him,now she is a mature,grown up woman,she should be practical!

She took a pillow settled on the bed,the best thing for now,for her actually was if she avoids him,stays away from him like he wishes.

What was the need to wait for him??

She cursed herself for thinking from her heart when it came to him!

She shouldn't have waited for him,now he will get ideas,he might feel pity for her,or he might think she is clingy.

And she didn't want any of those things to happen!

Okay,she is going to pretend as if he doesn't exist for her when they are alone but in front of the family she will portray as if they are a genuine couple who are trying to work on their relationship.

She pretended to be asleep as she heard the door open and then close.

Nirvair knew she was pretending, because she was very bad at it,her eyes even though closed kept moving under her eyelids and her irregular breathing also gave away that she was awake but he decided to let her be.

If she doesn't want to talk to him now then he shouldn't pester her anymore,when they both reach a point when they are civil to each other then they can talk it out.

Next morning,

Iknoor's Pov-

The alarm woke me up as always.I sighed as I sat up on the couch and rubbed my eyes to get the sleepiness away,I had a lot of work to do at the hospital today.

The mattress on the floor was empty,he woke up early.

I decided to get up and get ready for the day quickly.

After having a bath and getting ready,I went to the dressing table and did my usual skin routine followed by just applying a pond's powder and a nude lipstick,my hands reached out to the box of vermilion and just then the doorknob twisted and entered my husband.

He was all sweaty and shirtless too.......as always.

He disliked wearing clothes when at home,the first time I had seen him like that,I will be honest,I had butterflies in my stomach,he was a sight to behold.

Even now when he was wearing just a gym shorts,his upper body naked,drenched in sweat,his perfectly sculpted muscles in display,my eyes went from his biceps to his abs,he had 6!!!

He freaking had six-pack abs!!!!

If I already didn't have a crush on him,I would have developed one seeing this site of him.He was a site to behold.....My eyes shifted to his face and I saw him smirking at me.

I removed my gaze from him quickly, pretending as if I wasn't checking him out just a moment ago.

I heard his chuckle as he disappeared in the bathroom.

Stupid!!!

Idiot!!!!

What was wrong with me?

I am supposed to maintain my distance from him and here I was drooling on his shirtless state!!!!

What am I going to do with this stupid heart of mine?

Keep getting it broken every single time when he makes me realise that he isn't interested in this marriage.

I quickly applied vermilion in my hair partition and after checking myself one last time in the mirror I made my way downstairs.

To start my day all over again as I always do.Maybe working in the hospital might give me a sense of what I should be doing next with this relationship.

I am sure I can't pretend for long,there will be a time when we both will get tired of doing it.

No relationship can survive without actual care and concer

n for eachother,even if I can truly do it from my side,I can't expect the same from him.

He cannot ever do it!

He has made it clear that this marriage was unwanted.

I was unwanted!