Chapter Four

INAAYA

The biggest day of my life had finally dawned.

My wedding day.

I never imagined my marriage to be this: An Accidental Marriage!

I still couldn’t over the fact that I forced a man to marry me just because my sister’s and my life was in danger—though, I hadn’t really talked to Ahaan. All the talking, requesting, or could say ‘forcing’ was done by my elder sister.

I felt guilty. Selfish. Nervous.

More guilty.

Despite being a Megastar, Ahaan agreed to marry a random girl like me. I wondered why.

He’d said he wanted to calculate the pros and cons of marrying me but he didn’t. He simply agreed to marry me on the advice of his best friend and Aunt. In that moment, I realized they meant a lot to him. At their one say he agreed to marry me.

I realized what a big-hearted person my soon-to-be husband was. In fact, I'd already known that when I had seen him help those homeless children at the parking plot of the restaurant bar.

Our accidental marriage had another unusual element. We had to hide it until the right time arrived. Hence, it unquestionably was a ‘Hidden Accidental Marriage.’

Zehaan’s mother was decorating my hands with beautiful henna designs.

To be honest, I found this lady kind, sweet, and genuine. She’d accepted me and my sister as her daughters which meant a lot to us. There were very few people like Ahaan, Zehaan and her in this vicious world. I was sure if it weren’t them, nobody else would’ve accepted me and my sister in their house as well as in their life.

“Oh my Allah! He really is a Megastar, Inaaya!” Aaliya’s exclaim broke down my train of thoughts. It’d been an hour since she was on her phone surfing through the internet.

“Who? Ahaan?” I asked. Ahaan… My cheeks slightly heated just by taking his name.

“Yes, your soon-to-be husband,” she beamed, nudging me in the waist. “He was right. His popularity is massive and insane. His films are super hits and blockbusters, and he has received so many awards. Damn, I wasn’t expecting this at all!”

“You’re behaving as if you’re his fan.”

My elder sister—though bold, mature and protective—was crazy sometimes. She was five years older than me, still, I never used terms like ‘Aapi’ or ‘Di’ for her. She preferred to be called by her name as ‘those’ terms would make her feel aged. Yeah, see, that sort of crazy my sister was.

“Oh, yes! I literally have turned into his fan, babe! He’s fabulous in films!” She restarted fangirling. “You should see some of his movie clips on YouTube. Trust me, you too will turn into his fan. He’s insanely amazing.”

Aunt was chuckling at my sister’s fangirling.

“Babe! OMG! Look at this picture!” Aaliya exclaimed, widely staring at her phone. “Ahaan looks smoking hot and sexy in boxers briefs and blue eyes! He’s raising the temperature! Babe, you’re so lucky to have him all for yourself!”

The next second, she showed me that picture. My eyes rapidly shut tightly right after I received a glimpse. “Don’t show me that kind of picture” I scolded.

My sister pulled my cheek. “Aww! Why’re you so shy, babe?” she teased.

My eyes reopened. Thankfully she’d taken her phone away. Phew.

“Aaliya, I hope you remember Ahaan is Inaaya’s soon-to-be husband,” Aunt giggled as she drew henna patterns on my hand.

“I remember, Khala.” My sister nodded. “But what to do—I cannot resist the megastar. And isn’t this is normal fangirling what I’m doing?”

“I totally understand, darling. Fangirling has its own fun,” Aunt grinned at her.

“Don’t worry, Inu. Not gonna steal your hot and sexy husband.” Aaliya winked and tapped her shoulder against mine.

“Aaliya!” I warned, squinting at her.

“Blushing, huh?” she smirked. I glared at her and soon her smirk disappeared.

“Your Mehendi is done” Aunt notified. I looked at my hands that were now decorated gorgeously with beautiful patterns.

“Here’s your husband’s name.” Aunt pointed a little below my left hand’s thumb where his was written in capital letters.

“Khala, am I doing right?” I asked softly.

Aunt placed a hand under my chin. “Why, child? What’s wrong?” she concerned.

“I think… I’m selfish and horrible. I forced Ahaan to marry me.”

“Marrying you was Ahaan’s decision. Nobody forced him. Okay? There’s no need to be guilty.”

“Yes, Inu.” Aaliya put her hand on my shoulder. “Ahaan was free to take the decision he wanted. I’d have been fine if he’d disagreed. But he didn’t. It was his decision to marry you, help you, okay. So please don't feel guilty, otherwise, I’ll start feeling guilty too.”

“Look, Inaaya.” My head turned to Zeenat Aunt. “Always remember one thing. Whatever happens in our life, there’s always Allah’s motive behind it. His plan for us. So just trust Allah and go in the flow of your life, okay.”

“I do trust Allah.” I was a devotee of Allah and a believer in fate. I knew in my heart this Hidden Accidental Marriage was written by Allah in my fate.

“Another thing,” Aunt added. “After Nikah, Ahaan will be your husband. He’ll be your new world. However, my dear child, Ahaan… he’s still a kid by heart. This is a completely new dimension for him. And I know you and him still don’t know anything about each other. So I want you to try to know him, his likes, his dislikes, interact with him if you want your ‘Hidden Accidental Marriage’ to work.”

"I feel extremely shy… and nervous to talk to him. I become numb.” My head bowed in shame for being such an introvert.

“It’s completely understandable.” Aunt lifted up my chin to view her. “But he’s going to be your husband and there’s no need to be shy in front of him. Ahaan would expect you to be free and express your emotions. I know it’s going to be hard but that’s life, darling. Nothing is easy. You need to put efforts to make something work. So if you really want to make Ahaan and your marriage work, start expressing and stop shying off.”

“I will try my best, Khala,” I promised. But I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to keep up to my words. How could I not be shy in front of Ahaan? His personality intimidated me even though he was a cheerful person.

“You have to, babe.” Aaliya tucked a hair curl behind my ear.

“Lastly, what do you think of marriage?”

I was a little perplexed and wondered why did Aunt ask me such sort of a question.

Breathing in deeply, I answered confidently, “I always promised myself—whomever I’d marry— my world will revolve around him. I’ll be a loyal wife and never disappoint my husband. I will love him with all of me and nothing will be important than him. Marriage plays a significant role in my life. I know it’s value.”

“I’m glad Ahaan is marrying you,” Aunt smiled and kissed my forehead. I felt good knowing she considered me eligible to be Ahaan’s wife.

“Take rest. Aaliya and I will do rest of the arrangements,” she said before walking out of the room with my sister.

In a few hours, my life was going to change forever. I was going to be someone’s wife. I was going to be Mrs. Inaaya Ahaan Agnihotri.