AUTHOR'S POV

Standing alone in a stranger's room's balcony, Anjali was busy looking at the moon.

Turning around she looked at the photos and the interior of his room! Most of the photos were Arun's portrait or his photographs which were now framed and hung on the wall!

Anjali looked at the portrait of Arun which was placed just above the bed!

He was dressed up in a suit and looked more human but his lips forgot to lips and his eyes had no life!

"Such a stolid creature" she mumbled

" Who unfortunately is my husband now" she added sighing in a fed-up tone

"Mam! Your bags" one of the workers announced standing at the entrance of the room.

Anjali nodded and the lady placed her bags in the room and started to leave

"Do you know where is ar. Arun?" Anjali asked it was nearly midnight and he was nowhere but after the wedding, Anjali did not even have a glimpse of him.

Not that she was worried about him! But she needed to talk it was all sudden and  she had no idea what was running through his mind

The maid gave her a sad smile and nodded so as not to make Anjali confused!

Anjali nodded pulled out a nightwear from her bag and freshened up.

Standing under the shower! Anjali took a minute to stare at herself in the mirror in front of her which was covered with fog due to the warm water.

It felt like her head was about to blast in pain cause it hurt that much! She knew his family were sweet, his brothers their wives and their kids made her feel at home in just a few hours.

Venkatesh uncle and Vani Aunty were the sweetest to her which made her miss her parents! But she  still  felt  something was missing in this family

She assumed that's was because she was new there or maybe they were always like that.

Shaking off her thoughts Anjali wore her nightwear and stepped outside the bathroom.

A sudden click sound from the door made her turn towards the door! She saw Arun walking in stumbling and placing his legs incorrectly.

It was clear he was drunk! A sudden fear rushed into her! She was all alone with him right now and that thought gave her chills in her spine.

Arun stood in front of Anjali and took a minute to stare at her!

Those doe eyes of hers were looking at him with thousands of questions and that tint of fear was visible in her eyes.

Water drops dripping down from hairs to her neck! Which told him she just come out from the shower

Anjali rubbed her nose as the alcohol smell was too strong for her to bear

Looking at her feel uncomfortable, Arun took a step back rubbed his nape and realised what he came to tell her.

Anjali noticed That he had some papers in his hands and already guessed what they were.

"An...Anjali Here sign it "he told and handed over these papers to her

DIVORCE PAPERS!

Anjali knew it! She accepted this but not this soon! It was not even 24hrs after they got married but here she stood with divorce papers in her hands.

She did not know what she expected in this wedding! Did she plan to give it a chance? Even before she could realise she felt already in a mess.

"Look, ANJALI " he started, his voice was a bit more steady and stricter than before, and his eyes showed seriousness.

Every time he pronounced her name! She could feel herself looking at him and the way his eyes would look at her for a millisecond and turn away

"Straight to the point! Marriage is never my cup of tea, I was never interested in this and trust me Anjali I can be anything but a responsible husband who earns a good salary and looks after his wife " Arun said and Anjali was listening to him patiently

"I don't wanna get settled into this unexpected, kinda forced wedding with a stranger! You know nothing about me and I know nothing about you and I don't think this marriage will work" Arun said and Anjali doubted if he was drunk or if it was just the smell cause his words were crystal clear and straight to point.

Arun took a deep breath and continued

"Marriage was not at all my plan and my parents continuously forcing me was the reason why I agreed to marry! And I did have plans to escape from this marriage but that girl spoiled everything and dragged you into this' Arun told

"But...what did she run away? What was your plan..?' not letting Anjali complete Arun stopped her in the middle

"That's a long story! But listen I am sure you are not interested in this wedding. Am I right?" He asked and looked at Anjali to which she nodded

"Ugh!Thank God then look anjail To the world you and I are husband and wife but only for 6 months after that you are going on a different path and I am going on a different path! Until then I won't disturb you or your life and just like that you don't disturb me?  "Arun said and she was just staring at him

Anjali wonders if he Is for real! His words seem so simple but does he even understand the complicated things in this?

"Sigh this, "he said and went into the washroom

Anjali sat on the couch massaging her head! That man gave her a headache by talking too much and not letting her talk.

Anjali felt Arun was right! He is anything but the man Anjali expected to be her husband! His ways of living were different and hers was different she felt they would never get together.

Anjali wanted someone to love her! Arun was not even ready to look at her and loving her felt far away so all Anjali could think and do was pick the pen from the table sign the papers  And go out to the balcony.

She loved the sky, the moon, the stars everything up there.

Anjali loved staring at them, though those twinkling stars always reminded her of her parents who probably are one among the stars.

Closing her eyes! Anjali's mind went to Shilpa's words

"BELIEVE ME, ONE DAY SOMEONE IS GOING STARE AT YOU LIKE YOU JUST LIKE HOW YOU STARE AT THE STARS LOVINGLY "

Anjali smiled sadly and looked at her so-called husband who was now lying on the bed with his eyes closed.

She felt so many emotions at that moment, she felt sad, confused, restless and uncomfortable

It was all too much for her to take in! Imagine marrying someone in the morning and sighing the papers in the night

Wiping the tears that slipped out without her permission, Anjali walked into the room pulled the curtains of the balcony and laid down on the couch!

__________________________________

The next day came sooner than expected for Anjali!

She looked at Arun who was still asleep! Dragging herself to the washroom Anjali quickly did her morning chores and came out to grab her phone.

She opened an easy saree draping video on YouTube and tried to drape the 6-meter cloth around herself but failed miserably

Arghh!! She badly missed Shilpa right now.

Fed up! Anjali gave up and changed into a simple red kurta and white pants and tried her best to look good after all it was her first day of marriage

Wearing her earrings, she noticed how Arun slept peacefully! That somehow triggered her

She was fighting for her life  with that saree and he was sleeping

Looking one last time in the mirror, Anjali looked around the room pulled the curtains up and switched off the fan.

He groaned as the warm sunlight disturbed his beautiful sleep.

As the sunlight continued to fall on him "Ma" he groaned again and covered his face with a pillow

He thought that it was his mom doing it! A chuckle escaped Anjali's  mouth looking at him

"God! Woman he forgot he is married and you chuckling at him?" Something in her question made her stop hit her forehead and walk downstairs

She was  welcomed warmly by her laws  who were waiting for Selva and Shilpa's arrival

Anjali's phone pinged with a message from Shilpa

" We have something important to say, Anjali! " The message read

Looking at Anjali who was standing near the table, Vani walked towards her and smiled

" Can we talk for a few minutes?" She asked and Anjali nodded her head