The next day's task proved not only difficult but nearly impossible. Darsh stared aghast as his wife directed him to stop the car near Patel Nagar. Patel Nagar was Delhi's biggest slum - the biggest, the baddest, and the most hazardous place he could think of in the whole of Delhi. A cluster of dilapidated shanties, it was home to all sorts of shady businesses not to mention a thriving red light area just a street away. This was without doubt the worst place he could bring his wife to.

"What are we doing here?" He asked refusing to get out of the car. He pressed the lock button to make sure his wife wouldn't be able to open any windows or doors. The stink of the open gutters was getting to him, mingled with other odors of life making him gag.

"We are here to meet Gaurav." Aditi realized what he'd done and frowned, crossing her arms. "You are going to apologize to him and ask him nicely to let your wife work here."

"Work here?" He was flabbergasted.

"Yes." She gave him a shifty yet defiant glance. "Gaurav runs a charity clinic here with some of his friends. They need a lady doctor. I have offered him to work here."

Charity clinic? Is that what Gaurav Dhaliwal had promised her?

Slowly his face cleared as he tried to digest what she was saying. This was not a normal clinic. This was to replace the hospital that he had snatched from her. Her hospital, her clinic in Palampur, her dreams that he had so callously trampled upon. She wanted it back, on her terms.

This was a test. A test for him to prove he was willing to put his ego aside and rectify his mistakes. And a test for her to validate her decision to reject that annulment. If he failed today, as might as well kiss goodbye his chance at this marriage. After all, she hadn't said she'd stay in the marriage, she had merely said she wanted to decide it for herself.

His heartbeat raised as he evaluated his options. His first instinct was to refuse straight away, to get her out of here as fast as possible and wipe her memory of this ever happening. His second instinct was to call Gaurav Dhaliwal out. Then give the man a piece of his mind that he would remember forever, and then wipe his wife's memory out. His last option was to basically do nothing. In other words, give in quietly as his wife risked herself every day.

Needless to say, he couldn't let that happen, and equally needless to say she wasn't going to listen to him. It was her passion, her vocation, not some frivolous time-pass as he had accused her when he'd met her first. It mattered to her then and it mattered to her now. And it also mattered how he handled this.

She was watching him closely, her face hopeful yet shadows of doubt and fear flitted past it. This was as much about the clinic as about her decision to stay in the marriage. She had taken a bet on him, trusting her instincts. Letting her down now would be the end of him.

He sighed as he pulled the cap of a water bottle and glugged half of it. Gaurav Dhaliwal was a moron, he'd have to deal with him later. But for now, he had to handle his innocent wife.

"Darsh?" She was still waiting for his response. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and shook his head.

"Fine. As you wish. But before that, I have a few things to discuss."

They reversed out of the filthy alley, back the way they came. He drove slowly through the winding traffic taking longer roads that were not even on their route. Once out of that slum, he felt much better, yet he needed some time to think.

His wife still looked confused.

"So you are not angry?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"So you will apologize to Gaurav?" He took a moment before answering that.

"I'll talk to Gaurav. Don't worry."

"But you won't insult him again?"

"I won't insult him," he pursed his lips. "but it would be a man-to-man talk." He did not bother to elaborate. She gave him a suspicious look but seemed satisfied.

He sighed before launching into a gentle conversation about Patel Nagar. He didn't want to scare her but she needed to be warned. And then he put forth his terms and conditions.

"You'll work only in the daytime and be back home before six."

She stiffened and turned in her seat to give him a hurtful look. He stared right ahead, not wishing to be distracted by those big brown puppy eyes.

"You will not travel with anyone, nor will you travel alone. I will drop you and pick you up every day and if I can't, I'll send Ashok."

"Ashok?"

"He is my right-hand man. I trust him like you trust Zorawar."

She humphed. "Zorawar is one of a kind. You cannot compare him with anyone."

"Zorawar is a jerk," Darsh spat. "If it was not for him..."

If it was not for him, there wouldn't be any problem in his marriage. His secret would have been safe, even forgotten. And by now he would have had his honeymoon at least three times over, that was how much he hated the blasted scoundrel.

His hands clutched the steering wheel in an attempt to steady his wandering thoughts. She glared at him, totally unaware.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Fine! Anything else?"

"A few more things." He said as they stopped outside a mall. "Don't go around flashing your money in this clinic. Don't make any promises to anyone. And most importantly, don't expect them to give you the same respect you received in Palampur. Remember, this is Delhi. These people do not know you or your Dadaji."

Her face paled and he wondered if she already had done some of those very mistakes. Which was entirely possible considering she had already spent one whole day working there.

"Is that all?" she looked at him daggers. Shaking his head, he moved on to the last bit.

"I wanted to take you shopping but I think your current wardrobe is much better for this clinic." Her face flushed again, this time her cheeks too puffed making them look like the butt of a red baboon. He stifled a laugh. "And we need to buy you some fake jewelry. Gold won't do in that area, I have seen people losing their lives for less."

Her eyes widened as she clutched at her neck, her fingers winding possessively around her pendant and mangalsutra. His eyes softened as he had a crushing urge to hide her in his arms.

"It's okay," he shook his head to clear off the image. Why he was getting so sentimental he didn't know. "It's just for the clinic. You can wear what you want afterward."

*****

They did shop for her, he couldn't stay his hand once they were inside the mall. He felt like Alice in a wonderland, everywhere was stuff he wanted to buy for his wife. Now that his test was over he was over the moon. He had passed with flying colors, he knew it just by looking at her glowing face. Glowing yet solemn, she appeared to be in some deep thought. Quietly, she watched him when she thought he wasn't looking. He gave her plenty of opportunities as he pretended to be looking at dresses for her. Her mind wasn't on shopping though, she just nodded a yes to anything he chose. The only time she took active interest was when they headed to the jewelry section where she chose a small black beaded necklace with barely any frills. It didn't have to be that simple, he wanted to say, but was silenced again by that weird tender sensation bubbling up. He paid the bills as his wife put on that silly chain around her neck and turned to smile at him. Shaking his head, he grabbed her hand and walked out.

*****

Their next stop was a plush restaurant as he'd planned for his second date. It was a rooftop garden restaurant in Empire Skyline, the tallest building in Delhi. Open to the starry sky, a cool breeze wove through think green bushes of Junipers. Bunches of violet tailed down the wisteria trellises, and the air hummed with the scent of honeysuckles. This was the closest to Palampur he could have brought her. He looked at her to see the effect but could see the ambiance was not the foremost thing on her mind.

He readied himself for the questions that he knew were long coming.

"Why are you doing this?" She asked they sat in a private booth and the food was served. Today it was much fancier than yesterday, but she didn't even notice.

"Because I want this to work for us," he said sighing.

"And why do you want it to work?" her voice was curiously quiet.

"Erm...because you are my wife?" He felt a smile bubbling.

"Is that all?"

"Of course. You are my wife and I want this marriage to work. What else do you want to hear?"

What was the matter with her? Was she too tired or what? He started to pour her a glass of the special red he had chosen for tonight when she picked up the glass of water. She looked lost as she sipped slowly, almost as though she was trying to hide the disappointed droop of her mouth.

Frowning he replayed their exchange in his mind. Had he made a gaffe? Was he supposed to say something different?

"I am not doing this for money if that's what you are thinking," he said in a belligerent tone. "I am past that. And I do care for you, genuinely. I want this to work for both of us, I want us to be happy, I want you to be happy..." His voice trailed away as he realized he was sounding pathetic. A waiter walked past their booth clearing his throat. Aditi looked startled, her face reddening in embarrassment.

"Please. I didn't mean that. You don't need to justify."

Lowering her eyes she focussed on her plate. He had a distinct feeling he had bungled up. It seemed like his test wasn't over yet. He had let his guard down too soon and was now staring at a mess.

What did she want him to say anyway? He raked his brain trying to think straight. She'd asked why he was doing all this. Usually, people answered such questions with 'because I care for you...' or 'because I love you...' followed by a tender look that confirmed their feelings. He hadn't even thought of saying those things. His 'love confession' in the past had just been a play of words.

"I fell in love" as opposed to I love you.

"I met a girl that I couldn't let go" which was so true.

"I couldn't imagine my life without her." So very true!

He couldn't say all that now. Did it mean... he had lost his chance?

His face hardened as he tried to catch his breath. Stupid, stupid, stupid, he was. A moron of the first grade, but then he really couldn't say what he clearly didn't believe himself, could he?

"Why did you not sign the annulment?" He plodded on trying hard to keep a calm facade. It was better to put the ball in her court. If he couldn't say it, maybe she would.

"Because I wanted to see if this could work." She was calm but he could sense the tremor in her voice.

"And do you think it could work?" He asked ashen-faced, knowing where this was heading. She met his eyes briefly, then looked away.

"That depended on your previous answer."

*****

So he didn't love her. That was not news but now it was confirmed. Neither did he want her money anymore. He wanted their relationship to work because they were already in a relationship, so to speak. He wanted to carry on as it is and achieve his happily ever after. With no love in the equation, maybe it was possible for him but not her.

Silence prevailed as they reached home and she went to her room. Shutting the door behind her, she sat on the floor burying her face in her knees. So here she was, after a month-long marriage, after a slightly longer 'courtship' and after god-knew how many unfulfilled dreams and desires she did not even know she had. She had always thought she deserved love, was even entitled to it. That was a part of the reason she had been able to resist Vivaan and his likes. After all, her parent's story was legendary, and being their only child, she was bound to share at least some of their good luck. But apparently, that was not the case. Uncle Dawar was right. No man would love her for what she was. She'd better accept her destiny and move on.

Tired. She was tired, achy, weary to the bone. Something dry and itchy coiled in her core. It was angry, frustrated, tensed for a reason she couldn't fathom. After a day full of a tantalizing promise, its anticlimactic end had left it unsettled - hungry, thirsty, aching for more. Her eyes prickled as it hissed and twisted, burning her innards. She wished it would go away. She wished it would leave her alone so she could cry in peace.

Life, that had seemed so shiny until a few hours ago had suddenly lost its sheen. The hope with which she had rejected the annulment was suddenly lost. She wished she would drop dead now never to wake up. Never to see the face of the one man she loved so desperately and who couldn't even think of returning her feelings.

Funny thing was that she didn't even blame him. It was not his fault if he couldn't love her. At least he was not lying about it, which was no small thing.

*****

She slept fitfully, barely closing her eyes before waking up in a state. The night was muggy, probably it might rain later. She padded to the window to open it but the humid earthy scent set her on the edge even worse. She was both hot and cold. Her face felt heated. Frazzled, she opened the top buttons of her nightdress rubbing her flushed skin. Something was wrong, a sudden pull in her core, a sudden dryness in her throat that left her aching.

Water. She needed water. Picking up the empty jug from her bedside table she padded to the kitchen. The light was on. Her husband was standing next to the fridge holding a glass of water.

***** *****