Chapter 3: The Contract
Samia's POV
The court proceedings were faster than I had expected. By noon, we were officially married—bound not by love but by a shared need to escape the expectations of others. The moment the magistrate declared us husband and wife, I felt a mix of emotions swirling in my chest: relief, resignation, and a flicker of something I couldn't quite name.
Kabir was silent as we walked out of the courtroom, his steps confident yet distant. He had agreed to this, just as I had, but it was clear he wanted to get through it with minimal interaction. A few polite smiles exchanged with our families, and that was it.
We rode to his house in silence. The weight of what had just happened settled heavily between us, like an invisible wall neither of us dared to cross.
Kabir's POV
I kept my focus on the road, glancing at Samia through the rearview mirror only occasionally. Her expression was unreadable, her gaze fixed on the passing streets. The court marriage had been purely transactional, yet there was something unsettling about it. I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd invited a stranger into my life, someone who would now share my space, my routines, and, to some extent, my secrets.
When we arrived at the house, my mother greeted us with a warm smile. "Welcome home, Samia," she said, her voice laced with hope. I could tell she was trying to make this as normal as possible, pretending we were just another couple starting a new life together.
Samia smiled faintly, murmuring a polite thank you. Her guarded demeanor was no surprise—I could see she wasn't here to play the role of a dutiful wife. And honestly, I was fine with that.
After a quick lunch with my family, I led her upstairs to the room that had been prepared for her. "This is yours," I said curtly, opening the door.
She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the space. "Thank you," she replied, her tone as neutral as mine.
I handed her a file. "Before we settle in, I think we should get this over with."
She looked at the file, her brows furrowing. "The contract?"
I nodded. "It outlines the terms we agreed on. Separate lives, no interference, and complete privacy. You can review it if you'd like."
She took the file and sat on the edge of the bed, flipping through the pages. Her expression remained calm, but I could see her eyes narrowing as she read the details.
Samia's POV
The contract was exactly what we had discussed. It was cold, impersonal, and efficient—a perfect reflection of this arrangement. There were clauses about maintaining discretion, not meddling in each other's personal lives, and, most importantly, not letting our families know the truth.
I signed the papers without hesitation. What difference did it make? This wasn't a marriage in the traditional sense. It was a deal, and I intended to keep my end of it.
When I handed the file back to Kabir, his expression didn't change. He simply nodded and tucked it under his arm. "We'll be fine as long as we stick to the rules," he said.
I almost laughed at the absurdity of it all. Rules. In a marriage. But I didn't say anything. Instead, I asked, "Anything else?"
He shook his head. "No. You can rest now if you'd like. Dinner is at seven."
As he left the room, I sat down on the bed, letting out a long breath. This was my life now. Bound by a contract to a man who didn't want a wife any more than I wanted a husband.
Yet, as I looked around the room, I couldn't help but wonder: How long could we really keep up this façade?
Kabir's POV
Downstairs, I placed the signed contract in my study and leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. This wasn't how I imagined my life would turn out, but maybe this was for the best.
At least this way, no one would get too close. No one would have the power to hurt me again.
And yet, as much as I told myself this was just another business deal, a nagging thought lingered in the back of my mind.
Would this arrangement really protect us from each other? Or had we just invited chaos into our lives?