Forcibly Yours

(◕‿◕)||𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕊𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕥||

Ruhanika shook her head with a soft smile. "No thanks, I don't drink."

Shilpi raised an eyebrow, sipping her wine as the chilly air danced through her hair. "How long?"

"Huh?" Ruhanika blinked, confused.

"How long have you been married to Dheer?" Shilpi repeated, her voice gentler this time.

"Just a few months," Ruhanika answered, her voice barely audible.

Shilpi noticed the tension in her shoulders, the stiffness in her posture. Something was off.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Shilpi pressed, concern lacing her voice. "You've been sitting out here for an hour in this freezing weather. Everyone else is inside—drinking, dancing. But you're just... here."

She suddenly paused, eyes widening as realization hit. She set down her wine glass and stepped closer.

"Wait a minute," she said, her tone shifting. "Are you worried I'm going to judge you? Because you're the boss's wife?"

"What? No!" Ruhanika's response was quick. "That didn't even cross my mind. But would you judge me for that?" Her voice quivered, and before Shilpi could respond, she went on, her thoughts tumbling out.

 "That's why I left his company at the last minute. I didn't want people to think I got ahead just because I'm Dheer Rathore's wife. That whole 'boss supporting his wife while ignoring others' drama—I couldn't handle that. 

The tear necklace design? That was mine. I didn't force him to pick it. Heck, I didn't even know he was my boss back then."

Shilpi raised both hands. "Hey, hey, wait. I never thought that. I know you're talented. I only asked because you've seemed off since you got here. And wait—you didn't know he was your boss? Didn't you two know each other before?"

Ruhanika sighed, the cold wind brushing through their hair as she began to explain her forced, arranged marriage.

"Wooooowww," Shilpi blinked. "I never would've guessed. But... you two really do look good together."

Ruhanika blushed at the compliment and changed the subject, sipping her coffee. "Well, enough about me. Tell me about your love life. Any boyfriend? Crush? Anything?"

That question made Shilpi freeze, her hand mid-air. She chuckled. "I'm not into long-term things anymore."

"Anymore?" Ruhanika tilted her head. "Did you break up with your boyfriend? "

The answer that followed left her stunned.

"I'm a divorcee," Shilpi said casually, as if she were announcing the weather.