From contract to ishq - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Four weeks later, Minahil sat in the study, gathering her courage as she waited for him to return from work. She had to tell him about the bachelor’s degree she’d hidden.
The spring semester was approaching, and he expected her to enroll in university.
But she wanted a job to tackle her growing student loan debt, and keeping this secret any longer felt impossible.Yaram’s mother, the head of Shah Enterprises, hadn’t retired yet, but the transition was near.
Minahil had met her several times, hosting her and her husband at Yaram’s home, playing the perfect hostess as he expected.
They adored her warmth, and she genuinely liked them.
Yaram assured her the presidency was secure, regardless of their nikaah.He’d introduced her to his entire family, spinning a tale of a secret love affair that they fully believed.
Minahil knew the truth, though. Over the past weeks, she’d fallen deeply for him—how could she not?
He was everything she’d ever dreamed of in a husband: magnetic, kind, attentive, and impossibly forgiving of her flaws.
Since the night she’d agreed to a real marriage, his intensity had softened.
His lovemaking, once fierce and consuming, now felt tender, reverent, as if he were savoring every moment.
It captivated her completely—she was, in her own words, utterly smitten.She chewed her nail, nerves fraying as she awaited his arrival.
How angry would he be? The lie by omission wasn’t terrible, but marrying him with over two crore rupees in debt felt like a betrayal. Her anxiety spiked.
The SUV pulled into the garage, and her stomach knotted. Her thumbnail was ragged from half an hour of nervous biting.The door slammed, and his voice echoed.
“Minahil!”
She stood, taking a shaky breath.
“Mein yahan hoon.”
Yaram appeared in the study doorway, his eyes igniting when he saw her. He paused, studying her.
“Kya hua?”
His tone was sharp.
“K-kuch nahi.”
Her voice trembled.
He scanned her, a scowl forming. “Mujhse jhoot mat bolo.”
Minahil bit her lip, her gaze dropping to her hands.Yaram felt a jolt of dread, fury and fear gripping him. Guilt radiated from her, and his mind raced to the worst.
“Kya hua?”
“Kuch nahi.”
“Minahil. Bolo. Abhi.”
She met his gaze, his intensity chilling her.
“I am sorry . Meine aapse se jhoot bola.”
Yaram’s gut twisted, his breath catching. He went to his mini fridge, pulling out a bottle of water—and poured a glass, downing it to steady himself.
His world felt perfect until now.
His hand shook as he set the glass down, turning to her.
He’d stay calm, even if it killed him. But if there was another man, he’d lose it. “Batao.”
Fear glittered in his eyes.
She twisted her hands, whispering, “Meine apne resume pe jhoot bola tha. Jab mein ne aapki compo mei kaam shuru kiya. Sach yeh hai ke mere paas bachelor’s degree hai, aur meine usse chhupaya kyunki mujhe job nahi mil rahi thi. Meri degree galat field mein thi, ya mein jobs ke liye overqualified thi.”
Tears welled up.
“Mujhe kaam karna tha. I couldn’t buy food or pay rent—"
He cut in, voice tight.
“Asli baat batao, Minahil.”
She inhaled shakily.
“Mere paas student loans ka bohat debt hai. Aapko jo lagta hai usse kahi ziada. 5 million se bhi ziada. Mujhe aapko batana chahiye tha. Mujhe itne debt ke saath tum se nikaah nahi karna chahiye tha.”
Yaram ran a hand through his hair, tension easing.
“Bas yeh? Yeh hai jhoot? Degree chhupayi aur student loans? Isi wajah se tum itni pareshan ho? Aur koi baat nahi?”
His eyes searched hers.
“Koi aur baat nahi?”
Confusion clouded her mind.
“Konsi baat?”
“Koi aur BAAT to Nahi hai, Minahil?” He spat the question.
“N-nahi.”
“Tumhari awaaz kyun kaanp rahi hai?”
“Kyunki mein samajh nahi rahi ke aap kis baat ki baat kar rahe hain. Meine abhi aapko woh baat batayi jo mujhe nikaah se pehle se pareshan kar rahi thi—".
“Mujhe loans ke bare mein pata hai. I paid them off two weeks ago."
She froze, baffled.
“Aapko kaise pata chala? Aapne ne pay kr diye?”
“Haan, meine ada kiye. Koi aur baat nahi hai?”
She closed her eyes, then opened them slowly, studying him.
"Aapko debt ya resume ke jhoot pe gussa nahi?”
His hand caressed her cheek.
“Nahi, jaan, mujhe tum pe fakhr hai. Bina kisi madad ke degree lena bohat bari baat hai, chahe loan lena pada ho. Kya tum gussa ho ke meine loan pay kr diya?”
“Kaise pata chala aapko?”
“Office mein bill collectors ke phone aaye. Calls mere paas transfer ho gayi, tumhare naye shohar ke paas.”
His fingers threaded through her hair. “Tumhein gussa hai ke meine pay kiya?”
.
“Mujhe hona chahiye. Lekin mein nahi hoon.”
She shivered.
“Yeh bohat bada bojh tha. Mein aapko wapas karungi.”
“Koi zaroorat nahi.”
His tone was firm.
“But, mein—”
“Minahil, meri baat suno. Mein tum se mohabbat karta hoon. Meine tumhara debt pay kiya. Bas yeh baat khatam karo.”
His mouth crashed onto hers, and joy exploded through Minahil. He loved her? Her pulse raced as happiness overwhelmed her.
He kissed her fiercely, his tongue delving deep, swirling with hers.
His arms wrapped around her, and she’d never felt safer or more cherished.
They broke apart for air, and she opened her eyes to find him staring.
"You love me?"
“Tumhein kya lagta hai yeh sab kya tha? Kya koi aur pagal aadmi tumhein nikaah ke liye bribe karta hai, practically chaining you to their beds at night?"
“Aap tab mujh se mohabbat nahi kar sakte the. Aap mujhe jaante bhi nahi the.”
“Shayad us waqt boht intense attraction thi, aisi jo meine kabhi zindagi mein nahi dekhi. Aur isse mohabbat mein badalne mein ziada waqt nahi laga.”
She bit her lip, whispering,
“Mein bhi aapse se mohabbat karne lgi hoon.”
His arms tightened, satisfaction crossing his face. "That’s good to know, love, because you’re stuck with me. Forever." His mouth claimed hers again, sealing their fate.