THE CONTRACT WIFE — Short Story ✨

Aditi didn’t choose this marriage.
Aditya didn’t want it.

But the deal was simple—
She becomes his wife for one year.
In return, her father’s drowning company would be saved from bankruptcy.

No love.
No expectations.
Just signatures.

On their wedding night, Aditya handed her a thin file.

“This marriage is a contract, Aditi. Nothing more.
I expect you to keep your distance.”

Aditi nodded quietly. She didn’t expect anything anyway.

Their days became routine:
Silence at breakfast, silence at dinner, silence in the mansion filled with marble and emptiness.

Aditya never raised his voice… but he never smiled either.

---

🔥 The First Attack

One rainy night, Aditi was returning from her evening walk when a car sped toward her—fast.

Too fast.

She froze.
The headlights swallowed her.

Suddenly a strong arm yanked her back.
She crashed into a hard chest.

Aditya.

His breath was harsh, angry, terrified.

“Are you insane?! Why were you outside alone?”

Aditi blinked.
His hands were still gripping her arms—tightly.

“I… the rain stopped,” she whispered.

His jaw tightened.
“That car wasn’t an accident.”

She stiffened.
“What do you mean?”

But he didn’t answer.

Instead, he ordered security, increased patrol around the house, and wouldn’t let her step out alone.

His cold silence was gone.
In its place… a restless storm.

---

🔥 Shadows of the Past

Two days later, a parcel arrived addressed to Aditi.
Inside was a torn photograph.

A child.
A little girl.
Her face scratched out.

Aditi stared at it, confused.

She didn’t remember this photo.

But Aditya did.

He snatched it from her hand, eyes burning.

“You’re not safe. And I should have known this before bringing you here.”

She frowned.
“What are you talking about?”

He exhaled, trembling—not with fear, but with something deeper.

“Fifteen years ago, there was a kidnapping. A little girl was taken from a camp… and I was there. I saw her. I tried to save her.”
His voice dropped.
“You were that girl, Aditi.”

Aditi stepped back.
Her memories were faint, foggy… but flashes returned—
Cold hands grabbing her,
A boy shouting,
Running through a forest…

A boy with the same eyes as Aditya.

“That was you?” she whispered.

He nodded.

“I never forgot you,” he said quietly.
“Your disappearance haunted me for years. And now—now someone from that past has found you again."

---

🔥 The Final Attack

The next night, the house lost power.

Darkness swallowed the halls.

A scream echoed—Aditi’s maid.

Aditya rushed to Aditi’s room—
She wasn’t there.

His chest tightened.
“Aditi!”

No answer.

He ran downstairs, heart pounding—and froze.

A masked man was holding Aditi at knifepoint.

“You took her from us,” the man hissed.
“And now she dies.”

Aditya’s vision turned red.

“Let. Her. Go.”

The man laughed.
“Move, and she dies.”

But Aditya did move.

He lunged, raw fury breaking free.
The fight was brutal—glass shattering, blood on the floor.
But Aditya didn’t stop until the man was pinned down by guards.

Breathing hard, he turned toward her.

Aditi was shaking.
He cupped her face.

“You’re safe. I’m here.”

Her tears fell.

“Why… why do you care so much? I’m just your contract wife…”

He closed his eyes.

“No,” he whispered.
“You were never just a contract.”

His voice cracked—broken, vulnerable.

“I’ve known you long before this marriage. I just didn’t know it was you.”
A pause.
“And somewhere along the way… I began to care. More than I should.”

Aditi’s breath hitched.
Her heart had been silent for months—
Now it beat loudly.

Aditya pulled her into his arms, holding her as if she might disappear.

“Stay,” he whispered.
“Not because of the contract.
Stay… because I can’t lose you again.”

Aditi looked into his eyes—
The same eyes that once saved a terrified little girl.

“I’ll stay.” she whispered.