THE COMPROMISE HUSBAND

By PRANAY TIWARI ……………………………..

CHAPTER 1

As Arpita was about to ring the bell she looked at the watch one final time. “My Love”. It had taken three thousand rupees to get those words imprinted on the back side of the watch. The Rado watch itself had cost her forty thousand rupees. Arpita knew how tough it had been to get the money. The two thousand rupees that she did receive from Seth Ramniklal (her father) each month wasn’t enough to manage her makeup kit let alone buy a designer watch from Mark & Bens. And then like lightning , she knew. Prakarsh could never say no to her. Within ten seconds the blank cheque was handed to her. A blank cheque! Silly Prakarsh . She laughed , almost cruelly.

Rishabh opened the door . When he saw the watch , the first thing he asked was its price. He wished he could have seven birthdays in a year. He pulled Arpita by her elbow and pushed her onto the bed. The cell phone was switched off . The next two hours he was not to be disturbed.

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Thirty seven kilometers away at the head office of Arthamoney in Elgin street, Prakarsh was pondering over the company’s profit for this quarter when the dormant fax machine sprung to life blurting out a piece of paper . It was from Prakarsh’s bank agent.

“ A cheque of 43,000 rupees has been withdrawn from your account ( AC no. 11/31587) in favour of Mark & Bens .”

Prakarsh noted the amount and then put the paper in the shredder .

This was the first fact he had ever hidden from Seth Ramniklal.

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Arpita put the crimson dupatta back on her. She always hated leaving .

“ Bye, “ she said “ and once again, happy birthday .”

He smiled and said “ I love you.”

Rishabh had told the same three words to three other girls that year.