'I now pronounce you husband and wife!'
Both looked at each other in utter disgust. This could not be happening. It was like their worst nightmare coming true but they had no other choice. Or else they would lose their job.
Armaan Malik and Riddhima Gupta were private detectives at a bureau. Both had started at the same time as rookies but had now advanced to fully fledged detectives. The minute they had laid eyes on each other the minute their 'hate story' had started. They could not stand each other...pure detest poured out of them whenever there was a confrontation. They were both hot headed and extremely competitive. They always tried to outdo each other to the point where a WW3 was always about to begin. Colleagues around them had tried everything to make them get along but nothing worked. Now it had started to affect everyone and the bureau. Something had to be done...
One day their boss, Kirti, called them in her office. She said a silent prayer before beginning:
'Armaan...Riddhima...aap dono ke liye mere paas ek kam hai. Humein ek bahut popular honeymoon destination se kuch information mili hai ke koi aisa insaan hai jo newlywed couples ke kamre mein ja kar un ki film banata hai aur baad me unko black mail karte hain. Ab hum ne yeh pata karna hai ke voh kaun hai, kaise film banata hai, kis tarah voh apne victims ko choose karta hai aur kyon yeh sab kar raha hai. Vahan ka jo hotel manager hai voh bahut pareshaan ho raha kyonke yeh baat agar sab ko pata chal gayi to uska bahut nuksaan ho sakta hai. Aur waise bhi hum nahi chahte ke aur couples ko bhi is takleef mein se guzre. (Armaan...Riddhima...I have a case for you. We have received some information from a very popular honeymoon destination that someone has been filming newlywed couples in their rooms and then have been blackmailing them. Now our job is to find out who it is, how he films them, how he chooses his victims and why he is doing this. The Hotel Manager is very worried that if this news spreads all over then he would have to suffer some great financial loss. And also we don't want more couples to go through the same trauma)
Jo ab tak jitney bhi victims hai unko badi muskil se chup karvaya gaya hai aur isliye hum chahte hai ke jaldi se jaldi is problem ka solution mil jaye isse pehle ke yeh baat sab ko pata chall jaye. Ab humara kam hai ke hum is Hotel Manager ki jaldi si jaldi madat karni hai aur us ke liye maine aap dono ko chuna hai' (Until now all the victims have barely been kept silenced and that's why we want to quickly find a solution to this problem before anyone finds out. Now it's our job to help the Hotel Manager as soon as possible and I have picked out you two for this job) she said calmly.
Riddhima: 'Kya matlab hum dono ko chuna hai? Aap ka matlab mein aur Armaan? Impossible!!!' (What do you mean you have picked us? You mean me and Armaan? Impossible!!!) she said stunned.
Armaan: 'Waise toh mein kabhi Riddhima ka saath nahi deta lekin voh sahi keh rahi hai. Hum dono? Never!' (Usually I hardly ever agree with Riddhima but she is right. Us two? Never!) he said shaking his head vigorously.
Kirti: 'Aap dono ke paas koi choice nahi hai. Yah to aap dono ek saat kaam karenge yah aap dono mein se ek ko job chodni padhe gi' (You two don't have any choice either you two work together or one of you have to quit the job) she said with great authority.
Armaan & Riddhima: 'KYA???!!!' (What???!!!) both said in unison completely shocked.
Kirti: 'Jee hanh! Aur iss mein behes karni ki koshish bhi mat karna varna main aap dono mein se ek ki chutti kara dongi' (Yes! And don't try to protest or else I will fire one of you) she said threatening them both.
Armaan: 'Lekin...boss. Aap aisa nahi kar sakti!' (But...boss. You can't do this!) he said protesting frenziedly.
Kirti: 'Main aisa kar sakti hon aur aisa kar rahi hon. Agar aage tum kuch bole toh tum abhi ke abhi yahan se jaa sakte ho!' (Oh yes I can do this and I'm doing it. If you keep talking then you are most welcome to leave) she said in a really threatening voice.
Armaan: *closes his mouth like a clam*
Riddhima: *looks smug*
Kirti: 'Are we clear now?' she asked sternly.
Armaan & Riddhima: *both nodding their heads silently*
Kirti: 'Iss job ke liye ap dono ko bahut close kaam karna pade ga...aap dono ki isliye vaha husband aur wife ban ke jaana pade ga' (For this job you have to work really closely...you have to act like husband and wife) she said dropping the bomb.
Armaan & Riddhima: *both their jaws drops and the look of utter horror is evident in both of their faces*
Kirti: 'Jee hanh...husband and wife. Vaha jaa kar aapne aisa behave karna jaise aap ek dusre se bahut pyaar karte hain. Kissing, hugging...jo kuch bhi ho bilkul aisa ho jaisa ke aap dono ki abhi abhi shaadi hui hai aur aap eek dusre ke bina jee hi nah sakti' (Yes...like husband and wife. You have to act like you love each other very very deeply. Kissing, hugging...well whatever you have to do to pretend like a newlywed couple and that you can't live without each other) she said determinedly.
Riddhima though she was going to pass out. Armaan was not far behind. How could this be happening? It felt like they were caught up in a bad dream trying desperately to wake up from it. How would they spend time together 24/7 when they couldn't even be in the same room for 24 seconds?
Riddhima: *takes a deep breath* 'Madam, kab tak hum ne iss mission pe jana hai? (Madam, when are we supposed to leave?)
Kirti: 'Do din baad.' (After two days)
Armaan: 'Do din baad???!!!' (After two days???!!!) he said panicking.
Both Armaan and Riddhima froze...they couldn't move and it felt like they were glued to their chairs. This is too soon...they are not ready...this is almost too much.
Kirti: 'Aap dono ko agar kisi cheez ki fikr hai toh pareshaan nah ho. Aap dono ke liye humne ek choti si team tayar ke hain jise aap madat le sakti hai. Aap ke saath voh nahi jayeng kyonke bahut risky ho sakta hai. Baki sab ke details hum kal aap ko de denge. So are you guys ready?' (If you are worried about something then don't worry. We have put together a small team for you who will be at your assistance. They won't come with you as it can get a bit risky. I will give you the rest of the info tomorrow. So are you guys ready?) she asked them both.
A&R: *thinking* 'Nooo!!!'
Kirti: Alright then...I now pronounce you husband and wife!' she said finalizing the deal.
Entering the Dining hall both Armaan and Riddhima were showered with flowers and congratulations. The news about their fake marriage had spread like a wild fire and no one was going to let go of this golden opportunity. Everyone was teasing them non-stop and both Armaan and Riddhima were getting more and more frustrated. But they couldn't afford losing their temper as they might end up losing their job. The entire day became very challenging and a test of patience for them. Their colleagues were either giving them tips on what to do on their honeymoon or what to wear...with other words nothing. Somehow they went through all that and the painstakingly long day finally ended. Mentally exhausted both went home to their respective house. Tomorrow was a new day and they were NOT looking forward to it.
The next day a car screeched into the parking lot and a woman in a suit got out of it. She was late as she had barely slept last night. Riddhima was beyond tired and could hardly keep her eyes open. Today not even a double macchiato could help her. A few minutes later another car came in lightning speed almost hitting Riddhima. That made her forget all about her tiredness; now she was angry.
R: 'What the hell???!!! Tum dekh nahi sakte?!! Andhe ho kya?!! (WTH???!!! Can't you see?!! Are you blind?!!) she screamed.
A: *peeping out of the window* 'Main andha?! Tu andhi ho jo bina dekhe araam se chall rahi thi jaise teri baap ki sadak ho!' (Me blind?! You are the one walking on the street like your father owns it!) he answered angrily back.
R: *folding her arms* 'Acha tum ho!!! Aur kaun ho sakta hai jo paghlon ki tarah gadi chalata hai?! (So it's you!!! Who else could it be that drives a car like a maniac?!)
A: *stepping out of the car* 'Hanh main hon! Toh kya karlo gi? Mujhe maro gi? Meri shakayet karo gi? Madam, Madam...Armaan mera accident karvane vala tha!' (Yes it's me! What are you going to do then? Hit me? Tell tales about me? Madam, Madam...because of Armaan I was about to end up in and accident!) he said while approaching Riddhima.
R : 'Main koi bachi thodi ho jo aisa kahongi? Main Kirti Madam ke paas jaongi aur ek ache mature insaan ki tarah unko bataongi' (What do you think I am...a kid? Of course I will tell but in a very mature way) she said pursing her lips.
A: 'Pfaaah! Aur tum se kya expect kya ja sakta hai...tum to ho hi teacher' (What else could I have expected from you...you are after all a teacher) he answered her trying to rile her up.
R: 'Haww!! Mujhe teacher bola?! Aur tum kya ho?!! Junior Hulk! Muscles hi muscles lekin dimaag ka muscle to kaam hi nahi karta!' (You called me a teacher? And what are you?!! Junior Hulk! Tons of muscles but your brain muscle is always out of function) she retorted back.
A: *smirking* 'Jab good looks ho to dimaag ka kya istemal karna. Sab kaam khud ba khud ho jate. Zara si smile di, thodi sa flirt kiya, thode se muscles dekhaye aur kaam ho gaya' (When you have good looks then why use they brain. Everything happens by itself. You give a smile, do some flirting and show your muscles and you'r done)
R: 'Ewww...tumse badha narcissist to puri duniya mein nahi ho ga!' (Ewww...there can't possibley be a bigger narcissist then you in the entire world) she said scrunching her nose.
A: 'Toh apne aap se pyar karna kya buri baat hai? Main tumhare jaisa thodi ho jisne kabhi aina hi na dekha ho' (What's wrong with loving yourself? At least I'm not like you who have never seen a mirror) he said teasingly.
R: 'Good looks sab kuch nahi hota. Dimaag bhi koi cheez hoti hai aur voh mere paas hai. Tumhari good looks to 20 saal tak khatam ho jayenge lekin dimaag to badi umar tak bhi mera saath de ga' (Good looks isn't everything. There is also something called a brain which I have. You'll only have your looks for another 20 years but my brain on the other hand will be there even as I get old) she said in full teacher mood.
A: 'Future ka kya pata? Ho sakta ho kal hi marjae' (Who knows about the future? We might end up dying tomorrow?) he said shrugging his shoulders.
R: 'Kaash ke tum kal hi marjao phir mujhe tumhare saath is stupid honeymoon pe nahi jana padheh ga. God, tum sun rahe ho?! Please is Junior Hulk ko apne paas le jao!' (Oh please die tomorrow then I won't have to go to that stupid honeymoon with you. God, are you listening? Could you please take Junior Hulk away from here!) she said looking up in the sky.
A: 'God tumhari baat itni jaldi nahi sunne vala...voh toh meri hi sune ga' (God won't listen to you that easily...he will only listen to me) he said with lopsided smile.
R: 'Tumhari?! Tum apne aap ko samajte kya ho? Profet?!'(You?! What do you think of yourself? A profet?!) she said sarcastically.
A: *wiggling eyebrows* 'Ladkyon ke liye to main profet hi hon' (For all the ladies I am a profet)
R: 'Aaach! You are so full of yourself! Main toh...' but she couldn't finish as Kirti approached them.
Kirti: 'Agar aap dono ka lover's quarrel khatam ho gaya hai to kya hum andar chale?' (If you are over and done with your lover's quarrel do you mind stepping inside?) she said sternly.
Riddhima fuming and Armaan smirking went in to the building. Both almost ran after Kirti just to reach her first. All three entered her office. Kirti went to sit behind her desk. Armaan and Riddhima sat at the opposite side of the table but kept their chairs at least two feet apart from each other.
Kirti: *shaking her head* 'Aisa nahi chale ga. Abhi se practise karle kareeb rehne ki. Please aap dono apni chairs ek dusre ke kareeb le aye abhi aur issi waqt...and that's an order! (This is not acceptable. You have to start practicing at this precise moment how to stay close to each other. Please move your chairs closer right now...and that's an order!)
Pouting like kids both brought their chairs closer but they kept some distance. With folded arms Armaan and Riddhima looked at Kirti.
Kirti: *taking a deep breath* 'Acha maine tum dono ko isliye bulaya hai ke aap dono ko baki ki details deni hai iss case ke baare mein. Jaisa ke aap jaante hain ke victim naye naye shadi shuda loog hai aur issi vajah se aap dono ko husband and wife ban ke jana padhe ga. Main maanti ho ke yeh asaan kaam nahi aur voh bhi aap dono ke liye...lekin aap dono hai bhi is bureau ke sab se ache detectives. Main expect karti ho ke aap mujhe disappoint nahi karenge varna aap jaante hai ke kya hoga' she said looking straight in the eyes of both A & R. (The reason I have called you over is to give you the rest of the info. As you know the victims are newlywed couples and that's why you have to pretend to be husband and wife. I know it's not easy and especially for you two...however you are the two best detectives at this bureau. I expect that you won't disappoint me or else you know what will happen)
Both Armaan and Riddhima sighed heavily at this. They were trapped and there was no way out...absolutely no way out. Kirti continued to give them out the rest of the info and then told them to go to a body language expert. They needed to badly improve their body language to make them convincing as a married couple. Armaan and Riddhima spent 2 hours with the expert and it was like going through fires of hell...and this was only the beginning. From tomorrow and as long as the case went on both had to stay together all day and all night for many many days ahead. How would they cope when they were already driving each other crazy?
To be continued...
Edited by rahmona_pakswe - 14 years ago
Anupamaa
Real Estate
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