(1)

Monica wanted to save this marriage but couldn't talk to Rick as he was abroad for business purposes.They were married for two years already but never talked about anything other than business matters.Their marriage  was a  business transaction between their family.Monica's dad owned a cosmetic company and two years ago the company shut down due to some problem and as they were in huge debt, Monica's dad 'promised' to make Monica, Rick's wife so that he may repay the company's debt.

As promised she became his so-called 'wife' and he repaid their debt .She always knew that he married her for the money she owed to him but still she had feelings for him. She had feelings for him from college's first year.

It was love at second sight(cause she fell for him after he helped her).He was that 2nd year senior who had all the girls chasing after him but he ignored them . Monica also didn't care much about him ,until that day .She was leaving for college early when it suddenly started raining.She started going back to her house when a tall shadow came behind her and give her shelter under his umbrella.She turned around to see it was him. Her heart almost started jumping at his tender gaze!!His light blue shirt that almost showed his prominent muscles and his dark hair and his face....Monica just wanted to go to the college fast and leave from his sight!!In the entire walk the both kept silent and when college gate came she quickly ran away and didn't look behind even once because she was too embarrassed to look behind. That's how she fell

for him.Maybe he fall for her too...who knows....

(2)

Rick also loved Monica.He fell for her a bit earlier than her.He first saw her at the college fair ,with her bff Emma .Monica clad in all cyan blue dress looked like an angel to him but the most supportive reason for her to fall for him was that , though she looked like an angelic girl she was infact an image of Diana (goddess of hunting)in times of difficulties and troubles.This reason got revealed to him at that fair itself.It was a bright sunny day the college campus was filled with sweet and delicious aroma of the food stalls placed at the fair,buzzing of students could be heard everywhere.Rick and Lauren also gave a stall of beautiful artwork done by Lauren at the fair.All was good until they heard a commotion at the college entrance gate.All fell silent.Two girls(Monica and Emma) seemed to have fallen in trouble with some guys pestering them.They called for help but nobody came forward.When Rick and Lauren noticed that,they instantly went to help them only to see that the guys were beaten up by the girls and now the girls were leaving the place elegantly!

When nobody came to help Monica and Emma,they finally lost their patience and revealed their 'talent' and beat them till they couldn't be recognised!Rick was kind of dazed at first but,when he again saw her at his stall,his heart went "thump" "thump"....."thump""thump".Her face which looked so utterly terrifying just a moment ago ,now looked like a beautiful and cute little fairy.After that day,Rick would always look for a chance to talk to her but could not reach her .Some days later,it was raining a lot when he noticed her.She seemed like getting wet in the rain so he decided give her shelter in his umbrella.As soon as he went towards her his heart started beating again..."thump".. "thump".... "thump"...."thump"..She looked so adorable to him that he couldn't help but look at her tenderly.He felt all numb at his tongue so he couldn't utter a single word all the way .When she left him and hurried inside without looking back he felt a sharp pain in his chest.So he decided to slowly pursue her but,as the only heir of his mother's business empire he became very busy with it.Soon,started to forget about her little by little.Seems like destiny had different plans.Monica came back to his life again.This time not just a crush he had in his heart but,as the wife he has to spend his life with.He thought that he would marry her as her father's has promised him then he would slowly pursue her.The marriage happened smoothly but soon after the marriage his mother called her for business at Tokyo and he left.But, today after 2 years of their marriage Rick is finally back.This time he will surely confess to her.He thought this to himself when his heart started beating again....her heart was also beating....will she confess too..... maybe....

....

(3)

//B.K. Airport//Time-09:00a.m.//

/Air Hostess announcing the plane arrival/

"Maybe i should have asked him before coming to pick him up"

Monica said to herself as she looked at the sky.It was a partially sunny sky with the tint of blue in it.It was already thirty mins since the plane landed but there was no sign of Rick .

"Did he leave from the other side of the airport ? Will my dream to save this marriage will never be fulfilled?....Guess I won't be able to tell him about my love..."

Monica thought and took a big sigh.She can't do anything anyway .As she was about to change her mind to wait for him and started to leave the airport she heard from behind,

"Who allowed you to leave ?Came for me and leaving without me .So impatient!"

Her heart felt a thump as she looked around to the direction of the voice that spoke to her.It was him.It was.... Rick!

"Oh! It's you Ri.....ack!"

(her heart is going wild)

"CALM DOWN HEART!...sighs....If only you took me for real....If only...I could tell you...how I ..how much I love you

Just for once I want to move this feeling of heaviness from my chest....for once.."

"Hey.. HELLO THERE...Are you there

HELLLLOOO!!!"

( Rick  was saying while waving his hand in front of dazed )

"Ok ..ok..i  hear you  so, stop waving please! my soul is still there .I won't leave so-

//she realised she was speaking with Rick pretty frankly for the first time//

"Sorry...Lame talk...haha... Let's go home now"

She said , feeling very embarrassed.

She quickly left for the parking lot.

"Let's go,Mr Chu,shall we?"

Rick said, feeling happy seeing Monica's

shy face.But, realising Mr Chu was looking at him he went to open the door on the passenger seat's side he saw Mr Chu sitting on the back seat and Monica on the driver seat. Rick smirked as Monica started driving.It seemed pretty awkward for Mr Chu.

"Today I will definitely confess to him/her!"

Both of them thought about how to do that in front of Mr Chu.So, Monica started talking only to be interrupted by Rick.

"Umm....So... ACTUALLY (in unison)!!....."

Both started laughing at each other's awkwardness.

"....Mr Chu take a cab and go back I will take Monica with me from here...."

Rick said will looking at the rear view mirror.

Mr Chu got out of the car and formally bid them goodbye.Monica was feeling pretty nervous as the silence between them was too loud and her heart was beating fast!

She was about to tell her thoughts regarding her denial about the divorce when Rick broke the silence with,"let's date  and if you still don't like me back...we will divorce and part ways."

He looked serious while, Monica was having hard time to digest his words.

"Did he just say 'I like you ' indirectly! THE Rick was saying this to her!! "She zoned out and only came back to earth as Rick was saying...."--If you don't like that then let's be friends first,get to know eachother well then we--"

"I love you Rick"

"Pardon you mean--",Rick was surprised hearing Monica's words.

"I love you Stupid!!"Monica said lovingly and gave a peek on Rick's cheek.

Rick sat quietly dumbstruck in his place.

The dark clouds outside seemed to have fade away and the dusk sky seemed to sparkle for the last time before the darkness of the night befalls over the city.

Rick who was silent making Monica regret of her actions hugged her tightly and saying between whimpers "I..I love you...I love you too!!!I have.... loved you... since the fair incident ...of our college...!!! I thought you will...never like me....!!!"

Monica patted his back and said"Maybe it's the play of fate and destiny,and destiny has chose us for each other.We are tied by strings of Destiny.So,you can't leave me now rather can I , okay?"

"Don't worry i will never let you leave me but before that let's go somewhere."Rick said holding Monica's hand in his one hand and the steering wheel with the other hand.

After twenty minutes, they reached the Merina Beach.Rick went out the car,opened Monica's side and holding her hand took her to the beach fair.

"Since it all started with a fair I thought why not propose you in the same scenario...So,..(Rick took out a black small box and sat with one knee on the sand)Will you marry me....again ? This time ceremonially"

As soon as he said that, Beautiful lanterns started flying in the sky like stars in the sky

and as many fire crackers were bursting in the sky, Monica answered "Yes,I do and I will not letting you leave me anytime soon."

She finished saying and hugged eachother and kissed passionately.

[3 months later, Leona Fredrick mansion (Rick's mother's maternal house)

//The wedding of Monica and Rick is taking place//

"Monica you look stunning ! I feel Jealous of Rick!!"Madam Christina, Rick's mother said while checking Monica again and again.Monica clad in white looked just like a goddess,and her dark ebony hair increased her beauty a lot more.Rick was already waiting for her,She went with Mr Johnson,her father in law walking down the aisle.The relatives and guests were already seated and was awestruck to see Monica in her wedding dress.

"Do you Miss Monica Watson, promise to love Mr-"The priest couldn't finish as Monica already said,"I do!!!"

"Do you Mr Rick Johnson --"

"I do",Rick also replied before the priest finished saying his words.

"""KISS KISS KISS"""the Audience cheered and finally after the priest said,"you may kiss the bride"

They had a magical kiss!!

Amidst the cheers and bustling of the people in the wedding slowly fading away in a distance..... their love  got sealed forever by the strings of destiny and they lived happily ever after for years and years to come ...or,so they thought.

                    (4)

"Where am I..!!", Monica thought as she was sitting amongst a beautiful private garden's beautiful gazing area.She was with Rick sometime ago in their hotel room

as it was their honeymoon phase.They were tired after the whole day journey from their city one fifty eight kilometres away and so, they went off to sleep.When you sleep close with your loved one it's the best feeling right!!

Monica woke up early and saw she was sleeping in a gazing area of a private garden." Did I start sleep walking??.... great!!!my sleepy choices are so awesome!!!!..... oops forgot the main thing I need to return to my room.... let's see....ACK!!!", She was amazed by herself and tried to find the exit of the garden but was in vain. After searching for fifteen minutes straight, she found the exit gate." Finally!!.. This gate is so weird looking. What's this written here??...(reads the inscription)'To know the truth enter for truth cannot be concealed for long... Seal thou fate and now thou enter '...okay.... I'll enter then. Open sesame!!!" Monica opened the gate and in front of here was a beautiful girl in her teens crying profusely, holding a paper which seemed like a letter. She walked away passing the girl then she found another door which she opened and found a young man in unrecognizable clothes was holding a lady who seemed unconscious, both drenched in blood and rain water. As she tried to go near the couple, she heard a distant voice calling for her name... It was Rick's voice. She tried to answer it when with a jerk she woke up...

'Aargh!!!...my back is hurting badly..ahh!!'

She saw Rick's worried face.' Honey are you okay?why weren't you waking up???' Rick asked while cautiously putting a pillow behind Monica's back and making her sit. Rick gave her some water, and after she relaxed she tried to tell him about her dream, but some invisible force seemed to stop her, and she ended up only blurting 'it was a nightmare.... don't worry let's go out for fresh air...'

Rick did not ask again as he didn't want to make Monica stressed but still he could not shake his worry for her.

After that they enjoyed the beach view and took a long walk by the busy beach souvenir shops, bought couple rings, some good items for their family and went back to the resort to rest as the next day was their day of departure from the Honeymoon phase back to their busy work life. They were packing their luggage and other stuff when suddenly Monica found a turquoise blue bead with the initials "TRUST AND TRUTH" written in golden initials on it.

Whose is this?.... Monica thought.

"Not mine", said Rick as was about to give his wife a back hug.

As Monica was thinking about the ring, when suddenly she remembered a negative image of a young man again in ancient clothes saying the words...."TRUST AND TRUTH" and she felt a pain in her head and she fainted in Rick's lap and would not wake up even in the loudest screams of a terrified Rick...

[RICK RUSHED MONICA TO THE CITY BEACH HOSPITAL]

....At the Operation theatre.....

//beep-beep-beep// Monica was given medication and was diagnosed that she was sleeping due to overwork and tiredness....

The next day, She was released and Rick on not wanting to risk her life further, so they immediately left for home.....

The question is what does the ring as well her vision trying to tell her ?

//FIN //