Aarav's camera shutter clicked, capturing a beautiful moment—an old grandmother pushing her grandson on a swing in the park, her face lit with a serene smile. He had come to Mumbai dreaming of becoming a professional photographer, but so far, he'd only managed to make ends meet by shooting weddings and corporate events.
"Aarav Bhaiya! Phone!" His younger brother Kabir called out.
The voice on the other end was unfamiliar. "Are you Aarav Sharma? This is Dr. Shekhar Verma. Your father... he's had a heart attack."
By the time Aarav reached the hospital, his breath caught in his throat. His father was on a ventilator. His mother was weeping in a corner.
"Son... your father's last wish," his uncle said gently, pulling him aside. "He wants to see you married soon."
Aarav set his camera down heavily. "But I'm not—"
"I know what you want to say. But sometimes in life, you don't live for yourself—you live for those you love."
That evening, his mother introduced him to a match. "Her name is Ananya. Good family. MBA graduate. Meet her once."
Chapter 2: Ananya's Truth
Their first meeting was at a quiet café. Ananya was beautiful, but her eyes held a sadness she couldn't conceal.
"Do you believe in arranged marriage?" Aarav asked.
Ananya stirred her tea slowly. "I believe in necessities. My father's company is about to go bankrupt. He needs financial help. Your father... his health is failing. Both our families need a solution."
Aarav had never heard such brutal honesty. "So this is just a deal?"
"Yes. We stay married for one year. Then we divorce quietly. By then, my father's company will have recovered, and your father will have peace."
Aarav thought about it—one year of delaying his dreams. "Okay. Deal."
The wedding was simple. Both families were happy. Aarav's father was taken off the ventilator. Ananya's father got his loan.
Chapter 3: Strangers Under One Roof
They lived in the same apartment but remained strangers. Aarav slept in the living room, Ananya in the bedroom. She left early for work; he edited photos late into the night.
One day, Ananya noticed an old photo frame on the kitchen shelf—a picture of three people: Aarav, another guy, and a girl. All three were smiling.
"Who are they?" she asked when Aarav returned.
His smile faded. "My friends. Rohan and... Kiara."
"Where are they now?"
"Rohan is in London. Kiara... got married. Two years ago."
He said nothing more, but Ananya noticed he turned the frame face down.
Chapter 4: Slow Steps Closer
A week later, Ananya returned home late to find Aarav asleep on the sofa, his camera bag beside him. His laptop was open to a Photoshop file—a stunning landscape photograph.
She noticed technical flaws—the lighting was off, the composition weak.
The next day, she said casually, "I want to learn photography. Could you teach me?"
Aarav was surprised. "You? The MBA graduate?"
"Even MBA graduates have the right to see life's colors."
Their first lesson began. Basics: aperture, shutter speed, ISO. Ananya learned remarkably fast.
"You're naturally talented," Aarav said, genuinely impressed.
"Lots of practice," she smiled, but her eyes held a hidden pain.
Chapter 5: The Truth in the Dark
One stormy night, the power went out. In the candlelight, they sat together on the sofa.
"Were you ever in love?" Ananya asked suddenly.
Aarav was silent for a moment. "Yes. With Kiara. In college. We dreamed together—of opening a photography studio. Then her family forced her to marry someone else."
"You didn't try to stop it?"
"I tried. But her father asked me, 'What can you offer her? What do you have?' And I... I had nothing to say."
Tears welled in Ananya's eyes. "My story is similar. I loved a musician. My father told him he wasn't good enough for me."
"Where is he now?"
Ananya showed him a video on her phone—a guy playing guitar on stage, smiling. "In Singapore. Successful musician. Married now. Happy."
"And you?"
"I'm... learning that happiness isn't only found in love."
Chapter 6: The Secret in the Photos
A month passed. Their relationship was changing. They now cooked together, watched movies, discussed photography.
One day, Aarav showed Ananya his secret project—a series titled "The Unseen Mumbai": a chaiwala's smile, street children playing, an old couple walking hand-in-hand.
"This is for your portfolio, right?" Ananya asked.
"Yes. There's a chance for a gallery exhibition."
Ananya studied the photos carefully. "This one—adjust the lighting slightly. And this one—change the angle for more impact."
Aarav followed her suggestions. The results were stunning.
"Where did you learn so much about photography?" he finally asked.
Ananya took a deep breath. "My mother... she was a professional photographer. Quite famous. But she died in an accident when I was young. My father packed away all her photos, all her equipment. He said it hurt too much to see them."
Aarav finally understood the pain behind her eyes.
Chapter 7: Father's Operation
Aarav's father's health worsened again. He needed emergency surgery.
"Don't worry about money," Ananya said. "I'll manage it."
"How? Your father's company is still recovering."
Ananya didn't answer. The next day, she brought an old suitcase from her parents' house. From it, she took out a vintage Leica camera.
"This was my mother's. It's a collector's item. Worth at least 15 lakhs."
"You'd sell this?" Aarav was stunned.
"Not for money. For your father."
The camera was sold. The surgery was successful. Tears filled Aarav's eyes as he tried to thank her.
"Don't thank me," Ananya smiled. "We're still strangers, remember?"
But both knew—they were strangers no more.
Chapter 8: Preparing for the Exhibition
The gallery accepted Aarav's photos. The exhibition was a month away.
"Let's create a special series together," Ananya suggested. "On 'Home'."
On the first day, Ananya photographed Aarav—lost in thought before his laptop, making tea, cleaning his camera.
On the second day, Aarav photographed Ananya—leaving for work, experimenting in the kitchen, drinking coffee on the balcony.
On the third day, they photographed each other—cooking together, debating photography, bursting into sudden laughter.
Each photograph told a story—of two strangers slowly becoming part of each other's world.
Chapter 9: The Day Arrived
Exhibition day. Aarav was nervous. Ananya straightened his tie.
"Don't worry. The photos are beautiful."
The gallery was crowded. Aarav's father came in a wheelchair. Ananya's parents attended too.
A critic asked, "In your 'Home' series, many photos feature a woman. Who is she?"
Aarav looked at Ananya, who stood across the room smiling. "She... she's my wife. But at the start of this series, she was my stranger. And by the end... she had become my home."
The gallery erupted in applause. Tears filled Ananya's eyes.
Chapter 10: The Contract Was Ending
Returning home after the exhibition, Ananya said, "Tomorrow completes our one year."
Aarav's heart raced. "Yes. So... what are you thinking?"
"As per our contract, we should file for divorce."
They rode in silence the whole way home. Inside, Aarav said, "I was thinking... what if we extended the contract?"
Ananya searched his eyes. "For how long?"
"Another year?"
"Just one year?"
"Another year then?"
"Then another?"
Aarav took her hand. "Ananya... I know this started as a contract. But some relationships that begin as deals... become real."
Tears streamed down Ananya's face. "Aarav, your father's health is better now. My father's company has recovered. The reason for our contract is gone."
"So?" Aarav's breath caught.
"If we stay together now... there's only one reason—because we want to be together."
Aarav pulled her into an embrace. Outside, it began to rain. But inside, a sun had risen in both their hearts.
Epilogue: A New Contract
Two years later.
Aarav's photography studio had opened—"Sharma & Verma Photography." Ananya had left her corporate job to pursue photography professionally.
Today was their first anniversary—their real wedding anniversary, which had taken place a month after their contract ended.
Aarav gave her a gift—a vintage Leica camera, exactly like the one she had sold.
"How?" Ananya was astonished.
"I bought it back from the same collector. I couldn't let you lose your mother's memory."
Ananya gave him a gift—an album containing all the photos they had taken of each other, from their first meeting to that day.
On the first page was written: "Our New Contract: To love, to grow, to capture every moment together. Terms: Lifetime. Renewal: Automatic."
Aarav opened the album. On the last page was a new photograph—a positive pregnancy test.
He looked at Ananya, tears in both their eyes. No words were needed. Just a soft smile, a deep breath, and a joy too profound to be captured by any camera.
They stood together on the balcony, hand in hand. Before them, Mumbai's lights glittered.
"Did you ever imagine this would happen?" Ananya asked.
"Never," Aarav said, pulling her closer. "But now I think... perhaps the most beautiful photograph I've ever taken isn't one I captured. She's standing right in front of me, becoming my life."
The End.