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Author's POV
The morning light seeped into the room, dim and hazy at first, before growing brighter with the rise of the sun. Isha stirred under the soft cotton quilt, turning to her side to avoid the golden rays peeking through the gap in her curtains. A bird chirped somewhere nearby, its melody persistent enough to pull her out of the final stretch of her sleep.
Her eyes fluttered open, heavy with the remnants of a restless night. She blinked slowly, adjusting to the light. The ceiling fan whirred softly above her, its monotonous rhythm almost hypnotic. Letting out a reluctant groan, she turned her face into the pillow, wishing for just five more minutes of peace.
But peace was a luxury she couldn't afford. Her mind wandered, unbidden, to the whirlwind of yesterday-Shivansh's family's unexpected arrival, the awkward exchanges, and the pressure of having to host royalty in her home. She groaned again, louder this time, and pressed the heels of her palms into her eyes, as if that could push away the memories.
Isha sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her reflection in the mirror as the morning sun streamed through the windows. Yesterday's conversation with her parents still echoed in her mind. Her parents present shivansh marriage proposal and his family member had made it abundantly clear that they wanted her to marry Shivansh, a man whose name alone made her stomach churn. It wasn't just about the marriage; it was about control. Their decision was final, and they expected her to comply.
But Isha wasn't ready to give in-not to them, not to him.
"He's cold, arrogant, and heartless," she thought bitterly. "A monster in every sense. I'd rather die than marry someone like him."
She knew she couldn't directly oppose her parents. They were biased, and if she said no, they'd twist her answer to mean the proposal had been rejected by them, not her. That would damage their family's reputation, something she couldn't afford to let happen. But there was a way out. A cunning smile played on her lips as an idea began to take shape.
"If i don't want to marry him he also doesn't want to marry me, i can't say no to him but i can make him say no," she decided. "He doesn't want this marriage any more than I do. If I can make him refuse, it'll solve everything."
Her spirits lifted at the thought, and for the first time in weeks, she felt a glimmer of hope. She got out of bed, quickly freshened up, and dressed in a light pastel kurta that reflected her newfound energy.
When she walked downstairs, the smell of breakfast wafted through the house. Her parents were seated at the dining table, along with her best friend, ishika. They were chatting and laughing, and the mood was surprisingly light.
Isha joined them, flashing a smile that surprised even herself. She filled her plate and started eating, cracking a joke that had Ishika nearly choking on her tea. Her parents exchanged amused glances, clearly taken aback by her sudden cheerfulness.
"What's gotten into you, Isha?" her father teased. "You're glowing today."
"Am I not allowed to be happy?" Isha replied with mock innocence, earning a laugh from everyone at the table.
The breakfast ended on a warm note, but Isha's mind was already on her plan. She excused herself and left the table, signaling Ishika to wait for her later. First, she had to take care of something. And left for her office.
Isha decided to start with Aviyansh, Shivansh's cousin. She needed to contact Shivansh but didn't have his number. Picking up her phone, she called Arjun, to ask the number of Aviyansh.
"Hello, Arjun?" she said when he picked up.
"Di what happened?" he asked.
"Umm.. Tumare pass aviyansh bhai ka number h? ," she said, keeping her tone casual
( Umm... Do you have Aviyansh bhai's number? )
"Why?" Arjun asked, suspicious.
"It's... something important. Just give me his number, please."
"Mujhe kya milaga. " Arjun said in a teasing and demanding tone.
( What will I get? )
Isha signed and said " Tumare girlfriend ke bareme papa ko btayu kya aur ab mujhe unka number send karo. "
( Should I tell your dad about your girlfriend? Now send me his number. )
After a moment, Arjun relented and shared Aviyansh's number. Isha immediately calling Aviyansh. And he answered.
" Hello? " A voice came from the other side in a questioning tone.
"Hello Aviyansh bhai, isha this side! " he said.
" Bhab-- Isha, everything is fine? Something happened? Tell me what happened? " He asked
" Yes, yes.. Bhai everything is right vo actually i want shivansh number, so give me his number. " She said in a casual tone.
" Okay! Main abhi bheja hu ruko. " He said in a calm tone.
" Okay " Saying she cut the call.
After a moment, Aviyansh relented and shared shivansh's number. Isha immediately tried calling Aviyansh, but it went straight to voicemail. She tried again, but the result was the same. Frustrated, she called Avyansh back.
" Bhai, he is not answering. " She said in a frustrating tone.
" Isha, do one thing, we are here in the company, bhai is also in his cabin and you come to company and talk to him. " He said and isha also agreed with him.
" Okay, i am coming. " She said
"Well, good luck with that," Aviyansh replied with a laugh. "You might have better luck if you come to the office." And cut the call.
Her plan still intact, Isha grabbed her bag and left for Shivansh's company.
At Shivansh's Company
Isha stepped into the grand lobby of Shivansh's company, with confidence, her heart pounding with frustration and anger. The elegant marble floors and gleaming interiors felt cold and distant, much like the man she was here to meet. She approached the reception desk, her expression tense but determined.
"Excuse me," she said, her voice firm. "I need to meet Shivansh. It's important."
The receptionist, a young woman with a practiced smile, barely looked up. "Do you have an appointment?"
"No," Isha replied, trying to keep her tone polite. "But I need to speak to him. It's urgent."
The receptionist finally glanced at her, her smile turning condescending. "Mr. Shivansh doesn't meet people without an appointment. And frankly, you don't look like someone he'd have time for."
Isha's temper flared, and she leaned forward on the desk. "Listen, I'm not here for your approval. Just tell him I'm here, or I'll-"
The receptionist exchanged a knowing glance with her colleague before smirking. "Listen, we don't entertain random people walking off the street. This isn't some charity."
Isha clenched her fists, anger boiling inside her.
Before she could say her sentence, a deep voice cut through the tension.
"What's going on here?"
Isha turned to see a tall, well-dressed man approaching them. It was Dhruv, Shivansh's PA and his best friend. His sharp gaze shifted from Isha to the receptionist, who instantly straightened, her smug demeanor vanishing.
"Sir, she's insisting on meeting Mr. Shivansh without an appointment," the receptionist stammered, her tone suddenly submissive.
Dhruv's eyes narrowed. "And that gives you the right to humiliate and disrespect her?"
The receptionist opened her mouth to reply, but Dhruv raised a hand, silencing her. "You don't speak to anyone who walks into this office like that, especially not her." He turned to Isha, his expression softening. "Isha, are you okay? Did she say something inappropriate to you?"
Isha was stunned for a moment, caught off guard by Dhruv's protectiveness. She nodded slowly. "She was... rude. But it's fine. I can handle it."
"It's not fine," Dhruv said firmly, glaring at the receptionist. "Apologize to her. Now."
"I... I'm sorry," the receptionist muttered, unable to meet Isha's eyes.
"Good and you're fired. " Dhruv said. Then he turned back to Isha, his tone gentler. "Come on, I'll take you to Shivansh's office."
Isha followed Dhruv, feeling a mix of gratitude and nervousness. Dhruv had always treated her like a sister, and his respect for her made her feel a bit more confident.
As they walked through the hallways, Isha spoke hesitantly. "Umm.. Bhai, aap mujhse bade ho toh can i call you bhai. "
( Umm... Bhai, you are older than me, so can I call you "bhai"? )
Dhruv glanced at her, his expression softening. " Ha ha kyu nhi." His voice contains the excitement which he isn't able to hide.
( Yes, yes, why not? )
She smiled and said "I call shivansh's but he doesn't answer the aviyansh bhai said that i should visit company, so, i came here." Dhruv nodded.
Isha sighed, unsure of how to handle the situation. She was here with a plan, but the closer they got to Shivansh's office, the more her resolve wavered.
When they reached the door, Dhruv stopped and gestured for her to go in. "I'll leave you here. You talked to him and needed to talk to avi."
Isha hesitated, her hand hovering over the doorknob. "bhai... what if he doesn't listen?"
Dhruv gave her a reassuring smile. "He'll listen. He might not show it, but Shivansh isn't as heartless as he seems. Just be honest with him."
With that, Dhruv walked away, leaving Isha standing alone in front of the massive wooden door. Taking a deep breath, she pushed it open and stepped inside.
The office was vast and intimidating, much like the man sitting behind the desk. Shivansh looked up from his work as she entered, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. He leaned back in his chair, his expression cold and unreadable.
"Isha," he murmur, his voice calm but distant. "What are you doing here?"
Isha straightened her shoulders, summoning the courage she'd built up. "We need to talk."
Shivansh raised an eyebrow, motioning for her to sit. "About what?"
Isha hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, determined to face him head-on. Whatever happened next, she had to make him understand-without losing herself in the process.
Isha stood before Shivansh, her eyes locking with his cold, piercing gaze. The room was silent except for the faint ticking of a clock on the wall. Shivansh leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, waiting for her to speak.
"Why didn't you pick up my calls?" she started, her tone sharp. "Do you even care about what's happening?"
Shivansh raised an eyebrow, his expression unbothered. "I was busy. If you have something to say, say it now."
Isha clenched her fists, trying to contain her growing frustration. She stepped closer to his desk. " Dadi sa send your marriage proposal to my house to ask my hand, This marriage-this arrangement-needs to end. You have to say no."
Shivansh's expression didn't change. "And why can't you say no?"
"Because i can't. " she snapped. "And i think my refusal is a rejection on their behalf, and I can't let that happen. But you? You can say no, and this will be over."
Shivansh's jaw tightened. He stood up from his chair, towering over her. "Do you think it's that simple? That I can just refuse and walk away?"
"Yes!" Isha shot back, her voice rising.
"Don't you have a mouth? Can't you speak for yourself? " He said in a mocking tone.
His eyes darkened, and his fists clenched at his sides. "I can't do anything in this. " she said, her voice was low but laced with anger. "You think I want this any more than you do?"
"Then why?" shivansh demanded. "Why can't you just end this?"
"Because my parents have sacrificed too much for me!" isha's voice finally rose, and for a moment, the icy mask he wore slipped, revealing the frustration and pain underneath. "Because this isn't just about me. It's about them, about their expectations, their pride. They've done everything for me, and I owe them this much." isha stared at him, her anger boiling over.
Shivansh let out a low, humorless chuckle. "And you think I do? Do you think I want to marry someone as stubborn and impulsive as you?"
"Then why aren't you saying no?" she demanded, stepping closer to his desk.
He stood up, his towering frame suddenly making the room feel smaller. "Because my family expects this. And unlike you, I don't throw tantrums to get out of responsibilities."
Her eyes flared with anger. "You think I'm throwing a tantrum? You don't even know me, Shivansh! All you do is judge and control. I won't let you or anyone else decide my life for me."
He smirked, but there was no warmth in it. "Let me make this clear, Isha. Whether or not I say no doesn't matter. If you don't want this marriage, you say no. Don't come here expecting me to fix your problems."
Her hands balled into fists. "You're impossible!"
"And you're wasting my time," he replied coldly, walking around the desk toward her. "If that's all, you can leave."
He tilted his head slightly, as if amused by her outburst. "Do you think this arrangement is my idea of fun? I don't exactly dream of spending my life with someone who barges into my office uninvited and starts giving orders."
Her eyes narrowed. "Oh, I'm sorry for disrupting your oh-so-important schedule," she shot back sarcastically. "But unlike you, I actually care about what happens in my life!"
Shivansh let out a low, humorless chuckle and stood up, his towering frame suddenly making the room feel smaller. "Care about your life? That's funny, considering you came here asking me to take responsibility for your decisions. If you don't want this marriage, just say it. Don't expect me to do your work for you."
She took a step closer, her frustration boiling over. "Are you serious right now? You know very well that saying no isn't that simple. Our families-"
"Our families will deal with it," he interrupted coldly. "Or is it that you're afraid of disappointing them?"
"Afraid?" she repeated, her voice sharp.
Her hands balled into fists. "Why are you being so difficult? This isn't about you or me-it's about not ruining two lives for the sake of appearances."
He smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Oh, so now you're concerned about my life too? How generous of you."
She glared at him, her voice shaking with anger. "Stop twisting my words. You know exactly what I mean."
He crossed his arms, his stance unyielding. "If you want to run away from this, fine. But don't come here expecting me to clean up your mess. I have enough responsibilities without adding yours to the list."
"Mess?" she repeated, incredulous. "You think my life is a mess? You arrogant-"
"Careful, Isha," he said quietly, but the warning in his tone was unmistakable.
She paused for a moment, her chest heaving with frustration, before shaking her head in disbelief. "You're impossible, Shivansh. Absolutely impossible. I don't even know why I thought you'd listen."
"I listened," he said flatly. "You just don't like my answer."
Her voice broke as she shouted, "Fine! Do whatever you want. Marry whoever you want. But don't expect me to stick around and play along."
For a moment, there was silence as they both sat there, staring at each other, the weight of the situation settling between them.
Without waiting for a response, she spun on her heel and stormed out of the cabin, slamming the door behind her with a force that made the glass tremble.
Shivansh stared at the closed door, his jaw tightening. Her words echoed in his mind, louder than he wanted them to. For reasons he couldn't explain, her anger and the fire in her eyes refused to leave him.
As the door closed behind her, he leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. "What a mess," he muttered under his breath.
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