Happy Readingđź“– đź’•
Shivansh's POV
We walked together into the garden, the soft glow of the afternoon sun casting its golden light over everything. I couldn't help but notice how she looked today. Isha was wearing a stunning blue suit, a deep steely blue that complimented her skin perfectly. The fabric of the long suit draped gracefully over her figure, and the intricate embroidery on the neckline shimmered in the light. She wore a delicate blue dupatta over her shoulder, and the way it moved with each step, like a breeze, only added to her elegance.
Her earrings were small, silver jhumkas that caught the light with every movement. I noticed the little jingles they made as she walked, the soft sound almost like a whisper of her presence. Her eyes… I couldn't help but keep staring at her. There was something about the way her bindi sat perfectly between her eyes, making them appear even more striking. She looked so calm, yet there was an intensity that I couldn't place.
I walked behind her, letting my eyes follow her every movement. It wasn't hard to see why she was so captivating. The more I watched her, the more my mind seemed to get lost in her.
When we reached the garden area, I saw her stop in front of the blooming flowers, their colors vibrant in the bright light. It was peaceful here, but the way she was taking it all in, the way she moved, I couldn't tear my gaze away.
She then spotted the swing in the corner of the garden, and after a moment's hesitation, she turned to me and asked softly, "Can I sit here?"
I nodded, but my focus was entirely on her. She sat down gracefully, her hands lightly gripping the ropes of the swing as she began to move back and forth. The sight of her, so at peace, made something in my chest tighten.
I stood there for a moment, watching her, before I couldn't hold it in any longer. "What is it about you that drives me crazy?" I muttered under my breath, just loud enough for me to hear.
She stopped swinging, her gaze flicking to me with a sharp intensity, and in that moment, I knew she wasn't just physically present. She was fully aware, fully engaged. Then her voice cut through the air, her tone sharp, but full of emotion.
"What the hell is this, isha?" i said, my voice trembling with frustration. "You agree to the wedding, but then you throw this condition in between us. What the hell does that mean? You're going to marry me, but you're burning me alive with this nonsense. What's your game?"
My words hit harder than I expected. I could feel the tension building between us, but I didn't speak right away. I could tell she was waiting for something from me.
I turned sharply to face her, the anger bubbling up, spilling over in a rush of words. I couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Why didn't you say it yet?" I demanded, my voice tight with frustration. "If you have to put conditions at the last moment—like this whole thing about marrying after a year or two—why didn't you say it earlier? Why the hell didn't you say it then?"
The words came out harsher than I intended, but I didn't care. I needed to get this out.
"In the morning, for the wedding, what the fuck was that about?" My heart raced as I looked him dead in the eye. "Do you even know how much this hurts them? Do you have any idea how much you've disrespected them? Why the hell didn't you say anything before? You had to throw this condition in the last moment—after everything that's happened? Why?"
Isha stayed silent, but I could see his jaw tighten. I wasn't done yet.
"Do you even realize how she's looking at you? How your actions are affecting everyone around you?" I stepped closer, my frustration turning to something deeper, sharper. "You're telling me we're in this together, but you're just making it worse. Why didn't you fucking say it earlier? In the morning, you were saying you'd do whatever it takes, and now you're pulling this?"
I was so angry, so hurt by the way he was handling everything. "What the hell is your plan? What the hell are you playing at? What are you trying to do here, isha?"
I stood there, trying to keep my emotions in check as I watched her. Her chest heaved, as though she was wrestling with everything she was about to say. She was pissed, and I couldn't blame her. I was just as confused, frustrated, and angry as she was, but the way she held herself—it was like she'd made her mind up. She wasn't backing down.
Then she spoke, her voice calm, but there was something in it—something that made it harder to ignore. "It doesn't matter to you, does it?" she said, her eyes locking with mine. I could see the fire in them, the resolve. "When I say that I don't want to marry you, don't ask why. Don't try to make me explain myself. Just hear me out. Don't make this about you. It's my mess, and I'm trying to clean up the mess that you created with your stupidity."
I felt a pang of guilt—was that how she saw it? But before I could react, she went on, her voice sharp, cutting through the tension between us.
"I'm not playing any games here, Shivansh. I said yes in the morning, but that doesn't mean I can go through with it. Don't listen to what I'm saying right now—just listen carefully." Her words were like a slap, each one landing harder than the last. "I'm not the one who can fix everything with a 'yes.' You have your world, and I have mine. My life is not yours. I cannot just say yes and expect everything to be okay, like nothing happened. You don't get it."
The anger in her eyes was undeniable, but there was something else there too—a deep hurt that I couldn't ignore.
She paused, then spoke again, her voice quieter but still holding that simmering intensity. "You can be angry with me all you want. You can think what I say doesn't make sense, but I'm doing this with a clear mind. I'm not letting you pressure me into something I don't want. I have my reasons, Shivansh, and you won't understand them now. You won't get it, but when the time is right, I'll tell you. When you're not so blinded by your own thoughts."
I could feel the walls closing in around me. She wasn't just angry—she was standing her ground. The words hit me like a storm, and I couldn't find a way to respond.
She took a step back, her posture rigid. "I had to say yes. I had to, for my family. For my parents. But don't you dare put the blame on me for it. I didn't choose this just for you. I didn't choose this because I wanted to. I have my reasons, and one day, when you're not so focused on your own world, you'll understand why I said yes."
I saw the hurt flash in her eyes—was it my fault? I couldn't tell. I just stood there, helpless, watching her. The confusion was there, but so was something else: guilt. I had no idea what to say, how to fix this.
She stared at me, then spoke, her voice firm once again, as if she was closing the door on any further discussion. "We're here, standing in front of each other," she said, her eyes unwavering. "And we're here to continue with the engagement. If you can't handle that, then i'll decide the date."
Her words echoed in my mind long after she finished speaking. Was she really done? Could I fix this? Or was this the end of whatever we had?
The silence that followed Isha's outburst was deafening. I stood there, my hands shoved deep into my pockets, staring at the patterns of sunlight scattered across the garden's grass. The air between us was thick, laden with tension. I inhaled deeply, trying to quell the rising frustration that clawed at my chest.
"I'll ask again," I said finally, my voice was cold and measured. "What date is suitable for you?"
Her gaze snapped to mine, sharp as the thorns on the rose bushes surrounding us. "I'm okay with all three," she replied, her tone clipped.
I raised a brow. "We can't have the engagement on all three dates, Isha. What do you want? You can tell me which date is perfectly fine with you."
"I told you, Shivansh," she said, folding her arms, "I'm okay with all of them. You're the busy one here. You decide. I can handle my family, personal, and professional life equally well. You, on the other hand, clearly can't."
Her words stung more than I cared to admit. My hand curled into a fist at my side, but I forced myself to remain silent, the tension simmering just beneath the surface. "I see," I said finally, my voice laced with sarcasm. "So this is how it's going to be, even during the engagement. You'll be the one pointing out how I'm too busy, how everything revolves around me. Just like this morning when you said yes to the wedding, only to turn around and say you want to delay it by a year or two."
Isha's eyes blazed with anger as she glared at me. "Fine," she bit out. "The last date, the one after two months. Let's just go with that."
I shook my head, mocking disbelief in my tone. "And then what? A divorce after that? At least we'll keep up the trend of delays."
She took a step closer, her jaw set. "Let's change the date," she said firmly. "We'll get engaged on the second date, the one after a month. Happy now?"
I studied her for a moment, her defiance flickering like fire in her eyes. Finally, I nodded. "Fine. I have no problem with that."
With that, we turned and headed back toward the house. Isha moved quickly, her back straight, her expression unreadable. I followed at a measured pace, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts.
Inside, Isha made her way toward Ishika, likely seeking comfort or distraction. But before she could sit, Dhruv called her out, "Come here. Sit with me."
She hesitated, shooting me a questioning glance. For a moment, I thought she might ignore him. But then she sighed and sat beside me, the distance between us closing, but not quite enough.
And they began to talk—tentative at first, but soon the conversation flowed, like they were rediscovering something long forgotten. Her sharp wit, her humor, the way she spoke her mind—it was a rare thing to find someone who could challenge me and hold their ground.
Dadi saa approached us after some time,
"Shiv, isha, which date you both decided for the engagement ".
I glanced at Isha, then answered, "We've decided on the second one, after a month."
The Raj purohit ji nodded approvingly. He gathered his things, his Shishya trailing behind him, and left with a promise to begin the preparations.
As I watched them leave, I felt an odd sense of calm settle over me. This engagement, this marriage—it was happening. And for the first time in a long while, I wasn't sure if the ground beneath my feet felt steady or like it was slipping away.
As soon as the date was finalized, Dadi sa clapped her hands together with a warm smile. "Now that they have decided, let's all go have lunch," she said, gesturing toward the dining area.
We all moved inside, the family slowly settling into their places at the long, intricately carved table. I sat down on the head chair and the other side of the head chair took dada sa the other men—Dad, Choti papa, uncle and the other sat on their seats—while the women lingered behind, not yet taking their seats.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Isha, standing alongside Ishika, aunty, Ma, and Choti ma. They had started serving the food, filling plates with precision and care.
Dadi sa frowned slightly as she watched them. "Meera, Shree, sit down," she instructed, her tone firm but kind. Then she turned to Isha and Ishika. "Isha, Ishika, Devika, go sit as well. The servants will serve the food."
But, of course, they didn't listen.
"No, Dadi sa, it's fine. We'll do it," Isha said, her tone polite but resolute. Ishika and Devika aunty nodded in agreement, determined to finish what they had started.
Dadi sa sighed, shaking her head with a smile. "Alright, if that's what you want. But, Isha, I have an idea." Her gaze flicked to me with a glimmer of mischief before landing back on Isha. "Serve Shivansh. And after he's served, Shivansh, you'll serve Isha. The other's also first your wifes serve you then you will serve them."
I glanced at her sharply, my jaw tightening. Of course, she'd find a way to bring Isha and me into this. But before I could say anything, Isha nodded. "Okay."
I watched as she approached me, her movements graceful but precise, and began serving me with quiet focus. She didn't meet my eyes as she placed the food on my plate, and I could feel the heat of her proximity, the faint scent of her perfume lingering in the air.
When she was done, I followed Dadisa's instructions, taking the serving spoon and offering her the same. She hesitated for a moment, looking at me with a mix of surprises and something else I couldn't quite name. Then, without a word, she held her plate out, allowing me to serve her.
The room hummed with quiet activity as Dadi sa herself began serving Dada sa. Nearby, Ma served Dad, while Choti ma attended Choti papa and isha mummy served isha father. It was a strange, almost ceremonial atmosphere, each pair mirroring the others.
Isha, having finished serving me, moved to sit on the right side of me. And i see ishika is standing silently then Dadi sa directed. "You can serve Arjun, Avi, and Dhruv. " she instructed.
Ishika nodded, and isha also joined her taking her role seriously as she went around the table, asking each of them what they wanted and serving them accordingly. I found myself watching isha, unable to look away. There was something captivating about the way she moved, the quiet confidence in her actions.
When she was done, the men—myself included—took up the task of serving the women. It felt oddly intimate, this exchange of roles, as if we were breaking some unspoken rule. Yet, no one objected. Instead, there was a quiet understanding, a sense of balance that settled over the room like a warm blanket.
As the meal began, I couldn't help but glance at Isha, seated across from me. Her expression was calm, composed, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—something that made my chest tighten.
This wasn't just a meal. It was a dance, a subtle shifting of dynamics, and somehow, we had all played our parts perfectly.
Lunch had been surprisingly pleasant. The chatter, the teasing, and the light-hearted banter had filled the dining room, though I mostly stayed on the sidelines, observing. Afterward, someone suggested we move to the garden, and I agreed. The evening air was cool, the sun dipping low, casting the horizon in warm, golden hues. It was peaceful—a rare thing in my life—and I found myself quietly appreciating it.
As we all settled into the garden, Dalisa spoke up. "What are you youngsters doing sitting here? Go inside, talk amongst yourselves, or watch a movie. Let us elders enjoy the evening in peace."
Her words left no room for argument, and though I would've preferred to stay where I was, the others agreed immediately. I stood with them, following the group back inside.
Once indoors, Ishika was the first to speak. "Let's watch a movie! And this time, last time we miss it Isha, you're joining us. No excuses."
I glanced at Isha, curious to see her reaction. She hesitated, as expected, but then surprised me by agreeing. A small, reluctant smile played on her lips, and for a moment, I caught myself staring.
The palace's theater room was our destination—a space I knew well but rarely used. Plush seating, state-of-the-art sound systems, and a massive screen that could rival any public cinema greeted us as we entered. Everyone claimed a seat, settling in comfortably.
"What are we watching?" Dhruv asked, reclining like he owned the place.
That single question was enough to spark chaos.
"Comedy!" Avi exclaimed.
"No, action!" Arjun shot back immediately.
"Why not a romance?" Ishika chimed in, her tone mischievous.
I rolled my eyes as the boys groaned dramatically. The bickering grew louder, and Isha, sitting a few seats away, seemed quietly amused by the exchange.
It was going nowhere.
"Alright," I said, cutting through the noise, my tone firm enough to command attention. "We'll vote on it. Majority wins."
They all looked at me, momentarily surprised by my interjection. I could see a few reluctant nods. I leaned back, arms crossed, waiting for the arguments to end.
This was going to be a long evening.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
How was the Chapter??
Aage kya hoga? Hmm?
Share your thoughts and don't forget to click on the star button below.
And follow me on Instagram for spoilers.
đź”—link in bio.
Love you all, bye
Ishđź’—