4.
{Third person's pov}
It was their engagement, Kiara was dressed in an olive green saree and diamond jewelleries. Meanwhile Ekansh was wearing a formal shirt, pant and blazer.
She walked towards the stage, her eyes cascaded on the floor. As Kiara walked up to the stage, she was aware of all the eyes on her. She lifted her eyes and looked towards Ekansh, who was waiting for her.
His expression was stoic as usual, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes that she couldn't quite identify.
As the ceremony progressed, Kiara felt a sense of finality wash over her. This was really happening, she was getting engaged to a man she barely knew, a man who didn't even want this marriage.
Her sister Richa and Sister in law Bhumi, passed them the rings, Kiara took the ring in her hands, and with shaking hands she made him wear the ring. While she waited for Ekansh to make her wear the ring. Her hands were shaking too much.
Ekansh noticed her shaking hands as he took the ring from her. He looked into her eyes for a brief moment, his expression unreadable. He gently took her hand in his and slipped the ring onto her finger, his touch lingering for a beat longer than necessary.
The crowd cheered and Kiara looked at Ekansh who was already looking at her.
Ekansh's eyes were fixed on hers, his gaze unwavering. The cheer of the crowd echoed in their ears, but in that moment, it was as if there was no one else in the room but them.
...........
They were in the garden for the photoshoot, The photographer was suggesting different poses.
"Sir can you hold her closer by her waist?" The photographer asked.
Ekansh obliged, placing his hand on Kiara's waist to pull her closer to him. The feel of her petite body against him was a foreign sensation, sending a ripple of something through him that he couldn't quite identify.
Kiara's breath skipped and her heartbeat fastened, she looked at him who was looking at the camera.
While they posed for the photographs, Ekansh was acutely aware of Kiara's closeness. He could feel the way her body molded into his, the warmth of her skin seeping through his shirt. It was both comforting and unsettling at the same time.
"Now can you kiss her forehead?" The photographer asked.
Ekansh felt Kiara stiffen slightly at the photographer's request. He glanced down at her, their faces so close he could see the flutter of her eyelashes.
Hesitantly, he did as he was instructed, gently pressing his lips to her forehead.
As he pulled away, he saw the slight surprise in her eyes. His hand was still on her waist, his grip unconsciously tightening for a moment.
She was blushing hard, she looked at the photographer, "are we done?"
"A few more clicks ma'am, can you hold his arms and lean on his shoulder?" The photographer asked and Kiara held his arms, as he removed it from her waist.
The photographer started clicking pictures as Kiara leaned on Ekansh's shoulder. He could feel the softness of her body against him, the subtle scent of her perfume filling his nostrils. He looked down at her, her face close enough for him to count her eyelashes.
"It's done Sir," the photographer informed and they nodded. Kiara stepped back and looked everywhere but him.
The photographer left, leaving Ekansh and Kiara alone in the garden. The silence between them felt awkward and tense, the enormity of the situation hanging heavily in the air.
Ekansh looked at her, noticing how she was avoiding eye contact. He cleared his throat, the sound breaking the silence.
She looked at him, As the silence continued, Ekansh knew it was up to him to start the conversation. He took a step closer to her, his hands in his pockets.
"So... how are you feeling?" he asked, his voice slightly gruff.
"I don't know, Weird I guess." She replied, "how about you?"
He let out a soft chuckle, "Yeah, same. This whole situation is a bit surreal, isn't it?"
He looked at her, the soft light from the garden lamps casting a warm glow on her face, she nodded.
"are you insomniac?" Kiara asked, she heard it from her sister but she wanted to hear it from him.
Ekansh's brow furrowed in surprise at the sudden change in topic. He wasn't expecting such a question.
"Yeah," he admitted reluctantly.
"Why? I mean there must be a reason right?" He let out a tired sigh, and ran a hand through his hair.
"It's something I've just had to learn to live with."
..............
"Ekansh" his father knocked on the door of the study, it's been a week since their engagement.
Ekansh looked up from his desk, where he was going over some reports.
"Come in," he called out, a mixture of curiosity and irritation in his voice.
"Ekansh, Can you go and pick Kiara?" His father asked.
Ekansh leaned back in his chair, a frown on his face.
"Can't someone else do it?" He asked, annoyance clear in his tone.
"Of course the driver can, but I am just giving you some alone time with her, son." His father smiled.
Ekansh rolled his eyes. But he knew his father well enough to not argue.
"Alright," he said reluctantly, standing up from his chair. "I'll go."
"Good, by the way you remember right? It's mine and your mother's anniversary." His father said.
"Step mother," her cleared and walked away. Ekansh clenched his jaw, the correction he made not lost on his father. He watched his father leave, a sense of frustration settling over him.
As he got into his car and drove towards Kiara's house, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Great. Just great."
Kiara was getting ready when her phone rang, the caller id showed Ekansh she immediately picked up the call. "Yes?"
Ekansh's deep voice came through the phone, the hint of irritation still there. "I'm outside."
Kiara took her earrings and her bag and she immediately ran downstairs, she walked towards his car just to witness him leaning on it.
As Kiara approached, Ekansh pushed off the car and straightened up, his eyes taking her in.
She was wearing a simple yet elegant outfit, her hair falling in a soft cascade down her back.
He waited until she reached the car before opening the passenger door for her, his manners kicking in despite his inner turmoil.
She sat inside and watched him sit on the driver's seat, she started wearing her jhumka but it fell into the car. She sighed and looked down.
Ekansh noticed her struggle and the jhumka falling. Without a word, he reached down and picked it up off the floor of the car. He held it out, his eyes meeting hers.
"Here," he said quietly, breaking the thick silence that had settled in the car.
"Thank you," she smiled and took the jhumka from his hands and wore it. As he was driving she was looking out of the window. The function was at Ekansh's farm house which was away from the city.
She looked at him, "Why are you always so quiet?"
Ekansh's hands gripped the wheel tighter, her question catching him off guard. He didn't respond immediately, his mind whirling with a myriad of responses.
"I don't know," he finally said after a few moments. "I just... prefer silence, I guess."
She nodded and went silent. They continued driving in silence, the only sound of the soft hum of the engine and the occasional passing of cars.
Ekansh glanced at her occasionally, noticing how she looked out of the window, a pensive look on her face. He felt a pang of something he couldn't quite identify, a mixture of curiosity and something else.
She placed her feet on the seat, hugging her knees. Although Ekansh hated someone sitting in his car like that, he didn't feel irritated when she did that.
Usually, Ekansh would have reprimanded someone for putting their feet up on the seat, no matter who it was. But as he glanced over at Kiara, he found that he didn't have the heart.
In fact, he found the sight of her sitting like that... strangely endearing. He quickly pushed that thought aside, trying to ignore the strange flutter in his chest.
...............