3.
She is standing in front of the mirror getting ready for the meeting. She is wearing a white Anarkali frock with some flowers on it, tucked the dupatta on one shoulder and paired it with a choker necklace.
Physically she is prepared but mentally she is not. She didn't want to go but because of her family, she had to.
'Why would they choose me? I am nothing infront of them' It's not about status or money it's about education, compatibility, confidence.
She was thinking when she heard a knock on the door. It was Divya. "Arya...You are looking so beautiful in this dress" she said entering the room.
She took some kajal from her eye and put it behind her ear.
"Let's go, Aryan is waiting for you downstairs. He will drop you at the cafe"
They left her room and found her family downstairs. As Ashvini saw her, she stood up and came to her.
"Don't spoil it, we don't want to lose our relationship with Shekhawat's" she said and left from there.
Tears started gathering in her eyes but she tried her best to not let them fall.
Aryan and Arav didn't know about anything. Everyone told them that she is happy with this wedding. As everyone knew, if they got to know that she is forced for this wedding. They will not let this wedding happen.
She and Aryan settled in the car. He started driving to the cafe, as they were getting close to the cafe, her heartbeat was getting fast, her mind was filled with many questions including what will happen? Anxiety was taking over her.
She took a deep breath and tried to calm down. Her attention was driffted from her thoughts when the phone rang. It was Aryan's. He attended the call putting the phone on the speaker, he spoke.
"Yes Vijay"
"Sir, where are you? Clients are here for meeting."
"Which clients? There is no meeting today"
"Sir, there is meeting with Mr Oberoi today. It was going to be tomorrow but they preponed it for today. They themselves called you" Manager said.
"I totally forgot about the meeting. I can't come. Tell them to come tomorrow" Aryan said he totally forgot about the meeting and now he can't leave Arya alone.
"Sir I can't, they are going overseas, that's why they preponed it. Please come fast" Saying this line ended.
Arya was listening to their conversation. "You can go it's important I can go from here myself" Aryan looked at her and shook his head.
"No, I am not leaving you here alone. I will go later" He said in frim tone.
"Aryan it's important you can't make them wait. I will go by myself. I will book the cab" She said trying to make him understand.
He looked at her for a moment and said, "Are you sure?" She nodded. He parked the car at the side and Arya got out.
"Take care and call me when you reach" He said and left from there after getting a positive response.
Arya booked the cab and was waiting there. Cafe where they were about to meet was still a 30 minutes ride from here. So she can't possibly walk till there.
She was looking here and there. There were stalls on the side of the road of different things. Place was crowded much to her dislike. But she has no other choice other than waiting.
A car came and stopped in front of her. She thought it was her cab. She looked at her phone and it was showing that it was still time for the cab to reach here then she again looked at the car which was not in any way looking like a local cab. It was mercedes.
Window of cars rolled down showing a fine man.
Black hair, dark hazel eyes, Charming face.
He was wearing a black high neck shirt and black pants.
No doubt the man was handsome.
"Get in the car" He said and speaking of Arya she was terrified of the sudden intruder. Her first instinct was to run but then she looked around and saw many people were there.
‘Should I shout?’
‘He can't kidnap me on this busy road right?’
"Arya" Sound of her name gets her back from her thoughts. She looked at the person wide eyed.
"W-who are Y-you?" She shuttered.
"Your soon to be husband" He said, making her freeze.
"R-Reyansh?" She breathed out.
"Yes...now Get in the car Arya" not wanting to be told twice she got in the car and her lungs instantly filled with his cologne mixed with the smell of leather seats.
Reyansh was going to the cafe they were about to meet when He saw Arya standing there. He had seen her picture so he recognized her.
There was silence in the car. Both didn't know what to say. He didn't know why he did not like seeing her standing there alone and decided to give her lift there destination was the same anyway.
"What were you doing there alone?" He asked, trying to stir a conversation. He was not the one who would try to stir a conversation but the question was eating his mind.
"Waiting for a cab" She replied in a low voice. He looked at Her for a moment and then ahead at the road.
"Here? As I know your house is far from here"
"Yes I came with Aryan but he has some urgent meeting so I had told him I will go by myself" She looked at him and replied. He hummed.
Both giving each other occasional glances other than that there was silence. Soon, They reached the cafe they were supposed to meet.
Both made their way to the entrance. She took a deep breath and moved inside. As she put a foot inside. She gets nervous about the people.
She was feeling like everyone was looking at her and judging her. she started feeling insecure. With all her thoughts, she moved towards reception with Reyansh infront of her.
"How may I help you?" the lady on the counter asked.
"Reservation on the name of Reyansh Shekhawat" On hearing the name, the lady instantly left the seat and smiled at them.
The lady greeted them and asked them to come with her. They followed her to a small table in the corner, by a window far away from the crowd much to Arya's liking.
Cafe was small and cozy and also not too crowded. There were some people who were minding their own business. As they both don't like to go to expensive restaurants, their parents make reservation for them here.
He sat on the chair without even looking around. She settled in front of him.
There was silence for a moment as Arya didn't know what to say and Reyansh was lost in his thoughts. After some seconds of silence, he speaks.
"Look, I will directly come to this point as I don't have much time," he said in a cold tone. He knew it must have sounded rude but yet he didn't care.
Arya looked up at him with arched brows, disappointment was clearly seen on her face. Earlier she thought that he was somewhat nice as He gave her lift.
"I have no interest in this marriage but I am doing it for my family"
"As if I have" She murmured.
"Did you say something?" She looked at him and then said.
"Nor do I have, I am also doing it because of family" He nodded in understanding.
"As we both don't want this neither you Expect something from me nor will I. I will fulfill all duties of a husband but apart from that, neither you will interfere in my life nor I will do any interference in yours.
We will always be two strangers living under the same roof. No more, No less. If you don't have any problem we can proceed with this agreement" he said making her numb for some moments. She knows something like that will happen when he said he doesn't want this marriage but hearing this hurts.
All his life she has expectations from no one but her future husband as she is a reader and you know how much readers have expectations from their future partner.
He took a pen and paper and wrote something on it and put it in front of her while Arya was still processing his words.
"This is my number. Inform me with your answer As i am getting late I can't wait here" he said, took his phone and left without looking back.
She kept sitting there looking at the empty chair where someone was sitting a few moments ago. Everything from the moment she was told about marriage played in her mind.
She didn't want this but this is happening she has no say in it even if she says no to Reyansh her parents will make her say yes. Her dadi's words played in her mind.
'Don't spoil it, we don't want to lose our relationship with Shekhawat's'
She didn't want to live with them after that incident and Now she is getting the opportunity to leave so she will. Nothing will change. She was living love love-less life here and now she will live love-less life there. Just places will change, everything will be the same.
She looked at the Number written on the page and Messaged on it.
_________
He settled in his car when a message popped up on his phone's screen.
Yes
He looked at the message and his brows furrowed. He guessed it was from Arya but why did she say yes? He was expecting no from her. Which girl wanted to live a loveless life but she messaged yes within 5 minutes.
'Is she also marrying me for money?' He couldn’t help but think.
With these thoughts he went to the company his mind was still playing the events just happened on the spam off day.
Wedding, Meeting, Agreement
Almost after 2 hours, a meeting was done in which he didn't listen to anything. He was not able to concentrate.
He walked outside the conference room towards his cabin. "Sir Vihaan sir is waiting for you in your cabin" He nodded at his secretary Vikram's words.
"Go and get 2 cups of coffee" he nodded and walked away while Reyansh walked inside the cabin. Sitting on the chair, he opened his laptop.
“Sir, here is your coffee”. Vikram kept the cups on the table in front of him and Vihaan who was scrolling on the phone.
"Thank you," He said and dismissed him.
"What happened?" Vihaan asked putting his phone aside after Vikram left.
"She said yes," He said while taking a sip of coffee. "What really? And you?" he asked while a smile crept on his lips.
"Why did she say yes after I had cleared everything for her? I was thinking that she would say no and the marriage would be canceled but she said yes. Is she also marrying me for mon.." He was saying when Vihaan cut him off.
"She is not like her Reyansh. She is sweet, kind and most importantly real not like her. Don't you dare to compare Arya with Ritika. And for God's sake They themself are millionaires. Why would she want money from you" His words were like a warning to Reyansh.
"Why are you taking her side so much? you are my best friend not her and how can you say that with so much confidence"
"Because she is Arohi's best friend and Aryan’s sister. I knew her for a long time. She is like a sister to me," he said.
(Vihaan is Arohi's boyfriend)