Chapter 37
This was not how I imagined today would go.
Absolutely not.
My mind was still spinning after what just happened in the kitchen. I meanβhe kissed me. Rudra Singhania. In my kitchen. During a rishta meet. For me.
And now, his entire familyβincluding his motherβwas sitting in our living room discussing marriage talks. About me. With him.
I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole.
To make it worse, Veer caught us. Veer, his little brother with a mouth that didn't know how to stay shut.
Great. Just... great.
I slipped into the hallway only to find Veer leaning against the wall, smirking like the little devil he is. "Toh Bhabhi banne wali ho, haan?"
("So, going to be my sister-in-law, huh?")
I rolled my eyes. "Veer, don't start."
He laughed. "Start? Mujhe toh bas popcorn chahiye, yeh movie toh pehle hi blockbuster hai!"
("Start? I just need popcorn, this movie's already a blockbuster!")
Just then, Rudra joined usβstill as smug as ever.
"Veer," he said calmly, "say one more word, and Simba's chew toy will be your favorite sneakers."
Veer gasped, dramatically clinging to his imaginary pearls. "Low blow, Bhai!"
I crossed my arms, glaring at Rudra. "You! You lied to me! You let me rant about that mystery professor, and all along it was YOU!"
He looked at me with a straight face. "In my defense, it was highly entertaining."
I smacked his arm. "You're impossible."
Rudra leaned in with that annoyingly charming smirk. "And yet you can't stop falling for me."
Veer made fake gagging noises in the background. "Please! I'm too young for this trauma!"
"Shut up, Veer," we both said in unison.
He raised his hands, grinning. "Acha fine! I'm going to sit with Maa before she starts planning the mehendi without informing either of you."
As Veer walked off, whistling some shaadi song, I looked up at Rudra, half-smiling, half-scowling.
"What now?" I asked.
He reached out and took my hand gently. "Now we pretend like we're just meeting... until we tell them ourselves."
I sighed. "So more acting?"
He leaned down, whispering, "Acting with you is my favorite role, Ms. Raichand."
I glared. "One more cheesy line and I'm putting red chilli in your dessert."
He laughed. "Worth it."
Everyone sat in the living room now, chatting over chai and mithai. I was trying to look normal. Calm. Composed. But internally? I was screaming.
Because Rudra was sitting right across from me.
Looking too damn smug.
And too damn hot.
In that dark blue kurta.
With his sleeves rolled up.
Why did he roll his sleeves up? That should be illegal.
I took a sip of chai, avoiding his gaze.
But of course, he didn't.
He kept stealing glances. Smirking every time our eyes met. And to make it worse, Veer was sitting right next to him, catching every look we exchanged.
Leaning towards Rudra, Veer whispered (loud enough for me to hear), "Bro, if you keep staring like that, aunty's going to marry you off right now."
Rudra didn't flinch. "That's the plan."
I choked on my tea.
"Beta, theek ho?" Maa looked at me, concerned.
"Y-Yeah, just... hot tea," I muttered, glaring at Rudra who was now casually sipping his own tea, smugness radiating from him like he invented the sun.
Veer leaned forward, grinning at me. "So, Maya, how do you feel about professors?"
I squinted at him. "Veer..."
"Especially ones who teach Maths and kiss really well in kitchens?"
I gasped. "Veer!"
He just winked.
Rudra cleared his throat. "Veer, would you like to take Simba out for a walk? Now?"
"Now? Why?"
"Because if you don't, I'll show Maa your DMs."
Veer's eyes widened. "Simba! Come here, boy!"
And in less than ten seconds, he and Simba disappeared outside.
I shook my head and whispered to Rudra, "You're impossible."
He leaned in, voice low and teasing, "You weren't saying that in the kitchen a while ago."
I turned bright red.
He grinned wider. "Careful, Maya. You blush too easily."
I narrowed my eyes. "Careful, Rudra. I bite."
He leaned in even closer, eyes darkening just a shade. "You can bite all you want. I'll still ask your dad for your hand tonight."
I stared at him, stunned.
He was serious.
And somehow, the room, the noise, the world faded for a second.
Just me. Him. And a storm of butterflies in my stomach.
The moment was slipping dangerously into something intense. My heart was thudding so loudly, I was sure Maa could hear it from the kitchen. Rudra was still staring at me like I was the only person in the room. His words kept ringing in my earsβ
"I'll still ask your dad for your hand tonight."
I blinked. "You're not serious..."
He smirked. "Try me."
Before I could protestβor faintβBaba walked into the living room with Rudra's mom, both of them smiling.
"We've had a talk," his mom announced, her eyes soft as they landed on me.
Uh-oh.
"We think there's no point in delaying things further," Baba said casually, sipping his chai. "Both families agree... so we should fix the date."
WHAT?!
My mouth dropped open. "Baba?!"
Rudra, the devil, had the audacity to look innocent. "I didn't say anything yet," he said, raising both hands in mock surrender. "But... I'm not complaining."
His mother chuckled. "Beta, we know what's in your heart. No need to act."
I was still processing the fact that I was very much in the room when my marriage date was being decided.
And Rudra?
He was busy stealing glances at me, again, as if this wasn't a huge deal. His eyes danced with mischief and something softerβsomething that made my heart twist.
"When?" I whispered, finally finding my voice.
His mom smiled. "Three months from now. December wedding."
Rudra's eyes sparkled. "I hope you're ready, Little Furball."
I stared at him.
Then nodded.
Because no matter how chaotic... how unexpected...
I knew I was.
Marriage date: fixed.
Heart: stolen.
Life: about to get a whole lot more interesting.
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(Hey sweeties, do you like this chapter? If yes then please drop a Vote and comment your opinion on it) ??
(And for those who didn't understand the line Rudra saying he's going to ask Maya's father for her hand in Marriage..he was talking about personally not because Maya's Bua and Rudra's Mom choose them)