Chapter 18
Aditya
The knock on my door at seven in the morning doesn’t surprise me. It’s got to be my mom. I’ve managed to hold her off for two days, dodging her endless questions about Sana. But I know her patience has its limits, and I’m dangerously close to pushing them.
The only reason I haven’t told her about Sana yet is because there’s still a lot I need to do before Sana says yes.
But something tells me it won’t be long before Sana confesses her feelings for me.
She’s on the brink of giving in. I can see it in the way her eyes linger on me when she thinks I’m not looking, and the way her guard slips when I get too close.
She’s fighting it, but we both know it’s only a matter of time.
My mind drifts to our date. Everything about it was perfect. And what had my blood racing was the way her lips wrapped around my finger. Slow. Soft. It damn near unraveled me. It took every ounce of willpower not to pull her into my arms and lose myself right then and there.
The knock comes again, more urgent this time. I sigh, knowing I need to open up before Mom breaks the door down.
I toss the sheet aside and grab a T-shirt, yanking it over my head as I make my way to the door. I take a deep breath and grip the handle before swinging the door open.
Mom stands on the other side, arms crossed, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her eyes are sharp, drilling into me with that look—the one that says she’s done waiting for answers. I knew I was pushing my luck, but seeing her like this, I realise just how close I’m to the edge.
I force a smile and greet her. “Morning, Mom.”
She doesn’t return it. Instead, she says, “We need to talk.” She then brushes past me and heads straight to the living room.
I sigh, shutting the door behind me. “Time to confront the storm.” I mutter under my breath. I knew this was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
Turning around, I find her already seated on the couch, her foot tapping impatiently.
I walk over and cross my arms, leaning back against the wall.
“So, what brings you here this early?” I ask, even though I already know the answer. She’s here for only one thing. She wants to know the name of the woman who has my heart.
She glares at me, her lips curling in disdain. “A coffee shop owner? Seriously? That’s who you’re choosing?”
Shocked, I narrow my eyes at her, my jaw tightening. “How did you know?”
She lets out a bitter laugh. “You really thought you could keep this a secret from us? One of our family friends saw you at lunch with her. It didn’t take your father long to dig in and find out everything.”
I feel my chest tighten. “So now you’re spying on me?”
“Don’t be so dramatic. We weren’t spying. But you should’ve known better than to be so careless in public.”
“Careless?” I repeat, my voice rising. “I went to lunch with the woman I love. I wasn’t doing anything wrong!”
“You expect us to accept a woman who doesn’t even come close to our standards?” Her voice drips with scorn.
I feel the anger rise, hot and sharp. “Standards?” I snap. “You mean your standards, not mine.” I push off the wall, standing taller. “I don’t care about her bank balance or her status. I care about her.”
Mom’s eyes flare. “Do you even understand you’re risking everything for her! Your reputation, our family’s image.”
I throw my hands up in frustration. “Why does everything have to be about reputation with you and Dad? Why can’t you both just be happy that I found someone who makes me feel alive and happy? Why is that so hard for you to accept?”
Her expression softens for a fraction of a second before the sternness returns. “Because feelings aren’t enough. And right now, you’re thinking with your illogical heart, not your head, which is surprising, coming from the smart businessman you are.”
I shake my head, laughing bitterly. “Just because I’m a smart businessman doesn’t mean I’m heartless, Mom. And there’s nothing illogical about thinking for myself.”
“Thinking for yourself is one thing. Making a reckless choice with that woman is another,” she snaps. “You just can’t build a future with someone like her.”
I step closer, my eyes blazing. “Someone like her? You don’t even know her, Mom! All you see is her job. But she’s so much more than that. She’s passionate, loyal, and she sees me for who I am, not for my name or what I own.”
“Oh wow, what an angel she is,” she sneers, eyes rolling. “But son, I hate to burst your bubble — this ‘Little Miss Perfect’ you’ve picked is just playing with your emotions. Trust me, I’ve seen the world enough to know women like her only know how to trap rich men for their own benefit.”
“You’re wrong, Mom. Sana is not the person you’re painting her to be. But I’m not wasting my breath arguing with you. I know you’re not ready to face the truth. Just know this. Choosing who I marry is my decision, not anyone else’s. This is my life, and I’m the one who decides.”
Mom’s face hardens, her eyes cold. “Your father and I won’t stand for this.”
“Well, that’s your choice, and I won’t force you,” I say, meeting her gaze, unflinching. “But I won’t let go of the woman I love just because you can’t deal with it.”
Her shoulders slump just slightly, the fire in her eyes dimming. “You’re going to break our hearts? Just like that, over her?”
I swallow hard, the weight of her words hitting me. But I stand my ground. “I’m not trying to hurt you, Mom. But I’m not backing down on Sana. I love her. And that’s not changing.”
Mom’s eyes narrow. “You’re being foolish by overlooking the bigger picture. How will she fit into our world? What will people say?”
“I don’t give a damn about what people say!” I snap, my voice echoing off the walls. “I’m not living my life for them, and I’m sure as hell not living it for you and Dad’s approval!”
Her face flushes with anger. “Watch your tone!” She stands, her posture rigid. “You owe us respect. We’ve given you everything, and this is how you repay us? By throwing our values and our love away for... for some girl who serves coffee?”
My fists clench. “Stop calling her ‘some girl.’ She’s more than that. She’s the woman who matters to me.”
“Matters to you?” She laughs, but it’s cold, mocking. “Trust me, son, this infatuation of yours won’t last. You’ll regret it.”
My eyes locked on hers. “I will never regret choosing Sana.”
She shakes her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Being with her is nothing but a straight road to disaster.”
“Then so be it,” I shoot back. “If it comes to that, I’ll face the fallout. You don’t have to worry about me.”
She looks at me, her eyes burning with anger and hurt. Then, without saying a word, she gets up and walks out, slamming the door shut behind her.
I stand there, staring at the door, my heart racing. I knew this wouldn’t be easy, but nothing prepared me for how much it would drain me. God, how do I make Mom understand that I’d burn down the whole damn world before letting anyone say Sana isn’t good enough for me.
The ringing of my phone cuts through the haze. I pull it out of my pocket and see Naitra’s name flashing on the screen. I take a steady breath and answer. “Yeah?”
“Mr. Thakur,” she says crisply, “just a reminder—you have a ten o’clock meeting with the investors.”
I close my eyes, dragging a hand through my hair. Damn, I almost forgot about that.
“I’ll be there,” I reply before ending the call.
Sighing, I stare at my phone. I know I need to talk to Sana, but it’ll have to wait. This has to be face to face. With that, I start typing a message.
Me: Hey, I’ve got a meeting this morning, but I need to talk to you. It’s urgent. Can we meet for lunch? There’s something I need to tell you, and I want to do it in person.
I stare at the screen for a moment before hitting send. It’s too early for her to reply, but I just need her to know that I want to see her. That I need to see her.
Shoving the phone back into my pocket, I head to my room. Pulling off my T-shirt, I head to the bathroom to finish my morning chores. As I get dressed, my thoughts keep spinning, tangled up in everything that just happened.
I fucking hate that my parents see Sana as less—just because she doesn’t fit into their narrow idea of what’s ‘worthy.’ It infuriates me, but that’s the world I grew up in. The world I’m trying to break free from.
But how the hell do I convince Sana that we need to get married before my parents create problems for us? I can already see it coming—the pressure, the emotional manipulation. I know my parents well enough, they won’t stop until they tear us apart. And I won’t let that happen. I won’t.
I know Sana is not ready. She needs more time, and I want to give her that time, to let her make this choice without pressure. But the truth is... I don’t have time. My parents are closing in, and the only way to protect us, to protect what we have, is to make it permanent.
Marriage is the only shield I have against them. If we’re husband and wife, they’ll have to accept it... eventually. But how do I explain this to Sana? How do I tell her that I’m not trying to rush her into anything, but that this is the only way I know to keep us safe?
I finish getting dressed, my chest heavy as I continue to battle with all the questions. I need to find a fucking way to make Sana agree with me... without losing her in the process.