11

9. Engagement

MANVIKA'S POV :

As Arjun went back, I entered in and Maa is in living room. As soon as she noticed me, started with her interrogation.

"How it went? I hope you didn't mess up." I am silent all the while.

"Answer me when I am questioning you Anvi. Don't play your games with me."

"It went well." I answered in short.

"Maintain this behaviour until marriage. Be obedient and never think about messing up as you know consequences."

I just nodded because I cannot go against her.

I badly want to have a conversation with Neha because only she can understand me. But I never shared about my problems with her even I cannot say about this marriage. She will oppose this marriage but its my compulsion.

I came back to my room and tried to distract myself started to work on some designs.

Now I am sitting in living room and working on my laptop that's when everyone returned back from their respective works. They were just relaxing and I was about to go back to my room as I don't feel comfortable around them.

"Anvi I want to announce an important news. Tomorrow Arjun's family is coming to fix wedding date and wedding will be held in this month itself",papa informed all.

"Yes papa Arjun's informed me this morning when we went out."

I wanted to say that I don't want marry this soon, need some time. But I can't say it.

"Then we have to start preparations for tomorrow." Maa chirped. I can understand her urgency in sending me away.

"Yes I look After arrangements and you make sure everything is perfect ",papa decided.

Bhabhi and Bhai were given their share of work. As I cannot tolerate all this happenings around me I locked my self in room and trying to calm my self.

But which creeped me out was the message popped on my phone screen , which gives me chills. It is from the same unknown creep with just one message my face paled.

I don't know who it is but I am getting some shitty messages from six months. I wanted to say this to papa but I don't have enough courage because he gets worried about me.

I have been ignoring those messages even once blocked that number too but to my bad fate that unknown person messaged me from new number.

I don't know what I have done wrong but my life is a complete mess which I am unable to clear. Upon that I am afraid that what if Arjun comes out like one of these persons in my life?

Everything will be fine. I am okay. I can come over all these. I will have Better future. I motivated myself to stay sane because these thoughts are eating me.

I freshen up and went down to help maa. Maa is busy in tomorrow's arrangements , I thought to ignore her as it will be me who will get hurt by having a conversation with her.

We all had dinner. Dispersed to our respective rooms.Neha is busy with her family as she went on vacation.

So I cannot disturb her.

As I was in my thoughts my phone ringed

The caller was unknown which feared me. However I decided to lift the call.

"Hello", I greeted with constant fear that it might be that creep.

"Hi Manvika, this is Arjun."

"How you got my number?" I questioned him.

"I took it from Vishwanath uncle. I think you don't mind me calling you."

" It's okay. By the way why you called me?"I asked with hesitation.

"I think we are to be husband and wife atleast we can talk on phone. And also I called to ask you out for tomorrow. can we?."

"Yeah we can talk and I have to ask permission to papa for tomorrow ",I replied doubtly.

"Already I have took permission with uncle and it's you who have to say", I think he pre-planned everything then why asking me?

"Ok I will come tomorrow."

"That's good and good night. Dream about me." He said shamelessly.

After that I just hummed because I don't know how to reply him.

By thinking about him I drowned in to sleep unknowingly.

It's morning and everyone are indulged themselves in preparations as Arjun's family is coming.

I got ready by wearing a suit by leaving my hair open and pairing with beautiful earings. I opted for rose gold watch than bangles. Lastly my favourite floral scent perfume completed my look.

By the time I got ready bhabhi came to inform me about their arrival and take me down.

"Anvi you are looking beautiful", bhabhi have complimented me. I just replied with small thank you.

We both went downstairs and there Mr. Devil is sitting with his family. Looking handsome as usually. He is wearing maroon kurta paired with white pants and hair was set well. For a minute I was admiring him but I averted my gaze by his constant stare.

As maa signalled me to take blessings from his parents. I bent and took blessings.

"Hay Nazar na Lage kitni khubsurat hai meri Bahu", Raghvi aunty hugged me.(Evil eyes off, how beautiful my daughter in law is?)

After a long time I felt motherly love in her hug. I just smiled.

"Ha maa bhabhi toh Bhai se bi zayada achi hai", his sister teased him.( Yeah maa sister in law is more beautiful than brother)

"Why not? I have choosen her", here comes my to be husband.

I have just greeted his brother and bhabhi.

As pandit ji arrived and started to looking at our horoscopes.

"These two are perfect for eachother 18 gunas are matching. They are made For Eachother ", pandit ji informed our parents.

"This is good. Pandit ji shaadi ki subh muhurat aap hi dekli jiye", Rajesh uncle suggested.

Pandit ji started to look for muhrat and after five minutes he said that " 1 week after there is a good muhrat for wedding you can go with it"

It freaked me out that just 1 week and I am married. I thought marriage will be after some months but here my assumption were fired.

"Then we will go with this date only", both Rajesh uncle and he said. Even papa accepted that.

Maa is very happy. But which came as an ultimatum was engagement.

"Vishwanath shall we make them exchange rings", Rajesh uncle suggested.

"Yeah we have decided before itself to conduct an intimate engagement just among family members ", papa cleared my untold confusion.

Pandit ji started chanting some mantras and applied tilak on his forehead and mine too.

After completion of chanting mantras he told us to exchange rings. Raghvi aunty handed ring to him same goes with me.

We both stood opposite to eachother my heart is thumping loudly may be he sensed it. I am nervous at this sudden changes happening with me.

Suddenly I felt a warm touch on my hand sliding ring on my ring finger. He hold my hand for some good seconds rubbing circles with his thumb nobody noticed it. To my unknown his touch is calming me.

He left my hand. I felt empty at loss of his touch but his touch actually helped me. I lifted my gaze slowly ,my eyes met with his brown orbs which assured me.

I just nodded slightly and slide ring on his finger. Everyone cheered and claps echoed in living room.

I don't know why I gave a smile to him. He returned it with wide grin. As engagement was completed. Everyone were happy and this gave me peace. At this moment I am not feeling bad for saying yes to this marriage.

After this ,contently we all completed our lunch. All were sitting in living room I served them desserts. Now started my Mr. Fiance " We are going out and will return back before night."

Why I am giving names to him? Oh ho just fews minutes back he was Arjun and not even an hour to your engagement you started to call him fiance. My mind mocked me. I think he is shameless.

Everyone gave us teasing looks and he royally ignored them just holding my hand he walked out.

What the hell he is doing? How can he hold my hand infront of our families? We came out and he left my hand I glared at him. But it didn't affect him.

"What's that? How can you do that?" I questioned him.

"Wifey it is that I have hold your hand.I can do that because you are mine now", he said with smirk.

"Stop with all these. We are still not married ", I declared.

"Wifey we have lot of time, shall we continue this fight on our way...!"

"Don't call me wifey, call me with my name." I retorted.

He opened passenger door acted like my chauffeur. I rolled my eyes at his drama. Dramebaaz.

We started our drive I tried to enquire him that where we are going but he kept it as suspense.

I decided to quit my constant tries and enjoy the drive. He was concentrating on road as I am looking out of the window.

But with strong force the car came to halt and he instinctively kept his hand infront of me to prevent my head banging on the dashboard. For a moment i didn't understood what was happening. I lift my gaze to scold him for his bad driving but the moment I looked into his eyes I just melted. His eyes were filled fear, concern, care, scared.

"Are you fine manvika? Have you hurt anywhere?", in a hurry he was checking for any wounds.

"I am fine. Are you ok?", I decided to give him an earful but by looking at his concern I thought not to.

"I am ok. That Puppy suddenly came on road and I was about to hit it ." He explained what happened.

I searched for puppy on the road , I think it is hell scared by this tragic sudden stop.

We both got down from the car he took puppy into his arms slowly kneaded it. He made puppy to drink water and left it near Shop as we cannot adopt it right now.

I felt some unknown feelings for him. The way he cared for me and even to puppy.

He forwarded a water bottle to me. He checked on me whether I am comfortable or not.

Please don't behave like this I may fall for you Arjun. It is becoming hard to hate you if you care like this. I may not love and care you the way you do.

We reached some place like a cafe but it is not completely a cafe it is giving some bistro vibes.

I was constantly questioning him why we are visiting here but he parked his car and opened door for me. He forwarded his hand which i falteringly gave my hand.

He directed me into bistro. The place was cozy, exquisite, classic with pleasant music played in background. Probably he booked whole place even this time. Because no were present there. This Mr. Richie has some issues with people I thought.

This bistro is themed on basis of musical instruments because every antic instrument was decorated as in a museum.

As I was busy in looking around the place but Arjun called me. Now there are some new faces coming towards us. My face glowed up by looking at that one familiar face among all. It is Tara.

" Tara what a suprise..... How come you are here?",I chirped and hugged her.

"This stupid is my friend ", Tara directed towards Arjun.

Oh I get it now they all are his friends. They were excitedly smiling at me.

"Manvika these are my friends. Karan, Gaurav, Farhan , you know Tara", Arjun introduced them to me.

They shook hands with me. I think they all know about our marriage. As boys were indulged in their talks, Tara asked me "how you both met? How all this happened?"

I explained everything except my compulsion. From pallavi di wedding Tara and I became close. she is happy for us.

I had a good time with all of them. His friends are easy going. They match a vibe. they kept on teasing Arjun I don't know why.

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