Fated Forever

Chapter 22

Sakshi

Today was a hectic day and I was busy doing my work. Some files needed signing, some documents needed reviewing bla bla boring but important office work. Which I was doing when suddenly, I don't know, from where I thought of Armaan. What must he be doing right now? He hasn't tried to contact me since our engagement got fixed. And that is something which is very unlikely for him. He didn't try to even contact my mom or take me on any dates. What is up with that?

Why do you care? , said my brain, which is right partially but I don't know why. I suddenly started to think about him.

Oh, it's not sudden. Oh shut up brain.

Someone knocked on my door and I allowed them to come in without giving any attention to who they might be. But never in my wildest dream have I thought that I would see Armaan at my office door leaning on it and staring at me with a look of deep longing.

First I thought that my imagination conjured him up from my thoughts, but when neither of us moved and he did speak, only then did I get to know that it was not my imagination, it was the real him that was standing in front of me right then.

''What are you doing here'' I asked him, a little flabbergasted.

''I came to meet my wife'' he replied with a s**t-eating grin.

''I am not your wife'' I hissed at him.

His dark eyes visibly darkened with anger, he clenched his jaw. But his smile remains intact. Giving him a malicious look. A shiver ran down my spine seeing the look in his eyes.

''Yet'' when I gave him a confused look, then he continued ''You are not my wife yet, but soon that will change. So let me rephrase it for you. I came to meet my would-be wife''.He said anger was still visible on his face.

''Look, I don't have time for this. So tell me clearly why are you here?'' I asked, looking down at the file. Pretending to be busy.

''I am here to take you out for lunch. You can do your work after lunch break'' he said, still leaning at the door leisurely like he has all the time in the world. Which infuriated me somehow. Why is he here now, huh? Why did all of a sudden he remember he had a fiance? Now. He was doing just fine the whole week. What did he think of himself?

''And why do you think I will go with you?'' I said haughtily.

''Because you don't want your mother to know that you weren't with me on Sunday.'' he said with a smirk.

''Ho--how do you know that?'' Why do I stutter now? He will definitely think something is up.

''She herself told me. First I was perplexed by what she was saying. When her daughter clearly ran away from me in the morning, then how can she spend the day with me,'' And the anger returned ten fold and so did the hardness in his eyes.''But then I played along. So now you decide you want me to tell her the truth.''he ended his speech with a cocky look that says now you have to comply with me.

And I did because I didn't have any option left. ''Okay, let's go'' I started to gather my things.

''By the way, where were you that you didn't even inform your mother,'' he stated while staring at me with his intense eyes.

''That's none of your business'' I spat at him.

''It is my business.'' he gritted with a hard glare.

And I comply once again because there is no means to prolong his stay here. As soon as we have lunch he will be out of my hair.

''I went to meet Rupali and I couldn't tell my mother about it because it was our family time.'' I explained. And that reminded me I had to call my friends and inform them about my engagement.

He nodded his head and motioned me to move.

After having lunch, he left. He tried to make small talk in between, but seeing my indifference, he stopped. After he left, I felt exhausted and completely drained. Having lunch with him took all my energy away. So I ringed my secretary and asked her to postpone my remaining appointments for tomorrow. I took some files which needed signing with me.

When I reached home, my mom was sitting in the living room talking to my sister, who looked busy deciding what jewelry she should wear at my engagement party. Boxes of jewelry were surrounding them both.

''What are you both doing with all this jewelry?'' I asked while sitting down on the sofa beside theirs.

''What are you doing home this early'' asked my worrying mom. ''You are alright na beta [child].''

''Yes, mom, I am fine. It's just I was feeling tired attending back-to-back meetings from morning''

''And still, you brought work home'' she said, looking disapprovingly at my files.

I sighed, not having the energy to explain anything.

''What are you guys doing'' I asked again.

''Duh di we are choosing the jewelry to wear on your engagement'' Deepali said in exasperation.

''Okay folks, I'll leave you two to it as I am going to lie down for a bit.'' with that I made a beeline to my bedroom.

Once inside, I contemplated how to break the news to them. They surely would definitely go crazy. I guess a conference call would be the best. So I called them. I felt the sweat break on my forehead as I heard the familiar sound of the call connecting ringing in my ears.

A loud chorus of hello resounded in my room. ''Hello, guys. How are you all?'' I asked all of them.

''We are good. But why this sudden conference call?'' Riddhima asked. I knew they would find the conference call suspicious because we never had conference calls. It was only for some important message or emergency and my situation is nothing more than an emergency, so I thought a conference would indicate that.

''Guys, there is something I need to tell you. Please don't kill me.'' I said, nervousness clear in my voice.

''I knew something was wrong. Now out with it before I hunt you down.'' Nikita said eager to know the news.

Okay, here goes nothing. I closed my eyes and said in one breath. ''GuysIamgettingengagedthissunday.''

''WHAT '' yelled everyone. I waited in anticipation for them to start asking questions but none came.

''Sakshi take a deep breath and then continue. We didn't understand a word,'' said Saksham gently. And that did help me to calm down a little.

''Guys I am getting engaged this Sunday,'' I said this time slowly.

''SAY WHAT'' yelled Nikita so loudly. I think I lost my hearing for some time.

''I am really sorry guys, but I told you guys that my parents are looking for appropriate proposals right now. It happened all of a sudden.'' I rushed to explain.

''Yeah, right they were looking at proposals. No one said anything about any engagement.'' Rupali taunted me.

''Please try to understand guys.'' I pleaded with them.

''Understand what yaar we were supposed to know about it beforehand,'' Saksham said, disappointment clear in his voice.

''Yeah. I know, in my defense, I myself didn't know about it, the news was sudden and after that, I needed time to digest it.'' I tried to placate them.

''It's okay,'' said Ridhimma on behalf of everyone. Nobody spoke anything after that. There was a pregnant silence until.

''We will be there,'' Aryan spoke and hung up. What happened to him? I totally forgot about him being there as he didn't say anything from the start.

''Yeah, we will be there,'' Ridhimma said too and hung up. After that, everyone hung up one by one. Assuring me that they will be present for my big day. Well, that ended well. At least now everything is out in the open and I can breathe again. They are a little angry but I know how to pacify them.