Fated Forever

Chapter 17

Sakshi

I descended the stairs dreading anything and everything. Oh God, what is he doing here? When I entered the living room, all the eyes turned to me. Everyone stopped their conversation to welcome me, making me overwhelmed with the attention, especially of someone with deep charcoal eyes. Staring right through me as if he knows all my deepest, darkest secrets as if he knows that I am scared shitless or as if he knows that I lied to my mum about him but he can't know that now, can he? Just stop making me hyperventilate Brain.

I moved toward my future in-laws. Wait, WHAT, where did that come from? No, not my future in-laws but his parents. Yeah, that's more like it. After paying my respects, as I was about to sit beside my sister, his mother interrupted me ''Why are you sitting there? Go and sit beside Armaan Bache [child].'' I looked at her, unable to process her demand. Now, why do I want to sit beside the devil himself? At my lack of reaction, she explained '' He is your future husband beta [child]. You should sit beside him. But mainly I love to see you two together, so it's kind of a selfish request'' while smiling through every word.

After giving her a faint smile and a reluctant nod, I moved to sit beside Satan. Who is smiling at me with a charming smile as if he has won the world? How many days has it been since I have seen him smile like that? Since his return, he either had a serious expression or a smirk marring his breathtaking face. This smile is the one he always gave me when we were kids and I always want to capture it and keep it with me to look at it any time I want. This is something I will never take for granted.

So there must have been something big to happen for him to smile like that. And I wish to know what has him smiling so big but I can't, not after today's drama which he created in my favorite cafe. How am I supposed to drink coffee there now without dying of embarrassment?

So I glared at him even if that's the last look I wanted to give to him, especially when he is smiling like that, making my heart beat rapidly. But he is a shameless fellow. There wasn't the slightest change in his expression. Sometimes I think he knows that all my mean looks and words are just my defense and that's not how I truly feel about him.

''What are you doing here?'' I asked him in a whisper, trying not to lose my composure for everyone to see.

''Just wait and watch for a few. You will know everything'' he smiled. Now that is alerting, he is smiling a little too much today. And I can say for sure, whatever the news is, I will not like it.

''So we are here for something important'' his mother announced, making dread settle in my gut. Please god please let her say no to this marriage. But like always, dear god is not listening to me and she announced the most dreading announcement of my life.

''We are here to fix the date of engagement. We were talking about it for a few days and today, when you guys called and said yes to this alliance, we couldn't contain our excitement and came over to discuss the engagement, as Armaan doesn't want to delay in marriage.

Well, that is a lot to take in when my parents say yes to this? Why am I not aware of this? And why didn't they talk to me before making the final decision? What the heck is it about engagement? I am not ready yaar.

''Sure why not? Why delay when everyone wants the same thing.'' my dad said, happiness dancing in his voice.

''How about next weekend? Is it okay with you guys or is it too early? Armaan's father asked dad.

''Next weekend is perfect''

Oh god, what is happening in front of my eyes and I ain't able to do anything. It's like Í am not even here in front of them. I have never felt so helpless before and this fool sitting beside me also isn't saying anything. Next weekend is too damn early.

''Armaan, don't you think next weekend is early'' I said in my gentlest, softest voice. Just as he heard me, he froze in his place for a good few minutes and then, as in slow motion, turned his head towards me. Eyes wide and a look of disbelief clear as day for everyone to see if they were paying any attention. But no one was looking at us. Later, it was clear that he wasn't coming from the shock he had received. I decided to call him once again.

''Armaan'' this time I nudged him with my elbow. He finally regained his senses.

''I am sorry if I was behaving a little out of order today. It's just, it's been a while since you talked to me this gently.''

His words were a sucker punch in my gut. Did I behave that badly to him, but I never treated him any less. I don't know why, but his words hurt.

''And to answer your question, I don't think it's early. Quite the opposite. For me, it's too damn late. If it was in my power, you would have been married to me by the end of the weekend. So, babe, you are asking the wrong person here.'' then, for a lasting effect, he winked at me. Making me shut my mouth.

Goddammit, why does he have to affect me this much? Now, who to ask for help? I am running out of excuses here. I can't even lie that I already love someone. My parents will be devastated by that, first for making a fool of them and going along with every marriage alliance and never telling them the real reason, and second because they have already asked me if there is someone whom I want to marry, but I have always denied so yeah, this excuse is not going to work. I looked around and see everyone's happy faces. How can I make them sad just because of my insecurities?