8.

Ketki returned from her bakery after a tiring day. Samarth was already home to talk to her about the marriage proposal he got from Rudra as soon as he saw Ketki entering the house.

He got up and walked to her.

"Sunshine"

Ketki's face lit up hearing her brother's voice.

It was very few times that samarth was home early and had dinner with her.

"Dada"

Ketki smiled and samarth held her hand helping her sit on the couch.

"How was your day?"

Samarth asked her trying to start a light conversation first.

"Hectic I had too many special orders"

Samarth patted her head and took a deep breath before breaking the wedding bomb on her.

"Sunshine if I ask you something will you agree to it?"

Ketki frowned hearing her brother.

"What happened dada?"

Samarth took a deep breath and spoke.

"Ketki there's my friend and he brought a wedding proposal for you"

Ketki's expression turned sad.

Her growing fondness for Rudra and Marrying someone unknown just like that was something she never wanted to do.

"Dada.."

Ketki's hand clenched his tightly.

"Listen to me first sunshine and then decide baby no one's gonna force you but listen to me first"

Samarth spoke caressing her knuckles with his thumb pad to calm her down.

"He is my friend i know him very well. He'll take care of you and respect you. He is a nice guy Bache"

Ketki didn't say anything, she can't be selfish when her brother is thinking about her.

Though she is fond of Rudra she can't be selfish her brother is worried about her marriage and when he gets a good proposal she'll accept it so that her brother's burden will be less.

"Does he know I am blind?"

Samarth continues caressing her hand.

"Yes, he does.. see bache take your time think wise no one's gonna force you. If you don't want I'll reject the proposal right away"

Ketki shook her head.

"No dada... you chose him for me... I am sure he must be like you... I am ready for this marriage"

Samarth smiled hearing her response and kissed her forehead.

"Trust me sunshine he is better than me"

Ketki gave him a small smile.

"I'll go freshen up and we can have dinner together"

Ketki spoke and got up.

The maid helped ketki in her room. The maid took out her nightwear and left the room.

Ketki locked the room and sighed.

'Don't be selfish ketki... you met Rudra just two times. There is no way you'll meet him again.. he must even remember me... you should forget your crush and move on

A drop of tear left her eyes she quickly wiped it.

'kyu gannu ji agar apne mere zindagi m kisi aur ko likha tha tho us se meri zindagi laya hi kyu'

(Why Ganesh ji? If you wrote someone else in my destiny then why did you even bring him in my life)

Ketki wiped her tears and went to the washbasin. She washed her face with cold water.

'its okay ketki jo hota hai ache ke liye hi hota hai'

(Whatever happens, it happens for good)

Ketki freshened up and after getting into her comfy nightwear she went out to have dinner with her brother.

Next day:

Ketki was in a restaurant, settled in a VIP room waiting for the man whom she's gonna be married.

Samarth asked her to meet him once so she could make her decision properly. She wore a simple lilac-coloured chikankari kurti with white plazo and white dupatta.

Samarth himself dropped her off at the restaurant and would later pick her up too.

She was nervously tapping her fingers on the table. She ordered herself cold coffee.

She was hella nervous cause why would a man willingly marry her knowing she is blind?

Soon she heard the door being opened, her breath got stuck nervous she was.

She heard footsteps near her and that person sat down in front of her.

Rudra's heart calmed down when he saw ketki in front of him.

The dream he saw the other night was making him uneasy but seeing her today all fit and fine his heart calmed.

He could see how nervous she was as she was continuously playing with her dupatta nervously.

He clears his throat, gaining her attention before speaking.

"I'm sorry I am late"

Rudra spoke knowing she would recognize his voice.

Ketki's heartbeat rose hearing a similar voice.

"Rudra?"

She whispered more like questioning herself.

There was no way he would be here, that's impossible, right?

Ketki was in denial until Rudra spoke.

"You recognize me again"

Rudra spoke with a teasing smile which unfortunately Ketki couldn't see.

"I told you I have good hearing"

Ketki's heart was still not calming, beating faster in her ribcage.

'Is this a dream? Am I gonna marry Rudra? Is Rudra the guy my brother chose for me?'

All the nervousness she was feeling before was slowly fading away.

"I see let's eat first"

Rudra spoke going through the menu.

"Do you have any specific thing you like? Or want me to order for you?"

Rudra asked, glancing at her and then back at the menu.

"You order whatever you like"

Ketki spoke, now she was feeling better and she calmed down. And just was fully focused on her conversation with Rudra.

Rudra ordered butter chicken naan and dal tadka.

Rudra was opposite to ketki where ketki loved spicy food and Rudra couldn't tolerate spicy food.

Once the order was placed Rudra again focused on ketki.

"Are you ready for this marriage ketki?"

Ketki's breath caught up in her mouth. Of course, she was ready for this marriage even before knowing it was Rudra because she wanted to help her brother lessen his burden.

Rudra noticed every moment how she kept on Playing with the hem of her dupatta, how her cheeks turned red, how she felt shy, her voice, her lips when she bit them nervously.

Everything made his heart go boom boom. He gulps down water in the glass. Waiting for her answer nervously.

Ketki was too shy to speak so she just nodded.

Seeing her nod, Rudra's happiness had no bounds. He just wanted to get and dance and sing everything he could do to express his happiness.

"Really? You agree?"

Ketki nodded again she could feel his happiness in her answer which warmed her heart knowing someone was willingly ready to accept her despite her blindness.

"I promise you won't regret Marrying me.."

Rudra spoke as he held Ketki's hand.

His touch sent shivers through her spine, and her heartbeat quickened.

"Trust me and I'll never break your trust"

He resisted the urge to call his chashni he didn't want to make her uncomfortable. What if she thinks of him as some creep who gives some nicknames?

Ketki smiled ear to ear and nodded.

"Thank you"

She whispered gaining a frown from Rudra.

"Why thank you?"

Ketki just shook her head.

"Just thank you"

Before Rudra could speak further the food arrived.

Ketki took the first bite and she regretted, that it was too sweet.

Her expression wasn't hidden from Rudra and he asked.

"What happened do you not like food?"

Ketki shook her head "No no it's good"

Rudra held her hand,

"See ketki we are gonna get married I don't want you to adjust for my sake.. if you don't like anything just say it to me, if I won't know who would? So tell me what is wrong?"

Ketki smiles awkwardly

"I don't like sweet food, I like spicy food. You know we Maharashtrians eat saoji... it's the best"

Ketki spoke as her face lit up with the mention of saoji.

"You should have told me... I'll order it for you"

Rudra spoke, though he couldn't tolerate spicy food but for the sake of that smile of hers, he would even eat spicy food.

He ordered chicken saoji for her and asked the chef to make it extra spicy just like she liked.

Soon the waiter brought the order, and served ketki,

Ketki smiled and started eating, as soon as she took a bite she closed her eyes in satisfaction,

Rudra's lips curled into a wide smile.

"Do you like it?"

Ketki nodded and continued eating, "you eat too"

He took a bite of naan and saoji and brought it near him she didn't know exactly where his mouth was.

Rudra held her hand and took a bite. His lips touched her fingers unconsciously, and Keiki felt shivers.

She smiled shyly, as soon as Rudra took a bite the spicy hit him right.

His eyes were red due to the spiciness. He drank water but it was not enough. He didn't make any noise so that ketki wouldn't hear and get worried.

He opened his mouth thinking ketki would feed him again but ketki herself ate that bite and continued eating.

But Ketki was unaware of the thing happening to him.

The waiter offered him sweets but he shook his head and continued eating the spicy food just for that smile on ketki's face.