Chapter 11: Lines Drawn

Kiara's POV

I stormed back into the house after that conversation, my mind a chaotic mess. Reyaansh Rathore’s words echoed in my head, relentless and unwavering. “I always get what I want.” The audacity! Who did he think he was, claiming me like I was some trophy he could acquire?

My family was still seated in the living room, chatting warmly with his parents. My mother’s eyes lit up when she saw me return. “Kia, beta, did you and Reyaansh have a good talk?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I muttered something about needing to freshen up and retreated to my room. As I shut the door behind me, I leaned against it, letting out a frustrated sigh. How was everyone so calm about this? My entire future was being decided, and no one thought to ask me what I wanted.

---

I paced back and forth in my room, the bangles on my wrist jingling with each step. My reflection in the mirror caught my attention, and I paused, staring at the girl in the black anarkali with defiance in her eyes. This wasn’t me. I wasn’t the kind of person to let someone dictate my life. But against Reyaansh, I felt... cornered.

A knock on the door broke my thoughts. It was Sneha. She peeked in, her expression soft. “Kia, you okay?” she asked, stepping inside and closing the door behind her.

“Do I look okay?” I snapped, immediately regretting the sharpness in my tone. I sat down on the edge of my bed, running a hand through my hair. “Sorry... I just... I can’t believe this is happening. How can Mom and Dad agree to this without even asking me?”

Sneha sat beside me, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You know how they are, Kia. They think they’re doing what’s best for you.”

I scoffed. “What’s best for me? Selling me off to someone like Reyaansh Rathore?”

---

Sneha’s lips curled into a faint smile. “He’s not as bad as you think,” she said, her voice quiet.

I turned to her, incredulous. “Not as bad? Sneha, the man just told me he always gets what he wants, and right now, that’s me. Does that sound normal to you?”

She shrugged. “He’s confident, sure, but he’s not like the men you see in movies. You didn’t see the way he was looking at you, Kia. There was... something there. Something real.”

I shook my head, refusing to let her words sway me. “He’s a stranger, Sneha. A stranger who’s decided I belong to him without even asking me how I feel. That’s not love—it’s control.”

Sneha didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she sighed and squeezed my shoulder before standing up. “Just... give it time, Kia. Maybe he’ll surprise you.”

---

After she left, I sat alone in my room, my thoughts swirling like a storm. Time? That’s what everyone kept telling me. But how much time would it take for me to figure out who Reyaansh Rathore really was?

My gaze drifted to the window, where the garden stretched out below. I could still see him standing there, his posture relaxed yet commanding, as if he belonged to a different world altogether.

And maybe he did. But now, somehow, my world and his were colliding, and I wasn’t sure if I’d survive the impact.

---

I didn’t know how long I stayed there, staring out the window, lost in my thoughts. The distant murmur of voices drifted up from the living room, a reminder that Reyaansh and his family were still downstairs. A part of me wanted to march back down and tell everyone exactly how I felt. But another part—the part that knew my family would never listen—kept me rooted in place.

I leaned my forehead against the glass, the cool surface grounding me. Why did it feel like my life was spiraling out of control? I’d always had a plan—college, a career, independence. And now, suddenly, I was being forced into a marriage with a man who barely knew me but acted as though he owned me.

The sound of a car starting pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked down and saw Reyaansh’s family leaving, their sleek black cars pulling out of the driveway. He was standing by one of them, talking to his parents. Then, as if he sensed my gaze, he looked up.

Our eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed to freeze. His expression was unreadable, but his intense gaze made my heart skip a beat. I hated the way he could unsettle me with just a look. Before I could tear my eyes away, he smirked, a subtle curve of his lips that spoke volumes.

I stepped back from the window, my pulse racing. It was as if he was saying, I’ll see you again soon. The thought made my stomach twist in equal parts dread and... something else I couldn’t name. I didn’t want him to have this effect on me, but it seemed like Reyaansh Rathore wasn’t someone I could easily ignore.