16 - lost in your eye's fiery gaze(S1)

At the breakfast table,

Jairaaj expressed his gratitude, "Thank you for taking out your time for us, All the gentlemen's." looking at his guest with a confident smile that didn't betray the tension and chaos he had just created.

He continued, acknowledging Prthvi and Abhimaan, "And thanks to you, Mr. Prthvi and Mr. Abhimaan, for taking the time, from heavy schedule" directing his gaze toward their direction.

"I have heard that you are leaving today. I know I am asking too much, but could you stay for the engagement? We've decided to engage our youngest daughter tomorrow with Samrat Jasrotia. " Jairaaj proposed, extending his hand towards Samrat.

Abhi was about to respond, "Yes, we can--" but Prthvi interrupted, "No, we can't. We need to leave," cutting off his friend, understanding him well.

Abhi, expressing his frustration, said, "Yes, we should leave," looking toward Prthvi with an angry expression.

"Get up, Abhi. We are going back now, Mr. Jamwal. I hope you understand our reason," Prthvi stated, rising and wiping his hands.

He then extended his hand towards Samrat, "Congratulations on your engagement."

***

Niharika's POV:

"Di... Di, I'm okay," I said with a low voice. But am I really okay? The feeling I have is anything but okay. The room feels like it's closing in on me, suffocating me with the weight of betrayal and shock. How does everything take such an unexpected turn?

I can't think of a single reason behind Dad's decision to marry me off to someone I barely know. Is it punishment for something I did or, worse, for just being me? A whirlwind of questions storms my mind, each more painful than the last.

What have I done to deserve this? What's my mistake? I should at least know. The constant comparison with Anamika di, the feeling of being the unwanted one, haunts me throughout my life. But this... this is beyond anything I could have imagined. Do they hate me that much to strip away my dreams and the little freedom I seek?

Does Mom know about this? Is she silent or, worse, complicit in this decision? The tears blur my vision as I try to make sense of the chaos within me.

"No, I'l...l tal..k t..o Da..d.d," I said to myself, wiping my tears. He will understand. But deep down, the sinking feeling lingers. Will he listen? Will he understand that all I want is a chance to pursue my dreams, to prove that I am more than the labels they impose on me?

I don't want anything from him-just let me pursue my dream. Okay, if he hates me and thinks I'm nobody to him, I will go far from his sight. Maybe then he will be happy.

I'm feeling a sense of betrayal, not just from Dad, but from the very foundations of the family I think is mine. My mistake, as much as I can think of or it seems, is seeking a bit of affection or care, a chance to be more than the unnoticed silhouette in the background.

***

"Abhi, stop with your childish behavior or your stupid crush," Prthvi said, wrapping his seatbelt around him, observing his upset friend.

"Yeah, I should. You already told your decision. What can I say, Your Majesty?" Abhi retorted sarcastically.

"Abhi, I told you before, don't call me by that," Prthvi warned, but Abhi seemed uninterested.

Prthvi looked outside the car window for a minute, glancing towards the balcony, perhaps hoping for a last glimpse of someone.

However, there was no one."Driver, let's go," Prthvi instructed, turning towards the driver, and they set off on their way. The surroundings started to blur as they moved farther and farther away, heading towards their destination.

***

"Dad," Niharika said.

"P...please, lis...listen to me once," Niharika said with a dry voice.

"I'm not listening to anything and certainly not from you," Jairaj replied, his response cold and stiff.

"I k..now yo.u do..n.n't lik..e M-me, bu.t Dad, pl..ease don't do tha.t," she pleaded, her words carrying the last shred of hope she held onto.

She continued, "Da..d, I g....g.ot an offer fr..om Hyderabad. It's not a b-b-big compa...ny, but they like my wo..rk, and they want to hir..e me." Her father remained unresponsive.

"Dad, please, I don't wa..nt anyth...ing from you. I will ma..nage all the ex...expenses and every,,,,thing on my own. I w...on't as.k for anything from yo...u!" she said, tears streaming down her face.

"You wa,,,nt me to go fa,,r from yo,,ur sss-s..sight? Fine, I won't come in fro..nt of you or nea..r you. Pl..ease let me fo..O.llow my dream," she implored.

Jairaj finally spoke, "You didn't stop making those stupid cartoons until now," he said.

"Dad," she uttered.

"Enough! I told you to quit that childish obsession of yours and help your mother at home. You're bringing shame to our family, Niharika," he shouted, and she flinched in her position, gripping her top in response.

"Dad, I will do anyt,,hing you say. Plea,,se can..cel that engagem..ent," she pleaded.

"Niharika," her father scolded, and she shook in fear for a moment.

"You want me to accept you," he said, this time in a normal tone. Niharika didn't reply; she was happy that finally, her dad wanted to accept her. She would no longer be nobody.

"Then do this marriage," he declared.

"Dad."

"Enough. Your drama wedding dates are already decided. Tomorrow is your engagement. I don't want any drama from your side. Otherwise, this time, I will cut my ties with Ishita too because she is responsible for your spoiling, and I warn you," he said, then left the room. Niharika broke down on the floor, tears streaming down her face like an uninvited rain.

Next day,

"Nihu, bacchi do, do you really agree? Please say no. I will support you no matter what. Teri di tera sath hai hamesha," Ishita pleaded as she saw her younger sister adorned in jewelry and dressed in heavy clothes, with an emotionless face.

"Di, you know w..hat Dadu says, wo..h kya b..olte hain na, jo tumhare kism..at mein lik..ha hot..ta.a hai w..ahi hume mi..lta hai. Shyad meri kis..s....mat mein ya...hi likha hai. You don't be s..s.sad!" Niharika said, faking a smile.

"No one for..or.ced me," Niharika added, looking down.Ishita looked at her sister helplessly.

"Di, it's g..g..good finally. I w..ill be ric..h, the..n.n don't be je..alous of me. I will liv..e now like a q-q-queen," Niharika said with a faint smile.

Ishita started crying. "I'm sorry, Nihu."But Niharika's face was cold, as if a million stories died there, like in a black hole.

"Bacchi, it was all my doing. I shouldn't have forced you to dance or put you in the spotlight. I'm sorry," Ishita apologized.

Niharika couldn't force a fake smile anymore. She started crying like a broken person. "Di, you didn't me..an it. I kn..ow that!"

***

DELHI , INDIA

"Boss?"

"Boss?" Amar said.

"Huh?" Prthvi replied, realizing he had been staring out at the sky from his cabin for a long time, somewhere lost in thought.

"Are you feeling okay? It's raining outside. Do you want me to drop you home?" Amar asked with concern.

"It's raining?" Prthvi said, looking outside.

"Boss, it's been raining for a while, and you've been lost in thought, staring out the window," Amar added, noticing Prthvi's distracted demeanor.

"Boss, are you really okay? You've been looking exhausted too.Why don't you take a break, go home, and rest?" He suggested.

"Also, ever since you returned from the Bangalore trip, you've seemed lost. Is something bothering you?" He inquired, noticing the change in Prthvi's demeanor.

"No, just get me my black coffee," Prthvi said, trying to shake off his distraction.

"let's continue with our schedule. Call the manager here," Prthvi said, sitting in his reclined chair.

"Okay," Amar went outside.

"What's going on with me?" Prthvi questioned himself while rubbing his head.

BANGALORE, INDIA

"Change the ring."

"Change the ring, Niharika," Shika, her mother, said.

"Huh?" Niharika said, realizing she had been standing there lost in her thoughts for a long time.

"Niharika, don't make a scene here. Forward your hand, beta. He's been waiting," her mother whispered.

Niharika extended her hand slowly, her expression blank. The guys put the ring on her finger.

"Now, you put," Shika said, smiling at everyone.

Niharika looked up at the guy and then towards her family, pausing for a moment. Moments later, she put the ring in the guy's hand. He, too, stared at her blankly, and small tears welled up in one corner of her eyes. She stopped them from flowing to avoid showing the world and gave a faint smile, while everyone clapped.

"Congratulations, Mr. Jasrotia." Jairaaj said.

"You too, Mr. Jamwal. We are in-laws now," and both hugged each other.

A month later (Delhi, India)

"Tum" she whispered, locking eyes with Prthvi as he closed the distance between them.

"Yes, miss, it's me," Prthvi responded, his steps deliberate as he neared her.

A cloud of confusion and nervousness washed over her delicate features. "What are you doing here?" Her gaze remained fixated on him, searching for answers.

"The same could be asked of you," he retorted, advancing another step.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What do you mean?" she stammered, instinctively taking a step back.

"I want to know your name," Prthvi's voice deepened, his eyes never leaving hers as he closed the gap.

"You're everywhere, haunting my thoughts and dreams. What mystical connection is this?" His voice dripped with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

"What?" she gulped.

"I don't understand," she managed to say, her voice tinged with unease.

"Yes, you make me confused all the time, between reality and dreams. I feel as if I'm dreaming all the time," he confessed.

"You're a riddle to me. which I'm determined to solve," he declared, cornering her against the wall, his arms forming a cage around her.

"Please let me go. I don't know what you're talking about," she pleaded.

"Don't say a word," he whispered, his warm breath teasing her earlobe.

"Are you toying with my sanity? Testing the limits of my self-restraint?" His words were laced with palpable desire.

"I-" She looked down, attempting to escape the magnetic pull of his gaze, but it was too late.

"Now, you don't answer?" he whispered.

"You've become my distraction, disrupting my focus," he said, his eyes ablaze with an undeniable passion.

"I'm sorry but mujhe nahi pta app kis bare me baat kr rahe ho... Plz let me go?" she said, looking down, attempting to avoid his intense gaze.

"I can't focus on my work; you're driving me crazy," he confessed, his eyes burning with passion.

Pushing him away, she warned, "Stay back. Don't come any closer." Yet, he disregarded her plea, drawn irresistibly toward her.

"Answer me," he demanded.

"I said mujhse dur raho!!! Stay away from me," she insisted, trying to resist the intense attraction between them.

"I can't --" He said.

As the tension between them escalated, Prithvi couldn't resist the magnetic pull any longer. With a burning desire in his eyes, he leaned in for a kiss. The air around them crackled with intensity as his Rough lips met hers, setting off a fire that seemed to consume them both. Time seemed to stand still. In that moment, encapsulated by the heat and passion of an unexpected connection that defied explanation.