9

"Don't move, darling, and don't even think about pushing me. Your brother is looking at us." I said as I released the hug.

My lips lightly kissed her forehead, and I felt her body tense up as I did so.

I want to do it again.

Then I made my way down the hall to the main room. When I turned to face the room, I saw my family seated at the tables, fighting as usual between Muktha and Athwa.

I walked over to them. "Papa, we are heading out. You two! Stop fighting and get ready to leave!" I said this to Muktha and Athwa, and they both immediately stopped what they were doing.

They gathered their belongings, gave me a wide-eyed innocent look, and kept blinking repeatedly.

I almost smiled, but I looked away.

At Kapoor's mansion

When we got home, my siblings had already gone to their rooms, but I stopped my parents to talk to them, about going to Sehgal's to propose to her. "Papa, do you know Samay Sehgal, a member of our IT staff? He helped in the Mumbai project." I asked.

Papa gave a head nod. "Yes, I know the guy; he is a gentleman and has been loyal to our company for the past five years."

"I want you guys to go to his house tomorrow evening with my marriage proposal," I announced, and my parents looked at each other. He raised a brow at her, and Mom shook her head, but he nodded, and she sighed.

It was as if they were talking through their eyes and facial expressions. Their understanding of each other is fantastic, and I am genuinely happy for them—but I would have been pleased if I had witnessed this understanding of his with my mumma as well.

I chuckled at the thought because he wasn't there...

"Your marriage proposal?" Mom asked in confusion. They became even more perplexed and concerned after I nodded my head. They shouldn't be so confused; they were on my neck to get married.

Dad said, "We had no idea that you were into guys. It is not a problem, though; you should have told us sooner."

I blinked several times and rubbed my face, staring at them aimlessly. This is nonsense! What is wrong with the people around me? I don't understand why or how they can even think about this. They have heard about scandals involving my relationships with women, but none involving men.

"Not at all, papa! Not the guy, but his sister, Chandini Sehgal. She is the only person I want to marry. You two, are going to go to their house and ask her hand in marriage." I finished speaking, and they were shocked, to say the least.

"You had a girl in mind, but you did not feel it necessary to inform your parents of this. Rudra, how can you be so careless? I was not expecting this from you." Mom said, shaking her with disappointment.

I looked down at my feet. How can I tell her that I blackmailed her into a marriage? How do I tell them? I raised my head.

"I am happy that you finally decided," Papa said, I raised my head, and he was watching me—his eyes filled with warmth and love. The look I had yearned to see for almost all of my entire life.

"Just ask for her hand in marriage tomorrow, Papa. I am done talking about it now." I said gritting my teeth as I spoke, clenching my hands and averting my gaze.

I took a shower and then laid on the bed. I wanted to sleep but couldn't do it because of a certain long-haired, dark-eyed beauty. She has consumed my thoughts to the point where I am unable to stop thinking of anything else.

I can't help but think about how peaceful it feels after hearing her speak because she has such a sweet voice. She talks to everyone else politely, but not with me. It seems like she turns into a different person every time she sees me. When it comes to me, she all of a sudden has a rude attitude.

This behaviour of hers gets on my nerves. Every time she treats me disrespectfully, I act badly towards her and hurt her. Then, other than regret, there is nothing for me to feel.

which is something new for me. When someone gets hurt because of me, I simply move on. I do not dwell on it too much. I don't dwell on it. But every time I hurt her, I am left with this bad feeling inside. 

Even today, I couldn't control myself and grabbed her hair hard in a fit of rage, making her sob in pain. I was so furious that I was not even aware of it. I made a mistake by doing that. 

She deserves an apology from me.

Why am I even feeling like this? Who exactly is she? Her feelings are certainly not necessary in my life, nor is her opinion. She slapped me and had it coming. She is free to believe whatever the hell she wants. I don't care. I was so caught up in my own thoughts that I didn't hear the knock on the door.

Athwa called out, "Bhaiya?" I turned to my left and turned on the lamp.

"What are you doing in my room? Have you forgotten all your manners? Athwa, you knock before entering a room." I said, irritation clear in my voice.

"I did knock, Bhaiya, twice or three times, but the door was unlocked. So I opened the door for myself," he said, giggling like a little kid. He is a kid, after all.

I gave him a quick glance but said nothing, so he carried on. "Bhaiya, I wanted to talk to you. Sorry again! Don't be mad, but I heard you when you were talking to Mummy and Papa," he said, and I got up from bed angrily.

"Athwa, you really have lost your manners! Muktha is spoiling you too much!" I said, and he looked down before raising his head to look and adding. "Bhaiya, I am sorry about that. I came here to ask you something." He gave me a big smile and I could see his dimples as he looked at me.

I turned my head away. "What do you need to ask? Couldn't that wait till morning?"

I wanted to know if I could go to my angel's house tomorrow with Papa Mummy." He said, looking at me with his big, hopeful eyes, "I want to meet her again."

I tried to deny him, but I couldn't. It is admirable how attached he became to Chandini after just one encounter.

"Yes. You can go with Mom and Papa tomorrow." I said, and I watched as he clapped his hands happily.

"She is not your angel or anything. She is mine." I said the last part more rudely than I intended to. His eyes widened in fear. He nodded and ran out of the room.

Something... everything... is wrong with me. I just envied my younger brother because he called her his angel!

I also could not get myself to stop thinking about her. She blinks to get rid of her tears because she does not want anyone to see them.

Her smile makes me forget about everything else, and all I want to do is keep watching her. The calm she brings simply by her presence—it scares me. It is all very enticing to me. I have never experienced anything like this before. Why do I keep obsessively thinking about her?

I am losing my mind.

I got out of bed and took one of the pills from the bedside drawer. I climbed back into bed and fell asleep.

In the morning

I was getting ready for work, then I went to the dining room for breakfast, but then I stopped. There were baskets lined up on the table, filled with various items such as sweets and jewellery, and I don't know what else. Athwa was running around in his suit, and Mom was dressed in a saree, looking as beautiful as ever.

I asked her what was going on. "We are going ahead with your marriage proposal, as you asked us to. What is the matter with you, Rudra?" Mom said, looking at me, and I took another look around. They did it all for a marriage proposal.

"I did not ask you to organise the wedding. Mom, why are there so many baskets and pieces of jewellery? And I told you to go later in the evening, not this early," I said. 

Her brother would be at work, and she would be at the cafe.

Why is she working at all? Mr. Sehgal earns well—the company pays well to their employees. Shouldn't she be studying instead of working?

Mom's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I was thinking of her again. "We will go in the evening itself. I am just making sure everything goes smoothly."

This is all important because, after all, her son is ready to get married. And as for Athwa, he is happy because he will be meeting his angel, so he wore the suit—her words.

Papa came and asked Mom if everything was ready or not. But Athwa decided to open his mouth. "Mummy Papa, did you know Chandni slapped Bhaiya and helped me with my knee?" My temper was rising as I stared at him with icy-cold eyes.

Mom and Papa were perplexed, their brows furrowed. "She is the same girl who slapped you! Then why do you want to marry her?" Papa asked, and Mom nodded.

"Athwa, for the first time in your life, shut up!" I yelled at him and stormed out the door.

I arrived at my office. Everyone greeted me, but I just nodded and went straight into my cabin. I called Rahul inside. "Can you tell me about your plans for today?" I asked.

"You have three meetings scheduled between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Then there is your monthly lunch with a board member. Finally, you have dinner at Sehgal's in the evening, as requested by your mother." 

I wanted to rip my head off. What was the need for dinner? They only need to go, ask her hand in marriage, and return. 

That is all there is to it.

"Okay! Please get a drink for me, Rahul. I do not want to harm anything or anyone. My head hurts terribly." I said, burying my face in my hands, and he went to the drink section to get me some whisky.

"Hey, buddy, do you want me to call your doctor? You look bad; are you having problems like before?" He asked, and I nodded.

"Yes, call him," I said, and he walked away to contact the doctor.

I can not breathe... I felt like I was going to suffocate. My head was throbbing with pain, and I began to doze off, and everything went black.

What are your thoughts on this chapter? Please let me know how you feel about it.

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