Chapter 2 :

21 August, Wednesday, 2024

11:25 a.m.

Geetanjali's POV

"You seem so lost. What happened Geet?", asked Ruhi, my bestfriend who was doing my makeup today for the engagement.

My heart was heavy after what happened yesterday. I couldn't sleep a blink at night because the pain I saw in his eyes when I handed him the card broke me. He still loves me but unfortunately, we have no future.

I shook my head, "It's nothing serious."

"I know it's hard Geet. And I had already told you to think about it. Even if you wish to run away right now or call off this engagement, I'm with you", she spoke reassuringly, keeping her hands on my shoulders.

I looked up at her through the vanity mirror and smiled weakly, "We have no future Ru. Him and I were to meet and live the best time of our lives before parting away. Sometimes, we need to sacrifice for our loved ones. Maybe this is for the best", I replied staring at myself in the mirror.

I'm wearing a beautifully designed saree with a deep v-cut blouse. Its intricate designs are too beautiful to be worn by someone who's living with a heavy heart.

It was my decision to start a new starting so I can't run back now.

Sighing, I fixed my jewelry and stood up to walk out of the room. We're at the venue because it's far from my house and I can't get ready at home and come like that in the car.

My mother-in-law being the sweet lady, arranged everything I'd need. I got to know that my fiancé has a younger brother and a sister too.

"Bhabhi", I heard a sweet voice calling me as I turned around. My eyes locked on the two figures standing ta the door. A girl who seemed young and a boy who seemed a bit older than her, stood there with smiles on their faces.

I smiled at them and asked them to come inside.

"I'm Niharika, Adhvik bhai's sister. And this is Neil, my elder brother and Adhvik bhai's younger brother. We couldn't meet you last time so we came to meet you now", the girl clad in a light pink lehenga, who told her name as Niharika, spoke with a smile.

She seemed like a total sunshine and sweetheart.

"By the way I'm 20 and he's 27", she spoke again. So Neil is of my age. He seemed very calm and less emotional by the look on his face.

I smiled, "Nice to meet you both. It was unfortunate to be unable to meet you last time but now that we have met, it's equal?", I spoke softly.

Niharika nodded.

"Bhai would you speak something or should I open your mouth and help you?", asked Niharika smiling at him sarcastically. I glanced at Ruhi who was suppressing her laughter at Niharika's words.

I smiled, "It's fine Niharika. Maybe he's a bit shy."

"He's not shy bhabhi. He's just the exact copy of Adhvik bhai. But God made him a bit softer than Adhvik bhai", she spoke glaring at him before looking back at me with a smile.

"We can talk later Niharika. Do whatever you were to do", spoke Neil for the first time with a neutral face.

"Yeah. Bhabhi, maa and Radha aunty have asked you to come with us and Ruhi di outside. They're waiting for you"

I looked back at Ruhi before nodding at them as we all walked out of the room.

As I descended down the aisle, my heart thumped against my ribs harder. I knew I'd be nervous but I never thought that I'd be much more nervous than the day when I had gone to give interview for my job infront of higher officials. I felt my hands turning cold and slowly shaking, feeling everyone's eyes on me and especially those hazel blue orbs. He was wearing light blue suit with light blue pant, matching with my saree.

They had some icy intensity.

I was seeing him for the second time but still the strange feeling his aura exuded made me shudder slightly. I never saw his smile. He's not smiling now too. His gaze never seemed to move away from me, as if it's been always fixed to me.

I reached the aisle before I was given the ring.

I looked down at it. It was absolutely gorgeous one and it seemed quite expensive. It was obvious because he was a software engineer afterall. His family was a high class family too so definitely cheap things weren't of their taste.

I felt hesitation inside me because this ring would tie me up with him and vermillion he'd give me on the mandap would seal the promises we'd make to stay with each other forever right now. The sacred fire would too. All these mean a lot deeper than they actually seem to mean.

But I have no choice. I had already agreed for this on my own.

Taking a deep breath, I slid it into his ring finger and he followed suit. He didn't even seem to hesitate, showing emotion was another topic.

The loud sound of applause echoed in the room. Then we both went on with the Hindu rituals followed in an engagement ceremony. We both were blessed by the elders. After some time, we were given some time to sit on the couch placed on the stage so that the media can ask their questions and photographers can click our pictures.

"Mr. Raichand, what would you like to say about your engagement?"

"However a man should feel after having the engagement ring on his ring finger", he replied monotonously, calm, deep and professionalism were what his tone was of. The answer was neither clear nor unclear. But still one won't be able to perceive whatever he meant.

"Mr. Raichand, there were rumours about you dating supermodel Ms. Raina Goenka. What are your thoughts about it?"

"You can see who I'm engaged to. Then it obviously clears the fact that we ain't together anymore."

He was dating someone? Then why did he marry me? It's so confusing and I don't even expect any explanation from him, given the coldness he bore. I need to think if I regret saying yes to this marriage proposal.

"Mrs. Raichand, how do you feel being engaged to the future CEO of Royal Sword Enterprise?", the sudden question directed at me caught me off guard. I blinked my eyes in realization before nodding once.

"There's nothing to feel. Being engaged to the future CEO of a multinational software company or a simple businessman, makes me feel just one thing—that I'm engaged. Further complexities are welcomed by the respective professions", I replied calmly with a mild smile. I was surprised at myself at how bold and straightforward my words were. Because normally, I try to ignore such controversial questions even if I don't face them, given the ordinary profession I own.

"Do you love each other?", I hate such questions. Was it actually necessary to ask?

"Have you heard of arranged marriages?", I backfired. I was already losing my calm in between these wealthy people and now such fucking ass questions were irritating me.

"Does it feel good to have yourself engaged to a man belonging to a wealthy family with your common professor background?", asked a reporter. I frowned at the question. Maybe I should have expected this question. How can I forget the fact that even though his family was accepting me, the society would differentiate a mere middle class woman from a well known high class man?

I looked at him only to find him blankly staring somewhere infront of him.

Did I expect him to support me?

Oh! I had forgotten that he was dating someone and maybe even still loves her. Maybe under some unsuitable circumstances he had to opt for an arranged marriage?

"I appreciate the efforts you had put in looking at my background but I believe relationships should be built on mutual respect and support and not just materialistic things and status, always. Let's focus on more important aspects such as who we are as people", I replied calmly, giving a mild smile.

After few more questions towards him, we got off the stage and walked towards the photoshoot area.

Once I stood beside him, the photographer spoke to us, "Sir can you please put your arm around ma'am's waist and ma'am can you please put your palms on his chest. You back should face us and please tilt your head a bit towards me. Can you both do that?"

I looked up at him only to find him already looking down at me. I, myself, am 5'6 and he's still taller. He should be around 6. Damn the Eiffel Tower.

I don't know where my voice had disappeared because all I did was stare at him until he decided to hold my waist, making my eyes widen. The fact that his one hand was on my waist but over the saree material, it was still okay but the thing that the other was on my bare waist made me gulp in nervousness.

He pulled me closer and my hands involuntarily went to his chest, maintaining the distance.

"Yes ma'am and sir. Like that. Now ma'am please look at me and sir please look at ma'am", spoke the cameraman bringing me out of my thoughts.

I tilted my head a bit so that I was looking at the camera. While I smiled, I was able to feel his burning gaze on me.

The sound of camera shutter shutting down twice made me take a breath in relief as I felt myself getting released from his hold. I was slightly uncomfortable because we never touched each other. Just after one short meet, we're getting married.

I fixed my saree when the cameraman again spoke up, "Ma'am now take another pose."

I looked at him normally, but internally, I was throwing a look of disbelief at him. It wasn't his fault that I was getting irritated because he didn't know that I and Adhvik aren't close.

"Ma'am you hold sir's engagement ring once he puts his arm around your waist with your right hand and sir will hold your engagement ring with his right hand after putting his arm around your waist. Sir please stand behind ma'am. This capture will just include your hands", he explained while Adhvik and I stood in the correct position.

He again slid his arms around my waist before we held each other's rings. Yes, I did feel weird because of the sudden close proximity. Normally, photos hold memories which are real but here, everything was fake, including our smile and gazes.

The camera man clicked the pictures and again, we released each other before standing a little away from each other.

"Can you both take a kissing position?", the cameraman asked out of nowhere as I choked on my saliva. My eyes widened as I looked at the guy in shock.

I felt my cheeks heating up but still I glanced at Adhvik and not to my surprise, he was looking at the cameraman coldly.

"There's no need for that. Just suggest another position and that's enough for today", he said, his tone cold and deep as usual.

I didn't feel disappointed because he denied to kiss me but because he wasn't even showing softness towards me, even after we're each other's fiancé officially now.

I saw the cameraman nodding before he asked us to take another position.

Adhvik held his forefinger over my head as I held it and twirled around. He was still looking coldly at me. I won't be surprised if I see a piece of ice over his neck in place of his head in the pictures. Because what's the difference between a frozen piece and his same cold expression?

Red rose petals fell from above us.

I won't lie, the moment did feel surreal. The flower petals raining over us while I twirled around, maintaing the eye contact with him. He also didn't look away either but kept looking into my eyes coldly.

His eyes were so beautiful. It felt like they had their own gravity. If the earth had its own black hole, sucking everything around it, it'd look just like his eyes. The bluish hue fading into sage green towards the dark pupils just mirroed the gentle strokes of an artist's brush, mixing colours of the earth into something silently beautiful.

Each time I twirled around and met his gaze, each time I noticed his sharp features closely. God did take his time while incarnating this man.

"Perfect", I heard the cameraman speaking bringing me out of my reverie.

I let go of his finger quickly before fixing my saree and looked everywhere but into his eyes or at him. I was nervous and embarassed too for staring at him continuously like that.

"Ma'am and sir, your shots were just as perfect as you both look togather. Thanks for your cooperation. The photos will be delivered by tomorrow", the cameraman spoke, giving us a thumbs up and left with his team.

"I'm heading home", was all he said before walking away from here, not even giving me a chance to speak to him.

I stared at his figure, disappearing at the distance of the huge hall. I looked down at my hand which was holding his finger a while ago, a small smile forming on my lips.

The moment did feel as if it was just him and me and no one else. Tapping on my cheeks, I also walked away from there.