“Before we go further,” he said, voice steady and clear, “I feel I must be honest with you both.” He met Pushkar’s eyes directly. “I’m sorry if this causes inconvenience, but I can’t go ahead with this arrangement.”
Silence.
Gayatri looked at her husband. Not shocked. Just… thoughtful.
“May I ask why?” Pushkar said calmly.
Raghav didn’t hesitate.
“I’m in love with someone else.” The words felt unfamiliar in his mouth. He had never said them out loud before. Not to his parents. Not even to her. But they were true.
“It happened recently,” he continued, more quietly now, “but it isn’t a passing thing. I’m certain about her. And I respect your daughter too much to sit here and pretend I’m undecided.”
He met Pushkar’s gaze again.
“I don’t want to waste her time. Or yours.”
The room remained still. Pushkar studied him carefully. Not offended. Not angry.
“You speak with conviction,” he said.
Raghav gave a short nod. “I don’t say things like this lightly.”
Gayatri’s expression softened. “She must be very special.”
“She is,” he replied without hesitation.
There was no bravado in it. Just fact.
From beside him came a strangled sound. Vikram had turned his face away, shoulders shaking suspiciously. Raghav ignored him.
“If your heart is elsewhere,” Pushkar said evenly, “then honesty is better than courtesy.”
Raghav hadn’t expected that. He had prepared for resistance. Negotiation. Perhaps even insult. Instead, there was… calm.
“However,” Gayatri added gently, “our daughter deserves to hear this directly.”
Raghav stiffened slightly.
Pushkar nodded. “She should know you refused because you are committed elsewhere. Not because of some imagined flaw.”
Raghav paused. That was fair.
“I agree,” he said finally. “I’ll tell her myself.”
He straightened in his chair. This would be quick. Respectful. Clear.
Gayatri rose gracefully. “I’ll call her down. She’s been getting ready all morning.”
She stepped toward the hallway and called up the staircase. “Beta? They’re here. Come down.”
Raghav stared at his hands, already framing the conversation in his head. Afterwards, he would leave here and go straight to Ishani. Tell her everything. Maybe even take her out tonight. Somewhere public. Somewhere they didn’t have to pretend.
Footsteps echoed against the marble floor.
Light. Measured. Unhurried.
He kept his gaze lowered, rehearsing the apology. He would be respectful. Clear. There would be no space for doubt.
